Sounds, Sights and Textures:

Connecting the Hunter Wetlands to music and fibres

This exhibition explores the relationship between the natural world, music, visual, fibre and textile art forms. In particular, Sounds, Sights and Textures: connecting the Hunter Wetlands to music, and fibre art  explores the relationships between hearing and observing in a specific site and artists’ creative responses to them.

The natural world has long been a source of inspiration for a diverse range of artists and expressive forms including visual, textile and fibre arts and music. Local musician, singer and community choir co-ordinator, Maureen O’Brien, was inspired by the beauty of the sounds, sights and rhythms of the Hunter’s very own wetlands to compose 6 musical pieces that evoke different aspects of the locale and its inhabitants. Up to 20 artists were invited to select one of Maureen’s musical compositions and respond to it in their preferred art medium/s.

The exhibition will have two iterations. Firstly, Sounds, Sights and Textures of the Wetlands will be mounted from January to February 2024 at Timeless Textiles Gallery, Newcastle, and then will be displayed at the site of inspiration in the Hunter Wetlands at its own Art Gallery later in 2024. At the exhibitions visitors will be able to not only view the art works, but also listen through headphones to the musical compositions that inspired them.