Rhythms of the Handmade

On 10 March Arts Project Australia (APA) said farewell to the summer blockbuster show Intimate Imaginaries at TarraWarra Museum of Art. To celebrate this ground-breaking survey exhibition, APA artists took centre stage at the Museum on the final weekend with Rhythms of the Handmade, a day of artist-led talks, live demonstrations, and family-friendly creative sessions. The event celebrated the work of the APA artists who exhibited as part of Intimate Imaginaries, an exhibition that captivated visitors with its depth, humour, and heart.

Artist Cathy Staughton set the tone for the day with her signature theatrical flair. As guests arrived at her Styled by Cathy costume life-drawing session, she greeted them with a royal wave and bow, her bold purple ensemble shimmering under the lights. In classic Staughton style, she transformed the session into an opulent spectacle, adorning the model with tiaras, jewels, and a purple robe, before joining the attendees in a focused drawing session.

The energy continued to build as APA artists Alan Constable, Georgia Szmerling and Lisa Reid shared their intricate ceramic techniques with a live demonstration. Their hands worked the clay as they engaged in discussions with the audience. Fellow APA artist Monica Lazzari asked Constable the big questions: “when is it too many cameras?” (we’re inclined to say never!). Meanwhile, Bronwyn Hack’s attention to detail ensured Constable stayed focused on the all-important step of scoring his clay.

The afternoon session saw APA artists Terry Williams, Mark Smith and Bronwyn Hack leading an interactive sewing session, inviting guests to stitch their way into the world of soft sculpture. Laughter and chatter filled the room as attendees sewed alongside the artists, bringing their own unique creations to life.

The grand finale came courtesy of Chris O’Brien, who arrived dressed in a look best described as ‘a police officer in a Zoom meeting’ – pairing a regulation police shirt with board shorts. Once the ‘crime scene’ tape was cut, O’Brien was joined by Cop Shop co-stars and APA staff-artists, Caroline Anderson and Tom Pendergast for a lively panel discussion. Pendergast shared with the audience that he’d recently had a revelation: “Cop Shop is a documentary about people pretending to be police officers.”

APA extends a heartfelt thanks to all who took part in the day, and who made Rhythms of the Handmade possible. APA would also like to thank the generous lenders, donors and the dedicated team at TarraWarra Museum of Art for their contributions to Intimate Imaginaries. We are deeply grateful to curator Anthony Fitzpatrick, whose devotion and commitment to understanding the artists’ practices made this exhibition truly remarkable. And to everyone who visited Intimate Imaginaries – thank you for supporting Arts Project Australia and the artists.