Explore the exhibition in an intimate tour with your host and guide, Sir Leslie Thornton. Les will share anecdotes, inspiration and his favourite pieces in a convivial atmosphere where you will glimpse the wonderful workings of Les. Questions encouraged!

In his fifty - year career, Leslie has had over forty solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows and has continuously created, bringing his aesthetics to work. Born in Queensland, Les escaped as a young man, with training in civil engineering, a love of lighting and a feel for the surreal. Arriving in Melbourne, he soon left to make Castlemaine - then a haven for the arty counter culture - his home.

As a special ode to the work that volunteers give, Sir Les will be taking a free tour especially for volunteers!

Explore the exhibition in an intimate tour with your host and guide, Sir Leslie Thornton. Les will share anecdotes, inspiration and his favourite pieces in a convivial atmosphere where you will glimpse the wonderful workings of Les. Questions encouraged!

In his fifty - year career, Leslie has had over forty solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows and has continuously created, bringing his aesthetics to work. Born in Queensland, Les escaped as a young man, with training in civil engineering, a love of lighting and a feel for the surreal. Arriving in Melbourne, he soon left to make Castlemaine - then a haven for the arty counter culture - his home.

Light Play: A Hands-On Sculpture Workshop Inspired by Sir Leslie Thornton

Saturday 21 June, 2:00pm — Saturday 21 June, 3:00pm

Description:

For 8-12 year olds
Join us for a playful and imaginative workshop inspired by the terrific sculptures of Sir Leslie Thornton! In this hands-on session, children will explore the art of assemblage by building collaborative sculptural creations using power boards, double adapters, and night lights—just like Sir Leslie.

A table full of electrical components will become their playground as they experiment with form, balance, and composition.

This is a temporary play-based experience, much like working with LEGO—encouraging experimentation, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

No prior experience is needed, and all materials are provided. No electricity will be involved - rather the focus is on using the imagination to create new forms.

Come build, and celebrate the magic of sculpture and seeing things in a whole new light!

BIO: Laura Jade is an Australian illumination artist and interaction designer who merges art, biology, neuroscience, and technology to create interactive experiences that reveal hidden biological processes. With over 15 years of experience in STEAM education, she designs hands-on workshops that engage children in creative exploration, blending fine arts with science and technology. Her teaching style emphasizes playful experimentation, curiosity-driven learning, and making complex scientific concepts accessible through art and interactive design.

Vote to celebrate local women in public art

For too long the stories of the founding women of our thriving local arts scene have been absent from the history books. Together, we can change that.

We are a leading partner in Mount Alexander Shire Council’s proposal to commemorate seven trailblazing local women in a new public artwork.

Known as the first women of Castlemaine Art Museum, the group stood in solidarity for better representation of women in art. They were instrumental in establishing Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum (now known as our very own Castlemaine Art Museum).

Their story has been shortlisted in the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program. With your vote, funding from the program can help us create a new public artwork to acknowledge their place in history, forever. Voting closes Sunday 8 December. Please share this with your networks!

Follow the link for further information and to vote:
https://engage.vic.gov.au/womens-public-art-program

To vote, click the 'participate' button, click on 'start survey' and follow the prompts.

Voting is open now until Sunday 8 December.

Everything has the potential to be revered; to be transfigured from the mundane to the meaningful, regardless of its origins or perceived value. Jewellery has been associated with monetary value—gold and gemstones are symbols of status and wealth in many cultures. Yet, the artists here push against this convention, challenging what is regarded as valuable and asking instead, what makes something meaningful?

Inari Kiuru is a Finnish-born, Bulleke-Bek/Brunswick-based multidisciplinary artist, designer and a mother of two young children. The key themes in Kiuru’s work reflect her Scandinavian background, arising from an intrinsic longing for a connection with nature.

Manon van Kouswijk is a Dutch Australian artist and contemporary jeweller living in Naarm/Melbourne who explores shifts and transitions and how aspects of a work appear and disappear.

Cara Johnson’s craft-based works interrogate tensions and narratives connected to the ways land is treated and used through material, intention and invested labour. Her practice is entwined with her rural location on Gadubanud country, and primarily concerned with traversing the complexities between people and plants.