Maria Cleary and Tricia Dobson have received significant Queensland Government funding to present Island Made, a 5 week exhibition and program of public events on Russell Island, opening at 2pm on Saturday 20 August.
Island Made is a Quandamooka Festival event showcasing beautifully crafted functional objects hand made by artists and makers living on Southern Moreton Bay, Coochiemudlo and North Stradbroke Islands.
“The exhibition features extraordinary things made for ordinary use,” says exhibition designer Maria Cleary, “but it is also about the stories and motivations of the makers themselves as well as the ingenuity and resourcefulness often inspired by island living.”
“We were just thrilled to receive Arts Queensland funding for the project” said Maria, “we’ve pulled together a great project team, found some amazing material for the exhibition and are meeting wonderful local people in the process. We’ve discovered a shared ambition to build viable, Island based working lives that contribute positively to the cultural wellbeing of our community, as well as paying the bills!”
Tricia and Maria feel privileged to be working with a number of Quandamooka people on the project. The exhibition will feature fabulous pieces by artists such as Delvene Cockatoo-Collins and Sonja Carmichael, and the exhibition opening will be a real celebration of Quandamooka Country with the Yulu Burri Ba dancers, a traditional Welcome to Country and sand artist Craig Tapp.
Thanks to the generous support of Stradbroke Ferries and SEQ Catchments, a special Culture + Environment boat will run from Dunwich to Russell Island via Coochiemudlo and return for the exhibition opening on Saturday 20 August. People can join Quandamooka artists, Elders and community members sharing stories about fishing in Moreton Bay waterways. The boat departs Dunwich (Harold Walker jetty) at 12.30pm and Coochie at 1pm. Cost is just $10 return however spaces are limited and bookings essential.
Island Made is a free event and will be open to the public from 2 - 5pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, 20 August - 24 September in the Russell Island Recreation Hall, located directly across from the jetty. Artists and makers featured in the exhibition will run workshops each Saturday afternoon in the Hall. The workshops are also free, with no bookings required - just come along on the day. Guided exhibition tours and hands on activities are offered to school groups by appointment.
For more information, or to book a seat on the Culture + Environment boat trip, contact Tricia on 3409 1796 or find Island Made news and updates at www.facebook.com/curatedspaces
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• Tricia Dobson and Maria Cleary with Russell Island artist Jo Dickson (seated)