An innovative animation installation is set to breathe new life into one of Tocal Homestead’s historic treasures this May, offering visitors a unique window into the region’s rich architectural heritage.
Award-winning artist Todd Fuller’s They Call Me Blacket will transform the Stone Barn Stables at Tocal Homestead into an immersive storytelling experience during the popular Tocal Field Days. The six-minute animation brings to life the narratives of the historic Blacket Barn, originally built in 1867.
The installation is part of the broader This Here Then Now museum activation project spearheaded by Arts Upper Hunter’s Creative Valleys Cultural Tourism Initiative, which aims to reframe how regional stories are told. In 2024, three Upper Hunter regional museums were selected to host resident artists for This Here Then Now. Todd Fuller worked with Tocal Homestead, Sophie Cox collaborated with Scone Museum, and Helene Leane partnered with Dungog Museum. Each artist engaged with local history and people, creating works that offer fresh perspectives on the region’s cultural heritage.
“The ‘This Here Then Now’ project is about connecting communities with their heritage in innovative, engaging ways,” says project coordinator Suzannah Jones. “Todd Fuller’s work exemplifies our mission to make local history not just accessible, but engaging and emotionally resonant.”
Fuller, an internationally exhibited artist with works in prestigious collections including the Parliament House Art Collection, brings his decade-long practice of narrative animations to the project. His hand-drawn work focuses on the Blacket Barn, weaving a narrative that brings architectural heritage to life through beautiful animation.
The installation represents an investment in cultural preservation and community engagement, supported by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which fosters the arts in regional and remote Australia, along with funding from the NSW Government and the C.B. Alexander Foundation.
Event Details
• Venue: Stone Barn Stables, Tocal Homestead, Tocal Field Days
• Dates: May 2-4, 2025
• Viewing Hours: 11 AM – 3 PM daily
• Special Event: Artist Talk on Saturday, May 3, at 2 PM
Artist Talk: Visitors not attending Tocal Field Days who wish to attend the Artist Talk must pre-register through 123 Tix before 11 PM on May 2nd. Please visit 123 Tix. (If you are attending the Field Days, just catch the bus over and drop in on the talk and the installation.)
The installation is set in a historic setting, and visitors should be prepared for uneven terrain, though the artist talk area is accessible via flat terrain.
Todd Fuller is represented by .M Contemporary gallery, Sydney.
Image: Artwork by Todd Fuller, photo courtesy of Todd Fuller.
