Artist Residency February 2023 Nobbys/ Whibayganba
In February 2023 I had the privilege of spending a week working from a studio at Nobby’s lighthouse built on Whibayganba on Awabakal country, Newcastle.
It was a profoundly creative week for me experiencing the windswept location and marvelling at the coal ships coming in and out of the heads being pulled by tugs.
I was intrigued by the multitude of signs within the site – both modern and historic that referred to the safety/ danger of the site and the way that they related to its inherent service as a beacon of guidance and safety. I took rubbings from these signs and integrated them into mixed media artworks.
Later in the year, the Hunter Writer’s Centre who facilitate the residencies put together an exhibition of selected works created during the 2023 residencies and not only were 2 of my works selected for exhibition but one was chosen to be the image used in the invitation and the promotional material.
I call this work “The mighty tugs”and hope that it celebrates the wonderful little ships that guide the great coal ships in and out of the river mouth.