In one week the first exhibition of KI Art Feast 08 opens at Sunset Winery, Saturday 27 September. Featuring all new work from 20 of the island’s most talented artists the event is set for the first weekend of the school holidays.

The best of ‘Fine Art Kangaroo Island’ will showcase the two newest works from recent Waterhouse celebrity Janine Mackintosh. Double prize winner - second in the works on paper and overall people’s choice first prize - Janine’s win is even more exceptional as the prestigious Waterhouse drew 693 entries from 18 countries. These two new mandalas were created during her artist in residency at this year’s exhibition and will hang at Sunset until October 12.

Janine, who has given up her day job to concentrate on her art will be creating and exhibiting more of these exceptional unique pieces here on KI.

“It is so exciting that this sixth Sunset exhibition, our first debut as the Island’s newest gallery, will feature world class artwork from so many of the Island’s artists” said curator Fleur Peters. “We will transform the cellar door and vault in a way you haven’t seen before with outstanding art pieces including paintings, ceramics, and glass that demonstrate new directions for many of the artists”.

Included will be three minimalist Diana Keir canvases inspired by the different perspectives that aerial photography bring to Chapman River. Nick Pike has got big and will blow you away with his flight of oyster catchers across a stylised sea like nothing we have seen before. ‘Shep’ Neil Sheppard is getting looser! He is using really big brushes waved madly around to produce works that simplify the landscape but wow you with the colours.

Mark Capon is producing new and larger sculptoral ceramics reminiscent of his amazing retrospective of a few years ago. Jenny Clapson also has new work not yet seen on KI and Albert ‘Sonny’ Joseph continues his narrative themed paintings, . He presents ‘Message in the Bottle, together with the launch of his new book of poems by Meredith Geyer.

All this, together with unseen new watercolours from Cathy O’Brien, colourful mixed media creations from Suzanne Trethewey, new digital photographic montages from Rod Cowin, photography, pastels, glass, jewellery, ceramics and two large 2m found object sculpture from Phil Baines and Fred Peters.

Talented duo Suede will woo you with melodic vocals and guitar.

The exhibition will open at 6.30pm on Saturday 27 September by Anna Hadland.