News
24 February, 2025
New Somerset exhibit opened
The Somerset art community flocked to The Condensery – Somerset Regional Art Gallery for the opening of the inaugural Harvest Biennial on Saturday, February 15.
Volatile Terrain, the first of the two-yearly exhibition series, is a collaborative exhibition featuring artwork from five Somerset artists and eight internationally renowned artists.
Somerset Regional Council Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke had the honour of opening the first Harvest Biennial. “This project is a rare opportunity for emerging artists,” she said. “There will be a suite of talks, workshops, and activities led by the featured artists and I strongly encourage our community to get involved.”
Guest curator Cara-Ann Simpson worked alongside Somerset artists Cassandra Hodgins, Jim Filmer, Naomi McKenzie, Sandi Hook, and Shirley Gregor to develop the exhibition.
“The process has been really fantastic,” Ms Simpson said. “I was able to work with these artists across a year with professional and creative development and use their conceptual development to invite state and nationally recognised artists into the show as well. It's been quite inspirational to see the way the artists have taken their theme and expanded their practices as well.”
Ms Simpson mentioned that Harvest Biennial was the first project of its kind in regional Australia. “There is an incredible opportunity for The Condensery to firmly establish its reputation as prioritising local regional artists at its core.”
Volatile Terrain is open until 27 April 2025.
This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia.
