industry pathways

First Nations Program Coordinator

chloe metcalfe ·

The Mill’s First Nations Program Coordinator role is a new industry pathway, focussed on training First Nations artists and arts workers to develop administrative, program coordination, curatorial and producing skills.

The role is mentored by The Mill’s CEO/Artistic Director and Visual Arts Curator, to support the creative development, production and presentation of new work by First Nations artists across The Mill’s multidisciplinary program. 

In 2023 they will play a significant role assisting The Mill’s CEO/Artistic Director Katrina Lazaroff in developing a pilot pathway program for First Nations dance artists. The program will seek support from other First Nations focussed organisations to support First Nations dance artists to develop skills, and enhance the artistic quality and outcomes produced by them individually and within their collectives.

With the support and mentorship from The Mill’s Visual Arts Curator Adele Sliuzas, the role will develop curatorial skills throughout the first half of 2023, with the view to take a leading role in coordinating one exhibition at The Mill as part of Tarnanthi Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art in October. This high-profile opportunity will develop the intern’s profile and facilitate connection to a breadth of First Nations communities. They will extend their personal and professional connections, as well as those of the artists’ whose work they are producing.

In addition the role will spend time on secondment with The Mill’s partner First Nations organisation Ku Arts as part of the Tarnanthi Art Fair Product Development Program. Here they will develop important social bonds and gain a broader appreciation of sector activity.

Happening now

 
 

The Mill’s First Nations Program Coordinator program is supported by:

 
 

masterclass series, public program, fringe workshop

Adelaide Fringe Masterclass: Poetry and Spoken Word with Huda Fadlelmawla

chloe metcalfe ·

Photo: Supplied by Metro Arts.

Masterclass

When: Monday, February 20, 2023, 1:30pm-3:30pm (arrive at 1:15pm to sign in)

Where: The Mill Breakout, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta (enter via the Exhibition Space)

Cost: $30 (+ booking fees)

The Mill in partnership with Metro Arts are excited to present a masterclass with writer, performer and champion slam poet Huda Fadlelmawla.

Huda Fadlelmawla will be performing in Betwixt as part of Adelaide Fringe 2023.

About the masterclass:

This masterclass is broken into two parts, beginning by going back to the basics of poetry elements, and how to get your story onto the page in a way that best expresses your own voice. The second part will bring participants to the stage, with specialised tips in performance, public speaking, and the chance of an in-house poetry slam of our own.

Experience level:

All writers and creatives, from amateur to experienced poets and writers, adults 18+.

Materials:

Please bring paper and a pen.

  • Huda Fadlelmawla (aka Huda The Goddess) is spoken word poet, educator, and community activist. Huda is the current Australia Poetry Slam Champion and two-time QLD champ.

    Huda is a spoken word poet, educator, mental health advocate, dancer and workshop facilitator. She describes poetry as one of her senses that has allowed her to turn her experiences into art and maintain her connection to her people.

public program, masterclass series, fringe workshop

Adelaide Fringe Masterclass: Devising Physical Theatre with Will Tredinnick

chloe metcalfe ·

Masterclass

When: Monday, February 20, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm (arrive at 10:15am)

Where: The Mill Breakout, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta (enter via the Exhibition Space)

Cost: $30 (+ booking fees)

About the masterclass:

Will Tredinnick is a self-proclaimed ‘Professional Idiot’. This workshop is for anyone interested in pursuing anything professionally, be that dance, theatre, comedy, music, masonry, small business, or baking!

This masterclass will focus on developing skills in devising for performance and will start with some light physical activity to get the blood pumping around our performance vessel: the body. From there we will discover how to play, explore some tools to help us make something out of nothing, learn some simple storytelling tricks and then bring it on home with a short display of our new mastery of devising.

The workshop will be physical (but not too physical) so wear something comfortable (there will be a prize for the most comfortable outfit).

Experience level:

Suitable for individuals, duos, trios and larger ensembles - all experience levels are welcome!

Age recommended 15+

  • Will is a diverse and passionate theatre-maker from Western Sydney.
 With a Bachelor of Communication (Theatre/Media), Will developed his physical theatre, learning skills in circus, dance, and acrobatics. He’s performed at multiple Australian festivals, and led venue teams at international Fringes.

