Artist talk with STILL: National Still Life Award 2023 Winner Alana Hunt
2023-12-02 10:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Sydney)
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Alana Hunt, …and fled swiftly (i and ii), 2022 35mm film / archival digital print, 800 x 530 mm (each)

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Visit the STILL: National Still Life Award 2023 exhibition at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) on Saturday 2nd December at 10.30am to meet this year’s STILL Winner Alana Hunt. Alana will be joining us to discuss her award-winning work “…and fled swiftly (i and ii) 2022” as well as her broader interdisciplinary arts practice.

During this artist talk, Alana will discuss her most recent body of work and take you on a journey to explore the development, themes and significance of her practice in contributing to social commentary on the impacts of colonisation in Australia.

About Alana

Born 1984, Gadigal Country, Sydney. Lives and works on Miriwoong Country, East Kimberley, Western Australia.

Alana Hunt is non-indigenous artist and writer. Currently based on Gadigal Country in Sydney, over the last twelve years she has lived on Miriwoong and Gija Countries in the North-West of Australia.

Her work examines the violence that results from the fragility of nations and the aspirations and failures of colonial dreams, both within the area she lives and in the context of her longstanding engagement with South Asia.

Her distributed art practice moves between publishing, exhibition making and public intervention. She communicates with a broad network of collaborators and peers in the development of her interdisciplinary works and regularly contributes to social commentary through podcasts, discussions and publishing.

Visit Alana’s Instagram to learn more @alanavhunt

STILL Major Sponsors

STILL Supporting Sponsors

Halfway
2023-12-08 00:00 - 2024-02-11 23:59
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Peter Wade, Mood Banana, 2023, White Beech, acrylic, ink

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

The exhibition explores how distance, time, speed, and space shape people’s perceptions of a place, and how an identity associated with being the ‘halfway point on the highway’ evolves over time.

Halfway embraces the evolution of Coffs Harbour by using contemporary art to explore the impact of major infrastructure projects and reflect on its shared history.

This exhibition is supported by the Dobell Exhibition Grant, funded by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and managed by Museums & Galleries of NSW.

RELATED EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

The 2023 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

1 Dec 2023 – 4 Feb 2024 at 10:00 am–2:00 pm
Exhibition
Celebrate the natural heritage of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea with the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year. A South Australian Museum exhibition.

Never Neverland

14 Dec 2023 – 4 Feb 2024
Exhibition
Never Neverland presents works by Karlee Rawkins in collaboration with her son Raj, exploring the perceptions, expectations and profound joy that being the mother of a son with a disability has brought.

Yaamanga (around here)

Ongoing
Exhibition
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.

Halfway artist talk: Jane Skeer and Yannick Blattner
2023-12-09 10:30 - 12:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Left: Jane Skeer. Photo Sam Roberts @samrophoto RIght: Yannick Blattner. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Halfway invites us on a collective journey to explore the changing identity of Coffs Harbour, a regional City undergoing cultural and physical transformations.

Jane Skeer will discuss her large-scale installation, True Blue. Comprised ofratchet straps, demonstrating her fascination with materials that come from the landscape and wear the landscape embedded in their surface.

Artist Yannick Blattner will share insights into his work Formal Arrangement For Casual Leisure 2023. An artworkcomprising of polyester camping chairs sealed and made rigid using materials typically found in auto-mechanic workshops ie; car filler, fibreglass resin and black car paint. As a practical object, the modified chairs facilitate the Australian penchant for leisure. Presented en-masse as an art object the work becomes a repetitive symbol of the ever-present intersection between labour and leisure.

Embrace this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the artistic visions and inspirations of these talented artists.

Saturday 9 December 2023

10.30am – 12pm

This is a FREE event, but bookings are required.

This exhibition is supported by the Dobell Exhibition Grant, funded by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation and managed by Museums & Galleries of NSW.

Jane Skeer. Photo Sam Roberts @samrophoto

Yannick Blattner. Image courtesy of the artist.

Book your tickets to the artist talk here

Never Neverland
2023-12-14 00:00 - 2024-02-04 23:59
Never Neverland

Program, Workshop

Never Neverland presents works by Karlee Rawkins in collaboration with her son Raj, exploring the perceptions, expectations and profound joy that being the mother of a son with a disability has brought.

