"The Drip Gorge" photograph by James McPhee
“Images of the Drip” is the first competition/ exhibition being supported by Fairview ArtSpace.
The focus of the competition is based on the Drip Gorge on the Goulburn River.
Fairview ArtSpace has offered a venue for this competition to assist in lifting the public profile of this treasured area.
The Drip and Corner Gorges are on the Goulburn River and form part of an ancient visually dramatic landscape of sandstone cliffs and gorges that sit on the western most lip of the Sydney sandstone basin and on the lowest point of the Great Dividing Range – where east meets west.
The sculptural rock and ironstone formations drip clear spring water that seep through the porous rock supporting ferns, bottlebrushes and weeping grasses.
The Drip Gorge is only a short walk from the Ulan Cassilis Road and is widely used by the community and visitors (including schools) for recreational, educational and cultural purposes. It allows families to have a ‘wilderness experience’ on a par to walks in the Blue Mountains Heritage Area and similar gorges in the Northern Territory. It has been inspirational to a wide range of people including the artist Brett Whitely, filmed here painting on a rock in the 1970s.
The river corridor and adjacent escarpment has an extensive aboriginal heritage and has been nominated for listing by the National Trust http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/files/GoulburnRiver.pdf .
The walking track (1.8 kms) begins at The Drip picnic and parking area, an 8.38ha public reserve 50kms north of Mudgee (see map). It is currently cared for by a local aboriginal group with only limited outside assistance.
This section of the Goulburn River is not protected by any conservation or national park tenure and is currently threatened by the expansion of coal mining
The Drip and Corner Gorge area is covered by a Crown Lease held by the Moolarben Coal Mine (DP 750750/45 & DP 755439/30 The company has planning approval to underground mine up to 80m from the river bed and 400-500metres from the Drip and Corner Gorges. Mining in this sensitive area jeopardises the extensive groundwater resources that maintains river flow and springs that feed The Drip as well as the long term stability of the cliffs and gorges.
The exhibition is an opportunity for artists to offer their interpretation of the Drip and encourages the general public to look at what they have and stimulate thought about the best way to work with the mines so that the area is preserved.
There are five categories in the competition Hanging Art, Photography, Textiles, Sculpture and the Written word.
There is a panel of judges charged with determining a winner for each category. Cash Prizes for the winning entry in each category.
Judging will take place on the 3rd April 2009 and will be announced that evening at the formal opening.
The opening night is Friday, 3rd April at 7pm – 9pm
The Chairperson for the local Lands Council, Aleisha Lonsdale will welcome the exhibition to the ArtSpace and Local Councillor Elwyn Lang will formally open the exhibition.
Local Canapes and wines by The Small Winemakers Centre
During the exhibition an edited version of Peter Kingston’s movie “Brett & Butter ” will be run.
The movie depicts Brett Whiteley painting at the Drip. These painting s still exist and are in good condition.
There will also be a presentation of photographs of the area shown on a loop.
If you are in Mudgee on Friday 3rd, feel welcome to come along to the opening.
The exhibition will run till 10th May 2009.
It will be very exciting to run this exhibition and I am looking forward to hanging and placing the artist’s works.
Try to call in and see what makes this place so special!
Helen Harwood's Blog 