The free community event on Sunday, June 28, offers visitors a rare opportunity to meet five artists currently undertaking residencies at BigCi, the internationally recognised creative retreat nestled on the edge of the Wollemi National Park.
Running from 11am to 5pm at BigCi's Hanlons Road property, the Open Day will showcase a diverse range of artistic disciplines, from experimental photography and contemporary literature to abstract landscape painting, vocal performance and multimedia installation.
Artistic Director Rae Bolotin said the event provides the public with a unique insight into the creative process and the opportunity to engage directly with artists as they develop new work inspired by the Hawkesbury and surrounding wilderness.
Among the featured artists is northern NSW visual artist and writer Luke Foster, whose multimedia project Numinous explores ideas of awe, spirituality and humanity's relationship with the natural world. Foster's work combines video, photography, sculpture and installation and marks his seventh residency at BigCi.
Sydney-based writer Jacob Murray will present his first long-form prose project, an experimental exploration of addiction and abuse. Murray will also lead an interactive workshop titled Closeness in Prose, examining how writers create emotional intimacy and authenticity in storytelling.
Visitors will also hear from Josephine (Jo) Truman, a Blue Mountains multimedia artist whose work is inspired by birdsong, voice and the legacy of her great-great-grandfather, nineteenth-century Scottish ornithologist and natural history illustrator William MacGillivray. Truman's presentation will culminate in a participatory voice workshop exploring breath, movement and vocal expression.
Blue Mountains artist Mandy Galbraith will unveil work developed during her residency exploring the concept of The Bigger Picture. Working on a large-scale three-metre canvas, Galbraith has created expressive abstract landscapes inspired by the terrain, geology and history of the Wollemi region.
Queensland artist Marian Drew rounds out the program with an exhibition of new works inspired by the geological formations surrounding BigCi. Drew will also conduct an experimental photography workshop, teaching participants how to create images using long-exposure techniques and hand-held light sources.
The day begins with an introduction by Rae and Yuri Bolotin before artist talks and workshops continue throughout the afternoon. A communal lunch is scheduled from 1pm, with visitors encouraged to bring a plate of food to share.
Located at 82 Hanlons Road North, Bilpin, BigCi has become one of Australia's most respected artist residency programs, attracting creatives from around the world to work in a bushland environment bordering the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains and Wollemi wilderness.
Admission is free, but bookings are essential.
Open Day Program
11.00am – Exhibition Opens
11.15am – Welcome and Introduction
11.30am – Luke Foster Artist Talk
12.00pm – 1.00pm – Jacob Murray Artist Talk and Writing Workshop
1.00pm – 2.00pm – Community Lunch
2.00pm – 3.00pm – Jo Truman Artist Talk and Voice Workshop
3.00pm – Mandy Galbraith Artist Talk
3.30pm – 4.45pm – Marian Drew Artist Talk and Experimental Photography Workshop
5.00pm – Exhibition Closes
Bookings can be made by emailing rae@bigci.org.
For more information visit BigCi's website. https://bigci.org/
