A new contemporary arts festival will be held in the historic town of Berry from June 22 to 25, 2023, further establishing the Shoalhaven region as a thriving regional artistic destination.
OpenField Arts Festival Program! Over 20 artists to present work at 11 unique venues in Berry NSW
From June 22 to 25, 2023, the picturesque South Coast town of Berry will become a haven for contemporary art, further solidifying the Shoalhaven region as a thriving artistic destination.
This largely-free festival, fostered by a group of local creatives, is set to ignite a spark of inspiration with its exceptional line-up of more than 20 high-calibre artists. In an innovative display of creativity, OpenField will showcase contemporary art installations in unique, non-museum venues such as community spaces, halls, and natural reserves, promising an immersive and unparalleled artistic experience.
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Lenka Kripac, Festival Co-Director, expressed her excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to unveil a diverse and talented collection of artists who will bring art to every corner of our town. From heritage buildings and parks to bustling streets and venues, be prepared to be absorbed in the allure of contemporary conceptual art as it takes centre stage. The anticipation is palpable, and we look forward to revelling in this unique community experience.”
With a curatorial theme that asks what a regional town can be in contemporary times, OpenField Arts Festival poses a crucial question: what is possible in an environment that moves beyond former conventions? Thematic artists and curators respond to ideas of Intersections + Interplay, where opposing qualities of an evolving country town can converge at a crossroads. What lies at the intersection of nature and technology? Old and new? Work and play?
Program highlights include:
| Tamara Dean a critically acclaimed photo media artist whose work explores our relationship with nature and contemporary rites of passage, will showcase her visually stunning video creation, ‘Dysrhythmia’, at OpenField, projected both onto the exterior and interior walls of the Showground Pavilion for an immersive viewing experience that showcases her artistic excellence. Tamara Dean is represented by Michael Reid – Sydney + Berlin |
| Warwick Keen is a well-respected artist, mentor, and Aboriginal cultural art curator. He will be showcasing a stunning new collection of neon poles, which have been crafted with solar-active paint and will be suspended from the branches of trees in the Princess Street Reserve. |
| Sophie Cape is an explosive and dynamic artist who creates free from boundaries, using unconventional media in the open air. For the first time, visitors will have the opportunity to witness Cape’s creative process firsthand as she crafts her art on-site at the Princess Street Reserve. In the Showground Main Pavilion, viewers can experience the raw and captivating nature of her art. |
| Tina Fox is a digital and textile artist who explores the intersection of traditional crafts and modern technology through crochet and animation. Fox’s installation, a collaboration with the Berry Spinners and Weavers group, will combine video footage and crocheted elements to provide a fresh outlook on the value of traditional crafts in today’s fast-paced world. |
| Wade Marynowsky is an artist, academic and researcher working across digital media. He uses robots, immersive performances, installations, music, and video to create captivating works. Marynowsky’s installation, ‘Future Relics’, will be unveiled at the Berry Museum. |
| Glenn Barkley is a multi-disciplinary artist, writer, curator, and gardener whose artwork transcends the boundaries of ceramics, popular music, gardening, and conversations about art and the internet. Barkley’s installation, ‘Garden’, features 1000 small ceramic topiary works located within the historic Berry Courthouse. |
| Artbomb is a dynamic collective of creative minds from Sydney who specialise in creating captivating spaces and artworks that offer unique and exciting experiences. Their latest work, ‘FLUFFY’, is an immersive family show that uses recycled shredded paper to create a joyous spectacle. The show will be brought to life at the Rural Youth Hall in Berry for OpenField, offering a fun-filled play environment for audiences of all ages that is environmentally-friendly and sustainable. |
Full list of artists / projects available here.
The festival program will also include performances, talks, live music and a pop-up cinema, to be announced in May with the full program line-up. Expect to be entertained by creative and experimental musicians, working in acoustic and electronic genres, contemporary dance performances, drag queens, DJs and comedians. Musical guests will include Aria award-winning Josh Pyke, The Voice contestant, Shaun Wessell of Tall Shaun And The Resolution Blues, and Dharawal singer Aodhan who recently won the JJJ Unearthed High Indigenous initiative.
OpenField supports First Nations perspectives and subscribes to truth-telling, providing a platform for local and visiting First Nations artists, educators, and performers.
