‘Weaving Matter’ group exhibition at the Australian Design Centre opening Thursday 30 March

Curator: Liz Williamson 

Weaving matter: materials and context exhibition examines how contemporary weavers are making their ideas visible by exploring diverse concepts through experimentation, with materials and weave structures, creating innovative and contemporary stories in their cloth. 

At the loom and showcased in this exhibition, contemporary weavers experiment with diverse materials – new fibres, synthetic fibres or organic materials; excess, found, recycled or repurposed materials; unusual materials not normally woven; some combine weaving with processes such as photography, print or natural dyes; some undertake material experiments informed by historic techniques, other with recently discovered processes. 

Some exhibits are experiments, other finished works. 

All weavers are creating intriguing, individual, innovative, and unique woven works that comment on current political, social or environmental issues by the use of materials that take on ‘the burden’ of the concept. 

Exhibitors  

• Christine Appleby, ACT 

• Sally Blake, ACT 

• Mary Burgess, Victoria 

• Hannah Cooper, NSW 

• Blake Griffiths, SA 

• Amanda Ho, Victoria 

• Lise Hobcroft, NSW 

• Kelly Leonard, NSW 

• Jennifer Robertson, ACT 

• Nien Schwarz, WA 

• Jacqueline Stojanovic, Victoria 

• Jane Theau, NSW 

• Ilka White, Victoria 

• Monique van Nieuwland, ACT 

Shared Space at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

I’m more than pleased to be selected for the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery’s Shared Space program which supports experimental work from local artists. I’ll be kicking off in the former Library Gallery in April after extensive renovations in the gallery.

Here’s a little bit about the program from BHRAG:

Broken Hill has long been home to many artists who, working collectively and independently, embody the thriving arts and cultural scene in the region. Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery has and continues to champion the work of local artists and groups. Throughout 2022, the former Library Gallery will host our new Shared Space program, dedicated to presenting the work of local artists, groups, curators and collectives.

You can read more here

The Sunflower Collective Wayout Art Space Kandos 71 Angus Ave Kandos 11 December - 8 January 2022

The Sunflower Collective was formed to allow a democratic intersection of arts practices and to explore work together as a conceptual weaving of ideas. The collective has no hierarchy, no curator, no pre-conceived program. The practices are diverse.

The works installed have coalesced through a year-long process of individual exploration and virtual gatherings of artists into an exhibition drawing attention to the environment via an ecofeminist perspective.

The artists are: Kelly Leonard - Broken Hill, Michael Petchkovsky - Blue Mountains, Snowy Monaro, Julie Briggs - Narrandera, Julie Montgarrett - Wagga Wagga, James T. Farley - Wagga Wagga.

Wayout Artspace is managed by regional artists who are affiliated with the Cementa Festival, based in Kandos.

Julie Montgarrett’s practice includes solo/group exhibitions, installations, commissions and landmark community projects over 3 decades. Represented in major collections in Australia and internationally, her interests are in drawing/embroidery to extend the conceptual and spatial possibilities of textile for questioning dominant Australian histories: testing visual narratives through doubt and fragility in complex installations.  

Kelly Leonard is a traditional hand-loom weaver trained by a second-generation Bauhaus Master Weaver, Marcella Hempel. She uses fieldwork as a primary methodology to interact with the environment and to record sounds, installations and performances. Kelly is an arts worker based in Broken Hill, living on Wilyakali and Barkindji Lands.

James T. Farley is an artist and educator based in Wagga Wagga. His work plays in the broader field of photographic practice and is ecological in flavour. James is co-founder of Good Sport, an independent art space supporting emerging regional artists, and F.Stop Workshop, a centre for photography, education and community.

Julie Briggs is a poet and installation artist making works exclusively informed by her interest in social and environmental justice. Julie is also a volunteer arts worker, supporting arts organisations across the Western Riverina. 

Michael Petchkovsky is a contemporary artist and arts facilitator, living and practicing on Dharug/Gundungarrah, Ngarigo, and Wiradjuri Lands. A graduate of SCA Rozelle, with MSA and MFA. His practice queries social hegemonies through material and energetic mediums. He works in creative development, production management and technical support roles with artists and groups towards major exhibition outcomes.