Visual arts student to curate Lismore Lantern Parade retrospective exhibition

An exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Lismore Lantern Parade will be curated by a Southern Cross University visual arts student.

'Retrospective: 20 Light Years On: The Lismore Lantern Parade' opens in the Lismore Regional Gallery window space from May 31 until July 13. The exhibition includes a display of images taken throughout the Lantern Parade’s 20 year history, along with a video of Parade highlights.

Third-year visual arts student James Bowles-Leeson will curate the archive-themed display as part of the SCU Curatorial Lab initiative.

“It’s a really great project to be a part of,” says 21-year-old James.

“I’ve always wanted to pursue curating in a way that complements my art practice. Working with both the Lismore Regional Gallery and the Lismore Lantern Parade has pushed me out of the university bubble and has given me the chance to participate in the local arts community. It’s also great to be able to get paid whilst undertaking invaluable work experience.”

‘20 Light Years On: The Lismore Lantern Parade’ project has been funded by a $1500 grant from the Country Arts Support Program (CASP). CASP is an Arts NSW devolved funding program, administered by Regional Arts NSW and local Regional Arts Boards on behalf of the NSW Government.

James said he encouraged the community to participate in the exhibition by sharing their photos.

“It’s a community arts project. If members of the public have any images that they’ve taken of the Lantern Parade over the years, we would like them to get in touch with us via the Lismore Lantern Parade Facebook page.”

James has been working intensely and learning the many facets of curatorial practice and project management from the School of Arts and Social Sciences’ Dr Wes Hill, course coordinator of the new Creative Arts degree, lecturer of visual art theory and manager of the SCU Curatorial Lab.

Since the start of the year, the Lismore Regional Gallery’s front window space has been collectively curated by Dr Hill and a range of University students for the SCU Curatorial Lab project. SCU Curatorial Lab has been operating since 2012 as a forum for students from a range of disciplines to conceive, organise and participate in the production of exhibitions, events, lectures and critical publications.

“In conceiving the Lab, I wanted students to grasp the idea of practice-based research and to consider how, when formulating exhibitions of their own work, they are essentially engaging in a curatorial capacity,” said Dr Hill.

The Lab emphasises creative collaborations between students, academic staff, industry professionals, and institutional partners like the Lismore Regional Gallery, and Lone Goat Gallery at Byron Bay where a video art exhibition by legendary Gold Coast artist Scott Redford has just been held.

“Since starting work at SCU in 2012 I have attempted to underline the importance of self-initiated projects, interdisciplinary practice and collaboration with local communities,” Dr Hill said.

“This emphasis can be seen as integral to the SCU Curatorial Lab and the Creative Arts degree at SCU, both of which I oversee.”

The Lismore Lantern Parade is an annual community arts festival held on or around the longest night of the year (the Winter Solstice), which in 2014 falls on Saturday 21 June.

Under the guidance of Dr Hill, James has also been heavily involved in the staging of the experimental exhibition Living Things, which is currently on show in the main gallery space of Lismore Regional Gallery. Living Things comprises carefully composed detritus and live mushroom growing, amongst other things.

Photo: James Bowles-Leeson at the Lismore Regional Gallery.