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Exhibition Pagoda at the Gang Gang gallery in Lithgow provides a focus on the Western Blue Mountain’s iconic Pagoda Country – the ‘Pagoda Journey Forum’ is being held at the Gallery as part of this exhibition.

The forum will provide an opportunity to hear of the treasures tucked away in the country earmarked for protection under the Destination Pagodas proposal1. It will provide insight into the unique landscape, the amazing range of flora within it, the efforts that have been made to protect it to date and the potential for the regional economy that the Destination Pagodas proposal provides.

As a highlight in the forum you will hear a conversation between a curator and two acclaimed artists relating to the inspiration they derive from landscape, an insight into the visceral response we all feel when connecting to wild beauty.

The Destination Pagodas’ State Conservation Zone proposal will effectively create a park under which legacy mining activity will continue. At the same time new age energy initiatives are appearing in the region whilst traditional power generators continue their operation, all part of a transition. We are going to close the forum with a reflection on this transition, a presentation on renewable energy and what is happening locally – The Lithgow Community Power Project.


Australia’s Gardens of Stone
by Filmmaker Joel Robinson
Discover the Gardens of Stone west of Blue Mountains National Park, a place of extraordinary natural beauty, wildlife and ancient Aboriginal art. An iconic Australian landscape now is the time to protect it for future generations.

Visit http://gardensofstone.org.au

P A G O D A  J O U R N E Y  F O R U M

Exhibition Pagoda at the Gang Gang gallery in Lithgow provides a focus on the Western Blue Mountain’s iconic Pagoda Country – the ‘Pagoda Journey Forum’ is being held at the Gallery as part of this exhibition.

The forum will provide an opportunity to hear of the treasures tucked away in the country earmarked for protection under the Destination Pagodas proposal1. It will provide insight into the unique landscape, the amazing range of flora within it, the efforts that have been made to protect it to date, and the potential for the regional economy that the Destination Pagodas proposal provides.

As a highlight in the forum, you will hear a conversation between a curator and two acclaimed artists relating to the inspiration they derive from the landscape, an insight into the visceral response we all feel when connecting to wild beauty.

The Destination Pagodas’ State Conservation Zone proposal will effectively create a park under which legacy mining activity will continue. At the same time, new age energy initiatives are appearing in the region whilst traditional power generators continue their operation, all part of a transition. We are going to close the forum with a reflection on this transition, a presentation on renewable energy, and what is happening locally – The Lithgow Community Power Project.

Reflections on Wildness

Some thoughts on wilderness and wildness as contributors to human well being

Dr. Paul Brown

Reflections on the Past

A summation of where we have been and where we are going

Dr. Richard Stiles

Reflections on Country

A conversation between artists on their spiritual response to landscape

Anne Graham, Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen and Nic Tsoutas

Science, Ethics, and Wonder

celebrating The Gardens of Stone and the long campaign to protect them

Dr. Haydn Washington

Reflections on the Journey

The journey | Milo Dunphy Colo Committee Haydn Washington

Madi McLean

Reflections on a Future

The Lithgow Community Power Project

Greg Mortimer OAM

We will commence with morning tea at 10.30 with formal proceedings at 11 am. Light lunch will be served for which we ask attendees to make a donation of $15. Bookings essential go to

BOOK HERE

Paul Brown

Paul is a community artist, playwright, and creative producer, also an educationalist, facilitator, author, and researcher. Environmental issues, the link between science and arts, communications and community engagement are central to his projects. Originally trained as a geologist, then also qualifying in history and philosophy of science, Paul has experience in fields of earth sciences, environmental humanities, eco-criticism, creative arts practice and science and technology studies. As a creative writer and producer, mostly of plays and films, Paul is the author of Aftershocks, verbatim theatre about the Newcastle earthquake. He co-founded Urban Theatre Projects in 1980, and wrote major community theatre works for Murray River Performing Group, Theatreworks, and Urban Theatre Projects. He is author of the documentary film Sixty Thousand Barrels, and of the verbatim play Half a Life. In 2014-18 he was the Creative Producer for the Australia Council funded Nuclear Futures creative partnerships initiative, linking artists with atomic survivor communities to make creative works across 22 multi-arts projects. His recent work includes an oral history and performance project ‘Crowded World’ and he is currently developing a new arts project ‘Recovery’ with the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute. This Eco-arts project links creative artists with the community of citizen scientists who monitor fire recovery and climate change impacts in the Blue Mountains. Across one year using community arts processes, we will record and develop citizen science narratives, participate in workshops and creative development, and collaborate on presentations of curated image-sound-story, via multiartform live events and web-based digital arts. The project builds on 15 years of community engagement by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute and its collaborating organisations, including environmental arts projects. In this new initiative, scientists and artists together will coproduce new ecological knowledge – aiming to transform understanding of the relationship between humans and the rest of nature, while informing environmental decision-making by communities and agencies

Yuri Bolotin

Yuri Bolotin is a wilderness explorer, author, and environmentalist with over 30 years of experience in the Australian Bush. He regularly leads and takes part in wilderness research expeditions and is a member of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness and the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.

