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:
Aven Noah Jr.’s curator talk to TAFE Queensland students, NorthSite Contemporary Arts, August, 2023.
Aven Noah Jr.’s curator talk to TAFE Queensland students, NorthSite Contemporary Arts, August, 2023.
First Nations Printmaking Program in Cairns
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.
Hannah Parker, Ruth Saveka and Paul Bong working at NorthSite Art Studio.
NorthSite Art Studio, 2023. Program talks with Robert Tommy Pau and Theo Tremblay.
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.
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
SUPERCUT x Robert Tommy Pau
In July 2022, Robert Tommy Pau’s artwork, titled ‘Time‘, was presented on a billboard along the Bruce Highway as part of NorthSite’s partnership with Outer Space for the SUPERCUT program.
“NorthSite has been delighted to partner with Outer Space for SUPERCUT which has created new opportunities for regional artists to showcase their artwork to a wider audience”, said NorthSite’s Artistic Director/ CEO Ashleigh Campbell.
This artwork tells an important story in past and modern history for the Torres Strait Islanders, reflecting on two different points in time and showcasing the vast contrast between these timelines.
“1871 is a point in time where Islanders refers to Coming of the Light. This is a very profound statement as it is a demarcation between their past history and modern history.” said Robert Tommy Pau
Tommy is a descendant of the Eastern Torres Strait Islands, Australian Aboriginal, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islander and Asia. He speaks Torres Strait Creole and Australian English. He was taught about the need to keep culture strong through cultural practice by his father. He has a strong commitment to keeping old traditions alive and believes that culture must remain true to the past and move with time to exist in the future. Tommy has considerable experience in the arts and his art forms of choice include printmaking, painting and sculpture.
Billboard location: Bruce Highway, 3.2km west of Bundaberg Airport on Isis Highway
Outbound, Bundaberg, Queensland.
For more information visit: https://www.outerspacebrisbane.org/program/supercut-robert-tommy-pau
Billboard documentation by Sabrina Lauriston
Robert Tommy Pau, Time, 2021, linocut on somerset velvet white 300gsm 100% cotton, 59.5 78.5cm
Billboard documentation by Sabrina Lauriston
SUPERCUT is supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government Initiative and is presented in partnership with Artspace Mackay and NorthSite Contemporary Arts, Cairns.
2023 — 2024 Program Call Out
NorthSite is a leading contemporary art gallery working with over 300 artists each year to deliver exhibitions and programs to the Cairns region and beyond. In 2021 NorthSite delivered over 20 exhibitions and over 100 programs. The NorthSite team have extensive knowledge and connections within the arts industry to support artists achieve their goals wherever possible.
Applications for our 2023 — 2024 exhibitions and programs are now open. We welcome emerging and established artists to express their interest in our 2023 — 2024 program call-out.
Open: Monday, 8 August 2022
Deadline: Monday, 26 September 2022
Ceramicist Kim Nolan is selected for Unleashed 2022
Congratulations to Kewarra Beach-based artist Kim Nolan who will be exhibiting work in Unleashed 2022 at Artisan, the home of Queensland Craft and Design, situated in Bowen Hills, Brisbane.
Unleashed is a longstanding biennial exhibition project, drawing together a select cohort of early-career Queensland craft and design practitioners and launching their careers. Exploring the convergence between craft and design, Unleashed has been instrumental in launching some of our state’s best talent.
Kim Nolan and 5 other leading craftspeople from Far North Queensland were nominated by Lauren Carter (Retail Manager, NorthSite Contemporary Arts) and Kim’s work was selected through a process with institutional partners from across Queensland.
The panel comprised of:
Ruth Della, Curator, HOTA (Home of The Arts)
Megan Williams manager, University of Southern Queensland Art Gallery
Cassandra Lehman, curator, artisan
Ashleigh Campbell, Director, NorthSite Contemporary Arts
Tracey Heathwood, Director, Artspace Mackay
Dr Beata Batorowicz, Associate Professor, School of Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland
Kim Nolan will now be exhibiting new artworks in this year’s exhibition, alongside Chris Miller and Lisa Kajewski STUDIOFLEK – Gold Coast, Dan Watson – Sunshine Coast, Ellie Coleman – Toowoomba, Hailey Atkins – Brisbane, Kim Nolan – Cairns, Kate Harding – Mackay.
Unleashed 2022: Fresh Meet from 11 June – 20 August 2022 in Artisan’s Main Gallery and Small Object Space.
Snap up a few of Kim’s ceramics in the NorthSite Store before she is discovered by southern design friends.