UPCOMING WORKSHOPS/EVENTS
NEW PROGRAM
ARTful Beginnings
This program is designed for babies aged from 4 months until their first birthday and is best suited for babies who are not yet walking. If you are unsure whether ARTful Beginnings is the right fit for you and your baby, or if you have any access needs or other queries about the event, please don’t hesitate to contact in advance of the program.
Participation and content
- These events are a great way to meet fellow parents with young babies
- We understand that babies sometimes make noise, and that’s perfectly ok
- Parents and guardians are invited to join in with songs and sensory games to help engage their babies throughout the program. You are welcome to participate or just listen
- Pram parking will be available at this event
- The exhibition tour involves walking and standing for short periods of time. We recommend using a baby carrier or sling during this portion of the program, however if you prefer not to carry your baby, prams are also welcome in the gallery spaces
- Parents rooms are available at Dogwood Crossing
Sensory aspects
- Please let us know in advance if you or your child are hard of hearing so we can make this tour accessible for you
- Due to the nature of our young audience, ARTful Beginnings can get a little noisy. There may also be low level noise from a nearby artwork or the sounds of the Gallery
- Floor cushions, ottomans and stools without backs will be available during the sensory play session at the end of the program
- The Gallery air conditioning is set to 21°C to conserve the artworks. We recommend bringing a light jumper or jacket with you
Food and drink
- Breastfeeding and bottle feeding are welcome anywhere in the Gallery
- For the safety of artworks, food and drink cannot be consumed in the Gallery except by children seated in a pram
Capacity
This event has a maximum capacity of 14 babies and their parent/s or guardian/s
Our next session will be Tuesday 29 April, 10.30am – 11.15am
To register phone 07 4628 5330 or email
DABBLE AT DOGWOOD for Teens and Adults
Wearable Art Concept Design Workshop
with Svenja
Wearable Art – where fine art meets fashion, science, and engineering to create a sculptural form using the body as its base. Free from the restrictions of any of these disciplines, anything is possible – as long as it is wearable.
Enjoy a presentation on the many approaches of other designers, as well as a close look at the career development and design and construction processes involved in the creation of Svenja’s own comprehensive body of work. Feast your eyes on footage of wearable artworks in motion on the World of WearableArt (WOW) stage – an enormous and unique annual production. Try your hand at designing your own piece, with two guided exercises that will demonstrate how the strangest beginnings can inspire infinite possibilities.
Tea and coffee will be provided.
Saturday 31 May 2025
Murilla Room, Dogwood Crossing, Miles
9.30am – 12.30pm
$20 per person
To register please call 07 4628 5330 or email
About the Artist
Svenja grew up in a creative household, spending many weekends involved in crafting activities, as well as music and dance. Entering her teens, an interest in clothing drew her towards textiles in the context of dressmaking, before discovering the artworks of Annemieke Mein, which demonstrated that sewing and fabrics could be used to make art. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Stage Management (QUT) in 1996, Svenja completed further studies in Fashion, Millinery, Drawing and Art History.
From 2008-2019, Svenja’s practice consisted largely of making work for the international design competition and performance known as the World of WearableArt (WOW) in New Zealand, with 6 awards received from 13 entries accepted over the 11 years. Almost all were displayed at the World of WearableArt Museum in Nelson NZ, and several were purchased for the collection. Other exhibitions and events she has participated in include Wearable Art Mandurah (Western Australia), paperonskin (Tasmania), Wearable Expressions (California), and the inaugural Naracoorte Art Prize, (South Australia).
Svenja has exhibited two solo exhibitions in various regional galleries. Her current solo exhibition DistoMorph will be on display at Dogwood Crossing, Miles from 31 May 2025 to 19 July 2025.
For further information visit her website www.studiosvenja.com
Images: Courtesy of the artist
DABBLE AT DOGWOOD for Teens and Adults
Nature lantern workshop
with Dr. Sue Davis
Lead by Dr. Sue Davis co-curator of the Wildflowering by Design exhibition, this 2-hour workshop will see you create your own handmade, nature inspired lantern using rice paper and watercolour paints. Working from wildflower and botanical images as inspiration, design and decorate your unique lantern with intricate patterns, or in a freeform style of your choice under the guidance of the hosting artist. This lantern will be perfect to use in the Back to the Bush Festival lantern walk on Friday evening.
