PROJECTS
Political Women 2021-22
Political Women brings together 13 artists from diverse cultural, generational, personal and artistic perspectives to illustrate and celebrate the complexity of contemporary feminist discourse and the art made within it.
CASE Incubator 2021-23
The CASE Incubator is a professional development, knowledge sharing and mentorship program aimed at socially engaged artists who are seeking to develop their practice, engage with their peers, create networking opportunities with diverse partners, and contribute back to the sector. The CASE Incubator will run over 2021-2023, with four NSW based artists employed in the first 12 months, and another four NSW based artists employed in the second year.
Recording Sessions 2021
As Australia moves towards a post-COVID reality, Western Riverina Arts and the Cad Factory have partnered to offer this opportunity for local musicians to record a new piece of original music in the Cad Factory’s professional recording studio. We will support four musical acts in our region (Narrandera, Griffith, Leeton, and Murrumbidgee LGAs) to record one original song in the Cad Factory’s recording studio in Sandigo.
Applications open on Monday 3 May and close on Sunday 30 May at midnight.
Wirramarri: Long Way From Home 2021
In 2021 we joined the Narrandera community at the Marrambidya/Murrumbidgee River for a family friendly event that explored art, science and ancient knowledges through storytelling, projections and cultural dance. This performance was created through a partnership between the Clontarf Academy at Narrandera High School, the Narrandera Fisheries Centre, the Cad Factory and Barkindji Elders.
Ten Days on the Island 2021
Vic McEwan presented work and participated in several public programs and panels at Ten Days on the Island in Burnie, Tasmania, in March 2021, including the Creative Life in the City of Makers panel, The Social Imagination panel, Alder Hey installation at Willow Court Barracks, and Haunting exhibition and Artist Floor Talk at Burnie Regional Art Gallery.
More information is available from the Ten Days on the Island Creative Coast, Intimate Epics and Artist Talks program pages.
From Menindee 2020
In 2020 the Cad Factory worked with Narrandera Fisheries (Department of Primary Industries), a group of amazing Wiradjuri boys from the Clontarf Academy in Narrandera, and local Barkindji Elders in Menindee to care for and release fish raised in response to the 2019 fish kill event, in an important cultural exchange.
Tension[s] 2020: Tamworth Textile Triennial
Tension[s] 2020: Tamworth Textile Triennial was curated by the Cad Factory's Vic McEwan. The exhibition acknowledges that the world has long been a place under various tension(s), both harmonious and dissonant. In order to bear witness to, contribute to and respond to these tensions, the triennial will focus on the future of people and place through textile as a material and human experience as materiality.
Bidgee Bunyips 2020
Over 2020, Coleambally artist Kerri Weymouth has been interning with us as part of her Masters of Therapeutic Arts Practice at MIECAT in Melbourne. Kerri has worked with a number of artists to imagine and bring to life the ancient Wiradjuri story of the dangerous bunyip who lurks in various locations along the Murrumbidgee River.
Life On The Sandhills 2020
Over 2020, Coleambally artist Kerri Weymouth has been interning with us as part of her Masters of Therapeutic Arts Practice at MIECAT in Melbourne. Kerri has been working with local Wiradjuri artists in Narrandera to showcase an important piece of Narrandera's heritage.
Inclusive Fashion Sale 2020
The Cad Factory has partnered with fashion label Aestheletic (Singapore) and disability provider Boundless Possibilities (Philippines) to produce an inclusive fashion line for Christmas 2020!
Narrandera artist Layla Bacayo will have her artworks featured on hoodies, jumpers, letterman jackets, phone cases, laptop cases and tote bags.
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy 2020
For Artstate Wagga Wagga, Vic McEwan collaborated with Aunty Lorriane Tye, Sue Clancy, Clive Parkinson, Musical Director Marie-Cecile Henderson with performers Kat Van Der Wijngaart, Kalia Forde, Dianne Pentland, Fiona Lai, William McKenzie, Geoff Parker, Maged Khalil and Paul Nolte to present this performative lecture on grief and suicide.
Something to Say 2020
In a time of climatic unravelling, a global pandemic and widening inequalities, there is a need for ‘unmaking’ the present world from the errors of our past. The artists and artworks in Something to Say are considering positive and meaningful ways to reimagine life on the only planet we have; where all life is considered and valued. Presented at Artstate Wagga.
Sigh 2020
Presented amongst flames and molten steel, Sigh is a collaboration between Blacksmith, John Wood and musician Vic McEwan. Forged steel, flames, fire, clarinet, pump organs, contact microphones and more. An intimate performance in a working blacksmith’s studio where you will hear the screams & sighs of this enduring paradoxical medium. Presented at Artstate Wagga.
