By Ashleigh Howarth
A collection of artworks offering a glimpse into the many perspectives of artists who call the Redlands home will soon go on display at The Mezz inside the Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) at Cleveland.
Running from November 16 to January 15, 2027, the exhibition brings together 57 artists, with 53 framed works and four sculptures showcasing their talents across glass, textiles, watercolour, oils, acrylic, pencil, photography, digital imagery, clay and mixed media.
This year’s theme, Vantage Point, asked them to consider their own perspective – whether physical, emotional or conceptual – and create a 3D piece that expressed how they see the world.
Among the artists featured is award-winning glass artisan Kaylene Higgs, who has spent around 20 years working with glass from her Sandy Beach Studio on Russell Island.
Her contribution was inspired by one of her favourite backdrops in the Redlands.
“It’s a glass sculpture of a wave with handmade sails. I love how the curve changes the whole piece, and when the light comes through, all those soft blues and little coloured sails really come alive,” she said.
“This is the view from my vantage point when I am down at Cleveland Point, which is one of my favourite places to go and relax by the water and watch the boats.”
Image supplied by Kaylene Higgs.
Kaylene said the exhibition was a chance for people to discover the wealth of artistic talent in the Redlands, including creatives working from their own small studios.
“If you’re coming to RPAC to see a show, take a few extra minutes to wander through the exhibition – you never know what you might discover,” she said.
“There’s so much talent in the Redlands, and a lot of these artists are creating beautiful work from their own little studios right across the islands and the mainland, and this is an opportunity for them to share their talents with the wider community.”
The In Focus exhibition is part of a broader program of visual art at the venue, with Redland Art Gallery presenting a selection of works from the Gallery Collection throughout the year.
These works will be on display in the Concert Hall Foyer mezzanine on the first floor, which is open from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and one hour before advertised performances.
This story was written for The Community Leader Redlands.