This month we featured in a vignette in the Australian Decorative & Fine Arts Societies (ADFAS) Gold Coast bulletin. A quarterly publication that is sent to members and published online.

Editor of the newsletter, Valerie Shooter, contacted us about a feature on Tambo Teddies. As COVID restrictions eased Val was aware many people were venturing out west. A feature on Tambo Teddies is quite a timely publication.

Val started the Vignette in 2015  to feature a variety of talented Australian artists who have gained recognition in Australia and overseas. Artists who are not represented in the ADFAS lectures but whose talents are crying out for more exposure.  Tambo Teddies is following in the footsteps of many great artists.

ADFS has branches throughout Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The Arts Society started in the UK and many highly qualified lecturers from there travel to Australia every year to lecture to their members. Just before the COVID-19 lockdown, ADFAS was host to Paul Atterbury of Antiques Roadshow. In Australia there are three lecture circuits covering different areas. The Gold Coast chapter is part of the circuit called Cook, with lecturers starting in Tasmania and finishing in Cairns. Apart from participating in lectures, ADFAS also sponsor young artists in the community through membership fees, raffles and outings.

Featured in past Vignettes are cartoonist, Michael Leunig; sand sculptor, Dennis Massoud; quiltmaker and textile artist, Jenny Bowker; glass artist, Holly Grace; painter William Robinson; landscape designer, Jim Fogarty and wire sculptor, Ivan Lovatt. As an exception to the living artist rule, ADFAS showcased the work of Ellis Rowan the Flower Hunter who died in 1922. Past newsletters and vignettes can be read online on the ADFAS website.

Teddies got a double plug in this edition, we were not only the featured vignette, we were included in a travel blog, BEYOND the BLACK STUMP (and BACK). This little blog showcases art in all sorts of quirky
forms and history that can be found in the Outback. Tambo’s feature mentions our Grassland Art Gallery, Ben’s Chicken Races and of course, Tambo Teddies. Quite a good round up of reasons to head out west on a road trip.