ARTBOX

Facilitated by Huon Valley Community Art Worker, Elaine Wilson, the Creative Connections group gathers weekly to create and connect, experimenting with different mediums and new ways of creating.
Being curious and brave, these artists step outside their comfort zones to try something new, which often surprises them. In coming together, they support and encourage each other’s creative journeys.
Each artist adopts their own unique style and grows their self confidence in art practice.
Evidence now demonstrates the significant impact of art on individual and collective health and wellbeing. A 2019 World Health Organisation report (looking at over 3,000 art-based interventions) concluded that ‘the contribution of the arts to the promotion of good health and the prevention of other mental and physical health conditions was evident’.

DATES – Friday 6 September – Sunday 29 September 2024

LOCATION – pugherittah/ black swan park, 25 Main Street, Huonville

The Artisan’s Hand brings a collection of local makers’ studios into Balfour House on Mary Street in downtown Cygnet. These makers operate open-door workshops where the public can come in and watch them work. This presents a unique opportunity to watch the making process, ask questions and witness real craft skills right before your eyes.

The house holds 5 studios who have recreated a sample of their workspaces in ARTBOX. These makers are from a variety of disciplines and include jeweller Emily Duggan, ceramic artist Freda Bosgra, print maker Aaron Gray, leather worker Christine Williams and furniture maker Peter Rhodes.

Exhibition: The Artisan’s Hand
Location: ARTBOX – pugherittah/Black Swan Park, 25 Main Street, Huonville
Dates: Monday 5 August 2024 – Friday 30 August 2024

Artists, Jessica Coughlan and Amy Brown, are exhibiting their latest collaborative piece under The Kali Project banner.

The work – a large- scale, photographic composite affixed to the back wall of ARTBOX – will be framed by a plastic marine debris installation of non- biodegradable waste found on Southeast Lutruwitan (Tasmanian) shores.

In speaking about the work Amy Brown said “the impact of industrial fish farming on the Tasmanian seascape is centre stage in this new drama. Our photographic narrative depicts the sacrifice made by the land, sea, river and sky country of Lutruwita (Tasmania).”

The creative duo founded The Kali Project in 2022 with the intention of using ‘art to call in cultural and political change for a liveable future’.

“The Kali Project leans into the beauty and gore of classic art masterpieces and religious iconography to draw attention to unsustainable natural resource use and animal cruelty at the hands of industry,” Jessica Coughlan said.

Exhibition: The Kali Project
Location: ARTBOX – Mawson’s Concourse, Hobart
Dates: Monday 3 June 2024 – Wednesday 26 June 2024

Launch: Friday June 7 at 5.30pm @ ARTBOX

TheKaliProject (@the.kaliproject) • Instagram photos and videos

This May, we are celebrating young people of the Huon Valley, and will fill ARTBOX and the Hub with their works.

Exhibition: SHOUT OUT LOUD
Location: ARTBOX and the Huon Valley Hub (23 Main Street, Huonville)
Dates: Friday 3 May 2024 – Friday 31 May 2024

This April is the first time ARTBOX will hold an exhibition by the combined history groups. The exhibition focuses on primary industries in the Huon Valley and the Channel. You can meet with the history groups on Saturday 6 April at 4.30pm at the Huon Valley Hub; they will talk about the exhibition and who knows, may even recount a few juicy stories from the past!

Some people might see history museums as musty buildings covered in dust. They’re filled with glass boxes and strange-looking mannequins wear uniforms from centuries past. So, why do people volunteer in history museums?

Why do people get excited about history?

I caught up with Peter Horobin, Judi Castle, and Mike Avery from the Channel Museum in Margate to find out why they’re passionate about history.

Out of the three of them, Mike Avery is the only real ‘Margatian’.  His family grew up in Margate, and as he grew older, he wanted to find out more about his own past, and the area he’s lived in his whole life.

Mike said he was intrigued with local families and how they are all connected to each other.

“I just get curious. I ended up having a conversation with someone and found that her mother was given away at birth. And I searched for three months to find her grandparents,” Mike said.

“We ended up getting DNA tests, and she is now in contact with her family in Central Victoria. The mother had come over to Tassie to have the baby and left her behind.”

Judi said when people visit the museum, it often sparks their own memories which they then share with the volunteers.

“It’s the evolution of time and the memories it brings back,” Judi said. “It’s fascinating.”

Peter liked to compare history to navigation, whether on land, in the air, or at sea.

“If you’re going on a journey, you have to know where you came from. If you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know where you are and you won’t have any idea of where you’re going. And so, museums are about telling me where you came from.” — Peter Horobin

Tasmania’s growing pains

Peter and Judi both grew up outside of Tasmania. One thing that struck them is the amount of grief in Tasmania’s history; it is palpable.

“It’s an ever-present aura if you like. We have moved on, but we really haven’t. The history keeps being brought up so we can’t forget. Tasmanians are very passionate about their history, and they’d like to remind people of what happened.” — Judi Castle

Judi said one way or another, the past still seems to affect people’s lives every day.

“It’s the personal stories that make history and it’s unfortunate that we tend to focus on the bad things that happened that we can’t do anything about. But history is history.”

From passion to volunteering

Anyone can join a local history group. Some people are interested in curating the space. Others, like Mike, are more interested in research.

Peter said he lives next to the Channel Museum, so it was simply too hard to ignore.

“It was proximity as much as anything why I got involved. But I’ve always been interested in the stories of history,” Peter said.

Judi said she loved the people, the objects, and the local history itself.

“I love where [history] takes you. There are just so many rabbit holes that we go into; that’s what I love.” — Judi Castle

ARTBOX and Hub exhibition

Through the lens of history – primary industry in Southwest Tasmania features a collection of items from the Channel Museum, Bruny Island History Society, Upper Huon History Group and Geeveston Archive and History Society. These will be on display in ARTBOX and the Huon Valley Hub from 3 – 30 April 2024.

Meet the volunteers for a chat and listen to some stories from the past

Date: Saturday 6 April
Time: 4.30-5.30pm
Location: Huon Valley Hub (23 Main Street, Huonville)
RSVP: Through the lens of history – primary industry in Southwest Tasmania (for catering purposes)

Come and meet decoupage artist Debbie Ruddick on Saturday 16 March, 2pm, at the Huon Valley Hub in Huonville.