Karlee Rawkins, Drifting Away, 2023, Acrylic on cotton canvas, 1370 x 2100 mm

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Karlee’s paintings explore the power of symbols and iconography to create a fantastical world of islands, tropical birds and portals of love, growth, resilience and transformation. We invite you to enter a world where imagination reigns supreme and freedom is celebrated.

Wild Summer Creative Journal 23/24
2023-12-20 10:00 - 2024-01-31 16:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

From 20 December 2023, these journals can be found at all three library branches and Yarrila Arts and Museum.

This Creative Journal is a journey into the world of local artist Sally Hook’s captivating ceramics. Bursting with fun, it includes family charades, DIY sculptures, collaging, and a step-by-step flipbook guide for an enriching experience. Dive into Sally’s ceramic-making process and discover the fascinating birds along the Coffs Harbour coast.

But the Summer fun doesn’t stop there! The library team has handpicked books and resources to boost creativity, explore birds, and embark on exciting new adventures.

Win: Don’t miss the chance to win another creative journal prize! Answer the question on the back of the journal and return the form to your local library branch by 31 January, 2024.

In addition to the Creative Journal, City of Coffs Harbour’s Summer holiday line-up features a diverse array of hands-on, interactive activities designed to immerse kids in enjoyable and novel experiences.

Explore the program listings on our Coffs Harbour Libraries and YAM websites for a complete overview of the exciting events. Secure a FREE spot for each child by booking through our websites.

Wild Summer Holiday Program
2023-12-20 10:00 - 2024-01-31 17:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Karlee Rawkins, Scarlet-tailed Macaw, 2023.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Visit the YAM and Coffs Harbour Libraries Eventbrite for more information and book these activities.

All SummerWild Summer Creative Journal inspired by Sally HookAll SummerSelf-led activities – in The WorkshopAll SummerSummer Reading Challenge10, 17 & 24 JanuaryCoffs on Film13 JanuaryOur Wild World of Reptiles reptile day13 JanuaryReptile Portraits15 JanuaryDigital art and t-shirt design16 JanuarySong and Beat making workshop16 JanuaryPirate Parrots creative workshop with Karlee Rawkins17 JanuarySewing basics and animal textile activity20 JanuaryHalfway: Show ‘n Shine Family Day22 JanuarySurreal Nature Photography23 & 24 January3D modelling, scanning, printing workshop24 JanuaryMy Two Blankets – author reading and creative workshop25 JanuarySummer Reading Challenge Celebration31 Jan & 7 FebHalfway: Tiny Tyres, Big Screens

YAM Eventbrite

Library Eventbrite

Ok! Motherhood
2024-02-08 00:00 - 2024-03-24 23:59
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Richilde Flavell, en caul universe, 2023, ceramic, wax, oil pigment, 610mm x 430mm. Photo by And the Trees Photography.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Explore the connection between the mundane and the extraordinary by delving into the themes of parenthood and the transformative power of change through artist Richilde Flavell’s captivating ceramic works.

From large vessels to a raw clay installation, these artworks evoke reverence and warmth through their generous forms, representing the flow of change, a movement from one state to another, showcasing the beauty and transformative power of clay.

Fluttering on the Surface
2024-02-08 00:00 - 2024-03-24 23:59
Fluttering on the Surface

Program, Workshop

Sarah Mufford, Detail of Nasir ol Molk, 2021, India Ink, Pigmented Ink, watercolour, graphite, and polymer gesso on cotton rag.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Mufford’s work invites the viewer to engage with a dynamic interplay of shapes and colours that constantly shift and transform without one element dominating. This sense of movement is enhanced by the artist’s use of negative space, allowing the eye to rest and refocus, creating a sense of rhythm and flow.

Fluttering on the SurfaceSarah Mufford

A response to Sarah Mufford’s exhibition by Associate Professor in Art History and Visual Culture at Charles Sturt University, Sam Bowker

Sarah Mufford’s creative practice seeks to understand holistic processes of visual culture. Her work reveals subtle sensory structures that inform our perception of harmony and balance. Using a ruler, compass and vivid colours, she encourages us to see how geometry, colour, field and rhythmic forms interact as rich spaces for sensory imagination.

