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JULY WRAP | WRA FOCUS l ARTIST OF THE MONTH | EVENTS | OPPORTUNITIES | GRANTS
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Regional Futures
Artists in Volatile Landscapes l Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre l Until 24 September 2023
The team at Western Riverina Arts had the privilege of attending the Regional Futures Symposium and Exhibition opening of 'Artists in Volatile Landscapes' at the Casula Powerhouse.
The Symposium, through panel discussions, roundtables and hands on art and bread-making, took a deep dive into regionalism, community engagement, deep listening and community recovery and resilience.
Regional Futures is the result of two years of collaboration across all 15 of the NSW Regional Arts Development Organisations, with the resulting exhibition 'Artists in Volatile Landscapes' featuring the work of 30 regional artists in response to the question 'What does the future look like for your region?'.
Western Riverina Arts supported emerging Western Riverina Artist Jacob Charles as the youngest participant in the exhibition, with his work 'Passing Down Knowledge' created as part of a mentorship with sculptor and jewellery maker Hape Kiddle. Of his work, which is a sculpted bowl in River Red Gum Jacob says "There is an invisible rope that connects me to the river red gums, to my people who stood here in the past and to those who will stand here in the future." Hape says "The mentorship with Jacob has shown me that Jacob has great courage in who he is as a gifted young Wiradjuri artist, and that Jacob is filling out into the world in that role. I think our conversation will continue."
The exhibition will continue through to September 2023 at the Casula Powerhouse and Arts Centre
Image: 'Passing Down Knowledge' River Red Gum carving, Jacob Charles courtesy Western Riverina Arts
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Announcing our RoR Resident 2023
Darby Ingram - podcaster and digital sound artist to take up residency.
Western Riverina Arts (WRA) and Rooms of Requirement (RoR Space) are delighted to announce that the 2023 ROR Space Residency recipient is Darby Ingram.
Darby is a Wiradjuri and Pacific Island woman, writer, and storyteller. She will use the RoR Residency to produce and promote her podcast, bringing Wiradjuri histories into the digital age.
“The shared workspace and exposure to fellow creatives will be a constant source of inspiration and empowerment for me. The residency offers a designated space for me to focus on work, RoR offers a safe space for my guests to feature on the podcast. I am looking forward to welcoming and hosting Elders and other community members to this beautiful space and asking them to share their knowledge and stories with me.” said Darby.
Kristy-Lee Agresta, owner of ROR Space says: “The ROR Residency is in its second year, and the quality of the applications was very high, and very diverse. I am excited to see and hear what Darby, as a local emerging artist, creates during her time in the space, and how she intends to bring in members of the community to collaborate in the recordings with their own stories and knowledge. I am delighted that the space can occupy such a diverse practice.”
Image: Darby Ingram with her son Archie McCrae courtesy of the artist.
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WRA FOCUS - GRIFFITH CITY BAND
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Griffith City Band
Town bands provide heartbeat and rhythm to a community, and the Griffith City Band is so culturally important in our region. Driven by a small group of passionate and unstoppable volunteers Griffith City Band is a community concert band for brass, woodwind and percussion players of all ages.
Griffith City Band activities include building, educating and maintaining a junior and senior band program, that serves the community through public performance, supports civic events, and volunteers to support other community organisations. Hosting free and cost-based workshops open to school students, local and regional residents, and providing volunteer tuition and program guidance to form, maintain, and band programs in public schools. The band also provides a low-cost venue to the public for for the purpose of teaching and creating music. New members are always welcome and you can find out more about joining on their socials.
Junior Band Practice is each Monday from 4pm-5.30pm
Senior Band Practice is each Monday from 6pm-8pm
The performance 'Arachnids, Kids and Diversions' will be taking place at St Albans Cathedral 107 Binya St Griffith on Sunday 6th August at 2pm.
Image: Courtesy Griffith City Band
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JULY 2023 ARTIST OF THE MONTH - LEILA CONSTABLE
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Leila Constable - Making, Painting and Creating in Narrandera
Western Riverina Arts Artist of the Month Leila Constable, of Narrandera, has been drawing, making, painting and creating literally all her life, fitting her art in and around the demands of family, work and the general business of life.
“Even as a tiny kid, I’d be somewhere with my pencils looking for the horizon line, adding in the trees, the sun. That was my go-to.” With six siblings in a busy household in semi-rural Telopea, Leila would opt for her art; and there was much to draw with a block full of vegetable gardens, a chook run, a dam and plenty of visiting wildlife. As a child she was also fascinated with the craft of animators – the swift transitions, the facial expressions, the body movements, and the humour of studio cartoons like the Merry Melodies.
Life was busy, but not easy for the family. "I grew up in a time when the welfare checks were constant and Dad, being Wiradjuri from Bathurst, was always on high alert protecting us from any chance of being taken from him and our mother. We had to hide who we were. I thought he was so tough in those days, but later as I learned that his siblings were taken away from the family, I really did come to understand his reasons and that he was protecting us,” said Leila
Leila left school to take work in a nearby factory, but the pull toward art was too strong. A TAFE course in Showcard & Ticket Writing provided her with solid graphic design and planning skills and some formal training.
