SURFBOARDS and a 4.5 metre boat will be canvases for art battles at J-Shed in January as Sunset Events kicks off the first of its summer lineup at Bathers Beach.

A group of WA artists will have a set time in which to paint their piece before a live audience, with votes cast for the best.

Traditional canvases were set to be used “but we managed to get a 15-foot boat,” organiser Brendon Hutchens from VAM media says.

He was the man behind the boat art piece in Kings Square for the Fremantle Festival.

The wooden festival boat was taken apart and its colourful timbers used to make other things, but that’s not a fate this runabout will suffer.

”The owner will walk away with a floating art work,” Hutchens says, already musing over whether an annualised boat version of the former Deckchair Theatre’s painted deckchair auction is a possibility.

Art, music and food will come together in Seaside Creative Circles, a two-day extravaganza.

• Rene, Greg, Brendon, Sam, Kate, David and Ellen are looking forward to Seaside Creative Circles. Photo by Matthew Dwyer

Sunset’s plans for events at J-Shed drew a barrage of criticism from some locals worried about bogans but Hutchens says his brief is to create a “community, family friendly” event, “providing something for everyone”.

The final line-up of artists is to be announced but the Bathers Beach Arts Precinct will open its doors on the weekend, “with both events complementing each other and providing an exciting new addition to Fremantle’s summer events calendar,” Fremantle council community development boss Marisa Spaziani says.

Bodhi Tree Surfboards’ Greg Wallace will showcase his work creating hollow wooden surfboards, with displays and hands-on demonstrations.

There’ll be a feast of local music including Marley Wynn, Scott Basham, Travellers Well, Rachel Hocking, The Fabulous Band of Faceless Bureaucrats and Barefeet Sojourn, “providing an amazing opportunity for local musicians and creatives to work together in a unique and innovative space,” Freo music luminary Richard Lane says.

Food is available from vans. Entry is by gold coin donation, with funds to the Fremantle Foundation.

Seaside Creative Circles is January 23 and 24.

by JENNY D’ANGER