THE next few months will be flat-out for artist Andre Sardone, thanks to a business incubator that coincided with the pandemic.
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He is preparing for multiple exhibitions at View Street's Dudley House in June and is one of many artists planning to open their studios to the public in March for the public to see how they work.
Mr Sardone says his schedule has been turbocharged by Emporium Creative Hub's Creative Business Incubator designed to help 15 of the region's creatives think big.
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"It came at a really good time for me, when I was doing some interesting stuff and allowing me to take it further," Mr Sardone said.
"It's given me the ability to apply for some opportunities and I've been successful with some of them, so I have a real goal to work towards, now."
The participants will showcase what they have achieved in the three-and-a-half month program on Friday.
Mr Sardone trained as a plumber and decided 20 years ago to start using his skills to reuse materials.
"It's not just the traditional art lovers who seem to get something out of my work. I get a lot of farmers and engineers who recognise different components," he said.
"The components often already have a history, maybe because they've served a duty and then been discarded."
The most satisfying part of it was seeing forgotten things turned into beautiful objects, Mr Sardone said.
"I'm working with a lot of recycled materials I get from places like the Strathfieldsaye Transfer Depot," he said.
"It could also be waste from a steel fabrication company or old machinery. I put it together in different ways ... a lot of it is abstract or really nice shapes out of robust material."
Much of Mr Sardone's work is inspired by the natural world including what he sees around his Mandurang property.
"It's kinetic artwork that moves in the wind, is reflective, that birds can interact with," he said.
Mr Sardone said those who visited his property for Bendigo Open Studios over a March long weekend will see what he does, and how he does it.
"My property will be open and I will also have jeweller Milton Long and knife maker Christian Long who will be showing their pieces over all three days," he said.
"If you are lucky enough, our resident tawny frogmouth might even be sitting in the tree outside my studio, who knows?"
Mr Sardone will also exhibit two sculptures at Dudley House as part of side-by-side exhibitions that will also include works by photographer Bridget Finch.
The business incubation program will likely return later this year.
To find out more about Bendigo Open Studios 2021 visit www.bendigoopenstudios.org
To find out more about Andre Sardone's work, visit www.andresardone.com
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