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Dream Big: Emerging Creatives Lab

The ‘Dream Big: Emerging Creative Lab’ by Flame.Arts is only a week away. This session will focus on personal branding and raising your profile with seasoned industry professionals.

NorthSite’s Communication Officer, Jamie Clarke will be presenting alongside musician LT (Leanne Tennant) and Angelo Saliba with Anthea Saliba from Bang Media.

If you’re an emerging creative dreaming of making it in the arts join this free interactive session.

Price: Free
When: Thursday, 21 March 2024
Duration: 6pm-8pm
Location: Tank 4, Tanks Arts Centre | 46 Collins Ave, Edge Hill QLD 4870


REGISTER HERE

Facilitator: Sharon Timms (Creative Life, Cairns Regional Council)
Presenters: LT (Leanne Tennant, Musician), Angelo Saliba and Anthea Saliba (Bang Media) and Jamie Clarke (NorthSite Contemporary Arts)

Cairns Animation Incubator

If you’re interested in animation take a look at these Animation Workshops and get your name on the list. Email “I’m Interested” to: cairns.animation@icloud.com

Series 1:
Focus on Indigenous Artists
Saturdays March 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd
Digital tools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to bring story telling to life.

Series 2:
Focus on 2D Drawing and Animation
Saturdays April 20th, 27th and May 4th, 11th

Series 3:
Stop Motion Characters, Sets, Lighting, Compositing
Saturdays May 18th, 25th and June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd

Series 4
3D Modelling, Scanning, Texturing and Animation
Saturday July 13th, 20th, 27th and August 3rd

Presented by Ian Whittaker with support from Cairns Regional Council, Arts Queensland, Trinity Bay State High School and Indigenous Design Labs.


Please note that this program is not associated with NorthSite Contemporary Arts.


A bright pink poster with information about animation workshops by Cairns Animation Incubator

Image courtesy of Cairns Animation Incubator

Artisan’s emerging regional Queensland artist residency

An artist wearing earmuffs and safety glasses and is sanding a block. They wear a red cardigan and a bright yellow apron with hair tied in a pony tail. Text in the top left corner reads 'artisan residency program'.

Applications are closing soon for Artisan’s emerging regional Queensland artist residency.

This Brisbane-based residency offers you a career-changing opportunity to immerse yourself completely in your art – with all expenses covered for up to six weeks. Open to all craft and design practitioners. The program includes:

  • Travel, accommodation, living costs and material expenses for up to 6 weeks
  • Mentoring and career development
  • Vocational training
  • A curated exhibition at artisan

But don’t wait, apply now! Submissions close on 20 February 2024.

For full information and to apply, visit https://artisan.org.au/pages/artisan-residency-program-queensland-2024


Please note that the Artisan’s emerging regional Queensland artist residency is not associated with NorthSite Contemporary Arts and this is general information.

Artists’ Residency

NorthSite will host four senior artists from Moa Arts during a month-long residency at NorthSite Art Studios. David Bosun, Solomon Booth, Fiona Mosby and Paula Savage will be participating in a series of intensive printmaking sessions through September and October 2023 to develop new works.

During the residency, these four senior artists will be preparing new works for an exhibition at Tarnanthi in Adelaide later this year as well as two international exhibitions planned for 2024 and 2025. This is an exciting time for these artists who are looking forward to getting into the print studio alongside Moa Arts long-term printmaking facilitator Dian Darmansjah from Firebox Studios.

This year David Bosun, Solomon Booth, Fiona Mosby and Paula Savage displayed work in the CIAF2023 satellite exhibition ‘Malu Bardthar Dapar | Sea Land Sky’ at NorthSite Contemporary Arts. We’re excited to welcome them into NorthSite Art Studios and continue to follow their success.

Curator Insights for Education Group

Last week, 15 students from TAFE Queensland‘s Diploma of Visual Arts Professional Practice, visited the NorthSite gallery for a curators talk with Aven Noah Jr.

