Bluethumb’s Midsumma
Over a scorching hot Melbourne Sunday, as temperatures soared into the mid 30s, the fabulous fun that was the Midsumma Carnival took place in the Alexandra Gardens by the Yarra. In the early morning amongst the other carnival stalls, there our Bluethumb team began the construction of the pop-up artist showcase and photo booth.
Freddy hanging up Kim Leutwyler’s ‘Liv and Beck in Yellow and Salmon’
Showcasing in our stall we had artwork from four of our amazing Bluethumb artists. One of the artists was Kim Leutwyler who was the winner of the Midsumma guide cover competition. Kim is an American-born and Sydney-based artist who is still riding off the success of being a finalist in the 2015 national Archibald prize with her portrait of top model and activist Ollie Henderson named Start the Riot. Kim’s current work is bright, bold portraits using abstract elements that deal with images of beauty, gender and Queer-identity.
‘Leather’ one of Kim’s artworks shown at Midsumma
We also were lucky enough to have artwork from Leith Kennedy shown as well. His colourful painting ares of the absurd and grotesque. His subjects range from pets to people, caught doing some stomach churning activities. He paints these subjects with a unique style of wit, delight and humour.
“as a gay artist, I am so excited by marriage equality and for this reason my subjects are genderless, as gender and love in my mind should not really matter – at least in my world! “ Kiss by Leith Kennedy
The showcase included artwork from other artists such as Melbourne based illustrator and artist Mike Adey along with the colourful abstracts by artist Sabina D’Antonio from the Mornington Peninsula.
A diamond on the mind by Mike Adey
On the day, Freddy and Janni with Sabina D’Antonio and her artwork Beachbox Daze
Those attending on the day where quick to sign up to enter the draw to win a $500 Bluethumb gift voucher. The competition is still on until the 29th of February so even if you couldn’t make it down you can still enter for your chance to win here.
