Officially launching tonight at Ballina’s Northern Rivers Community Gallery are four new exhibitions, including photographic works from pre-Taliban Afghanistan, sublime landscape paintings, traditional Iranian Abri printing on silk and a collection works from local arts and craft group BACCI.
Imagined Peace – A Portrait of Modern Afghanistan
This exhibition from Mark Isaacs is a portrait of Afghanistan before the Taliban regained control of the country. The images were taken in 2016-17, at a time when people dared to dream in the Western occupation’s promises of peace, prosperity, and freedom.
The exhibition delves beneath the news reports to remind us that even in the most challenging circumstances, hope, love, and peace can flourish.
SCU Graduate Award Grounding (States of Flow)
The recipient of this year’s SCU Graduate Award Exhibition, Jemima Patch-Taylor, explores the essence of landscape in her exhibition Grounding (States of Flow).
This exhibition touches on rhythms of nature and cyclic dispositions of the universe and how this can relate to human consciousness.
It provides glimpses of moments of time, stillness, and reflection, expressing a synergy between the spirit of human emotion and ever-changing natural phenomena.
The Making of Mohammadi
Prita Tina Yeganeh’s show explores the traditional Iranian scent of rosewater and its imprint on the desert landscapes of Qamsar. Every spring, the arid terrain blossoms into a wild field of sacred roses, famously known as the Mohammadi flowers of Qamsar.
This exhibition showcases Abrī prints (adapted for the silk medium) presented in light boxes to emphasise this metamorphosis from desert to rose garden.
12th Annual Grace Gruice Memorial Exhibition
Presented by the members of the Ballina Arts & Crafts Centre (BACCI), this exhibition is a tribute to founding member Grace Cruice, showcasing the best works created by BACCI members over the past year.
This is the twelfth Annual Memorial Exhibition to be hosted by NRCG and coincides with BACCI’S 25-year anniversary.
And there’s more
July is an exciting time at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery & Ignite Studios – applications are now open for their 2024-25 Exhibition Program and to participate in the upcoming Contemporary Art Market in October.
This month also sees the completion of activities undertaken as part of the Commemorative Flood Recovery Project, with a Community Art Exhibition on show at Ignite Studios until Sunday 9 July.
All are welcome to the official opening of the new shows at NRCG in Cherry Street tonight (Thursday 6 July, from 5.30pm), by Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader. Find out more here.
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