Talking about artists in schools

Western Riverina Arts invites you to enjoy an evening of guest speakers at the Leeton Multipurpose Community Centre on Thursday 5th March from 6pm. 

He'll also be running a workshop on the following day, see information near the end of this post

The theme for the evening will be Artists in Schools, and all of the speakers will give short and engaging ‘petrol kulture’ style presentations (a quick talk accompanied by images).

Heading the line-up will be noted Australian artist Jason Wing. Wing is an artist of Aboriginal and Chinese heritage and has exhibited work both nationally and internationally. His work is held in both private and public collections including the National Gallery of Australia. Wing is well known for his innovative and collaborative mural projects, and while in Leeton he will be developing a new mural work with the students at Leeton High School.

Joining Jason Wing to speak will be a group of local artists and arts workers who have also undertaken different arts projects working with schools:

• Sarah McEwan is an artist based in Narrandera – as a part of the CAD Factory she has worked with a number of schools on arts projects, including recently developing a smartphone app with the students of Narrandera High School.
• Melanie Baulch is an artist from Griffith who has been running art classes for children for many years. In 2014 she was one of the lead artists employed for the Western Riverina Arts project ‘Eco-Deco’, a project that saw her lead creative workshops using natural materials in schools across Griffith and Leeton.
• Louise Cooper is an artist from Leeton who is currently engaged in managing the Western Riverina Arts project ‘For Prosperty’s Sake’, an oral history project that will see her work with children to animate recorded stories. She will also be employed to be Wamoon Public School’s first artist-in-residence in 2015.
• Renee De Saxe is an artist from Griffith. In 2014 she initiated and managed the Lake Wyangan Public School’s inaugural photography festival, a project that involved artists working in the school to run workshops, and also to develop an exhibition outcome. 

This evening will be lively and engaging and will definitely be of particular interest to teachers, art enthusiasts, or anyone concerned about the role the creative arts should play in our education system. RSVP via the event on the Western Riverina Arts Facebook Page.

On Friday 6th March from 5pm Jason Wing will also run a FREE masterclass for artists and teachers, a practical workshop where he will guide people through stencil-based techniques that can be easily adapted for use on fabric. This event will be held in the art workshop area of the Leeton Multipurpose Centre.  

Reassembling for International Women’s Day

On Sunday 8 March it’s International Women’s Day with the theme this year, ‘Make it Happen,’ so that’s exactly what two Riverina artists decided to do. 

Julie Montgarrett, Lecturer in Creative Arts and Design at Charles Sturt University and Sarah McEwan, Creative Producer from The Cad Factory are co-curating an exhibition called RE//ASSEMBLING at the HR Gallop Gallery at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga to mark the 40th anniversary of the United Nations declaring March 8 International Women’s Day.

The exhibition will feature 21 female artists spanning from Leeton and Narrandera in the Western Riverina to Temora, Coolamon, Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga in the Eastern Riverina. The exhibition provides a snapshot of the practices and conceptual concerns of female artists residing within these locations.

The diversity of the artists is almost as vast as their ages, ranging from artists who have just finished high school to a number of women over 60 with decades of experience. The exhibition will feature weaving, installation, video, photography, painting, sculpture and printmaking.

Sarah McEwan says, “Current conversations in feminism highlight the importance of intergenerational gatherings of women. The points of difference from generation to generation are to be listened to and discussed so we can understand the complexity of women having equal participation in all aspects of life.”

Julie Montgarrett says, “Looking back over 40 years of International Women’s Day celebrations, it is heartening to see how much has changed – and equally frustrating to recognise how much is still to be debated and resolved. While the F-word is part of common parlance, it retains problematic and often ambiguous meanings for women of all ages, who use it with both derision and with pride. Perhaps, despite the passing of 40 years, the one constant, common thread is that for all women, the Women’s Liberation maxim of the 1960’s and 70’s remains true – the personal is political.”

