AS MODERN life becomes more entwined and reliant on digital media, Tamworth art gallery is touching base with its roots.
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The gallery is rolling out some of its prized and renowned pieces, sharing wall-space with new pieces from across the country, for the Tamworth Textile Triennial.
It’s the third edition of the textile showcase and its attracted a Sydney-based curator, Glenn Barkley, to help bring life to an exhibition which puts Tamworth on the map within the national art scene.
“This is the premier textile exhibition in Australia,” Mr Barkley said.
Curating the triennial is a dream come true for Mr Barkley who said he has been putting his hand up for more than 10 years, trying to land the gig.
While some might think of it as an old-styled medium, Mr Barkley said it’s gaining traction once more.
“We’re in an interesting moment right now, where a lot of contemporary artists are really interested in the idea of making,” he said.
“Because we go online and half of our lives seem to be dominated by screens and laptops and typing away at our computers, so actually getting back to the studio and making things has become quite compelling.”
The triennial will feature the work of local artists for the first time, including works from the Gomeroi Gaaynggal health program.
“We were really excited by doll-making, in general, and we had been talking with the gallery for quite a long time and the gallery could see that it tied in really nicely [with the triennial],” director Kym Rae said.
“They wanted to highlight a local artist group and we were really lucky to be included as one of those.”
Associate Professor Rae said the doll-making exercise was “about sharing personal history and personal narratives”.
The triennial opens on Friday, October 13, before touring nationally.