Celebrating Diversity: Butter Factory Arts Centre 2020
A missed opportunity to celebrate our First Nations artists during her first year as coordinator with the Butter Factory Arts Centre was the catalyst for Alicia Sharples to create a very special event that showcases the wonderful and diverse work of our local Indigenous artists. Ingrid Nelson discovers what’s in store this year.
“In my first year here as coordinator, NAIDOC week came and went without being celebrated in our community space and I felt it was a bit of a shame seeing as we see such wonderful art from our First Nations artists,” says Alicia.
“I set out to change that and last year we received a small grant so we were able to make one of our rooms available for these talented artists.”
Based on the huge success of the pilot program, the team at the Butter Factory Arts Centre (BFAC) were successful in another application for an arts grant through Flying Arts this year and are delighted to be able to dedicate the entire gallery for the exciting event.
“The gallery will be brimming with diverse Indigenous art. We have also secured the Kaya Sulc Residency Studio for the artists to create collaborative, large scale projects or unique indigenous art of their choice,” said Alicia.
Including a wonderful celebration that coincides with NAIDOC week on 14 November, this year’s exhibition, Here We Stand Always, is set to be another big success, with a variety of workshops available to the community.
“It is a really important exhibition for the Butter Factory. Not only have we tripled the space for our First Nations artists this year but we have also allowed them to have a much bigger presence.
“Last year was a big hit with the artists, it was such a connecting point for them. We also had a lot of sales, so our community was really eager to purchase their work and a lot of it was created by people living here,” says Alicia.
Opening the event this year is event ambassador Uncle Paul, a very special man who contracted Polio as a child and now dedicates his life to helping Indigenous people with disabilities.
“Some of these people are not artists,” Alicia said. “Uncle Paul teaches them to paint so they can express their story through art. We sold almost half of those works last year so it was a really strong outcome for these people who are often marginalised,” says Alicia.
Also returning this year as an ambassador is Dr Jandamarra Cadd. Both he and Uncle Paul are established First Nations artists in their own right who reside in Noosa and are connected to the Elders here.
“It’s about trying to break down the barriers and living and celebrating in this wonderful country together,” says Jandamarra.
“A lot of my art features Indigenous and non First Nations people walking hand in hand, all in very organic situations.
“As a society and as a people we are different but we are all the same. We want to live with purpose and freedom.”
Some of the highlights of this year’s event include children’s workshops, a Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony, performances by the Gubbi Gubbi tribe, storytelling and much more.
Make sure you get along to BFAC to check out all the action from the 16th of October.
ARTS GALLERY
Noosa Regional Gallery
UNTIL 4 OCTOBER
LYN MCCREA MEMORIAL DRAWING
PRIZE 2020
Noosa Regional Gallery invited contemporary Australian artists to submit works for entry into the Lyn McCrea Memorial Drawing Prize 2020, dedicated to the memory of the late Lyn McCrea (1944 – 2015); contemporary visual artist, art educator and art collector. This exciting exhibition is viewable exclusively online.
UNTIL 4 OCTOBER
DRAW 2020
A contemporary drawing award open to all Year 9 to 12 students living on the Sunshine Coast and Gympie Region, Draw 2020 aims to promote drawing as a fundamental step in arts practice.
9 Pelican Street, Tewantin
Ph 5329 6145
noosaregionalgallery.com.au
COOROY BUTTER
FACTORY ARTS CENTRE
UNTIL 11 OCTOBER
ART AFTER 70
Local and regional artists over the age of 70 will come together to showcase their creativity and express their concept and vision in the art medium of their choosing. It is an opportunity to show the community that the creative journey does not stop with age. Various disciplines will be represented including painting, mixed media, ceramics, glass, photography and fabric art by a range of both established and emerging artists.
UNTIL 13 OCTOBER
NOOSA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL
A showcase of extraordinary work by young artists, artisans and designers from Noosa District State High Schools Junior and Senior schools. The exhibition includes fine art, fashion, technical design, and furniture that students either started or finished in lockdown.
UNTIL 22 NOVEMBER
HERE WE STAND ALWAYS
This year’s First Nations art exhibition offers a larger exhibition for emerging and established First Nations artists residing on Gubbi Gubbi land, inluding a Gubbi Gubbi celebration during NAIDOC week on Saturday 14 November. All first nations residing on Gubbi Gubbi land are invited to enter and the result will be an exhibition with a diverse representation of the amazing talented First Nations artists we have living on the Coast.
11a Maple Street, Cooroy
Ph 5442 6665
butterfactoryartscentre.com.au
Noosa Arts and
Crafts Association
BOTANICAL ENDEAVOUR 250
UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER
Celebrating 250 years since Sir Joseph Banks landed in Australia and began to draw, list and name the Australian native plants. This online exhibition also contains an overview of this exciting discovery as well as examples of members and friends’ artworks.
UNTIL 5 DECEMBER
LEARN TO CROCHET
An ongoing workshop every Saturday morning with Janelle Turley.
Wallace House
1 Wallace Drive, Noosaville
Ph 5474 1211
noosaartsandcrafts.org.au
pomona railway
station gallery
NOVEMBER
THE GREAT UPCYCLING CHALLENGE
Pomona Railway Station Gallery and Pomona and District Community House are hosting the 3rd annual Great Up-cycling Challenge throughout November in the Banana Shed, Carriage Room, Lawson Shed and surrounds.
10 Station Street, Pomona
Ph 5485 2950
pomonaartgallery.com
