Artist Talk with "Amok Island"

FORM & CBH Silos Project

With a rich history, not only is Ravensthorpe the place to stop and grab a pie and chips on your way to Esperance. Now, this is no travel blog but I'll let you in on a little secret. Ravensthorpe is an absolute gem, if you take the time to stop and breathe it in.

Thanks to FORM and CBH Group, the once-plain-white silos at the west entrance to Ravensthorpe have been transformed into gigantic pieces of ART! Just in case you hadn't noticed.

On the chilly evening of September 15th, around 25 intrigued community members gathered in the Ravensthorpe Hall to listen to a talk hosted by FORM & Amok Island. An insight into the process of how these enormous silos were turned into one of only two Silo Art Projects in Western Australia.

Fantastic! Amok Island (that's his Artistic name, you know, to keep his private life private) talked the group through the whole process from concept to (almost) finish. Amok Island's resume already included a large list of big scale mural projects, but the Ravensthorpe project was his biggest yet. A big fan of flora and fauna, Amok Island tends to paint his murals relative to the area, hence "Six Stages of Banksia Baxteri", for Ravensthorpe. Not to mention the too-cute Honey Possum and New Holland Honey Eater.

As audience members, I think we were a bit dumbfounded with the honesty in the detailed description delivered to us about the whole process, with this much information from a professional source someone might just pull off another silo mural down the road a bit! In all seriousness, it was very interesting, fascinating actually. Even better, Amok Island was a super nice down-to-earth bloke.

After the Artist Talk, relaxed chat took over as did mingling. Rags to Riches and Tepees of Hope were being exhibited in the Ravensthorpe Hall so the crew from FORM had the chance to browse and write their own comments inside the Tepees. Technically, Amok Island has made his mark on the CBH Silos AND our Tepees of Hope. That may not make the news though.

Thank you to those community members who attended the evening. Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council looks forward to continuing our relationship with FORM, as they are such a friendly and professional bunch.

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council is supported by the Departments of Culture and the Arts and Regional Development, Royalties for Regions and Country Arts WA.

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council receives core funding from Country Arts WA, which receives funding from the State Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts and Lotterywest.

FORM Photography Workshop

With visiting artist David Collins

Tying in with our wildflower season, David Charles Collins Photographer and Andrew Nicholls FORM Senior Curator were visiting the Shire of Ravensthorpe to work on an exhibition featuring botanical photography. Lucky for us they offered to host a free photography workshop during their visit, featuring the use of different light techniques on Friday 16th September.

Originally a painter and sculptor, the very talented David Collins has an eye for the unusual and inspires you to challenge yourself and the way you think about your craft. His images are bold, theatrical, voyeuristic, and not for the faint hearted. Very inspiring.

Six people attended the workshop with various types of cameras. David talked us through how to make the most of the hardware that you have, and that it is ok to improvise. Working with tripods (a challenge on its own!), the lights were dimmed and the tech talk began. David explained that the camera works like your eyes in light and dark, and that you shouldn't be afraid to experiment with settings and props. Images were shot under spot lights, we looked at shadows, how light creates mood, black and white images, and how to work on accomplishing clear images in low light.


David's relaxed but thorough teaching techniques put the group at ease, and made it easy to ask questions. With a mixture of beginner and professional photographers attending, I think its pretty safe to say that everyone learned something. A very enjoyable morning. I just hope I wasn't the only one who came home with a few completely, err, black images. Practice makes perfect?

David and Andrew were a pleasure to deal with. A very professional duo, and a credit to FORM. During their visit to the Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe region David and Andrew hoped to capture some botanical beauty that will feature in an up and coming photography exhibition to be held in Perth. Watch this space, as it seems FORM are determined increase the status of Hopetoun & Ravensthorpe!

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council receives core funding from Country Arts WA, which receives funding from the State Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts and Lotterywest.

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council Inc. receives funding from the Shire of Ravensthorpe.

Photo credits, Kirsty Duffy.

A Visit from Country Arts WA

Local Arts Funding Sessions

Well strike me roan, Country Arts WA (CAWA) were locked in to visit us! After some initial nerves had settled (these guys are one of our most valued funding bodies), we were very excited that Doone McAlary Regional Arts Development Coordinator, and Tegan Morey Regional Arts Development Officer were coming to deliver two Arts Funding Sessions.

We were excited because CAWA is important to us, we were excited because we had the chance to showcase our area and our latest project and exhibition, and we were excited because we had the chance to introduce fellow community members to CAWA. This was a great opportunity.

Two Arts Funding Sessions were offered. One in Hopetoun on Tuesday 13th September, and the other in Ravensthorpe Wednesday 14th September. It was a wonderful gesture to offer the two workshops because even though the two towns are only 50 kms from each other, after work, school drop offs and pickups, and shopping it makes for a busy week if much travel is involved.

The CAWA ladies talked us through funding and grant opportunities, with plenty of time for questions and comments. It can be a mine field when you are working through project funding, so it was nice that Doone and Tegan's delivery of information was relaxed yet on point. For those who were not familiar with CAWA, it was also a nice insight into their work in regional WA.

During their stay in Ravensthorpe, we invited Doone and Teagan to act as impartial judges to determine the winners of our Rags to Riches Exhibition. It was a hard task, but they were up for the challenge.

We thank participants for joining us in attending the Country Arts WA Arts Funding Sessions, and look forward to continuing community cohesion through the arts and culture.

Botanical Art and Date Loaf

A weekend with Penny Leech

It began with a gathering of friends and strangers. Professional artists and beginners. Exquisite date loaf and not-quite-cooked-in-the-middle chocolate cake. As 11 participants settled in to begin a journey of discovery a hint of apprehension and awkwardness hovered. Where do we start? How do we start? How do we mix the colours? The answer... have a go, be bold, make mistakes, be proud of small achievements and in 30 years time you will still be learning.