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When Queen Elizabeth was a little girl, she struggled to say her own name and called herself Lilibet. Little did she know that when she died, a woman called Debbie, who lives all the way in Tasmania, decorated a chair in her honour. She covered it in pretty blues, like the queen herself, and named it Lilibet.

A chair called Lilibet (photo by Steve Alden).

Debbie tells stories through chairs. She collects forgotten chairs, paints them, and then covers them with tiny paper cutouts.

The art of decoupage

“Decoupage is the art of cutting out shapes,” Debbie said, “and it takes a long, long time to decorate a chair.”

The art of decoupage has always intrigued Debbie. All the individual tiny cutouts put together tell a story about people in Debbie’s life, and the things they hold dear. Her sister has a rocking chair covered in flowers and butterflies. Her grandson has his own little rocking chair. Debbie covered it in 1950s superheroes, and he loves it.

Debbie’s Superhero chair (photo by Steve Alden).

For the love of chairs

When asked why chairs, Debbie said she loves chairs because they bring people together around the table.

“I think a lot of families have forgotten this,” Debbie said.

Debbie grew up in an English family and remembered they would always sit around the table and talk; this is how they connected as a family and learned about each other’s day.

“Even if we had a cup of tea, we’d sit around the table. Now it’s second nature, really. I think it’s lovely. And that’s where my fascination with chairs comes from.” — Debbie Ruddick

When Debbie lived in Darwin, she had trouble finding old pieces of furniture. But when she moved back to her home state of Tasmania, she found herself surrounded by treasures.

“There just were all these beautiful old chairs everywhere. And I thought, there has to be more than just having them as is. The first few I just painted and decorated but then I thought no, I can do a bit more than that. That’s when I started to decoupage.” — Debbie Ruddick

Closeup of a painted and decoupaged chair (photo by Steve Alden).

Before decoupaging a chair, Debbie will paint it. Debbie uses a paint called Annie Sloan paint, which you can get at Songbird in Margate. It’s an English paint which you can use without having to sand back the chairs.

Chairs: art or function?

All of Debbie’s chairs have names. I see you is the name of the chair she brought in for our catchup. It is a beautifully decorated chair and shows the skill and creativity Debbie brings.

Debbie’s chair called I see you.

“A lot of the time, people stand around touching a chair and they say, wow, we would never think of doing that,” Debbie said.

“They say it’s so pretty, and, how did you do that? It’s just so lovely to hear them appreciate the chairs. They get people thinking.”

Debbie still believes that her chairs need to be functional, which is why she covers them in lots of coats of varnish.

“It’s funny because I have a few [chairs] around my table and my friends come and say, oh, we don’t want to sit on them. And I say, please. That’s because I never made them as art pieces. I’ve only ever made them because I enjoy doing it.” — Debbie Ruddick

“I want people to enjoy using the chairs, to sit on them and have them in their homes,” Debbie said.

“But they are not just a piece of furniture; they all have their own story.”

She shuddered at the idea of people putting them in the corner to just look at.

“Imagine if an old chair like that could talk; the stories it would have heard, or all the stories behind it. I want my chairs to make people happy. A lot of your soul goes into making them.” — Debbie Ruddick

From art to ARTBOX

It was Debbie’s daughter, Amalia, who asked her mum to have her chairs in an ARTBOX exhibition.

“I was initially a bit nervous about having them on display, but now I think it’s ok,” Debbie said.

You can see Debbie’s exhibition, My upcycled chairs, in ARTBOX and the Hub from 1 March onwards.

Meet the artist

Meet Debbie – artist networking session
Date: Saturday 16 March
Time: 2.00-4.00pm
Location: Huon Valley Hub (23 Main Street, Huonville)
RSVP: My upcycled chairs – exhibition talk (for catering)

To celebrate how Debbie’s chairs can help us connect with each other, we will sit around the table to chat and enjoy tea, coffee and scones.

Artist Debbie Ruddick on one of her chairs (photo by Steve Alden).

Come and meet intuitive alcohol ink artist Libby Dyer on Wednesday 31 January 2024, 5.30pm, at the Huon Valley Hub in Huonville.

The first thing that you will notice when you meet local artist Libby Dyer, is her love for colour. This not only shows through her art, but also her clothes, earrings, and glasses; she radiates sunshine on an otherwise grey Tassie summer day.

There was a time where Libby only wore black, despite working with colour. Six months before her grandmother passed away, she told Libby that she needed to connect with her art and become her authentic self.

Libby never looked back.

Libby started out as a landscape artist but now mostly works with alcohol ink. It is more expressive and unpredictable than paints, which appeals to Libby.

“I had to learn to go with the flow. And from there, I created techniques that I haven’t seen anywhere else,” Libby said.

Art as therapy

Libby used her art to overcome self-doubt and anxiety when she first started. She wanted to remind herself that you can always find something positive in life.

One of her inspirations is artist Yayoi Kusama, an avant-garde sculptor, painter, and novelist. Kusama had a troubled youth. She travelled to America but went back to Japan where she booked herself into a psychiatric hospital which offered art therapy. Even though she was already an established artist, art therapy saved her life.

Libby channels her feelings and emotions through her art, just like Kusama; and people connect with her through her art.

Connecting people through art

Libby shares her artworks through her social media and combines these with quotes that are meaningful to her. This helps followers connect with Libby and share their own stories with her.

“My work is very much about spreading positivity and joy. We all deal with daily stresses and anxiety. [Creating art] is a process of mindfulness, being calm and expressing what you’re feeling,” Libby said.

“To me, it’s gifting someone a memory or a feeling that I felt myself. You know you’re not alone. It’s not just aesthetically pleasing for their home, but it’s that connection, sharing something with someone.” — Libby Dyer

Recurring themes

There are three recurring themes in Libby’s work.

Flowers are about the mind; you plant the seeds today and reap the flowers in the future. Trees are about the bonds that we build with others. Tree bark represents embracing others, and her brother.

Libby lost her brother when he was only 35 years old. Creating art helped her process her loss and remember him.

