RIPARIAN RITES - Opening soon

The Williams River Valley Artists project arrives at Maitland Regional Art Gallery from the 27^th August to 16^th October with the official opening on Saturday 17^th September 3pm.

While this latest show is a time of celebration it is also a time for reassessment and recovery. The valley has been devastated by the impact of the dam proposal, the community fragmented and the land has fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair over the years of uncertainty.

Issues of water usage and the community impact of such policy decisions which the Dungog shire has had to struggle with still need to be thought about and grappled with on a wider scale.

Watch this space as things continue to unfold.

This show brings together sensitive responses to the experience of the impact of the proposal and the disruption to the valley along with hope for a better future.

Artists participating at MRAG are Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Ruby Davies, Noelene Lucas, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton, David Watson and Juliet Fowler Smith.

The Williams River Valley, photo by Noelene Lucas

Paddling the Grid

Yesterday WVRAP artists explored the Hexham Swamp, the health of which is dependent on the health of the Williams River. Photo, Paddling the Grid, by David Watson.

Smith clan celebrates

The extended Smith clan planned a gathering for December to say goodbye to their family connection to Munni, but following the the NSW government's abandonment of the Tillegra Dam plans, it became a celebration.

Photo shows the Smith clan on Munni's highest point, on what will now stay as Manns Hill rather than becoming an island in Tillegra Dam.

Tillegra Dam plans scrapped

The media is reporting today that the New South Wales Government has scrapped its plans for the Tillegra Dam!

Planning meeting with Maitland Regional Gallery

Planning for the next stage of the WRVAP began with a fruitful meeting yesterday with Maitland Regional Art Gallery Director Joe Eisenberg and curator Kim Blunt.

Above L to R: Joe Eisenberg, Kim Blunt, Neil Berecry-Brown, Juliet Fowler Smith and Margaret Roberts at Maitland Regional Gallery, 26 November 2010

Maitland Regional Gallery plan:

images of galleries 1-3 (Mauve yellow green)

smaller images of galleries 1-3 (Mauve yellow green)

Planning for the Tillegra Dam

Snow (Grafton) has installed a plaque on the top of Mann's Hill to commemorate his family's stewardship of the area, in preparation for the flooding of the valley that will transform this hill into an island.

Cry Me a River

Sue Blackburn's photos of Cry Me a River