A new exhibition that links leading artists with regenerative farmers will open on Friday 16 July 2021 at 6:00pm. Hosted by the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, the exhibition, Earth Canvas, highlights engagement with the landscape through a creative lens and explores the experiences of both the regenerative farmer and the artist, their respective engagement with the land and their vision for a healthier world.
Featuring new work by leading Australian artists Ros Atkins, Jenny Bell, Jo Davenport, Janet Laurence, Tony Nott, Idris Murphy and John Wolseley the project was created through inviting contemporary artists to work on regenerative farms between the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers in southern New South Wales.
The driving force behind the Earth Canvas: Art in Ag project, Gill Sanbrook, said the artists and farmers involved in the Earth Canvas project wanted to share their combined experience of artworks and on farm visits through the exhibition.
"By taking time out to think about, look at and feel the landscape, we can all develop a better appreciation of the origins of our food and of the agricultural processes behind it," Earth Canvas founder and regenerative farmer Gill Sanbrook said.
The project aims to link the artists' perspective on the land with the farmers' management of the land, revealing a mutual creativity of approach and deep empathy with the landscape.
Traditionally we think of farmers and artists as oppositional, but in this exhibition we see them working together for the same shared goals, the quality of our food, and the health of our planet." City of Mount Gambier Arts and Culture Development Officer Serena Wong
"I'm really excited to see our community's response and how these messages connect to their lives."
Adding a local element to the exhibition, The Riddoch has commissioned new work by award-winning Portland based artist Carmel Wallace.
"Carmel is working with local farmers Liam and Sara Brokensha on Glenhuntley Farm to create new work for this exhibition," Ms Wong said.
To coincide with the exhibition, an open day will be held on Saturday 22 August 2021 from 10:00am to 3:30pm at Glenhuntley Farm located at Eight Mile Creek, the home of the locally renowned free range egg enterprise The Splendid Egg.
The day will commence with a guided tour of the exhibition at The Riddoch where Carmel will share her experience creating an art piece while working at Glenhuntly, followed by a farm tour and lunch.
"Hosts for the day Liam and Sarah will share their experience of building soils, plant diversity and using animals to achieve their goals."
"This is a real opportunity to see how artist Carmel and the Brokensha's see the landscape."
Earth Canvas will be on display until Sunday 29 August 2021. Tickets for the Farm and Art Open Day are available at trybooking.com/BQUXB
Coinciding with the Earth Canvas opening, Thumbprint Inc. will open their latest exhibition Under the Canopy. On display until Sunday 5 September, Thumb Print members Libby Altschwager, Julie Bignell, Jo Fife, Anne Miles, Sally O'Connor, Lilija Quill, Ruth Schubert, Sue Shaw, Trudy Tandberg, Diana Wiseman and Stephanie Yoannidis explore the theme using a variety of printmaking methods.
"Thumb Print Inc. is a group of artists working primarily as printmakers and illustrators in Mount Gambier and we look forward to hosting their latest works in the Cathleen Edkins Gallery at The Riddoch," Ms Wong said.
