Projects
Public Art in Mullumbimby
The Mullum Sculpture Walk (MSW) site was identified as a potential place of expression for artists of the region quite some years ago.
Creative Mullumbimby Inc., a design and planning collective of local professionals, lodged a DA seeking approval for an initial sculpture and the site for more sculptures in the future.
The approved plan allows for seven permanent and six temporary sites along the path, meaning that a permanent collection can be established over the years to come and in the meantime temporary works can be installed for periods of up to three months at a time.
The ENTER HERE sculpture, constructed from power poles preserved by metal & concrete footings and paint, has broad appeal, especially with respect to the bright colouring and apparent random placement of the poles. The intention was not to produce a work of meaning, rather a whimsical invitation to enter the walk. It is inevitable that later works on the path will represent other aspects of our history and culture.
These days design of civic spaces incorporates art as readily as it incorporates pathways, tree plantings, garden beds, lighting or any other element. It reflects our identity and the pride that we have in those places. The proposed Walk utilises an existing path and cycleway and is planned to complement the composition of exotic palms planted in the 1980’s and the more recent work [performed by Brunswick Valley Landcare. We selected sites along the path that suit placement of sculpture without interference with the existing arboretum.
Art and creativity is part of the cultural identity of the town, along with our sustainable environment, farming, education, sport and festivals,
Public art attracts both locals and visitors, thus bringing a potential economic benefit to the town. Any sculpture to be considered for installation either temporary or permanent needs to be approved by Council’s Public Art Committee (PAAP). That very same committee identifies likely locations for public art throughout the Shire.
There are currently many artists in the town and surrounds that would love the chance to contribute to the visual culture of Mullumbimby. The distinguishing thing about the Mullum Sculpture Walk is that the works are to be site specific, employing the notion of ‘genius loci’ or spirit of place. It will be an excellent beginning.
The development and consolidation of The Mullumbimby Sculpture Walk will be a dynamic interweaving of five community-engaged activities, in order to permeate art making and public art thinking into the fabric of the town and region. The next stage of this project will involve:
- Developing a site-specific-sculpture commissioning process;
- Actively collaborating with community groups to create three seminal new works;
- There will be an integrated public art educational program to foster young new artists;
- Further develop a web based virtual platform to enhance the experience of each proposed work; and
- The culmination in the Riverside Sculpture Festival as a celebration of our art and culture at the end 2018.
It is conceivable that the sculptures of the future in the town are located beyond the Sculpture Walk and become integrated into the proposed network of trails weaving through the towns narratives,significant trees and other histories. Further potential visual hot spots are the town entry points, various street corners, contemplative parks, and barren laneway walls. The intention is to have a cohesive approach to the installation of public art, engaging the community, Council and business owners.
There is scope to explore the potential for walking trails around the town of Mullumbimby. Walking is an underdeveloped segment of tourism in Mullumbimby and there are many benefits to the visitor economy as well as the many social and health benefits to locals. One of our members Mairéad Cleary is proposing both local trails in town and broader walking trails around Mullumbimby. This desire has taken the most tangible form in a personal project by Mairead who has recently written a book Byron Trails - 50 walking adventures in Byron Bay and beyond.
The vision for the project is to:
Create a network of 4-5 marked looped trails around Mullumbimby using existing paths and expanding to incorporate new paths.
Attract recreational tourism to the area; and
Create walking & possibly cycling facilities for the town residents
In early 2013 Creative Mullumbimby in partnership with the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce submitted to Byron Shire Council a proposal to create a Master Plan project. The intention was to create an opportunity to engage the Mullumbimby community in a visioning process, something that had not occurred locally for more then 15 years. The intention was to create a broad plan that encapsulates that vision and then use what financial resources are available to build a small number place making projects to get it started.
In early 2014 in order to give this project impetus Creative Mullumbimby began organising The Mullumbimby Big Picture Show. In proceeding the Big Picture Show got significant help from Byron Shire Council, The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and the local community.
