14 January 2021

Looking for a way to engage your creativity this summer?

| Karyn Starmer
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Linocut workshop

The Kambri at ANU workshops are designed for anyone with an interest in art or dance. Photo: Eleanor Hsu.

As summer rolls on and the days are still long, ideas for how to spend the rest of the holidays while still in Canberra may be beginning to run out. If that is the case for you, Kambri at ANU may have just the thing to keep the new year vibe going.

Kambri at ANU is running a series of inspiring workshops through January and February, designed to provide an opportunity to learn hands-on skills from professional women artists specialising in art forms that include life drawing, dancing, traditional Indigenous weaving, linocut and painting.

The workshops are part of the ANU’s HERE I AM: Art by Great Women festival, curated to celebrate and elevate the contributions of creative women in Australia. HERE I AM is inspired by the Know My Name movement and is a cultural partnership between Kambri at ANU, aMBUSH Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia.

READ ALSO Here I am! says Kambri’s summer exhibition of contemporary women artists

Kambri Events and Relationship Manager Matthew Sykes says the workshops are designed to be interactive and engaging, and anyone with an interest in art or dance, including families and students can participate.

“Because of COVID-19, we know there are plenty of students and families who have stayed in Canberra for the holidays. We thought these workshops would provide an opportunity to showcase and transfer some the knowledge of our female creatives to the community,” Matthew said.

“The theme of HERE I AM: Art by Great Women is to celebrate women artists and the workshops are a practical extension of this; women artists transferring their knowledge and expertise to the people that come and participate.”

The series of workshops will commence on Friday (15 January) with a life drawing workshop. The talented women behind the ‘Sweet and Sour’ quarterly zine are hosting a mixed media life drawing workshop at aMBUSH Gallery in Kambri.

Linocut workshop

Emerging Asian-Australian printmakers will lead the linocut workshop. Photo: Eleanor Hsu.

Next week, families can enjoy a hands-on experience where each participant can create their own woven bush animal. The workshop, run by Ronnie Jordan, a proud Kalkadoon Pitta Pitta woman, will share her traditional ecological knowledge and both children and adults will learn techniques of the age-old art of traditional weaving.

On Wednesday next week (January 20), Kulture Break will host a fun dance workshop for all ages. Later in the series, participants can choose activities from a selection that includes painting a highland cow while sipping wine, weaving a fish trap, or a speed friendship event with the opportunity to create a Valentine’s Day linocut print.

The Linocut Valentine’s Day workshop will be led by emerging Asian-Australian printmakers and will explore linocut printmaking techniques. It will begin with a speed ‘dating’ round (for singles and those already partnered just looking to meet new friends) where everyone will have the opportunity to talk and get to know each other. You can then make your own linocut, and choose to gift it to someone you’ve met.

Numbers are limited across all workshops and organisers are encouraging Canberrans to book quickly to secure a spot. Some of the workshops are free while others incur a moderate cost for materials. Parking is available at the ANU Kambri Union Court car park, with complimentary parking on the weekends for up to three hours.

For program details and to register for tickets, visit HERE I AM: Art by Great Women.

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