Rosemary Laing, swanfires, John and Kathy’s auto services, 2002-04. Image courtesy the artist and Tolarno Galleries
In mid-2019, we were engaged by Shoalhaven Regional Gallery to curate an exhibition that looks at artistic responses to extreme weather in Australian art. Part of the brief was to present a survey of art across time, showcasing a mix of historical and contemporary works.
The result is WONDER + DREAD: Art in the Land of Weather Extremes, due to open at Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in Nowra in December 2020. The current artist list includes many high profile artists working today, alongside prolific artists of the past. This includes Susan Norrie, Nicole Monks, Rosemary Laing, Cameron Robbins, Lloyd Rees, William Strutt, Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Max Dupain, Arthur Boyd and Michael Riley among others.
WONDER + DREAD is vital for the Shoalhaven community. Not only will it bring artworks of significance from state and national collections to the region, but it will also help process the trauma and continue the healing required following the devastating summer of 2019/20. During the bushfires of 19/20, more than three-quarters of the Shoalhaven landmass was burnt by the Currowan and associated fires. This was closely followed by flooding in February 2020, and a global pandemic in March 2020.
When we started talking about this project in April 2019, we had no idea of what was to come. In April 2020, we are living in a very different world, but one where art is no less critical.
In response to the year that was and will be, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery is commissioning an artwork that responds to the extreme weather events of 2019/20. The focus of the commissioned artwork is community impact and connection. The work must include the ability for the community to respond, contribute or connect with the work in some way.
The call for proposals closes 22 May 2020.
Download the Call for Proposals here.
Download the Submission Form here.