Thursday 11 September 2025, 3pm – 5pm
Murilla Room, Dogwood Crossing, Miles
Free (limited places available, bookings essential)
For ages 16+
Register via the Back to the Bush Festival HERE
Suitable for beginner level and up.
All workshop materials are included with the booking.
Tea and coffee will be provided during the workshop.
Dr. Sue Davis
Dr. Sue Davis is co-curator for the ‘Wildflowering by Design’ exhibition and initiator of the ‘Wild/flower Women’ series of exhibitions and projects. Sue has been an arts educator for decades working across school, university and community sectors. She uses a range of media and arts processes to capture and respond to wildflowers and the natural world. Sue loves to share the joys of Queensland wildflowers and nature-inspired creativity with others.
https://www.wildflowerwomen.net/
Image: Courtesy of the artist
THE GALLERY AFTER DARK
Located in the main street of Miles, Dogwood Crossing, Miles is a vibrant arts and cultural facility and home to the premier art gallery of the Western Downs Region, the John Mullins Memorial Art Gallery (proudly sponsored by Murilla Hardware Supplies).
Relax and indulge with food and light refreshments in the tree hall foyer, set to the backdrop of local musical entertainment, before exploring the current exhibition Wildflowering by Design, as well as an artist Q & A session.
Curated by Dr. Sue Davis and Dr. Lisa Chandler, this exhibition features contemporary artworks and designs which reimagine and celebrate native wildflowers as an expression of, and connection to, place. The touring exhibition also features a local component in the curved wall creative space, with a group of Western Downs artists responding to the beauty of Gurulmundi and Western Downs wildflowers and botanicals.
Friday 12 September 2025
6:30pm – 9:30pm (Artist Q & A session at 7pm)
Dogwood Crossing, Miles, 81 Murilla Street
Free Entry (limited places available, bookings essential)
Register via the Back to the Bush Festival HERE
Image by Susan Jacobs Photography
Courtesy of Dogwood Crossing, Miles.
DABBLE AT DOGWOOD for Teens and Adults
Nature drawing with botanical inks
with Joolie Gibbs
Inspired by Joolie’s 4m artwork in the Wildflowering by Design exhibition, this workshop will take participants through some of the foundations and basics to enjoy drawing, using botanicals as the subject. Including working with botanical inks, wildflowers have become a particular interest for Joolie, and she hopes they will for you too after acquiring some useful tips.
Saturday 13 September 2025
Murilla Room, Dogwood Crossing, Miles
9am to 11am
Free (limited tickets, bookings essential)
For ages 16+
Register via the Back to the Bush Festival HERE
Suitable for beginner level and up.
Paper, drawing materials and ink provided.
Tea and coffee will be provided during the workshop.
Joolie Gibbs
www.jooliegibbs.com.au
Joolie was born in Maryborough, though raised in Hervey Bay, and has been drawing for most of her life. Now living in Gympie, her work is influenced by her natural surroundings both locally and in the locations she visits. After working for almost 40 years in creative industries and completing a Master of Art in Visual Art (MAVA), her practice became more environmentally-focused as she found meaning and new direction in her artwork through connections with the Mary River, and the trees and wildflowers of the region. In her large and small 2D drawings, Joolie uses her own botanical inks mostly made from trees on her property. She also enjoys printmaking and papermaking from natural fibres. Joolie became involved in the ‘Wild/flower Women’ exhibitions through the Gympie show in 2020 and now has work touring through the ‘Wildflowering by Design’ exhibition.
Image: Joolie Gibbs | Impermanence (hakea benthamii), (detail) 2020 | Ink on paper | 1100mm x 4000mm
Photo by: Leeroy Todd Film and Photography
STORYTIME FOR TODDLERS
SESSION DATES, SESSION TIMES ARE 10.30AM – 11.30AM
To Register click HERE
Tuesday 10 Jun – @ the Gallery
Tuesday 17 Jun – @ the Library
Tuesday 8 Jul – @ the Gallery
Tuesday 15 Jul – @ the Library
Tuesday 12 Aug – @ the Gallery
Tuesday 19 Aug – @ the Library
Tuesday 9 Sep – @ the Gallery
Tuesday 16 Sep – @ the Library
Tuesday 14 Oct – @ the Gallery
Tuesday 21 Oct – @ the Library
Tuesday 11 Nov – @ the Gallery
Tuesday 18 Nov – @ the Library
Tuesday 9 Dec – @ the Library
SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Registration required
