WHAT: Woden Artist Residencies with various local artists

WHEN: September to December, 2023

NEXT RESIDENCY: 15 – 17 September & 22 – 29 September, 2023

COST: Free

DETAILS:

Tuggeranong Arts Centre and Woden Arts presents a series of residencies activating Woden Town Square. Based in Lovett Tower, the 2-week residencies offer local artists an opportunity to work and interact with community; bringing sound, colour and art to the heart of Woden. Interested members of the public are encouraged to pop in for a chat with the artists and take part in a variety of community engagement activities. Residency details are available below. More information will be added in coming weeks.

George Zhao

George Zhao: Artist in residence 15-17 September & 22-29 September

Sonic artist George Zhao will be collecting sound around Woden on the weekend of 15 – 17 September. The following week, from 22 and 29 September, George invites the community to explore these sounds and create their own soundscapes in real time at a play table in Lovett Tower.

The Play Table project invites the community to rediscover the sounds of daily life. George will construct a table designed for auditory expression. As participants tap, scratch, or manipulate its surface, the table will capture these sounds, process them, and then play them back, crafting a soundscape in real-time. In addition to its technical dimensions, the Play Table serves as a platform to explore the philosophy of play. It is intended to inspire participants to approach sound and music with a playful mindset, potentially blurring the lines between music and noise, performer and audience.

Artist Bio 

George Zhao is a musician who is captivated by the nuanced sounds that fill our daily lives. Eschewing the traditional divide between ‘music’ and ‘noise’, he crafts soundscapes where ordinary sonic artefacts are transformed into central elements of an evocative auditory journey. Drawing inspiration from the philosophy of play, his works encourage an explorative and interactive approach to listening, inviting audiences to find joy in the ordinary and unexpected. Currently, George is deepening his exploration of sound and its intersections with daily life as he pursues his PhD remotely at Rhodes University in South Africa. 

Residency Statement 

George Zhao is delighted to have the opportunity to undertake a micro-residency at the Lovett Tower, where he will be building a sound installation. The Play Table is designed to capture and process everyday sounds. It will incorporate piezoelectric sensors and speakers into its surface, transforming the table into an interactive canvas for auditory expression. The process of building the installation will be an integral part of the residency. Taking place in the first week of the residency, George will construct and test the sound processing and playback functions of his electronic installation. In the second week, George will focus on fine-tuning the installation and opening it up for others to interact with. Overall, this residency will be a journey of discovery and creativity, as the Play Table come to life.

Sheen Woei Goh 

Artist Sheen Woei Goh : Artist in residence 16 -29 October.

Over two weeks in October, Woden-based artist Sheen Woei Goh will brighten the Lovett Tower space with artwork and live music; and invite the community to unleash their creativity and artist within. Anyone interested in Sheen’s art practice is welcome to pop in for a chat, a song, or to create an artwork with oil paint. Sheen believes art allows people to open up to new ideas and discover new experiences, while elevating a sense of awareness and mindfulness. She hopes the residency will give the community an opportunity to gather together, creatively express their values and foster art appreciation.

Free public art making sessions will be happening on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week, between 9am – 5pm. Drop in and make a galaxy oil painting with Sheen. All materials will be provided.

Residency Statement 

As part of her residency at Lovett Tower, Sheen will use the opportunity to curate and exhibit her work, created in various mixed mediums such as pigment liner, acrylic paint, oil paint, Posca markers and origami paper. She will also use the time and space to expand her artistic endeavours through the creation of a larger and more dynamic artwork and hold live performances of some classical pieces and covers of movie soundtracks.

Artist Bio 

Sheen Woei Goh is an aspiring artist working primarily with pigment liners and oil paint, as well as folding origami and using Posca markers to make art. Over the past couple of years, Sheen has participated in various Canberra-based art exhibitions and art markets which has given her valuable experience and exposure in Canberra. She hopes that the project will bring joy to the people of Woden.