LAUNCHING IN 2019 at Tamworth Artstate and going on to the Regional Australia Institute in Canberra, Arts North West’s Art Word Place exhibition has returned home to the New England, being installed at UNE’s Dixson Library this week.
The exhibition’s final install on the walls of a library is a very fitting one, as words were the inspiration for the visual work. Art Word Place first commissioned 18 writers to create a short poem or prose based on their home landscape and then selected 18 artists, to draw on this composition as the basis and inspiration for a new work capturing the identity and sense of place in the New England.
“It was fascinating to see the similarities in the creative process for both writer and artist. Usually, artworks inspire the words, not the other way.” said Arts North West Executive Director and exhibition curator, Caroline Downer.
“When the works were created in 2019, our region was faced with the combination of lack of rain and record temperatures, devastating our local communities, the theme of drought had absolutely captured the imaginations of both writer and artist, this also resulted in themes of strength, resilience and of perseverance.” Ms. Downer continued.
The exhibition arrangement is the first of its kind in the New England North West, bringing creatives together who in most cases have not met, let alone worked together before, to take part in a unique creative exchange.
Armidale author and UNE alumni, Sophie Masson was paired with Walcha artist, Angus Nivison for the exhibition.
“I loved being involved in Art Word Place and found it absolutely inspirational to be collaborating with Angus. And as a proud alumnus of the University of New England (BA.M.Litt and PhD ) I' m delighted that our work is now to be featured in an exhibition at UNE's Dixson Library.” Said Ms. Masson.
Art Word Place is currently on exhibit in the ground floor area of Dixson Library at the University of New England. The show is really worth a visit, so if you are on a lunch break or picking up a book head down and enjoy the very best of New England North West creative talent. Dixson Library is only open to UNE students and staff.