SWAN HILL Regional Art Gallery is continuing with its program of interactive exhibitions and art experiences with next week’s opening of the Gods and Heroes exhibition by Deborah Kelly.
As a prelude to the exhibition launch at 6pm on May 3 there will be an interactive two-day workshop with Ms Kelly.
She is a Sydney-based artist who works across disciplinary and geographical boundaries to produce artworks which encompass collage, installation, event and performance.
Her works have been shown around Australia and in Singapore and Venice.
Ms Kelly said the workshop was a focus point for collective creativity as the group worked on a large textile work together.
“These craftanoons, as I call them, is where people actually get their hands on the artwork and add to it,” Ms Kelly said.
“The ones we will be working on are three metres by two metres.
“They say that many hands make light work and I have adapted that to my own saying of ‘Many hands make life work’.
“Working on a piece on that scale means that many hands can work together so you get this dynamic of different forces of creativity meeting at once.
“That is what I am really interested in.
“You get that incredible creative connection that people make when they work together, learn to co-operate and make plans together even if they don’t know each other.”
There will be two pieces that the group will be working in Swan Hill over the two sessions with the theme of the aging female or the Crone Cult.
Ms Kelly will take along her entire beading collection, a range of embroidery thread and her collection of real pearls, and there will be no restrictions on what participants can do with the materials on offer.
The workshop will give people the combined experience of working autonomously but as a team to produce a collective work.
Although Ms Kelly is based in Sydney, returning to Swan Hill is a bit of a homecoming for the artist as her father grew up in Pyramid Hill.
The workshop will cost $15 per day and is suitable for ages 12 and above.
All materials will be provided.
For more information contact Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery on 5036 2430.
