Yarrila Arts and Museum

Yaamanga (around here)
2023-09-16 00:00 - 2030-12-31 23:59 (Australia/Sydney)
Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy

Program, Workshop

Yaamanga (around here) installation view

Program, Workshop

Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy
When

8 Jul 202610:30 am – 12:00 pm

Reserve your spot

Yaamanga (around here) is an ongoing exhibition exploring the history and identity of the Coffs Coast through themes of place, community and belonging, with Gumbaynggirr culture at its heart. This interactive exhibition features hundreds of objects, photographs, artworks and films from the Yarrila Arts and Museum collection. A key highlight of Yaamanga (around here) is the short film, Daalga Nginundi Wajaarr (Sing Your Country), which is informed by Yuludarla’s (Gumbaynggirr Creator) journey from north to south exploring miirlarl (sacred places), culture and history through song and cinema. The piece is a celebration of language and its revival and is an invitation for all people to learn the story of this place. It explores untold histories of Country; its triumphs and its sorrow and the dialogue Gumbaynggirr people have every day with her.Daalga Nginundi Wajaarr (Sing Your Country) was created by Alison Page and Nik Lachajczak of ZAKPAGE. The score is a reworking of a medley of traditional songs by Gumbaynggirr artist, Birrugan Dunn-Velasco, with the inclusion of post-modern instrumentation and sounds from Country.This artwork is dedicated to the Gumbaynggirr people; it is their ancestral lands upon which we live and work; they who are so generous with their cultural knowledge and lore in the making of this film.

A still image captured from Daalga Nginundi Wajaarr Sing Your Country

Find out more about Daalga Nginundi Wajarr Sing your Country

Yearbook '25
2025-11-15 00:00 - 2026-02-08 23:59
Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy

Program, Workshop

Are you ready yet? Josie Boxell, Pencil on paper 2025

Program, Workshop

Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy
When

8 Jul 202610:30 am – 12:00 pm

Reserve your spot

Yearbook ’25: Visual Art Students from the Coffs Coast showcases a curated selection of outstanding HSC Visual Arts Bodies of Work from talented students across the region. The exhibition celebrates a diverse range of expressive forms and offers unique insights into the ideas and perspectives of young people on the Coffs Coast.

Participating Schools: Bishop Druitt College | Bowraville Central School | Coffs Harbour Christian Community School | Coffs Harbour High School | Coffs Harbour Senior College | St John Paul College | Macksville High School | Nambucca High School | Orara High School | Toormina High School | Woolgoolga High School

ESSSENSSSE
2025-11-22 00:00 - 2026-02-01 23:59
Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy

Program, Workshop

HOSSEI, ESSSENSSSE, 2023. Performer Lauren Booker. Photography by Jacquie Manning.

Program, Workshop

Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy
When

8 Jul 202610:30 am – 12:00 pm

Reserve your spot

UPDATE for Thursday 22 January 2026 – we’re experiencing an error with our booking system. If you get a message that tickets for YAM Up Late or the 12:00pm ESSSENSSSE Live Performance are sold out please disregard and join us for the events – we won’t be checking tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the events!

ESSSENSSSE is a joyful work about healing and new beginnings by contemporary artist HOSSEI. Featuring otherworldly sea creatures in a playful and multi-sensory aquatic themed ecosystem, this immersive installation creates a dynamic space for all ages and abilities that invites audiences to celebrate their inner creative spirit and explore art through more than just sight.For blind and low vision audiences, the exhibition includes audio descriptions that vividly describe each costume’s character. Braille QR codes are available throughout the space to help one navigate and connect with the exhibition in their own way.ESSSENSSSE began when HOSSEI became fascinated by the sand dollar sea creatures— their shape, features, and how in mediaeval times it was truly believed that sand dollars were mermaid currency. When looking at the sand dollar, HOSSEI realised that if you were to remove the physical characteristics of a human body, you would be left with a mouth and an anus, just like the sand dollar. It is this idea that compelled HOSSEI to make the sand dollar an emblem of the show. An entry point and an exit, not just with food, but in the sense of discerning which energies come through and nourish the insides, and which are let out. ESSSENSSSE is about letting go and being one with the spirit and embracing its purity and vulnerability.HOSSEI is a multidisciplinary Australian artist with Persian, Turkish and Russian ancestry, exhibiting work across Western Sydney and beyond for more than twenty years. HOSSEI’s practice is influenced by his 7 years as Student Learning Service Officer (SLSO), supporting students with a range of abilities and backgrounds at Newtown Public School (NPS).ESSSENSSSE is a Verge Gallery exhibition curated by Tesha Malott, touring in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, supported by the University of Sydney and proudly funded by the NSW Government. Verge Gallery is supported by the University of Sydney Union.

Audio Descriptions

Audio descriptions for the blind and low-vision community have been developed for ESSSENSSSE by Sarah Empey and Anthia Balis, in collaboration with HOSSEI. These can be accessed via a QR code located at YAM reception and in the gallery archway. YAM encourages patrons to bring their own headphones.

ESSSENSSSE Audio Descriptions

CREATION
2025-11-22 00:00 - 2026-03-15 23:59
Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy

Program, Workshop

Deborah Kelly, from the CREATION collage suite, 2019-ongoing, image courtesy of the artist.

Program, Workshop

Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy
When

8 Jul 202610:30 am – 12:00 pm

Reserve your spot

CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaboration with communities across Australia, it invites you to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.Through video, animation, photography, music, paper collage, costume, textiles, ceramics and dance, CREATION moves fluidly across contemporary art, politics, and ritual to consider and critique contemporary issues of our time and inspire people to gather, commune, and imagine new ways of being in a more-than-human world.CREATION is not just an exhibition; it is a living, breathing mythology.

The Holy Orders are companion beings who represent CREATION’s virtues and powers;

The Serpent: The Supreme Originator, teaches us to move with certainty, and to dream.

The Moon: Rhythm, loyalty and companionship.

The Rat: teaches us resilience, resourcefulness, and to find our kin among the scorned.

Fungus: represents interdependence and reciprocity.

Infinity: symbolises the eternal exchange of energy.

Bacteria: from which we learn that size does not equate to power.

Vulture: teaches us not to fear the ruins of the past.

Spider: The vision weaver; teaches us that storytelling is survival.SPECIAL EVENT: A special CREATION performance involving dance, costumes, song and spectacle will be held on Saturday 14 March from 5:30pm. Join YAM’s mailing list to stay up to date with event details.

The performance will feature the CREATION CHORALE singing joyous original music.

CREATION is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia.

Kids Art Trail: Explore, Imagine, Create
2025-12-19 00:00 - 2026-02-02 23:59
Kids Art Trail: Explore, Imagine, Create

Program, Workshop

Step into a world of colour, curiosity and creativity with the Kids Art Trail!

Photo courtesy of And the Trees Photography

Program, Workshop

Winter Wonders: Expressive Painting with Kelly Joy
When

8 Jul 202610:30 am – 12:00 pm

Reserve your spot

Step into a world of colour, curiosity and creativity with the Kids Art Trail! This interactive journey invites children to explore artworks, each sparking imagination and inspiring personal expression. As they move through the trail, kids are encouraged to respond with their own creativity. It’s a playful and engaging way to connect with art, discover new ideas, and celebrate the joy of making.

Head to YAM to collect the Kids Art Trail, clip board and pencil.
