Arts

St. Arnaud artist, Gabriele Rohlje, is all set to unveil her latest creative works at the upcoming exhibition titled “Sayings and Quotations” at the St. Arnaud Raillery Hub Gallery on Queen Street, St. Arnaud. Gabriele has been a prominent figure in the St. Arnaud contemporary art scene for several years now, known for her unique style that blends figurative and abstract elements in a stunning display of colour and form.

Narrandera-based artist Vic McEwan, who is also the National Museum’s 2015 artist-in-residence, created the large-scale still photography and video works in ‘Haunting’, in collaboration with curator George Main ... Haunting honours the Murrumbidgee River and its communities of people and other living beings.

There's something big happening at this weekend’s Lockhart Heritage Truck Show, and it’s not just the trucks. This year, for the first time, it’s not all about heavy vehicles. There’s something new in the pavilion ... this year, they are covering fashion, cooking, floral art, market stalls ...

Mildura Rural City Council has bestowed one of its highest honours upon a locally-born and trained performing artist who is now one of the most sought after classical singers on the international stage. Councillor Stefano de Pieri announced Siobhan Stagg as Mildura’s latest Key to the City recipient in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon after her latest appearance with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Jenny Pollard. It starts with a road trip and bridges the city / country divide. There’s a playlist for the road and it brings some of the biggest names in indie music to the “bush”. But above all, what makes the “OK Motels Festival” such a hit is the positive focus it brings to Charlton and the energising momentum that results.

There was a buzz of activity in Maldon last Tuesday, with the filming of a four-part mini-series named Scrublands getting underway. Dolphin Street was blocked off to the public while the film crew and actors took over.

There is more to a career in the visual arts than meets the eye! The National Summer Art Scholarship is an immersive and comprehensive arts program for young people interested in a career in visual arts ... one of the 16 recipients from around Australia is Meg Miles.

The hall was packed and all eyes were on the screen at the Bangalow Flickerfest on Saturday, February 18. IndyNR.com presented  Tinnie Heroes  – a film about the floods.

The highly anticipated and community-driven Kangaroo Island Easter Art Exhibition is returning in 2023, and while it is promising to be bigger and better than ever before, the theme of the iconic is graciously titled Precious Moments. The biennial exhibition, which started 35 years ago, has been given a significant boost with the doubling in value of the major prize – the Diana Keir Art Award – honouring the memory of the local artist, friend and muse to many on the Island.

Bouncing back from the flood-enforced cancellation last October, Charlton's "OK Motels" Festival was back with a bigger and better impact as visitors soaked up the relaxed country lifestyle last weekend. With the focus firmly set on “community” and the town presenting an array of add-on activities, there was a tangible feeling of homecoming, as friendships were rekindled, new ones made, and former attendees introducing newcomers to what could viewed as a “lifestyle” event.

“Rachel” is the culmination of a forty year journey for author Jeff McGill ... Jeff first “met” Rachel Kennedy in 1982 as a teenager, when his grandfather Arnold handed him her newspaper obituary from 1930 ... She was born into and lived most of her life in a world that no longer exists – a world that Jeff’s meticulous research brings to life here.

It’s an unusual book in that the target audience is almost exclusively people who attended those schools (and perhaps local historians) – and it has sold mostly by word of mouth. It is punctuated by historic photos, news clippings and documents.

Rod Moss. Bernadine Johnson, Ricky Ryder, Aureole Perkins, Therese Johnson and Arthur Webb are wandering in search of the purple-flowered plant  awele awele, the bush tomato. Looking for bush tucker was a weekend pursuit. How gratifying to see these activities continuing apace in the formal structure provided by Children’s Ground/  Ampe-kenhe Ahelh.

Kristin Murdock. An image capturing a dog and dairy cows enjoying a dip and a drink has been awarded first prize in the 2022 National Agriculture Day photo and video competition ... “Dog in the Water Trough” was taken by David Williams from NSW.

The people of the small Victorian town of Violet Town are quietly celebrating after being awarded a national art award ... The Southern Aurora Memorial project commenced in 2018 after many chats between Gary Abley and Bruce Cumming about the need to better remember the Southern Aurora Disaster in February 1969 and its significant impact on many people, and to clearly acknowledge the amazing voluntary efforts at the time.

A memorial garden that incorporates unique street art and honours those affected by one of Australia’s worst train crashes has been named as the best monument to see in Australia. The Southern Aurora Memorial, a project managed by the residents of Violet Town, has received the Gold Award for the Best Monument or Memorial at the 2022 Australian Street Art Awards.

Get your calendars out and highlight these dates if you want to immerse yourself in a Sunshine Coast event like no other. Organisers have confirmed that the 2023 Horizon Festival, a 10-day showcase of culture, music, visual art, theatre, dance, comedy and creative workshops, will return in 2023 from August 25 to September 3.

Chairperson, Friends of the Liberty Theatre and Cultural Centre Inc, Bimbi Turner said the funding will help the theatre show classic and current release films for the community to enjoy, having been denied such pleasure for far too long. "This $250,000 grant is extremely exciting for the Friends of the Liberty Theatre and Cultural Centre Inc. in bringing to life the entertainment for the broader community in this iconic 1939 cinema by once again being able to show films."

Large landscape paintings by Liz Sullivan take the viewer on an immersive and close encounter with nature. The works are of vibrant landscapes of green grasses and flooded countryside, reminiscent of the recent flooding experienced in the region.

The River Country Art Trail will receive a boost of over $1,747,431 from Round Two of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund ... Under the project, the River Country Art Trail aims to build an outdoor gallery on silos and water towers, creating a trail across Murray River Council towns, linking them in a unique, high impact visitor experience across the area.

Here’s the trailer for the short film  Tinnie Heroes. The film will be officially launched in Woodburn on March 1.

Wandering with Intent is a collection of non-fiction essays that explores Kim’s thoughts, experiences and observations about what happens at the point of intersection between non-Indigenous Australia and strong traditional Aboriginal culture ... With Kim’s finely-tuned observations and rich descriptions of people, places and topics you really do feel as if you’re accompanying her on a journey.