24 artists and writers celebrate ‘Saltwater’ - and the Northern Beaches

Twenty-four Northern Beaches artists and writers will feature in a unique exhibition touring our six libraries and the Manly Art Gallery and Museum as a special highlight of this year’s Manly Art Festival (6 - 29 September).

In the run up to this year’s festival, local writers and poets were invited to write original literary responses to the theme ‘Saltwater’, working under the guidance of award-winning author Zena Shapter.

A specially selected group of 12 artists was then asked to create visual responses to the writers’ works.

The paintings, photographs and mixed media artworks will be available for sale and also displayed on a 24-hour digital screen at the Manly Art Gallery and Museum (on West Esplanade Reserve).

The writers’ and artists’ works are also to be published in an anthology as a permanent testament to their creative partnership. Copies of the anthology will be available for purchase at Northern Beaches Libraries ($20).

The entire exhibition will be launched at Manly Library (Market Place, Manly) on Thursday 12 September (6 – 7:30 pm) and individual artworks will be shown across the Northern Beaches Library network.

Participating writers are Tara Ray, Claire Hampson, Katika Funnell, Lachlan Roach, Tullie Helene, Susan Steggall, Katie Zelic, Sonia Zadro, Rodney Jensen, Kristin Prescott, Menios Constantinou and Barbara Hatten.

Associated artists are Jude Hungerford, Sally Mayman, Leesa Knights, Christine Farkes, Nettie Lodge, Susie Baxter-Smith, Vicki Ratcliff, Gloria Florez, Megan Barrass, Belinda Elliott, Katrina Lezaic and Tracey Andersen.

Admission to the exhibitions is free.