Winter Retreat - Looking is Finding
Robertson Hotel
August 9-11
According to the Dictionary of Surrealism an everyday object can be ‘elevated to the dignity of a work of art’ by the choices of an artist. The world is full of objects - both fetished and discarded - that open portals into new meaning through the power of artistic assemblage. Work with one of Australia’s most famous artists, Fiona Hall, in making your own work of art alongside a collage workshop with Deborah Kelly and a weed foraging walk with Diego Bonetto.
Participate, engage, learn, share and walk away with two original artworks in collaboration with some of Australia's most celebrated contemporary artists.
Any Materials are Fair Game,
with Fiona Hall
‘The medium is the message’, wrote communication theorist Marshall McLuhan. He argues that materials / technologies aren't neutral players, but underpin, shape and give context to implied meaning. With this in mind, Fiona will consider the possibilities of materials to determine, transform and mediate content, and their capacity to shift and realign the ways that we perceive our material (and immaterial) world. Any materials / mediums are fair game. Participants are free to bring resources. Given the infinite range of possibilities, there are always materials to be found at hand.
One of Australia’s most prominent contemporary artists, Fiona Hall is best known for extraordinary works that transform quotidian materials into vital organic forms with both historical and contemporary resonances. Hall works across a broad range of mediums including photography, painting, sculpture, moving image and installation, often employing forms of museological display. Hall’s sculptures are characterized by their intricate construction and thematic resonance with issues of environmentalism, globalization, war and conflict.
Collage Fictions,
with Deborah Kelly
Deborah Kelly will work through a masterclass of collage and will discuss ideas emerging
from key themes around queer insurrectionary science fiction climate change religion – something for everyone.
Deborah Kelly (born 1962) is a contemporary Australian artist known for her eclectic, uplifting, socially-engaged and activist art. Her artistic practice ranges from collages to posters, postcards, banners, billboards, photography, installation, performance, events, video and drawing. Kelly regularly collaborates and contributes to collectives to address political issues including LGBTIQ+ rights, asylum for refugees and climate change. Her work is included in major national and international exhibitions and events. These include: All About Women, Sydney Opera House(2022);[1] The National, Sydney (2021);[2] the Biennale of Sydney, Sydney (2014); the Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art, Greek State Museum of Contemporary Art, Greece (2014);[3] and the Singapore Biennale, Singapore (2008).
Eat Weeds, with Diego Bonetto
Learn about the most common species growing in the garden, along the green belts and in parks and reserves. Find out how they have been used for food, craft and natural remedies. Discover ways to safely harvest from the urban 'wild' and enrich your diet with vitamins and minerals. Dress for the weather, bring a camera and notebook if you wish to retain the information.
Diego Bonetto is an artist, forager, keen naturalist, and award-winning cultural worker based in NSW. His work enables convivial conversations around belonging, sustainability, and agency. Bonetto’s work offers an alternative for people to re-engage with their neighbourhoods, streets, and footpaths through edible adventures. Bonetto regularly offers workshops, foraging tours, and events that reframe environmental identity and stewardship. He collaborates extensively with chefs, journalists, academics, craft workers, herbalists, brewers, educators, environmentalists, and landowners, providing insights into edible and medicinal wild plants in Australia while fostering culturally aware interpretations of the landscape. Diego is the author of the best-selling book Eat Weeds and has been featured in a substantial amount of media including articles on Marie Claire, GQ Australia, LonelyPlanet, SMH, ABC Radio and TV, SBS Radio and TV, Chanel 7 and Chanel 10.
Jordan Ireland is a multi-instrumentalist and was the singer and guitarist for Indie folk pioneers The Middle East. He is best known for his solo projects: Jordan Ireland with Purple Orchestra, Temperate Touch Tropical Tears and Spirit Walking.