CREATE opening night extravaganza

CREATE Festival opening night was one for the books, as more than 200 art and culture enthusiasts gathered to celebrate a record 100 artworks inspired by ‘Country’.

The festival launch was buzzing with community members ready to take in the creative accumulation that connects community, creativity, and innovation.

Paintings, sculptures, and installations filled the Riverside Room at The Crossing Theatre foyer, and auditorium on Friday, March 8, and will run over the next 16 days.

Narrabri Shire Council cultural services and tourism manager Scott Pollock couldn’t be happier with what he considers the biggest CREATE yet for the shire.

“I am rapt and couldn’t be happier with how well the evening went,” said Mr Pollock, who is also an artist in his own right.

The tally of artwork sold on the opening evening is still incoming, but the estimate currently stands at $15,000.

Mr Pollock said there was significant new interest from local and travelling artists from Narrabri, Coonabarabran, Sydney, and all over.

“Next year’s problem will be figuring out where we’re going to put all of this remarkable artwork if it continues to grow at this rate,” said Mr Pollock.

Two of the artists Jo Hannaford and Lisa Marple with Poppy and Pearl Fuller.

The Lyniece Keogh Walk with Us installation was a vibrant, historic tribute to the Gomeroi Nation, showcasing the combined efforts of many communities.

“It was such a powerful exhibition because there were so many people involved, from children, artists, and Aboriginal agencies, who came together to contribute to the pieces,” said Mr Pollock.

The public were invited to add their own contributions to the exhibition, getting the chance to decorate a boomerang that will display alongside those done by local artists.

The Art After Brain Injury Exhibition was another special addition that greeted guests in the foyer and contained the traveling collection from Manning Regional Art Gallery in Taree.

Mr Pollock’s own pieces sat within this collection, which held personal significance because of his experience having a brain aneurysm.

“The work in this exhibition was quite confronting, it’s about brain injuries and how people express themselves after them,” said Mr Pollock.

“It was nice to showcase Scott Pollock as the person, as this was a time in my life when art became essential.”

Tamworth-based Goldheist provided the perfect backing music with her haunting and ethereal vocals and baby grand piano accompaniment.

This year also saw the most number of sponsors yet for CREATE, from a diverse range of people, groups, and communities supporting the event.

“This couldn’t happen without our sponsors, we really do acknowledge them and thank them, and I really couldn’t find the right words to express the amount of gratitude that we have,” said Mr Pollock.

Pattie Lettice delivered Welcome to Country.

“There are private sponsors who are just members of the community who have an appreciation for art, which is also quite extraordinary.”

Mr Pollock also expressed immense gratitude for mayor Darrell Tiemens, and the importance of art to the Narrabri Shire Council, who he applauded for pursuing more events that engage the community.

“I acknowledge all the hard work that people did years ago which created our civic section – but I’m also excited to see more art events happening in the Narrabri Shire,” said Mr Pollock.

“CREATE is a great example of something needed here, and the support from our community proves it.”

Now with the official 16 days of creative workshops and exhibitions underway, Mr Pollock is excited to see the next NarraBRIGHT night street festival on Friday, March 15.