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An Environment Studio Field Study program is being developed for 2013 (and beyond) in partnership with the South East Coastal Adaptation Project – a project of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.

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Image: Amelia Zarafts, Murray River bend at the Gulf Campground

Having collected a GPS navigation device on loan from Shepparton’s Riverconnect I spent the following day familiarising myself with this device and scouting out the start and finish points of my planned walk. The following day, I departed shortly after sunrise, to follow the route set out below:

Image:Bill Gilbert Eridanus 10mk walk route Barmah National Park VIC  Australia.

Walking the constellation Eridanus across the floodplain of the Murray River, I encountered the landscape in a manner I never had before. My path dictated by the compass, my change in direction dictated by seemingly arbitrary points in the landscape. I walked all day, and at each ‘star point’ along the way, carefully constructed a very small fire out of materials nearby, burned it, and documented it with a photograph. My idea was to very subtly make an ephemeral site specific drawing of the constellation to the exact scale of my walk.

Image: Amelia Zaraftis Fire on red gum flat

The next part of the process will be the translation of this walk into a visual art work for the gallery, and to continue ruminating on the practice of walking as art practice and research method.

Image: Erika Kusumoto Amelia Zaraftis wrapping tree in orange.

During an afternoon drive, we stopped by the outskirts of the Shepparton Airstrip, where I appreciated the stitching up of the fence with blue bailing twine, a material that I have previously woven sculptural forms with. Handy stuff, I remember how neatly a farmer I once knew would bundle up the twine and keep it in the shed for making ropes, and for various other purposes around his property. 

Image: Amelia Zaraftis Mended fence at Shepparton Airstrip.

Further along, we were able to look at one of the newly lined irrigation channels, now more leak resistant with the roll out of thick black plastic – a controversial solution as it is slippery which makes it difficult for creatures great and small to escape if they find their way in to the channel.

Image: Amelia Zaraftis John Reid documenting an irrigation channel.

Visual artists from the ANU School of Art, Canberra, and Architects from Department of Architecture, RMIT, Melbourne, converge on Moira Park Scout Camp near West Kailla, 10 klm south of Shepparton/Mooroopna on the banks of the Goulburn River. The Scout Camp was to be the base for all three Field  Trips scheduled for 2012 Shepparton Field Study.

Moira Park Scout Camp viewed from shelter shead in surrounding grounds (Photograph taken 30.11.2011)

Wednesday 29 February / 7.00 pm

Introductions took place under the shelter shed in the Park grounds. 35 artists, architects and members of the Greater Shepparton community packed in under the corrugated iron roof amid pouring rain.

Below: Moira Park Scout Camp shelter shed in dryer times (Photograph taken 30.11.2011)

John Reid, ANU convenor and Richard Black, convenor RMIT, outlined the Field Study. Each artist and architect spoke briefly about their background and Study expectation. The Mayor of Greater Shepparton, Michael Polin, extended a warm welcome on behalf of the community. Chris Newman, CEO Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, enunciated the major changes that had taken place in the Catchment since the previous Field Study in 2006. Other speakers included Rod McLennan and John Gray, as members of RiverConnect Community Advisory Committee; John Liang, conservationist, Lisa McKenzie, foundation member of RiverConnect and consultant in the 2006 Shepparton Field Study; and Barb Gray, Friends of SAM.

A BBQ was served courtesy of RiverConnect.

Wednesday 29 February / 8.00 pm

Artists and architects gathered in the Moira Park Scout Camp kitchen dinning area to hear a detailed account from conservationist John Liang (a valued consultant for the 2006 Field Study) about local environmental issues. This illuminating session generated lively discussion and concluded the day’s agenda.

Conservationist, John Liang (centre), briefs Field Study artists and architects in the Camp kitchen dinning area about local environmental issues.

