Art at Burrinja
aerie creative ecology presents
Soft VS Edgy | Natalie Wijeyeratne
15 Apr - 27 May | aerie gallery
Soft VS Edgy is a new collection of original acrylic paintings exploring the nature of Passivity / Growth / Loud and Quiet Expression / Surrender / Directness / Starkness of reality / Sensuality; and the way these themes emerge both visually on the page and metaphorically in relationship to one's self and others. Are these concepts mutually exclusive? Where do they overlap? How can we be both? In a time where vulnerability is encouraged, is it Edgy to be Soft? Or Soft to be Edgy? These are the themes Natalie invites you to explore when viewing her 2023 series. Soft VS Edgy is Natalie’s second solo exhibition.
Join us for the exhibition opening in the aerie gallery. Sat 15 Apr @ 2pm ~ RSVP HERE
Burrinja & ngurruk barring Presents:
Holding Pattern ~ the sublime forest
Thursdays in May | Directly to your phone | FREE
Holding Pattern curates a series of newly commissioned artworks, delivered directly to audience’s mobile phones. Turning our hand held phones into digital theatres, galleries and festivals.
Holding pattern is a unique project that brings art literally into the palm of your hands. Delivered during May 2023, audiences will receive a new artwork to their phone each week.
Four new digital works will be commissioned by an invited cohort of locally and nationally recognised artists. Artist will create new, discrete, digital works that respond to the curatorial position: the sublime forest. The 2023 artists are: Pony Cam, Brooke Wandin, Eugenia Lim, Dave Thompson
For 2023 holding pattern asks these contemporary artists to use their creative voice to interrogate the intersections of this place, it’s simultaneous history and future, within the aspiration of the sublime.
This year’s program is presented by Burrinja in collaboration with ngurrak barring | RidgeWalk. ngurrak barring is a cultural experience being developed along the trails of the Dandenong Ranges, celebrating the deep cultural and creative history of this place within an unparalleled natural environment.RSVP HERE to receive Holding Pattern ~ the sublime forest via SMS.
burrinja presents
Where Artists Meet (W.A.M.)
Thu 25 May @ 7.00pm | Burrinja
WAM is Back!
Here’s your chance to get out, have some fun and talk shop with other local artists and have a cheeky drink.
These regular gatherings propose space for connecting and developing conversation between local creatives. WAM provides a fun and friendly environment to talk shop with other artists, share tips, discuss creative practice, projects and local arts and culture. With the Dandenong Ranges rich and abundant cultural landscape Burrinja’s WAM events are a great opportunity to develop new creative networks, find out about potential opportunities and connect with your local arts community.
Join us on the last Thursday of every month @ 7pm at the Fat Goat (2 Morris Road, Upwey)
Put W.A.M. In your calendar!
Up coming dates: 29 June, 27 July, 31 Aug, 28 Sept, 26 Oct & 30 Nov
burrinja presents
Friends of the Hills | Emily Lowe
Stay n' Play
MAY - JULY | Burrinja Foyer
A celebration of the iconic and beautiful flora and fauna of the Dandenong Ranges is coming to Burrinja’s Foyer. Through a new interactive art installation ‘Friends of the Hills’, artist Emily Lowe has created a space to enjoy what our local flora and fauna consists of through meditative colouring for all ages.
In a truly immersive experience, see how the worlds of nature and art collide to connect and gain a better understanding of the things we care about.
Emily is a resident studio artist of burrinja’s Aerie Creative ecology and enjoys capturing the beauty and essence of the local landscape through painting.
Instagram: @emilylowefinearts
Facebook: Emily Lowe fine arts
Image credit: Sarah Lynch, 'Above the snow line', black and white photograph.
this exhibition is audio described
burrinja presents
Between Two Sites
27 May to 1 July 2023 | Burrinja Gallery
The Between Two Sites exhibition and public programs respond to the impact of human activity on habitats in the Yarra Ranges and Alpine Shire. Curated by Madelynne Cornish and Sarah Lynch for the Bogong Centre for Sound Culture. It showcases the artwork of Victorian and international artists who participated in the centre's residency program. These artists have undertaken extensive fieldwork within the Yarra Ranges, Alpine National Park and Kiewa Valley. They have produced a new range of site-specific artworks that comprise a rich and diverse set of environmental references to deepen our understanding of these places. Artists have used audio-visual installation, photography and sound composition to reflect the ecology of these regions.
