Lismore Regional Gallery to Reopen with a Weekend of Celebrations
By Robert Heyward
Lismore City Council is delighted to announce the official reopening of the Lismore Regional Gallery on Friday, 27 September at 6pm. The Gallery, which has undergone significant transformation, eagerly anticipates welcoming visitors to its newly revitalised building this spring. The reopening program will span across five galleries, showcasing the diverse and extensive artistic talent from the Northern Rivers region and beyond.
The official reopening celebration on Friday evening will feature a vibrant mix of performances, art installations, music, and catering, offering a memorable experience for all attendees. The festivities will continue throughout the weekend, with workshops, artist talks, and musical performances scheduled for Saturday, 28 September, and Sunday, 29 September.
Gallery Director Ashleigh Ralph expressed her enthusiasm for the reopening, noting its significance in the community’s recovery following the 2022 natural disaster. “The opening weekend will be pivotal in our recovery. We are galvanized by the excitement of our audience and colleagues, both regionally and nationally. As one of the longest-running cultural organizations in Northern NSW, we are thrilled to once again open our doors and share this creative hub with the community,” she said.
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg welcomed the reopening as a crucial milestone in the city’s recovery efforts. “This is great news for our community,” he said. “The popularity of the pop-up gallery during the repairs highlighted the vital role art plays in our lives, not just artistically but also for our mental wellbeing.”
Reopening Program Highlights:
- The ArtHitects Gary Carsley and Renjie Teoh: Hannah Halle
- Using only an office copier and over 4,000 individual A4 prints, The ArtHitects have created an immersive installation that symbolically reimagines the prized Hannah Cabinet by Geoffrey Hannah OAM. This exhibition, sponsored by Hurford Harwood, will feature a diverse group of artists from the Northern Rivers, creating a multi-perspectival mise en scène.
- Buruugaa Garaa Buruu Garaa Budgeramgali (Saltwater People Freshwater People Stories)
- Co-curated by Melissa Ladkin, this exhibition explores spiritual and customary relationships with water. Featuring artists Amrita Hepi, Joshua Lynch, and Djon Mundine OAM, and a live performance by Waangenga Blanco, the exhibition takes audiences on a journey through screen dances, spoken word, and musical compositions, highlighting the dynamic diversity of water and its connections to people.
- Nell Pearson and Matthew Brookes: Blue Island
- This exhibition celebrates the artistic partnership of Nell Pearson and Matthew Brookes, who live and work in the Northern Rivers. It explores the intersection of art and domestic life, where everyday gestures intertwine with their painting practices. The exhibition presents two distinct visual languages, sharing a private intimacy akin to the intertwined roots of trees in a forest.
- Sprung!! Ensemble: Sprung News
- Sprung News investigates the accessibility of media and emergency information for the disability community. Through photography, video, and audio, this exhibition offers diverse perspectives on news and storytelling. Supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW, the Northern Rivers Community Fund, and the NSW Regional Arts Fund, Sprung News presents a unique and inclusive approach to communication.
- Chloe Smith: Unbearable Incandescence
- Chloe Smith’s Unbearable Incandescence presents hyperreal textile works that blur the lines between reality and the surreal. Through her art, Smith interrogates the paradoxical search for reality in a world dominated by simulation and appearance, challenging viewers to navigate the complex relationship between memory, fiction, and truth.
The reopening of the Lismore Regional Gallery marks a significant moment for the community, offering a renewed space for creativity, reflection, and cultural engagement. Visitors are encouraged to join the celebrations and explore the rich array of exhibitions and events on offer throughout the opening weekend.
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