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22/09/2013Light on the Fringe – Project Success!

Whilst New Media art has a reputation for alienating audiences, the recent Light on the Fringe event forged a new and real connection between viewers and a well-known Townsville public space. Light on the Fringe saw the collaboration between New Media artist Robert Cripse and a group of local artists to produce a series of outdoor light installations projected onto the exterior wall of Umbrella Studio. The event, which coincided with the biennial Strand Ephemera public art festival, gave viewers an insight into the world of light installations and projection mapping. Monumental, vibrant and playful describes the final compositions.  As a secondary Visual Art teacher, the workshops that lead to the final installation were invaluable for gaining skills in manipulating digital film and learning new approaches for experimental design. Robert Crispe’s deep involvement with his art form, combined with his knowledge and raw talent, enabled participants to make real creative…
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20/09/2013Update from Aber

  Update from Aber: Umbrella artist member Jenny Mulcahy has embarked on her sensational three month residency at the Aberystwyth Art Centre. It is now two weeks into my residency and much of that time has been spent setting up my studio, gathering materials and sorting I.T. connections. I have also had my first play with a variety of local clays, all of which are very nice to work with…..even the terracotta, which I normally loathe and avoid as I find it sticky and unpleasant to work with. I am sharing the flat at Godre’r Glas with two other artists, Tereza, a Czech photographer who is based in London and Endel, a performance/mixed media artist from Cork, Ireland. As well as being flat mates our studios are located close together which will be good as we’ll be able to see and discuss each other’s work as it progresses. I have…
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25/06/2013Light on the Fringe Project Update

At the first Light on the Fringe workshop, we were shown examples of some great projection festivals all around the world – particularly VIVID SYDNEY. Robert Crispe introduced us to some software packages that can be used for interactive artwork and projection mapping. We were told how many projectors we would have to work with (from MAAP Media Bank), and got to check out the carpark and wall space for the projections. We decided to use three projectors for the wall, one projector to be used on something else using Mad Mapper, one projector for some kind of game, and one for an interactive work. At the second workshop we got to know participants a little better and showed each other our work. Robert then presented us with a tutorial in the AfterEffects software where we created video art using different filters and effects using our existing work or footage….
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28/05/2013Townsville Artist selected for Telstra

Umbrella Member and Townsville based artist, Gail Mabo will exhibit her artwork for the first time in the prestigious 30th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award. The exhibition is held annually in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin. The Award attracts a range of Indigenous artists from all parts of the country and about 100 works are selected each year from around 300 entries. Mabo’s monoprint titled, Before Time was created during a master class at Umbrella Studio, facilitated by Theo Tremblay for Murris in Ink Printmakers. Gail is a founding member of Murris in Ink, a collective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists who live and work in North Queensland. The group have been working with various printmaking techniques and learning from some of Australia’s greatest printmakers since 2008. The Award was established in 1984 as the National Aboriginal Art…
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11/04/2013North Queensland Arts Awards

2013 North Queensland Arts Awards will take place on Friday 12 April 2013 at the Townsville Civic Theatre. The Awards recognise the outstanding contribution made to our region’s vibrant cultural life each year, and is an event hosted annually by Townsville City Council. This year Umbrella Studio, our fantastic members and great events have been acknowledged with nominations including; Vicki Salisbury Umbrella Director, Stephen de Jersey Umbrella Studio President for Lost Spaces, Alison McDonald formally on the Board and active Umbrella member, Rurik Henry and Robert Henry for their memorable exhibition Steel and Stone, Creatures of Myth and Magic, and Hanging in the Wind, the record breaking exhibition of photographs compiled by Townsville Bulletin and curated by Scott Radford-Chisholm. There may be others that we don’t know about yet, congratulations to all of the nominees.


30/04/2012Compact Prints participants blog about their entries!

Penny Peckham, a participant from this year’s Compact Prints has blogged about her entry into the exhibition. You can read Penny’s blog here. Vesna Klačar-Nedimović another participant has blogged about her entry into the exhibition with a short slideshow. You can visit Vesna’s website here  


Umbrella has moved to a new website. This website is only kept online as an archive of exhibitions and events.