Together with his wife Rae, Yuri also runs BigCi (Bilpin international ground for Creative initiatives), an artist residency program on the edge of Wollemi National Park.

Together with his colleagues and co-authors Michael Keats and Brian Fox (the trio is known as the

Bushexplorers), he has recently published the fourth of the series of books about the Wollemi National Park and is also contributing to the publication of a 9-book series on the Gardens of Stone region. Yuri has received the Excellence in Conservation Occasional Award 2018 from the National Parks Association. See also www.bushexplorers.com.au  and  www.bigci.org

Cindy YuChenen-Zhe

Sydney based artist Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen uses experimental drawing, listening and sound practices to explore processes of embodied listening. Through interactions with the surfaces, people and atmospheric contingencies of places, Chen examines how expanded drawing practices and listening can engender connections and enact distinct senses of places. As the recipient of the University Postgraduate Award, Chen recently completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Art, Design and Media at the University of New South Wales Art and Design. Chen has presented her research internationally in England and China.

With work held in private and public collections, Chen has exhibited in Australia and China in solo, group and finalist prize exhibitions. In December 2018, Chen held a solo exhibition and undertook an artist residency at Ningbo Museum of Art, China. In 2017, Chen was selected to exhibit in Beijing’s Today Art Museum as a part of Art Nova 100. She was a finalist in the Paddington Art Prize in 2015 and a finalist for the 61st Blake Prize in 2012. Chen has undertaken artist residencies at Akiyoshidai International Art Village in Japan and Hill End, Bathurst Regional Gallery. Chen is represented by Art Atrium in New South Wales and is currently a resident studio artist at Parramatta Artist Studios.

APRIL 29 to JUNE 20

ANNE GRAHAM – INSTALLATION

BOYD McMILLAN – ARTIST Ink/Watercolour, Acrylic

To be included in exhibition, a selection of Photographs focusing on iconic regional imagery.


A WORD FROM THE ARTIST – ANNE GRAHAM – In 2015 I completed a short residency at The Big C Gallery in Bilpin, NSW. Yuri and Rae Bolotin introduced me to the Gardens of Stone. The Aboriginal occupation of this place dates back at least 65,000 years. It is a special place that we must preserve, Activities such as off-road driving and mining can destroy this heritage. I want in this work to at least begin to draw attention to this magical place. I have used discarded woollen blankets, rubbish I suppose from our affluent society, to draw attention, as Charles Darwin said to: “Nature which is power incessantly ready for action and is immeasurably superior to man’s feeble efforts as the works of nature are to those of Art.”


SATURDAY MAY 1st – Opening Event – 3.30pm  – FREE EVENT

To help us with catering to the EXHIBITION PAGODA OPENING EVENT please register your attendance below.

BOOK HERE


SATURDAY 8th May 11 am to 3 pm Destination Pagoda country information
SATURDAY 8th May 1 pm to 3 pm Dr. Megan Halcroft Studio Gallery. Native Bees and beneficial insects workshop

To help us with catering to the events please register your attendance below.

BOOK HERE


SATURDAY MAY 15th – Pagoda Journey Forum – All day event – $15

A premier Australian Heritage Festival Event at Lithgow. Professor Anne Graham’s installation, ‘Gardens of Stone’ will be showcased in the Gang Gang Gallery’s main gallery space, surrounded by an array of photographs of the birds of that country and watercolour works capturing some of its extraordinary landscapes.

A selection of special guest speakers.

A film portraying the beauty and potential of the proposal to create a State Conservation Zone in this area will also be showing continuously in the adjoining studio gallery. Viewing these works in the country of their inspiration, linked to the possibility of visiting that country whilst in the region, makes this an experience that will touch multiple senses. 

BOOK HERE


SATURDAY 22nd May 11 am to 2 pm Destination Pagoda country information


SATURDAY 5th June 11am Yuri Bolotin. Experienced as a guide in the Destination Pagoda country Yuri will share some of his insights into this extraordinary country. Free event.


SATURDAY 12th June 11 am

Are We There Yet!

Michael Keats OAM A follow up to his 2017 talk exhorting Lithgow to embrace the tourism opportunity offered by the Destination Pagodas Country. Free event.


