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| BONUS CARD, Model sculptures - work in progress, 2015 Gunyah |
We arrived at Gunyah full of excitement for our two-week residency. Driving into North Arm Cove we were taken by the natural beauty of the area. It is truly spectacular and reveals itself to you slowly over the course of time. During our stay we discovered wonderful bushland and fantastic swimming spots all within walking distance. Kookaburras laughed at us as we joked on the balcony while cooking our BBQ dinners. And the house itself is like a wooden spaceship floating in the trees above the sea. We couldn’t have been more comfortable.
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| BONUS CARD, Gunyah yoga - Lucy and Vivian, 2015 |
The studio space was our main focus and the engine room for a very productive time. While our 11 month old, Vivian, played at our feet we made more than 60 model sculptures. With windows allowing a flood of natural light into the space we spent many happy hours talking, scheming and importantly, making art. We would take breaks from the studio to walk down the backyard to the pier and feel the sea breeze blowing across the blue water. Really quite magical family time.
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| BONUS CARD, Model sculptures - work in progress, 2015 Gunyah |
On small daily adventures we walk around the area, enjoying majestic gums, bird song and a thriving ecosystem. Venturing further afield we visited wonderful inland towns, took in Newcastle and on a small trip through the Myall Lakes National Park we discovered rainforest, she-oak forest and a plethora of different ecological environments within arm’s reach of each other.
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| BONUS CARD, Vivian and the stairs, 2015 Gunyah |
Our regular morning trip in search of coffee took us to Hawk’s Nest to a great cafe not far from Jimmy’s Beach, which is an amazing place to swim. Gunyah had art magazines for intellectual inspiration and a complete sense of comfort for allowing the creative juices to flow. Importantly, it feels like a home. A place to be at ease and to feel the confidence to be yourself and tap into your inner creative drive without distraction or concern.
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| BONUS CARD, At the beach, 2015 |
We left Gunyah with renewed energy, a dozen wonderful family memories we’ll treasure for ever, and a completely mapped out plan of attack for getting our exhibition together in time for its launch in September in Bendigo at the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre. We couldn’t recommend this more for artists looking for quiet creative time. Thanks Gunyah!
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| BONUS CARD, Bush walk North Arm Cove, 2015 |
BONUS CARD is the collaborative partnership of husband and wife artists Kent Wilson and Lucy James. Bonus CARD will be exhibiting work from their Gunyah residency in September 2015 at the La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre in Bendigo.
