Art Sparks – Ballarat Mechanics Institute
What a fabulous evening was had in the Mechanics Institute gorgeous Minerva Space, proudly supported by the City of Ballarat.
We started with our First ever Annual General Meeting. Elected were Pauline O’Shanessy-Dowling as President, Erin McCuskey as Vice-President, Chai Chin Lim as Treasurer, Tracy Bourne, Dave Knowles, Aldona Kmiec, Kiri Smart as Fabulous Members (Ordinary just doesn’t cut it). Pauline will be posting an intro and thank you to previous members soon. These guys have already gathered and announce their first meeting as the committee will be July 29th 6pm at Huyghue House (Camp St).
All members welcome to attend and contribute (just be aware that you cannot vote at meetings – see the rules here.)
Then we held our last Art Sparks for this series. Showcasing the recently refurbished Minerva Room in the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute and featuring the ceramic work of Dawn Whitehand, local artist docos produced by Michelle Dunn and a specially made dance piece choreographed and performed by Alison Shirley with her troupe The Shirley Knots.
The event as a whole was a real treat.
Then dessert of the artist panel discussion facilitated by Ailsa Brackley du Bois of The Editorial Suite. It involved our featured artists and improvisational movement teacher Al Wunder, recently returned from Europe. The discussion centred on sources of inspiration, and these artists’ experience working creatively in Ballarat and surrounds.
And our wonderful BAA member featured artists:
ALISON SHIRLEY completed a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University, majoring in photography and contemporary dance in 1995. Since then, she has worked as a professional photographer in Melbourne, Alice Springs, Adelaide, and New Zealand. She has exhibited around Melbourne both in solo and group shows.
Simultaneously she has performed dance at the National Gallery of Victoria for Ausdance Week as well as for the Art after Dark European collection campaign and Linden Gallery industry opening event. Other dance work involves cabarets, film clips, fundraisers, flash mobs and teaching workshops. A current dance project is The Shirley Knots. Alison also runs her own Pilates studio, Body Brilliance Pilates here in Ballarat. It is her fascination with and passion for the human body – and the experience of living within one which drives a large part of her art work. She draws from her anatomy knowledge, endeavours to explore questions and experiences about the human body and how it influences our interpretation of life. As with most things we explore deeply, the more involved her investigations, the more she is surprised, amazed and inspired by the miraculous human body.
http://alisonshirleyphotography.wordpress.com/
DAWN WHITEHAND has been a practicing artist for fifteen years, and has exhibited widely both in Australia and internationally. She has also undertaken many international residencies, and images of artwork have been published in peer reviewed books. She has taught her craft throughout the community in diverse frameworks from kindergartens and schools through to University. Dawn maintain a studio in Dunnstown, Victoria, Australia where she lives and works, and teaches classes and workshops.
“My art practice is mainly concerned with environmental issues, and therefore many of my mixed media and sculptural artworks take on an organic undertone, attempting to entice the viewer to reconsider the delicate balance of the environment and their place within the natural world.While I consider my artwork to be topical and important given the current state of world affairs, I also view my sculptures to be tactile and beautiful, because beauty is what entices us to engage in art and therefore also consider bigger issues.”
http://dawnwhitehand.wordpress.com/
MICHELLE DUNN is a professional photographer & short film maker based in Ballarat, Victoria.
Her photography work spans commercial, corporate, weddings & promotional photography for people in creative industries. Clients include BMW, Bank of Melbourne, JP Morgan, Department of Education & Early Childhood Development, Passing Clouds Winery, Channel 7 along with many more local & national clients.
Michelle’s artist documentary film series began with ABC open producer Marc Eiden & extended into a commission from the Arts Atlas. Michelle is passionate about telling stories through photography & film.