16 October 2006

An exhibition inspired by field trips to the Goulburn Broken Catchment area around Shepparton and Mooroopna, Shepp. The Earth. An Address About Water, will open at the Shepparton Art Gallery on Friday 20 October.

Nineteen artists from the Australian National University’s School of Art Field Studies program, including undergraduates, postgraduates, staff, international visiting artists and two local artists, undertook three five-day field trips to the area.

Participants were briefed by scientists from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Indigenous elders, Council officials, community leaders, landholders and local artists. Students were able to view their field research locations from the air, thanks to the Murray Darling Basic Commission and the local aero club.

Works in the exhibition include photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, drawing and glass.

A feature of the exhibition is photographic portraits of prominent women in the community drawn from ‘The Mayor’s List’ complied by Mayor Jenny Houlihan.

The exhibition also has an educational component, with the preparatory work associated with the development of some of the exhibits also included.

The Field Studies program was introduced to the Shepparton and Mooroopna communities earlier this year through the Shepparton Arts Festival by a survey exhibition of artwork from previous programs titled, Field Studies Selected Works 2000 – 2005.