An exhibition developed to celebrate the 130th anniversary of Tamworth being the first town in Australia to have municipal electric street lighting in 1888 will open this Saturday and Walcha’s artistic community will be well represented.
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Tamworth’s significant history is explored through the theme of ‘light’ and examines how light is used in the creation of art through a diversity of mediums.
Of the fifteen artists from across the New England and North West selected to submit artworks which reflect, depict, explore or pay homage to Tamworth’s history of illuminating the night - seven are from Walcha.
this is a reflection of the high calibre of creative talent in the area
- Bridget Guthrie - Tamworth Regional Council Art Gallery and Museum director
Tamworth Regional Council Art Gallery and Museum director Bridget Guthrie said half the artists in the exhibition were from Walcha had the town had a really strong visual arts contingent.
“A number of artists involved in the exhibition are Walcha based and this is a reflection of the high calibre of creative talent in the area,” she said.
“The theme of ‘light’ is broad and inclusive so it can be interpreted by each artist in a number of ways ensuring a diversity of responses.”
The Walcha artists who will be on show are: Angus Nivison, Gemma King, James Rogers, Julia Griffin, Myfanwy Gullifer, Ross Laurie and Stephen King.
Angus Nivison has two works included which are suggestive of a waterfall.
”The waterfall has been used by many artists over the centuries as a symbol of hope , rejuvenation and renewal of life,” he said.
“It is also sometimes used for the symbol for the life blood of Christ, in other words the sacrificing of yourself for others. I’m happy for all these thoughts to be placed upon both works as they are both about the act of bringing light to darkness, which is what happened all those years ago when Tamworth turned on the lights.”
Mr Nivison had an answer for those who wonder why his works about light are mostly black.
”It would be prudent to remember that without darkness there would be no light,” he said.
It would be prudent to remember that without darkness there would be no light,
- Angus Nivison - artist
On November 9, 1888, Tamworth became the first city in Australia – and the southern hemisphere – to have its streets lit by electric street lights.
It took Sydney 15 years to catch up to Tamworth, and by that point, the city’s residents wanted the miracle of electric lighting in their homes and business. In 1907, council built a larger power station next to the original one to supply shops and and homes and by the 1950s it was the primary electricity supplier for all of the North West, including Walcha.
While the city is now famous for being the Country Music Capital, for nearly 100 years it was known as the ‘City of Light’.
City of Light is on show in the main gallery of the Tamworth Regional Council Art Gallery , until November 25.