Summing up the CrossBorder art exhibition – A fitting way to celebrate the significance of wetlands
CrossBorder by name and cross-border by nature, last month’s exhibition exploring the significance of wetlands across our region was a wonderful event. The show included artists from both sides of the border and was exhibited in two vastly different venues, but carried a consistent message. Friday night’s show was in Joann Fife’s beautiful Chapel studio, where the light and architecture created a wonderful ambiance for a bustling crowd. We were delighted with the response of the South East community on Friday night, with around 80 people joining us for good art, good wine and great conversation. We were even lucky enough to have some good friends from across the border venture over to join us. Brenton and Sandra Manser provided a wonderful musical backdrop for the building crowd and we had the opportunity to acknowledge our achievement with the Mt Burr Swamp campaign but also, to stand back and absorb the powerful artistic messages and the potential that this medium holds for articulating the importance of the work we do.
Sunday’s hanging was a different prospect with a rapid conversion of a well-used shearing shed to a presentable but rustic setting, against the spectacular backdrop of Mt Burr Swamp. Many thanks to all of the artists who prepared works for the show: Dianna Wiseman, Joann Fife, Steve Bourne, Bianca Richardson, Susie Hill, Julia Reader, Barbara Lightburn, Kristyn Jones, Anne Miles, Robert Miles, Dagny Strand, Trevor Smith, Carmel Wallace, David Higgins, Andrea Radley, Damian McDonald, Megan Nicolson, Merran Koren, Oriel Glennen, Cat Bailey and Margaret Smith. And also a huge thanks to Megan Nicolson for curating the show and Joann Fife for providing the Chapel Studio.
We are looking forward to further collaborative projects with regional artists and hope that our new habitat restoration reserve will provide a fitting venue for further inspiration. But for now, please enjoy some of the pictures from Friday and Sunday.
Sunday’s woolshed (left) and Friday night’s Chapel (right)
Crossing the border with precious cargo.
David Higgins – Fireball over Merri wetland 2016 Art on Media.
David Higgins – Fireball over Merri wetland 2016 Art on Media. Robert Miles Waterbirds 2014 Pine, limestone, redgum.
Carmel Wallace Mapping the Waters #17 Monotype (watercolour on paper), Julia Reader Brolga Blue 2016 Acrylic, digital technique, Kristyn Jones Heronslea 2016 Woven photograph on giclee fine art paper.
Megan Nicolson Swordgrass Brown Butterfly 2016 Hand embroidered cotton and wool thread, acrylic on linen, Oriel Glennen Its not easy being green – Growling Grass Frog 2016 Gouache on Canvas
