Shearers + artists = art
A unique competition celebrating the lives of some of the hardest workers in the nation – shearers – is underway in the western NSW town of Hay. Artists, both photographers and those that work in other mediums, have until 30 October to create a portrait that reflects the lives of shearers.
And to help urban artists who have never met a shearer, let alone seen one at work, the competition organisers are establishing a network that will introduce them to shearers. It costs the artists nothing and is all part of a desire to improve understanding about the lives of shearers.
Competition organiser, Ian Auldist, is a woolgrower and board member of Shear Outback, the Hay-based national Shearers’ Hall of Fame. He says shearers in Australia are growing older and there is a real need to encourage new young people to take up the shears.
“One of our wishes is to focus on the fact that shearers are people with their own characters and plenty of expression in their faces, which is great for artists. We want to link urban people with a shearing shed and break down some of the mystique. It will introduce artists to work in the shearing sheds and sheep stations of the saltbush plains of outback pastoral Australia,” he says.
“This national competition will foster regional art and at the same time promote an understanding of the shearing industry in a pastoral context.”
In August, as part of the competition, Regional Arts NSW will be offering workshops for the artists.
Shear Outback attracts tourists from around the world. It has a big annual program of events and in November will stage a National Shearing Competition, when the portraits will be displayed as part of the competition.
Further information visit www.shearoutback.com.au or call Ian Auldist 02 6993 1092.