The exhibition runs from 6 - 25 March with a special opening celebration on Sunday 8 March from 2pm - 4pm with Jan Roberts OAM, pioneering Wagga women’s health advocate, as the special guest speaker. All are welcome to come along to the opening and exhibition to see what kind of work female artists in the region are making and to show support for the equality of women.

Shown is Melanie Evans' textile work. Image supplied.

For Prosperitys Sake Seniors Stories project update

Louise Cooper, facilitating artist of Western Riverina Arts For Prosperitys Sake Seniors Stories project has been busy meeting with local seniors this month. Maisie Miller, Margaret Sands, Patricia Thomson, Bev Evans and David Boyd to name but a few.

Each with their own wonderful life story proving that everyone has their own story to tell. Louise will be at Whitton Courthouse to sit down with seniors for a chat on the microphone and collect their life and childhood stories on Tuesday Feb 24 11am-2pm and at Wamoon Public School on Thursday Feb 26 9am-2pm. Stories will be published in a book, online and some childhood stories will be selected to be animated by local school children and shown at the Roxy.

Louise has also been running free weekly craft workshops for Seniors – those aged over 60. February’s theme has been Decoupage. In March, we will shift the focus to photography. Community Transport have volunteered their bus on Tuesday, March 3 11-midday to allow Seniors to tour Leeton taking photos of “Where Our Memories Were Made”. 

There will be space for 7 participants in the bus so register quickly to make sure you secure your place! Call Community Transport on 6953 6999. Whether we have been here for a year or generations, we all have memories made in Leeton – when did you first go to the Roxy? Where were your memories made in Leeton? Each Tuesday in March thereafter, Seniors will be invited to meet in the library for free self-publishing workshops with Louise from 11am-midday. Seniors will print their photos, write their memories alongside them and self-publish a zine "Where our Memories were Made".

Each Friday in March, from 2-3pm, Seniors are invited to a free series of workshops at the new Multipurpose Centre in Wade Ave. Bring along some old photos to work with on Friday 6, 13, 20 and 27 – you needn’t be Da Vinci to have some creative fun!

To share your story with Louise in a spoken word interview, or participate in a March workshop please contact Louise on 0499552536. This project is supported by the Office for Ageing’s Regional Creative Ageing Fund, a devolved funding program administered by Regional Arts NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.

Photo of Louise Cooper and Bev Evans, Decoupage Workshop, taken by Jason Richardson.

Singing in Wiradjuri

Beaut animation accompanying a Wiradjuri version of the classic song "Heads and shoulders". It's great to hear the language of the original inhabitants of the Riverina.

Finding Your Pot of Gold

Do you have an idea for a community-based project? Are you looking to explore grant opportunities to help fund your project and make it happen?

"Nobody really believes in pots of money at the end of rainbows but I like to think they do exist for artists," said Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer with Western Riverina Arts. “Of course just like any good treasure hunter, you need to do your research and put in some hard work.”

"There are many funding sources available for arts projects, and part of the role of our regional arts organisation is to help artists access that kind of support."

Funding can come from local, state or national government organisations, as well as commercial sources. Some grants are tied to specific outcomes, while others have a wider scope for their use.

As part of the workshop program planned by Leeton Shire Council to promote the opening of the Multipurpose Centre in Wade Avenue, Western Riverina Arts offer a workshop to help artists and community-based organisations understand the process of allocating funding.

This practical workshop will give you all the basics you need to know about funding and grant opportunities. Participants will be briefed on relevant grants and will be given space to discuss their projects ideas. They will also be taken through the process of applying for a grant.

"This will be a two-part workshop," said Mr Motion. "First we'll look at the grants available and discuss ideas for projects, looking at how to identify the appropriate proposal for a funding source.

"This will be followed with a practical session on how to apply, with consideration for how a grant application is reviewed."

Derek Motion has many years experience working with funding bodies at a local, state and federal Government level. He has successfully applied for and managed grants, and has also sat on grant assessment panels.

To register your interest in attending the Western Riverina Arts funding workshop on Monday 23 February from 6pm, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/grant-writing-workshop-tickets-15265154488