Across this delicate, colourful and ambitious exhibition, our vision is intricately interrupted by solid semicircles. Each is isolated from even more complex potential patterns. The visible under-drawing is intentional, for Mufford’s labor-intensive process emphasizes the importance of geometry as a profound foundation, both visually and conceptually. Her reverence for the historic pursuit of geometric forms in art history is drawn from her extensive fieldwork across India, southern Spain, Italy and Iran. Her experiments are related to the Pattern and Decoration (P&D) movement in American postmodernism, which drew on a similar array of sources across broadly Islamic, Persianate, and South Asian art – which were, and still are, collectively under-represented in Australian contemporary art – yet her finished work is distinctly of her own time and place.

Through this ongoing creative practice research, Mufford has studied diverse interpretations of geometric design and the history of sensory perception. Rather than simply copying specific examples or illustrating regional practices, she has compared their objectives and variations through their own contexts, and arrived at a coherence that is entirely her own.

For generations of artists and artisans, mathematics has served as an extension of philosophy, religion and visual culture. Mufford is part of this continuity, drawing from the rich depth and breadth of art history to offer a new way of seeing. Her work is not descriptive, but imaginative, acknowledging sources as a testament to a more connected, coherent model of international creative practice. Sarah Mufford’s paintings are inventions rather than replications, posed on the continuous question ‘what if?’, and moving toward new possibilities.

In reflecting on Mufford’s exhibition, I offer interpretation about four paintings featured in Fluttering on the Surface.

In Jali (2023) the precisely cut structure of carved screens are evoked, drawing from a solution to allow the permeation of moving air through architecture. The jali is a Persianate design, notably preserved in the intricate dark pink and warm red masonry of Akbar’s abandoned capital city Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, India. But comparable structures have been developed elsewhere – such as meshrabiyeh timber latticework screens, shamsiyya gypsum screens, or even Frank Lloyd Wright’s (somewhat brutalist) usonian open-cinderblock walls. Mufford’s approach moves beyond any of those specific contexts. Perceptively, she asks what do we see and feel when experiencing these decorative screens? What was intended by their makers in-situ, rather than those who subsequently disconnected and moved them into the rarified rooms of museums?

Through semicircles, we see blue sky, we see green foliage, we feel faint air in subtle motion.

Ottoman tents were appliqued and embroidered with lustrous threads and luxurious textiles to evoke the sensory ideal of a garden – a landscape transformed on humanity’s terms. As mobile architecture, the illusion of place moved with the tent, even when a new view could be borrowed by the act of re-location. Mufford’s work reminds me of that sensory representation. Her memories are evoked and allude through the ambiguity of abstraction, which is richer than tromp l’oeil realism.

The intensity of Leheriya (2023) acknowledges a similar quality, but this time it is situated via the resplendent textiles of south Asia. The term leheriya is a Rajasthani form of woven fabric, worn as a saree or turban, defined by a persistent wave-like or zig-zag pattern. Across Mufford’s characteristic blue and green semicircles you may discern groups of squares, but moving your eyes between each ‘square’ creates the trickling flow of water, tentatively seeking passage over an open field. Water is heavier than air, and thus far more intense colours have been chosen.

Kashan (2023) situates a geographic point of origin – a city in the province of Isfahan, Iran. However, that place has been informed by centuries of inherited culture and subsequent transformations. It is an analogy for a past and a future as a form of symmetry and asymmetry. When viewing this work, you may note the abstract forms in dark tones are nearly symmetrical against a pale green field. But look more closely at the secretive pattern across the semicircles – are they palindromes?

On a geometric perspective, the immediate present could be seen as a perpetual palindrome, extending infinitely in all directions. This is a critical point underpinning the philosophy of geometric design, allowing extrapolation into the infinite without glitches or disjointed continuity.

Neshan (2023) is a Farsi (Persian) word meaning a mark or target, or a seal (like a symbol or medallion). Within these billowing, cloud-like forms, notice the negative spaces between the semicircles, and how these form a pattern unseen in the rest of this exhibition, built through gaps like voids on a manuscript. The curlicues of coiling forms seem to trace the rhythmic movements of a murmuration of birds in flight, or the rise and fall of asemic script – that is, graphic forms that resemble words but do not contain their meanings. This type of abstraction was a foundation principle of the Hurrufiyya movement in Arab modernism, yet in Mufford’s work this is not intended as a commentary on calligraphy. Rather, her work is a study of time in motion through abstraction on a geometric frame, in which parallels are invited to be drawn by other observers.

