NRCG Commemorative Flood Recovery Project Report

COMMEMORATIVE FLOOD RECOVERY PROJECT

April - July 2023

COMMEMORATIVE FLOOD RECOVERY PROJECT

May - July 2023

About the Project

In recent years Australia has experienced many natural disasters and the need for recovery, in all its forms, has become essential for the wellbeing of our communities. This is particularly pertinent in the Northern Rivers, where drought, fire, and flood has had devastating effects. As part of the ongoing flood recovery efforts across our region, NSW Government provided funding to Ballina Shire Council to support Commemorative Flood Recovery projects until June 2023.

The Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG) & Ignite Studios used some of this funding to work with a range of artists to deliver free creative workshops in the community at Wardell Public School, Empire Vale Public School, the Wardell Community Village, and the Wardell Core, and at Ignite Studios.

Participants worked with a wide variety of media including ceramics, sculpture, weaving, screen printing, photography, painting, and drawing. The project culminated in a Community Art Exhibition at the Ignite Studios from Friday 30 June to Friday 9 July 2023; the official opening was held from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday 1 July.

It is becoming increasingly evident that culture and the arts can play a positive role in helping individuals and communities recover from traumatic events and the ongoing distress caused by them. The feedback from participants taking part in this project has only strengthened this claim.

‘This is the best day I’ve had in 15 months. I didn’t think about any of the flood related problems I’m having to deal with.’

WORKSHOP 1 & 2 CERAMICS

Wardell Public School

Artist: Amanda Bromfield

During the first workshop, the students decorated their ceramic tiles using a variety of techniques including incising and carving, pressing objects into the wet clay, and building onto the surface with clay. Very few students had worked with clay before, so the focus was more about exploring the medium rather than focusing on a specific theme.

The students then under-glazed their tiles using a variety of colours before covering them with a clear glaze in the second workshop.

Dates: Monday 8 & Thursday 18 May 2023

Venue: Wardell Public School, 20 Richmond St, Wardell

Participants: 21 Students

Facilitators: 3

WORKSHOP 3 - SCREEN PRINTING

Paint, Print & Play

Artist: Jude White

This workshop explored a range of screen-printing techniques including printing with photo emulsion silk screens, hand cut stencils and torn paper resists. The participants printed on quality art paper, tea towels and larger calico panels. Many worked back into their prints with a range of drawing and painting media. The overriding theme was flora, fauna, and the natural environment.

Participant Surveys

How would you rate this activity? (1 = lowest, 5 = highest)

1234 5

2 particpants 7 participants

How would you rate the failitator?

1234 5

2 particpants 7 participants

Dates: Saturday 3 June 10am - 4pm 2023

Venue: Ignite Studios, 60 Crane St Ballina

Participants: 9

Facilitators: 3

Participant Comments:

This is the best day I’ve had in 15 months. I didn’t think about any of the flood related problems I’m having to deal with.

A wonderful day, much appreciated for positive mental health post floods, thanks Jude and Lyndall, my brain and soul needs more free day workshops.

I really enjoyed today’s workshop. I learnt a great deal, the facilitators were very helpful and patient. Being Aboriginal I would think these are good workshops. Also, the Pods in Ballina and Cabbage Tree would benefit greatly if the workshops went to them. Thank you.

Wonderful workshop. I attended with a woman with disability who was welcomed and supported throughout the workshop by Jude and Lyndall, and the participants – very inclusive!

Fantastic high-quality tutor. Nice to meet other community members.

Wonderful to play and discover. Lyndall was most helpful.

Wonderful inclusive facilitator and programme.

Awesome, inspiring teacher/artist, thanks Jude.

Really worthwhile, learnt a lot. Patient and welcoming workshop.

Fabulous workshop, thank you so much for the day.

Very inclusive and creative opportunity for all to take part! Access to the arts.

