Mudlines art and environment workshop

In October during our visit to Noosa and the Floating Land Symposium, where Tricia Dobson presented an overview of our project, we met representatives from Carte Blanche, an art collective from the north shores of Moreton Bay. The new connection proved fruitful. Several months later, we received notice that Carte Blanche were preparing for an exhibition involving environmental art, at Redcliffe Gallery. As a way into the broad possibilities of the field, a day long workshop with Canaipa Mudlines was proposed. The group was accompanied by Moreton Bay Regional Galleries director, Hannah Williamson.

We began with a slide presentation, talk, and morning tea at the Spring Street studio, then moved on to Turtle Swamp forest where the seven participants launched into their own responses on site for several hours. This was followed by a picnic, conversation, and then a tour of the works and discussion. The day ended with the group collaborating on a spontaneous project. It was fascinating to see how they negotiated and worked together, nobody taking sole ownership, and a relaxed and generous spirit of collaboration carrying the process. The works produced showed a deep sensitivity and incredible responsiveness to the environment, as well as sophisticated formal awareness. Tricia and I were hugely rewarded to witness this unfolding. More workshops to come I feel!

All photographs courtesy of Moreton Regional Gallery