Aven Noah Jr. is from the Komet Tribe of Mer, or Murray Island in Eastern islands of the Torres Strait and is the Curator for NorthSite Contemporary Arts. Aven is an alumnus of the National Gallery of Australia’s Indigenous Arts Leadership program and has over 14 year experience working as the Gallery Officer at Gab Titui Cultural Centre, Thursday Island before joining NorthSite Contemporary Arts in 2021.

Aven is the curator of the exhibition Malu Bardthar Dapar | Sea Land Sky presented in Gallery 1 at NorthSite until 19 August 2023. Working with 12 artists from Moa Arts this exhibition shares powerful cultural stories through the eyes of senior and emerging artists.

“Students gain valuable insights from industry professionals like Aven; Having the opportunity to ask questions and create new connections within the arts is important in developing their careers.” – Rose Rigley, Visual Arts Educator at TAFE Queensland.

To book an education tour or talk at NorthSite phone the gallery on 0740509494 or email programs@northsite.org.au


LINKS:


A group of 19 people standing in an art gallery and smiling. There is a woven basket work in front of them and several monoprints on the wall behind them.

Aven Noah Jr.’s curator talk to TAFE Queensland students, NorthSite Contemporary Arts, August, 2023.


A group of students standing in the gallery listening to a curator talk

Aven Noah Jr.’s curator talk to TAFE Queensland students, NorthSite Contemporary Arts, August, 2023.


First Nations Printmaking Program in Cairns

Red fabric with grey leaves printed on top and more plants printed in white over the top.

SpotFire is a NorthSite program that provides facilities for emerging and established First Nations Artists to plan, develop and produce fine art prints on paper and fabric. Held every Friday at NorthSite Art Studios in Cairns, this program provides access to a professional studio space, equipment, materials and expertise from a range of experienced facilitators.

Participating Artists are encouraged to use the weekly sessions to develop new work, or further develop skills and techniques, supported by the program facilitator. SpotFire is facilitated by master printmaker Theo Tremblay and supported by artists and printmakers Robert Tommy Pau and Hannah Parker.

The program first started in February 2023 and we continue to welcome First Nations printmakers to participate in this year’s program. For more information and to register your interest in joining SpotFire reach out to Katrina Iosia: programs@northsite.org.au or call 0740509494.

 

Join SpotFire

 


A man holding a print screen on a table and two women on the other side of the table

Hannah Parker, Ruth Saveka and Paul Bong working at NorthSite Art Studio.


A group of people stand around a printing table looking at artworks.

NorthSite Art Studio, 2023. Program talks with Robert Tommy Pau and Theo Tremblay.


A women wearing blue gloves and holding a brush.

Kassandra Savage working at NorthSite Art Studios, 2023.


SpotFire has received funding through Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Cairns Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Jamaylya Ballangarry-Kearins takes to the stage

We’re proud to see Jamaylya Ballangarry-Kearins (NorthSite Gallery Officer) take to the stage with JUTE Theatre Company’s First Nations residency program, ‘Dare to Dream’.

The ‘Dare to Dream’ program was established in 2016 by JUTE to tell the stories of First Nations people for First Nations people. ‘I Gut this Feeling’ is the latest initiative to come from the ‘Dare to Dream’ program that aims to educate and entertain audiences through its clever and comical theatre experience.

Over the next 5 weeks, this production will tour to five communities on the Cape York Peninsula: Mossman SHS, Weipa W C C, Mapoon, Lockhart State School and Normanton State School.

Hamish Sawyer attended the premiere performance in Cairns earlier this month. “Wonderful to attend the premiere performance of ‘Dare to Dream’ at JUTE tonight before it goes on tour to Cape communities – Jam, you’re a star”. said Hamish Sawyer, NorthSite Acting Director.

Congratulations Jamaylya!

For more information visit:
JUTE: https://jute.com.au/dare-to-dream/
ArtsHub: https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/good-things-happen-when-the-young-dare-to-dream-2635655

IndigeDesign Labs x MECCA Brands

IndigeDesign Labs recently undertook a design project with Australian cosmetic retailer, MECCA Brands.