Mufford’s paintings are the result of extended and careful listening, thoughtful observation, critical comparison, and creative practice research towards even more ambitious questions. This is a manifesto for insightful practice, acknowledging diverse sources with respect and attention to their underpinning processes, raising challenges to global art history through contemporary Australian art.

Download PDF of Fluttering on the Surface essay

Download PDF of Fluttering on the Surface essay

Sea Monsters
2024-02-23 00:00 - 2024-05-26 23:59
Sea Monsters

Program, Workshop

While dinosaurs dominated the land, giant reptiles and sharks prowled the seas, and they’re making a comeback at Yarrila Arts and Museum!

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Sea Monsters offers an exciting experience that combines real fossils from millions of years ago and giant replicas, including a 13-meter long Elasmosaurus and a 9-meter Prognathdon.

Dive into the secret lives of these fascinating creatures with interactive displays and immersive experiences.

Not for the faint-hearted, Sea Monsters will ignite the imagination of all ages.

It’s seriously scary and seriously fun.

Buy Tickets

Final Weekend Special Ticket Price (From Friday 10am until Sunday 2pm) $5 per person, Infants under 4 free.

Adult$15.00Child (4 – 16 years) $7.50Student/Concession $10.00Family (2 adults + 2 children) $40.00Infants under 4 years FREE

Buy Tickets

Produced by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with the Queensland Museum Network and Queensland Government.

Related Programs and Events

Night at the Museum: Sea Monsters

24 May 2024 at 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Event, Program, Workshop
Get ready for a Night at the Museum and see seriously scary Sea Monsters after dark at Yarrila Arts and Museum!

Sea Monsters Family Fun Day
2024-02-24 10:00 - 14:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Have fun with interactive performances with Erth’s Roaming Prehistoric Aquarium as they bring ancient sea creatures to life at Yarrila Place, Coffs Harbour!

Experience roving, interactive performances with master puppeteers Erth and their prehistoric marine reptiles at Yarrila Place.

Meet the playful Plesiosaurs and evade the fearsome Kronosaurus. Be careful not to be lured in by the mysterious Anglerfish!

For over 30 years, Erth have delighted, challenged, and inspired audiences around the world with their flagship shows Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo and Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium.

Enjoy them for one day only – Saturday 24 February from 10:30 to 1:30 at Yarrila Place. Erth’s work blends exquisite puppetry and irreverent humour with scientific rigour, inspiring awe and wonder.

Let your imagination run wild and create a sea monster masterpiece!

Visit The Workshop at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) and explore the form and function of some of the incredible beasts that once dominated our oceans. Combine these forms to create your very own sea monster with its own unique function and name.

Join a special Sea Monster Storytime, with Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary!

Come along to the Story Space in the Harry Bailey Memorial Library at Yarrila Place. Listen to stories of the deep with the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary and their friends. Storytime sessions start at 11am and 12pm and run for approximately 30 minutes.

Best of all, it’s free! Plus, don’t miss the chance to purchase tickets to explore the fascinating Sea Monsters Exhibition.

Save the date for a day of fun, discovery, and adventure!

Buy tickets for Sea Monsters here

Family Fun Day is presented by City of Coffs Harbour incorporating Yarrila Art and Museum and Coffs Harbour Libraries.

Sea Monsters is an Australian National Maritime Museum touring exhibition in partnership with Queensland Museum Network.

Roving performances by Erth. Dinosaurs and other puppets created by Erth Visual & Physical Inc.

Storytime with Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary

Related Events

Sea Monsters

23 Feb – 26 May 2024
Exhibition
Come and explore the fascinating world of Earth’s ancient oceans, where some of the largest, fiercest and most successful predators ruled the depths.

Ok! Motherhood

8 Feb – 24 Mar 2024
Exhibition
Explore the connection between the mundane and the extraordinary by delving into the themes of parenthood and the transformative power of change through artist Richilde Flavell’s captivating ceramic works.

Fluttering on the Surface

8 Feb – 24 Mar 2024
Exhibition
Lose yourself in intricate geometric abstractions. Fluttering on the Surface is a solo exhibition of Sarah Mufford’s complex pattern works, informed by Eastern and Western sources.

