Art lovers across the Hawkesbury are being invited to head up the mountain next month, with BigCi throwing open its doors for a special Open Day showcasing international and local creative talent.
Set for Sunday, May 10 from 11am to 5pm, the free event will give visitors a rare behind-the-scenes look at the organisation’s current artists-in-residence and the projects they’ve been developing in the Bilpin bushland.
Artistic Director Rae Bolotin said the Open Day was a chance for the community to connect directly with artists and experience a wide range of creative practices.
“This is a unique opportunity for people to meet the artists, hear about their work and see how the landscape of Bilpin and the Blue Mountains influences their practice,” she said.
Among the featured artists is German creative Manuela Forster, who describes herself as a “future medicine woman” and multidimensional artist. Her Open Day presentation will take the form of a three-part experience combining lecture, live performance and artistic expression, exploring themes of connection to nature and higher states of awareness.
London-based artist Eoife Huo will also present her work, shaped by her experiences growing up in northern China and her more recent connection to the Australian landscape. Her photographic installation and talk will explore human relationships with nature, drawing inspiration from eucalyptus trees and fire-affected environments.
Returning to BigCi is Chinese artist Han Qing, the organisation’s inaugural Environmental Award winner in 2014, who has been creating a series of paintings inspired by jacaranda trees and the colours of the Greater Blue Mountains.
Textile artist Julie Ryder, from Canberra, has spent her residency foraging for natural dye materials in the local area, producing works that reflect the seasons and textures of the landscape. Her pieces will form part of a future solo exhibition.
Also featured is Canberra photographer and educator Orlando Luminere, whose work challenges modern consumer culture by transforming discarded materials into working camera obscura devices. Visitors will be able to see his latest photographs and even take part in a hands-on workshop to create their own camera.
The workshop, running from 3pm to 5pm, is limited to eight participants and requires bookings, with attendees guided through building a simple camera using everyday materials before capturing their own images.
The day’s program includes a series of artist talks, a communal lunch where visitors are encouraged to bring food to share, and the chance to explore the exhibition space throughout the afternoon.
Located at 82 Hanlons Road North, Bilpin, BigCi is about a 30-minute drive from Windsor and continues to attract artists from across Australia and around the world.
The Open Day is free, but organisers say RSVPs are essential due to limited capacity.
For Hawkesbury residents, the event offers a chance to experience internationally recognised contemporary art without leaving the region — and to see how the area’s unique landscape continues to inspire creative work.