This exciting design collaboration for MECCA’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan included a skills design workshop with MECCA’s Creative Services team held in Gimuy (Cairns).

MECCA spoke with with Jamaylya Ballangarry-Kearins, IndigeDesign Labs Coordinator, about the collaboration with MECCA and IndigeDesign Labs.

Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gHFdf-xX

IndigeDesign Labs is a partnership between NorthSite Contemporary Arts and Aboriginal design agency ingeous studios led by Aboriginal graphic designer and digital creative Leigh Harris and assisted by Jamaylya Ballangarry-Kearins.

A bright colourful design by IndigeDesign Labs with white text 'MECCA' in the middle of the image.

Image courtesy of IndigeDesign Labs.

NorthSite appoints Katrina Iosia as Programs Coordinator

NorthSite Contemporary Arts is thrilled to announce the appointment of
Katrina Iosia in the position of Programs Coordinator.

Katrina joins the team from New Zealand, where she was working mostly in Public Programmes Assistant, Gallery Assistant at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, and formerly an Art Tutor/ Educator at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design.

I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the amazing team here at NorthSite. The amount of support has made settling into the role so much easier, especially being part of a healthy work environment that supports inclusion, cultural diversity and a positive work and family life balance.

A huge thank you to Ashleigh, NorthSite staff and the Board for their support. I’m really looking forward to working together to create art and design workshops with the arts community. Continue to support the astonishing and well-established printmaking society, and introduce creative technologies, NFT workshops, and activities that will increase engagement for families, youth, and outreach into the wider community,” said Katrina Iosia.

As a celebrated Niuean artist and designer, Katrina Iosia is recognized as a leading female AR designer and developer in Aotearoa.

We are thrilled to be welcoming Katrina into the NorthSite family and I can see that her passion, drive and skills will really benefit artists and designers in Far North Queensland. Particularly as we build a program of art workshops and activities and increase community delivery and programs from our new venue, NorthSite Art Studios in Cairns.
Katrina’s knowledge and culturally embedded approach to arts education and design will be an asset to creatives in Far North Queensland and Australia more widely.” said Ashleigh Campbell, Artistic Director / CEO.

Katrina has hit the ground running and this week has been invited to present and participate in the Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney Modern Opening Week Program, presenting digital interactive art and also presenting a deep dive into the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Link to book

Congratulations Katrina and welcome to Aus and NorthSite!!
 


ARTIST BIO

Katrina Iosia has quickly emerged as a dynamic and leading woman in Augmented Reality as a designer, developer and artist in Aotearoa (NZ). As a Pasifika woman in Art and Technology, she has traversed seamlessly into the international Mixed Reality art scene. She has exhibited with ‘Digital Art Month’ in Paris (2021), a featured artist in the 2022 Vancouver Mural Winter Arts Festival. Katrina is the only lens creator with Snapchat from Aoteroa, an ambassador, and creator for Snap Spectacles AR powered glasses. She has years of experience as an NFT creator and coordinator, who has been a voice within the NFT Pasifika Pilot Program (Creative NZ), Digital Fellowship Program Partnership(Australian Council for the arts), Panelist for Digital Moana, Pacific Summit and currently Digital Moana Fellowship (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

New creative space

You may have heard the buzz… NorthSite and our friends at InkMasters are excited to have been through a process of transition recently, with the handing over of the baton!

NorthSite is commencing operations of NorthSite Art Studios, 55 Greenslopes Street, Edge Hill.

This phenomenal workshop space was managed by InkMasters recently and operated as Djumbunji Press KickArts Fine Art Printmaking 2009 – 2012.

We’re aware we have huge shoes to fill in terms of the extraordinary work that the InkMasters committee have achieved for printmaking in the region over the past decade, but we’re also aware of the huge potential of the site for the far north community of artists.

We want to hear from you. Tell us your experiences and aspirations and if you have a burning idea for a creative workshop you’d like to deliver or participate in – let us know by filling in the survey here.

Yours in art – Team NorthSite


Read more in Tropic Magazine: Click here


 

UPCOMING EVENTS & WORKSHOPS