Williams River Valley Artists' Project

Award for No Tillegra Dam Group

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:49:00 +0000

Congratulations to the Nature Conservation Council and to the No Tillegra Dam Group:

MEDIA RELEASE – 29^th October 2011

No Tillegra Dam Group

Most outstanding Environment Group 2011

“The No Tillegra Dam Group (NTDG) was presented with the Nature Conservation Council’s (NCC) Most Outstanding Environment Group award at the NCC Annual Conference on Saturday 29^th October 2011.

The award is presented annually to a Member Group of NCC which has demonstrated outstanding commitment and success in the conservation of the NSW Environment.

Carol Pasenow Chair NTDG, said it was a delight to accept this award on behalf of the members of NTDG. For a small grass roots community group to achieve the outcome which we did is testimony to the hard work and determination shown by our group. The historic decision around the Tillegra Dam proposal and the determination that NO dam shall be built in the Hunter is evidence of the detrimental effects a dam would have on not just the Williams River but the whole of the Hunter’s river network.

This award should also be shared with member groups of the Save the Williams River Coalition; The Wilderness Society, Hunter Environment Centre, Total Environment Centre, and National Parks Association, as well as Dr John Kaye, and the Greens, who contributed enormously to our campaign. We must also thank the Hunter community whose environmental awareness and support was paramount to our campaign.

Ms Pasenow says “NTDG is now addressing the future of the Dungog community which has suffered through four years of indecision. We welcome the O’Farrell government’s commitment of no dam in the Tillegra valley and no desalination plant for the Hunter.

NTDG requests that the Premier now follow through and direct the Department of Planning to commence a ‘Whole of Government’ strategy to sell all Hunter Water owned land in the Williams River Valley. By instigating a proper land use plan we can promote a sound socio-economic future for our community. A future that ensures the preservation of the natural beauty, rural aspect, the social and natural heritage of the valley and it’s unique environment.

NTDG will work towards promoting sustainable water planning which encourages community and independent consultation.

For more information contact Carol Pasenow 0427 607 491

Chairperson: past & present of No Tillegra Dam Group

Warwick Thomas, Carol Pasenow and Sally Corbett, Don White NCC Chairperson.

Riparian Rites - open till 16 October

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:18:00 +0000

Riparian Rites is the latest exhibition of the Williams River Valley Artists' Project. It includes the work of artists Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Ruby Davies, Noelene Lucas, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton, David Watson and Juliet Fowler Smith, made in response to the proposal to construct the Tillegra Dam, to the disruption that proposal has brought to the valley and to hope for a better future now that the proposal has finally been withdrawn.

Riparian Rites: Official Opening Saturday 17 September 3pm

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:46:00 +0000

The Williams River Valley Artists’ Project began in 2009 out of a conversation between artists about the then proposed Tillegra Dam in the Williams River Valley, in Dungog and the Upper Hunter in NSW. The Williams River originates in the World Heritage listed Barrington Tops and is one of the few healthy rivers left in NSW. The proposal is now defunct, but the dam would have flooded 4000 hectares, destroying the valley’s unique heritage, community and prime agricultural land.

Over the past two years a series of artists' residencies were held in the valley, resulting in exhibitions in Muswellbrook Regional Art Centre, Tocal Agricultural College and the Tin Sheds Gallery at the University of Sydney. These shows responded to the context and changing situation in the valley.

This latest show, Riparian Rites, brings together sensitive responses to the experience of the impact of the proposal and the disruption to the valley along with hope for a better future. It includes the work of artists Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Ruby Davies, Noelene Lucas, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton, David Watson and Juliet Fowler Smith.

While this latest show is a time of celebration over the reversal of the decision to build the dam, it is also a time for reassessment and recovery. The valley has been devastated by the impact of the dam proposal, the community fragmented and the land fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair. There is on going disquiet about what the future holds.

What the Dungog shire has had to struggle with has implications for how we deal with water policies on the wider scale.

RIPARIAN RITES - Opening soon

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:05:00 +0000

The Williams River Valley Artists project arrives at Maitland Regional Art Gallery from the 27^th August to 16^th October with the official opening on Saturday 17^th September 3pm.

