NSW an engaging artist residency 2018-2019

I was honoured to be recipient of the first environmental artist residencies at the newly inaugurated Ignite Studios at nrcg art gallery in Ballina over the 2018-2019 summer.

This residency allowed the engagement with the local environmental issues and fully immerse with the community in creating a greater awareness towards waste.

The timing was also along with the revised council response to what can be placed in recycled bins.

I also develop a site specific work with the plastic found around the studio, on river banks and beaches of Ballina.

Over 9 weeks I developed a program of events for the town of Ballina including river and beach clean-ups, artist talks, art & sustainability workshops in a local primary school, bees hotel and Deep creatures making workshops for children.

The possibility to visit several recycle facilities in the area and beyond, talk to biologists and researchers, meet local artists and networking were extremely important to develop the full potential of such an opportunity.

Fucus Plastica 2019

Fucus Plastica was developed as a giant seaweed made of plastic sheeting collected around the local streets. Incorporated in the last layer the many found plastic objects gathered. Objects such as combs, lighters, straws, cups, bottles, poppers,cutlery were gleaned from the streets and foreshore of Ballina.

An incredible amount of thongs were also found and collected and were included in a cray pot used for display outside the ignite studios.