Artist Talk with Sarah Mufford - Fluttering On The Surface
2024-03-02 11:00 - 12:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Join artist Sarah Mufford for a discussion offering unique insights into her artworks featured in her current solo exhibition at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM), Fluttering On The Surface and be inspired by her arts practice and current work.Fluttering on the Surface is a solo exhibition of Sarah Mufford’s complex pattern works, informed by Eastern and Western sources.Embrace this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the artistic visions and inspirations of this talented local artist.

This is a FREE event, but bookings are required.

Book a ticket for the Artist Talk with Sarah Mufford

Related Exhibitions and Events

Fluttering on the Surface

8 Feb – 24 Mar 2024
Exhibition
Lose yourself in intricate geometric abstractions. Fluttering on the Surface is a solo exhibition of Sarah Mufford’s complex pattern works, informed by Eastern and Western sources.

Ok! Motherhood

8 Feb – 24 Mar 2024
Exhibition
Explore the connection between the mundane and the extraordinary by delving into the themes of parenthood and the transformative power of change through artist Richilde Flavell’s captivating ceramic works.

Digital Studio Drop In and Create
2024-03-06 14:00 - 17:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Learn how to record audio, make music, edit photos & videos, design a poster, stop-motion animation, create digital art with an iPad, and much more.

Digital Studio equipment is available to use including guitars, bass guitars, midi-keyboards and percussion instruments.

The Digital Studio is free to access during Drop-In sessions. Let us know if you are wanting to use the recording booth during a specific session.

Bring your own project or learn new skills in this weekly, creative, drop-in session at the Digital Studio.

Unknown Elements
2024-03-23 11:00 - 12:30
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Visit Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) to hear from National Marine Science Centre’s scientist Stephan Soule, who will take audiences on a journey to uncover the past, present and future of our ocean biodiversity in the face of climate change.

The deep sea is the largest ecosystem on Earth and one of the least studied. However, scientists are discovering that ocean acidification and climate change are bringing new threats to marine life which are predicted to rival the biggest mass extinctions in history.

Understand these accelerated processes in an easy to understand and practical way through laboratory demonstrations in The Workshop.

Stephan Soule- Manager, Outreach and Education. Southern Cross University and National Marine Science Centre.

Produced by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with the Queensland Museum Network and Queensland Government.

Digital Photo Editing - Lunchtime Learning
2024-03-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-04-02 12:00 - 13:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Want to learn how to make your photos pop? Come and join one of two short workshops in digital photo editing using Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

There are lunchtime workshops available on consecutive Tuesdays, 26 March 2024 and 2 April 2024. So whether you want to take your Instagram to the next level, or get some quick tips for professional development, sign up.

Inner & Outer Worlds
2024-03-30 00:00 - 2024-05-19 23:59
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Jo Elliott, Beacon, 2024, Mixed Media

Jeremy Sheehan, This Floating World, 2024, Mixed Media

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Unique insights and experiences resonate in each of their works. The artists use unexpected materials and objects, transforming them into something extraordinary, taking audiences on a journey traversing time, landscapes and other worldly realms with an immersive experience of light and form.

Introduction to Electronic Music Making using Ableton Live
2024-04-06 10:00 - 14:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Do you have a keen interest in electronic music and are aged 14 and above? Coffs Harbour Libraries is excited to present this 2-day Introduction to Ableton Live (Sat 6th and Sat 13th April 10am-2pm). No previous experience necessary.

In this face-to-face course, facilitator Myles Boyd will introduce participants to the basic techniques required to use Ableton Live with a MIDI controller.

The course is held over two Saturdays at The Digital Studio, level 1, Yarrila Place, Saturday 6 April and Saturday 13 April.

This course will show you how to create a full song and learn all of the parts of Ableton Live when producing music, even without any prior knowledge.

Created for the absolute beginner as well as advanced users who want to expand their knowledge within Ableton Live software.

