A WEEKEND of artistic immersion will unfold across the Loddon this weekend for the region’s second annual arts trail.
Pop-up exhibitions and studio open days will lead art fans to towns across the shire.
Organisers have expanded the creative experience with three new additions designed to give hands-on experience - a painting day in Pyramid Hill, a starters workshop in Boort and an introduction to a magical technique to create shadow art in Wedderburn.
Historian, playwright, and television writer Bill Garner will use the theme of this year’s trail, Seeing is Believing, for a talk at Wedderburn’s Coach House Gallery in Wedderburn on Saturday.
There’s also a free event at the Inglewood Eucalyptus Distillery Museum on Sunday with writer Sophie Cunningham and furniture-maker Damien Wright talking about eucalypts.
Tours of Inglewood’s historic mansion Nimmitabel are already heavily booked.
Acclaimed local artists Bill Offord, Barb Petrie, Kerry Punton, and Mal Gilmore are joined this year by new Trail participants, including Len Dierickx, David Milne and Robyn Holtham. In Tarnagulla, a big group exhibition at the Tarnagulla Hall will show the work of 16 artists, brought together by Arnold artist Mary-ann Scull.
In Boort, event newcomer Stuart Tweddle is turning the school’s art room into his studio for the weekend, as he works on one of his complex sculptures made from stuff he’s foraged from the tip. 
In the Memorial Hall, Vietnam veteran Paul Haw will display photographs he took while serving in the army of the Vietnamese people and the environment. and acrylic artist Kristen Cowland will run short “come and try” workshop. Also on display will be photographs of Boort in the 1950s and 1960s taken by Paul’s father Bill.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Boort Ward councillor-elect David Weaver.
Trail organiser Rosemary Sorensen says the arts trail had “a program that puts creativity front and centre”.
A community barbecue in Tarnagulla tomorrow night will official kick off the weekend of artistic celebrations.