Artists at the Epicentre
A tragic event on the Southern Eyre Peninsula brought the plight of artists into sharp relief. In the widespread destruction of the 2005 bushfires, some artists lost their homes, studios and portfolios of work built over many years. In the aftermath, the strong local community of artists developed an exhibition of work in response, for which we provided touring support and Learning Connections resources.
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As part of the Burning Issues exhibition process, we commissioned work from Shaun Roberts, who lost his home during the fires. In this work he used the fire-affected copper from his hot water service. -
Vicki Bosisto, Winged Victory, Colour Digital Photograph, 2005, from the Burning Issues exhibition. “The burning Issues project is more than an exhibition—it is a process for identifying, documenting and rebuilding, for reassessing relationships, and priorities, opening hearts and finding a way to move forward” Preface to exhibition catalogue, Ken Lloyd, CEO Country Arts SA -
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An adaptation of the popular books by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clements, Edwina and Edward the Emus was co-commissioned by Adelaide Symphony Orchestra & Country Arts SA for the ASO’s residency in Goolwa for Just Add Water 2012. Directed by Ninian Donald to an original score by Peter Webb, it featured 9 musicians from the ASO and two actors from Giggly Kids using full-size emu puppets and continued to be performed for children for several years. -
The Wooden Boat Exchange was a multi-layered project in partnership with Guildhouse linking wooden boat builders based in Goolwa and other trades people closely associated with the boat building fraternity with visual artists, craftspeople and designers. These partnerships enabled the exchange of skills and processes, research and experimentation with key commissioned artworks presented during the SA Wooden Boat Festival in 2013 for Alexandrina’s Just Add Water. Image: Artist Martin Corbin with Randal Cooper of Goolwa Masts. Photo Grant Hancock -
The Wooden Boat Exchange was a multi-layered project in partnership with Guildhouse linking wooden boat builders based in Goolwa and other trades people closely associated with the boat building fraternity with visual artists, craftspeople and designers. These partnerships enabled the exchange of skills and processes, research and experimentation with key commissioned artworks presented during the SA Wooden Boat Festival in 2013 for Alexandrina’s Just Add Water. Image: Jeweller Joanne Haifawi and Ben Smith of New Growth Surfboards. Photo Grant Hancock -
As part of Euphoria, Country Arts SA invited groups, organisations or individuals with an interest in mental health or those with an interest in writing, theatre or performance to meet with Playwright Emily Steel to share the experiences and challenges of living in regional South Australia and how this affects health and wellbeing. -
The Aboriginal Diggers Project is a significant 3-year project capturing the stories and experiences of Aboriginal servicemen and women who have served in Australia’s Military from the Boer War to the present day through film, theatre and visual arts. The Aboriginal Diggers project has three components, one per year, each with a residency in the SA community of Raukkan. Image: Play reading of MiWi3027 in Raukkan. Photo by Chris Herzfeld. -
Tracking: Featuring works by Heath Franco (NSW), Luke Pellen (Mount Gambier) and Caroline Hammat (Millicent). Inspired by a residency on the Limestone Coast, these video works were developed through a mentorship during 2017. The three videos were seen for a month after dark on Mt Gambier’s Main Corner. -
Eyes by Sandpit. Co-produced by Sandpit and Country Arts SA, this brand new work was developed and presented in Mount Gambier and Whyalla as part of the 2017 and 2018 Adelaide Fringe Festivals. Image: Chris Herzfeld -
Our Corka Bubs is the first ever Aboriginal contemporary dance work choreographed specifically for babies aged 4-24 months old. It draws strongly from aspects of Australian Aboriginal culture and celebrates the moment by moment fascination of a baby’s interaction with the people who care for them. After performance seasons across the state Our Corka Bubs was selected to perform as part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Image: Chris Herzfeld -
For the touring exhibition, Tough(er) love, an interactive resource kit exploring the artists and artworks, with behind the scenes videos, was produced, an early foray into a pattern that was to grow exponentially bringing both Learning Connections and the exhibitions program into the digital age. https://www.countryarts.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TougherLove_ResourceKit.pdf -
10 Kangaroo Island artists were commissioned for Island to Inland touring to 8 venues on the mainland. We worked with the artists over two years to develop new work, to do something new—work bigger, work off the loom, create with new techniques. Co-curated by Country Arts SA and Flinders City Gallery. Image: Deb Sleeman and Quentin Chester, installation view Island to Inland - Contemporary art from Kangaroo Island, Flinders University City Gallery, 2017 -
Lilly Buttrose and Brad Lay in Handheld, installation view, Murray Bridge Regional Gallery, 2017 -
Artist Burthurmarr Christopher Crebbin with his work 'Swag Embassy' at the opening of Handheld 2, at the Propect Gallery 2017 -
Maria Salomonsen,Maria Salomonsen, Hygge, 2014, felted wool, dimensions variable. Installed as part of Little Boxes, at the Adelaide Town Hall, 2016. Photograph Jessica Clarke
Over the next several years the exhibition toured around the nation delivering a strong message of hope and regeneration for the future, demonstrating the crucial role arts can play in building confidence and hope out of adversity.
Part of our response was to commission works by local artists who were directly affected by the fires. Prior to this we’d certainly assisted artists to make work, but directly commissioning artists to produce work was something new.
Over the next few years many more opportunities would arise to work directly with artists to explore local stories and make great art, particularly through the Regional Centres of Culture and the Performance Development programs. These experiences proved to us that finding those unique convergences between great artists, communities, and the land in which they live, uncovers great stories, creates a deep engagement and produces artwork that can’t be made anywhere else.
For several years now, we have been making work that takes inspiration or influence from somewhere in regional South Australia. We make work that no other company can make and we now firmly place artists at the core of all our work.
