Lapunyah Art Gallery worker, Gail Taylor and Cr Kaye Maguire at Lapunyah Art Gallery, Chinchilla

Western Downs locals and visitors are invited to support our region’s most creative talents at this year’s Regional Artists’ Exhibition opening night on 9 October.

This free exhibition opening event will announce the 2021 winners of the 2021 Regional Artist Exhibition and kick off the artistic showcase, which will feature at Lapunyah Art Gallery, Chinchilla over the coming weeks.

The creative works of 19 different local artists will be featured across all media including painting, drawing, printing, photography, digital art, new media, textiles, sculpture, and glass responding to the theme, ‘Living in the Anthropocene Epoch’.

The Anthropocene Epoch is used to describe the most recent period in earth’s history when human activity started to have a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystem.

Western Downs Regional Council Spokesperson for Community and Cultural Development Councillor Kaye Maguire said she was very eager to see how artists responded to this year’s theme.

“Artists were challenged to respond to how a person, image, object, or place captured their experience of environmental and cultural change,” Cr Maguire said.

“The exhibition sparks the topic of the unique experience of this time of change within the Western Downs and hopes to foster a collective desire for culture care, respect, and positive action.

“This fantastic exhibition not only provides our local artists with the opportunity to showcase their work to the region but also supports and encourages arts and cultural participation within our active vibrant communities.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for all our artists from across the region to come together this year and get a chance to network within our happy inclusion arts and culture community

Exhibition Curator Leigh Schoenheimer said without exception, each artist had contributed to the conversation around what it is to live in this part of Australia, at this time in the earth’s history.

“The standard of work this year has been absolutely exceptional and all of the entrants should be proud of their contributions.”

The exhibition opening night will be held on Saturday 9th of October 2021, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm.

This is a covid safe event and if you are feeling unwell, we encourage you to stay home.

 For more information or to register your attendance contact Council on 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624) or visit https://www.westerndownsarts.com.au/

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Media Contact: Western Downs Regional Council Media Office                                                07 4679 4265