“Closeups of bark are about putting your arms around someone… and my brother. It is about connecting with people who have experienced loss and moving on from that. It’s about remembering the good times, and the memory of them.” — Libby Dyer

Exhibitions, artist talk and workshops

Libby and her husband moved to Tasmania not long ago. It was the close bond with her nan and her love of nature that helped Libby in her decision to move.

“I feel [my nan] knows this is where I need to be right now, and we love it. I look outside my studio at the mountains around Huonville, and nature embraces me. I feel home,” Libby said.

Libby creates art all the time. Soon after arriving in Tasmania, she entered the 2023 Henry Jones Art Prize and made it to the finalists. She took part in the 2023 Huon Valley Studio Art Trail and is preparing for her exhibition in ARTBOX and the Huon Valley Hub.

As part of this exhibition, she will hold an artist talk and workshops in the Huon Valley Hub.

“It’s a hard slog, being an artist. But I love it. I get to do what I love every day.” — Libby Dyer

Exhibition: Planting the seeds of joy and happiness for our tomorrows
Location: ARTBOX and the Huon Valley Hub (23 Main Street, Huonville)
Dates: Monday 22 January 2024 – Thursday 29 February 2024

Artist talk with Libby
Date: Wednesday 31 January
Time: 5.30-7.30pm
Location: Huon Valley Hub (23 Main Street, Huonville, Tasmania)
RSVP: Planting the seeds of joy and happiness for our tomorrows: exhibition talk Tickets, Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite

Drinks and nibbles provided.

Alcohol ink workshops with Libby

Date: Saturday 10 February 2024
Time: 2-4pm
Cost: $80.72
Booking: Libby Dyer Art Alcohol Ink Workshop Tickets, Sat 10/02/2024 at 2:00 pm | Eventbrite

Date: Sunday 25 February 2024
Time: 2-4pm
Cost: $80.72
Booking: Libby Dyer Art Alcohol Ink Workshop Tickets, Sun 25/02/2024 at 2:00 pm | Eventbrite

Workshop location: Huon Valley Hub (23 Main Street, Huonville)

Come and meet PhD researcher Malcolm Johnson and artist Amy Reid on Tuesday 12 December, 5.30pm, at the Huon Valley Hub in Huonville, Tasmania.

Malcolm Johnson ended up in Tasmania by chance, like he did everywhere else. He applied for a PhD at the University of Tasmania, to research land, sea and coastal values and climate change of the Huon Valley.

Image by Amy Reid

For his research, Malcolm asked people in the community to talk about the places they loved. He then mapped their answers to values such as beauty, activity, or economy.

Malcolm didn’t just want to create graphs or pie charts; he wanted to work with an artist to change the data into something beautiful that the Huon Valley community could connect with.

He asked his artist friend, Amy Reid, if she wanted to get involved. Amy is an artist who likes to paint, draw, sing, knit, teach, tell stories, and learn. She agreed, and worked with Malcolm to create the artworks you can now see in this exhibition.

What is a landscape?

The first thing Malcolm wanted to understand, was the deeper meaning behind the places people talked about. Some people saw landscape purely as the view from the window. Others viewed the landscape as a living place where things happen. A third version was a mixture of these views.

“A big piece of my research is trying to get people away from seeing the landscape purely like landscape; a view of a road, some farms and possibly Sleeping Beauty in the background.” – Malcolm Johnson

Malcolm discovered that he could combine people’s feedback into themes. He then wanted to find out what people valued more and valued less; but didn’t want to influence people with photos of real places.

“I didn’t want participants to pick the places they liked best rather than the things they liked to do best. My research was about internal experiences and what people think of the world, and then sort these findings in different groups,” Malcolm said.

From science to AI to art

Malcolm took 26 locations that people had talked about and wrote a description for each. He fed these descriptions into AI to produce some generic images. He then passed these images on to Amy.

“I love art; I find it so fascinating. I have a partner who is an artist and brings art constantly in my daily life. So, the most rewarding thing for me was to take a step away from the science. I didn’t make the artworks, but I was part of the process. These artworks wouldn’t exist without me and my work. It makes me feel good that I’ve contributed; for me, this is my creative output.” – Malcolm Johnson

Amy took the images and compared them to the actual locations in the Huon Valley. She then created a series of watercolours to represent the themes Malcolm had found. Finally, Malcolm asked people to sort the paintings to find out what they valued most and least.

Image by Amy Reid

And now, you can see the result in ARTBOX and the Huon Valley Hub where their exhibition will run from 1 December 2023 – 21 January 2024.

Come and hear Malcolm and Amy talk about their project!

Event: Come and meet the artist
Date: Tuesday 12 December
Time: 5.30pm
Location: Huon Valley Hub, Huonville

We will provide refreshments. Please register on Eventbrite for this free event.

ARTBOX – 23 Main Street, Huonville
1 December 2023 – 21 January 2024

Come and meet botanical artist, fabric designer and printmaker Deborah Wace on Thursday 16 November, 5.30-7.00pm, at the Huon Valley Hub and Black Swan Park.

Deborah will talk about her art, Tasmanian flora, and her role as Ambassador of the Huon Valley Studio Art Trail (HVSAT). Videos of her work will play inside the Hub.

Wren Fraser Cameron, author of The Oyster Girl, will also be at this event to speak about her novel, and her shared creative journey with Deborah.

Hot on the heels of the annual HVSAT event, Deborah has transformed ARTBOX into a wonderland of luscious Tasmanian orchids, kelp forests and rare, endangered plants. ARTBOX is bursting with soft-flowing silks, prints and luscious cushions which highlight Deborah’s incredible skill and attention to detail.

Deborah has a Churchill Fellowship, Australia’s most prestigious international research scholarship.

She combines digital plant images with dry point and mono-print original artwork and etchings. She layers these to create beautiful and complex Tasmanian botanical designs.

I explore fashion and fabric design to show the beauty of our Tasmanian botanical heritage. Many of our species are threatened or endangered, and my fabrics bring them to life in people’s fashion and homes, so they might care more and help protect our precious, wild environment.

Deborah Wace

Deborah is looking forward to talking more about her exhibition and being an ambassador for HVSAT.

If you are an artist and want to see how you can use ARTBOX for your own exhibition, come along for ideas and a chat with other artists. We love to see you here.