While this latest show is a time of celebration it is also a time for reassessment and recovery. The valley has been devastated by the impact of the dam proposal, the community fragmented and the land has fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair over the years of uncertainty.

Issues of water usage and the community impact of such policy decisions which the Dungog shire has had to struggle with still need to be thought about and grappled with on a wider scale.

Watch this space as things continue to unfold.

This show brings together sensitive responses to the experience of the impact of the proposal and the disruption to the valley along with hope for a better future.

Artists participating at MRAG are Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Ruby Davies, Noelene Lucas, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton, David Watson and Juliet Fowler Smith.

The Williams River Valley, photo by Noelene Lucas

Paddling the Grid

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Yesterday WVRAP artists explored the Hexham Swamp, the health of which is dependent on the health of the Williams River. Photo, Paddling the Grid, by David Watson.

Smith clan celebrates

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 01:37:00 +0000

The extended Smith clan planned a gathering for December to say goodbye to their family connection to Munni, but following the the NSW government's abandonment of the Tillegra Dam plans, it became a celebration.

Photo shows the Smith clan on Munni's highest point, on what will now stay as Manns Hill rather than becoming an island in Tillegra Dam.

Tillegra Dam plans scrapped

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 09:53:00 +0000

The media is reporting today that the New South Wales Government has scrapped its plans for the Tillegra Dam!

Planning meeting with Maitland Regional Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 08:08:00 +0000

Planning for the next stage of the WRVAP began with a fruitful meeting yesterday with Maitland Regional Art Gallery Director Joe Eisenberg and curator Kim Blunt.

Above L to R: Joe Eisenberg, Kim Blunt, Neil Berecry-Brown, Juliet Fowler Smith and Margaret Roberts at Maitland Regional Gallery, 26 November 2010

Maitland Regional Gallery plan:

images of galleries 1-3 (Mauve yellow green)

smaller images of galleries 1-3 (Mauve yellow green)

Planning for the Tillegra Dam

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:59:00 +0000

Snow (Grafton) has installed a plaque on the top of Mann's Hill to commemorate his family's stewardship of the area, in preparation for the flooding of the valley that will transform this hill into an island.

Cry Me a River

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 05:12:00 +0000

Sue Blackburn's photos of Cry Me a River

Cry me a River

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:31:00 +0000

Cry Me a River was opened last night by John Kaye, NSW MLC Greens,

who was presented with a chocolate frog on a silver tray by David & Juliet as a gesture of thanks.

(Above photos by Toni Warburton.)

John Clutterbuck's photos of the opening:

and some of the artworks:

Juliet Fowler Smith Williams River runaround

David Watson

Toni Warburton

Suzanne Bartos

Noelene Lucas The Last Healthy River in the Hunter

Bridget Nicholson Touch this earth lightly

David Watson Waste (wall image)

Bonita Ely DelugeDrown (scroll)

Neil Berecry-Brown Things fall apart (warning tape)

Margaret Roberts (& Horst Kiechle) Straight-Line Residency Proposal for Manns Hill Hut

Setting up for Cry Me a River

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 07:20:00 +0000

photo: Suzanne Bartos

Arrived

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Get your copy of The Stuttering Frog - come to Cry me a River at the Tin Sheds Gallery or download a pdf version.

Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 06:06:00 +0000

listen to the frog

Press Release:

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:28:00 +0000

Cry Me a River: Williams River Valley Artists' Project
Artists challenge the Tillegra Dam

Exhibition launch:
6pm, Thursday 30th September
To be opened by John Kaye MLC Greens

Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Bonita Ely, Juliet Fowler Smith, Noelene Lucas, Bridget Nicholson, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton and David Watson

A dam the size of Sydney Harbour would flood the valley; Hunter residents would pay for it in their water bills; and people in Australia would lose another precious water way. Initiated by artist Juliet Fowler Smith – whose family has farmed the valley for generations – the Williams River Valley Artists’ Project brings together a group of Australian contemporary artists dismayed by this proposal. Their responses are elegiac, contemplative and strident - their works created during a series of local residencies, research trips and exhibitions that began in 2009. The first opened at the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre in October 2009 followed by Tocal Agricultural College, Paterson in May 2010.

