Creative

Art on Bundjalung Market, which celebrates the creative cultural heritage of the Bundjalung region, is coming to Kyogle in 2022. Featuring handmade arts and crafts by established and emerging artists and collectives, who use both traditional and contemporary materials and practices including weaving, ceramics, carving, photography, painting, and textiles. The Arts Northern Rivers event offers the opportunity to see, experience and purchase incredible work being produced by artists of the Bundjalung region, and offers a unique chance to ‘meet the makers’ and hear their stories. Previous events (in 2019 and 2021 at The Quad in Lismore) have been the largest Indigenous markets ever presented in the Northern Rivers / Bundjalung region, surpassing all expectations regarding audience numbers (over 5,000 visitors), artist participation, sales generated, and on-going opportunities developed. “The overwhelming success of the delivered Art on Bundjalung Market events in Lismore have proved the importance of continuing to deliver this event to our community,” explained Jane Fuller, Arts Northern Rivers Executive Director. “Celebrating the cultural heritage of the Bundjalung region, the market is an opportunity to meet the artists, hear their stories and share their culture.” For more information visit www.artonbundjalung.com

THE RIGHT FIRE AT THE RIGHT TIME

For many thousands of years, First Nations people worked with fire to maintain healthy Country. Knowledge of how to care for the land through cultural burning ‘at the right time in the right way’ was passed down, resulting in an abundance of food resources and a healthy ecosystem. The first Europeans to Australia described a well cared for landscape that resembelled a ‘gentlemans park’, and while some tried to mimic the Indigenous use of fire to maintain open pastures for agriculture — without a detailed understanding of the deep cultural knowleddg and connection — the correct burning regime was disrupted. Back in 2019, a group of Githabul people from Muli Muli near Woodenbong started ‘Fire Lore’; a local Indigenous-stewarded, custodial land management, and consultancy organisation. Director Robbie Williams has spent the past 15 years learning from Uncle Victor Steffensen (author of Fire Country) after being chosen to learn, and pass on, cultural burning knowledge from Awu Laya- Kuku Taipan Country in the Cape. His mentors Dr Tommy George and Dr George Musgrave are part of an unbroken chain of cultural knowledge. After many, many decades of absence, the Githabul cultural burns were reignited in July 2019 and offered a powerful experience for all involved. By burning in the cool winter months, the fire is much less intense, moving slowly along the ground. The big trees and canopy are preserved, and the soil doesn’t burn hot, meaning grasses are able to regenerate abundantly. The latest ecological science confirms what Indigenous people have known for 14

Words and image by Paul Daley many thousands of years; cool burning is good for the land and is also a carbon negative process, working to create what is the original ‘bio-char’ stores of carbon that create healthy, rich soils. Not long after the return of cultural burning on Githabul country, the Black Summer bushfires devastated 12.6 million hectares of land and an estimated three billion animals died including entire populations of koala pushed to the brink. As much as the debate over climate change and land use continues, one thing is for sure — cool burning reduces the fuel load and therefore severity of intense bushfires. Many people in our local bio-region are now ready to listen and learn how to apply this ancient fire knowledge in a way that is safe, regenerative and beneficial for pastures and biodiversity — whilst reducing the risk to homes and infrastructure. Since 2019 Fire Lore have held over 30 workshops with schools and local farmers, and led over 50 cultural fires across more than 1000 acres of land . Fire Lore conducts workshops, educational days and school visits to empower their community with this important cultural revival. To get in touch with the Fire Lore team visit www.firelore.earth

Clay Corner

AUSTRALIAN & LOCALLY-MADE GIFT WARES Owner Wendy Cain opened her shop Clay Corner last year and has collected a wonderful variety of gift wares from artists and small businesses from from across the Northern Rives and around Australia. She strives to collect eco-friendly and sustainable goods and to get to know small businesses and artists and their unique products. Along with other local ceramicists, Wendy creates her own ceramic products. Visit Clay Corner and discover a range of local art, boutique jewellery, home-wares, personal care products, candles, puzzles, toys, beautiful stationery and cards for any occasion. VISIT 1/131 Summerland Way, Kyogle (Corner of Stratheden Street) 0401 165 670 ClayCornerKyogle

The Occasional Studio

STUDIO, GALLERY, WORKSHOPS The Occasional Studio is the work space of local artist Rebecca Tapscott. Within its whitewashed walls, she creates and exhibits works of all sizes, plans community murals, brings commissions to life, and displays quirky collectibles. Rebecca’s signature style incorporates layering cyanotype prints with the continuous line drawing that she uses as the foundation of her form work. Using these techniques she investigates concepts of our natural environment. The Occasional Studio hosts regular ‘Wine and Line’ still life workshops and group bookings (by appointment) using her eclectic range of found objects as the subject matter. Rebecca guides participants through the continuous line technique, layering with painting and colour, to create finished artworks by the end of the session.

