THE COVID-19 pandemic hasn't put a stop to creativity and that is something Leeton's Jason Richardson can attest to.
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A recent issue of Australian national magazine of politics, society and the arts The Monthly mentions Leeton, describing the recording Mr Richardson shared with Cities And Memory for its #StayHomeSounds project.
This recording includes the Pied Butcher birdsong, which is usually heard at the change of season in autumn and spring.
Mr Richardson contributed several components to the project, including a remix of sounds from Mexico and previously a remix of a grizzly bear.
"In other recording news, I released an album and it was recently broadcast in San Diego," he said.
A recording he made at a nearby water channel also caught the interest of the Disquiet blog.
"Aside from my audio recording projects, things have been quiet," he said.
"I'm waiting to hear if my exhibition at Wagga's Art Gallery will go ahead later this year.
"I had to delay my installation at the Leeton Community Op Shop, which was due to coincide with the (SunRice Festival).
"(I have also) chosen to change the format of the exhibition I'd planned with the Leeton Art Society, which will be moving online."
Mr Richardson had also completed The Penny Effect video in honour of the late Penny Paniz, who remains well known among the Leeton arts community.
The release of the video has been delayed until October due to COVID-19 after the Penny Paniz Acquisitive Arts competition was postponed.
Mr Richardson has also contributed some work to the Art E-Parties initiative, which is an online initiative of Kim Goldsmith from Dubbo.
"I'm also running a writing experiment with over a dozen friends on Facebook at present, which is an activity that we're discussing running locally with support from Western Riverina Arts," he said.
"That's been a great opportunity to inspire each other and help establish regular writing practices."
Mr Richardson is just one of many creatives who found a way to still keep their love of the arts world alive during tough lockdown measures.
Now that restrictions are starting to be eased, there's many opportunities continuing to pop up for those involved with the arts community.
Free online music workshops ready to create magic
UNIQUE music production workshops for women, non-binary and trans people will look at issues of gender imbalance within the music industry.
To be held on June 27 and July 4, the workshops will be hold via Zoom at no cost.
Despite the work that has been occurring when it comes to these issues in the industry, major gender imbalances still exist, not just in terms of song writing and musicianship, but also for music engineers and producers.
A recent study in the United States titled Inclusion in the Recording Studio analysed 700 popular songs from 2012 to 2018 that featured on the Billboard Charts.
It revealed 2.1 per cent of the songs were produced by women.
As a result, The Cad Factory and MusicNSW weekend workshops are aimed at encouraging and up-skilling gender diverse people in the hands-on technical aspect of making music.
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Cad Factory's creative producer Sarah McEwan said the workshops were originally planned to be held in the organisation's studio in Narrandera.
"Due to the impact of COVID-19, we feel the safest way to move forward is to have online workshops via Zoom," she said.
The workshops will be led by Michelle Barry, an established and respected engineer, producer and audio educator who has worked in studios across Australia, the USA and the UK, including running remote, online music production workshops.
"These workshops are looking at the art of mixing; the tools, effects chains and specifications for finalising tracks to share or stream," Ms Barry said.
"Participants are invited to share their productions in a supportive environment with their peers for feedback.
"We are encouraging people to attend both days of the workshop."
To find out more, head to www.cadfactory.com.au and follow the links to the music workshops.
There are limited places and participants will be asked to fill out a short form to express their interest. Get in quick as spaces will fill.
Textiles fellowship honours late artist
A NEW fellowship will help honour the memory of a late artist from the region.
The Cad Factory, Western Riverina Arts and the Spencer family have announced applications are now open for the inaugural Joyce Spencer Textiles Fellowship worth $4000.
Joyce lived in Narrandera and the Southern Highlands and had a great love for creativity.
The fellowship is a new initiative that supports textile artists based in regional NSW to develop and present original work.
Applications are due by midnight on July 19 for projects to be delivered by December 2022.
Joyce (1928-2019) was an active artist and craft practitioner throughout her lifetime, creating a large body of artwork, teaching hundreds of workshops, and writing five bestselling books.
The Cad Factory's Sarah McEwan said Joyce was an artist full of enthusiasm with a deep love of making.
"She was an unstoppable force, still creating new work well into her late eighties," Ms McEwan said.
"This fellowship is to honour Joyce's imaginative and creative spirit."
The fellowship is in honour of Joyce's lifelong connection to regional living and regional making in both the Southern Highlands and Narrandera.
Artists can submit their applications via the Cad Factory's website at www.cadfactory.com.au.
The Joyce Spencer Fellowship will continue in 2021 for a final year. It has been made possible by the support of Joyce Spencer's family, Western Riverina Arts and The Cad Factory.