Living art, performing art, visual art, edible art, wearable art, transitory art, permanent art, hearable art, readable art and tactile art forms are flourishing across regional NSW according to Sam Wild from Create NSW.
Recently in Wagga Wagga on a roadshow informing of the merge of Screen NSW with Arts NSW, Ms Wild postulated ‘Will there still be states in ten years time? The rate of change is so fast it’s hard to predict what will happen next and art needs to push boundaries.”
“Boundaries are notional and we see metropolitan art lagging behind the regional art scene so Create NSW fully encourages creators and artists with monetary and administrative support to keep this essential economy flourishing.”
Eastern Riverina Arts executive director Scott Howie is very proud of the diversity and number of practicing artists in this part of NSW.
“The more prominent forms are music, films and painting however there are communities of practicing sculptors, sound engineers, writers and poets, actors and land artists creating beautiful, provocative and inspirational works through this region.”
James Farley is one artist combining practice with academic studies, in his final year of his PhD at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.
“My research explores post-photography and the practice of ecological stewardship. While my background is in photography, my practice is based on research, experimentation and collaboration. I am particularly interested in the development, promotion and support of arts and culture in regional areas.”
Mr Farley is the recipient of a grant from (formerly) Arts NSW which manages awards through the National Australian Visual Artists and in 2016, was the winner of the NSW/ACT Young Achiever of the Year Awards – Arts and Fashion Award. He also is managing an art gallery.
Vic McEwen and Sarah McEwen live at Birrego, 30 kilometres from Narrandera, having relocated from Marrickville in 2010. They established their artist-led CAD Factory in an old school house which is the centre of this multi-arts community.
Both are musicians and Vic’s recent works include lighting installations (including Illuminate during Easter on the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga) with recent works inspired by collections at the National Museum of Australia (NMA).
During 2015, Mr McEwen was artist in residence at the NMA and created a film ‘Haunting’, exploring human relationships with the landscapes through the Riverina.
“The CAD Factory’s programming is based on breaking down hierarchies and binaries that exist within our contemporary world; such as the division of regional and urban, man and woman or human and non-human,” Mr McEwen said.
“We understand these realities as being in complex, intra-connected relationships, rather than in opposition. The Cad Factory believes some of the best, most original, innovative and exciting ideas exist just beyond the things we know, where real and imagined borders are porous.”
“Regional film festivals such as the Screenwave Film Festival in Coffs Harbour features local film-makers and attract great audiences,” Mr Howie said.