Avoca Beach - 5 Lands Walk
THE ARTISTS' WALK
Each year in the lead-up to the 5 Lands Walk, participating artists and friends (who are usually too busy working on the event on the day of the 5 Lands Walk to actually do any walking!) meet and walk together to experience the 5 lands walk together and learn more about our place, our culture and ourselves.
Avoca Beach program of events
As always, the program at Avoca Beach is packed with delights - there will be live performances as well as visual art exhibitions on the beach and in the Surf Club. And this year, the Avoca Beach community is delighted to welcome as our special guests the Filipino community, to share with us our midwinter celebrations to usher in the coming of the longer days and the annual migration north of the whales.
Each year since 2006, Avoca Beach has been the hub of visual arts for the 5 Lands Walk under the stewardship of Avoca Artists, and that tradition looks set to continue with the Ephemera sculptural installation exhibition on Avoca Beach and the Connections exhibition of paintings, sculpture and photography in the Avoca Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (scroll down for more details!). And for the first time in 2012, we have initiated the 5 Lands Art Trail, so that people can visit over 20 participating artists of the 5 Lands Walk in their studios from the bush to the beach on the third weekend of every month in the lead-up to this year's event. Check it out on http://www.5landsarttrail.com/
Performing arts program
The Chicken Train Skifflers 2010
Avoca Beach has been lucky enough to have attracted many fine performing artists in the past and our program for 2011 will be no exception, featuring:
- 12.00pm & 2.30pm Springtide in the Surf Club for the Connnections exhibition, with the exquisite sounds of harp and hammered dulcimer
- 11.30am Neani & Paige - two of the Coast's most gifted dancers have choreographed a new work especially for the 5 Lands Walk and will perform on the beach
- 12.00pm Theatresports from the Mad Cow Theatresports Crew
- 12.30pm The Message Stick arrives, followed by cultural presentations by our special guests, the New Zealand Maori people featuring community ambassador Vicki McGuiness and Kiwi singer/songwriter Andrew Browne
- 1.40pm Random Acts of Song - this 11-piece vocal and ukulele ensemble led by Yantra de Vilder will delight with a selection of your favourite sing-alongs!
- 2.00pm The French Connection featuring Pauline Wright, Brett Dillon, Jim Heywood and Yantra de Vilder with a gorgeous selection of French and Continental chansons
- 2.20pm The exciting jazz of The Red Hot Papas will light up the stage - they will also be roving on the day, so catch them at the cafe's and up in the Surf Club as well
- 2.50pm KarenAnne Waters - glorious guitar and vocals
- 3.10pm Damien Molloy - singer/songwriter
- 3.30pm Sons of Alamo - winners of the 2011 Battle of the Bands rock contest
Sons of Alamo
And the fun is set to continue on Sunday 19 June 2011 with Avoca Beach's inaugural music and food festival, A Taste of Avoca from 11am to 4pm in and around Avoca Beach Village (scroll down for more information).
Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony
As in previous years, members of the Aboriginal people acknowledge the ancestors and traditional custodians of the land and welcome walkers and artists to Avoca Beach, bless the land and the 5 Lands Walk.
Message Stick
The message stick will arrive from Copacabana and be greeted by the people of Avoca Beach. The stick will be received by Avoca Beach community leaders and the message will be read. The message stick will then be passed on by the people of Avoca to the people of North Avoca.
Cultural Exchange
In 2012 the 5 Lands community of Avoca Beach is delighted to welcome as our special guests the Filipino community of the Central Coast. They have been enthusiastic contributors to the 5 Lands Walk for past several years and we are anticipating another exciting offering from them this year, featuring dance, cultural exchange and more!
In 2011 The Maori community were our special guests. They had particpated in the Message Stick ceremonies in 2010, and to honour the Guardian of the Message Stick, Jesse Lifu-Bligh, presented him with a gift of Three Knowledge Baskets within Baskets, containing three important messages:
To continue the connections made in 2010, the Maori community of the Central Coast was welcomed as the special guests of Avoca Beach by our "community Ambassador", Vicki McGuiness a Kiwi with Maori heritage.