With the support of local businesses, patrons, and sponsors, including the Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Shoalhaven City Council, the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal, Regional Arts NSW, and Creative Partnerships Australia, OpenField Arts Festival is set to become a must-see event.
“Join us for an unforgettable experience as we push the boundaries of contemporary art in a regional setting and expand the possibilities of creativity beyond accepted structures. Let OpenField Arts Festival take you on a journey of art, culture, and community engagement that will leave you inspired and renewed,” finished Lenka.
OpenField Arts Festival will showcase contemporary art in and around picturesque Berry in community halls and spaces, and in natural open spaces. Berry is located 143 km south of Sydney, just inland from the seaside town of Kiama on the south coast of New South Wales.
Fostered by a talented local group of professional creatives, the largely-free festival has already confirmed 20 high calibre artists, including critically acclaimed photo media artist and local resident Tamara Dean.
“When I moved to the Shoalhaven, I was struck by how many great contemporary artists there are living in the area, working away in relative isolation. It took a while for me to find the thriving artistic seam, largely due to the solitary way many artists tend to work.”
“To my mind, this region is hungry for artistic engagement, and ripe for a contemporary arts festival. An event in town to bring everyone together to both inspire and challenge the artist, residents and tourists”
Local Shoalhaven resident Tamara Dean.
Other celebrated artists participating in the festival that have chosen to base themselves in the Shoalhaven include Glenn Barkley, Sophie Cape, Sarah Enright, Anna Glynn, James Gulliver Hancock, Bonnie Porter Green, and Michael Purdy.
They will exhibit alongside visiting artists including Tina Fox, Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro, Jess MacNeil, and Emma Saunders.
OpenField Arts Festival is driven by a curatorium of local creatives and contracted curators who are developing a stellar program of local and visiting artists across disciplines of sculpture, dance, photography, performance, painting, installation and music.
Yes, there will be music at OpenField Arts Festival 2023
A curated music program of local and visiting musicians and DJs will be presented across two nights as well as a cinema event, workshops, artist talks and panel discussions.
Acclaimed Australian musician Lenka Kripac is OpenField Arts Festival Co-Director and local Shoalhaven resident, says with increasing numbers of artists and professionals moving to the region due to its unique beauty and lifestyle, there is increasing desire for cultural engagement.
“We want to provide a platform to showcase the amazing artistic talent in this area, and also bring high-calibre art from elsewhere, to inspire and invite discourse with locals.”
“The beauty of presenting a festival in a regional area is that not only do we have all this beautiful physical space, but we also have the creative space for artists to experiment and challenge their practice,” Festival Co-Director Lenka Kripac
First Nations artists & curators
OpenField acknowledges that we live and work on stolen land. The festival supports and invites First Nations perspectives and subscribes to truth telling, especially the stories of the traditional custodians of our local country, the Dhurga and Dharawal speaking people.
Throughout the exhibition and program, three local First Nations curators, including Warwick Keen, will collaborate with and support the presentation of work by local and visiting First Nations artists, educators and performers.
The festival will be an immersive experience designed to expand the possibilities of art existing beyond accepted structures.
Marla Guppy, Chair of South Coast Arts says
“Regional culture is a powerful force and the South Coast is part of a new direction in the way people are experiencing the arts. The re-launch of Bundanon, dynamic local government projects, the establishment of South Coast Arts, and the movement of city artists joining local creatives in supporting cultural renewal.”
“OpenField is creating spaces for dialogue. We are already seeing wonderful collaborations between artists and community groups. This innovative event will provide a unique platform for communal engagement and connectivity through the arts,” Marla Guppy, Chair of South Coast Arts
Berry Chamber of Commerce President Kate Dezarnaulds says
“Berry as a destination is built off the back of incredible events, but we have long lacked a significant contemporary arts event in the calendar. OpenField will increase and broaden the cultural profile of our town and the NSW South Coast and create a new destination event for our region that showcases our incredible heritage buildings in new ways,” Berry Chamber of Commerce President Kate Dezarnaulds
There is already a groundswell of support for OpenField festival, including founding patrons and sponsors and funding from the Australia Council for the Arts, Shoalhaven City Council, the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal, Regional Arts NSW and Creative Partnerships Australia.
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