$17,406  Regional Arts Fund

Scheduled:       September 2009 - May  2010

"Connecting Marks & Country" is a 24 week artist in residency project.  Printmaker Liz O'Reilly will be based in six towns for a period of 4 weeks each.  Daily workshops with school, community and emerging artists groups will be run. Participants will be introduced to research material (collected with the assistance of The Powerhouse Museum) on traditional and customary forms of artistic expression relevant to their particular Indigenous nation/s in the Outback Arts Region.

Participants will be encouraged to use this material to inform and inspire the artworks they create during these workshops. Over the weeks participants will build up a body of work to include in a group exhibition. Participants will select, organise, hang and host this exhibition as a culmination of their project. Participants will be invited to paint on parts of the artist touring vehicle depicting their own regions particular style and this vehicle will gradually be decorated by ALL the participants as it travels through all the towns.

POSTERS (more coming soon)

DOWNLOAD - regional poster

Workshop Dates 2009

7 Sept - 2 Oct 2009                 Cobar  

19 Oct - 13 Nov 2009             Warren

16 Nov - 11 Dec 2009            Coonamble

Tentative Dates 2010

Feb - March 2010                        Bourke

Mar - April 2010                       Brewarrina

Apr - May 2010                            Walgett

How the project came about: 'Connecting Marks & Country' in the second stage of the Print Making Workshops held in November 2008.  Both projects are inter-related with the Powerhouse Museum & Outback Arts Partnership involving research gathered by curator of Koori Culture and History James Wilson-Miller.  As part of this process the acting Regional Arts Development Officer Sam Newstead toured the region with him to discuss the project with communities.  The research was used during the November tour as a resource within the Print Making Workshops with artist Liz O'Reilly in 11 towns.

All art supplies generously donated by Jasco (Windsor & Newton).

With thanks to... Communities of Cobar, Warren, Coonamble, Gulargambone, Enngonia, Bourke, Brewarrina, Weilmoringle, Collarenebri, Lightning Ridge, and Walgett, Jasco (Windsor & Newton), Liz O'Reilly, The Powerhouse Museum, The Australian Museum, Jasco, Regional Arts Fund, Regional Arts NSW and Annette Eassie