Coming up on Sunday September 13 is a free artist talk by the Northern Rivers art photographer and teacher R.J. Poole.
Mr Poole is well-known locally for his Anima Series, as well as his iconic photographs of the Bentley Blockade, but he has worked and exhibited around the world.
Originally an SAS soldier, shooting means something very different to Mr Poole these days. Echonetdaily asked R.J. Poole why he had chosen to open up about his process now.
‘I’ve been invited to talk by Anna Nordstrom who runs the Lismore Art Space venue as she’s had a series of talks by locally-based artists. I think her initiative and the way the talks are structured is unique, as there’s no-one else doing such things in Lismore,’ said Mr Poole.
‘I have also supported local artists and events by purchasing art works, providing free access to equipment and studio and supporting other individuals personally throughout the last thirty years and will continue doing so into the future,’ he said. ‘We all need to support each other.’
Anima
Mr Poole said that in the talk he will explain his creative practice via the underlying motivations that drive his signature body of work – the Anima Series, which seeks to explore ‘the woman in man’.
He will discuss his collaborative relationships and the methods he employs to express himself through others. He said he ‘intends for this talk to focus on “how and why” he makes art, as opposed to “what” he makes and to have an open exchange with the audience about the art process in general’.
The free artist talk will be happening on Sunday September 13, from 2pm to 4pm at the Lismore Art Space (1 Norris Street, near Lismore Base Hospital, phone 0419 104 916).
There is a Facebook event here.
To learn more about R.J. Poole, check out David Tindale’s short film about his art and process, below.