Artists include: Shannon Collis, Madelynne Cornish, Lesley Duxbury, Sarah Edwards, Amias Hanley, Sarah Lynch & Anne McCallum
Explore the public program HERE
Join us for the exhibition opening on May 27 @ 2pm RSVP HERE
aerie creative ecology presents
Fabric. Layerism. Collage. | Mark Ewenson
3 Jun - 15 Jul | aerie gallery
‘My art practice centers around the beauty of the diverse and body positive feminine form with an original collage concept ‘Fabric Layerism’; a convergence of collage, fibre arts, craft, drawing and painting, though mostly omitting paint altogether to create a fresh 2D art aesthetic. My work combines the classical with the contemporary, with influences of both masculine and feminine gaze of the female form within domestic, natural and ethereal environments. This exhibition showcases works made over the past several years including through the Covid lockdowns of 2020/21, and some dating back to the earlier stages of Fabric Layerism’.
Join us for the exhibition opening on Jun 3 @ 2pm RSVP HERE
Image credit: Rover Thomas Joolama, Yari country, 1984, earth pigments and natural binder on plywood, 104 x 105 cm, Ebes Collection
burrinja presents
Rover
8 Jul - 12 Aug | Burrinja Gallery
In this iteration of the series Masters of Aboriginal Contemporary Art Burrinja presents Rover, turning the focus on one of Australia’s most celebrated, recognised and original Indigenous artists. Born in 1929 to Kukatja/Wangkajunka parents near Well 33 on the remote Canning Stock Route in Western Australia, Rover Thomas Joolama worked as a stockman on various cattle stations until 1975.
A dream was catalyst for depicting the modern Krill Krill song cycle that he introduced to his mother’s brother Paddy Jaminji and others at Warmun (Turkey Creek). It recounted stories and associated sites in the East Kimberley, told on wooden dance boards and painted with natural ochres.
Together with urban Aboriginal artist Trevor Nickolls he was the first Aboriginal artist to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale in 1990. His seamless amalgamation of figurative and abstract styles to depict topographical features and at times horrific historical events has been an outstanding characteristic of his art.
Join us for the exhibition opening in the Burrinja Gallery. Sat 8 July @ 2pm ~ RSVP HERE
aerie creative ecology presents
Collections of Colour | Tracey Samios
22 Jul – 2 Sep | aerie gallery
This exhibition celebrates Tracey's artistic journey, which began during the Covid-19 lockdown and continued thereafter. Tracey had always harboured the dream of becoming an artist, and after retiring from her office job, she joined an online art challenge, discovering her talent for painting. For two years, she created a painting almost every day, gaining the confidence to apply for a studio at the Burrinja Cultural Centre in June 2022, where she has been painting ever since. Tracey's surroundings and imagination inspire her, leading to the creation of a diverse range of themed collections on display at this exhibition.
Join us for the exhibition opening in the aerie gallery. Sat 22 July @ 2pm ~ RSVP HERE
burrinja presents
Totem Cave | Skubz Mope & Macarena Ocea
Stay n' Play
AUG - NOV | Burrinja Foyer
Come and explore the Totem Cave, where mysterious monuments to strange and bizarre creatures are waiting to be discovered. Some lay in pieces just waiting for someone to help rebuild them, maybe you can help? Leave your mark and create your own Totem Mask to put on display in the cave for future explorers to discover (or take it home as a keepsake of your adventures!) The Totem Cave is a place of mystery and adventure, created by resident artists Skübz Mope and Macarena Ocea.
Instagram: Skubz Mope @skubzmope
Instagram: Macarena Ocea @macarenathreads
Burrinja & Vic Health presents
Polymer Pride Earrings
Sat 12 Aug @ 2pm | Art Studio @ Burrinja
Would you like to adorn yourself with a pair of handmade earrings? Maybe you'd like to learn how to experiment with polymer clay to create sparkly handmade creations. In this workshop, you will learn how to mould and cut polymer clay to create your own pair of Polymer Pride Earrings. All materials supplied.
In this workshop you will:
~ Learn about polymer clay.
~ View lots of different queer earring designs
~ Learn step-by-step how to create your own earrings.
~ Personalise your earrings to show off your gender and sexuality.
~ Take home a pair of pretty homemade earrings!
Workshop: 2 pm – 7.30 pm
Facilitator: Adele Moleta (Delsi)
Light afternoon tea /snacks served.
