A prominent component of the 2011 Two Fires Festival art stream is a program of field study in the Upper Shoalhaven catchment area surrounding Braidwood, producing visual responses to this significant water collection area. Participants will be of two streams, regional artists of the Braidwood area, working alongside art students of the Canberra School of Art and Goulburn TAFE, or collaboratively if the situation arises. The study will include four field trips over the summer of 2010-11, in which participation to a minimum of two are required. Artists may work ‘plein air', or take away inspiration to develop artworks in their own studio spaces over the summer.

Guests to Braidwood will camp, be billeted with Braidwood artists, or accommodated at Braidwood Arts Guesthouse, in Hawthorne Lane on the edge of Braidwood. This will be the base camp for forays into the countryside, also the venue for social gatherings and group activities.

The Two Fires theme of Art and Activism will be explored visually by participating artists. Within this context they will be informed by various members of the local community who are knowledgeable regarding issues of catchment health equaling river health relative to the study. Guests will include catchment management officers, farmers, botanists, aquatic researchers and indigenous leaders.

Focus of field time will be in the riparian zone, corridors of natural vegetation for migration of species. These riparian zones have the highest level of species use in the vicinity. They act as filters, pulling insects and sediment into the ecosystem and so are prime studies for 'Catchment Health equals River Health'.

It is with great pleasure the Two Fires Committee will host John Wolseley, renowned environmental artist, who will open the exhibition on Friday 1st April 2011, during the Festival.

Any interested in participating, or billeting guests please contact the co-ordinators Cecile Galiazzo on 0413 943 158 or Fran Ifould on 0417 433 337, for more information.

KEY DATES

Expressions of interest deadline - Oct 16th 2010; Participation in two of four Field Trips in the Braidwood countryside, summer 2010-11; Commitment to Exhibition, opening; April 1st 2011, National Theatre Braidwood, as part of the Two Fires Festival.