ARID - A Sculptural Collaboration

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	Eremophila Festival 2004
	Opening Remarks
	Sculptural Exhibition

Art, Gardens and People come together in Port Augusta at
ARID - A Sculptural Collaboration during September 2004
with two exhibitions exploring the challenges of living in an arid environment.

Volunteer Chris Nayda of The Friends of the Arid Lands Botanic Garden informing artists about plant species

This is the first time, that the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden proudly hosts a sculptural exhibition in our extensive and beautiful grounds. Artists have worked closely with Garden staff to select sites and discover the wide range of plant life suitable for arid areas. Visitors will be able to wander through the Garden at their leisure or take the daily guided tour. Visitors should also take time to visit the Fountain Gallery to view the artists’ concept development work.

Country Arts SA’s Visual Arts Officer, Harry Koch, is curating both exhibitions and is excited about the work being developed “Touring the Australian Arid Lands Gardens with their enthusiastic staff and volunteers has opened up a new world of ideas for the artists involved. Ideas have been flowing thick and fast and some really great sculptures are under construction”.
In adjunct projects, local school students are working with artist Phil Rees over a number of weeks, with support from the SA Housing Trust and Child Youth Family Services, to produce an installation for the Garden.

Indigenous artists from Port Augusta and surrounding communities have been working with well known community artist and sculptor John Turpie, with support from Arts SA and the Port Augusta City Council Social Vision Unit, to develop the skills which will take their work from their traditional 2D to a 3D environment. They experimented with clay and clay modeling, wood, hebel block, clay crete, tin cutting, plaster casting and paper casting.

He said, “It is great to hear some Indigenous stories and see how they may translate into sculpture ideas - Faith Thomas Coulthard had some great stories of the old days.”
One artist who really enjoyed the workshop was Donny McKenzie. Over the two-day workshop he created a number of works using clay and hebel block. Donny said, “It was good. I picked up more ideas and inspiration from attending the workshop—everyone enjoyed working together and giving each other ideas”.

Some of the group will go onto create a works that will be selected for ARID.
ARID will officially open at the Fountain Gallery on 3 September at 6pm and at the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden on Saturday 4 September (official opening 12.30 pm) coinciding with the Eremophila Festival with transport running between the Fountain Gallery and the and the Gardens. Both exhibitions will run until September 29.

There are still plenty of ways to get involved with the project as a supporter of the project or volunteer during the exhibition.

Artist Gerhard Steinger from Coober Peedy

Info:
Sam Yates,
Northern Arts Officer
+61-8-8642 4557

Kylie Kerrigan,
Audience Development Officer,
Country Arts SA,
+61-8-8444 0406
+61-401 999 633

Sam Yates,
Northern Arts Officer,
+61-8-8642 4557
+61-427 800 748

The exhibition is jointly hosted by The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden and the Fountain Gallery, with support from Country Arts SA.