Inside Cinema vs Parallel Universe 2020
Over five weeks 13 artists worked together to create new work in a pop-up supported studio at Griffith Regional Art Gallery. This installation is exploring the imagination and unexplained.
Haunting Tour 2020-2022
Haunting is a body of photographic and video work made in response to dynamic environmental conditions, contested histories, and our negotiations of a complex future. Vic McEwan created the large-scale works while artist-in-residence at the National Museum of Australia in 2015 and collaborated with Senior Curator George Main. In 2020-2022 Haunting will be touring venues across Australia.
If They Spend the Time to Get to Know Me 2019 - 2022
Over the next three years, Vic McEwan will be exploring how people feel about their face and working with patients and medical staff from the Sydney Facial Nerve Clinic. Research includes an exhibition of evolving work at Tate Liverpool from 3-22 March 2020.
Joyce Spencer Fellowship 2020/21
The Joyce Spencer Fellowship is to support a regional NSW textile artist or collective to deliver a new artwork or exhibition. Named after the textile artist Joyce Spencer (1928 – 2019), the fellowship is made possible with funds from the Spencer family and Western Riverina Arts, in partnership with the Cad Factory.
Yield 2019
Yield is a group exhibition at Griffith Regional Art Gallery that features 22 emerging and established artists from the Riverina, Wollongong and Liverpool, UK that celebrates the incredible world of supported studios and the inclusivity it brings to the art world. Curated by Sarah McEwan.
Becoming the Future 2019/20
Over 2019 we will deliver an intimate seminar series with world leaders, in Narrandera NSW. Susan Rogers will present on music production and cognition, Clive Parkinson will present on arts and health while Joni Adamason will present on environmental justice. These seminars will lead to a series of projects that will take place in 2020.
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Weaving Stories 2019
Weaving Stories celebrates the people who worked in the famous Onkaparinga Woollen Mill in Lobethal, a small community situated in the Adelaide Hills. Vic McEwan worked with former employees to create a roaming installation performance around the mill.
MORE SOON
The Harmonic Oscillator wins the 2018 CHASS Prize for Distinctive Work
The Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) exists to raise awareness of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) and their critical role in building the societies of the future. Each year, CHASS, awards outstanding projects that have contributed to the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. We are so excited to be awarded the Prize for Distinctive Work, winning unanimously out of a field of 108 entries.
Specimen 2016 - 2020
Specimen is a collaboration between living landscapes and the Institute of Anatomy collection from the National Museum of Australia. This project travelled to Dubbo, Narrandera, Wagga Wagga, and Falls Creek during 2016-19, engaging with local artists, and communities to explore our emotional and practical connection to ideas of colonisation, species loss and place. These reflections on colonisation were further explored by taking this project to London, Plymouth and Portsmouth UK in 2017-18. A gallery-based outcome was delivered in Canberra in 2020.
Shadow Places Narrandera 2017
Shadow Places was a large-scale artwork in the Narrandera landscape featuring video projections onto hay bales, with sound and accompanying textile installations. The artwork was informed by the writings of Val Plumwood and explores our human and non-human histories.
The Harmonic Oscillator 2015 - 2017
The Harmonic Oscillator is an arts and health project that was undertaken from 2015 - 2017, where Vic McEwan was in residence at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool UK. The outcomes feature new artworks, an EP, radio documentary, app, and a new book written by Clive Parkinson from Manchester Metropolitan University.
RE//CREATING 2017
The third and final exhibition in a series of three over 2015-17, featuring the artworks of 23 Riverina female artists curated by Julie Montgarrett (CSU) and Sarah McEwan. RE//CREATING was held at the HR Gallop Gallery, Wagga Wagga and the Narrandera Arts Centre.
The Friendship Circle | A Life in Craft 2016
The Friendship Circle was one of eight Artist Run Initiatives supported by Accessible Arts where community members with and without disability devised and presented a new exhibition. The group was mentored by the Cad Factory and assisted by Riverina Community College and Narrandera Arts and Creative Network. A Life in Craft was a celebration of the work created by artist Joyce Spencer. The exhibition honoured her immense contribution to international craft development through her books and artworks. Both exhibitions were held at Narrandera Arts Centre from 4 - 10 December 2016.
Shadow Places: For Sydney Design Festival 2016
Shadow Places was an installation that took place at the Powerhouse Museum as part of Sydney Design from 2 - 11 September 2016. The artwork combines ecological and agricultural thinking, video projection, sound and textiles. It focuses on the interconnectedness of rural and urban places and people.
