Print version
Coal Loader: Dacchi Dang
Dr Dacchi Dang is Sydney based photographic artist, specialising in alternative photographic processes using non-toxic materials and embracing the use of natural plant materials and sustainable recycled water management to limit wastage. Dacchi first started experimenting with alternative photographic processes during an artist residency at Bundanon, in which he created an artist book by combining plant materials, non-toxic fixatives and binders, as well as solar development. The environment of the Coal Loader situated near water and a hidden natural park, serves as inspiration for to further develop research in non-toxic photographic processes and to share his research with the wider community through an artistic practice that rejects harming the environment.
Dr Dacchi Dang has held significant exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Dacchi's work is held in national and international collections. In 2017, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art mounted Dacchi's first survey exhibition: Dacchi Dang: An Omen Near and Far. In 2016-2019 Dacchi was commissioned to produce two new artworks by the Australian War Memorial, to explore the memories, oral histories and experiences of Vietnamese and Australian veterans during the Vietnam conflict. Dacchi have exhibited in solo and group shows in Australia, China, France, Japan and Belgium. My recent exhibitions include Me and My Shadow, 2023 Fairfield Gallery, purchased by the Australian Maritime Museum and in 2024, The Microdot Project at Granville Art Gallery. I have held artist in residencies at Parramatta Artists’ Studios, Artspace, Ainslie + Gorman, ACT, Bundanon, Hill End, Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris and Tokyo Geidai University of Fine Arts.
North Sydney Community Centre: Mary-Helen Daly
Mary-Helen Daly works with both traditional and nontraditional materials, repurposing, reusing, and recycling to uncover new possibilities in what already exists. Her practice is often collaborative, sparking a sense of playfulness and curiosity in people of all ages. As well as her creative practice, Mary-Helen is a counsellor and art therapist.
While using the Art Room studio space for her own practice Mary-Helen will explore the theme of “repurpose” through hand-stitched soft sculpture and installations using natural and repurposed materials. Mary-Helen’s series of kids’ workshops will run each Monday in term 2 for children attending the NSCC After School care program.
Her workshops are designed to provide children with the opportunity develop their creative skills with textiles, mixed-media, recycled materials and found objects. Mary-Helen aims for the workshops to foster an appreciation for sustainability, resourcefulness, and personal storytelling, and allow children find joy in transforming overlooked materials into something meaningful.
Primrose Park: Annabel Butler
Annabel Butler is figurative artist with a practice focused on drawing and painting. Annabel works on location in the tradition of en plein air painting as well as making studiobased assemblages and constructions that evolve out of the plein air paintings. Her current interest is the relationship between man and the natural world, specifically how human presence (or absence) can dramatically affect the psychological impact of a scene.
During her Primrose Park residency Annabel plans to expand a body of work that explores how human presence in her work (eg. figures, yachts, architecture) impacts the depiction of place. The proximity of the studios to the playing fields, tennis courts, yacht moorings and bushland walking tracks, provides an unparalleled opportunity to observe and paint the local community engaged in a variety of outdoor activities in and around Primrose Park.
Primrose Park: Yvonne East
Yvonne East's practice is predominantly drawing and painting. She has a wide-ranging drawing practice from refined observational still life to large installation works on fabric. Her painting practice is primarily located around the human figure and portraiture, and she currently have work hanging in the 2024 Mosman Art Prize and the 2024 Kennedy Art Prize. A finalist in many national portrait prizes including the Archibald Prize and Portia Geach Memorial Award, Yvonne also has work in the National Portrait Gallery collection.
During her residency Yvonne plans to develop of a new body of work based on a deep immersion with the landscape of the Lower North Shore of Sydney where she lives and works. This work explores the embodied experience of mindfulness within the environment, visual phenomena including the Troxler's Fading and the psychological benefits of Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing).
Primrose Park: Allie Jonscher
Allie Jonscher is early-career artist working in painting and its expanded forms of sculpture and installation using traditional and digital processes. Her practice is a conversation with technology grappling with what it means to be human in the digital age, with a specific interest in the uncanny. Her work aims to explore the entanglements of humans and technology, reflecting on how understandings of identity, selfhood, authorship and truth are altered and mediated in digital networks and by evolving technology. She produces intricately layered works that combine physical, machine, and digital painting practices grounded in abstract gesture and mark-making.
During her residency Allie will develop her current body of work collaborating with AI generative software to produce paintings and sculpture.
Primrose Park: Janet Parker-Smith
Janet Parker-Smith's artwork is rich in the processes of printmaking, including screenprint, etching and relief printing. She uses these processes to make unconventional hybrid works in the field of expanded print. The print works are often reproduced onto papers, fabrics and different soft substrates that are then sewn into wall-hangings and banners that are then embroidered onto. The works reference relationships, memory and the changing environment.
During her residency Janet will continue working with processes, imagery and mediums of familiarity to produce a new body of work based on text and image experimenting with the introduction of hand-made paper forms in juxtaposition with embroidered pieces.
Primrose Park: Kate Riley
Kate Riley is an early-career artist working primarily in sculpture, making objects from found and recycled materials, mostly items salvaged from hard rubbish collection. Kate finds, alters and makes objects she views as "components". These are then playfully joined and examined over time in different combinations until the right "fit" is found. Kate's practice is driven by materials and processes. It is often about making something out of nothing and using making techniques like glueing, crocheting and sewing, which are also not typically associated with fine art.
The resulting sculptural objects are often non-sensical and whimsical. Kate plans to push her artistic practice, producing larger scale work. Kate has several group projects in 2025 and is also planning solo exhibition.