A decade on, Bedfordale resident Sue Doorey didn’t expect her wish to get to know her neighbours would grow into an annual arts event for the Armadale community.
After retiring as an English teacher, Sue realised she didn’t know much about her neighbours.
“I’ve worked outside the area my whole working life, so I didn’t know the community,” she said.
“I had no idea it would still be going until now.
“It was just an interesting idea, and it meant I was able to meet people.
Sue said she retired on the Wednesday and called the council to share her idea the following Tuesday.
“I knew I couldn’t do this on my own,” she said.
“I rang the council before I went into hospital and they said, ‘we’ll get back to you’.
“As soon as I got home, the phone rang and it was someone from the council saying, ‘we’d love to do something.”
After a few meetings with then communities officer Jon Cope about who, what, when, where and how, Sue’s idea came to life.
“What was really nice was we went to each other’s houses rather than meeting at the council,” Sue said.
“It made it more personal.”
Sue expressed deep gratitude for the city’s support throughout the 10 years.
“They do a huge amount of work,” she said.
“Without them, we would have been wandering around the dark.”
Sue said she’s seen more artists and more visitors participate throughout the years, but she’s also noticed changes in the types of art people were bringing with them.
“This year we’ve got several new people, and we’ve even got someone who’s got a wonderful garden as part of the art trail,” she said.
“We’re expanding.”
Sue said events like the arts trail helped smaller artists get their name out.
“There is a bit of a clique of artists who are on the inside,” she said.
“I always see the same names at (art exhibitions).
“I think it’s probably hard to break into them if you’re not in the spotlight and if you’re not out there – if you’re not visible.
“You really have to be a bit of a mover and shaker and make the effort to get into groups.”
Sue said she was excited to see the Perth Hills art community grow and hoped they would work together in the future.
“The fellow who runs (the Zig Zag Gallery) is trying to put together a Perth Hills Alliance of Arts so that Mundaring, Kalamunda, us, maybe other groups, will be under Tourism (WA),” she said.
“Rather than running it ourselves and promoting it ourselves, hopefully it will lead to use being advertised through Tourism WA.”
Photographs – Cindy Cartojano.