Image by Photos by Jodie

CONTACT 0411 840 616 41 Summerland Way, Kyogle The Occasional Studio rebeccatapscottartist

Healing through the Arts

MUSICIAN & AUTHOR CYNTHIA C DENTON

Local creative powerhouse Cynthia C Denton is often known for her beautiful voice and stirring guitar, but it may surprise some to learn that she is also a published author, dedicated to helping people heal through art, and fostering the next generation of creatives. Cynthia left her home country of Namibia in 1992, and spent the next eight years in community development in South Africa. She travelled all over southern Africa as part of an international performing arts group, focused on cross-cultural communication and reconciliation. “Arts is an incredible tool to bring identity and healing to people,” she explains. “Music was my first passion, but my love for writing started at a very young age too. When the performance group came to Australia in 1998, I fell in love with Kyogle and have lived here since 2001. Once I came here the season for writing started and I have since self-published four books.” Her two books, A Queen Within and A Queen Dethroned strike a chord with many women, and she hopes they serve as a ‘timely reminder of our worth and value’. “So many of us have felt abuse and are in need of healing,” she reflects. “We cannot remain stuck in our brokenness; we deserve to feel whole and in doing so we can bring healing to others.” Cynthia has had 32 years experience as a musician and performing artist, releasing two music albums in that time. One album, Legacy, was written for a musical based on the history of her people in Namibia. In 2013, she started private music classes in Kyogle and Casino, teaching guitar, ukulele and singing to all ages. “Currently I am working on a new book in the Queen Within series. There is no hurry to get it done as I am also enjoying the occasional music gig around town as well as playing for weddings and events.” Over the next 12 months, Cynthia will also be acting as a mentor for aspiring African authors. “I am excited to see more Africans arise to tell our stories to the world. Australia has been a beautiful home to me, a place where so many of my dreams came true. It would only be appropriate for me to pay it forward, both here and to my people back home.” Follow Cynthia’s work on her website www.cynthiacdenton.gumroad.com

CynthiaDDenton

HANDCRAFTED LEATHER GOODS

The Leather Shop Kyogle is a creative studio for resident leather worker and artist Mario Sanchez. The space also houses pieces by other local artists and artisans. Make sure to visit the website for popup opening dates, where you will have a chance to see and purchase unique pieces. Or visit the Online shop to get a little something sent your way — they post to almost everywhere in the world. VISIT 0403 598 105 47 Summerland Way, Kyogle mario@sanchezleather.com www.theleathershopkyogle.com

Wood By Mossy

HAND-CRAFTED TIMBER CREATIONS

Wood by Mossy is a small local wood turning business, owned by Wayne & Caz Moss. Their passion is to design beautiful, individual, hand-crafted timber homewares that are 100% sustainably made from locally sourced reclaimed timber. Wood by Mossy also offers individual woodwork classes, antique restoration and custom design commission pieces.

Find them at the markets: Kyogle Bazaar, Bangalow, Kingscliff, and Byron Bay Artisan Market CONTACT 0414 462 106 woodbymossy@gmail.com www.woodbymossy.com.au woodbymossy

Nardoo Design

UNIQUE LEATHERWORK DESIGNS Di Keen, the leatherworker behind Nardoo Design, creates a beautiful range of goods, including belts, purses, wallets, knife pouches, decorative cuffs and leather covered diaries. Her work is at a high level of craftsmanship. Di enjoys carving leather and crafts unique items for her clients, using custom designs to suit their needs. Di works from her studio in Woodenbong and welcomes all enquiries involving leather craft and products. 18 FOR CUSTOM ORDERS AND WORKSHOP BOOKINGS 02 6635 1419 or 0439 969 402 diana.keen1505@bigpond.com nardoocreations

