After much planning and preparation, Bangalow is soon to unveil its new Community Artspace, which will allow locals – from kids to the elderly – to be involved in the creation of new works each year.
Artist Chloe Rowland and ceramicist Kerry Stanton have been working on this idea for over a year and are now ready to begin workshops to complete it.
Thanks to the support of Byron Shire Council in the form of a small arts grant and to the generosity of Nicole Swain and Brian Grant, the owners of the Post Office building, they have managed to secure Bangalow a ‘Community Artspace’ on the wall of the post office.
The artwork is intended to be the first of many artworks that might occupy this position, as they would like the location to become a renewable art space that artists can apply for on an annual or bi-annual basis.
The artwork, and hopefully future artworks, will be auctioned at the end of its duration and any money raised will go back into community funds.
Chloe says, ‘Bangalow is a hugely creative community and I hope that this artwork will be an opportunity for us all to come together and demonstrate this, whilst adding a focal point to the centre of our village that we can all be proud of.
‘My experience of Bangalow is that it is a very strong close knit community, I hope by bringing different sections of the community together to work together, sharing a goal and pride in the finished piece it will further strengthen community connections throughout the generations.’
Larissa Polak, deputy principal at Bangalow Public School says, ‘The school is so happy to be involved in a community artistic initiative, and knows that the children will embrace the project whole-heartedly,’
Chloe and Kerry’s artwork, as the first piece, will be a mosaic that is intended to represent the Byron hinterlands and the beauty of the lush green hills, mountains and waterways that Bangalow sits amongst.
They will be working with, Bangalow Community Preschool, Bangalow Public School, Feros Aged Care Centre and the General Community, during a number of workshops. The six-square-metre piece will be split into three sections, to make it easier to work on.
The design allows for each section to contain a part of a tree trunk that will be created from tiles, handmade by Chloe and Kerry. The trunk area will be completed on each section before it goes out into the community, to give it some continuity throughout the piece. Leaf tiles will be cut and glazed by the Preschool and Feros.
Bangalow Public School are excited to be involved and will be commencing their workshops in the next few weeks. Workshops will be set up to allow the general community to get involved, during October, these will be advertised but if you are keen to get involved there will be leaflets at the Post Office that you can pick up for further info.