What you’ll learn:

How to create a full track from scratch in Ableton

Create different pre-sets and favourites in the browser section for a quick workflow

Show how the different controls works and why you should use them

Using Ableton live as a music production software

About the facilitator

Myles Boyd is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Starting music from a young age Myles demonstrated a natural affinity with the classical guitar and performed concerts and eisteddfods as early as 6 years of age. After receiving his AMEB grade 8 he was accepted into a leading conservatorium, however, left after a year to pursue other areas of music. His practice at this point shifted to include production and composition, however, he also retained a passion for string instruments. In the transference into production and composition he received Ableton Live certification through Dubspot, New York, before returning to university which he graduated with a Bachelor of music in 2023. In this time Myles passionately explored many facets of music, however, majored in composition and production. Topics of interests have included, theory and analysis, aural training, electronic music production and technology, film scoring, harmony and composition, interactive composition, and musicology.

Em Blamey
2024-04-10 17:30 - 19:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Em will discuss how the exhibition was created, the experts and artists involved, where you might find fantastic fossils and how you re-assemble a 15-metre-long plesiosaur!

Em Blamey is a Creative Producer at the Australian National Maritime Museum and has joint honours in zoology and psychology, plus post-graduate qualifications in science communication. She has also worked at the Australian Museum and Questacon – The National Science & Technology Centre, developing exhibitions on a wide range of topics. This event will inspire youth and adults.

Wednesday 10 April 20245.30pm – 7pmRiver Oak Room, Level 3, Yarrila place

Em Blamey, Creative Producer of YAM’s current exhibition, Sea Monsters, on tour from the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Buy Tickets

Adult$10.00Concession$5.00

Ticket prices do not include entry to Sea Monsters.

Buy tickets

Produced by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with the Queensland Museum Network and Queensland Government.

Water Worlds Autumn Holiday Program
2024-04-13 10:00 - 2024-04-28 18:30
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Karlee Rawkins, Scarlet-tailed Macaw, 2023.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

All AutumnAll dayWater Worlds Creative Journal inspired by Jo ElliottAll AutumnAll daySelf-led activities across Coffs Harbour Libraries and Yarrila Arts and Museum 15 April10amSew a Sea Monster Sewing Workshops16 April10amElectronic Music Production Workshop17 to 23 April 10.30am & 1pmGuardians of the Sea Kids Workshops with Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary 21 April10amSea Monsters Tiny Marvels Art and Science Workshop23 April5pmSilent Disco23 April9am & 1pmDigital Art & T-shirt Design – Ocean Wonderland24 April10.30amUnderwater Worlds: Craft and Storytime with Penelope Pratley

See below and visit the YAM and Coffs Harbour Libraries Eventbrite for more information and to book these programs.

Water Worlds Creative Journal inspired by Jo Elliott

Pick up a copy of the latest Creative Journal inspired by artist, Jo Elliot. Copies are available from Yarrila Arts and Museum where you can also visit Jo’s exhibition. Or pick up a copy of the journal from one of the Coffs Harbour Libraries.

Available all day – No bookings required

Self-led activities across Coffs Harbour Libraries and Yarrila Arts and Museum

Visit one of the Coffs Harbour Library branches or Yarrila Arts and Museum to enjoy fun, self-led craft activities.

Available all day – No bookings required

Sew a Sea Monster Sewing Workshops

Sew a Sea Monster using recycled materials, hand- sewing skills and sewing machine basics.

Book a place in the Sea Monster Sewing Workshop

Electronic Music Production Workshop

In this inspiring, hands-on workshop, participants will work with a professional music producer to write and record an original song in the Digital Studio at Yarrila Place.

Book a place in the Electronic Music Production Workshop

Guardians of the Sea Kids Workshops with Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary

Explore the wonders of marine life at Coffs Harbour Libraries with free educational and creative workshops during Autumn school holidays.

Book a place in Guardians of the Sea Kids Workshop

Sea Monsters Tiny Marvels Art and Science Workshop

Take a closer look to uncover the tiny marvels in the hidden wonderland of the sea with the National Marine Science Centre’s Marine Biologist Dr Karina Hall. Recreate these tiny creatures by hand through individual drawings and a collaborative mural.

Book a place in Sea Monsters Tiny Marvels Art and Science Workshop

Silent Disco

Enjoy a fun Silent Disco at Harry Bailey Memorial Library at Yarrila Place. Featuring awesome tracks and dance moves!

Book a place in the Silent Disco

Digital Art & T-shirt Design – Ocean Wonderland

Participants will work in Adobe Fresco using an Apple Pen on the iPads to create digital art. Led by Gumbaynggirr artist Bernard Kelly Edwards, the workshop will focus on ocean conservation through design and illustration, exploring colour, shapes and typography to create a piece of wearable art.