There was a plethora of plants, nuts, and flowers to paint and the smell of bush treasures in the room was lovely. Form started to take shape on paper after some deep thought and botanical images were clearly evident. By the end of the first day and after some tips and demonstrations had been shared, the work produced by participants was really quite amazing.













Day 2 of the workshop arrived and by golly, participants were done with simple leaves. It was now time to have a crack at banksias and hakeas! Confidence had grown to say the least.


The results were a true achievement. I think it is pretty safe to say that painting Botanical Art is hard work. It requires patience, concentration, time, and a good Date Loaf. Congratulations to the participants who made this artistic workshop part of their learning journey.

The weekend of 6th and 7th of August saw Windsprays Art Hub on Maitland Street full of studious artists. Penny Leech, an original founder of the Botanical Artists Group of WA graced the group with her faultless botanical art. If nothing else it was mesmerizing watching her work away with ease to create perfect botanical images. Thank you to Penny for travelling to Hopetoun. There is still a lucky group who will be joining Penny on her next visit to Hopetoun September 3rd and 4th.

Thank you also to Beryl, our gracious Windspray host and baker of Date Loaf. And of course our hard working participants who achieved so much in a short amount of time. Looking forward to seeing some completed works in 30 years time.

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council receives core funding from Country Arts WA, which receives funding from the State Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts and Lotterywest.

Patches from the People,  Please.

Mystery Community Project

An Extension of the Rags to Riches Project

There is a scent of Mystery in the air at the moment. A fresh scent. A seed has been planted, and a mystery vine is going to grow amongst communities surrounding the Ravensthorpe Shire. Lets water that vine, and see what Mystery reveals itself.

Once loved fabrics. A hanky with a happy memory? An old beach bag from the Endless Summer of '66? Did you measure once and cut twice to ruin a vintage piece? Consider contributing to Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Councils Mystery Community Project. We have an idea, a big idea. A large scale mystery textiles project will come to life, and we need Patches from the People, please. All are welcome to participate.

Textile patches may be any shape or size up to 1m x 1m. Your patchwork piece will be utilized and exhibited as part of a large scale mystery project. Fabrics may be decorated any way you choose including; traditional patch working, painting, embellishing, drawing, or just a pretty piece that you would like to see included.

Patches will be required by the 2nd of September. The Mystery Project unveiling and sew-a-thon for the construction of the project will be held at Hopetoun Community Centre 3rd and 4th of September. BYO sewing machine.

The project will be exhibited at the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show from September 13th to 24th, and who knows where it will pop up next?

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council receives core funding from Country Arts WA, which receives funding from the State Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts and Lotterywest.

 

Rags to Riches, a Rag Art Project.

Everyone has a story to tell.

Rags to Riches is a rag art project with heart. Everyone has a story to tell, a pillowslip, a baby blanket or a hat tucked away in the cupboard with special memories. The time has come to drag your memories out of storage and create an artistic piece. Originally a concept by Sue Leighton, Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council is going to give you a little nudge, in the form of a bundle of rags, to get the inspirational juices flowing.

 With a prize pool of over $1,700, now is a good time to start sewing, tearing, twisting, cutting, and embellishing. Don’t think that your merry road to creation needs to be paved from Rags only, you are free as a bird to add wood, metal, straw, plastic, anything your heart desires. For judging purposes there will be two categories; Rag Fashion and Rag Passion, and there are a limited number of mannequins up for grabs to display wearable art pieces.




The choices are endless. You can make anything.
A rag rug, a tablecloth, a kite, some cushions, or a quilt. You could refurbish an old chair with a cushioned seat, make a

handbag from an old pair of jeans, or even a scarecrow, as long as you include a rag from your bundle. There are some very talented community members amongst us, so who knows what the end results will bring?

Thank you to those who have come on to support the project, WFIs Darrell Panizza, and Kyle Forsyth and his team at Landmark Ravensthorpe. We are hoping for a few entries from the blokes too, so get out your staple gun, grab a bundle of rags from the Hopetoun Community Resource Centre or Landmark in Ravensthorpe, and get cracking on your project. The project entries will be exhibited throughout the Ravensthorpe Wildflower show which will run from 13^th to the 24th of September 2016.

For more information, contact RRAC Coordinator Kirsty Duffy on 0438 945 405, or rraccoordinator@westnet.com.au .

 

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council receives core funding from Country Arts WA, which receives funding from the State Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts and Lotterywest.

In the name of Good Governance.

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council was one of many community groups that attended the Good Practice Governance workshop on the 14^th of June 2016. With a new Associations Incorporation Act coming into effect 1^st July 2106, organizations have 3 years to amend their constitution to comply (or adopt the model rules).  The one-day training workshop was funded by the Department of Regional Development and hosted by Hopetoun Community Resource Centre. The content of the workshop was developed by Linkwest for the Department of Local Government and Communities.

Some of the topics included were; what is governance, who is responsible for governance, roles and responsibilities of management committees, how to create and maintain a strong committee, legal and financial responsibilities, strategic planning, risks, and policies and procedures. It was identified that there are some very informed and knowledgeable members amongst our community groups, many of whom are willing to pass on their experience. The training was well presented by Viti Simmonds who gave a great overview of governance requirements. Further information was supported by an in depth Good Practice Governance handbook which all participants received. People who join Management Committees give a considerable amount of time and energy, and it was wonderful to be able to attend such a supportive workshop.

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council receives core funding from Country Arts WA, which receives funding from the State Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts and Lotterywest.