Under the Kurrajong Tree: Kristin Hersh 2016
Under the Kurrajong Tree is a series of music concerts outside under The Cad Factory's huge kurrajong tree. On 8 May, American musician and author Kristin Hersh performed along with local band Grace Before Meals. The gig was moved to the Boree Creek Hall due to rainy weather. Have a look at the photos
RE//CONSTRUCTING: International Women's Day Exhibition 2016
Co-curated by Sarah McEwan and CSU Lecturer Julie Montgarrett, this exhibtion featured 20 female artists from the Riverina exhibting work at the HR Gallop Gallery, Charles Sturt University.
Listen to the lecture Critical Conversations by Dr Jacqueline Millner
On Common Ground is a three day festival featuring 30 artworks created by 19 local artists, 7 visiting artists and 50 community.
16 - 18 October
On Common Ground 2015
Backyard Bonanza 2015
Three talented Murray based musicians have been selected to record in our studio for a new exhibition celebrating the video clips of filmmaker Andrew Pearce for the opening of the Murray Art Museum Albury.
Images of the musicians recording
Watch the video clips - Matt Ortiz - Adam Dwyer - Jess Drummond
Our Narrandera iPad App 2015
Vic and Sarah McEwan collaborated with forty students and their teacher Jacqui Ryding from Narrandera High over 2014/15 to create an iPad app. Our Narrandera is a digital artwork that celebrates six 'unoffical monuments' of Narrandera using storytelling, illustrations, video and sound. Free to download in the app store on your iPad.
Under the Kurrajong Tree: Holidays on Ice 2015
Under the Kurrajong Tree is a series of music concerts outside under The Cad Factory's huge kurrajong tree. On May 16 'Holidays on Ice' performed, featuring Angie Hart (FRENTE) and Dean Manning along with local singer Jess Pearce.
Protools Workshop 2015
Shane Faye, renowned studio engineer, producer and musician gave an intensive one day protools workshop in The Cad Factory Studio.
RE//ASSEMBLING: International Women's Day Celebration 2015
Co-curated by Sarah McEwan and CSU Lecturer Julie Montgarrett, this exhibtion features 21 female artists from the Riverina exhibting work at the HR Gallop Gallery, Charles Sturt University.
Still Point Turning Gallery Performance 2014
A one night only gallery based performance of Linda Luke's solo dance work Still Point Turning at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. To compliment this performacne Linda gave four movement workshops to primary students in Griffith, Tharbogan, Leeton and Narrandera in partnership with Western Riverina Arts.
Over 4 years of building, The Cad Factory Studio celebrated on November 8 with a vegan BBQ and performances from Melbourne band The Darling Downs and Sydney band AXIS.
The Cad Factory Studio Launch 2014
Buckingbong to Birrego 2014
A three day walk of healing from the Murrumbidgee River near Narrandera to a property in Birrego over 40km away. The walk will incorporate contmeporary artists who will create site specific work at each campsite for the participants to interact with and to generate conversations.
A a drive-in theatre experience based on Narrandera characters where the audience viewed the performance inside their car at the Narrandera Train Station with the audio of the actors being broadcast over local radio.
In the Heart of Our Past 2014
Tipping Point 2013
Commissioned as part of the Centenary Of Canberra One River project, Tipping Point was a large scale projection event on the banks of the Oakbank Brewery.
Uncovered: Uncovered 2012
Curated by Vic McEwan and featuring performance by Weizen Ho, Greg Pritchard, Blake Buckley and Vic McEwan, this evening of short performance invited artists to develop work in response to an artwork in the Wagga Wagga Art Galley exhibition Uncovered: Hidden gems from the collections of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.
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Remote Spaces 2011 - 2012
Remote Space was a series of 4 shows in the remote Australian Landscape. This series represented a major shift in The Cad Factory's presentation of live music and focused on the interesting re-use of space, on this occasion with a regional focus. Shows were held in a disused service station, a huge sprawling scrap yard, a church and a remote community hall.
Music and Art Parties 2009 - 2010
A series of 10 curated live music, filming and art parties that invited over 30 musical acts and more than 15 exhibiting visual artists to transform The Cad Factory warehouse space. Each show was filmed and nearly 30 live video clips were made.
Police Emergency 2008
A theatre performance that looks at over exposure to trauma and the role of 000 emergency workers. This performance was taken to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Brisbane Festival and performed at Sidetrack Theatre, Sydney.
Gigs 2005 - 2008
In the first Cad Factory warehouse, a Sydney scene was born which consisted of relentless musical onslaughts that went into the night. Photos taken by Alex Wisser.
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Exhibitions 2006 - 2008
An important part of The Cad Factory journey was inviting Sarah Moor (McEwan) to start curating visual arts exhibitions at Cad Factory events. Sarah invited a large number of artists to grace The Cad Factory walls with their artworks.
Solomon Toilet 2006
A sound installation that places a reading of The Song of Solomon from the Bible within public toilets.