As a single working mother raising two little boys Leila found tiny pockets of time to go on with her art; producing banners, posters and bill boards for the local businesses in her neighbourhood. “The commissions ebbed and flowed - everything from simple little note cards for the local florist, to posters for the deli. The local supermarket would give me butcher’s paper and the weekend specials to draw up for them every week.”
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On the passing of her father Leila was determined to learn more about the events of his life and her own Wiradjuri ancestry. With the support of LinkUp she spent 15 years piecing together the family stories and history, bringing more and more of what she was learning into her art practice. “I get an image, or an idea in my head and it will not leave me alone until it is a drawing, a painting or a mural.”
An unexpected side-trip to Portland was the catalyst that brought all the artistic and cultural pieces of Leila’s life together when she and her partner Wazza (Warren) found, purchased, and completely renovated a worn out but still-beautiful shop front and residence in the town. She opened the Hunny Ant Gallery and Hoardin’ Pavilion on Willawa St Portland in early 2019.
During this time, she struck up a friendship with Ron Bidwell (Biddy) – a retired sign writer and self-confessed ‘blow-in’ from Sydney. Ron had a huge impact on the town by encouraging and working on the restoration of the signage and artwork of yesteryear throughout the town. Biddy also had a big impact on Leila as an emerging artist in her own right. “We’d walk together, he would call in and see me at the gallery; he was interested in my work and had an opinion on it. He’d say to me, ‘Just paint, Leila, just paint.’ He understood that force that artists have, that won’t leave them alone. I think I drew a lot of confidence from his support and words to just keep moving with my own art work, and not be discouraged. I started to really dig deeply into my Wiradjuri culture and bring it through into the artwork.”
Hunny Ant Gallery became a must-stop on the Lithgow Arts Trail with art and curios and increasingly Leila’s own work, more and more learning from the community, investigating and expressing her cultural heritage. Local commissions for wall work and huge murals also began to flow.
The business was busy and growing when the Covid-19 pandemic dealt its lethal blow; punching out the lights on bustling little country towns like Portland, and businesses like Leila’s that relied on the passing trade of locals and visitors. There was no option but to close shop. It was a huge blow after so much work.
Her new confidence in her art, her early fascination with animation, and her work in disability enabled Leila to accept a commission from the First People’s Disability Network of Queensland to develop an illustrated booklet about staying Covid safe. Leila's beautifully and sensitively illustrated booklet provided important, life-saving information through illustration, style, and language. "I loved using all my skills to help keep people safe."
Work and happenstance brought the couple to Narrandera. Leila now paints and draws in her light-filled studio - fulfilling commissions, dreaming and painting murals into life, and bringing heritage and stories, both her own or collected into creation. You can find Leila's most recent works at Hunny Ant Art.
Images: Leila Constable in her Narrandera Studio, Leila Constable & Julie Briggs, 'Ancestors Dancing' Leila Constable courtesy Western Riverina Arts
Story: Gemma Purcell 25th July 2023
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Waste to Art
Murrumbidgee Council
Willows Homestead Jerilderie
The Murrumbidgee Council Waste to Art Exhibition is now open in Jerilderie until 8 August 2023.
It is creative, collaborative and clever. Do see it!
Jerilderie – 25 July to 8 August 2023, The Willows Homestead, 11 Powell Street Jerilderie
Image: 'Trio of Aliens' by Peter Gras courtesy Western Riverina Arts.
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Grass Roots Under 30s Open Mic
Sunday, 30 July 2023 | 2:00 PM
Enjoy live music at the Griffith Regional Theatre on Sunday 30 July.
So far the 2023 comp will provide a variety of talent on stage with performances from Alex PIETRO (Alex Pietroboni), Michael Dilorenzo, Liam Corbett, Belle Madden, Viviana Degenkamp, Beacho (Xavier Beauchamp), Lucy Cullen, Leo Forner, Josh Campbell and Drew Browne and Josephine Furore. Tickets are just $10.
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Jibber Jabber Jamboree
Griffith Regional Theatre
Saturday 5th August 8pm
To celebrate Ross Noble's 21st sola stand-up tour, he invites you to join him for an evening of the sort of inspired nonsense that has cemented his place as the supreme master of stream of conscious freewheeling stand up.
This is a chance to see Noble live on stage in his natural habitat.
What’s it about? What will we learn? How will it change the world? Are all pointless questions to ask when Noble is off on one of his tangents.
Grab a ticket and come and enjoy the ride. Recommended age 15 + for this performance
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Ngurambang: Our Riverina
Griffith Regional Art Gallery
Until Sunday 20 August
A collaboration from emerging and established artists working across the Eastern and Western Riverina. The result contrasts familiar landmarks through individual perspectives, catching glimpses of how our landscape appears through the eyes of others.
Supported by Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Red Earth Ecology, Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW through funding from the NSW Government.