Let us know you are coming by registering now HERE
Get in touch with any questions or to let us know what your access needs are at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Hosted by the Queer Art Collective (QAC) at Burrinja and respectfully acknowledging the diverse lived experiences of LGBTQI+ and BIPOC communities, this event is specifically designed as an inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ identifying people and their allies, friends and families who may or may not also be Queer. QAC is committed to creating art and social gathering events created for and with queer-identifying people. This is an event for all ages, but young people should be accompanied by an adult. And it’s FREE.
Image credit: Amanda Page, Precipice ll, 2020, photopolymer etching on Fabriano 280gsm from charcoal drawings, 70 x 100 cm
burrinja presents
Transition | Amanda Page
19 Aug - 30 Sep | Burrinja Gallery 01 & 03
Transition depicts states of change in atmospheric activity. Through site-specific observations of icy vistas in Antarctica and Iceland Amanda Page developed artworks which reference that change.
Camera-less exposure processes combined with digital photography, drawing and printmaking are used to explore natural systems such as weather patterns and phenomena such as erosion to record and reveal processes of melting and the movement of energy in materials.
burrinja presents
The Land Speaks | Meg Gooch
19 Aug - 30 Sep | Burrinja Gallery 02
In this exhibition of watercolours and paintings Meg Gooch explores memories embedded in the land and elements of change that have effected the Gippsland lakes system since colonisation.
Using natural dyes from the local vegetation and made inks from the vegetation at the Barrier Landing area in Lakes Entrance.
aerie creative ecology presents
TRANSCENDENCE | YJ Fauzee
9 Sep – 21 Oct | aerie gallery
The connection between humanity and the Earth has reached an impasse- as never before in our history we rest upon a precipice. To overt environmental disaster humanity must acknowledge its spiritual connection and interdependency with the Earth and all species. For only through an authentic change in our mindset can humanity live in harmony with the natural environment. This mixed media exhibition accompanied with reflective writings, explores the essence of this shift - a 'transcendence', an awakening, to enable healing of self, our planet and safeguard all living things.
Join us for the exhibition opening in the aerie gallery. Sat 9 September @ 2pm ~ RSVP HERE
Burrinja & Vic Health presents
Mini Happiness Hacks Workshop
Sat 9 Sep @ 2pm | Art Studio @ Burrinja
Want to learn what science can tell us about ways to boost our mood, mental well-being and resilience? Come and join, Unicorns creator and trained Secondary Teacher Delsi to learn a series of science-backed happiness hacks to improve mood, social connection, health, and overall happiness!
Workshop: 2 pm – 3.30 pm
Facilitator: Adele Moleta (Delsi)
Light afternoon tea /snacks served.
Let us know you are coming by registering now HERE
Get in touch with any questions or to let us know what your access needs are at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Hosted by the Queer Art Collective (QAC) at Burrinja and respectfully acknowledging the diverse lived experiences of LGBTQI+ and BIPOC communities, this event is specifically designed as an inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ identifying people and their allies, friends and families who may or may not also be Queer. QAC is committed to creating art and social gathering events created for and with queer-identifying people. This is an event for all ages, but young people should be accompanied by an adult. And it’s FREE.
Image credit: Clifton Pugh Memory of a feral cat, 1960, oil on composition board, 103.8 x 149.8, TarraWarra Museum of Art collection Gift of Eva Besen and Marc Besen AO 2001
burrinja presents
Live, Love and Paint
Clifton Pugh and the Dunmoochin artists colony
7 Oct - 18 Nov | Burrinja Gallery
In 1951 Melbourne artist Clifton Pugh set out to establish a commune at Cottles Bridge near Hurstbridge. It became known as Dunmoochin, and as a creative hub for painters and potters that quickly gained notoriety in conservative Melbourne. Live, Love and Paint was the adopted motto, and this exhibition revisits the colony and its artists with its idealist founder at the centre.
Clifton Pugh (1924 -1990) is one of Australia’s most successful and prominent artists of his time, a prolific portrait painter and three-time winner of the prestigious Archibald Prize for Portraiture. Through a selection of portrait paintings from the first two and a half decades of his artistic career the exhibition weaves in associates and anecdotes.
Immersed in the harsh and rocky surroundings of Dunmoochin Clifton Pugh developed a particular personal view of the Australian ‘bush’ and trademark style of landscape painting. The exhibition will examine these in contemporary light and explore the influence of the environment, encounters with Aboriginal people and early ideas of nature conservation in his work.