Event: Come and meet the artist
Date: Thursday 16 November
Time: 5.30-7.00pm
Location: Huon Valley Hub and Black Swan Park

Drinks and nibbles are provided. Please register on Eventbrite for this free event.

EXHIBITION DATE: 24 October – 29 November 2023
LOCATION: Black Swan Park, Huonville (ARTBOX only)

Go to Deborah Wace | Tasmanian Botanical Artist & Fabric Designer to see more of her work:

• Luscious scarves
• Sumptuous cushions
• Wallpaper as art

An exhibition celebrating life in the Deadwood.

A collection of nature photography and digital art, recognising the beauty, artistry and inspiration derived from bare, dead and dying trees. Rich with life, they are homes for wildlife or food for the forest. Essential to biodiversity, the health of our earth and animal habitats, providing safety, security and comfort.

Never really dead they are becoming something else. They fertilise our imaginations. Over the centuries, fairy tales, beasts and mythical creatures have been borne of the dying forest.

Our valley is full of the bleached bones of these towering sentinels. Our community has been shaped by them.

For more information on the artist and exhibition: The Elm and the Raven | Emma Coombes

Deadwood will be shown in the following locations:

Meet the Artist – Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street, Huonville (3pm Saturday 20th May 2023)
ARTBOX – Tennis Court Road, Huonville
3 May – 2 June 2023

An ArtBox exhibition showcasing Cygnet artists and makers.

2023 Artists and Makers | Handmade in Cygnet

ARTBOX – 46 Lymington Road, Cygnet
24 March – 30 April 2023

Artist Wu Pengbo was travelling with his wife and found himself in the Huon Valley when Covid erupted. They initially planned to be here for 3 months but suddenly all their plans were on hold.

The influence of this new country and landscape brought new flavours to Wu Pengbo’s artwork and this exhibition traces his journey from China to the Huon valley.

In Wu’s own words:

“The red line of fate traverses each canvas, documenting my long journey and its expectations of returning home. Years passed and I released that I could not spend my life waiting. Since I was here, I needed to make the most of it. The simplicity of caring for animals and growing vegetables, reflected the simplicity of days writing Chinese calligraphy. Seeing Sleeping Beauty each morning reminded me of the mountains around my hometown, and Mountain River steadily became a place to stay.

This painting exhibition comprises five chapters of my story.”

Being Here will be shown in the following locations:

Huon Valley Hub – 23 Main Street, Huonville
ARTBOX – Tennis Court Road, Huonville
18 February – 20 March 2023

Anna Arden-Wong’s exhibition “Journey to the Far South” encompasses a series of landscapes uncovering the hidden history of the Far South that a common traveller may not see.

Hidden behind the picturesque view are traces of history that pop up in odd places, from faded tourist plaques by the side of the road, a rusted piece of machinery in the middle of the forest, an old jetty revealing itself at low tide, to local Aboriginal midden sites.

Anna’s exhibition will provoke thought on the local history and show the imprint that we leave through the course of time. The exhibition showcases paintings and objects found in the landscape around us.

Artist Statement:

Tip of memories

Fate has led me from a dusty urban environment to the clear bushlands of the Far South of Tasmania. Here, in Lune River I have discovered the most mesmerizing beauty of the edge of the world and a historical jewel.

Here, more than ever, I have been thinking about how we take for granted the time of our grandfathers as we desperately try to rush through our own lives.

In Lune River, history and memories of the past seem to be slowly fading away. The ghostly remains of the old sawmills that once thrived here have become part of the landscape. The rusty railroads covered by Tasmanian wild bush flowers leading to nowhere, strange remains of stone structures and the river… The river that knows and remembers everything. When change came to this land and the sawmills were no longer needed, the river took as much as it could. At low tide one can still see the remains of the old jetties, bricks and bottles, tools and even sewing machines.

It’s quiet here in Lune River now and I often watch the river as it shares the stories of the past with me.

Journey to the Far South will be shown in the following locations:

Huon Valley Hub – 23 Main Street, Huonville
ARTBOX – Tennis Court Road, Huonville
11 January – 15 February 2023

Stardust is a new ARTBOX exhibition by artist Anastasia Gardyne.

With a strict Christian upbringing I was always fearful of venturing into anything that might be considered on the outside to be “witchcraft” or “satanic”. A pagan lifestyle, is where I truly stem from, where my ancestors based their very being on. Is where I connect wholeheartedly. I never intended for what I create to be of this nature. But I give in, for this is where I find peace and purpose.

On show in the Huon Valley Hub is Anastasia’s exhibition Found Colour.

You have perhaps witnessed these works previously. Only here is a point that brings in colour. Thus also showing that point of “between progress”. Not the start nor the end. Where the artist can decide to give up and start again or press on and risk something more complete.

DATES: 1 December 2022 – 8 January 2023
LOCATION: ARTBOX at Burtons Reserve (not Loongana Park!!), Cygnet and Huon Valley Hub, 23 Main Street Huonville

Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and training trees in pots to resemble the shape of real-life trees. The creation of a Bonsai tree requires plant knowledge but also a sense of aesthetics and design. Bonsai trees are created with an intentional sense of simplicity, harmony and balance. The peaceful beauty of a Bonsai tree is intended for the enjoyment and appreciation for the viewer.

Stephanie Abercromby will have a selection of beautiful Bonsai on display, the first time to have an exhibition of this kind in ARTBOX.

DATES: 16-29 November 2022
LOCATION: 17 Arve Road, Geeveston (Masaaki’s Sushi)

A small festival of art, music, and words in the Huon Valley. Come enjoy our small festival of art in the Christian tradition. Guests of all ages and backgrounds are warmly welcome.

For detailed information on events, please check the Pilgrim Artists Festival website (https://www.pilgrimartists.com/).

Pilgrim Artists Festival will show at the following locations:

Huon Valley Hub – 23 Main Street, Huonville
ARTBOX – 23 Main Street, Huonville, back carpark
4 – 14 November 2022

Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival (TARWF) is Australia’s southern-most literary festival, a celebration of books, writing and community in the glorious Huon Valley, Tasmania.

It’s 100 years since Agatha Christie toured Tasmania. Inspired by the centenary of her visit, come to The Huon, Valley of Stories, and explore the past century of Tasmanian crime and mystery creations.