The Mullumbimby Big Picture Show took place on Saturday May 31st at the Mullumbimby Memorial Civic Hall, when over 30 local organisations set up to promote what they do and over 300 local people came along to participate in a range of talks and workshops. (Details of the Mullumbimby Big Picture Show are available in Magic Mullum Storyboard p17-22
CALDERA Contemporary Textile Collective is an innovative and cutting edge creative art organisation. It aims to instigate opportunities to:
- practically, professionally and financially support participatory members within the Northern Rivers
- showcase diversity of contemporary textile practices within this regional community
- improve the status of contemporary textiles, by audience development
- facilitate high calibre professional development
- engage public through exhibitions of sophisticated textile artworks
- develop collaborate strategies for collective marketing and improve individual artists’ marketing skills
- develop on-line business/marketing skills & maximise global marketing potential
In May 2014, CALDERA Contemporary Textile Collective was formed at the time of the Big Picture Show, as a response to the challenges of cultural identity from the callout of Creative Mullumbimby.
Currently it is a FACEbook network with occasional network meetings.
Within the first 4 weeks following the Big Picture Show over 30 Facebook members joined, currently there are 68 members – this demonstrates extensive interest. https://www.facebook.com/groups/632276316858027/653001988118793/?notif_t=like
RATIONALE: this region is home to many hundreds of textile artists in all stages of their career, and many isolated from one another. Generally textiles as an artform is marginalised, unrecognised and under resourced. The Big Picture Show drew attention to the fact that outside Sydney, the Northern Rivers has the highest per capita concentration of artists, and that many artists are financially battling to be sustainable. It concluded that the community of Mullumbimby appreciates its artists for their creative ways of approaching social and personal growth, for the cultural difference that artists make to this society. The group recognises the need to create our own opportunities, for public art, exhibitions, workshops and paid jobs for artist members, and constantly raising awareness of textiles, to overcome public ignorance and bureaucratic indifference.
CALDERA Slow Fibre Seminars 2017 – Discussion group – June 2016
GRANT APPLICATION WRITING - Discussion group – June 2016
CALDERA CONVERGENCE – Discussion group
A ‘program’ of workshop, training, social media learning, online marketing towards collaborative marketing strategy, mentorships, group exhibitions. The goal is towards economic, environmental and social sustainability, jobs for artists, collaborative approaches to exhibitions and marketing, audience building and professional development for artists.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT and market research – Discussion group
Market research was undertaken at the International Forum of Natural Dyes and WEFT in Taiwan. Susan and Andrea attended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SlL8KmfkPY
Susan and Andrea shared considerations following their recent attendance at the UNESCO/World Craft Council Natural Dye Conference in Taiwan. An extraordinary professional development opportunity that is open to others to be involved within the near future (Kuching 2015, Sydney2016, C/Wealth games 2018 Gold Coast). Being responsible for the CALDERA exhibition booth meant that neither Susan nor Andrea could attend any of the conference program, and missed many of the significant exhibitions. Nevertheless there was till a lot of valuable networking.
UNESCO rep: separate more detailed report is available, but summarising, natural dyes are increasing in significance as a global awareness, that it must be niche market not mass market, as a ‘pillar’ of sustainability, not an add on, that is not desirable for natural dyes to become mainstream because of the potential of plundering of natural resources, so must remain high end, thus well made, quality.
That the internet offers fantastic opportunities for promotion and marketing, especially to Europe where awareness and demand for organic and natural is growing rapidly. Susan suggested (endorsed by Andrea) that the natural dye phenomenon is a style/ identity that CALDERA could easily fit into with an approach to niche products that might be marketed collaboratively.
Workshops coming up
- Anna – Wandering weaver – making a swinging chair – community involvement to learn where/when?
- All Blues – indigo shibori – Byron Community College June 24/25 2016
- All Blues – indigo shibori Book club does art Tintenbar Book Club July 30/13 2016
SUBCOMMITTEES/ MEETING TIMES
• Subcommittees to be formed to keep up to date with various aspects of the collective, and reports back to the general meetings, Members are welcome to call sub committee meetings, or special theme meetings, and all meetings are open unless otherwise stated at a general meeting.
• Proposal for subcommittees : exhibitions, social media, grants, public art and local opportunities, workshops. A curatorial committee is already in existence and is called together whenever there is to be a display that represents CALDERA