WORKSHOP 4 - WEAVING

Stories of the River

Artist: Jugan Dandii - Tania Marlowe & Deb Cole

This workshop was delivered at the Wardell Community Village with the Cabbage Tree Island Community by local Nyangbal weaver Tania Marlowe and Deb Cole who work together as Jugan Dandii, which in Bundjalung means ‘Embrace the Earth’.

The theme of these workshops was Stories of the River, including fishing, which is culturally important to the Cabbage Tree community. Participants worked together on constructing a large fish trap, and individually created woven fish and water bubbles. These component parts came together as an installation at the Community Art Exhibition.

Dates: Thursday 8 June 10am - 4pm 2023

Venue: Wardell Community Village, 50 Bath St, Wardell

Participants: 14 adults, 22 children

Facilitators: 4

WORKSHOP 5 - HANDMADE BOOKS

Finding Shelter

Artist: Michelle Walker

Using a combination of drawing materials, the participants explored how an artist’s book can be a visual record of an experience. Participants were guided through each stage of the process, from gaining inspiration to recording sample marks and textures, to finishing a book that was both inspiring and personal. The resulting works became a visual record of each participant’s experience of living in the Northern Rivers.

Participant Surveys

How would you rate this activity? (1 = lowest, 5 = highest)

1234 5

How would you rate the facilitator?

14 participants

1234 5

1 participant13 participants

Dates: Saturday 10 June 10am - 4pm 2023

Venue: Ignite Studios, 60 Crane St Ballina

Participants: 15

Facilitators: 3

Participant Comments:

Michelle was a great facilitator, patient and holding the attention of all participants. Would love to see this workshop happening again.

Thank you for this wonderful day of art-making. I really valued the knowledge that was taught by Michelle about how to make a book. And the materials we used were really high quality. I appreciated the patience of the support staff, from Lyndall and Sophie. I feel it was a safe place to explore our inner artist/child. Absolutely loved this experience and cannot wait to keep doing more workshops like this.

So wonderful to share time with others who have experienced something quite traumatic being flood/fire in the last few years. Time to share space doing self-care through creative time. Having a mind for creative activity – learning new skills and shared stories. More affordable creative activities in this area and wider afield needed.

Delightful, uplifting, supportive, encouraging environment. As a person (masked at all times) with auto-immune disease x 2, the venue felt safe, non-judgmental. Being able to sit near open doors and not in a/c amazing.

I was amazed at how I lost myself in the activity, and that it brought back things from my past, both positive and negative.

Very interesting and informative. Good fun and good meeting people. We need more of these in the community.

Fantastic clear, communicative, facilitator.

Brilliant, safe, well-coordinated, friendly. Loved learning to use new art materials.

WORKSHOP 6MIXED MEDIA

Refuge

Artist: Jenny Schirmer

This workshop invited participants to play with found objects, timber offcuts, paint, and clay. Simple construction and handbuilding techniques were used to create assemblages in response to the 2022 floods. Gentle reflection on personal and community experiences informed the creation of individual artworks.

Participant Surveys

How would you rate this activity? (1 = lowest, 5 = highest) 1234 5

8 participants

How would you rate the facilitator? 1234 5

8 participants

Dates: Saturday 17 June 10am - 1pm 2023

Venue: Ignite Studios, 60 Crane St Ballina

Participant Comments:

Very grateful for an opportunity to create in a supportive and relaxing environment. I can’t usually afford art classes/workshops. Thank you.

Fantastic, just depressed since the flood. This helped!

Lovely to spend my time and energy doing this.

Very happy, more please.

Have them all the time.

Participants: 9

Facilitators: 3

‘Fantastic, just depressed since the flood. This helped!.’

WORKSHOPS 6 & 7CYANOTYPE

Threads of Life

Artist: Katie Alleva

The participants were led step by step through the fascinating technique of cyanotype printmaking, using objects, botanicals, drawings, body prints, and text to create dreamy, surrealistic images. Some of the works were then embellished with hand stitching. The final activity was the production of a large collaborative cyanotype mural.