In Focus

Q&A WITH NEWLY LOCAL DOCUMENTARY MAKER JORDAN EDMEADES

Tell us a bit about your creative practice... I make documentaries that have meaning for me and that have an impact on those that see the film. Making a doco with someone can be very cathartic for both those on camera and those watching the finished piece. Whether it’s a story about their life, something that happened to them in the past or something that they’re in the thick of right now, the process of articulating and exploring when, where and how it all went down is always fascinating for me. What is it about this type of storytelling that calls to you? Every film I do introduces me to a whole new world, and I am always honoured to be the one to try and capture it all with honesty and integrity. I recently completed a contract shooting on Ambulance Australia, and it was incredible to be face-to-face with the phone operators; a very intense experience for everyone involved and I now have an even greater respect for the great work they do. Which of your projects do you feel most proud of, and why? I have shot, directed and produced documentaries and factual TV shows for ABC, BBC, Network 10 and the Discovery Channel. I directed A Stargazers Guide to the Cosmos for ABC iView back in 2018, which to this day was an experience that changed my life. It triggered a deep love for practical astronomy and human spaceflight and I have been following the science of space closely ever since. I also specialise in community storytelling and have been lucky enough to be invited to shoot with many First Nations elders over the years, capturing their knowledge and stories so they can be shared with generations to come. You’ve recently settled in Kyogle; what brought you to this region? It’s a common cliche but very true for a lot of Kyoglians it seems, we just feel at home here. I’ve worked all over the world and lived in a number of different countries but the Northern Rivers always stood out for us as the place we wanted to settle down in. My wife and I always wanted to live in nature, surrounded by forest, and we found the perfect patch of land to catch our own water and grow our own food. What are you working on at the moment? I’m developing a new documentary format this year for local people to tell their life story. So a family can hire me to interview and shoot a documentary about their grandmother or grandfather, or someone else in their family. I’ve been making these types of legacy films for a few years now... I suppose it’s a bit like This Is Your Life but for local people. If you have a loved one who would like to capture their story in a documentary format, get in touch with Jordan at jedmeades@gmail.com

Dedicated to delivering the outstanding Raine & Horne service to Kyogle

Aiden&Kyogle

Principal

Raine & Horne offers a unique combination of advantages that add up to our difference. We provide a comprehensive real estate service consisting of sales, leasing, management and consulting. We ensure that our clients benefit from our knowledge of local market trends and conditions. Our reputation is built on the premise that exceptional service, in all facets of business, is paramount. We are confident that the service we provide our clients is first-rate, as is the strength of our negotiation skills and willingness to provide every possible service for all property types.

We ensure that our clients benefit from our knowledge of local market trends and conditions.

Aiden Chalker 0429 141 789

aiden.chalker@kyogle.rh.com.au

Kyogle 02 6632 2122

rh.com.au/kyogle

CONTACT 02 6633 3235 camart2000@gmail.com ArtFromStudio306

Roxy Gallery

SHOWING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY The coming year sees a diverse program of group and solo exhibitions showcasing a wide range of creative practices. Highlights include collaborations with upcoming local festivals. The gallery will be hosting an exhibition complementing the Kyogle Writers Festival in May, where the literal and the visual connect. The Dalaang Galii Wogun Festival in October will bring an exciting exhibition featuring local Aboriginal artists. Collectives such as the Woodenbong Arts Group also play an important part of the arts community and will be displaying a group show that will encompass an array of creative styles and techniques. The gallery continues to support local artists and craftspeople, as well as fostering connections with artists who are new to the region. EXPERIENCE ART IN KYOGLE

You are invited to view the work of renowned artists Keith Cameron and Marion Arent at their private gallery and sculpture park in the beautiful valley of Eden Creek, north-west of Kyogle. Keith has exhibited throughout Australia and has numerous large-scale sculptures commissioned for public spaces in northern NSW. Marion has worked professionally as an artist for 40 years and has produced works for both private and corporate collections. You can schedule a visit to view their work which ranges from small to very large scale two and three dimensional works. Studio 306 also offers individual and group art tutorials, as well as an artist and writers retreat, situated in an inspiring rural setting. Get in touch for further details.

Time Warp by Pat Oxtoby, quilting

Stop in to the beautiful, light filled, upstairs space and take in some of the talent and creativity that the Kyogle area has to offer.

DROP IN Upstairs via lift 131 Summerland Way, Kyogle Wednesday to Saturday 10am - 3pm Sunday 10am — 2pm