Vicki has lived in Avoca Beach for 20 years and in that time has built strong connections in the community. Vicki says "I feel much gratitude in being part of this local community and the 5 Lands Walk and have hopes for a great future in cultural connection." Her philosophy of life extends into her business, Avoca Massage Therapy. She believes "it's all about creating balance in our busy lives, whether it be body and mind or easing aches and pains. Either way, massage is certain to make a difference in your life - whether you chose relaxation or remedial massage, aromatherapy or the luxurious Lomi Lomi, Hawaiian massage. Or Ili Ili, with the added touch of hot stones". Vicki has trained to a Diploma standard and is a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society and demonstrated some of her techniques upstairs in the Avoca Beach Surf Club during the 5 Lands Walk 2011.
Another Kiwi and long-time resident of the Central Coast, singer songwriter Andrew Browne (pictured above right) will played some of his compositions and paid homage to his Maori heritage. Composed at Mooney Mooney, Andrew's last album Fishing for Compliments (with his band, The Anglers) is a great favourite of Scott Levi, presenter of ABC local radio 92.5.
Connections art exhibition in Avoca Beach Surf Lifesaving Club
This will be the seventh year of our Connections art exhibition at the Avoca Beach Surf Club. Interest by particpating artists has increased, so we are excited to say that some works will again also be exhibited at the Copacabana Surf Club and most likely also at MacMasters Beach. Come along and have a look at the magnificent artworks, and be entertained by Springtide and Red Hot Papas (pictured) on the day!
Exhibiting artists at Avoca Beach Surf Club in 2011 included Jane Allertz, Peter Baka, Sue Bannister, Sarah Baron, Bronwyn Barry, Edward Bennetts, Wendy Bills, Christine Brickhill, Lauren Campbell, Jim Carlton, Leo Carlton, Chris Clark, David Clarke, Yantra de Vilder, Norma Dunston, Pat Edwards, Jon Ellis, Adele Eyers, Margaret Fortey, Cheryl Hatch, Val Hill, Tess Hilson, Suzanne Holman, Rowena Hordern, Sandy James, Ross Johnston, Suzy King, Jiri Kripac, Matt Lin, Scarlet Loughry, Leonard Matkevich, Sandra McArthur, Cathryn McEwen, Nan Moore, Tascha Mulhall, Felicity O'Connor, Colin Oram, Sarah Randall, Helene Rosanove, Mike Rubbo, Katerina Rubbo, Martin Smith, Julia Spokes, Natalie Verriest, Willemina Villari, Peter Waples, Peta Werlemann, John Woulfe and Ingeborg Zotz. Watch this space to see who will participate in 2012!
Artists of the Aboriginal community are included in the Connections exhibitions.
Ephemera Sculpture Exhibition on the Beach.
The Ephemera exhibition will also be in its seventh year. Sculptural installations will be created for the day on the beach. This exhibition has been an exciting feature of the 5 Lands Walk and 2012 looks set to be no exception. Artists are asked to interpret the 5 Lands Walk theme "connecting people to people and people to place" having regard to history, culture, spirituality and connection to the land.
Shadows by Sandy James 2009
Participating artists in Ephemera at Avoca Beach in 2011 included Peter Baka, Bronwyn Barry, Edward Bennetts, Nicole de Mestre, Norma Dunston, Margaret Fortey, Col Henry, Val Hill, Rowena Hordern, Sandy James, Jiri Kripac, Tony McWilliam, Martin Smith, Charlie Trivers and Willemina Villari. Watch this space to find out about participating artists in 2012!
Whale Skeleton by Bronwyn Van Der Graaff 2008
Participating in the exhibitions
If you are interested in exhibiting in either Ephemera or Connections, please go to our Art Exhibitions page to find out more.
