Hopeful Disruptions: Caring for Biirrinba

About The Exhibition

Hopeful Disruptions: Caring for Biirrinba is a long-term project to connect art and environment and community in the Clarence Valley.  The artists came together with hope for connecting.  Alone we couldn’t battle the weeds and degradation of the river.  Together the 6 local artists decided that hope for Biirrinba (Clarence River) was through connecting with each other and otheres who are doing positive things with onground regeneration in the Clarence Valley.  Through planting, weeding and making marks together these artists are caring for Biirrinba, the Clarence River.

The project is beginning with the first show at the Cowper Art Gallery and Studio.  Hopeful Disruptions is made up of six artists: Deborah Taylor is a Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung woman (Paintings), Malcolm King (Photography Print) Julie McKenzie (Painting Sculpture) Tracy Pateman (Metalwork and Sculpture) Will Rodgers (Soundscape ) Rochelle Summerfield (Works on paper and metal mobile)

 A major part of the project is to create a dynamic map of the Clarence Valley that represents all environmental efforts going on in the Valley.  During the open studio, we are hoping people doing environment work will help us to document their work and include it in the map. After the show at Cowper Art Gallery, we will upload and maintain the map on our website and (with appropriate permission) start to link it with other websites that represent people and organisations who are doing environmental work.

This program is proudly funded by the NSW Government through Arts Restart. This program is supported by Arts Northern Rivers.  The project is working with Landcare (Townsend Nursery) and Maclean Lions Club (Environment). The Cowper Gallery has very kindly donated their time and space to the project during the 2021 Clarence Valley plunge Arts and Culture Festival