Thursday, 28 April 2016
Renowned US Musician and Writer to appear in Griffith
U.S musician and writer Kristin Hersh is appearing in conversation Monday 9 May at the Bidgee Studio Griffith. Many will know Kristin’s work through her bands The Throwing Muses and 50ft Wave and her extensive solo career. From her debut solo album – which featured the classic Your Ghost performed with Michael Stipe from R.E.M – to her latest solo album Crooked.
Kristin Hersh will be performing in the region as one of The Cad Factory’s 2016 artists-in-residence, and while here Western Riverina Arts are taking the opportunity to bring her to Griffith. Kristin will present a relaxed Q&A session, talking about the books she has written, her career as a musician, and playing a couple of acoustic songs.
Kristin Hersh’s memoir Rat Girl was widely praised from the New York Times to Rolling Stone which named it one of the top ten rock memoirs ever written. Don’t Suck, Don’t Die – Giving Up Vic Chesnutt is her latest book, a memoir of her good friend, US singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt who sadly took his own life in 2009.
Western Riverina Arts Regional Arts Development Officer Derek Motion says it’s an opportunity not-to-be-missed. ‘We’re pleased to be able to bring an artist of Kristin Hersh’s calibre to Griffith for this one-off appearance at the Bidgee Studio. It’s a free event, and should be of interest fans of music and literature alike.’
In Conversation and Q+A with Kristin Hersh
Griffith: 5.30pm, Monday 9 May, Bidgee Studios, 1434 Bridge Rd, Griffith
Friday, 1 April 2016
Goodbye from Jason
G'day, this is Jason.
I'm also known as ShowcaseJase and Bassling, or at least that's how I'd like to be known as I blog under those names and use them for Twitter and music. There are a lot of names I answer to but more often it's Justin.
Anyway, I've been a PACO at Western Riverina Arts since August 2013 until today. That stands for Projects and Communications Officer. It was a part-time role, so it's pleasing to see 117 pieces in the media clippings folder. That's about one a week!
My involvement with Western Riverina Arts began before the organisation was formed, as I attended the public meetings in 2010 when Leeton Shire Council first developed the idea of establishing a regional arts board.
I wrote a letter to support the idea and I, in my role as Corporate Communications Manager at Council, remember suggesting the tagline "Connecting Creative Communities" from the words that Lyn Williams had selected. It's pleasing to see how many other regional arts boards now use something similar.
In 2012, after I'd left Council, I was employed to run workshops on behalf of Western Riverina Arts at Leeton and Narrandera libraries. I later ran similar workshops again at these venues in this role during 2015.
In 2013 I joined the Reimagining The Murrumbidgee project that was funded by the CMA as an artist creating a soundtrack. Then after I began working here, was given the opportunity to design the exhibition catalogue.
I also contributed to the development of government-funded projects, such as proposing an upcoming Laptop Orchestra project supported through FRRR and suggesting the oral history project that became For Prosperity's Sake -- one of a few pilot creative-ageing projects in NSW.
Another contribution to the activities of Western Riverina Arts was a photography competition in Leeton that was run in 2014 and 2015, which attracted dozens of entries. Sadly we decided to discontinue this in 2016 after Council started their own competition that would've made promotion confusing.
One more thing I've enjoyed in this role was talking to the audience at Dream Big in 2014. You can hear my tips for promoting creativity in this video.
Finally, I'd like to say what a joy it's been to promote local artists. There are many people creating stimulating work in our region and it's been a pleasure to learn about them.
I've had some success getting stories out to a wider audience, such as this profile of Mel Ifield that was seen in Canberra and this piece on Sarah McEwan's Her Riot project. More recently a piece on the upcoming Griffith Sculptural Symposium was used by Regional Arts NSW.
Working for Western Riverina Arts has opened new opportunities for me. I'm now working as a curator at Pioneer Park Museum and am taking what I learned from Derek about Instagram for use there.
I've also learned how to apply for funding and will be delivering a CASP project in June there. These opportunities have made me realise that my focus has shifted from working here and, as a result, I need to move on.
So, so long and thanks. Hopefully another will be able to benefit as I have.
I'm also known as ShowcaseJase and Bassling, or at least that's how I'd like to be known as I blog under those names and use them for Twitter and music. There are a lot of names I answer to but more often it's Justin.
Anyway, I've been a PACO at Western Riverina Arts since August 2013 until today. That stands for Projects and Communications Officer. It was a part-time role, so it's pleasing to see 117 pieces in the media clippings folder. That's about one a week!
