Community News

Rochelle Summerfield takes Mr Gulaptis through her multi-media presentation in the grounds of Grafton Regional Gallery. Image: contributed.

Clarence Valley artist secures $1250 grant from NSW government

Clarence Valley artist, Rochelle Summerfield has secured a $1250 grant from the NSW Government to help showcase a multi-media project called ‘Turning Points’ at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis has announced.

Mr Gulaptis said Rochelle from Seelands near Grafton, is one of only two artists from regional NSW who has been awarded funding from the NSW Artists’ Grant Program to help develop and display her project. The other artist was from Bathurst.

“I am thrilled for Rochelle as it will provide her with a unique opportunity to develop her work while sustaining and growing her career in the arts,” Mr Gulaptis said.

Ms Summerfield said her three-minute multi-media project about loss and transformation was inspired by a visit to the drought-stricken Macquarie River where she saw her first barren riverbed downstream of Dubbo.

“I wanted to create a visual story about the choices we make around our values and what we cherish, Ms Summerfield said.

“By inspiring people to reconnect with nature and love our rivers I hope to remind people of the crossroads we face with our unique riparian environment, when economics are our values.

“My work uses video, dance, sound, drawings and collage to tell the story of a female protagonist making choices about her values and dealing with post-colonial legacies like the Noogoora burr and a burren, dry riverbed,” she said.

Ms Summerfield’s exhibition called ‘Crossroads’ will be installed at the Western Plains Cultural Centre at Dubbo on Saturday December 7.