Colourful celebration of creativity as gallery reopens

Creativity took wing last week when Hurstville Museum and Gallery celebrated its reopening in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions with its Artbomb exhibition.

Artbomb has 10 artists and five groups participating, using the Museum and Gallery space like their own studio, creating or finishing key works for display in the gallery space.

It also provides a unique opportunity for the community to connect with the artists and examine their creative process.

Artbomb is described as a "slow release explosion of creativity", the exhibition began on June 9 June, when the gallery walls started out white and devoid of any artwork.

Last Thursday Wiradjuri artist Merindah Funnell created a mural called 'Dhun-dhung' 2020.

Described as a live art piece, Merindah's mural creation was livestreamed from the start of the creative process to through the finished product.

Talking about her work before the exhibition, Merindah said, "As an Aboriginal Wiradjuri artist, I take a lot of inspiration and thought from native plants, animals, and the land. I always think how can my artwork educate people with my culture and what message I would like to come across. "

On on Saturday, June 27, artists Kelia Terencio and Sudjuice did a live performance piece called 'Best Before' at 11.00am.

Local artist Dawei Xu was the first featured artist, creating a streetscape scene inspired by his local area of Peakhurst.

There are now six artworks in the space, with more to come in the coming weeks.

The community is being encouraged to contribute their experiences of the COVID-19 lockdown period to the show via a craft maker station where they can create papercut versions of their face, or try their hand at landscape oil pastel drawings inspired by Michael Ambriano's works.

Many of these artist sessions are being livestreamed for visitors who may not be ready to attend events just yet, and people are encouraged to follow Hurstville Museum and Gallery on Facebook and Instagram to see what's happening and when.

Upcoming list of artists:

Tuesday 30 June, 10am-1pm: John Davies

Thursday 2 July, 10am-1pm: Becky Gibson

Thursday 9 July, 10am-1pm: Shine Art Academy

Saturday 11 July, 10am-1.00pm: LU CID and Nicole Pingon, 'Noxious' installation (Shopfront Theatre)

Tuesday 14 July, 9.30am-12.30pm: Oatley Writers' Group (early open time)

Tuesday 14 July, 1.00pm-4.00pm: Discovery Writers

Saturday 25 July, 10am-1.pm: LU CID and Nicole Pingon, 'Noxious' performance (Shopfront Theatre)

Location: Hurstville Museum and Gallery, 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville

Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 4pm,

Saturday, 10am - 2pm

Sunday, 2pm - 5pm