Artist haven in Invermay wants to share art with you, not sell it (2025)

For 25 years, Sawtooth ARI has been run by artists for artists.

The non-for-profit organisation keeps art alive by paying artists to exhibit their work every six weeks in Invermay.

Director Zara Scully said art was vital in communities and undeniably a huge part of everyday life.

"You can't wake up without experiencing the arts - we look at our phones, there's a photo, we listen to music, we put on the radio on in the car, visual arts is a part of that," they said.

Unlike commercial galleries, Mx Scully said Sawtooth ARI focused on artist experimentation.

"Allowing artists to experiment is really important, and that's what we are really dedicated to," they said.

"Artists can put themselves out there in a way that you can't in a commercial gallery."

Mx Sculy said she was privileged to be able to work alongside artists and offer them a unique exhibition experience.

"Not many people get to say they love their job, but I do," they said.

"I think that's the ultimate privilege I have, I love the arts and I love working with artists, it's all I know."

Reliving the past

As part of the next exhibition - which opened on Thursday, April 24 - Palestinian-American artist Noel Maghathe displayed their work, titled Over Everything.

"This is a project I've been exploring for over a year. I've been thinking about memory and distance through time," she said.

Mx Maghathe scanned and printed family photos taken in Palestine and America onto transparent fabric.

"I've been playing around with layering and my own relationship to memory and time," they said.

Mx Maghathe said that although she doesn't have any memory of most of the images, she was applying her own "context and thoughts" onto them.

"They're a diary of images and memories that I don't feel necessarily connected to because I don't remember them," they said.

"But I'm giving myself permission to claim them as my memories."

Described as "very emotional", Mx Maghathe said they were excited to show their work in Tasmania for the first time.

Local Pakana artist DENNI will also display works at the exhibition along with local artists Dave Carswell and Karen Hall.

The exhibition's opening was held on Thursday, April 24 from 6 to 9 pm at Sawtooth ARI in Invermay.