The exhibition will be held in the Huon Valley Hub and ARTBOX.

There will also be a delightful series of book events and dinners – for more information on these, visit https://www.terroraustralisfestival.com/taf2022-public-program.

A Century of Mystery will be showing at the following locations:

Huon Valley Hub – 23 Main Street, Huonville
ARTBOX – 23 Main Street, Huonville, back carpark
2 – 30 October 2022

Flow is a collaborative exhibition between the Huon Valley Council, The City of Launceston and Sawtooth ARI, featuring five Huon Valley and five Launceston artists across three different venues. The exhibition is curated by Dr Helen Whitty and Zara Sully. The participating artists are: Bianca Templar, Andrew Halford, Sarah Rhodes, Michael Schlitz, Louise Daniels, Deborah Wace, Joanne Faulkner, Nataša Milenović, Emma Magnusson-Reid and Eden Meure.

The exhibition reflects and celebrates the connection each area has to its local waterways, river systems and coastal areas, and explores their significance. The exhibition features different media including 2D, sound, digital and 3D works from five Huon Valley and five Launceston-based artists.

‘Waterways hold deep symbolic meanings, ranging from the flow of life, fertility, the passage of time. In some cultures they symbolise the boundary between this world and the next. Waterways connect settlements.

Throughout human history, water has been a life force.’

Curatorial Statement

‘… the river is everywhere at once, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the rapids, in the sea, in the mountains, everywhere at once…’

Herman Hesse

Flow is a testimony to relationships. The connections between the Tamar and the Huon both flowing to the sea and wrapping us in its fluid boundary; between the curators, councils, artists, funders, professions, places, roadways and ether; between the viewer and the work. Flow is a witness to bridging the divides between the north and south of our tiny island, between lines on a map, between circumstances and venues, across a host of art making practices and identities.

Flow is an ambitious undertaking. Ten artists is practically a tsunami of talent. These ten were selected because, put simply, we love their work. Each are local but would sit confidently anywhere. Each artist brings their own considerable experience, focus and dedication. From metal to silk, clay to ink, surrounded by sound, the works speak to each other as they will speak to you. Together the relationships that are made become a body of work. Cyclical, ouroboric, flow…

Dr Helen Whitty and Zara Sully

This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia.

Flow will be showing at the following locations on these dates:

Sawtooth ARI
58 Lindsay Street, Invermay
5th August – 1st October 2022

ARTBOX
Civic Square, Launceston
30th August – 27 September 2022

Huon Valley Hub
23 Main Street, Huonville
30th August – 28 September 2022

For more information on the exhibition, curators and artists visit: https://www.huonvalleytas.com/flow/

A Group Exhibition for and by LGBTIQ+

LGBTIQA+ creatives are taking over Huon Valley Council’s ARTBOX for the month of August!

We want more visibility for our Southern Tassie community and we want to show off our collective creative talents. Visability Box is about coming together in the depths of winter to brighten up Huonville with a show of creative abundance.

Works will be judged and there are prizes for the winners.

The judges are:
Sonia Penny (Penny Contemporary Gallery, Hobart)
Yvette Watt
Steve Lovegrove

Come along to the opening night at the Huon Valley Hub (23 Main Street, Huonville) on Friday 5 August, from 5.30pm.

Prize winners announced from 6.30pm.
Finger food from DS Cafe.
Mulled cider from Willie Smith’s- something to warm you up if needed!

A great chance to meet some fellow creatives and generally get praised.

DATES: 5 August – 27 August 2022

Exhibition Locations:
Friday 5 August – Saturday 27 August 2022 – Huon Valley Hub
Friday 5 August – Thursday 11 August 2022 – ARTBOX, Huon Valley Hub
Friday 12 August – Saturday 27 August 2022 – ARTBOX, Franklin Wharf, Hobart (Courtesy of TasPorts)

loongana (Run Together) is a beautiful exhibition by six fabulous Aboriginal artists, Belinda Casey, Deb Cobern, Bron Englert, Carla Herweynen, Gemma O’Rourke and Kris Schaffer.

Curated by Deb Cobern, come and immerse yourself in this wonderful and varied exhibition. Kris Schaffer has transformed ARTBOX into a beautiful array of art and artifacts, and you may catch her potter around.

Deb expressed the following:

loongana – in the language of the peoples of Southeast Trouwunna, the melukerdee nation – means Run Together.

Run together is an extension of the theme for NAIDOC Week 2022, GET UP, STAND UP, SHOW UP.

We are at a point in our journey where it is time to demonstrate our strength, resilience, and courage. We have been walking, and now is the time to step up the pace and start running.

It is paramount that we come together as a collective to add to the strength required to complete the journey.

The Run Together exhibition provides the opportunity to come together to experience the rich and ongoing culture of our First Nations Peoples.

DATES: 3 July – 28 July
LOCATION: Huon Valley Green Space (ARTBOX) and the Huon Valley Hub – 23 Main Street, Huonville.

“Huon Valley Food Hub, Visions and Stories” celebrates our food community. This exhibition is held in the Huon Valley Hub and ARTBOX, and showcases the following:

• Announcement of Huon Valley Food Hub Co-designed activation projects. 5pm – 7pm, Thursday June 16th
• An exquisite array of photography that displays our beautiful food treasures
• Showcasing an exquisite array of photography that displays our beautiful food treasures
• Community-designed Huon Valley Food Hub themes & stories display
• Special Guest artist Robert Jackson running a food related community art project
• Launch of “We Are Weaving” food hub short Film by Mick Lowenstein
• Opportunity to connect to liked minded food change makers in the Valley
• Canapes provided

DATES: 6 June – 29 June
LOCATION: Huon Valley Green Space (ARTBOX) and the Huon Valley Hub – 23 Main Street, Huonville.

A MOMENT, A PLACE

“A moment, a place” highlights the amazing flora and fauna, and at times, the intersection with human influence within the Huon Valley, by Franklin-based artist Daniel Rawlins.

In Daniel’s words:

I feel so lucky to inhabit such a diverse and relatively untouched part of our world. I hope that my artwork helps to highlight such precious moments, so rare in other parts of the world. I consider this series to be placed-based and a builder of community pride as well as an outward facing celebration of our beautiful country.