Thursday 1 March / 8.00 am

Morning after a night of rain. Moira Park Scout Camp

Goulburn River adjacent Moira Park Scout Camp

Thursday 1 March / 8.30 am

Welcome to Country Moira Park Scout Camp

Neville Atkinson, Yorta Yorta Nation. Moira Park Scout Camp kitchen dinning area

Thursday 1 March / 8.40 am

Briefings: Indigenous perspectives on Environment / Parkes Victoria Moira Park Scout Camp

Yorta Yorta Elder, Neville Atkinson (above, standing), GBCMA, briefs the Study on indigenous perspectives on environmental issues in the Goulburn Broken Catchment; and together with Bruce Wehner (below, standing), Parkes Victoria, outline the importance to the environment of new national parks recently established in the region. Moira Park Scout Camp kitchen dinning area

Thursday 1 March / 10.30 am

Gallery Kaiela Inc, Aboriginal Community Art Gallery. Meeting and discussion with indigenous artists

Angie Russi, opens proceedings. Eric Brown, centre, with didgeridoo

Artist Les Saunders discusses the role of Gallery Kaiela  and the dynamics of the indigenous art scene in Greater Shepparton

Les Saunders, right foreground

Sonny Cooper addresses the meeting with an account of Aboriginal cultural resilience to the impact of European settlement

Hartley Briggs discusses his artistic approach as a painter

Eva Pointing, textile artist, discusses her work

Les Atkinson discusses his paintings

Eric Brown, foreground, led a short project inspired by his music

Thursday 1 March / 12.30 pm

Lunch Courtesy of RiverConnect, Shepparton Art Museum

Thursday 1 March / 1.15 pm

National Indigenous Ceramics Award Shepparton Art Museum. Guided tour by Angi Russi.

Thursday 1 March / 2.00 pm

Art encounter Shepparton Art Museum, permanent collection

Thursday 1 March / 3.00 pm

Briefing River Ecology – Human Beings and other Living Things. Word and Mouth Reach, Dainton Bridge.

Artists and Architects assemble to hear Keith Ward (centre, standing in front of post), Floodplain Ecologist, GBCMA

Keith Ward with a sample of Goulburn River aquatic life

Richard Black examines sample of aquatic specimens

Rod McLennan (second from right), Consultant GBCMA, addresses group

Steve Wilson (foreground), Biodiversity Manager GBCMA , addresses group

Renee Ashmore (second from left), Project Officer, RiverConnect, addresses group

Jim Gow ( right), Project Officer Word and Mouth, addresses group

Goulburn River bank discussion

Erica Kusumoto Painter, exchange artist from Osaka, Japan. Goulburn River bank

Marzena Wasikowska Photographer, ANU School of Art, Canberra. Goulburn River bank

Thursday 1 March / 5.30 pm

Goulburn River Moira Park Scout Camp, and rising

Thursday 1 March / 6.30 pm

Moira Park Scout Camp evacuated on account of expected high winds and further rainfall. Field Study moves to Regional Scout Hall in Shepparton.

2006 Shepparton Field Study Visual artist, Timo Nest, surveys the Goulburn Broken catchment for inspiration as part of the 2006 ANU School of Art Field Studies program based in the Greater Shepparton region. The Study was undertaken in partnership with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Authority with newly formed RiverConnect

Field Study Poster (Download pdf)

Bill O’Kane, CEO, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA), in 2006, facilitated an informative relationship between the Authority and the 2006 Shepparton Field Study. Several GBCMA scientists helped Field Study artists understand/interpret what they were looking at in the field.

Lisa McKenzie, providing public relation services to the GBCMA in 2006, made a major contribution courtesy of the GBCMA to the success of the 2006 Field Study.