"A Taste of Avoca" Music and Food Festival
The Avoca Beach Chamber of Commerce and Avoca Artists Inc will once again present A Taste of Avoca Music and Food Festival, which started last year and looks set to become an annual event of the 5 Lands Walk. With so many world-class performing artists living in and around Avoca Beach and with so many fine restaurants and cafes, why not stay overnight and continue the 5 Lands Walk celebrations for the whole weekend?!
Program
Tim Orgias and his InRhythm Drummers 2006
The music program, performed throughout the day on the main stage in the Village Centre and 5 smaller stages scattered about the Village and the beachfront.
Taste of Avoca Program - Watch this Space!
But here's what was on offer in 2011 to give you an idea:
- 11am Red Hot Papas (Main Stage)
- 11am Howling WolfGang (Burger Girls)
- 11am Andrew Browne & Tim Orgias (Ludo's)
- 11am Viva (Avoca Beach Pizza & Pasta)
- 12 noon The French Connection (Main Stage)
- 12 noon The Rhythm Method (Burger Girls)
- 12 noon Kim Cheshire & Michael King (Ludo's)
- 12 noon Central Coast Conservatorium Big Band (Beachfront)
- 12.30pm Random Acts of Song (Main Stage)
- 1pm Tim Orgias and his InRhythm Drummers (Main Stage)
- 1pm Viva (Ludo's)
- 1pm Red Hot Papas (Avoca Beach Pizza & Pasta)
- 1pm Howling Wolfgang (Avoca Beach Picture Theatre)
- 2pm The French Connection (Burger Girls)
- 2pm Kim Cheshire & Michael King (Avoca Beach Pizza & Pasta)
- 2pm The Rhythm Method (Beachfront)
- 2.30pm Random Acts of Song (Burger Girls)
- 3pm Central Coast Conservatorium Big Band (Main Stage)
- 3pm Andrew Browne & Tim Orgias (Burger Girls)
- 3pm Howling WolfGang (Avoca Beach Pizza & Pasta)
- 3pm Red Hot Papas (Beachfront)
- 3pm Viva (Avoca Beach Picture Theatre)
- 4pm The Rhythm Method (Main Stage)
* The Red Hot Papas with their foot-tapping jazz featuring Jiri the Bouncin' Czech (cornet), John Moffatt (sousaphone), Jon Conley (guitar) and drums * Random Acts of Song, a vocal/ukulele ensemble led by Yantra de Vilder featuring Andrew Worboys, Terry Ryan, Brian Brooks, Tim Orgias, Suzanne Jones, Pauline Wright, Carol Marando, Jon Ellis, Willemina Villari, Lindi Harrison and Elisabeth Crawford * Viva featuring Peter Rappolt on guitar and Marie Rappolt on piano accordion * The French Connection with Brett Dillon on guitar, Pauline Wright on vocals and Yantra de Vilder on piano accordion * The Rhythm Method featuring Kelli Ward (voc), Scott Fortey (voc), John Dobrohotoff (keys), Graham Puglisi (bass) and Ian Charlton (drums) * Tim Orgias and his InRhythm Drummers with a drumming performance and workshop * Singer-songwriter Andrew Browne performed some beautiful original music * Earlwood Greg and the Howling WolfGang featuring Phil 'Groover' Grove (the Hippos) and Pete Mackie (the Cockroaches) growled out some blues * And for country music lovers, we had the legendary Kim Cheshire and Michael King
Red Hot Papas 2008
All of the restaurants and cafes of Avoca Beach will be offering samples of their food so that festival-goers can meander through the village with the sounds of music and the magnificent aromas of freshly cooked food and coffee. What better way to spend a Sunday in June?
For the littlies, we will have story-telling at Avoca Beach Picture Theatre which in 2011 was by Emily Arkell at 12 noon and 2pm, and Reptile Man also excited everyone with tales and experiences of snakes, amphibians and more in Hunter Park at the beachfront at 11am and 1pm at the Burger Girls stage!