Daniel is inspired by local gifts of nature, intrigued by the behaviours of people and fascinated by the intersection between the two. Daniel paints stories of warmth, quirk and wonder. Moments often overlooked but deserving pause and thought. Memories of place and personality. Of interactions and happenings that surround us every day, emerging and subsiding without purpose or ceremony.

DATES: 10 May – 1 June
LOCATION: Huon Valley Green Space (ARTBOX) and the Huon Valley Hub – 23 Main Street, Huonville.

Dan will hold an exhibition opening on Saturday 14 May, 3.30-6pm at the Huon Valley Hub. 

Explore 40 years of Cygnet Folk Festival through posters and photos from our archives. A weekend of performances will showcase past and present Folk Festival artists. There will also be a sharing of stories that have been shared by previous folk festival attendees and performers.

For more information on specific events and performances, check the Cygnet Folk Festival website.

DATES – 12 April – 8 May
LOCATION – Loongana Park, Cygnet

Explore the faces of the world with Bob Frost’s exhibition “People”. Thirty-three photographs taken in the last 65 years take you around the world. Explanations will accompany the photographs.

As with Bob’s previous exhibition, viewers will be asked to vote for their favourite photo – a prize will be given of the winner’s choice.

There is also a wonderful interview with Bob through The Wayfinder Mobile Story Studio, which you can hear here: A Welshman in Israel

DATES – 11 March – 9 April
LOCATION – Living Boat Trust, 3337 Huon Highway, Franklin

ON THE WATERFRONT – Inspired by the river

On The Waterfront is an arts, crafts and culture clash that explores the Huon River’s continuing influence on makers and artists. The exhibition sees works from experts across many different fields and will feature river-inspired artworks alongside examples of maritime craft that reflects Franklin’s waterfront history.

Work on the waterfront can be seen on two levels, firstly where the efforts have a tangible result, images are sketched onto paper, wood is carved, cut and shaped, rope or grass is knotted, iron is forged, fabric is woven and stitched, and piece by piece, a vessel comes into being, or an artwork is created.

But there is also an intangible connection, where the work echoes practices that have continued through the centuries and represent a link to the river’s maritime and cultural heritage.  These works maintain a connection to the past yet places them in context for today, kept alive by the current generation of makers.

The river and its strong connection to boat builders, restorers, historians, craft specialists and visual artists lies at the core of the exhibition, linking our maritime and cultural history to Franklin’s continued renown as a working waterfront precinct.

DATES – 11 February – 9 March
LOCATION – Living Boat Trust, 3337 Huon Highway, Franklin

‘Suspended breath: a Hartz journey’ is a collaborative exhibition of painting, music and words dedicated to the Hartz Mountains.

The artists, Kat Scarlet, Gareth Dawson and Jane Rawson, all live in the Huon Valley. What brought us here? What keeps us tied to this place? How does it change us and how do we change it? Our understanding of this place is deeply embedded in its nature and the Hartz Mountains are emblematic of that natural world. The national park is a landscape so dramatically different to the valley floor – its strange and ancient plants, its rock screes, its vast vistas or rapidly smothering clouds – but so near that we can visit it on a whim. What does it mean to have such majesty, to have a place so wildly inhuman, so close to home?

The fires of the past decade and the island’s drying, warming climate have rewritten – subtly or permanently – the ecosystems of Tasmania’s alpine areas. In future decades they will change even more. What does a change in the landscape and the living creatures of the Hartz Mountains mean for our understanding of and relationship with this place?

This project aims to grapple with these questions but, more than that, it is a love letter to a landscape found nowhere else on earth.

‘Suspended breath: a Hartz journey’ will be exhibited in the Art Box at Willie Smith from 3 December 2021 until 9 January 2022, with an opening night held on Friday 3 December from 5-7pm. Visual artist, Kat Scarlet, will attend the Willie Smith market every week from mid November until Christmas to discuss the work and answer questions.

On 10 January 2022 ‘Suspended breath: a Hartz journey’ will travel on to Hobart in ARTBOX and stay at Mawson Place Concourse until 9 February.

See more on Kat’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/katscarletart

DATES – 3 December 2021 – 9 January 2022
LOCATION – Willie Smiths – 2064 Huon Highway, Grove

DATES – 10 January – 9 February 2022
LOCATION – Mawson Place, corner of Argyle Street & Morrison Street, Hobart

Art can be a means to express lived experiences long buried in the unconscious, yet still felt in the body. Through photography, drawing, painting and sculpture, artist Sherry Smart shares a portion of her healing journey, in the hope it inspires others.

DATES – 1 November – 1 December
LOCATION – Huonville Foreshore

ARTober features artist Sheree Martin as the ARTBOX ARTist in residence at Loongana Park, Cygnet. Exploring her own creative practice throughout the month of October, Sheree will also offer creative community connections through a range of ARTplayful experiences with ARTworks created during this time exhibited at ARTBOX until October 28th!

Below are the Artist in Residence times where you can see Sheree work:

Week 1: Sunday 3 October (Cygnet market), Tue 5, Wed 6, Thurs 7 October.
Week 2:  Wed 13, Thurs 14, Fri 15 October.
Week 3: Sunday 17 October (Cygnet Market), Wed 20, Thur 21, Fri 22 October.
Week 4: Tue 26, Wed 27, Thurs 28 October.

Book your ARTplayful session below!

DATES – 3 October – 28 October

LOCATION – Loongana Park, Cygnet

Visit THE HUON | VALLEY OF STORIES this September to explore more than 30 books and stories inspired by the Huon Valley.

Guarded by Sleeping Beauty to the north, the Huon Valley is home to a flourishing community of writers, poets, wordsmiths and storytellers.

In this ARTBOX exhibition, the valley’s own Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival brings together more than 30 award-winning, intriguing and delightful books and storytelling items for you to explore. Curated by the festival’s Director, Dr L.J.M. Owen, each item in the ARTBOX was either created by a local artist or was inspired by the valley itself.

“Living in the Huon Valley, I’m aware of the incredible creativity, diversity and talent of our writers and storytellers. Given how difficult it has been for us to gather, share and celebrate our work over the past year or two, our festival team has developed this ARTBOX exhibition to showcase the valley’s books and stories in a COVID19-safe way,” Dr Owen said.

