Unconforming art of the western wilds

 

We headed west to The Unconformity festival in Queenstown which is a fabulous eclectic unique (usually bi-annual but currently covid-disrupted) festival that expresses the disjuncture of humans and environment, and the creativity and resilience of both. We stayed in Strahan, a 50 minute winding drive away, as Queenstown was pretty much booked out. The planned 3 day festival opened on Friday, and closed on Friday due to a snap covid lockdown in southern Tasmania. Even though Queenstown was outside the lockdown area, many of the participants and attendees would have been coming from the Hobart region. However, some of the art was still displayed on Saturday, so we were privileged to be able to see some and experience one pop-up performance.

On entry to Queenstown we were greeted by Seeds - car wrecks planted, seeded with native plants. I hope this is a permanent display. Nature reclaiming mankind's destruction.

We arrived to the unexpected the Queenie Choir performing in the main street as the Crib Lane food and music area was being packed down.

We followed the choir to the Memorial Hall where they performed several more songs amongst a labyrinth of stones and words created by local school children. Marry the Land celebrates connection to country.

Then we followed the art trail, most of the galleries were still open for us. The mushrooming of local art is astonishing. We attended the opening of the new Press West print studio, reclaiming the old school buildings that have been empty for many years.

And saw a diverse range of paintings and sculptures. This one by Helena Demczuk.

After lunch over the mountain at Linda Cafe, almost being blown off the side of the mountain at Horsetail Falls, more art walking in showers between galleries, we headed back to Strahan, artfully satisfied, not realising there was more art to be discovered the next day on the never-ending Ocean Beach near Strahan.

A true reclaimation of man's underestimation of nature. The inspiration for Seeds?

We spent hours exploring nature's art. So many different coloured stones.

 Marbled patterns created by water, minerals and sand.

Comets sculpted by the wind.

The windswept beach, mountains in the distance, clouds constantly changing form.

Walking the green carpet to Hogarth Falls, after lunch in Strahan. Platypus and pink robin in the forest.

More beach art at the Macquarie Heads end of Ocean Beach. Bonnet Island lighthouse.

Who would have thought a trip to the notoriously rainy west coast of Tasmania would turn into a weekend at the beach! While Sunday was relatively, but not completely dry, the drive home of Monday was wet! Scones for morning tea at Tullah Lakeside Resort, lunch followed a short rainforest and waterfall walk at Cradle Mountain on the way home.

Unconform

We do not conform

We live on the edge

In the western wilderness

I love this about Queenstown - a place surrounded by stunning wilderness landscapes and full of resilient people who think differently.

The Unconformity festival 19-21 October 2018

Tectonica - with incredibly loud sounds of tectonic earth movements, earthquakes, rock falls - a huge rock was lifted from a truck and lowered and left in the main street for the duration of the festival.

 Crib Lane - food and music for hungry miners of culture

 New murals popping up all over town

There is a brand new café in Queenstown - good coffee and great mine inspired decore

New art on sheds

In sheds and galleries

The Black Line refers to the colonial attempt to round up and remove Tasmania's first people.



Raymond Arnold explaining how he makes the copper plates he uses for his amazingly detailed etchings and prints inspired by the landscape of the mountains around Queenstown.

These are some of the 90 individual plates and an elegant whippet. On the wall behind me the prints were all combined to create the wonderfully intricate and detailed huge work - Elsewhere World. I forgot to take a photo. The whippet distracted me.

Raymond has written a book which describes the creative process behind the plates. It is part of A Published Event's slow publishing project - Lost Rocks. More info click here. (They also published my book Floundering as part of The People's Library)

Variations on an Energetic Field - blocks of ice layered with local rocks slowly melting and dropping into drip trays.



Queenstown viewed from Penghana, the original mine manager's house.

Rory Wray-McCann filled the CWA hall with geological maps, rock specimens and geologic art work.

 and a good sense of humour

 Queenstown's resident bagpipe player. Love this music.

 Craft in action on the street

The Empire Hotel's cellar hosted a chandelier made from toffee, heated and slowly melting onto the floor. It smelled delicious. We were invited to catch and taste the drips before they hit the floor.

 

The whole festival was delicious. Why conform when you can unconform?

The next Uncomformity will be in October 2020. You might want to book accommodation way ahead. The whole town sold out - all 8 hotels/motels, b&b's and the caravan park!