My studio in Erowal Bay is currently a veritable Aladdin’s cave, full of wonderful, original, hand made works of art + craft by skilled makers. I am getting ready to launch Artfulmind Gallery at Huskisson Artisans Market on Sunday 30 November 2025. The creative chaos of mocking up a pop-up gallery to install at the Huskisson Community Centre is an absolute delight. Put the date in your diary. Come along and share my delight in creating and curating a space where I can show and sell the work of selected makers.
There are swathes of hand-dyed, hand-painted silk organza; sculpted paper bowls; sublime carved marble forms; garments with hand stitched embellishment; neckwear worthy of a tribal queen; beach-finds transformed into talismans; artworks in felt; wee woven vessels you might expect to be the nest of a tiny, magical creature. The trove goes on—and on.
To be in the company of works and wares embodying the imagination, dexterity and skill of such makers is truly uplifting.
Some of the works are existing items, some never before shown in public. Some have been custom created for Artfulmind Gallery. The hand painted silk and satin panels by Linda Balding, for example, are both wearable as scarves and wraps, and suited to adorn a console or a domestic altar, if you are so inclined.
A great joy, and privilege, of my role as curator in this endeavour is to visit makers’ studios, consider their work alongside them, see how they think and make and, on occasion, offer creative direction.
The day I visit Linda Balding’s studio—located in magnificent bushland close to the Shoalhaven River—she shows me items from her diverse textile practice spanning decades. I am looking and listening for things that resonate in a particular way for me. A silk panel, hanging in a corner, calls my attention. I ask Linda about it, and its origins. It is an experimental piece from her artist residency at Bundanon in 2005. It’s been in a drawer for most of the years since then—Linda not knowing what to do with it.
I ask her if she’s open to revisiting her experiment in hand painting cloth. She studies me for a moment; says she is and asks me what I have in mind. A few weeks later I get a message from Linda, ‘I have a studio full of new offerings and wondered if you had time next week to visit.’
You can see the results for yourself in Artfulmind Gallery.
Artists Are Doin’ It For Themselves
If you read my article (posted 31 July) about Samantha Tannous and Arts Muster—the founder of the Huskisson Artisans Market—you’ll know that she and I both have feisty bees in our respective bonnets about the lack of supported opportunities for all ilks of artists / makers / performers to present their work and generate some income.
Just prior to Christmas last year, the gift shop at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery underwent a radical change resulting in local makers losing a valuable outlet to show and sell their work and generate income. Linda was among them. For Linda, ‘The regional gallery had developed a fabulous shop there with local makers and that’s where I was selling most of my work.’
This got that bee in my bonnet buzzing. The idea of a pop-up gallery/shop started to take shape—a space within the Huskisson Artisans Market where I could show and sell works by makers who’d lost their outlet. I pitched the idea to Samantha. She immediately embraced it.
It has taken a year to develop the concept, consult with makers, select work and wares; figure out the logistics, establish terms and conditions; resolve the practicalities of displaying enormously varied items—ranging from featherlight silk pieces to carved marble sculptures weighing several kilos—and everything else a project like this involves.
All of which brings me back to the start of the article: me, in my studio, in the throes of mocking-up Artfulmind Gallery as it will be installed in the Huskisson Community Centre.
After the Huskisson Artisans Market on 30 November, to extend the opportunity for the makers I have invited to participate, Artfulmind Gallery will move to my studio in Erowal Bay and be open 11-4pm on Saturdays 06, 13, 20 December and by appointment.
The makers featured in Artfulmind Gallery include: Anandii, Linda Balding, Leith Brandt, Barbara Dawson, Carla Jackett, Julie Love, Marg McHugh, Judy Panucci, Sutopa Parrab, Julie Paterson, Mary Preece, Samantha Tannous, Christine Wiltshier.
These are all artists and makers who are more than used to ‘doin’ it for themselves’. They all know the effort, energy, time and resources it takes to try to find and/or create opportunities to show and sell their work. They are also acutely aware that time invested in this comes at a cost to their creative practice. The depth of their heart-felt recognition and appreciation of my endeavour here underscores the lack of ready, accessible opportunities.
Arts Muster x Artfulmind
When the idea for Artfulmind Gallery came to me, I was already volunteering with Arts Muster, helping Samantha Tannous with the Huskisson Artisans Market, and occasionally being a stallholder there myself.
The advent of Artfulmind Gallery has led to increased collaboration between Samantha and I, with me moving into managing the market for Sam, building on her great achievements so far.
Since its inception in 2023 the market has been going from strength to strength. It is held 3 times a year—late April, late August to coincide with the Arts Muster weekend of arts and crafts workshops, and late November as the pre-Christmas market.
From its start in just one room in the Huskisson Community Centre, the market now occupies the whole building with the 40 or so artisans’ stalls grouped in three sections: Makers, Artists, Providores. And, from November, Sam has warmly welcomed Artfulmind Gallery into the Arts Muster fold.
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Huskisson Artisans Market / Sunday 30 November 2025 / 10-3pm
This is the final market of the year—an ideal opportunity to find original, handmade gifts. Come along. Show your support for our local artisans—makers, artists and providores.
Where / When
Arts Muster x Artfulmind Gallery will pop-up at two locations:
Sunday 30 November / 10-3pm
Huskisson Artisans Market, Huskisson Community Centre, Dent Street
Saturdays 06, 13, 20 December / 11-4pm + By appointment
Artfulmind Studio, Erowal Bay.
Email natalie@artsmuster.com.au for more information.
Further information
For any further information you might like about Arts Muster’s Huskisson Artisans Market at Huskisson Community Centre and Artfulmind Gallery email me natalie@artsmuster.com.au