Visit this September to explore stories of life in the valley, both real and imagined; award-winning stories; stories inspired by the valley’s gardens, farms and orchards; dark and mysterious stories; and children’s stories brimming with warmth and hope.

Beginning with a special Welcome to Country, the physical ARTBOX exhibition is accompanied by an audio guide. This introduces you to each item in the box. You can then follow links on a website to more information on each book or object.

ARTBOX can be visited any time and is lit up until 7pm. You will need a mobile phone to access the interactive online audio guide. Headphones are recommended.

“It’s a great outing for adults, families and school groups alike. Our hope is that readers, writers and fans of storytelling from the valley – and from Hobart and beyond – visit for the day; that they come to Huonville to see and listen to the exhibition, then stay for lunch or afternoon tea to discuss the stories they discover at the ARTBOX.”

Writers and creators of the featured works include:

Alison Alexander | Jamie Bantick | Bob Brown | Alan Carter | Michelle Crawford | Bronwyn Dillon | First Dog on the Moon | Jacq Ellem | Bronwyn Englert | Matthew Evans | Cameron Wren Fraser | Robyn Friend | Gail Galloway | Nick Haddow | Julie Hunt | Margie Kirk | K. M. Kruimink | Kathryn Lomer | Carol Ann Martin | David Owen | L.J.M. Owen | Favel Parrett | Mike Raine and Miranda Wageman | Tansy Rayner Roberts | Elaine Reeves and Steve Cumper | Judi Rhodes and Tanya McQueen | Mary-Lou Stephens | Angela Rockel | Garry Willmott | Karen Viggers

“Our literary community has something to offer to all readers, whether you’re looking for something serious and thought-provoking, light and whimsical, or a story to share with the kids. The standard of writing and storytelling is first class, which is reflected in the number of national awards won by writers based in the valley; you’ll be raiding the shelves of your local library or bookstore soon after your visit.”

For more information on THE HUON | VALLEY OF STORIES, please email jacq.tarwf@gmail.com or go to terroraustralisfestival.com.

THE HUON | VALLEY OF STORIES exhibition is supported by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, the Regional Arts Network, RANT, the Tasmanian Government, the Huon Valley Council and the Bendigo Bank Community Bank Branches.

DATES – 4-26 September 2021

LOCATION – 23 Main Street, Huonville

This photographic series of six digital portrait-oriented triptychs displays a male and female figure in various Tasmanian bush settings. A scarlet ribbon forms a visual metaphor for connectedness in separation. Japanese tradition recognises the ‘red thread of fate’, stating that “the red thread should bind the pinkie fingers of those who are fated to one another”. This exhibition aims to explore the various aspects of intimate relationships – that disdain can share space with care and suffocation with love. See if you can fill the characters’ thoughts and construct the rest of the story by drawing on your own shared experiences.

In every life there is duality – anger and calm, love and hate, harmony and disharmony. Through it all is the flow of the soul. Through relationship with others we can view ourselves.

DATES – 30 July – 30 August

LOCATION – 23 Main Street, Huonville

The Pilgrim Artists Festival is a small festival of art, music, and words held at the Huon Hub.

Pilgrim Artists are a group of artists from diverse Christian traditions. This year, the artists are taking the iconic 1st century Aramaic Prayer of Jesus (“the Lord’s Prayer”) as inspiration for their creative works, from oil paintings to lithographs to textiles, exploring themes from forgiveness to gratitude.

DATES – 23-26 July 2021

LOCATION – 23 Main Street, Huonville

neemiuah teggana nire (mother heart heal) is a special NAIDOC week exhibition, curated by Gemma O’Rourke, a sovereign melukerdee woman. Gemma feels privileged to present this ARTBOX exhibition as part of NAIDOC Heal Country 2021, featuring artworks from nuenonne, melukerdee, pinterraier and lyluequonny women from Tasmania.

To heal is to feel the wound, to acknowledge the pain and injustices, then with open-hearted intention and expanded consciousness to set authentic intention for regeneration and, recovery.

The pain that endures from a colonising program that had intention for genocide, pillage and plunder of peoples, land and resources is shared in a collective consciousness between Aboriginal and non-indigenous peoples. We are all intertwined and enmeshed in this healing as global human and earth ecologies cry out for remedy.

The wounds and harm inflicted upon Aboriginal Peoples are the same as those inflicted upon Country and those inflicted upon Country are in turn inflicted upon the People. They cannot be separated.

The wisdoms that know the land to be inextricably interconnected and interdependent with all sentient beings is now the subject matter of cutting-edge science exploration into Quantum Entanglement known to contemporary philosophers and scientists as ‘passion at a distance’.

From the ancient practice of basket weaving utilising traditional materials and methods with an infusion of contemporary skills, knowledge and media Bronwyn Dillon and Deb Cobern inspire healing with their culturally infused utilitarian and purely artistic creations. In the exquisitely delicate drawings and intuitively empathic works on paper of Cassie Sullivan and the large-scale paintings, photography and audio-visual work of Gemma O’Rourke we hear the echoing call across time and space for regeneration of the land, healing of Country and Sovereignty for Mother Earth and her People.

Curator: Gemma O’Rourke
Featured   Artists: Bronwyn Dillon, Deb Cobern, Cassie Sullivan, Gemma O’Rourke

DATES – 5 May 2021 – 30 June 2021
LOCATION – Loongana Park, Cygnet

ARTBOX is back in Loongana Park in Cygnet! This time with an exhibition by Julie Moss, called “Works on Silk and Paper”.

Julie will be showcasing a variety of silk painting and textile works – including silk scarves and matching jewellery – depicting beautiful wild places, birds and animals of Australia, and places of Julie’s imagination.

Julie is an established mixed media artist, specialising in silk paintings and scarves.

DATES – 31 March 2021 – 2 May 2021

LOCATION – Franklin Foreshore

Bob Frost has lived in The Huon Valley for the last 16 years and has seen it in all its moods. Always alert for the unexpected and the unusual, he always keeps his trusty camera under the seat of his car – just in case “that moment” presents itself.

Bob’s display in the Artbox will focus on this beautiful place. Animals and birds feature too as of course does the Huon Valley’s beautiful scenery.