John Reid (right), Field Study convenor, is interviewed by ABC Local Radio presenter, as pre-publicity for the 2006 Shepparton Field Study

Poster: Introductory Field Study Exhibition. The 2006 Shepparton Field Study was introduced to the Shepparton and Mooroopna communities through a major Field Study survey exhibition, Field Studies Selected Works 200 – 2005, as part of the 2006 SheppARTon Festival

Shepp Exhib Feb 06 Poster pdf

Invitation: Introductory Field Study Exhibition

Shepp Exhib Feb 06 Invite pdf

Field Studies Selected Works 2000 – 2005 The exhibition was distributed over three venues: SPC Ardmona Factory Sales, Mooroopna; Greater Shepparton Council Officers, Shepparton; and Galways Restaurant, Shepparton.

Artists AG Stokes (left), Contextual Villains (centre) and Mark Sullivan (right) at SPC Ardmona Factory Sales, Mooroopna

Artist Antonia Aitkin, at Galways Restaurant, Shepparton

Artists Marzena Wasikowska (left and right) and Bridget Nicholson (centre) at Greater Shepparton Council Officers, Shepparton

2006 Shepparton Field Study Field Trips. Three field trips, interspersed with studio development, took place during the course of the Study. Field Trip 1 consisted of group orientation and expert briefings in the field location.

Field Study base camp Cemetery Bend, Goulburn River

Field Study base camp Cemetery Bend, Goulburn River

Goulburn River briefing Organised by Keith Ward, River Ecologist, GBCMA

Goulburn River briefing with Keith Ward (right), GBCMA

Landscape briefing with Neville Atkinson, Indigenous Officer, GBCMA

Wangara Basin Fieldwork with Ella Anselmi, Yorta Yorta Nation

Bangerang Keeping Place Visit Irene Thomas, Marlene Atkinson, Jane Atkinson, Bangerang hosts

Aerial survey Shepparton Airport

Landholder message Highway between Shepparton and Benalla, 2006

Shepp. The Earth An Address about Water The 2006 Shepparton Field Study culminated with and exhibition of visual art at the Shepparton Art Gallery  from 20 October – 19 November, 2006

2006 Shepparton Field Study exhibition catalogue Cover

Shepp. The Earth An Address about Water Catalogue pdf

Documentation photographs Shepp. The Earth. An Address about Water Shepparton Art Gallery 20 October – 19 November 2006

MDB Palimsest 2007 Artwork from the 2006 Shepparton Field study was exhibited in the Murray Darling Basin Palimsest Canberra exhibition at the ANU School of Art Foyer Gallery in 2007.

Murray Darling Basin Palimsest Canberra exhibition, ANU School of Art Foyer Gallery, 2007

Greater Shepparton Community Meeting

Rod McLennan (left),  Community Representative, RiverConnect Community Advisory Committee, and Renee Ashmore, RiverConnect Coordinator, Greater Shepparton Council, host a community meeting to consider the viability of the Australian National University (ANU) School of Art Field Studies program returning to Shepparton/Mooroopna in 2012. Also on the agenda is the involvement in the Field Study of architects, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), to be convened by Richard Black, Architecture Department, RMIT . See draft agenda below.

Community members departing the meeting.  (Left to Right) John Laing, Bruce Cumming, John Gray, Carmel Johnson, Angie Russi, John Head. It was unanimously agreed to proceed with the proposal in partnership with RiverConnect and to undertake more detailed planning.

The RiverConnect Area

November 2011

2012 Shepparton Field Study Survey Part 1

Moira Park Scout Camp, near West Kialla, identified as an ideal Field Study base camp. Photographic imagery gathered for artist briefing which will occur at the School of Art in February 2012.

Moira Park Scout Camp Entrance

Moira Park Scout Camp Built facilities on bank of the Goulburn River

Goulburn River Moira Park Scout Camp

Goulburn River Adjacent Moira Park Scout Camp

Riverbank Goulburn River Adjacent Moira Park Scout Camp

Goulburn River Near Moira Park Scout Camp

Lake Mokoan Near Benalla, Vic,  revisited (field research location for Benalla Field Study 2009) on journey from Shepparton to Canberra at end of Survey

January/February 2012

2012 Shepparton Field Study Survey – Part 2

A proposal arose at the 2011 November community meeting for an exhibition of artwork, produced from the 2006 Field Study in Shepparton, to be assembled for the 2012 SheppARTon Festival. The old Butter Factory, Sheparton, was identified during this Survey as venue for such an exhibition. In addition to linking the 2006 Field study with the impending 2012 Field Study, the Festival exhibition would also serve to draw attention to the 2012 Study. Photographs taken for artist briefing at School of Art in late February.

