Untold Eurobodalla: what makes us tick

An exhibition exploring what makes Eurobodalla special and some of the characters within it will open at the Bas this Friday night.

Untold Eurobodalla features the distinctive stories of 26 local residents and examines the ways they contribute to the place they call home.

It is the work of artists and Eurobodalla residents Lee Grant and Amadis Lacheta, who sought to find out what makes where we live special, why people have chosen to settle here, what creates culture in a place and how our community contributes to and celebrates that culture.

Over the past few weeks the Bas team has taken the exhibition to the streets, pasting larger-than-life portrait murals in prominent locations in Batemans Bay, Moruya and Narooma.

Council’s creative arts coordinator Indi Carmichael says the black-and-white portraits are an entree to what is a fulfilling experience of photography, film and written word, bringing their stories to life.

“The driving force behind this exhibition is learning the stories we don’t hear about, or don’t often hear about,” she said.

“At a time when many are facing significant challenges, it’s a nice way to celebrate the strengths of our community. It reminds us of what really matters and to cherish what we have.”

A diverse public program accompanies the exhibition based on the theme of community and storytelling. Events range from a Claymation workshop for kids and the usual meet-the-artist talk, to art therapy workshops, an artist residency in the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden and a performance-based response to the bushfires.

“We’ll are also running guided tours of Untold Eurobodalla, providing small groups the opportunity to get to know the stories behind the faces, the artists’ processes and gain behind the scenes gallery insights,” Ms Carmichael said.

Untold Eurobodalla opens Friday 11 December, 5.30pm, and continues until Sunday 7 February 2021. The Bas is at the corner of Campbell and Vulcan Streets, Moruya, and open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am to 4pm.