RONA Residency
From October 2016 to 2018 I was an Earth Arts RONA (Rights of Nature) artist in Residence. This included attending the 2016 People’s Tribunal for the Rights of Nature and workshops to learn about the foundations and proposals of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance. I continued my connection and commitment to Earth Arts, but was unable to attend further workshops and residency programs for a time due to personal and study commitments. However I continued my connection in 2018 my artwork was included in the Rights of Nature National Arts Exhibition, curated by Jenny Brown, 23 – 28 October 2018.
I officially withdrew from the program in 2020 when diagnosed with Myeloma. However I am keen to be involved in the Earth Arts program in the future.
I believe that Legal Rights for forests, rivers, ecosystems – Rights of Nature – is a way forward in this time of ecosystem collapse, mass extinctions and climate emergency.
From the AELA website:
“The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) is a national not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth centred governance in Australia, with a focus on law, economics, education, ethics and the arts. AELA’s work is inspired by the theory and practice of Earth jurisprudence, which is a governance philosophy and growing social movement. Earth jurisprudence proposes that we rethink our legal, political, economic and governance systems so that they support, rather than undermine, the integrity and health of the Earth.
The need for new governance systems has never been greater: as we face a climate changed world and transition away from our destructive reliance of fossil fuels, human societies need to create new ways of working together and nurturing the wider Earth community.
AELA works to build long term systemic change, so that human societies can shift from human centred to Earth centred governance. Our vision is to create human societies that are connected deeply to, and love, the living world, live within their ecological limits and enjoy productive, sustainable economies that nurture the health of the wider Earth community.”
Above: My work Vanishing Foodbowls and Netted Land, interacting with Anastasia Turina’s gorgeous digital projection Colour 32 in the stunning interplay between light, colour shadow and the moody space of the Spring Hill Reservoir, 2018.
RONA18
Rights of Nature 2018 – National Exhibition
Curated by Jenny Brown
Spring Hill Reservoirs, Spring Hill, Brisbane
23 – 28 October 2018
Two of my artworks Netted Land and Vanishing Food Bowls were part of the RONA18 exhibition. These artworks were installed to integrate with a video projection work titled Colour 32 by Anastasia Tyurina. Tyurina’s stunning video explores water using microphotography and was projected through Netted Land onto one of the subterranean walls of the old Spring Hill Reservoir. Netted Land captured across its form and fibres, light and colour from Tyurina’s projection. This created a really interesting walk through installation experience.
Below the projection Vanishing Food Bowls flickered with light, shadows and colours swirling through the alcove. The introduction of water to my dry dusty work-scapes of inland Australia was a striking meld of land and water.
Find out more about Netted Land here. Find out more about Vanishing Food Bowls here.
Jill Sampson 