The vacant shop in the old Butter Factory precinct – perfect for the proposed 2012 SheppARTon Festival Field Study exhibition kindly made available by Jim Andreadis

Visit to the camp site of the 2006 Field Study at Cemetery Bend, Goulburn River

Goulburn River, near Toolamba

Riverbank, near Toolamba

Business and pleasure. Discussion with drinks and nibbles on Bill O’Kane’s deck. (left to right) Rod McLennan, Marian Lawless, Marzena Wasikowska, Barbara Gray, John Gray, Bill O’Kane. Bill agreed to open the 2012 SheppaARTon Festival Field Study exhibition to be titled ‘Sixrospective’ and featuring the work of 5 landscape photographers who participated in the 2006 Shepparton Field Study.

View to Goulburn River from Bill O’Kane’s deck

Mid – February 2012

2012 SheppARTon Festival Field Study exhibition, ’Sixrospective An exhibition of Photographs’. Promotional material produced

‘Sixrospective’ entry on 2012 SheppARTon Festival web site

Mid – February 2012

2012 Shepparton Field Study Artist Recruitment School of Art

Shepparton 2012 ANU Recruiting Flyer pdf

2012 Shepparton Field Study – Field Trip I Schedule

2012 Shepparton Field Study Field Trip 1

Schedule (As of Friday 24 February, 2012)

(Download Full PDF here)

Overview

Field Study Objectives Production of creative work to meet curriculum requirements and/or for public exhibition
based on field research that responds to the Goulburn / Broken catchments around Shepparton and Mooroopna, the
environmental issues that prevail, the catchment community and their connection to the Goulburn/Broken Rivers.

Study Participants Visual artists, School of Art, Musician/composers, School of Music, Australian National University,
Canberra; Architects, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne; Visual artists, Kaiela Gallery, Shepparton;
Cultural Arts Students, Centre for Koorie Education, GOTAFE, Shepparton; Students Wanganui and Mooroopna
Secondary Colleges, Shepparton / Mooroopna; (and hopefully) visual artists, Greater Shepparton.

Field Study Community Partner RiverConnect, Greater Shepparton City Council;

Consulting Organisations RiverConnect, Greater Shepparton City Council; Goulburn Broken Catchment
Management Authority; Greater Shepparton City Council; Goulburn Valley Environment Group; Wanganui College;
Shepparton Art Museum; Kaiela Gallery; Goulburn Murray Landcare Network, Parkes Victoria; Shepparton Heritage
Centre; (Apologies, other organisations to be added)

Field Study Contacts: John Reid (SoA ANU) 0439 300 895; Tor Fromyhr (SoM ANU) 02 61255779; Richard Black
(RMIT) 03 5472 2213; Renee Ashmore (RiverConnect) 03 5832 9714

Shepparton Field Study Field Trips

Trip 1: Wed 29 Feb – Sun 4 Mar. Trip 2: Wed 28 – Sun 31 Mar. Trip 3: Wed 25 – Sun 29 April
ANU Transport Trip 1 – ANU van booked for Sixrospective exhibition; Avis hire bus and trailer booked (5 days); ANU
van booked to collect Sixrospective artwork (3 days); Trip 2 – ANU bus booked (4 days, 1 day hire required for
Printmaking Workshop); Trip 3 – ANU bus booked (5 days)

Shepparton Festival Exhibition: Sixrospective Shepparton Butter Factory precinct, Opening 11.0 am Sunday 4
March continuing until Monday, March12