Waverley Council appoints official Artists in Residence

It’s known for its beaches and outdoorsy culture, but the Bondi area also has a very artistic side – a side personified by three emerging local artists who have scored the opportunity of a lifetime.

Mixed media sculpturist Maria Buchner; photography, video and installation artist Lucas Davidson; and actor/artist Aileen Huynh have been named Waverley Municipal Council’s official Artists in Residence for 2013.

Waverley Council’s Artists in Residence program, now in its third year, affords the trio use of free studio space at the Bondi-Waverley School of Arts on Bondi Rd for the next six months, giving the artists round-the-clock access to their own space in which to work and produce their art.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said the idea was to give local artists a helping hand, allowing them to concentrate on their work, free from the stress and financial pressures of having to find studio space.

“Waverley Council is very proud of our Artists in Residence program and we hope it will provide meaningful professional development opportunities for our new artists,” she said.

Waverley Council’s Public Art Chair, Councillor Angela Burrill, said the Artists in Residence program was an initiative of Council’s Public Art Committee, designed to enhance the local community via public art.

“Our Public Art committee plays an important role to ensure the ongoing quality and diversity of public and visual art within our community,” said Ms Burrill.

And the artists themselves couldn’t be happier. Typical of the sentiment expressed by the trio were comments made by Mr Davidson, who lauded the opportunities provided by the free studio space.

“This is a fantastic venue with the amphitheatre and lots of wall space that I’m excited to work with,” he said.

Mr Davidson said he would work in the studio space on a video art festival, which he hoped to put on at the Bondi Pavilion later this year.

The Artists in Residence have access to the studio space from now until July. A studio open day will be held on Friday, April 19 from 12pm-3pm, with members of the public able to view works created by the trio.