By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on September 21, 2019
SIX Albany artists have looked to Albany Heritage Park and Princess Royal Fortress for inspiration for their entry in the Southern Art and Craft Trail.
Campaign is part two of an exhibition series considering Albany’s military operations during the world wars and features work from Nat Rad, John Cranberry, Tanja Colby, Annette Davis, Terri Pikora and Theo.
Their works cross genres and media to continue the story of the first exhibition held by the group at the Barracks Gallery last year, Crypsis: It’s Not What It Seems.
“We were very influenced by this site,” Rad said.
“There were people living here and working here … there’s actually quite a symmetry in our work even though we didn’t work together, because we were all inspired by this site.”
Cranberry’s work includes video footage of a character exploring the trails of the heritage park, wandering with purpose and searching for an objective that cannot be reached.
Colby has created a series of art reflecting campaign medals, Albany’s military history and the natural elements of the Forts site.
Pikora has constructed five “little people” she has placed in situ across the Forts site for people to discover as they walk the grounds.
Davis’ walks around the Forts site is conveyed in her art with various textile pieces combining clothing and pieces of nature she has collected.
Theo brings a series of monochromatic acrylic paintings to the exhibition, inspired by poet Henry Lawson’s On the Summit of Mount Clarence.
Nat Rad has created a mix of textiles, fabric, light and sound to construct a multimedia experience depicting the imprinted presence of families who lived within the Fortress.
Campaign is venue 75 of the Art Trail and is open 9am to 5pm every day of the Trail – September 21 to October 13.
Some of the artists will speak about their works on October 5 at 1.30pm.
