All the Colours of Uki
Words Michele Bevis
When I arrived about 15 years ago, Uki’s art scene was developing through two main events – Images of Uki and Ukitopia. Celebrating its 15th year over the Easter weekend in 2024 at the Uki School of Arts building, ‘Images of Uki’ showcases the work of artists with a 2484 postcode. This longstanding event provides an exhibition space for all artists and their artworks, family, friends and visitors wishing to engage with, appreciate and purchase original works.
Originally coinciding with Ukitopia Arts Collective’s weekend event in the village of Uki (you-kai), ‘Images’ became the opening event to the Ukitopia Festival: a long weekend of curated art and performance. The Ukitopia weekends were filled with live music on multiple stages throughout the village, stand-up comedy, circus performances, poetry and, of course, much more, adding to the history of arts in Uki.
Uki village’s (white) history starts in the cedar-getting days––from the 1850s until the early 1900s––the land was cleared of tall cedar trees as a saleable commodity. The clearing became a reserve suitable for travelling stock and later, for dairy farming.1
The Uki School of Arts, built in 1911, is one of the six remaining historic buildings in Uki which continues to be the centre of community activities and celebration. Otherwise known as “the Hall”, it hosts weekly events, including the Saturday Farmers’ Market, Capoeira, Just Dance, Yoga, Pilates, Taekwondo, Anzac Day breakfasts and various council meetings and community-led information sessions. Over the years the Hall played host to Miss Uki Balls, weekend roller-skating, Glo-dance, Cabaret 360 and fundraising events. More recently it became support central for our flooded community in 2022 and the birthplace of Resilient Uki.
The Norco Buttery Factory built in 1910 produced 149 tonnes of butter in its heyday and ceased operation in 1947. Now owned by the Uki Residents’ Association (UKIRA), “The Buttery” is a shopping and arts hub for eight local businesses, with the original butter churn on display out the front. The Buttery Building shops include: ‘Jewel of Uki’ and ‘Handmade in Uki’ offering locally made wares and handmade items, a vintage shop, Uki Pies, the Community Technology Centre, second-hand book shop and two artists run spaces: Little Gallery and Elemental Outpost.
UKIRA is a volunteer run, not-for-profit organisation supporting Uki residents and its communities through donations and support. The Images of Uki, Uki Moon Theatre Company, Uki Mountain Bike Park on Smiths Creek Road, Uki Historical Society and Uki Hall have all received support from UKIRA over the years. Additionally, UKIRA auspices the Uki Village Gardens and Little Gallery, in the Buttery, and publishes a bimonthly local newsletter. UKIRA’s Buttery Bazaar Market, operating for almost four decades, provides a traditional country market with food vans, diverse markets stalls and live music, supporting local and international musicians.
Operating since Easter 2022,”Little Gallery” is an artist run gallery space in the Buttery building. This small gallery, as the name implies, offers the twelve artists a dedicated exhibition space for selling unique artworks, hosting workshops and offering taster-events for our community, making art accessible. As a group of artists, we challenge and influence each other, growing together, creating a harmonious balance of constant change.
From one end of Uki to the other is a short walk, or a distracted meander as the shops beckon the viewer in. Uki boasts our own blacksmith, A Tinker’s Cuss, the Fair Trade Shoppe and Illusive Wood Designs at the further end of Uki. Further still is the Mount Warning Hotel just over the bridge. With a laundromat and Uki’s Supermarket catering for particular food requests.
Uki’s coffee scene is created by both the postmaster-roast master at Art Post Uki in yet another historic building, and Jess’s, in the Village and Co. Uki, at the entrance of the village.
Amidst subtropical rainforest, Uki is the gateway to Jerusalum National Park, Border Ranges NP and Wollumbin NP, offering visitors a diverse range of ways to slow down and connect.
1 (https://www.ukivillage.com.au/about_us)
To connect with Michele follow her on Instagram @emubeads