Image: Section GEO // GRAPHOLOGY(2023) Jo Roberts Courtesy Griffith City Art Gallery
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Forever Diamond
An international production endorsed by music legend Neil Diamond. This is your opportunity to experience that same spontaneous display of energy and sensuality with the superb talents of internationally renowned artist Peter Byrne and his award winning production Forever Diamond, a show performing Neil Diamond's greatest hits spanning over three decades, in an uncanny portrayal that has to be seen to be believed. Come and hear all the great hits such as – Sweet Caroline, Song Sung Blue, I am I Said, Cherry Cherry, Beautiful Noise, Cracklin Rosie, Crunchy Cranola Suite, Holly Holy, Solitary Man & many many more. You're sure to enjoy a great night of entertainment.
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Let's Collaborate - Open Studio Sessions
Griffith Regional Art Gallery l 167 Banna Avenue Griffith
Open Studio Sessions
The Griffith Regional Art Gallery is opening its courtyard for artists to come in and enjoy a collaborative art space. Do you have an art project or work that you have been working on and just can't get finished? Book a place at the gallery Open Studio Session and meet other artists for encouragement, inspiration and friendship. Open Studio Sessions are available to those 18 years and over.
Saturday 29 July - 11.30am - 1.30pm
Thursday 10th August - 6pm - 8pm
Saturday 19 August - 11.30am - 1.30pm
Bookings online.
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ABC Haywire Competition Open Now
Heywire is a lived experience storytelling competition from the ABC, calling for stories from young people aged between 16-22 in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Entries must be a true story about an aspect of your life. Stories can be in any format: text, video or audio — whatever form suits you best!
If you need help deciding what to write about or how to start writing your story, you can take part in an online Heywire Storytelling workshop.
Entries are open for our 2024 Competition and close on September 1st 2023. Fill out this form or visit ABC wesbite.
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Creative Riverina Database
Are you on the database? Artists and performers of all kinds are listed on CREATIVE RIVERINA, the go-to online directory for creatives in our region! Make sure people can find you - create your FREE listing today!
The online database is also accompanied by a supportive online Facebook group with over 400 members. Artists and arts organisations of all types from Riverina NSW can share their ideas, events and simply connect! Join the CREATIVE RIVERINA group now!
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NSW Writers
Mentoring Program for Emerging Writers from Diverse Backgrounds
As part of the 2023 program, up to six emerging writers from Indigenous or culturally diverse backgrounds will be given the opportunity to work on a short piece of fiction or non-fiction (2000-5000 words) under the guidance of award-winning author Eugen Bacon and with support from Writing NSW.
The program is open to emerging writers from Indigenous or culturally diverse backgrounds who have some record of publication but have not yet published a book-length work. Applicants must be NSW residents and over the age of 18.
Successful applicants will receive mentoring from Eugen Bacon between September and December 2023, membership and development opportunities from Writing NSW, including a free short course of their choosing (subject to availability), and the opportunity to submit their work for publication on Writing NSW platforms
Entries close Sunday 20 August at 11:59PM.
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$10,000 Windmill Trust Scholarship Opens
Closes 23:59 AEST Sunday 3 September 2023.
1 x $10,000 scholarship will be awarded.
The Windmill Trust, together with the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA), is pleased to announce that the 2023 Windmill Trust Scholarship for Regional NSW Artists has opened for applications.
This award opens up avenues for regional artists seeking to further their professional development, exhibition opportunities, deepen research or change direction in their practice with a $10,000 scholarship.
For further information on the Windmill Trust and previous winners of this award visit: www.windmilltrust.org.au.
Image: Installation view of gii mara-bula/ Heart Hand at Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery. 2022 Windmill Trust Scholarship recipient Juanita McLauchlan. Photo by James Farley.
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13th Hornsby Art Prize
Open to all Australian Artists
The 13th Hornsby Art Prize is organised and sponsored by Hornsby Shire Council and delivered in partnership with the Hornsby Art Society.
Artists are invited to submit works in the following categories: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Digital Art Stills and Sculpture. This year, the competition has an overall prize pool value of $23,000, with the major prize worth $10,000. The non-acquisitive prize celebrates Australian Contemporary Art and is open to all Australian residents aged 18 years and over. It also celebrates Hornsby Shire residents with the Hornsby Shire Local Artist Award with a prize of $5,000.
The Hornsby Art Prize Finalists’ Exhibition will be held at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, Hornsby, from Friday 20 October until Sunday 5 November 2023.
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ArtScreen 2023
Applications are now open for ArtScreen 2023.
This visual art project enables professional artists with disability or who are d/Deaf to develop their creativity and careers through producing work in the increasingly popular format of video art.
Two artists will be selected to create new works which explore themes of identity, access and social connectedness. Each artist will receive $13,000 in grant funding towards the production of their work.
The two artworks produced as part of this program will have a World Premiere screening at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in December 2023 to help celebrate International Day of People with Disability.
ArtScreen 2023 is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and in-kind contributions from Accessible Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, ACE and Bus Stop Films.
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