Packing for Mutawintji and White Cliffs

Today was a bit of time out for washing and preparing for the camping trip to Mutawintji and White Cliffs. Purchasing wood for the campfire is necessary as you need to take the wood into the National park - not disturbing anything on site.

Sue stayed behind today and did some alone time in residence drawing and painting and I visited Silverton again to purchase glass bottles and china pieces. I then visited The Horizon Gallery and chatted to Bronwen Standley-Woodroffe about her commercial gallery, studio space and future directions.

After lunch and back in Broken Hill I paid another visit to the Regional Gallery introducing myself to Bruce Tindall - gallery director. The day was nearly over by then and it was time to pick up wood then drop in to see the Photographic Recollections Museum in Eyre St - a worthwhile display to see to get a perspective of life in the mining indrusry from that historical perspective.

Back to Duff St to pack then later drop into the Art Exchange's montlhy meeting to meet committee.

Time for bed now.

Day trip to Old Mundi Mundi Homestead Ruins

After a pleasant ANZAC Day (yes it is filmed but I need help uploading and editing still) Sue and I were invited to a housewarming of one of Susan's friends - Jason and Dom in Argent Street Broken Hill. A fine Indian Curry was served to guests with a backdrop of the Line of Lode. More rain during the evening.

Today Deirdre and David Edwards invited us for a day trip to the Old Mundi Mundi Homestead Ruins about ten minutes past Umberumberka on a private property. The day started at 9.30am with a visit to the owner's  ElDee Station where we allowed to take photos around the homestead and fabulous junk pile. We then headed to the ruins driving cross country to the site. We parked along the edge of a picturesque dry creek bed and more photos and videos were taken. I am loving the patina of rust and the surfaces of this place as you can imagine. 

The wind was bitterly cold and I was glad of the layered clothing. David decided that he should light a fire in the creek bed so that we could lunch and draw in comfort. It was so nice. They are salt of the earth people and we were both appreciative of their generosity.

I am getting much more confident with the video now and can't wait to upload and work on getting some sort sequence to a short story on film. It is really getting exciting now.

Back here at BHAE now and catching up on uploads, emails and diary before heading out to the Legions Club for dinner.

Tomorrow we are planning our next trip........................to be continued.

The Line of Lode and Umberumberka Eagle

Late Thursday evening the rain cam down so I was wondering how Sue was going in Menindee and whether the roads would be a bother for her to get around Friday morning.

My day ended up quite well yesterday waking to the smell of the rain and then later clear skies. I set out to explore and take photographs (7.30am). It did'nt too long as I decided to start with the light shining on the south west wall of the Line of Lode. I wanted to capture this before heading out to the Mundi Mundi Plains again. Some of the mine shafts and structures took my attention particularly along the Menindee Road.

By 8am I was on the Silverton road again to Mundi Mundi. A short distance out there were more photo opportunities. Siverton was quiet so I headed to the lookout again to retake photos and another video - much better this time and then headed to Umberumberka Reservoir as I wanted to get the spelling right. I drove a bit further along to the dry creek bed area and came to an abrupt stop to watch wedge tailed eagles feeding off some road kill. I sat for a while hoping to film but they were wise to me and flew off. Driving further on the sky was changing to that mackerrel sky that I adore so more still shots were taken and video too. I drove a bit further but after just  small amount of rain the roads were'nt really suited to the Falcon so I did the U and then spotted the eagles feeding at the same spot. This time I was slower and quieter and set the zoom to focus on the spectacle. By now the wind was getting up and it was hard to keep the hand still and focus on the bird with the zoom set - I did the shot I was after though and was happy. It is now only 9.30am. No cafe opened here so headed back to Broken Hill. Coffee went down well and then headed to the Regional Gallery. A very nice space. I was fortunate to purchase a monograph of a show titled 'The Line of Lode - Photographs by Peter Liddy'.

The afternoon light was changing dramatically with skies full of clouds of varying colours. I set off this time to take photos of the Miners Memorial at the very top of the Line of Lode that overlooks the city. My focus is finally starting to set.

On my return Sue had returned from Menindee and it was good to hear of her time there. Later today she will start doing some blogging about her time here as well.

It was a good day for the frustrated artist!

Menindee and the Frustrated Artist

Yes, that's me the frustrated artist that can't work out what to do, how to do it and what is the whole bloody point anyway......another day in the life of an artist in residence. I feel like I am absent in the artist's chair right now. I am home alone here today conversing with me and trying to have it out with her too. Whilst this is going on Sue has her eyes set on Menindee Lakes surrounded by Kinchega National Park and will stay overnight to take in sunset and sunrise. 

This afternoon the talk must have made an impact as I have purchased canvases and paint and will get stuck into the wet stuff tomorrow. Midday the light shone over the Line of Lode Miner's Memorial with it's dramatic structure on the edge of the mullock heap that dissects Broken Hill. I decided to take a visit. It is a memorial to the 900 miners or more who lost their lives working along the Line of Lode. The building itself is a metaphor for the underground lives of the miners, evoking the damp, claustrophobic underground environment. Spectacular against the blue Broken Hill sky. Driving back to the residence I became seduced by the shapes, the colours and the sheer beauty of something that had been an industrial hub in the mining boom years.

