Re//Construction Installation View
The RE// Series was a three year commitment the Cad Factory and the School of Communications and Creative Industries, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga campus made to presenting yearly exhibitions of female Riverina artists to coincide with International Women’s Day.
The aim over the three years was to address the gender gap that exists within the visual arts in terms of exhibition opportunities. By supporting women to develop their skills, capacity and confidence, we hope to strengthen arts practice, and, in our own very small way, assist in changing the current statistics.
The title of the exhibitions over the three years, RE//ASSEMBLING (2015), RE//CONSTRUCTING (2016) and RE//CREATING (2017) suggest a conceptual arc to focus our attention upon significant thinking about how we can revise, reconsider, rearrange, rebuild and revalue what we think, in order to act in a way, that promotes a platform for a multitude of different voices to be heard.
Over the three years Julie Montgarrett (CSU) and Sarah McEwan (Cad) worked with artists who are in dialogue with contemporary art; who are questioning their relationship with the world and how they exist within it; challenging historical narratives or presenting new interpretations; or responding whimsically and spiritually to their lived experience within a rural location. We see this suite of exhibitions as a testament to the vitality of regional women’s arts practice.
In 2016, we invited Jacqueline Millner from Sydney University and the Contemporary Art and Feminism Network as our special guest to give a lecture (listen to this online) and engage critically with the artists and their work.
In 2017, we invited Melbourne artist, Elvis Richardson as our special guest to give a lecture and engage critically with the artists. Richardson’s research via the CoUNTess blog, and presentation at the Contemporary Art and Feminism Conference at Sydney College of the Arts in September 2014, inspired us to actively address gender imbalance in the visual arts through curating these exhibitions.
2015 | RE//ASSEMBLING | HR Gallop Gallery, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga Campus | Read the catalogue
2016 | RE//CONSTRUCTING | HR Gallop Gallery, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga Campus | Read the catalogue
2017 | RE//CREATING | HR Gallop Gallery, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga Campus and Narrandera Arts Centre | Read the catalogue
The three exhibitions have been a partnership between the Cad Factory and Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga Campus. The third exhibition has been supported by Wagga Wagga City Council, the Regional Arts Fund, the Country Arts Support Program, Western Riverina Arts and Narrandera Shire Council.
