Duke Albada
Duke Albada - Trip Blog 1
Trip Blog 1 (by Duke Albada)
1. Commencement
Isla Gorge National Park
Is it crazy to set off on a 5000km roundtrip not knowing exactly where it will take me or what specifically I will be filming for my upcoming video installation at Ballina Airport? I don't think so, as I trust that as my journey unfolds so will my insights regarding the content as well as the 'look and feel' of the imagery. My goal on the other hand is very clear; to investigate my connection to country in detail, and to keep a visual diary of this exploration.
At the first campout in Isla National Park I admire the vast views over the gorge, but it is the combination of the flaming red sunset licking the burned tree stump that enthrals me and makes me grab my camera for the first time. A slow close-up fly-over reveals the pores, lumps and bumps of the bark telling the history of this piece of dead, but not useless wood.
Fleur Yorston FloatingTheIslandsTowardsTheirParadise 540x360
Paradise Found by Fleur Yorston
Visitors to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport will receive a contemporary take on a traditional islander welcome this September and October with an oversized interpretation of a Hawaiian Lei, by artist Fleur Yorston, on display in Northern Rivers Community Gallery’s (NRCG) latest Art at the Airport showcase.
Paradise Found is inspired by the artists upbringing in multi-cultural, Polynesian New Zealand (Aotearoa) and her own personal migration to Australia in 2009. Yorston invites her audience to ask themselves “What is your Paradise Found...?â€
In the show an iconic Australian symbol - the Surfboard becomes a metaphor for a canoe (Waka in NZ) that 'First Explorers' used to cross oceans in search of new lands and new paradises. Intentionally it is juxtaposed next to an oversized interpretation of a Hawaiian Lei, traditionally given as a welcoming adornment upon arrival to visitors.
A painting also features in the show called 'Floating The Islands towards their paradise'. Fluid and transparent islands become vessels, highlighting the fragility of ones journey and the unknown destination of a paradise.
PechaKucha 2
Pecha Kucha 20 / 20
Call-out for creative Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 presentations!
Do you have a fabulous creative project, idea or passion you would like to share with your peers?
‘The Point of Art is…’ – is the theme for the inaugural Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 evening as part of the ArtLAB project at Northern Rivers Community Gallery in October. A creative community get together for sharing ideas, works, innovations, collaborations, travels or any other quirky fabulous creative things happening far and wide you think people just need to know about!
Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 is a simple, fun, upbeat presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds in a digital slide presentation. The images advance automatically while you tell us your story.
The Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 event is on Saturday 3 October from 7pm at the NRCG in Ballina.
To register your interest to present contact the Gallery Coordinator by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 02 6681 6167.
Jennifer Collins
Local artist Jennifer Collins is putting a call-out to make sure your voice is heard in Canberra to 'Save Ballina's Koalas!'
Jennifer's exhibition The Cedar-getters Daughter explores current local debate around the proposed highway upgrade between Wardell and Ballina. The artist has researched government documents issued on the highway proposal and its impact on the future diversity of local flora and fauna. 'Save Ballina's Koalas' movement has been successful with informing people about the irreversible impact on the Koala population but the artist has discovered there is an alarming number of ecological communities and individual species that will also be permanently impacted by the highway deviation as listed in the government biodiversity assessment.
The artist says "It's not too late to stop the highway deviation" and invites visitors to the exhibition The Cedar-getters Daughter to take a FREE artist postcard and send your thoughts to the Federal Minister for the Environment.