Seventeen Ipswich artists will have their artworks projected across the façade of 143 Brisbane Street and St Paul’s Anglican Church for 11 nights in a spectacular opener for SPARK Ipswich.
SPARK Ipswich, a festival of arts and culture, runs for 11 days from 4 to 14 July.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said artwork projection program deLight will feature a variety of local artists, including First Nations artists, reflecting the richness of Ipswich’s artistic community.
“These Indigenous artworks will turn our city into a huge outdoor gallery. It is fitting that that they will be viewed outdoors as the colours of our natural landscapes play a huge role in Indigenous Art,” Mayor Harding said.
“The intricate patterns in the artwork draped across the architecture of St Paul’s Anglican Church and 143 Brisbane Street will create its own artistry with intricate light patterns and angles being created each night.”
Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine said there will be other activations in Ipswich Central at night that will complement deLight.
“Join us nightly in d’Arcy Doyle Place to begin your SPARK Ipswich journey of discovery. You can enjoy illuminated artworks, artist talks and music under the starry sky before heading on to one of the many live shows, performances and exhibitions on offer across Ipswich each night,” Cr Augustine said.
“There is also the collaboration between festival feature artist Renee Yates, and SAE Creative Media Institute students who have produced a lighting display at 1 Nicholas Street and the Metro B Building inspired by Renee’s artwork ‘Home’.”
Division 3 Councillor Marnie Doyle said deLight is continuing the reshaping of the city’s night-time economy.
“When the sun goes down there is still plenty of spark to see in the dark. The wonderful artistry is just a taste of what can be found in Ipswich Central during the festival period,” Cr Doyle said.
“By bringing more people into Ipswich Central we are showcasing how much the area has changed in recent years. There are a lot of new businesses in the city that some residents may not be aware of, so deLight will give them some added exposure.”
Division 3 Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said the city has so much to offer for residents and tourists alike.
“Spark Ipswich is becoming a real drawcard for the region as we continue to forge a reputation for festivals and events across South-east Queensland. We had nearly 1.5 million people make day trips to Ipswich last year,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“With this packed night-time program people will consider extending their stay overnight or coming for a couple of days so that they can really get a feel for what Ipswich has to offer.”
Ipswich-based First Nations artist Miss Gertrude will share the process she used to bring her novel ‘rideable artwork’ to life during deLight.
Miss Gertrude’s art will be photos taken during the creation of her rideable artwork – a former ‘postie bike’ which she used as a canvas for her work.
“After my dad passed away, I needed to heal and poured my grief into my art degree and work,” Miss Gertrude said.
“The postie bike is a celebration of healing. It took me way out of my comfort zone in its creation and has a deeper meaning as well as representing my journey through that grief to the person that I am today.
“You can view this work through a number of different lenses. There is my cultural lens, the modern artwork lens, the personal lens, the creativity lens, the practical lens.
“It is a very functionable artwork. I can tell you I get a lot of looks when I ride it to down to the shops in Ipswich. People ask and I say it is fully registered and roadworthy, but that’s not what they are really asking … they want to know why!”
For more details, including the full program of events across the city, visit www.sparkipswich.com.au
SPARK Ipswich is delivered through the support of the following partners: Ipswich City Council, Ripley Town Centre, Orion Springfield Central, Queensland Museum Rail Workshops Ipswich, Queensland Government, 4EB Radio Brisbane, River 94.9, Scenestr, SAE Creative Media Institute, Imbibis Craft Distillery, Quest Springfield Central, 4Hearts Brewing, St Paul’s Anglican Church, Arttime, Arts Connect Ipswich Inc., Banshees Bar and Artspace, Common People Dance Project, Firestation101, Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich Civic Centre, Ipswich Studio 188, Live and Local, and Queen’s Park Environmental Education Centre.