Ford Street in Ganmain will be transformed into a collection of art galleries over three days between June 24 to 26.

The inaugural Ganmain Art Festival on Ford event has been organised by Myfanwy Collette and her stepdaughter Rosemary Ashton.

Mrs Collette, who was married to local doctor the late Brian Clarke, explained how the idea of hosting an art festival eventuated.

“Brian retired and was 93 when he died and towards the end of his life, his daughter Rosemary came to help look after him,” Mrs Collette said.

“She arrived in the middle of the Ganmain harvest and was amazed with the activity she saw in the village.

“Rosemary is a retired doctor herself and an artist too, so she started painting several local farmers, headers and scenes from the whole harvest and wanted to come back to Ganmain to show her work.

“We decided it was an opportunity we couldn’t let go away and decided to have other artists involved.

“It’s sort of a way for Brian and his family acknowledging the wonderful little village of Ganmain and as an appreciation of his life.”

About 20 artists will display their works on Ford Street each day between 10am and 3pm.

Mrs Collette praised the locals for throwing their support behind the art festival.

She said it would not have been possible without the help of the “community-oriented” people of Ganmain.

“It’s all for free and it’s the whole main street that’s opening up,” Mrs Collette said.

“It’s a good opportunity for people to come to Ganmain, to stroll around town and browse and experience a collection of artists displaying works in the shops along Ford Street and have a cuppa.

“There will also be a sculptor, a small amount of photographic works, fabric dyeing, porcelain dolls, mosaics and ceramics, but it’ll mostly be paintings.”

The art displays will all be located inside the shops with most of the artworks on display at Ganmain Hall.

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 23 June 2022.