A vibrant program celebrating music, creativity and community is happening across the region.
Following the successful transformation of our maiden piano at The Gum Ball, Dashville, in April, our collaborators have been busily preparing for the arrival of their own magnificent instruments.
Dungog. The affectionately dubbed Dungog Dump Piano premieres with a tour of the shire where she will take centre trailer in a series of impromptu performances and ambient recordings. She will then make her way to Dungog Men’s Shed to be dismantled, with parts being distributed between Dungog by Design, Patterson Allyn Williams Science and Ideas Hub, Dungog Arts Society and Performing Artist of Dungog for creative transformation. Keep an eye on the AUH website for updates.
Murrurundi. After a day of hard demolitionary labour, Murrurundi Arts and Crafts Council’s piano is in pieces with parts already being innovatively repurposed by members. The first-in-best-dressed method of distribution really energised the process, according to MACC’s Catherine Beverley!
Singleton. Master woodworker Jono Everett’s exhibition The Quiet Room opens at Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre this Friday 21st August at 6pm. A ruined piano and stool will arrive at SACC in October with workshops led by Jono to be announced.
And Muswellbrook. The lineup of events at Muswellbrook Regional Art Centre kicked off over the winter school holidays with a children’s weaving workshop. Participants crafted bracelets using looms made from parts leftover from the Gumball piano. Looms were creatively personalised and taken home. The next couple of months will see a flurry of activity at the gallery with events for both adults and children, see below, for with printmakers, dragon-slayers, grief-stricken former owners and percussionists leading the engagement.
Muswellbrook’s program includes (click here for the full details):
Printmaking Masterclass with Amanda Donohue – for practising print and textile artists.
Saturday 12 September10:30am. Free but EOI essential.
Celebration of Life for STRAD – a laid-back evening of music and reminiscence.
Friday 25 September, 5pm. Free, everyone welcome. Dress code black & white optional. Book a place: click here.
Percussion Workshop with Joshua Vada – beat-making on a half-deconstructed piano.
Tuesday 29 September, 10:30am. Free event, booking essential, family friendly, presented by Hunter Regional Conservatorium. Bookings via Book a place: click here.
Teddy Bears Picnic Printmaking Workshop
Bring your creativity along for a Teddy Bears’ Picnic-inspired art-making adventure! Children and their caregivers will explore a variety of fun printing techniques to decorate a pianola roll, working together to create a colourful collaborative artwork. Once complete, the finished pianola roll will be displayed in the gallery for visitors to enjoy. A hands-on activity that combines music, making and imagination!
Tuesday 6 October, 10:30am. Free, booking essential. Book a place: click here.
The Destruction of Smaug & the Battle of the Five Armies – build it, destroy it, inspired by The Hobbit, ages 10-14.
Friday 9 October, 10:00am, free, booking is essential (young people must be supervised), a School Holiday Workshop in partnership with Muswellbrook STEM Innovation Lab. Book a place: click here.
This schedule of events is delivered as part of the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre and Arts Upper Hunter’s project Visuaural. The project is made possible by the Australian Government Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia, along with Regional Arts Australia, Regional Arts New South Wales and Muswellbrook Shire Council.
Photo: Diving In. Taken by and courtesy of Catherine Beverley.