Book a place in one of the two T-shirt workshops

Underwater Worlds: Craft and Storytime with Penelope Pratley

Dive into Underwater Worlds with Penelope Pratley! Storytelling and crafting at the library for an unforgettable underwater adventure.

Book a place in the Craft and Storytime with Penelope Pratley

These holiday programs are Proudly funded by NSW Government

YAM Young Creatives Free youth tours
2024-04-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-04-18 12:00 - 14:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Installation view Sea Monsters

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

YAM Young Creatives’ Free Tour of Sea Monsters. YAM Young Creatives invites young people from the City of Coffs Harbour region to experience a free and accessible tour of the Sea Monsters exhibition. Sessions are available on 18 April 2024 only and are a celebration of Youth Week 2024. Bookings are essential.

These tours are facilitated by YAM Young Creatives but also provide independent exploration of the exhibition for the rest of your session time. Book in with friends or siblings.

If attending with an adult, adults will need to purchase their own ticket to the exhibition. Tickets can be purchased here.

This project is supported by Create NSW’s Audience Development Fund, a devolved funding program administered by Museums & Galleries of NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.

Sea Monsters is Produced by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with the Queensland Museum Network and Queensland Government.

Create a Digital Artwork inspired by Sea Monsters using Adobe Photoshop
2024-04-20 00:00 - 14:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Inspired by the blockbuster exhibition Sea Monsters, we’re offering children the chance to dive into the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence.

Come along to this workshop to learn about compositing with AI, including how to use layers and effects in Adobe Photoshop. You could even create your own digital sea monster artwork. It’s suitable for all skill levels. It also includes a tour of the incredible Sea Monsters exhibition now on at Yarrila Arts and Museum.

Suitable for ages 12 – 24

Create your own Sea Monster with on Adobe Fresco (8-12 YEARS)
2024-04-20 11:00 - 12:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Your trip to Sea Monsters doesn’t have to end once you leave the exhibition space, here’s an activity to keep the kids engaged.

Extend your visit to the Sea Monsters exhibition by bringing the kids to a workshop in digital art, located in the Digital Studio on Level 1 of Yarrila Place.

Aimed at children aged 8-12, they’ll get enjoy a hands-on experience using Adobe Fresco on the iPads and drawing with a digital stylus. They’ll have the chance to create their own sea monster from their imagination, inspired by the Sea Monsters exhibition.

See it, reimagine it, re-create it a workshop with Jeremy Sheehan
2024-05-11 10:00 - 16:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Jeremy Sheehan, Round and Round, 2024, 3D printed recycled water bottles and recyclable PET, resin, LED lights, microcontroller, found and fabricated object. Photo: And the Trees Photography

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Visit Yarrila Arts and Museum and participate in a creative sculpture workshop with artist Jeremy Sheehan. Currently exhibiting Inner and Outer Worlds, Jeremy’s work prompts us to reflect on the past, present, and potential futures, encouraging a dialogue about our roles in shaping the world.

To begin this one-day workshop, Jeremy will take participants on a guided tour of Inner and Outer Worlds and Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators.

He will then lead participants in a workshop where they can design a futuristic ocean discovery using mould-making and casting techniques.

All materials and an entry ticket to Sea Monsters are included in the workshop fee. Suitable for older teens and adults.

Saturday 11 May, 10 am – 4pm

Dr Phil Palaeontologist
2024-05-19 11:00 - 12:30
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Dr Phil Bell – University of New England’s Palaeontologist and Associate Professor

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

We are thrilled to present palaeontologist and dinosaur expert Dr Phil Bell, who will lead the audience on a journey to discover his latest research and lifelong passion for uncovering dinosaurs and marine reptiles worldwide.

Dr Phil Bell has been hooked on dinosaurs since the age of 3. Learn how he followed his dreams of becoming a palaeontologist, and about the fascinating discoveries he has made during his lifetime.This is an opportunity not to be missed. Buy your ticket now and be part of this extraordinary event!

Dr Phil will inspire people of all ages, buy your ticket now to be part of the extraordinary event.

Tickets to Sea Monsters exhibition can be purchased separately.

Dr Phil Bell working in the field.