 

SEE LINKS BELOW FOR FULL PROGRAM DETAILS 


IMPORTANT LINKS

D E S T I N A T I O N   P A G O D A

Lithgow has the potential to become NSW’s hottest new tourism destination. Surrounded by the unparalleled beauty of the unprotected Gardens of Stone, Lithgow has a fantastic opportunity to secure its future as an eco-tourism hotspot.

Destination Pagoda is a visitor management proposal for a 39,000-hectare Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. The untapped value of Lithgow’s Gardens of Stone backyard lies in its diverse and unique scenery, as well as rare plant and animal life. These values can be protected and enjoyed by thousands of people through the addition of recreation facilities that will enable families to get close to nature while still enjoying the sights of the Lithgow region.

A new Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area with tourism development will be a win for the economy, community, and environment of Lithgow and New South Wales.

“The most beautiful place I have ever visited. An area of unique wilderness only 100km west of Sydney, Australia that is currently unprotected and vulnerable”

An emotional film by filmmaker  Tim Harris

Paul Brown

Paul is a community artist, playwright, and creative producer, also an educationalist, facilitator, author, and researcher. Environmental issues, the link between science and arts, communications and community engagement are central to his projects. Originally trained as a geologist, then also qualifying in history and philosophy of science, Paul has experience in fields of earth sciences, environmental humanities, eco-criticism, creative arts practice and science and technology studies. As a creative writer and producer, mostly of plays and films, Paul is the author of Aftershocks, verbatim theatre about the Newcastle earthquake. He co-founded Urban Theatre Projects in 1980, and wrote major community theatre works for Murray River Performing Group, Theatreworks, and Urban Theatre Projects. He is author of the documentary film Sixty Thousand Barrels, and of the verbatim play Half a Life. In 2014-18 he was the Creative Producer for the Australia Council funded Nuclear Futures creative partnerships initiative, linking artists with atomic survivor communities to make creative works across 22 multi-arts projects. His recent work includes an oral history and performance project ‘Crowded World’ and he is currently developing a new arts project ‘Recovery’ with the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute. This Eco-arts project links creative artists with the community of citizen scientists who monitor fire recovery and climate change impacts in the Blue Mountains. Across one year using community arts processes, we will record and develop citizen science narratives, participate in workshops and creative development, and collaborate on presentations of curated image-sound-story, via multiartform live events and web-based digital arts. The project builds on 15 years of community engagement by the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute and its collaborating organisations, including environmental arts projects. In this new initiative, scientists and artists together will coproduce new ecological knowledge – aiming to transform understanding of the relationship between humans and the rest of nature, while informing environmental decision-making by communities and agencies

Yuri Bolotin

Yuri Bolotin is a wilderness explorer, author, and environmentalist with over 30 years of experience in the Australian Bush. He regularly leads and takes part in wilderness research expeditions and is a member of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness and the Blue Mountains Conservation Society.

Together with his wife Rae, Yuri also runs BigCi (Bilpin international ground for Creative initiatives), an artist residency program on the edge of Wollemi National Park.

Together with his colleagues and co-authors Michael Keats and Brian Fox (the trio is known as the

Bushexplorers), he has recently published the fourth of the series of books about the Wollemi National Park and is also contributing to the publication of a 9-book series on the Gardens of Stone region. Yuri has received the Excellence in Conservation Occasional Award 2018 from the National Parks Association. See also www.bushexplorers.com.au  and  www.bigci.org

Cindy YuChenen-Zhe

Sydney based artist Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen uses experimental drawing, listening and sound practices to explore processes of embodied listening. Through interactions with the surfaces, people and atmospheric contingencies of places, Chen examines how expanded drawing practices and listening can engender connections and enact distinct senses of places. As the recipient of the University Postgraduate Award, Chen recently completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Art, Design and Media at the University of New South Wales Art and Design. Chen has presented her research internationally in England and China.

With work held in private and public collections, Chen has exhibited in Australia and China in solo, group and finalist prize exhibitions. In December 2018, Chen held a solo exhibition and undertook an artist residency at Ningbo Museum of Art, China. In 2017, Chen was selected to exhibit in Beijing’s Today Art Museum as a part of Art Nova 100. She was a finalist in the Paddington Art Prize in 2015 and a finalist for the 61st Blake Prize in 2012. Chen has undertaken artist residencies at Akiyoshidai International Art Village in Japan and Hill End, Bathurst Regional Gallery. Chen is represented by Art Atrium in New South Wales and is currently a resident studio artist at Parramatta Artist Studios.