We revisited the Maitland Regional Art Gallery in late May 2023 and were lucky to catch two great exhibitions in their last days. It’s not often that we get to see Torres Strait art displayed in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Australia, this was a great opportunity.
Mir Giz Kemerkemer Opged Lam Zenadh Kes (Stories From the Eastern Islands – Torres Strait) by Toby Cedar
18 March – 28 May 2023
As a Torres Strait Islander and now Maitland local, artist Toby Cedar finds deep connection between art, community and culture. This exhibition presented works celebrating Eastern island culture with both traditional and contemporary art forms. The works covered traditional histories of masks, headdresses, myths and legends.
Outrigger Canoe by Toby CedarNete Ka Nali (Who am I) by Toby CedarNete Ka Nali (Who am I) by Toby CedarToby CedarNete Ka Nali (Who am I) by Toby CedarNete Ka Nali (Who am I) by Toby Cedar
Tjukurpa by Rita Watson and Selinda Davidson
4 March – 28 May 2023
This exhibition is the result of a collaborative glass project between Ninuku Arts (community of First Nations Artists) and JamFactory (South Australia). A unique form of storytelling, these works not only share the stories of each artist but have also become a valued part of intergenerational learning at Ninuku.
This exhibition brings together the artworks of Rita Watson and Selinda Davidson with glass vessels as contemporary translations of their ancestral stories.
Tjukurpa by Rita Watson and Selinda DavidsonTjukurpa by Rita Watson and Selinda Davidson
Sculptures at Scratchley is a planned annual sculpture exhibition held for the first time this year in the grounds of Fort Scratchley, a historic fort at the entrance to Newcastle Harbour in New South Wales, Australia. Held for the first time in 2023 the exhibition showcases a selected number of international, national and local artists’ works, with a variety of styles and materials.
The exhibition is open to the public with free entry and the chance to nominate a sculpture for the main prize of People’s Choice Award, which is a non-acquisitive award of $25,000. The exhibition also has a peer-judged award, also non-acquisitive, of $15,000. For anyone interested, non-acquisitive means that the operator of the exhibition does not purchase the winning piece. Instead, the winner is able to sell it on the open market. The exhibition ran from May 13 to May 28, 2023.
The variety of sculptures was great and the backdrop of the fort and surrounding beaches was a great setting. Hopefully this will be an on-going annual event, like the Sculptures at the Sea at Bondi.
First Prize Winning Sculpture Bleaching by Michael Greve
The Miss Fits by Geoff Harvey
The Miss Fits by Geoff Harvey
Juno by Ulan and Rachel
Warrior by John Lynch
Tipping Point by John Lynch
Learning to Fly by John Logvyn
Persistence by John Logvyn
The Leadlight Garden Shed with Glass and Timber Tools by Lee and Zac Howes
Prancer by Nicole O’Regan
Advance by Nicole O’Regan
Stretching the Imagination by Susan Dorothea White
Following Orders by Anthony Xerri
The Messenger by Kylie Gardner
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
This took place on 29 and 30 April 2023 in Maitland, New South Wales. Maitland Steamfest 2023 was a festival of steam and industrial heritage. The festival celebrates Maitland’s rich steam and industrial history, which dates back to the 19th century when the city was a major coal mining and railway centre. Featuring a diverse program of family friendly entertainment, with a steam theme (well generally but not always) it was a great day out.
Train Rides
Several historic steam engines made their way to Maitland for the festival, providing rides around the Hunter Valley’s nearby towns. Starting at the Maitland train station, we arrived just in time to see the Garratt 6029 leaving. The photo below shows how well maintained the train is despite its age. It was great to be able to get close while it was running, but the noise when it let off steam was deafening.
Steam Locomotive Beyer Garratt #6029
The Rally Ground
Across the road from the train station, the rally ground had displays of antique machinery such as traction engines, portable engines and steam rollers. Most of the steam engines were running and demonstrating how they operated. Several were also driving around a loop track outside the rally ground.
Foden steam truckTraction engine giving joyridesTraction engine doing loops around the other displaysJoyrides on a traction engineSteam traction engineLine up of steam engines
Steampunk and Town Crier
We found several steampunk enthusiasts wandering through the grounds, along with a town crier who were all happy to pose to photos. They also had a display tent selling steampunk themed merchandise. They all seemed to be having a great time and staying in character.
An area was set aside where blacksmiths demonstrated their skills, which apparently are in high demand again and is a growing in popularity as a profession again.
Steampunk ladySteampunk gentlemenTown Crier
Vintage Military Display
One of the not quite steam related display was a large collection of military equipment in the middle of the rally ground. They were a great addition to the other displays and had a huge crowd looking at them. With no barriers, we were able to get very close and see inside most of them.
Willys JeepFerret armoured carVolkswagen Type 82 KübelwagenHumvee
What Did We Think of Maitland Steamfest 2023?
We had a great day out at Steamfest because of the relaxed atmosphere and variety of thing to see. All things steam from trains to traction engines and steampunk people.
