John Anrep and Bob Gilpin are friends and artists who have combined their talents to bring a new exhibition to Altona.
The Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre will be home to ‘Journey Across the Bay’, a multimedia exhibition which Mr Anrep said is designed to showcase the best of Hobsons Bay.
“Everyone is always bagging the western suburbs but we have found the beauty of it,” he said.
“When you have lived there, been born there and raised there you know there are some stunning parts of the western suburbs which you can’t get anywhere else in Melbourne and some parts of Australia.”
Both artists have drawn their collective knowledge about the ins and outs of Hobsons Bay to combine painting and photography.
After suffering a minor stroke, Mr Anrep said he began his process of recovery by falling back on art among other things.
“I have always done some sketching and drawing but after my stroke I got into using my oils and canvases,” he said.
At the same time, the world of Hobsons Bay seemed to shine a little brighter as Mr Anrep began walking his dog around the bay area.
“I discovered that there was a lot of beauty there that you don’t see when you’re a kid,” he said.
“I ended up having enough paintings to compile into some kind of exhibition when I ran into Bob and we got to talking about his photographs,” he said.
“Bob took some photos of the Hobsons Bay area and I tried to match those scenes in my paintings.”
After returning from a trip to Iceland, Mr Gilpin is also learning to appreciate beauty and see things differently.
“I wanted to capture what I see along the bay. Altona and Hobsons Bay have some amazing jewels , especially in a sunrise and sunset.”
The exhibition will run From Friday, February 23, to March 7.
Jennifer Pittorino
