On Common Ground in Narrandera

On Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October, the Narrandera Common will provide the backdrop and inspiration for a spectacular art experience featuring the work of 18 Riverina artists, 8 visiting artists and over 50 community members.  

The site-specific arts festival will take place along the Murrumbidgee River and over the 3 days of activities, audience are invited to explore this stunning flora and fauna reserve where artworks will be embedded into the landscape.

The Murrumbidgee river has a long history as a contested site. Colonisation, the development of agriculture, species extinction and reduction, continuing environmental changes and resource management initiatives such as the Murray Darling Basin Plan, make this location and its surrounds a place of consternation with many conflicting views. On Common Ground is a celebration of what links us, through all of our different viewpoints and histories. It is an attempt to allow a neutral place, a place for discussion and reflection for three days and beyond.

Over the past year, artists and community groups have been devising new, original artworks in the lead up to the festival. The featured artwork includes a huge textiles installation made in collaboration with Julie Montgarrett, Vic McEwan and Clytie Smith, and addresses the fraught history of the black swans in the region.  Julie Montgarret says, “ The river textile carries the patterns, shapes and shadows of the black swans that once filled the skies over the rivers and billabongs of the Riverina. Made up of over 2000 pieces of recycled cloth dyed and printed, it hangs 10 metres overhead and stretches 110 metres across the width of the river.”

Another highlight of the festival includes a night time projection event called Haunting, on the banks of Beach 2 in the Common. Vic McEwan and National Museum of Australia curator, George Main, have been collaborating and working with collection items related to the Narrandera area to create the video work. George Main says, “Haunting acknowledges the multi-dimensional realities of these objects, of our celebrated and hidden histories, and seeks to foster cultural shifts that allow society to explore and face difficult situations now facing humanity.”

Along with these artworks, there will be an additional 22 artworks spread throughout the Common, between the entrance near Lake Talbot, Beach 1 and Beach 2. Artistic Director of The Cad Factory Vic McEwan says, “On Common Ground is an opportunity to celebrate The Riverina’s amazing talent and to fill this beautiful natural area with people, conversations, artworks and ideas”

The Chair of Western Riverina Arts, Marg Couch says, “On Common Ground is an innovative Riverina grown project developing the creative economy through skills development, enhanced tourism opportunities, social inclusion, identity and placemaking.”

The festival is a partnership between The Cad Factory, Narrandera Arts and Creative Network, Narrandera Council, Arts NSW, Regional Arts NSW, Australia Council for the Arts, Performance Space, National Association for the Visual Arts, National Museum of Australia, Western Riverina Arts, Happy Herbs Company and Bendigo Bank.

On Common Ground
16 - 18 October
The Narrandera Common

Friday 16 October: Open from 10am - 4pm
10am - 2pm: Schools’ Day
Local Students will be given tours around the Common to look at the artworks and engage with artists. This special Schools’ Day has more places available. For more information contact Sarah McEwan, sarah@cadfactory.com.au or 0405 447 490

Friday 16 October: Projection Event and Opening
6:30pm - 10pm at Beach 2
Bring your dinner and a picnic blanket to enjoy an evening by the river
Bookings essential: sarah@cadfactory.com.au

Saturday and Sunday: Open from 1pm - 6pm

For Interviews or additional information contact Vic McEwan on 0409 543 953 or cadfactory@ihug.com.au

List of Artists
Amelia Reid (Murwillumbah)
Angela French (Sydney)
Bec Dean (Sydney)
Clytie Smith (Sydney)
David Gilbey (Wagga Wagga)
Derek Motion (Leeton)
Eco-dyeing Circle (A group of women from Wagga, Narrandera, Grong Grong and Coleambally)
Elizabeth Gay Campbell (Narrandera)
Emma Piltz (Narrandera)
Fiona Caldarevic (Narrandera)
George Main (Canberra)
Greg Pritchard (Nomad)
Gwen Lee (Narrandera)
Hands on Weavers (Wagga Wagga)
Hape Kiddle (Griffith)
Jacqui Ryding (Narrandera)
Joyce Spencer (Narrandera)
Julie Briggs (Narrandera)
Julie Montgarrett (Wagga Wagga)
Kerri Weymouth (Coleambally)
Lindsay Campbell (Narrandera)
Local Narrandera Students (From Narrandera High, Narrandera Public and St Joseph’s)
Lorraine Tye (Uranquinty)
Marilyn Manning (Narrandera)
Narrandera Arts and Creative Network (Local arts group)
Nicole Barakat (Sydney)
Pen to Paper (A group of writers from Narrandera)
Rachel Viski (Wagga Wagga)
Sarah McEwan (Narrandera)
Tamsin Salehian (Sydney)
The Lace Makers (A group of women from Wagga, Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith)
Vic McEwan (Narrandera)