Exhibition reconnects Lake Macquarie artists with community
The depth and diversity of Lake Mac’s artistic talent will go on display at MAC: Museum of Art and Culture this weekend as part of the first major exhibition to open since the COVID-19 pandemic struck earlier this year.
Reconnected: A Recovery Story aims to reflect on recovery and a positive way forward, with more than 100 paintings, photographs, sculptures and other artworks looking at the brighter side of life.
MAC Director Debbie Abraham said it was exciting to see the range of work and the sentiments they expressed.
“The community has always been at the heart of MAC’s programming, but this is the first time we have taken on such a big project focusing only on art and artists in Lake Macquarie,” Ms Abraham said.
More than 240 works were submitted for consideration by local artists after a call for works in May.Ms Abraham said a panel of five judges, comprising artist Jamie North, writer and journalist Scott Bevan, emerging Aboriginal artist Jasmin Craciun, artist and art educator Joanna Davies and Council’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer Maree Edwards, painstakingly selected the final works over three days.
“The selection panel, and everyone at MAC, were really delighted with the calibre of works selected,” Ms Abraham said.
The exhibition opens Saturday 4 July with a series of 90-minute booking-only sessions to help limit numbers in line with COVID-19 health guidelines.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser said the exhibition would help reconnect local artists and the wider community.“If there is one positive to emerge from the challenges of COVID-19, it’s how our wonderful community has banded together, even when social distancing keeps us physically apart,” Cr Fraser said
“Reconnected celebrates this, and it showcases the creative talent that helps make Lake Mac what it is.”A $500 People’s Choice Award will be on offer for the top three community-selected artworks, with visitors provided access to an online voting system.
“We’ve pre-recorded a range of talks and demonstrations featuring Reconnected artists, and these will be playing on-site to complement the exhibition,” Ms Abraham said.
“We’ll also host in-person demos, talks and workshops throughout the exhibition in small groups within COVID-19 guidelines.
”Also on show at MAC is a selection or work from Lake Macquarie’s yapang Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection and a selection from the recent online #MACtrianglechallenge, where artists submitted triangle-themed works.
Go to mac.lakemac.com.au/upcoming-exhibitions for more information.
Pictured Above: MAC Director Debbie Abraham with some of the works ready to go on display for Reconnected2.
