Photo is of "Greater Glider" by Anna-Wili Highfield. 

All the Art pieces were meant to be "temporary" we knew stormy weather was coming but over the weekend the sun shined and so did all the Art.  It was a great weekend. By Monday the rain had come and destroyed some of the works. Below is our media release of the events of the weekend.  

A fluffy, life size wombat is woven from chicken wire and twine. Owl, cockatoo and bandicoot cut-outs perch on a pink, cardboard box tower block. Sculpted ceramic fungus ‘grows’ on a pile of blackened logs. The artworks on show at Occupy the Fence in Manyana this weekend were as colourful and quirky as they were powerful.

30 contemporary artists from across the state visited the small South Coast village. They were united by a desire to stand in solidarity with the local community, who are fighting to stop a development set to clear one of the last patches of bushland in the area untouched by this summer’s Currowan Mega Fire. Environmental artist Janet Lawrence, photographer Leila Jeffreys and multi-disciplinary artist Abdul Abdullah were among the participants.

The brainchild of local resident and artist, Lara Merrett, the event turned the fence which surrounds the proposed development site into a giant, outdoor exhibition. Artists set up temporary, open-air studios and produced works inspired by and reflecting the pristine, unburnt bushland the community is campaigning to save. There were also workshops where children and adults could get involved. Ms Merrett says she hopes the event will raise awareness of the need to conserve precious native habitat, in the wake of last summer’s devastating bushfires.

“My colleagues in the art community wanted to lend a hand, collaborate with locals and broaden the fight that we’re having down here, because it’s bigger than just Manyana. It’s about protecting nature in bush-fire affected communities right across the state.”

Local artist, Juz Kitson, says she was inspired to get involved for very personal reasons.

“My studio is based in Milton and over the summer period I was affected by the fires. It’s something I feel a personal response to and wanted to support the community and show my own willingness to stand behind what’s going on.”

Ms Kitson invited onlookers to participate in the creation of her work, Ephemeral:

“I wanted to respond directly to the landscape. I collected a whole lot of timber that had been charred over the bushfire period. I also responded with fauna, both native and introduced, creating fungal growths out of ceramic. It became quite a community-based project, inviting a lot of the locals and children to participate. It sparked up a lot of conversation. There were a lot of stories shared. It was a wonderful experience.”

Renowned artists Agatha Gothe-Snape and Mitch Cairns, who won the Archibald Prize in 2017 for his portrait of Gothe-Snape, travelled from their home in Sydney with their son to be part of the event. Gothe-Snape says she was inspired by the potential to spark a wider discussion about the importance of conservation.
“Now is the time for absolute rethinking of how we are in this place. We live in a last-minute economy, but we need to think seriously about how much time we have to make change.

“We also wanted to come with our son so he could see what happens when people protest.”

The event was attended by Shadow NSW Environment Minister, Kate Washington, Federal Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, Shoalhaven Mayor, Amanda Findley and Shoalhaven Councillor, Annette Alldrick. MLA Washington says:

“It was community activism at its creative best. Positivity and resilience really shone through. There was a beautiful energy and a real collective sense of responsibility that came from it.

“The community has already experienced an awesome amount of trauma and loss and you could feel it today. The Federal and State governments must ensure that this community doesn’t feel any more trauma or loss.

“The call is loud and urgent for the Federal Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley, the State Minister for the Environment Matt Kean and the local member, Shelley Hancock to step up and stop the bulldozers, because if they don’t, the community will.”

Manyana Matters Environmental Association President, Bill Eger, was on hand to welcome visitors and take them on a tour of the exhibition and the local area. He says the event was a much-needed boost to the community’s morale.

“We are so honoured that so many of these wonderful artists gave up their weekend to be with us. By reclaiming the fence, they have turned what has been a distressing sight for our community into a symbol of hope.

“The fact we had such a great response to this initiative shows our fight is bigger than just us. It’s about protecting native habitat in bushfire affected areas right across the state and the country.”

Our wonderful Artists were Abdul Abdullah Agatha Gothe-Snape Alexandra Standen Anna Plunkett Anna-Wili Highfield Caroline Rothwell Deborah Kelly James Drinkwater Jane Theau Janet Laurence Jason Phu Jasper Knight Jenny Turpin Joan Ross Jodie Whalen Jonny Niesche Juz Kitson Lara Merrett Larraine Larri Laura Jones Leila Jeffreys Lottie Consalvo Lucas Davidson Marisa Purcell Mitch Cairns Natalie O'Loughlin Rae BegleyTom Polo Sam Gold.

Thankyou from Manyana. @Manyanamatters #manyanamatters

You all know the drill by now.  Let them know what you think and as always thankyou for your incredible support. Bill Eger. 

Matt Kean. office@kean.minister.nsw.gov.au

Rob Stokes.  office@stokes.minister.nsw.gov.au

Sussan Ley.  minister.ley@environment.gov.au 

Shelley Hancock . Local Member and Minister for Local Government. 
southcoast@parliament.nsw.gov.au