Humans of the Outback
Winton QLD, June 2023
Queensland College of Art students joined students from the Griffith Film School to work together and celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Film in Winton.
A small selection of students studying painting and photography connected with the local community in Winton to capture and tell their stories in a series of portraits coming together in an exhibition installed in shopfront windows along Elderslie St.
Students engaged in meaningful discussions with locals creating new works that preserve and share individual stories from this Outback Community. In consultation with the community and Guwa-Koa Aboriginal elders, as well as with support from Council, students worked collaboratively with local participants, spending time in the community to create meaningful relationships that helped to inform the final artworks.
These artworks capture a productive relationship between emerging artists and regarded locals to celebrate the Winton community through their stories for generations to come. At the conclusion of the Film Festival, the artworks have joined the collection at Waltzing Matilda Centre becoming a legacy for the 150-year celebrations of Winton in 2025. Prints of these artworks will also be displayed on the iconic Spirit of the Outback train travelling between Brisbane and Longreach.
Information courtesy of the LiveArt website https://www.qcaliveart.com.au/portfolio/humansoftheoutback_winton/
Queensland College of Art, Griffith University Public Art Program. This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance. Program Director: Dr Simon Degroot.
"WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following video may contain images and voices of deceased persons."
PORTRAIT: Janice
Statement: Janice is a vibrant, entrepreneurial and community spirited Winton local. The Evert family have owned the local Royal Theatre and are key figures in the opal industry. She has many business interests; however, Janice’s true passion is opal. Her enthusiasm is palpable as she excitedly shares knowledge of all aspects of opal mining, craft, and trade. I most enjoyed hearing Janice explain her appreciation of opal in their natural form, their materialisation from the prehistoric era, and her assertion that each opal is a unique celebration of perfection. Janice and her husband John have pursued many other opportunities throughout the years however, the call of the outback has summoned them back to Winton where they have permanently settled. It has been a privilege to get to know Janice and paint her portrait, and I was compelled to capture her kindness and generous nature.
Anna Weston, Janice (2023), acrylic on canvas, 76 x 61cm. Photograph: Adam Young / Image Courtesy: Liveart, Queensland College of Art
