You hear us say it all the time, we live in an incredible place, surrounded by amazing people. Just across the road (literally!) from our Byron brewery is Art Park. The creative duo behind the gallery, Paul and Craig, hold Artist Residencies twice a year, which Stone & Wood support. It’s a great partnership, we love art and they love beer.
What they provide is special, just think about it, as the selected artist you get put up to do your creative thing in a banging studio,you get a whole lot of support, a few beers along the way and a solo exhibition at the end of it. Pretty epic.
It can take a bit to conceive an idea, to get the creativity humming along. Being given the time and space is an incredible opportunity and the guys at Art Park are in the business of making this happen. Their programs have impacted a host of impressive and deserving artists, fostering art culture well beyond the beaches of Byron.
As Art Park’s 7th Artist in Residence, Melbourne based artist, Rhys Lee is the latest.
Walking into what the 2012 Archibald Finalist has used as a studio for the past 4 weeks, the calmness of the serene coastal surrounds and the sounds of the bush and surf is replaced by what Art Park describes as a confusing sense of dread. Lee’s works have impact. Celebrated and described as unearthly, visceral and haunting, his latest canvas and ceramic pieces continue this motif, alluding to the hazy horrors of a nightmare; a nightmare that’s colourful and discomfortingly alluring…
After being holed up in a secluded spot south of Byron for the past four weeks, Lee is unveiling his latest works at the opening of his show Kooka Snake Clown this Thursday at Art Park, VERY conveniently kicking off the second long weekend this month.
Art. Culture. Good people. Sounds like a good mix to us.
If you’re in the Bay, make sure you check it out.
Photos courtesy of Art Park