fuzzyfocus

The opening of Flash Trash in Toowoomba was a great success. There was some great work created and exhibited. I sold 2 pieces to be included inthe tour of regional Queensland next year. See the text below as written on the Toowoomba website:

Flash Trash Award Exhibition selected works announced

This year’s Emerging Artists Award Exhibition at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery titled Flash Trash represents a novel but provocative approach to an art exhibition.

Flash Trash showcases creative artworks by 15 artists using materials collected from Toowoomba Waste Management Centre and JJ Richards and Sons recycling facility and will be on display until 22 October.
The works of a number of southeast Queensland artists were selected to feature in the Crates on Wheels travelling schools exhibition in 2007.

Toowoomba artists whose works were selected to tour were Anna Chetwynd, Ritchie Ares Doña, Jordan Hart and Amandine Rich, Maria Richardson, Cara-Ann Simpson and Jennifer Wright (Summers). Gatton artist Adrian Kraatz and Brisbane artists Fi Cameron, Cate Collopy, Kathryn McSherry and Rebecca Ward also had works selected to tour.

Exhibition curator is Brisbane-based Judith Brough who works at the Museum of Brisbane and with Museums and Gallery Services Queensland. Judith Brough said she was immensely pleased with the creative endeavours of the artists.

“The exhibition Flash Trash not only shows how recycled material can be used to produce remarkable artistic creations, but the exhibition also operates as a catalyst for thought and discussion about the ways an individual can contribute to the ecological wellbeing of their environment,” she said.

These aspects will be further developed in the exhibition’s touring component in which the award winning works together with an educational kit will travel to schools in the region.

This, the second Toowoomba Biennial Emerging Artists Award Exhibition aims to provide a stimulating contemporary exhibition as part of Carnival of Flowers celebrations and an opportunity to further support emerging artists from southeast Queensland. It also provides a means to significantly extend the Gallery’s schools audience and strengthen educational links.

Council’s Environment and Health Branch helped coordinate the artists’ access to the waste facilities while the JJ Richards and Waste Management Centre staff assisted artists with obtaining their materials, which were literally scavenged from the things the community threw away.

By employing recycled material in their work, the artists promote thought and debate about the disposal of rubbish while validating this method as a legitimate contemporary art practice. For more information please phone the Art Gallery on 4688 6652.