Duke Albada 2 TheGemfields Duke Albada 2 TheGemfields

Trip Blog 2 (by Duke Albada)

The Gemfields

Walking the dry creek bed without a shovel, bucket, or sieve means my fossicking experience in the gem fields is limited to observation and fantasy. But bedding down I find that the precious stones I was seeking are all suspended in my ceiling.  Though the star flooded sky completely annihilates any significance I may place on my person, it also excites myriad thoughts of possibilities and mysteries hidden in the "outer world".  I watch Mirrabooka* rising and find the emu in the Milky Way, though I confess I haven't learnt any of the local Yagalingu interpretations and names. 

Duke Albada Duke Albada

Trip Blog 1 (by Duke Albada)

1. Commencement

Isla Gorge National Park

Is it crazy to set off on a 5000km roundtrip not knowing exactly where it will take me or what specifically I will be filming for my upcoming video installation at Ballina Airport? I don't think so, as I trust that as my journey unfolds so will my insights regarding the content as well as the 'look and feel' of the imagery. My goal on the other hand is very clear; to investigate my connection to country in detail, and to keep a visual diary of this exploration. 

At the first campout in Isla National Park I admire the vast views over the gorge, but it is the combination of the flaming red sunset licking the burned tree stump that enthrals me and makes me grab my camera for the first time. A slow close-up fly-over reveals the pores, lumps and bumps of the bark telling the history of this piece of dead, but not useless wood. 

Fleur Yorston FloatingTheIslandsTowardsTheirParadise 540x360 Fleur Yorston FloatingTheIslandsTowardsTheirParadise 540x360

Visitors to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport will receive a contemporary take on a traditional islander welcome this September and October with an oversized interpretation of a Hawaiian Lei, by artist Fleur Yorston, on display in Northern Rivers Community Gallery’s (NRCG) latest Art at the Airport showcase.

Paradise Found is inspired by the artists upbringing in multi-cultural, Polynesian New Zealand (Aotearoa) and her own personal migration to Australia in 2009. Yorston invites her audience to ask themselves “What is your Paradise Found...?”

In the show an iconic Australian symbol - the Surfboard becomes a metaphor for a canoe (Waka in NZ) that 'First Explorers' used to cross oceans in search of new lands and new paradises. Intentionally it is juxtaposed next to an oversized interpretation of a Hawaiian Lei, traditionally given as a welcoming adornment upon arrival to visitors.

A painting also features in the show called 'Floating The Islands towards their paradise'. Fluid and transparent islands become vessels, highlighting the fragility of ones journey and the unknown destination of a paradise.

PechaKucha 2 PechaKucha 2

Call-out for creative Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 presentations!

Do you have a fabulous creative project, idea or passion you would like to share with your peers?

‘The Point of Art is…’ – is the theme for the inaugural Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 evening as part of the ArtLAB project at Northern Rivers Community Gallery in October. A creative community get together for sharing ideas, works, innovations, collaborations, travels or any other quirky fabulous creative things happening far and wide you think people just need to know about!

Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 is a simple, fun, upbeat presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds in a digital slide presentation. The images advance automatically while you tell us your story.

The Pecha Kucha 20 / 20 event is on Saturday 3 October from 7pm at the NRCG in Ballina.

To register your interest to present contact the Gallery Coordinator by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 02 6681 6167.

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