Artist Kathy Landvogt is fascinated by rivers – specifically the immense Loddon River and the system that connects her town, Castlemaine on Barkers Creek, with tributaries upstream and downstream.
When she saw an old CFA map, and with her interest in women’s traditional handcrafts, she began to think about how to celebrate the river’s significance with an artwork.
Teaming up with projection artist Chi-uh Star, Kathy has created an intricate and beautiful installation that maps the Loddon through the waterways and its connections.
Tribute to the Loddon, in partnership with Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House, will be the feature exhibition for Loddon Valley Arts, which runs from October 3-5.
“We will transform Inglewood Town Hall’s historic projection room and internal walkway into a creative wonderland, prompting viewers to reflect on their own memories and knowledge of the river,” Kathy said.
“I use coloured wire wrapped and twisted into three dimensions, undermining the maps’ original accuracy in search of a different type of truth.
“These sculptures and accompanying embossings, first shown at Parallel Projects Gallery in Footscray last year, are now joined by new works: four wall hangings depicting Inglewood to Cairn Curran, and an installation of diverse materials that have helped me create this body of work.”
Kathy said Chi-uh Star’s projection, Shadows of the Loddon took on a new character in this site.
“Chi-uh’s work not only brings the river and my sculptures to life, but animates the old projection room itself, interacting with its patina of age in mysterious ways,” she said.
“Here, geography meets history, bringing a new story into this iconic site.”
This is the first time that an artwork has been installed using both Inglewood’s heritage town hall and the contemporary community space alongside it.
Loddon Valley Arts Festival organiser Rosemary Sorensen said they were so pleased to have Kathy and Chi-uh’s extraordinary installation coming to Loddon.
“Connecting our places is exciting, and we know that, like these artists, many people have an emotional connection to waterways and first-hand experience of their importance,” she said.
“This was one of the first exhibitions we planned for the festival, and it’s a major event for the shire to have such a powerful and relevant artwork installed in Inglewood.”
Tribute to the Loddon will be open 10am-4pm, October 3-5 and Kathy Landvogt and Chi-uh Star will host a morning tea, walk-through and talk at 10.30am on Saturday October 4.
