Enquires should be directed to the Centre Coordinator on 9895 8888 or email bhcac@whitehorse.vic.gov.au.

The Garden Room is a carpeted room located off a main passageway in the centre. It has large windows, storage shelves and a sink.

Dimensions: 4 metres x 3 metres

Gardens as well as art evoke a sense of wonder and are powerful forms of communication. Now more than ever, in these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, gardens and parks are providing a serene refuge to ground ourselves, to cultivate mindfulness and be present in the here and now.
During my residency I will conduct research on the BHCAC gardens and the City of Whitehorse parks’ vegetation by exploring introduced and indigenous flora through different media such as installation, digital micro-photographs (use of microscopes), pen & ink drawings, film and digital photography.
Simultaneously, I would be exploring the indigenous and introduced flora of my own studio’s gardens which has been a source of inspiration for my work during the past 23 years.
Thus, the outcome of my residency will be a new body of work resulting from a fusion of the research material of both floras.

For more info about Marynes visit her website.

Steven Firman is a multidisciplinary artist specialising in many mediums including painting, ceramics and shortfilm. Steven has several diplomas and degrees that have enhanced his natural artistic ability and allowed him to gain skills and knowledge to underpin his works of art.

Steven comes to Box Hill, after sharing studios at Burrinja Arts Centre in Upwey for over three years. An example of the paintings he produced there is Dresden Doll, where the tonal depiction of a Clock maker and his newly aware creation contrast with the brightly coloured shapes in the background. Recently, hand built ceramics have depicted weighty topics such as climate change in playful, colourful ways, eg. Frog in a Pot. He is currently producing a Yarra Ranges funded short film, Egg3 (cubed) – an absurdist take on a world where Science has improved on Nature to make mutant chooks that lay cube-shaped eggs. Of course, Steven is completely hands on – creating the script, sets, props, masks, costumes and puppets.

At Box Hill Community Arts Centre, Steven plans to work with embedded arts groups, eg weavers, painters, Tai Chi, choir as well as classes from a local Secondary School. He hopes to explore themes such as where have we come from – colonisation of Australia (set at Schwercolt Cottage), where are we now – rapid consumerist expansion (skyscraper in Box Hill!), and what do we want our future to look like?

Brett Ashby is a Public Artist and has worked on over 20 projects across Australia.  His work involves mosaic artworks, sculpture, performance and public arts education.  Brett has lived in the USA, UK and Europe.

Project
Brett will work with youth in our 2019 School Holiday Programs.

Brett’s exhibition ‘Blue Light’ will showcase in the BHCAC Gallery in April 2019.

Brett will also facilitate an interesting and informative Artist Talk on Public Art on Wednesday 1 May 7pm – 9pm.

A public art outcome is intended result of his residency.

Arisa Kawabe was born in Japan in 1986 and studied sculpture at Nihon university from 2006. She completed a master’s degree program at Nihon University College of Arts in 2012. After graduation, Arisa studied ceramics at The Shigaraki ceramic cultural park as Artist in residence in 2013. Arisa then studied at Kunsthochschule Kassel Norbert Radermacher Klasse in Germany from 2017.

Her work will involve memory themes using sculpture, video, painting, ceramic, salt and various other materials.

Website: http://www.kawabearisa.com

Project

Everyone has precious memories, but they will be lost over time. However, even if memory is lost from the body (thinking the body is a container for the spirit), the being called “I”, which is made from the past memories, appears in this world. The whole world consists of the accumulation of small stories of such “I” behind a large historical account. Someone’s story as a motive will be connected to small stories of “I” through her exhibition. The exhibition will help us to feel the world is little.

This project is a participatory project and will exchange letters that were written by participants under the theme of “clothing memory” into ceramic flowers. The purpose of this community art project is sharing emotional memories between myself, artists and viewers. I have already performed a similar pilot project in Japan 2015. In 2016 based on the “letter”, I made clothes with pottery that were presented to the author of the letter. This project is will be held in March 2018 in Kassel, Germany. I would like to do this in Australia as well and create a project to connect the countries and individual cultures. By thinking about projects in various countries, not only in Japan, I think that people can be connected through “clothing memory” even in countries with different cultures, customs and languages. I hope to further develop this project by interacting with national culture and people.

Emma Finch’s art practice is eclectic using mixed media with a main focus in painting techniques. Emma has several Diplomas and Certificates that assist her in her part time career as an Art Therapist. Emma has worked on projects such as “The Black Dog Community Art Project” – an art therapy exhibition with an emphasis on Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression.

Project
Emma will facilitate art therapy workshops entitled “Now and Then” & “Then and Now” where participants will explore what it means to be “me” in the past, present and future. The programs will run in Term 1:
6 – 15 year olds
50 years plus
AND
Term 2
6 – 15 year olds
50 years plus 

Emma will also present an Artist Talk on Art Therapy, some of it’s benefits and who it is suitable for on Wednesday 28 August , 2019 6.30pm – 8.30pm.

Emma’s exhibition will feature in the BHCAC Gallery in September/October, 2019.

2018 Katherine Marmaras
2018 Maria Radun
2017 Catriona Galbraith
2017 Edwina Marion
2017 Marynes Avila
2017 Jihye Min
2017 Yinghong Li
2016 Annemarie Murland
2016 Melanie Jane Taylor
2015 Melissa Peacock
2014 Julienne Storrar
2012 Vanessa David
2012 Tina Alesi
2011 Nikita Burt
2010 Judy Leong