    In 2018, Will developed his first solo work Table for Two?
The show has since won awards and performed to sell-out audiences at Bondi Feast, Sydney and Adelaide Fringe. Since then, he's created his second touring piece, Pickled Sink, receiving multiple 4 and 5 star reviews.

    When not touring, Will performs as a ‘Captain’ for the Starlight Children's Foundation, Front of House Manager at multiple large venues, and teaches, performs, and leads festivals in remote communities across NSW and WA.

international collabs

ilDance Professional Development 2023: Jazzy Williamson-Gray

chloe metcalfe ·

The Mill is thrilled to announce Jazzy Williamson-Gray as the 2023 recipient of the ilDance Professional Development.

The ilDance Professional Development program provides the opportunity for an emerging South Australian based dancer within five years of graduating from a tertiary institution, to work with ilDance’s project-based junior company, ilYoung, in the creation process and tour of a new dance work throughout Sweden.

  • Jazzy Williamson-Gray (21) is a contemporary dancer based in Adelaide/Kaurna land.

    She graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance), from Adelaide College of the Arts, after performing works by Kialea-Nadine Williams, Peter Sheedy, Tobiah Booth-Remmers, Lee Brummer, Garry Stewart, Alison Currie, Daniel Riley, and Daniel Jaber.

    Following her graduation, Jazzy aspires to explore a variety of movement methodologies and processes to gain a broad understanding of her practice. Additionally, Jazzy is interested in interdisciplinary collaboration and is empowered by the creative freedom of improvisation and choreographic composition. She is passionate about exploring themes of the human condition, philosophy, and psychology in future choreographic works.

    Jazzy is grateful to be selected as a part of IlYoung’s cast of 2023 and she is excited to explore the many possibilities this opportunity will offer her.

Photo: Sam Roberts

first nations coordinator

First Nations Program Coordinator 2023: Caleena Sansbury

chloe metcalfe ·

The Mill is thrilled to announce Caleena Sansbury as the recipient of the 2023 First Nations Program Coordinator role.

The Mill’s First Nations Program Coordinator role is a new industry pathway, focussed on training First Nations artists and arts workers to develop administrative, program coordination, curatorial and producing skills.

  • Caleena Sansbury is a proud Ngarrindjeri, Narungga and Kaurna woman. She is also a proud mother to her three year old son. Caleena’s interests as a performance artist draws from cultural and contemporary dance, theatre, storytelling and choreographing. She is a graduate from NAISDA Dance College. 

    Caleena has worked nationally and internationally with companies/choreographers: Vicki Van Hout in; Long Grass & Les Festivities Lubrufier, Thomas E. S. Kelly; [MIS]CONCEIVE, Karul Projects; SSHIFFT, Insite Arts; Our Corks Bubs & Saltbush, Polyglot Theatre; Tangled and Legs On the Wall; The Man With The Iron Neck. 

    Caleena has also worked as a producer at Melbourne Fringe 2018. Caleena performed in Taree Sansbury’s work as performer in mi:wi touring to South Australia with Country Arts SA and Vitalstatistix. More recently Caleena is currently a dancer and rehearsal director of the South Australian First Nations dance collective Tjarutja. 

public program, gallery I

Workshop: Portraiture, Identity and Symbolism with Charlene Komuntale

Adele Sliuzas ·

Artwork: Charlene Komuntale, Aqua Dresses, 2022

Workshop

When: Tuesday, February 14, 1-3pm

Where: The Exhibition Space, The Mill, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta

Cost: $25 (+ booking fee), all materials included

  • The Mill has two entrances, the main entrance on the corner of Angas and Gunson Street and an accessible entrance further down Angas Street.

    Both doors are locked from the outside, there is a doorbell on the main door that will alert The Mill team. They will meet you at the accessible entrance to welcome you into the building.

    The Mill has concrete flooring throughout with no internal steps and a disability toilet on site.

    Read more in-depth information on our accessibility web page.

