Tonight at Lismore Regional Gallery, you can join the conversation with the artistic director of the Biennale of Sydney, José Roca as he speaks with Lismore locals.

Jose will be speaking with Lismore Mayor, Vanessa Ekins and Bundjalung artist and Arts Northern Rivers Indigenous Arts Officer Kylie Caldwell.

Their conversation will explore their shared experiences of land care, water management, research and the importance of cultural, social and environmental justice to local communities. 

Claudie Frock, Community Engagement Officer at Lismore Regional Gallery, will facilitate the conversation, exploring the critical relationship between art, science and water through this discussion presented by the 23rd Biennale of Sydney.

Please enter Lismore Regional Gallery from the Rural Street entrance for this event.

Where: Lismore Regional Gallery Event Space

When: April 21 2021

Time: 6pm - 7pm

*A wheelchair accessible space

*Event is free but bookings essential

Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/BQLON

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About José Roca

José Roca is the Artistic Director of the 23rd Biennale of Sydney (2022). He is a curator and Artistic Director of FLORA ars+natura, an independent space for contemporary art in Bogotá, and curator of the LARA collection, Singapore. He was the Estrellita B. Brodsky Adjunct Curator of Latin American Art at Tate, London (2012-2015) and managed the arts program at the Banco de la República (MAMU) in Bogotá.

José was a co-curator of the I Poly/graphic Triennial in San Juan, Puerto Rico (2004), the 27th Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil (2006) and was the Artistic Director of Philagrafika 2010. He served on the awards jury for the 52nd Venice Biennial (2007) and is the author of Transpolitical: art in Colombia 1992-2012 (with Sylvia Suárez), and Waterweavers: A Chronicle of Rivers (with Alejandro Martín).

About Vanessa Ekins

Vanessa Ekins is the Lismore City Mayor. She has been a Councillor since 2004, was voted deputy Mayor in 2008 and became the Lismore City Mayor this year in 2021. She is a delegate on Rous Water and Chair on Council’s Environment Committee. Vanessa is a qualified science teacher and land-carer and wants to see habitat corridors through-out rural and urban Lismore.

"When I first moved to Lismore the debate around town was whether to build a flood levee to protect the CBD from regular floodwaters. From my hydrology studies at university I understood that planting trees in the upper catchment would reduce flood levels and velocities, so I wrote a submission to the council stating this. They built the levee but I joined Landcare and 20 years later I am still planting trees on the riverbanks of Lismore."

About Kylie Caldwell

Kylie Caldwell is a Bundjalung artist and Arts Northern Rivers Indigenous Arts Officer. 

She is an ardent weaver and fibre artist, interested in reviving and pursuing traditional cultural practices that her ancestors have used over thousands of years, rediscovering these ancient Bundjalung crafts and threading them into the modern world. Kylie seeks to soak up the knowledge and wisdom from Bundjalung Jargoon (country), utilising varies modes to deepen and expand her own cultural creative expression and knowledge. She is committed to growing traditional weaving through both the ancient form and contemporary artistry to represent an enduring Bundjalung identity. 

Kylie is also working with the WakeUpTime Women group Auntie Janelle Duncan, Auntie Teresa Bolt and Auntie Margaret Torrens who have been invited to be part of the 23rd Biennale of Sydney. The group is are based in Casino and have been meeting for over ten years to share stories, learn traditional crafts and make intricate pieces. Sharing skills has been a way of renewing culture for the group. The women have transformed their passion for weaving into a unique collection of garments, jewellery, bags and baskets.