Songs & Poems from A Gathered Distance and A Beginner’s Guide: The Blue Square Art Festival, Saturday 27 May 2023

SONJA MILLIS of ArtHead Moss Vale has run the Blue Square art prize for ten years. The prize celebrates the life and art of her late husband Bob Millis; it raises awareness of cancer and it raises funds for the work of Can Assist who help many families afflicted by cancer, especially in rural areas like this. (I got to see the work that Can Assist do over the past couple of years, when when first Dad and then Mum were afflicted.)

The Blue Square also promotes values Bob and Sonja stand for in their artwork and their lives: the democracy of creativity and the healing properties of art making. For the past few years, I’ve been proud to take part in the festival that surrounds the hanging of the artworks submitted for the prize at the Bowral District Art Society gallery. Again this year, at Sonja’s invitation, I’ll be doing a show with my brother Russell and his band. Russ has set many of the poems from my three most recent books (A Gathered Distance, Walking Underwater, and A Beginner’s Guide);  he’ll perform two sets of the best of those on the night, and I’ll read three or four new poems. There may also be a guest appearance from some overseas and interstate performers.

It’s always a great night in the gallery among the paintings. Come on down, and don’t forget to rug up. Winter is in.  

All Blue Square events support raising money for CanAssist.