On display at the Newcastle Lock-Up until 5 February 2023, “Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt” by Alex Seton was specifically made for the cells of the Lock-Up. The title of the show refers to Kurt Vonnegut’s anti-war novel “Slaughterhouse-Five” about the fire bombing of Dresden that dislocates linear time.
These beautiful artworks are worth the visit and with free entry it’s even better. We had a great time here, slowly walking around the exhibits.
Our previous visit to the Lock-Up can be found here. It details the building’s history and shows the rooms and cells with no artwork installed.
Old Gaol Cellsby Alex SetonEverything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Alex SetonThe Amber of this Moment by Alex Setonby Alex SetonStill Very Much Alive in the Past by Alex SetonStill Very Much Alive in the Past by Alex SetonPillar of Salt by Alex Seton
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Built in 1934 the Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator was originally the Willoughby Municipal Incinerator. Its purpose was to dispose of Willoughby Council’s municipal waste rather than dumping it at the tip. As the name suggests, Walter Burley Griffin designed the building, the same architect responsible for the winning design of the city Canberra in the ACT.
Designed to use the Australian designed and patented Reverberatory Refuse Incinerator, it was very efficient for its time. Essentially, it used and inclined vibrating conveyor to move waste from the feed to the furnace. As the conveyor moved, waste was heated using excess furnace heat generated from the burning waste. This dried the incoming feed, making it more efficient to burn.
Over time, council neglected the incinerator, failing to upgrade its capacity as waste volumes grew until it closed in 1967.
In 2011 the Willoughby Incinerator re-opened to operate as an art space and artist studios on the lower section, while a café operates at street level. Run by Willoughby Council, the art space and studios present a diverse range of exhibitions each year.
We had a coffee at the café and then had a look through the gallery. As well as the art, the building interior was interesting, because of the industrial architecture still visible. Unfortunatley, much has been removed, but some still remains.
Walter Burley Griffin IncineratorWalter Burley Griffin IncineratorLift to the Art Space on the Lower LevelArt Work on DisplayPart of the Original IncineratorArt Work on DisplayArt Work on Display
Located in the centre of Katoomba the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre contains the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery and Into the Blue which is an interactive exhibition that explores the history and natural landscape of the Blue Mountains. Also housed in the building, is the Katoomba Library.
Into the Blue
Into the Blue is an interactive exhibition which explains the history of the Blue Mountains. Not only does it detail indigenous and European history, but it explains the geological history of the area. This details how the mountains formed and how weather and rivers have sculpted the landscape to become what it is today.
Native animals and plants are described along with the impact development has had on their populations. The importance of the World Heritage listing is explained along with how this is protecting this beautiful and unique environment.
Blue Mountains City Art Gallery
Vicky Brown
This was a fun and interesting exhibit, as most of the parts were moving. Those suspended from the roof were free to move, while on the floor, mobile pieces built on robot vacuum cleaners knocked into them. We found this exhibition to be happily different and well presented.
Adrienne Richards
The works by Adrienne Richards was a more traditional exhibit, with some lovely ceramics and drawings. A series of ceramic plates were on one wall, with paintings of invertebrates were in glass cases.
Katoomba Cultural Centre
Located outside the art gallery, a viewing platform gives views over Katoomba and the Jamison Valley. The gallery has placed a sculpture here.
Work/Play by Vicky BrowneWork/Play by Vicky BrowneCeramic Plates by Adrienne RichardsCeramic Plate by Adrienne RichardsInvertebrate By Adrienne RichardsThe Way We Live Now by Adrienne RichardsSculpture Outside the GalleryKatoomba Cultural Centre
