Upcoming artist-in-residence: Cara Johnson

Cara Johnson with her sculpture Remnant, photo: Fred Kroh @fotokroh

Cara Johnson is an artist who currently lives on Gadubanud Country, in The Otways VIC. Her craft-based works interrogate tensions and narratives connected to the ways land is treated and used through material, intention and invested labour. Her practice is entwined with her rural location, and primarily concerned with traversing the complexities between people and plants. 

In 2016 Cara completed a Bachelor of Fine Art (First Class Hons.) at RMIT University, where she is also a current PhD Candidate. Recent solo exhibitions include Understory at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Overlay at The Santos Museum of Economic Botany and Semblance of Repair at Gallery Funaki. Cara also exhibits widely in group shows, nationally and internationally, notably Paper Art 2017 at CODA Museum in the Netherlands, Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize 2021 and in Schmuck in Munich in both 2022 and 2023. Cara's works are held in various public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria. carajohnson.com.au @cara__johnson

Cara Johnson, Cast back I, 2022, found river red gum fence post, found baling twine. Photo: Fred Kroh @fotokroh

What do you plan to do during your residency? 

" ... I'm a new mum, so Gunyah will provide a place to reflect and reconnect with my practice while my family is close by. New ways of working will emerge focused on encountered plants in an unfamiliar place and climate while also drawing on environmental impacts specific to Worimi country ..." 

Cara Johnson, Overlay (detail) 2022, found tree guard, found silage netting

Upcoming artist-in-residence: Taryn Raffan

Taryn Raffan

Taryn Raffan is a visual artist who currently lives on Meanjin Country in Brisbane QLD. She works across drawing, print, sculpture, assemblage and installation, to explore materials of dialogue alongside notions of isolation or comfort. Taryn's practice traverses some stark globalised realities and what is fantasised within ones own societal idea of attachment, belief, nature and spirituality. She has exhibited and participated in residencies in Australia, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and the Netherlands. tarynraffan.com @taryn.raffan

Taryn Raffan, Earthbeds (lichen), 2014-2022, photograph printed on organza.

After caring for a parent for the last 10 years I am eagerly excited to get back into making during my residency at Gunyah, and preparing for upcoming exhibition at Airspace Projects, on Gadigal Land, in Sydney, in early August 2023. 

Taryn Raffan, Dust collector #1, 2021, wire, wool, and cotton thread.