My involvement with Western Riverina Arts began before the organisation was formed, as I attended the public meetings in 2010 when Leeton Shire Council first developed the idea of establishing a regional arts board.
I wrote a letter to support the idea and I, in my role as Corporate Communications Manager at Council, remember suggesting the tagline "Connecting Creative Communities" from the words that Lyn Williams had selected. It's pleasing to see how many other regional arts boards now use something similar.
In 2012, after I'd left Council, I was employed to run workshops on behalf of Western Riverina Arts at Leeton and Narrandera libraries. I later ran similar workshops again at these venues in this role during 2015.
In 2013 I joined the Reimagining The Murrumbidgee project that was funded by the CMA as an artist creating a soundtrack. Then after I began working here, was given the opportunity to design the exhibition catalogue.
I also contributed to the development of government-funded projects, such as proposing an upcoming Laptop Orchestra project supported through FRRR and suggesting the oral history project that became For Prosperity's Sake -- one of a few pilot creative-ageing projects in NSW.
Another contribution to the activities of Western Riverina Arts was a photography competition in Leeton that was run in 2014 and 2015, which attracted dozens of entries. Sadly we decided to discontinue this in 2016 after Council started their own competition that would've made promotion confusing.
One more thing I've enjoyed in this role was talking to the audience at Dream Big in 2014. You can hear my tips for promoting creativity in this video.
Finally, I'd like to say what a joy it's been to promote local artists. There are many people creating stimulating work in our region and it's been a pleasure to learn about them.
I've had some success getting stories out to a wider audience, such as this profile of Mel Ifield that was seen in Canberra and this piece on Sarah McEwan's Her Riot project. More recently a piece on the upcoming Griffith Sculptural Symposium was used by Regional Arts NSW.
Working for Western Riverina Arts has opened new opportunities for me. I'm now working as a curator at Pioneer Park Museum and am taking what I learned from Derek about Instagram for use there.
I've also learned how to apply for funding and will be delivering a CASP project in June there. These opportunities have made me realise that my focus has shifted from working here and, as a result, I need to move on.
So, so long and thanks. Hopefully another will be able to benefit as I have.
Thursday, 31 March 2016
Twilight Youth Market
Griffith City Library will be hosting a Twilight Youth Market to celebrate Youth Week on Thursday 21 April from 4:30-6:30pm.
The Market will be held out the front of the Library on the sidewalk and they are calling calling for expressions of interest!
Interested in becoming a store holder? Contact the Library!
Make sure you come down after work and check it out! PCYC will be fundraising with a BBQ!
Interested in becoming a store holder? Contact the Library!
Make sure you come down after work and check it out! PCYC will be fundraising with a BBQ!
Thursday, 24 March 2016
Rocco shows creative skills travel
It's exciting to see a local photographer develop their skills and start getting work for multinational companies.
Within the space of a few years Rocco Pirrottina has moved from winning competitions to delivering advertising images for multinational and international clients including Woolworths and, recently, Vogue Magazine.
He is also an active video producer and cameraman. Over the years he has developed a style and, through disciplined attention to detail, his services are now sought by many commercial clients.
A given month for Pirrottina can comprise of shooting fashion, commercial products, corporate events and camping out in the bush for a documentary, as well as travelling with a production crew around Australia to produce content for national and international audiences.
“Aside from working as a member of the crew, I always love taking the role of director. I spent 12 months as Director of Photography on a Sydney-based project destined for Australian and European viewers. A lot of organising and meetings lead to a precision shoot and delivery,” he says.
“Travelling is in my blood, I travel frequently from state to state producing content for a diverse client base. One week I am on location in Melbourne shooting Formula class racing cars at Phillip Island for TV, and then onto a plane to Sydney or Adelaide covering something completely different."
Rocco Pirrottina's dedication to photography and video work is evident in the commitment required for freelance work. "It is a demanding field which works very tightly on time management," he says.
"I have on occasions, come home from a shoot in Sydney, a quick change of clothes and gear and off again to Melbourne or Adelaide for another scheduled job. It can be exciting and and stressful, but also a great opportunity to be part of a new project, meet new people in the industry and learn more. I have worked with many inspiring and talented people."
Pirrottina's talent was obvious when he won our Leeton-based photography competition in 2014. By that time he'd already won many awards locally, as well as collecting a silver and two bronze in the Epson International Panoramic Awards in 2013.
The Riverina landscape has been an inspiration in his work and he has shown the natural beauty of the region to a wider audience. “I enjoy promoting the beauty of Australia. I especially like promoting our local area and all the agriculture and scenic vistas.”
