ONE is an avid art collector and the other proclaims she knows nothing about art.
Together Paul Danks and Maxine Alexander are the eyes and muscle behind Art in the Vines.
For the past 11-years they have organised and run Broke Public School’s major fundraiser.
The two, along with Paul’s wife and Maxine’s sister Judith Danks (dec), were responsible for show’s initiation in 1999.
While the trio didn’t come up with the idea typical to their country up bringings and strong work ethic they were the ones that made it a reality.
“Mary-Lou (Whelan), a commitee member at the time, had come from an area that had an art show as their major fundraiser and we thought we’d give it a go,” she said.
Since that first year Paul and Maxine have quietly gone about their roles raising money for the school.
The past three-years they have raised $15,000 for Broke School.
Over the 11-years their fundraiser has helped build a new school canteen and a multi purpose building, something the school would be without if not for their help.
The kids are the reason they continue to run the annual show despite jokes they will one day get out.
Paul’s three children have all left Broke Public School and Maxine has only one of five left at the school.
Jokes aside it is a show they have grown to love and have put countless hours of effort into making it a success.
“The first couple of years we had a lot of local people who entered but since then it has really diversified,” said Maxine.
“This year we’ve covered a vast area of the Hunter, Central Coast, Dubbo and Sydney and in other years Port Macquarie and Nelsons Bay,” she said.
This year’s show, which opens tonight, has attracted over 300 entries from across New South Wales.
Over the past three-days, Paul and Maxine have led a team of dedicated volunteers who have unwrapped, hung and then reorganised the space that is Nightingale Wines barrel room into an art show.
Max describes the process like a jigsaw trying to fit the right pieces into the puzzle.
“It’s a bit like a jigsaw because you can’t have work similar in colour and tone hanging together.
“You need to find the right pieces that will compliment each other,” she said.
As a team Paul and Maxine are a formidable pair getting in and doing what needs to be done.
Both quiet achievers Paul and Maxine are certainly not ones to toot their own horns but they are proud of their show and what it has achieved.
“It’s unique in its location and that it caters to different modes of art such as pottery, sculpture and photography,” Paul said.
Something they were intent on doing and they say the show’s location is part of its attraction to artists.
“On Friday night, there is a great ambience with the backdrop of the barrels and the lights turned on,” Maxine said.
Art in the Vines opens tonight at 7pm at Nightingale Wines with prizes announced at 8pm.
This year’s judge is Gulgong’s Brett ‘Mon’ Garling known for his recent bronzed work of Ray Price and Glenn McGrath.
Art in the Vines runs all weekend in conjunction with the Broke Village Fair with all welcome to stop in and check out the quality works on display.
The community and Broke Public School are the real winners of this great country art show and it’s all thanks to the efforts of Maxine, Paul and Judith.
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