Fleurieu Artists' Trail: Ron enjoys some of the art, wine and food of the Fleurieu Peninsula region of South Australia
Another Life Art class at Red Poles Gallery and teacher Heather Lorenzon reduces a reclining nude to the sum of its parts - a collection of shapes or patches of light and shade. She uses a moveable border to help train the eye in aspects of composition and hopefully the students will see the world around them as a moveable feast.
Heather Lorenzon, Art Teacher; "When you've been looking at art works in a particular way like we've been doing here today you go out into everyday life and you start to see shapes rather trees and glasses and cups and all those sorts of things. And you start to make little compositions in the mind's eye as you're just driving along."
Tucked away off McMurtrie Road in McLaren Vale, Red Poles was once a wine storage facility. In a space once packed with wine barrels, art students now reclaim their own personal space.
Surrounding these artists at work - the work of artists from the surrounding Fleurieu Peninsula. Jenny runs Dog Ridge Gallery and Winery at McLaren Vale and her canvasses capture the changing rhythms of this famous wine-growing region. While in the nearby cafe, visitors can sample homemade fare of the artistic and culinary kind.
Come Saturday nights and Red Poles Gallery space makes way for cabaret. And should a weekend of fun prove too taxing then stay a night in what is a gallery, cafe and bed and breakfast.
It's also one of 39 potential stops on owner Ros Miller's little baby - the Fleurieu Peninsula Artists' Trail. Just over three years ago she hit upon the idea of an art trail - with each gallery identified by a purple flag - and inside each - patrons can admire local work or watch them being created.
The art trail covers every corner of the Peninsula from Randlesea Rustic at Second Valley to Artworx at Goolwa and on your travels you take in the Fleurieu, which inspires so many live and work here.
Hop on board Diva Tours with Greg Linton and you like so many others will marvel at the Fleurieu's highlights while travelling through vineyards and catching glimpses of the coastline, which skirts so much of this picturesque peninsula.
Greg Linton, Diva Tours: "People can't believe that so many things are packed into such a small area. You can travel twenty to thirty kilometres tops and you'll be able to pretty much cover the region. You can do the wine art trail, you can do a food tour or see the coast as you are now. It's all very handy."
Like Habitat Gallery - tucked away in the back streets near the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park. Drop in here and you're likely to catch jeweler Kim Thomson at work, as she breathes new life into discarded industrial products like perspex or laminex.
Keep an eye out for her signature broaches - like the 50s caravan. It appears in this collaborative piece back at Red Poles and is part of an exhibition about vintages, whether it be harvest time or vintage travel. It fits perfectly with Ros Miller's concept of an artists' trail on the Fleurieu catering for our inner most needs.
Ros Miller, Red Poles Gallery: "It's good for the soul. And everyone has the ability to appreciate art in some form whether it be enjoying a piece of art they're looking at or actually having a go at a class.
Red Poles is just one of many options on the Fleurieu Artists' Trail. It's located on McMurtrie Road in McLaren Vale. Trail guides are available at visitor centres and participating galleries. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Fleurieu Peninsula Artists' Trail
Brochures and maps From Visitor Centres & GalleriesRed Poles Gallery and Café
McMurtrie Road
McLaren ValeHabitat Gallery
14 Fraser St
Aldinga
By appointment only - contact 0450 736 546Wine Diva Tours
Wine Tour plus regional food platter
$150 per person
Bookings 0488 946 363Published 5th July 2009
