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Nanette Balchin
Yeppoon, Queensland Australia
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Mobile: 0410383483
Email: nanette.balchin@bigpond.com
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BIO
Historically my art has explored themes of optimism, renewal and self-discovery as well as a love of the expressive power of colour, surface, texture, form and mark. Currently I seek to capture the 'feelings' evocative of the experience of a place or emotion through using stitch as marks forming an expressive visual language layered over collage. I create unique layered collage surfaces by combining fabric, collage, print, paint, stitch and text. My fibre art "forests" are built from marine debris, handmade and artificial leaf and plant forms and embedded amongst natural objects to create a hybrid ecology that you can sense and experience. I am intrigued by the creative possibilities of “reinventions” made from reconstructed artworks, artist books and objects and creating “hybrid” works from prints, collage and stitch. Lastly, I seek to create interactive art works that engage the audience in 'conversation' to consider alternative ways that engage and challenge the audience to see their world view afresh.
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CURRENT TOURING EXHIBITION
Hybrid Greening”- Immersive installation exhibition in collaboration with Veronika Zeil - Touring 2022 -2024 – Walter Reid Gallery, Rockhampton, April 2022; Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Gladstone, June – August 2022; Grasslands Gallery, Tambo, Nov. 2022; Benevolent Living Rockhampton, Jan – March 2023; Bauhinia Bicentennial Gallery, Springsure, June - July 2023; Dogwood Crossing, Miles, Sept - Nov 2023; Gatakers Art Space, Maryborough, Jan - Feb 2024
EXHIBITIONS
“True Colours” - Latitude 23 Arts exhibition - Fig Tree Galleries, Yeppoon, August 2022
“This is Latitude 23” - Inaugural exhibition for Latitude 23 Arts at Fig Tree Galleries, Yeppoon, September 2021
“Garden Conspiracy” - Outdoor installation exhibition with 3 Central Qld artists, 11 September 2021
“Omnium Gatherum” – with Peta Lloyd at Blarney Book and Arts, Port Fairy, September 2019
“Crossing Borders” – Jette Clover Master class group exhibition - Timeless Textiles Newcastle, NSW, October 2018
“Caravan of Curiosities” Regional Tour / exhibition with Peta Lloyd and Emma Ward - Mill Gallery, Yeppoon 2016; Banana Regional Art Gallery 2016; Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum & Gympie Regional Gallery ,2017
5 person exhibition “Uncharted Depths” Circle Gallery, Brisbane, December 2011
3 person exhibition “Common Threads” Gargett Gallery, Gargett (Mackay area), June 2011
“threesome” exhibition:- with Peta Lloyd & Amanda Lowjen, Mill Gallery, Yeppoon, March 2008
2 person exhibition: “…of an intimate nature” with Jo Ramsay, Mill Gallery, Yeppoon, 2005
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS
"Afloat", "Neighbourhood" and “Water” Group exhibitions with Capricornia Printmakers Inc. - Walter Reid Cultural Centre, Rockhampton, 2020 - 2022
“Elements Altered Book Challenge 2020”- TYTO Regional Gallery Ingham Qld, February 2021
“Impressed 3” - Group exhibition with Maryborough Printmakers - Gatakers Printspace, Maryborough,2021
“Genesis” exhibition - Mill Gallery, Yeppoon November 2019
“10 Artists Living in Livingstone 2019” & 2017: Group exhibitions at Mill Gallery, Yeppoon: Livingstone Shire & Keppel Coasts Arts
“Preserved: Art in a Jar” – Rockhampton Art Gallery, December 2018
“Reflections” Annual Members exhibition at Mill Gallery, Yeppoon, December 2018
“CQU Creates” exhibition and regional tour: CQ University campus Rockhampton and across Central Qld – 2016, 2017
“Double Exposure” 2017 & 2018: Collaborative exhibition – Capricornia Printmakers Inc and R’ton Photography club
“One” “Two” “Three” “Four” “Five” and “Singularity” exhibitions: Capricornia Printmakers Inc, Rockhampton, 2012 - 2018
“Trace” Installation by Capricornia Printmakers at the Botanic Gardens Rockhampton August 2013 for Creative Capricorn
The Walker St Gallery “9 X 5” Annual exhibition December 2012, Dandenong Victoria
“Artists Books 2009: Without boundaries” at Maleny Art works, April 2009: Group exhibition
“Art to Wear” exhibitions; Mill Gallery – 2005 to 2018 - Members Exhibition
CQIT (TAFE) Student exhibitions 2004 – 2005
Cooee Bay Artists 2002 – 2004 at CQU Rockhampton campus - Group exhibition
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COMPETITIONS
“Winner” Category 3 - Brigalow Arts Festival, October 2019 (Textiles work - Pieces of infinity)
Represented at “CQU Creates” Exhibition & Regional Tour 2016, 2017, 2019
Represented at Bayton Award Rockhampton Art Gallery 2012, 2015, 2019
Represented at Martin Hanson Awards, Gladstone 2005, 2007
Represented in 2005/06 Flying Arts Regional Arts Awards – Longreach, Brisbane & Townsville
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QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE
Completion of 9 month Master Class “Finding your Voice” with Jette Clover from Belgium; Coordinated by Timeless Textiles, Newcastle 2018
Completion of Artist Transformation School 2014 through Auspicious Arts Incubator (Intensive online Arts Business course)
Diploma of Visual Arts, CQ Institute of TAFE 2006
Bachelor of Arts with Distinction Central Queensland University 1995
Diploma of Teaching (Secondary Art) Kelvin Grove CAE, 1979
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
“Hands of Humanity” CQ Tough and Tender Beauty Artist in Residence project with Peta Lloyd, July 2020
Brisbane Arts Industry Immersion Program with Rockhampton Art Gallery January 2020
Developing Practice – 5 day workshop with John Meade, Rockhampton Art Gallery October 2019
Studio West End Summer School – Books and Printmaking with Adele Outteridge; January 2019
Master Class “Finding Your Voice” Jette Clover for Timeless Textiles 2018
Cas Holmes 3 day “Images and Narrative” at Wrapt Experience 2018 and 3 days “From the Land and Sea” July 2015
Jette Clover (Belgium) “Textiles, Paper and Text” at Wrapt Retreat : June 2017 (3 days)
Peta Lloyd Altered Book workshop 2017 and Natural Dye workshop with Linda Douglas 2016
Fibres West 2015: Christine Atkins “Stitched and Found” assemblage workshop (5 days)
Cyanotype Printing”- Doug Spowart & Victoria Cooper and “Layering the landscape” workshops with Wendy McGrath (Flying Arts, Qld)
Liz Powell “Boxes” workshop and Glen Skein “Print, Collage and Boxes” workshop 2013
Geelong Textiles Forum 2009 – Pop up and Sculptural books with Carol Barton (5 days)
Bris-Vegas Textiles FORUM 2007- Creative Boxes with Glen Skein (5 days)
Capricorn Coast TAFE – Printmaking subjects 2007 - 2014; Drawing 2008
The Studio West End, Summer School – Book Arts, January 2006
Attended “Focus on Artist’s Books 2” Forum, Mackay, February 2005
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
President - Latitude 23 Arts 2020 - 2023 (formerly Mill Gallery)
Member of the Mill Gallery Yeppoon since 2002, President 2019
Member of Arts Central Qld Inc, Board member 2018, 2019
President Capricornia Printmakers Inc 2015-17 (CPI)
Inaugural Member Capricornia Printmakers Inc - 2012 –18
Member of Keppel Coast Arts since 2006
Former President Cooee Bay Artists Inc
Member of TAFTA (Australian Forum for Textile Arts)