The Riddoch Art Gallery will open national touring exhibition The Partnershipping Project on Friday 6 March 2020 at 6:00pm. Featuring 20 regional visual artists, the exhibition centres around the question 'as online experiences take up more time in our lives, do our relationships to place still matter?'
Featuring the artists' work in eight small boats, the exhibition arrives in Mount Gambier having travelled up the East Coast of Australia to other regional centres including Townsville and Lismore before it returns across the Bass Strait to its origin in Burnie, Tasmania.
Featured artists include David mangenner Gough, Selena de Carvalho, Gail Mabo, Vanghoua Anthony Vue, Aris Prabawa, Penny Evans, Damien Shen in collaboration with Robert Hague, and Sera Waters.
Each artist has transformed a small salvaged boat into a work of art using varying materials and telling individual stories of their own connection to place.
The artists come from a broad range of cultural backgrounds and experiences and their works challenge stereotypes about what living in the regions of Australia might mean.- Riddoch Art Gallery Director Melentie Pandilovski
"Each artist is producing exciting new work drawing from their own lives; their own places; their ideas, hopes, dreams, fears and passions."
For the local instalment The Riddoch Art Gallery will welcome artists Damien Shen, Robert Hague and Sera Waters to the exhibition. The opening event on Friday will include talks from these artists.
Sera is currently working in Adelaide and adds a local theme to the exhibition having spent her childhood in Mount Gambier.
"Sera's art practice is characterised by her ongoing passion for textiles, to tell stories about her family's history in Australia, shining a light on some of the more troubling or difficult stories from the past."
"Her works are held by the Cruthers collection of Women's art, Ararat Gallery TAMA, the Art Gallery of South Australia and private collections nationwide," Dr Pandilovski said.
Award-winning artist Damien will also host an in-depth drawing workshop on Saturday 7 March 2020 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Riddoch Art Studio.
"With strong ties to South Australia Damien draws from his Ngarringeri and Chinese heritage making powerful images that reflect the complexities of race and identity in Australia," Dr Pandilovski said.
Focusing on form and depth within drawing the artist will share techniques he has honed throughout his practice to construct an illustration from beginning to end.
"The cost of the workshop is just $45 with materials and light refreshments supplied. All levels of ability are welcome."
The Partnershipping Project is on display until 24 May 2020 at 1 Bay Road. The gallery is free to the public and is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm weekdays and 10:00am to 3:00pm on weekends and some public holidays.