Cry Me a River at Tin Sheds Gallery, University of Sydney brings this project to Sydney at a critical time when the fate of the valley remains caught in the political process and the environment and the community continue to suffer the consequences. At a time when the community is focusing on questions of water management the project questions the folly of such environmental destruction.

Works developed for the exhibition cross media and ideas – from consideration of the social and emotional impact of unwanted change in rural communities to environmental concerns which have global significance. Key concepts of the project are thus memory and loss, the respect and honour for the landscape that holds those memories, as well as consideration of the local and worldwide implications of lost habitats and ecosystems.

For more information contact Juliet Fowler Smith jfs@pacific.net.au

Tin Sheds Gallery, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, 148 City Road, The University of Sydney.

Exhibition dates:
1 - 23 October 2010

Artists' Forum
Currents and Reflections
Saturday 16 Oct. 2 - 4 pm

A round table panel discussion to keep alive questions encountered in the process of the Williams River Valley Artists' Project.

Gallery Hours:
11am - 5pm
Tuesday to Saturday

Munni visit

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:09:00 +0000

Toni Warburton, with Juliet and Snow Fowler Smith, beside an 1830s corn shed, during a recent visit to the Munni homestead.

Rally for wiser ways

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:25:00 +0000

Some images from the 23rd of April, Martin Place Sydney. Members of the Williams River Valley Artists' Project join a coalition of opponents of the Tillegra Dam proposal to take their message to the city.

Dairy cows and one of Brown's Cows unite for the cause -

with a message "For thee"

WRVAP at Tocal, May 2010

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 03 May 2010 09:17:00 +0000

Above: Bridget Nicholson touch this earth lightly, 2010,

photographer Juliet Fowler Smith

Above: Suzanne Bartos Surfboard 2010

Photographer Noelene lucas

Above: Juliet Fowler Smith Manns Hill Preserves 2010

Tocal Field Days

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0000

WRVAP is pleased to be offered the opportunity to show work at Tocal Homestead during the Tocal Agricultural College annual Field Days event from April 30 - May 2, 2010. Tocal is 15 minutes from Maitland on Tocal Road, Paterson, and the Field Days have over 600 exhibitors and a number of events of interest to both the rural and wider community.

For the duration of these Field Day events, WRVAP artworks will be on show in the Tocal barn:

These will include an installation of shoes made by local artist Bridget Nicholson, who, as part of the Williams River project, is making individual shoes for people by wrapping their feet in clay. The collection will form an installation titled ‘touch this earth lightly’. Bridget will be available at Tocal Homestead during the 3 field days to do people’s feet. The process takes approximately 20 minutes per person and Bridget will also be talking to people and recording their views on their own relationship to their feet and to the environment. Examples of shoes made to date are shown below:

Opening on 24 October

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:37:00 +0000

WRVAP organiser, Juliet Fowler Smith (centre) with Sally Corbett of the No Tillegra Dam group (left) and local resident/campaigner, Patricia Middlebrook (right) at the opening of the Williams River Artists Project show at Muswellbrook Regional Gallery, October 24, 2009.

Project organiser, Juliet Fowler Smith reports: The opening of the WRVAP exhibition at the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre was packed thanks to being on with the Muswellbrook Art Prize- the Mayor opened it and I got to say a few words too. A group from Dungog came which was great and we were able to get some signatures on postcards about the EAR submission re the dam, which the Wilderness Society is co-ordinating. We also got front page coverage in the Muswellbrook Chronicle and were interviewed by ABC local radio plus other coverage in local media. The show contains Noelene’s video of the river flow, my couch with water filled cushions, Bridget’s feet/shoes, Marg's No Williams River Collection on a digital photo frame, David’s beautiful image River Mourn and Suzanne's bedhead/surfboards.

WRVAP artists (left to right), Juliet Fowler Smith, Noelene Lucas and Suzanne Bartos, on Juliet's Water Couch (with water-filled cushions) in front of Noelene's video The Last Healthy River in the Hunter, at the opening of the Williams River Artists Project show at Muswellbrook Regional Gallery, October 24, 2009.