Participant Surveys

How would you rate this activity? (1 = lowest, 5 = highest)

1234 5

How would you rate the facilitator?

20 participants

1234 5

1 participant19 participants

Dates: Sunday 18 & 25 June 10am - 3pm 2023

Venue: Wardell Core, 3 Sinclair St, Wardell

Participants: 24

Facilitators: 7

Participant Comments:

What an amazing day, venue, and teacher. Friendly, inclusive, safe, atmosphere. As a person with autoimmune disease, I was able to relax, feel safe, wear a mask and experience delight, learn and be inspired. Thank you so much.

Great set up with complementary coffee, tea and delicious homemade cake. Lovely kind and gentle group. Lots of space between the different areas to move more freely. The coordinator and facilitator were very helpful, providing a great support frame, explanations and help but also allowing each one to do their own creations. I liked that we kept to 3 pieces for quality over quantity.

Katie and Lyndall are excellent facilitators. More workshops on Cyanotype would be very valuable for further skills and keep continuity with the process and teachers. I feel workshops like these are very valuable in supporting the community post flood and for continued community interaction and support. Funding for projects similar to today’s event needs to be prioritised in building community and shared interests by a very enjoyable process. The Wardell Core Community Centre provided lunch and morning tea which is an excellent facility for further events like this one.

I just loved this workshop! So well-resourced and organised – we were made to feel welcome and given clear and inspiring instructions. I want to do more. The organisation at the Wardell Core was amazing and great food!!

Very impressed with Katie’s presentation; clear instructions, guidance and advice with professional and friendly care. This workshop was a unique opportunity to join in with a group (as a single person) and feel included, very special! Thank you to Lyndall for organisation and coordination, very professional, efficient and friendly.

Loved this workshop and that it was held at the Wardell Core. First opportunity for creative expression since the floods. Hands on group activities great!

Wonderful day, great learning process with great teachers. Absolutely fantastic day, loved it.

A truly wonderful activity. I had a lot of fun, everyone was so lovely. Safe and collaborative space created and encouraged.

Great fun but great activity to show that everyone has some talent. Absolutely stunning, just amazing.

Amazing opportunity to come together as a community and create something beautiful. Feel good vibes. Lovely workshop.

Wonderful, rewarding, delightful, great atmosphere. Well organised, well presented, very educational and enjoyable.

Ongoing workshops definitely to keep continuity. Creative, great communicators, great fun.

Fun afternoon.

Inspirational, amazing, great venue/food and teachers, safe environment. Super fun and community building. Great day, professional, friendly and easy going.

WORKSHOP 8MIXED MEDIA

Empire Vale Public School

Artist: Lyndall Phelps

The students at Empire Vale Public School created colourful patterned fish and bubbles using coloured and metallic card, marker pens, sequins, and diamantes. The theme was inspired by the school’s aquatic themed logo.

Dates: Thursday 23 June 10am - 3pm 2023

Venue: Onsite @ Southern Cross Publiuc School, East Ballina

Participants: 24 Teachers: 4

Facilitators: 2

COMMUNITY ART EXHIBITION

Ignite Studios

30 June - 9 July

The community was invited to celebrate the opening of the Commemorative Flood Recovery Project - Community Art Exhibition, officially opened by Ballina Shire Council Mayor, Sharon Cadwallader. All were welcome to attend the official launch event on Saturday 1 July from 2-4pm at Ignite Studios, 60 Crane Street, Ballina.

The Community Art Exhibition showcased the diverse artworks made by workshop participants throughout the project and included a wide variety of media spanning ceramics, sculpture, weaving, screen printing, photography, painting, and drawing.

The exhibition was open to the public from Friday 30 June until 9 July with many community visitors attending the exhibition.

PROJECT SURVEY DATA

Workshop Feedback (booked workshops only)

Postcodes

In the last 12 months how often have you visited a gallery?

What is your current age range?

Total Workshop Participants: 146 adults and children

Total Project Staff/Facilitators/Volunteers Attendees: 30

PROJECT SURVEY DATA

Workshops & Community Art Exhibition

Please tell us what other kind of workshops you would like to do.

