Juanita McLauchlan, from the series Standing In The Heart Of Seven Generations II (detail) (1 of 15), 2023, wool, thread, possum fur.

Arts & Culture

Art Gallery’s new Winter Exhibition Program ready to launch

Published: 05 May 2023 11:02am

Four new environmentally challenging exhibitions and two exhibitions offering insights into life across the Riverina will feature in Wagga Wagga Art Gallery’s new Winter Exhibition Program, being launched next weekend.

The launch is being held at the Gallery at 4pm on Saturday 13 May.

Prior to the launch, local and internationally exhibiting artists will take part in an artist talk and panel discussion, which is open to the public.

Hayden Fowler’s survey exhibition UnEarthly presents two decades of video work based upon his performance, sculpture and installation works which explore the intersections between human and animal natures, and revitalisation of the natural world.

Artwork by Hayden Fowler — **NATURAL WORLD:** Hayden Fowler's New World Order 2013, which is part of his survey exhibition UnEarthly

Hayden Fowler will discuss his work as part of an artist talk at 11am on Saturday 13 May.

Nicola Dickson's Only a Remnant explores biodiversity loss in the Riverina, centring upon the Box Gum Grassy Woodlands that once covered much of South-Eastern Australia and were the homelands of First Nations Peoples including the Wiradjuri nation.

Living on Wiradjuri Country, artist Juanita McLauchlan draws upon her Gamilaraay identity, history and language to explore family connections through ambitious new works in gii mara-bula / Heart Hand-also.

“The exhibition expresses my understanding as an Aboriginal person, of continuities over time, that I share time with both ancestors and descendants.”

Woman sitting on bench with lagoon in background — **COUNTRY & PLACE:** Artist Juanita McLauchlan draws upon her Gamilaraay identity, history and language in her exhibition gii mara-bula / Heart Hand-also. Image courtesy Jack of Hearts Photography

An artist panel discussing art making on and about country, place and identity, will be held at 2.30pm featuring Nicola Dickson and Juanita McLauchlan along with Australian curator Julie Ewington and local academic and artist Dr Chris Orchard.

In the exhibition River in my mind, in my work, artist Nathalie Hartog-Gautier utilises river landscapes to explore colonised environments and ecological devastation..

Gallery Director Dr Lee-Anne Hall said themes explored in the Winter Exhibition Program are in line with the Gallery’s year of environmentally focused exhibitions and programs, GREEN 2023.

“Our programs aim to encourage community conversation and explore an often confronting but critical topic of sustainability,” Dr Hall said.

Artwork by Nicola Dickson — **BIODIVERSITY LOSS:** Nicola Dickson, Precious Remnant- Wiradjuri Boundary Tree Wagga Wagga Beach, oil on panel in antique frame on digitally printed wallpaper, 2023.

Local painter Tracey Jones was selected as part of the Gallery’s 2023 Regional Artist Development Program. The result of her four-week residency is revealed in 60 Miles as the Crow Flies, which explores quintessential rural streetscapes across the Riverina.

Also on display is HERE: NOW the outcome of a photographic project by young local artists who have created photobooks as part of a development program with F.Stop Workshop.

Winter Exhibition Program Launch Event:

Artist Talk with Hayden Fowler
Saturday 13 May, 11am – 12pm

Artist Panel – Making Art on and about Country, Place, and Identity
Saturday 13 May, 2:30pm – 3:45pm

Winter Exhibition Launch
Saturday 13 May, 4 – 6pm

Everyone is encouraged to attend these free events, but bookings are essential as places are limited: waggaartgallery.com.au/whats-on/programs-and-events