Late this afternoon Susan Thomas and I had a meeting and spoke about arts and health, artist run spaces and her vision for the Broken Hill Art Exchange. Not a bad day after all.

Meeting artists and the Mundi Mundi Plain

We have been very busy since our arrival. Yesterday we met two artists from Broken Hill - firstly Jana Hlavica who is a painter and jewellery maker in her studio and gallery - Images of Australia then later in the day Deirdre Edwards who is a contemporary artist specialising in mixed media and prints. Deirdre heads the GAARA  Arts Group and was very interested in hearing about artist run spaces and collectives. Sue was able to help out with some hardcopies of newsletters from Spiral Gallery Inc  and  SEMAG. 

With Susan Thomas and Patrick (Current BHAE Director) we decided to head out with Jana and Deirdre today for an early morning drawing session at the Mundi Mundi Plain - quite spectacular. Sue and Susan did some great drawings - mine were crap but I took some good photos. Later this afternoon we have been interviewed by the local paper. 

Oops I forgot to say that we have finally started videoing our interviews with each other. We are still a bit shaky with the process but at least we have started.

ARRIVAL!!!

After travelling three days with overnight stops at Narranderah and Mildura Sue and I arrived safely at the Broken Hill Art Exchange. In Mildura we visited the Art Vault which is a gallery that also provides a venue for working in studio spaces, has printmaking facilities and artist residencies - the apartments very swish to say the least. We were lucky enough to have a guided tour of the facility and meet Jenny Manning  a Canberra artist was in residence at this time. We then headed to Wentworth where we saw the Junction of the Rivers Murray and Darling - took some photos of the junction then further down the river of River Red Gums before heading to meet with the RADO of West of the Darling Region - James Giddey. James was very generous with his time and gave us an overview of the arts and current projects that are happening in the region.

We arrived at Broken Hill at 3pm and were met by Susan and we settled into Studio 2 - sorted out sleeping arrangements after unpacking then headed out to shop. We were then invited to a welcome BBQ alfesco style outside studio 4 for the evening. It was a good opportunity to chat with other artists too. Patrick is a photographer and Jacko is a painter. More details will come later.

Are we there yet?????

Well here we all are 'The Coast > Desert Artists' from left to right - Sue Chancellor, Lorna Crane, Poppy Benton and Jen Mallinson.

So much to do before we leave. Trying to finalise the media release as well as our public liability insurance is harder than you think especially when you have to think about packing and getting the car checked too and not to mention all the family stuff on top of it all. But all that will fade I am sure once we arrive in Broken Hill. 

Yesterday I spoke with James Giddey and arranged a meeting in his office at Wentworth enroute to Broken Hill via overnight stays in Mildura and Narranderah. Susan Thomas from Broken Hill Art Exchange spoke to me about the living arrangements and also set up a meeting with two local artists for Tuesday with Sue and myself.

Media Release

Today is set aside to complete the media release. A draft has been sent to Poppy, Sue and Jen and I am waiting for them to make amendments.

This morning I was able to speak with James Giddey - RADO from West of the Darling Arts Region to arrange a meeting next Monday at Wentworth around lunchtime. He is looking forward to meet with the artists.

Andrew Gray is assisting me with public liability insurance for the residency to fulfill grant process. He sent me the Logo of SEAR too.

Last stages of Preparation

Meetings with all artists to decide on camera distances for interviewing, backgrounds and settings, questions to ask, what do we really want to achieve etc etc. I just want to get there now.

Preparing Media release this week too and discuss our artists talk in the presentation format for the regional gallery talk.

Made contact with the RADO for the region West of Darling - James Giddey and just need to confirm meeting times at Wentworth now. Sue and I are hoping to meet on our way up to Broken Hill on 20th April. He is keen for us to get out and about in the surrounding regions.

Sue and I have also met as we depart for the first three weeks this coming weekend. It's all about the nuts and bolts of 'stuff' to bring now.

Meeting at Essential Object tomorrow

All four artists are going to meet at Poppy's gallery Essential Object at Tathra tomorrow to make final plans for the residency.

Video workshop

Last Saturday we had a great day working with Paul McIver in a video and film making workshop.

It was extremely helpful in how we are going to plan to document the time at Broken Hill - especially the use of the camera in the interviewing process.

Andrew Gray - our Regional Arts Development officer was inspirational and funny with his explanations about the Bega Regional Gallery and the show that is currently on display. By the end of the day a short film about the gallery was at assemble stage (with Jen's computer handy with imovies). We can't wait to get the tripods and cameras rolling now.Lots more meetings now to get all moving forward for the departure in a few weeks. 

Planning phase

Just received news from Regional Arts NSW that we have some funding to assist with the residency!!!!! Full steam ahead now with working towards the video workshop at Bega Regional Gallery this coming Saturday. It will be good to work out proper way of using the camera etc.

Some of the Broken HillArtists have responded to our Artist's Profiles and expressed interest in meeting some of us too. It is starting to get a bit exciting but scary at the same time.