More printing workshops

Book making and Michelle

2-day silk screening workshop Textiles, weaving

Shibori dying, textiles, stitching Any

Basics of acrylic painting Mosaic

Anything creative Macrame

Art journalling A watercolour painting workshop

Mosaic, weaving Soap making

Would be interested to learning more hand onBook binding

Anything would be interesting Ceramics

Exhibtion Feedback

Interesting exhibtion

Lovely place

Love the variety of art and how they are displayedLoved the creativity

Lovely communtiy exhibtion

Please can we have more information on Radion and community pin-ups

Wonderful diverse work

Total Exhibition Visitors: 146

Total Exhibtion Staff/Facilitators/Volunteers Attendees: 16

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

Final Project Overview

The project, delivered by Northern Rivers Community Gallery, owned and operated by Ballina Shire Council, contracted a professional Project Manager, Lyndall Phelps, to work with the Gallery Team to design and deliver all project activities.

Key Recommendations:

• The workshops were extremely well received in the community and boosted confidence, skill development and social cohesion. Further free workshops are recommended to provide continuity and continued connections and creative development with the community.

• Ignite Studios was an ideal space to host the workshops, as participants enjoyed the for-purpose arts facility, materials and equipment and ease of location. Future workshops would be recommended in this space.

• Whilst the workshops were well received, participants would benefit from longer programs, short-courses and further free creative activities.

• If future programs are delivered, it is recommended staff/personnel attached to this project continue to deliver and work with the community to provide consistency and build upon established relationships and capacity.

• More time to effectively plan, promote and consult with the community is recommended to be able to identify the real and ongoing needs of the community and deliver a program of tailored activities.

• Separate programs for schools, youth and adults are recommended to deliver to specific cohorts, abilities and skill levels.

• Active engagement in project activity from council staff and contracted personnel is recommended for building community rapport and providing support for participants and facilitators.

• Further funding and partnerships with other organsiaitons to deliver creative recovery activities and programs in the Ballina Shire is recommended for the Gallery team to pursue into the future.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Northern Rivers Community Gallery team would like to thank the following people:

Project Team

Lyndall Phelps - Project Manager

Tim Crawley - Casual Facilitator and Installer

Jude White - Artist

Michelle Walker - Artist

Amanda Bromfield - Artist

Katie Alleva - Artist

Jenny Schirmer - Artist

Tania Marlowe - Artist

Deb Cole - Artist

Elise Derwin - Photographer

Lauren Phillips - Photographer

Jaka Adamic - Photographer

Volunteers

Kate Douglas - University of Melbourne

Julie Webb

Helen Murphy

Service Providers

Wardell Public School

Wardell Community Village

Wardell Core

Empire Vale Public School

This project was made possible with funding provided to Ballina Shire Council for Commemorative Flood Recovery projects, proudly funded by NSW Government.

IMAGE CREDITS: (Front) Lauren Phillips - Cyanotype Workshop, Wardell Core; Pg 3 Elise Derwin - Screenprinting Workshop, Ignite Studios; Pg 4 Tim Crawley - Ceramics Workshop, Wardell Public School; Pg 5 Jaka Adamic - Wardell Public School Ceramics; Pgs 6-7 Elise Derwin - Screenprinting Workshop, Ignite Studios; Pgs 8-9 Elise Derwin - Weaving Workshop, Wardell Community Village; Pgs 10-11 Elise Derwin - Artist Book Workshop, Ignite Studios; Pg 12 Elise Derwin - Mixed Media Workshop, Ignite Studios; Pgs 14-16 Lauren Phillips - Cyanotype Workshop, Wardell Core; Pg 17 Lyndall Phelps, Empire Vale Public School; Pgs 18-19 Jaka Adamic, Community Art Exhibition Ignite Studios; (Back) Elise Derwin - Artist Book Workshop, Ignite Studios.