Powerful art and Platypus at the Powerhouse

 

What does the future look like in your region?

Casula Powerhouse was my next stop in platypus art hunting adventures. Casula is located South West of Sydney New South Wales (NSW) Australia and is on the traditional lands of the Dharawal people.  My reason for visiting Casula was to see the new exhibition Artists in Volatile Landscapes. The exhibition involved 30 artist's from regional NSW and they created artworks based on the question What does the future look like in your region? The collection of artworks were amazing and a mix of styles and mediums and promotes artist's work in Regional areas. The artist's involved included: Alana Blackburn, Allison Reynolds, Andrew Hull, Anna Glynn, Caity Reynolds, Eden Crawford-Harriman, Grace Barnes, Hape Kiddle, Holly Ahern, Ian Tully, Idil Abdullahi, Jacob Charles, Jane Richens, Joanne Stead, Jodie Munday, Juanita McLauchlan, Julianne Piko, Kim V Goldsmith,  Kit Kelen, Kris Schubert, Kristin Rule, Laura Baker, Mike Terry, Riana Head-Toussaint, Ronnie Grammatica, Scott Baker, Sian Harris, Tania Hartigan, Tracy Luff, Yanhadarrambal Jade Flynn.  The exhibition runs until 24th of September 2023 read more about it here.   Below are some of my favourite highlights of artworks from the exhibition.

Jodie Munday

A Wiradjuri Woman working and living on Gundungarra land. She is a mixed media artist and her artworks focus on native plants, animals and rural lifestyle aspects. She runs her own business called Cr8ive Art. Check out her Instagram at (@cr8iveart2523).

River Rock Dreams by Jodie Munday 2022

Watching you, Watching Me by Jodie Munday 2022

Juanita McLauchlan

Juanita McLauchlan is a Gamilaraay artist living and working on Wiradjuri country.  Her artworks are texture and mix material based and inspired by her First Nations Heritage. Check out her website here.

Standing at the heart of seven generations Past/Present 2022 by Juanita McLauchlan

Detail of Standing at the heart of seven generations Past/Present 2022 by Juanita McLauchlan

Tracy Luff

Tracy Luff is a mixed media sculpture artist. She is known for her 3D carboard created sculptures. Her work is inspired by her Chinese heritage and life in regional Australia. Check out her website here.

Out by Tracy Luff (2023)

Pillows on the wall 2023 by Tracy Luff

Joanne Stead

Joanne Stead is an artist from Tamworth her art includes nature themes and in her own words she is inspired by finding magic in everyday experiences living in regional Australia. Check out her website here.

 

Collection of Works by Joanne Stead 2022-2023

Embodiment 1 by Joanne Stead 2022-2023

Embodiment 2 by Joanne Stead 2022-2023

Embodiment 3 by Joanne Stead 2022-2023

Sian Harris

Sian Harris is a Kurnu Paakantyi Nhuungku artist from Wilcannia, NSW. Her work focuses on Paakantyi Spirituality; First Nations resistance; and representations of womanhood and the female form. Check out her website here.

Purli Wilpinya 2023 By Sian Harris

Andrew Hull

Andrew Hull is a Barkindji mix media artist, writer, performer of poetry and song. His work is inspired by regional Australia. His work "How the light gets in" uses the Japanese art style of Kintsugi, which is the process of repairing broken ceramics by adding gold to the cracks, by doing this it celebrates the imperfections and cracks. His work explores the cracks and broken narratives of daily Australians.  More information on him can be found here.

How the light gets in by Andrew Hull 2023

Julianne Piko

Julianne Piko is a multi-media artist creating works across sculpture, film and installation. Her artworks focus on the human to nature balance and human inter-connection to the environment we live in.  Her work "Mirror State" explores the connection of ancient granite and plastic and how humans live with the materials we create.  Read more about her here.

Mirror State by Julianne Piko 2023

Detail of Mirror State by Julianne Piko 2023

Grace Barnes

Grace Barnes is an artist from the Upper Hunter Region of NSW. Her work involves digital illustration and animation. Her work is inspired by the natural landscapes. Her artwork "A Foot in Two Worlds" explores the potential environmental future of the Upper Hunter Region, one is a positive outcome of Symbiocene (a new Era in Human History where Humans and the environment are living in symbiosis together or mutually beneficial relationship) or negative Anthropocene (a new era in human history where human activities have had a significant impact and alteration on Earth's environment).  Read more about her here.

A Foot in Two Worlds by Grace Barnes 2023

Detail of A Foot in Two Worlds by Grace Barnes 2023

A Foot in Two Worlds by Grace Barnes 2023

Detail of A Foot in Two Worlds by Grace Barnes 2023

Detail of A Foot in Two Worlds by Grace Barnes 2023

 

 

Kim V Goldsmith

Kim V Goldsmith is an multi media artist specialising in sound and video installation. Her work focuses on story telling of regional Australia. She is the founder of ecoPULSE.art which looks at the creation of art in regards to a connection of ecology and story telling in regional Australia. Read more about her here.

Humi Haptic Hands by Kim V Goldsmith 2022-23

Final Thoughts

Artists in Volatile Landscapes exhibition is beautiful and deeply rich collection of talented regional artist. The Casula powerhouse is also a great place to visit with friendly staff and a tasty cafe.

Video extras

 Below are more footage of artworks I saw in the Artists in Volatile Landscapes exhibition.