The Squatters Residency, The Foundations, Portland, September 2024
The Squatters Residency located at The Foundations in Portland, Central West, NSW in Wiradjuri Country is a self-directed residency coordinated by Harrie Fasher studio.
Nic Mason was in residence at The Squatters for two weeks and a welcome extra day in September 2024.
During this residency Nic was open to influence of this place and time and become captivated by the interior of the cottage. Whilst there she wrote in her blog daily and she spent time commencing several creative projects within the walls of The Squatters including creating:
- oil painting interiors of The Squatters with its objects, layers of paint and time, stillness, light, shadows and linkages from one room to the next
- charcoal drawings of the interiors in The Squatters including returning to her drawing recently commenced of The Annexe
- acrylic painting colour play postcards inspired by the character beings on the walls and more, and
- photographic series documenting the character beings on the walls and more at The Squatters.
Nic installed her paintings and drawings back in-situ into the Cottage. There she contemplated them more, returned to them and included them in her continued iterative practice of creating previous works anew into the scenes of her new works as her residency developed.
Selected oil paintings in process and in-situ at The Squatters Residency ...
Selected charcoal drawings in process and in-situ at The Squatters Residency...
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From Nic's Squatters Residency Blog ...
" The Squatters has more than enough in its interior to hold me for a long time. I’m here for two weeks and I’m thinking I’ll batten down the hatches and try to not leave too much. Next door might pull me a little. In the lead up to this residency I thought I might return to drawing in the Annexe (another of The Foundations buildings). I was there recently with a bunch of gorgeous and brilliant artists during Fran O’Neil’s Drawing Marathon. Check out up coming art workshops through Harrie Fasher's 'Community and Workshops' page. https://www.harriefasher.com.au/workshops-community But drawing there is not looking so likely for a gym – Ant Fitness has just relocated to the Annexe (due to development works happening elsewhere at The Foundations). My plan was also to open to influence when here, so I’ve asked my youngest teen to bring me my runners. He’s staying tonight, cooking dinner with his friend for us and he'll be distance ed schooling from The Annexe tomorrow. It’s so good to be in a life friendly hearty residency - open to artist’s lives and circumstances. Thank you Harrie, T C, Rich and Kellie ..." |
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Selected creature colour studies of the walls and more in process and in-situ at The Squatters Residency ...
Selected characters in the walls and more of The Squatters Residency ...
Thanks to the community around The Squatters Residency ...
Thanks from Nic ...
I wish to acknowledge and pay my respects to the Wiradjuri elders past, present and emerging, who are the traditional owners of the land at The Foundations.
I wish to thank Harrie Fasher, T C Overson and Bird too at Harrie Fisher Studio and Rich and Kellie at The Annexe and the many of the locals who were so generous with their time and energy. In particular thank you Monique, Su, Cheryl and Bess and her family too. And thank you too Andrew Neville and the beautiful community coming together through Ant Fitness currently in The Annexe. I am totally up for more.
I wish to thank Harrie Fasher, T C Overson and Bird too at Harrie Fisher Studio and Rich and Kellie at The Annexe and the many of the locals who were so generous with their time and energy. In particular thank you Monique, Su, Cheryl and Bess and her family too. And thank you too Andrew Neville and the beautiful community coming together through Ant Fitness currently in The Annexe. I am totally up for more.
