reimagining the murrumbidgee
In 2013 Western Riverina Arts was funded by the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (MCMA) to curate an exhibition featuring the works of local, regional artists, all exploring their relationships with the Murrumbidgee River.
The artists responded to the River in distinctly different artworks and their varied media offered an opportunity to compare and contrast themes such as environmental, economic and cultural significance.
Yenda-based artist Hape Kiddle worked on a Murrumbidgee riverbank to craft jewellery, carvings and silver spoons and showed how human culture developed through agriculture. Sarah McEwan's installation also showed a conceptual approach to art, while Trent Light's portraits and interviews with Narrandera residents capture local activities and interests – you can literally see and hear their relationship with the River.
David Williams showed the effect of Gogeldrie Weir on the Murrumbidgee, in a contemporary indigenous style; while Jason Richardson's soundtrack to the exhibition manipulates ambience from the River including birdsong, creaking branches and passing traffic.
There are many discussions around the Murrumbidgee River and the artists have explored ideas associated with this natural resource. Each artist was then commissioned to produce work in their chosen medium.
The resulting exhibition opened at the Roxy theatre in Leeton, and also toured to the Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery in 2014.
Listen to the interviews and the soundtrack of 'Reimagining the Murrumbidgee" here.