About RiveR StoRieS

The Hunter River is the lifeblood of the Hunter Valley.

River Stories is a series of radio interviews, videos and photos about the Hunter River. 1233 ABC Newcastle’s Phil Ashley-Brown first travelled down the river ten years ago and this year he is tracking down the river again to see what has changed. The series is being broadcast on 1233 every week and it features the people who live along the river and the unique challenges they face.

Hunter Councils Environment Division (HCED) and Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG) have combined resources and expertise to develop the River Stories Partners Program in support of the 1233 ABC Radio series. The workshops and events presented are part of a series of complementary and exciting artistic and environmental events that will engage with locals living alongside the Hunter River and share the life passion that they have had with this wonderful river system over the years.

Come and join your story with theirs…

The program will culminate in an innovative multimedia exhibition between February – April 2012 at MRAG and will be featured at Hunter Council’s Regional Sustainability Conference in March 2012.

Drawing anD illustrationWith Trevor Weekes and Tallulah Cunningham

Dr Trevor Weeks is an established artist and a Senior Lecturer in Natural History Illustration at the University of Newcastle. Tallulah Cunningham is his colleague. Undertaking a variety of drawing exercises both in the open air and in the studio with an aim to capture the look and feel of the river and the related flora and fauna found in that environment.

SATURDAY 3

oral History workshop: Making river HistoriesJanis Wilton 10am - 4pmScout Hall, Ford Street

ABC Open WorkshopAnthony Scully10am - 4pmScout Hall, Ford Street

SUNDAY 4

scientific illustrationworkshop: Drawing & illustrationTrevor Weekes10am - 4pmScout Hall, Ford Street

September 2011 MuswellbrookWorkshop Dates

SATURDAY 15

scientific illustrationworkshop: Drawing & illustrationTrevor Weekes10am - 4pmCivic Centre, Queen Street

SUNDAY 16

Mixed Media Explorations of the river: Painting workshopJudith White10am - 4pmCivic Centre, Queen Street

aBC open workshopAnthony Scully10am - 4pmCivic Centre, Queen Street

October 2011 SingletonWorkshop Dates

November 2011 MaitlandWorkshop Dates

SATURDAY 5

oral History workshop: Making river HistoriesJanis Wilton 10am - 4pmMRAG, 230 High Street

aBC open workshopAnthony Scully10am - 4pmMRAG, 230 High Street

SUNDAY 6

Mixed Media Explorations of the river: Painting workshopJudith White10am - 4pmMRAG, 230 High Street

Making RiveR HistoRiesWith Janis Wilton

A workshop on finding, documenting, using and conserving a variety of items that can be used to create a history of the Hunter River. Participants are invited to bring objects, photographs, letters, diaries or other items that are about the river. Dr Janis Wilton OAM is a public and oral historian based at the University of New England.

Mixed Media exploRations of tHe RiveRWith Judith White

The river as an idea, can be layered with culture, political and historical meaning. As a theme for visual interpretation, it can become personally symbolic and be mediated by a sense of poetry or personal memories. This one day workshop aims to visualize some of these ideas of personal connection with the river. We’ll work in the field, using various drawing techniques to gather necessary reference to use as a basic for a painting in a nearby studio space. The emphasis will be on encouraging a personal visual language and individual response to the location, through the diversity of mixed media.

Judith White is an established artist and has been exhibiting for more than thirty years. Her work is held in both national and international collections.

one on one: RiveR stoRiesWith Anthony Scully

One on One: River Stories is an invitation to collaborate and share your Hunter River stories through the ABC. Join Anthony Scully for free workshops in taking digital photos, recording interviews and editing your own river story. For more information, go to: What’s Your story? abc.net.au/open

Image left: Hunter Springs. Photographer Mari Ekkje; Image right: Hunter River. Photographer Michelle Maartensz