Open Studio Weekend in Port Fairy to run alongside Folkie festivities

The event is taking place alongside the Port Fairy Folk Festival's intimate concert series across the long weekend.

Nine studios will be open across the four days in Port Fairy and include textiles artist Marion Matthews from Stitched Textile Studio on Regent Street.

"There's nine galleries and studios open from Friday to Monday for the Folkie weekend from 10am to 4pm each day," Ms Matthews said.

"In the artist studios people can come in and talk as artists are working, it's really about meeting artists and getting the opportunity to have conversations with them on why they make it and why they're so passionate about their art.

"Artists have been hit extremely hard by COVID and the industry continues to be one of the last to open up.

"We just haven't had the chance to show our work and have it out there, online exhibitions are just not as engaging.

"This is a real opportunity for people to come out and see and appreciate art and be absorbed in it."

Ms Matthews works with exotic fabrics, patchwork, hand dyeing and eco dyeing.

"My work is patchwork and quilts but using non-traditional fabrics such as recycled vintage kimonos and materials I have collected while traveling," she said.

"There will be quite a diverse range of work on show, from ceramics, print making, book making and painting. There's very diverse studios here."

The folk festival has adapted to the pandemic, hosting a series of intimate concerts at the Reardon Theatre in lieu of the usual colourful and bright major festival setup that revelers have grown so accustomed to seeing for more than 40 years.

READ MORE: Port Fairy Folk Festival returns with intimate concert series

Oak and Anchor Hotel will be hosting host a mini music festival from Friday to Monday featuring Southern Ocean Sea Band, Richard Tankard, Kim Churchill, Tom Mac, Leslie D. King, Geoff Achison, John McNamara and more.

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