From the Williams River Artists' Project show at Muswellbrook Regional Gallery: L to R: R.I.P.- no chance, bed-head surfboards by Suzanne Bartos, Take Us Instead (and leave the water in the river) slide-show in wall photoframe by Margaret Roberts, Water Couch by Juliet Fowler Smith, River Mourn, photographic print by David Watson, and Touch this earth lightly, feet-work by Bridget Nicholson.

WRVAP at the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:00:00 +0000

Up near Barrington Tops (200km north of Sydney) lies the glorious Williams River valley – 22 kilometres of pristine winding river flanked by rich dairy pasture, primeval forest and national park. However, the precious ecosystems of this last healthy river in the Hunter will be destroyed if Hunter Water's proposed $480 million Tillegra Dam proceeds. A dam the size of Sydney Harbour would flood the valley; Hunter residents would pay for it in their water bills; all of us would lose another sacred site. Initiated by artist Juliet Fowler Smith – whose family has farmed the valley for generations – the Williams River Valley Artists’ Project brings together a group of environmentally-dismayed Australian contemporary artists. Their by turns elegiac, contemplative and strident responses are being fuelled by local residencies, research and exhibitions starting in 2009. The first opens at the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre on 24 October, followed by cry me a river at the Tin Sheds Gallery in Sydney in September 2010 and another at Maitland Regional Art Gallery after that.

The Last Healthy River in the Hunter

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:59:00 +0000

A clip from "The last healthy river in the Hunter" 2009

by Noelene Lucas.

Emergent Glimpses DW

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:44:00 +0000

River Mourn (David Watson 2009)

Williams River artists' camp February 2009 (Image David Watson)

"The last healthy river in the Hunter"

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:20:00 +0000

A clip from "The last healthy river in the Hunter" 2009

by Noelene Lucas.

The June residency

noreply@blogger.com (WRV Artists' Project) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:09:00 +0000

MANNS HILL

Standing on Egg-top Hill—and watched by Bridget Nicholson and Hanna—Juliet Fowler Smith and Suzanne Bartos point to the seedlings recently planted on top of Manns Hill, the one part of the Munni area that will remain above water level if the valley is flooded to make the Tillegra Dam. The seedlings have been planted as part of a memorial reforestation of Manns Hill.

MEETING WITH MUNNI PEOPLE

14th June 2009: Photos from a meeting with locals Simone Turner and Patricia Middlebrook, to talk about how the dam would impact on them and their community:

A walk down to the river.

Simone takes Bridget to show her an old swimming spot in the river.

Simone remembers coming across a group of nude bathers there as a child!

MUNNI ARTIST

Local artist, photographer and historian Simone E. Turner has been photographing the landscape around Munni and Tillegra for many years. As much of her work is about memory, her photographs of the William's River valley have taken on a renewed significance with the awareness that, with the dam, these places will no longer be visible.

THE CEMETERY

Entry by Suzanne Bartos: This poem was composed from text found in the minutes of the Quart Pot Cemetery Subcommittee meeting 1st August 2007. This committee's role is to oversee the moving of the local cemetery, which is in the area to be flooded if the Tillegra Dam is built. The committee sought legal advice as to what family member they legally had to get permission from in order to move those buried in the cemetery.

The minutes read: "Legal Advise - Hierarchy Next of Kin" Glen advised, the advise from the lawyer was expected to include advise on the legal status regarding the hierarchy for next of kin. The intention is to use the legal advise to guide the development of the cemetery relocation process and discussions with affected families."

Sorting out the affected families' distress over this issue by using legal means is a heavy handed and divisive 'process' and a very one sided 'discussion'. Read: It is enough for us to get permission from any family member and then we can do what we want.

Definition of Next of Kin

The deceased person’s spouse.

Or, if the deceased person did not have a spouse-

any of the deceased person’s sons or daughters.

Or, if the deceased person did not have a spouse, son or daughter Or a spouse, son or daughter are not available –

Either of the deceased person’s parents

Or, If the deceased person did not have a spouse, son, daughter, or living parent or a spouse, son, daughter or parent is not available –

any of the brothers or sisters

Or, if the deceased person did not have a spouse, son, daughter, living parent, brother or sister,

or a spouse, son, daughter, parent, brother or sister is not available

Then…..

don’t go around thinking that you’re not loved.