In addition to commercial photography and video production, he also enjoys getting outdoors and producing content focusing on nature. One particular personal project titled 'The Gathering' caught the attention of Sony Professional USA. "That video was a project for love, so it was gratifying to see their interest in my work," said Pirrottina.
It is remarkable that Rocco Pirrottina is largely self-taught and it is his passion for photography that has translated into a career in the burgeoning field known as the creative industries. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours!
Within the space of a few years Rocco Pirrottina has moved from winning competitions to delivering advertising images for multinational and international clients including Woolworths and, recently, Vogue Magazine.
He is also an active video producer and cameraman. Over the years he has developed a style and, through disciplined attention to detail, his services are now sought by many commercial clients.
A given month for Pirrottina can comprise of shooting fashion, commercial products, corporate events and camping out in the bush for a documentary, as well as travelling with a production crew around Australia to produce content for national and international audiences.
“Aside from working as a member of the crew, I always love taking the role of director. I spent 12 months as Director of Photography on a Sydney-based project destined for Australian and European viewers. A lot of organising and meetings lead to a precision shoot and delivery,” he says.
“Travelling is in my blood, I travel frequently from state to state producing content for a diverse client base. One week I am on location in Melbourne shooting Formula class racing cars at Phillip Island for TV, and then onto a plane to Sydney or Adelaide covering something completely different."
Rocco Pirrottina's dedication to photography and video work is evident in the commitment required for freelance work. "It is a demanding field which works very tightly on time management," he says.
"I have on occasions, come home from a shoot in Sydney, a quick change of clothes and gear and off again to Melbourne or Adelaide for another scheduled job. It can be exciting and and stressful, but also a great opportunity to be part of a new project, meet new people in the industry and learn more. I have worked with many inspiring and talented people."
Pirrottina's talent was obvious when he won our Leeton-based photography competition in 2014. By that time he'd already won many awards locally, as well as collecting a silver and two bronze in the Epson International Panoramic Awards in 2013.
The Riverina landscape has been an inspiration in his work and he has shown the natural beauty of the region to a wider audience. “I enjoy promoting the beauty of Australia. I especially like promoting our local area and all the agriculture and scenic vistas.”
In addition to commercial photography and video production, he also enjoys getting outdoors and producing content focusing on nature. One particular personal project titled 'The Gathering' caught the attention of Sony Professional USA. "That video was a project for love, so it was gratifying to see their interest in my work," said Pirrottina.
It is remarkable that Rocco Pirrottina is largely self-taught and it is his passion for photography that has translated into a career in the burgeoning field known as the creative industries. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours!
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Narrandera-based artist contributes to ARTLANDS
ARTLANDS DUBBO 2016 is a four-day conference and festival that will take place from 27 to 30 October. Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant MP, launched it recently at the Sydney Opera House.
This marks the first time in over a decade that the national conference for regional arts has been held in New South Wales and it will feature contributions from Narrandera-based artists, including Vic McEwan.
This biennial event will feature national and international keynote speakers and panels, facilitated forums, workshops, and discussions surrounding three key themes within the arts sector: Regeneration, Connectedness and Emergence. Each theme will explore contemporary issues, challenges and opportunities through research, debate and collaboration.
Narrandera-based artist Vic McEwan from The CAD Factory will be heavily involved in the ARTLANDS DUBBO 2016 program. McEwan is working with Artistic Director Greg Pritchard, Mullumbimby's Joey Ruigrok and Natimuk's Dave Jones to create an amazing opening ceremony for the conference. It is expected to be a spectacle rarely seen in Regional NSW.
Complementing the conference is the ARTLANDS Festival that will feature a line-up of artists and performers never seen together in regional NSW right on the streets of Dubbo. Curated by festival director, Greg Pritchard, the program will include musicians Heath Cullen, Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, Dave Mason & Brendan Gallagher and Radical Son.
Furthermore, internationally acclaimed curator Djon Mundine will curate a new exhibition of work by regional NSW Aboriginal artists, Old Land New Marks, and regional physical theatre companies, FLiNG and Lingua Franca will perform their latest works.
Presented by peak organisations Regional Arts Australia and Regional Arts NSW and supported by Dubbo City Council, the NSW and Commonwealth Governments, ARTLANDS DUBBO 2016 is the must-attend event for artists and arts workers living and working in regional Australia.
The regional city of Dubbo is located 600kms west of Sydney and its 40,000-plus residents are preparing to host 1,000 conference delegates and festivalgoers. The event will showcase the city's taste and enthusiasm for the arts in all its forms.
The ARTLANDS DUBBO 2016 program information and tickets are available at artlands.com.au
Photo of Troy Grant MP launching ARTLANDS supplied.
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