In the first of two residencies between 2019 and 2020, artists Melanie Dare and Claire Bushby work collaboratively to explore the commonalities between their working processes, focusing on cultural connections to place, and relationships between self-identity and community.

During their time in Studio 1, they will host fortnightly sewing circles with local artists and craftspeople, networking with Midland community.

It’s 2019 and the rules have changed. Shakespeare’s female characters have voices and it’s time to hear their stories. Unbound is a theatrical exploration of the mystery, mythology and misogyny in the works of William Shakespeare. An interdisciplinary team of artists collaborate to create an innovative public performance at MJAC that celebrates the legacy and influence of Shakespeare while remembering who it was written for. The people. Unbound is culminating in creative development showings, from the 2nd to the 10th of August 2019.

Adrienne Kenafake is a visual artist from the Gold Coast, Queensland. Her arts practice pushes the boundaries of sculpture, collage, textiles and drawing to showcase the Australian landscape. Exploring borders, boundaries and nominal notions associated with these themes, Adrienne drives her interpretation of environments beyond her home at Southport on the Gold Coast.

Den L Scheer and Eric C are emerging artists based in Perth, both holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Curtin University. In residence, Den and Eric will explore historical textile techniques that have been interrogated and repositioned within a contemporary context to discuss ways of retaining these skills through production. Their collaborative project will also represent their unique familial narratives. The final outcome will include large scale soft sculptural works that combine their different skills in the form of a quilted set of reclaimed wool bags or hides.

Rohin Kickett is a Noongar artist from the Ballardong region. Rohin’s artworks are inspired by his family stories of strength and survival, along with his own personal experiences growing up in Perth. Born within 50km of where his family first made contact with settlers, his connection to the Ballardong region runs deep within his family.

Living locally in Parkerville, Ryan Ahern is a contemporary painter and photographer practicing in Perth. Ahern’s figurative paintings are marked by nostalgia and a subdued realism reminiscent of French impressionists and post-impressionist work.

Lindsay Malay is a Gija man. Born in Wyndham and growing up on Bedford Downs Cattle Station and in Halls Creek, Lindsay now lives and paints in Warmun. Lindsay explores the themes of Bulgundi (Homeland), Bedford Downs Station country, Rockybar, Jarrinybal (Reincarnation), Budabuwring (his grandmother’s father), survival stories and his grandfather, Sally Malay. He especially connects with his grandmother and grandfather’s country through his own painting and works assisting elder artists.

Phoebe Clarke’s practice is an investigation that sits on the border of the alienating and the benign, with a focus on materiality and viewer dynamics. During her residency, Clarke will be manipulating three installations, to draw out these two states and nudge them into the viewer’s consciousness.

Jarrad Martyn’s practice explores how different moments in Australian history have been framed and how we engage with spaces after they have become abandoned. Through painting and installation Martyn employs the principles of bricolage ‘something constructed from a diverse range of things’ to bring together imagery and research to create a more conversational meaning of the history being explored.

Gabby Loo explores ideas and observations that arise on her travels to Midland during the residency. For each day that she visits, the artist will delve into new-found inspirations through the sequential art of pictographs and comics. These will take shape through drawing, textiles, printmaking and collage photography processes.

Bina Butcher and Tessa Beale will work in residence, creating conditions for quiet consideration of ephemeral moments through sound, video projection, found objects and works on paper. Exploring the movement of bodies of water, textures, shadows and sound, the artists aim to re-contextualise their own sensory experiences and interactions in a new environment: the gallery.

Dion Hamill is a commercial illustrator who has worked in advertising and marketing for the past 20 years. He is the author and illustrator of three children’s books and has illustrated picture books and book covers for various authors. Influenced by natural surroundings and science fiction themes, Dion’s works emphasize emotion over photo-realism.

Louise Hamill is a contemporary artist working across painting, drawing and sculpture. Inspired by dreams, the supernatural and nature, Louise creates highly detailed nightscapes of imagined and real scenes in nature. 

Feltwest is a not-for-profit organisation with a large number of passionate and innovative felt-makers. The group will be running a pop-up shop featuring a range of unique hand-made gifts ahead of Christmas, including fine silk scarves, bags, lamps, pin-cushions and wearable art.

Felt-making demonstrations will be held each open day at 11am and 2.30pm. 

Sarah Thornton-Smith is an artist-designer with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Curtin University. Following her graduation in 1993, she pursued her interests working in interiors and graphics in various design companies, always maintaining a fascination with colour. 

Her work stems from observing nature directly, with field study drawings and illustrations influenced by the rhythmic beats of music, while being inspired by narrative words and ideas that allow her to play with colour intuitively.

Louise Hamill is an artist from New Zealand currently based in Guildford, Perth. Working with paint and sculpture she creates artworks inspired by nature, consciousness and dreams. Hamill paints hyper-landscapes that viewers can explore and become lost in, recreating that sense of wonder for nature experienced during childhood.  

Harriet Perryer designs and creates a range of unique products inspired by Australian native flora. Using a variety of techniques from illustration to laser cutting and screen printing, Perryer has developed an artistic practice that allows her to bring her view of what Australian native flora is and can be to life. She uses a muted colour palette to bring focus to the floral patterns, and balances intricacy with minimalism. The sca.har. brand is about creating meaningful, useful, beautiful pieces that promote sustainability through both production and practicality.