CONFLUENCE: 2021 Artist-in-Residence Exhibition
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CONFLUENCE: 2021 Artist-in-Residence Exhibition
7 July - 27 August 2022
CONFLUENCE: 2021 Artist-in-Residence Exhibition
Valerie Kirk AM | Harriet Schwarzrock
The annual Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre Artist-in-residence program supports local and national artists to each undertake a residency at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage in the Namadgi National Park, and a two week research component within a national cultural institution in Canberra. The program facilitates access for the artist to national cultural, tertiary and research institutions and their collections, curators and researchers. A group exhibition of new work by each artist is held annually, and a catalogue produced about the program is disseminated internationally.
The exhibition CONFLUENCE is the culmination of Craft ACT’s 2021 Artist-in-Residence program showcasing the work of Valerie Kirk and Harriet Schwarzrock which is the results of their engagement in the two-part residency project - researching at Geoscience Australia and creating in Namadji National Park.
After delving into the hidden treasures of Geoscience’s National Mineral and Fossil Collection; Valerie and Harriet spent time in Namadgi National Park’s Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage, exploring and making art; taking with them a deeper understanding of the geological attributes of the landscape, which engendered new ways of looking and creatively engaging with the environment.
The resulting exhibition CONFLUENCE embodies the essence of the Artist-in-Residency program showcasing the profound impact of sustained immersion in the collections of Geoscience Australia and the environment of Namadgi National Park on the work of both artists. Exploring new ideas, research, and material the residency gave space and time for the artists to experiment, explore, and develop a deeper relationship with the landscape, their practice, and themselves – invigorating their creative spirits and generating new artistic direction.
Presented in partnership with ACT Parks and Conservation Service and Geoscience Australia.
Above image: Ready Cut 2021-61
Cover image: Valerie Kirk + Harriet Schwartzrock, Geoscience, 2021. 5 Foot Photography