Drawing Walkshop
17-20 January 2024
Presented by Melinda Hunt
The Drawing Walkshop is an opportunity for artists for whom walking is essential to an art-making practice.
Running over five days in January 2024, the Drawing Walkshop created a space for walking artists in Sydney to connect, to walk together in the surrounding area, to make work, and to talk about the significance of walking to creative activites.
An invitation was issued as a call-out on social media appealing to walking artists whose practice involves drawing, painting or photography; if it is a body-based practice or if it creates installations or sculptures using objects found while walking, or if walking is a way of arriving at creative solutions.
The Walkshop ran each day from 11am to 5pm, Wednesday 17 to Saturday 20 January and 12 midday to 5pm on Sunday 21 January at DRAW Space in Newtown, Gadigal. Artists could join the Walkshop for an hour, a day or more. Attendance was free.
Across the five days, 24 artists participated in the Walkshop. They were Ange Bateman, Jane Bodnaruk, Richard Briggs, Frances Burke, Jane Caveney, Alice Crawford, Steven Durbach, Liz Eastland, Katy Goodard, Melinda Hunt, Annelies Jahn, Judith Macrae, Naomi McKean, Lisa McKimmie, Lucinda Petchell, Kate Riley, Yuri Shimmyo, Anke Stäcker, Matthew Tome, Carlos Velasquez, Molly Wagner, Bella Whitcher, Alison Winchester and Sandra Winkworth.
Drawing Walkshop, Day 1, DRAW Space, Newtown
Steve Durbach and Richard Briggs
Such a great day… thank you, Melinda.
Steve
The Program
Each morning Walkshop participants gathered at DRAW Space around large communal tables. The first part of the day was spent listening to fellow-artists introduce their art-making practices in short presentations with the assistance of a projector that allowed for artwork on websites or social media to be shared with the group. Participants had an opportunity to ask questions to better understand one another’s motivations and methods.
After a short break, participants set off around the area to walk and make for 30-45 minutes. Given the warm summer weather, participants were free to return to the air-conditioned gallery at any time. Once back in the space, everyone pinned their work to the walls and spent time looking at one another’s work, talking about the experience of making and sharing their findings. The reflections exchanged were often fascinating and illuminating. For artists more accustomed to making work in the classroom or studio, walking and drawing simultaneously resulted in unexpected outcomes including mark-making that was more responsive and intuitive. Many were surprised by what they had created and motivated by the diverse approaches to the exercise.
Presentations
Several artists made presentations during the Walkshop. Molly Wagner, co-founder of the Australian Walking Artists (AWA), introduced the AWA and the vibrant group of artists who are members of the group. Molly also described her experiences attending conferences for walking artists held in Greece and Spain. Anke Stäcker spoke about her practice, initiated during lockdown, in which she photographs streets throughout Sydney named after women. Richard Briggs provided a document to enable artists to view his practice at a later time.
Day 1
Days 2 and 3
Days Two and Three included further experimentation with video and photography. Alison Winchester created an installation using vegetation gathered from an empty block opposite DRAW Space. Carlos Velasquez also began an installation using found objects that was completed over subsequent days. Carlos also presented an array of photographs taken while walking in Newtown and Enmore. Kate Riley also presented a collection of photographs and drawings made in the gallery that reference the photographs. Similarly, Bella Witcher took photographs that were then used as reference for a collection of colourful, small cut-out drawings.
Kate Riley and Alison Winchester
Carlos Velasquez
Left to right: Alison, Judith, Bella and Carlos
Hi Mel, I forgot to reply after the workshop weekend that I really enjoyed finding out more about walking and drawing.
Jane
Days 4 and 5
Days Four and Five saw artists working on larger installations and expanded projects. Carlos began a series of photographs of objects in the landscape that had symbolic significance. These contributed to a poem that completed a large wall installation. Kate Riley also added to her collection of photographs and drawings. Matthew and Lucinda created a large work using frottage, capturing textures from objects in the environment with waxy crayons. Beatriz took photographs of patterns, focussing on tesselated tiles and doors. Naomi continued her series of walking drawings using ink on paper, capturing aspects of the landscape glimpsed while walking, contributing to a swirling, tumultuous result.
Matthew Tome and Lucinda Petchell
Discussing the work
In conclusion
The Drawing Walkshop held at DRAW Space in January 2024 presented a one-off opportunity for artists with an interest in walking to meet with others, to connect and compare methods and outcomes. Given that artists frequently make art in isolation and opportunities for community are rare, the conversations that occurred during the event were invigorating and inspiring. Several participants contacted me after the event to speak about shifts in practice and a sense of excitement over the opportunities that walking presents. I hope that DRAW Space will be able to host similar events in the future.
Coming in December 2024
Later this year DRAW Space will host an exhibition of five projects that incorporate walking and generate drawing, among other outcomes. Keep an eye on the DRAW Space social media for updates and sign up for DRAW Space e-invitations on the home page to find out more.
Thanks again Melinda for today and for your generosity, really enjoyed it all.
Katy