You will see that his photos reflect catching a passing moment rather than a set piece setup.

Bob has been taking “snaps” for the last 64 years while travelling and working in many parts of the world. Alongside his up to date Nikon Coolpix P1000,
he still uses his very first camera – bought in Aden in 1957 – a Zeiss Ikon Contina.

Bob’s display will prompt visitors to the Artbox to choose their favourite picture. Someone will win their choice by way of draw taking place when the exhibition ends.

27 February – 27 March 2021

Loongana Park, Cygnet

This exhibition is a collection of drawings Margie created to illustrate books. The first book is called Travelling Tasmanian Tigers and Margie is currently working on her second book, Quoll and Quill. Margie’s passion for drawing and native animals has come together to create uniquely Tasmanian books. Margie draws from her imagination to let the animals develop their own characteristics.

Margie’s medium is coloured pencils as she enjoys the intensity she achieves, as well as the textures by layering the colours.

Drawing and writing allows Margie to escape into a beautiful fantasy which takes her to a happy place. She would love to see that her work sparks interest in nature and Tasmanian wildlife, and may create the next generation of conservationists.

In Margie’s own words: “Welcome to my world of colour and fantasy! This is where I find myself lost in a world away from chaos and sadness. I am totally inspired by my surroundings, this unique island we all call home and all the creatures that also live her. I am also inspired by day to day people I meet and sometimes their characters come out in my work. It’s so exciting sitting down with sharpened pencils and blank paper to see where it takes you. I am so grateful that my passion for the environment and drawing can come together to create children’s books”.

DATES – 1 February 2021 – 24 February 2021

LOCATION – 20b Church St, Geeveston

Chosen as the inaugural theme, Inside Out reflects the unique advantage of the professional exhibition space that is ARTBOX. The visually striking, thought-provoking display is sure to draw many visitors to Geeveston throughout the month of February.

The theme is topical as it can also be seen as a response to current times when people are spending longer inside than out due to covid-19. The theme is to be regarded as a starting point and is expected to be broadly interpreted through materials or subject matter.

Featured Artists

Anna Arden – Wong – www.instagram.com/annaardenwong

Jo-Anne Bateman

Stephanie Bremer-Trainor – https://www.instagram.com/embryopods/

Lisa Britzman – www.instagram.com/campo_de_flori

Bronwyn Clarke – www.instagram.com/bronwynclarkeceramics

Lysbeth Driessen – www.instagram.com/lysbethdriessenart

Wendy Edwards – www.instagram.com/wendyedwardsart

Cassy Faux – www.instagram.com/harvestandlight

Grace Gladdish – www.instagram.com/gladdish

Ulrike Hora – www.instagram.com/gladdish/

John Osborne

Marie Proctor – www.instagram.com/wakkytazcreations

Jennifer Raphael Bennett

Kat Scarlet – www.instagram.com/katscarlettattoo

Kellie Spicer – www.instagram.com/the.forgotten.tree

Inside Out is curated by Henrietta Manning and supported by the Regional Arts Fund.

100 STORIES OF ADAMSONS PEAK
Ruth Lindsell, Dover District School students, Kristie Knight

11 December – 27 January 2021
Huon Highway, Dover (adjacent to the Cenotaph)

The exhibition was assembled by Ruth Lindsell, artist in residence at Dover District School, students from Dover District School, and local guest photographer Kristie Knight.

Paul County, a local passionate, qualified and experienced educator and photographer captured the story behind this exhibition which can be viewed as a story on the here on Tasmania’s Huon Valley website.

DATES – 12 November 2020 – 7 December 2020

LOCATION – 6 Church St, Geeveston

Seniors Tell Their Stories explores and shares the stories of senior community members living in townships around the Huon Valley.

Created as part of the Huon Beings digital arts program, the project celebrates and highlights the lives of our senior residents, providing a platform for them to express their connection and love for the Valley. The portraits were captured by local photographer Liv Rooney.

The Seniors Tell Their Stories exhibition will also be shared to the community on the Huon Valley Council Instagram account, and we encourage you to share your stories of life in the Valley using the hashtag #huonbeings.

RECHERCHE

DATES – 10 October 2020 – 8 November 2020

LOCATION – 25 Main Street, Huonville

It will be difficult to describe my feelings at the sight of this solitary harbour situated at the extremities of the globe, so perfectly enclosed that one feels separated from the rest of the universe. Everything is influenced by the wilderness of the rugged landscape. With each step, one encounters the beauties of unspoilt nature.

……….Bruni d’Entrecasteaux 1792

Recherche. Say ruh-shair-shey

Or say choice, exquisite, inestimable, invaluable, priceless, prized, treasurable, valuable.

My art practice and love of nature has its foundations in my childhood. Treasured memories of long summer camping/fishing trips with my family.  Then later as an adult living on an exquisite timber boat, held safe by the glowing varnished hull of celery top pine.  Choosing to learn to sail in the southern Tasmanian waters before venturing to the tropics. Prized walks in the south west.  And now living in a southern forest surrounded by nature, always birds close around and filling vistas of land and sea.

Those of us familiar with Australia’s most southerly all-weather anchorage can all easily imagine the awe that the French explorers felt on arrival in Recherche, and we hear Bruni d’Entrecasteaux speaking to us, telling us that what we see as familiar is of inestimable value, for all people and all time.

We have translated d’Entrecasteaux’s name into our language as ‘research’. Research requires careful noticing. But it is hard to notice small things, when we think we are familiar with what is in front of us?  I like to upscale birds to help our noticing, to show how exquisite they are, while precariously balancing other creatures to draw attention to the fact that all of their futures depends on us preserving what is, literally, priceless.

Instagram:        Wendyedwardsart

Website:          Wendyedwards.net.au

Recherche is curated by Henrietta Manning and supported by the Regional Arts Fund.

Instagram: henriettamanningartist

Faces of the Huon is a community arts project that aims to uncover and celebrate stories of diversity and harmony in the southernmost part of Tasmania.

Created for Harmony Week (15–21 March) as part of the Huon Beings digital arts program, the exhibition is the culmination of a series of interviews with local residents from a variety of backgrounds.

DATES – 7 September 2020 – 8 October 2020

LOCATION – 25 Main Street, Huonville