Published on 01 August 2022

Your guide to SALA Festival down south

South Australian Living Artists Festival (1–31 August) is celebrating 25 years in 2022, and there are more than 45 events spanning 16 towns and suburbs in the City of Onkaparinga.

If you’re an art lover or simply want to try something new, you can peruse Onkaparinga/Fleurieu Peninsula events—taking place at galleries, studios, wineries, schools, youth centres are more—by visiting the SALA website.

Check out the list below for a few ideas on where to start near you. Exhibitions run from 1-31 August unless otherwise stated. Click links for opening days and times.

Aberfoyle Park

Inspiring Hope

Seeds Uniting artists presents an exhibition inspired by their hope in difficult times. The exhibition features ceramics, craft, drawing, glass, mixed media, painting, print-making and textiles by Lee-Ann Malcolm, Peta O’Loughlin and Anthea Rothe. Held from 7–11 August.

Aldinga Beach

Open Studio

Elizabeth Abbott’s exhibition/open studio features hand-printed scarves, T-shirts and cards, demonstrations and participation, monotypes, relief printing, chine-colle and paintings on display. There’ll also be weavings with natural fibres, cotton raffia jute and plant material plus found objects. Open Sundays 7 and 28 August.

Chandlers Hill

Absolutely Fabulous

Enjoy real life oil on stretched canvas paintings by Karen Reinig, representing the natural world and human form. Takes place at Buckley Estate Farm from 2–28 August.

Cherry Gardens

Swing into Art

Located at Blackwood Golf Club, this exhibition features the work of club members Russell Boyd, Rick Koehne, Brenda Mitchell, Raylene Newton, John Neylon, Helen Rice, Kathy Saint, Denny Smalley, Paula White and Margo Wilson. Includes drawing, glass, painting and photography, and runs from 7–31 August.

Christie Downs

Life is Beautiful

Artist Paul Kopetz creates amazing works achieved with imagination and patience, using wood, nails, hammer, fabrics and coloured thread. See the exhibition at Elizabeth House Positive Ageing Centre.

Christies Beach

Choose Your Own Adventure

Onkaparinga Youth presents an exhibition adventure trail along Beach Road featuring local emerging young artists, Ruby Caldwell, Marshal Hentschel, Chloe Joy Aplin, Zuzanna Juszczynska, Nirvana Ofarrell, Jessica Perry, Amelia Perry, Jasmine Stewart-Apps, and Ruby Williams.

Kangarilla

Pandemic Ponderings

Pandemic Ponderings is a collection of paintings by Judy Garrard created during the course of the pandemic and inspired by restricted but wonderful ramblings, primarily throughout South Australia. The collection consists of watercolours, acrylics and mixed media which are exhibited in her home studio, a lovely rustic, renovated old dairy. Open 19–21 August.

Maslin Beach

New space, new work

A new studio space inspires new work, and Eileen Lubiana will exhibit new work and show some old favourites amid polished floors, filtered light and a garden outlook. A variety of styles and mediums that depict Eileen's close observation of nature through abstract paintings and a concern about climate change in unapologetic political works. Come and have a cuppa and wander through the garden. Takes place on Sunday 7 August from 2–5pm.

McLaren Vale

Fleurieu Arthouse

Experience the smorgasbord of creative abundance in the converted warehouse space at the site of Hardys Tintara Winery. Meet the artists in the studios, have a wine or a barista coffee. Join a workshop, art class or listen to an artist talk.

Morphett Vale

Science in Art – Invisible Worlds

See the work of Woodcroft College Year 5–9 students during National Science Week. The exhibition’s theme encouraged students to look at how science can be explored through the artmaking process. 'Invisible Worlds' can be real, imagined or microscopic and students have created studies from the world around us as a starting point for their creations. Artworks have been produced in a variety of different media, from paper, fabric and even street signs, that come to life under fluorescent light to reveal invisible worlds otherwise unseen. See it in the school’s Mark Porter Hall on Wednesday 17 August.

Old Reynella

Food for the Soul

Foodland is passionate about the arts and local artists, so it’s proudly partnering with SALA Festival for a unique, in-store exhibition of South Australian art. Check out the works at Old Reynella Foodland. 

Port Noarlunga

In Flux

This mixed group exhibition explores transitional states and the fluidity of being—to be human is to be constantly in flux—creating a metaphorical web, connecting introspective experiences. Curated by 2021 SALA Contemporary Curator Award winner, Christina Lauren, the Sauerbier House exhibition features works by Emerald, Pony, ExpressWay, Hannah Coleman, Annie Harvey, Mali Isabel, Kit Jury, Fuko Suzuki and Tiah Trimboli. You can also enjoy an artist talk and workshop. Kicks off Saturday 6 August.

Ambience

Held at the Port Noarlunga Arts Centre, Kristie McGregor’s exhibition features watercolour, collage, gelli printing and drawing works that represent her favourite parts of nature, based on observation and memories of places she’s been. Kicks off on Friday 12 August to 12 September.

Invisible threads – a celebration of connection

Inspired by a Friedrich Nietzsche quote, “Invisible threads are the strongest ties”, ACH Group customers, residents and staff present ceramics, mixed media and paintings inspired by their own meaningful connections and experiences. Held at the Arts Centre, Port Noarlunga.

Reynella

Jellyfish Sculptures

Art meets science in this fun workshop, where participants can learn about plastic pollution and repurpose soft plastics into works of art with artist Jessie Lumb. This National Science Week project takes place at Base 10 Youth Centre and is supported by the Australian Government. Workshop takes place on Saturday 13 August, with an exhibition on Monday 29 August.

Sellicks Beach

Pure Fiction

Kit Chambers’ work “stands at an abyss frequented by veracious metaphors that threaten to abandon me the moment I look down”. Kit relates to Miguel Cervantes’ fictional character Don Quixote’s relationship with reality.

Willunga

Art of Whites Valley

Experience the beauty of Whites Valley through the eyes of artist, Lesley Redgate, from her studio gallery in Willunga, where Lesley paints and conducts art classes. From golden summers to winter greens, an exhibition of her paintings and prints will be on display. Inspired by the subtleties of colour that the changing light brings, Lesley paints the landscape as it evolves with the seasons of time and is the place she has a deep connection to. Held from 6–28 August.