Sea Monsters is produced by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with the Queensland Museum Network and Queensland Government.

Night at the Museum
2024-05-24 16:00 - 20:00
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Sea Monsters exhibition installation view. Photo: And the Trees Photography.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Get ready for a Night at the Museum and see seriously scary Sea Monsters after dark at Yarrila Arts and Museum!

Enjoy an action-packed evening for the whole family including:

Guided Torchlight Tours: Explore the Sea Monsters exhibition in a unique torchlit experience. (All tickets to Sea Monsters $5)

Treasure hunt through the museum, Yaamanga Around here

Art making

Dress-up competition: Prizes awarded for the best-dressed Sea Monster or Jurassic creature of the night, with in the following categories: Adult, Family, Child under 8, Child over 8. Judging will take place at 6.30 at YAM reception.

Family Storytime: Learn about Mary Anning, the girl who discovered the first Sea Monster, in the Harry Bailey Memorial Library Story Space at 5pm

The YAM bar will be open: offering a wide selection of drinks available for purchase

Special preview of new exhibitions by Mid North Coast Artists: Aidan Jarvis: The Lowbrow Art of Aidan Jarvis and Ellie Ryan and Raffi Bulter: Gratified

Sydney Writers’ Festival: Streaming in the Harry Bailey Memorial Library Story Space. Feminist Firebrands at 4pm; 5KM from the Frontline at 6pm, and Queerstories at 7.30pm. Bookings essential via the library website

Be part of the action at YAM after dark!

This seriously fun event is not to be missed.

All tickets to Sea Monsters $5 per person. Infants under 4, free.

Gratified
2024-05-25 00:00 - 2024-07-21 23:59
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Portrait of Raffi Butler. Photo by Liam Butler.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Using diverse mediums from painting and ceramics to sculpture and robotics, the artists explore and question how we experience everyday life, consumer culture and environmental concerns.

The Lowbrow Art of Aidan Jarvis
2024-05-25 00:00 - 2024-07-21 23:59
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Aidan Jarvis, Powerdrill, 2022, digital print. Image courtesy of the artist.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

Aidan Jarvis’ vibrant and energetic pieces evoke the rebellious spirit of the lowbrow movement, which draws inspiration from underground poster art, punk music, Tiki culture, Japanese mythology and hot rod street culture.

Red Mangrove Grey Mangrove
2024-06-08 00:00 - 2024-07-14 23:59
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Angela Tay, Red Mangrove Grey Mangrove, 2022, Moving image. Image courtesy of the artist.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

As a student of Chinese visual and martial arts, Angela brings a unique perspective to her work, offering a mesmerizing choreography that references calligraphic lines. Her intricate and graceful movements, combined with visuals of mangrove forests, create a mesmerising and thought-provoking experience.

Saltwater Freshwater Arts 2023
2024-06-08 00:00 - 2024-07-28 23:59
CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session

Program, Workshop

Lilly Clegg, Naalgan-da (at the beach) Moon Wreath, 2020. Image by And the Trees Photography.

Program, Workshop

CANCELLED: NAIDOC Week Painting with Danielle Burford – Drop-in Session
When

17 Jul 202510:00 am – 12:00 pm

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitBook my ticket

The Saltwater Freshwater Arts exhibition and award takes place every two years. It encourages a sense of ownership of mainstream gallery spaces by Aboriginal people, instilling pride in having their culture promoted and celebrated by the wider community.

The art award is proudly supported by the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance Aboriginal Corporation: the touring exhibition and public program are proudly funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW, and in collaboration with our gallery partners; Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-Operative, Wadjar Regional Indigenous Gallery, Manning Regional Gallery, Glasshouse Port Macquarie and Yarrila Arts and Museum.

PROGRAMS

Saltwater Freshwater Arts 2023 Curator and Artist Talk

8 Jun 2024 at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Event

Saltwater Freshwater Arts 2023 Gumbaynggirr Language Workshop

15 Jun 2024 at 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Workshop

Duuwa (boomerang) painting and learning workshop

22 Jun 2024 at 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Workshop
with Gumbaynggirr artist Matthew Flanders

Saltwater Freshwater Arts 2023 Weaving Circle

6 Jul 2024 at 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Workshop
with Gumbaynggirr Weavers, Amber Seccombe-Flanders & Dallas Gittins