Join Ugandan artist Charlene Komuntale for a workshop exploring her portraiture practice. Charlene Komuntale is a digital artist and illustrator based in Kampala, Uganda. She is the current LK Artist in Residence, she will be spending 6 weeks living in Adelaide and working from a studio at The Mill supported by Sanaa. Charlene uses digital mediums to create stunning portraits of Black African women that centre empowerment, liberation and confidence.

What to expect:

Participants will hear from Charlene about her digital and conceptual process, and how she creates her work. The group will then work with her to develop their own symbolic self-portrait in Charlene's style. Portraits will be created using paper, collage, texta and acrylic paint and can be taken home on the day.

  • Charlene Komuntale is a digital artist and illustrator based in Kampala, Uganda. She holds a BA in Animation from Limkokwing University, Malaysia. In her recent series “Not Fragile”, Komuntale portrays women - mostly black African women.

    The subject matter is personal yet presented in a relatable way as inspiration is drawn from her own experiences but also informed by the experiences of other women around her.

    The heads of the women she portrays are covered by different elements, which create poetic yet striking narratives around a broadly relatable figure. At first sight, the works evoke a dreamy, peaceful, and quiet atmosphere, whereas at a closer look powerful, empowering and unapologetic messages come to the fore. Dominant, male-centered perspectives on women’s roles and supposedly nature-given capabilities and constraints attached to female bodies are being evaluated and re-examined. The juxtaposition of different elements creates an interesting asymmetry between awareness of self and the (male-centered) gaze of others. Intimacy, tenderness, vulnerability, and female beauty do not suggest fragility. Instead, it is related to strength and unapologetic confidence. Komuntale’s digital paintings deconstruct patriarchal narratives as shaped by culture, religion, and politics and provide a ground for inquiry and interrogation, and for visions of different futures.

    Her compositional choices create a space at the edges of reality – moments frozen in time and filled with surreal elements and metaphorical and symbolical references.

This Sponsored Studio has support from

 
 

masterclass series, public program, fringe workshop

Adelaide Fringe Masterclass: Nailing a Spoken Story with Emma Beech

chloe metcalfe ·

Photo: Daniel Marks

Masterclass

When: Friday, March 3, 2023, 10:30am-12:30pm (arrive at 10:15am to sign in)

Where: The Mill Breakout, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta (enter via the Exhibition Space)

Cost: $30 (+ booking fees)

This masterclass is about getting to the heart of what you want to say and nailing the craft behind storytelling.

Stories are an incredible source of material and connective juice between a performer and their audience. This masterclass will help you find the heart, hone in on the point, and tune the delivery, so your story can do what it needs to do - express, connect and delight.

This could be a story that is used as a part of or as the whole basis for a show, told as between set 'banter' or even used to 'pitch' a work. You can take stories from your life, the lives of others or even a story you have heard or read about - all of them can be crafted into telling power. 

After a couple of quick palate-cleansing games to get your minds ready to access, this masterclass will go full steam into your story crafting, from story - selection through to story delivery. Emma writes by improvised speaking, so she will also share her 'dot-point' writing style.

Get ready to work, talk and listen. 

Bring a note-book, a bottle of water and a story.

Experience level:

This masterclass is open to people who practice performance of any kind, who either want to build on a story-telling practice, or incorporate it into their own genre of practice. General public are welcome to attend yet will need to be ready for working within a theatrical environment with performing artists who are familiar with improvisation and responding to unknown creative tasks ie: written, verbal and physical.

  • I started making shows for my mum in her bedroom when I was six. Since then, I graduated from Flinders Drama Centre, worked in theatre and screen as well as developing an arts practice of making theatre shows from intimate conversations with other humans, from strangers to my dad, drawing from documentary to create my own docu-theatre style.  The best moments of these conversations I collect together to make shows, which exalt the un-exalted in our daily lives, and hone in on our life-changing stories.  My work is often direct address, and montages monologue storytelling, gestures and physical narratives that are collected from interviews, conversations, confessions and observations.

    I work with collaborators that include installation-theatre companies in Demark and Singapore, and various companies / festivals locally including The Rabble, Arts House, DreamBIG festival, Aphids, OSCA, No Strings Attached, STC SA, Brink Productions and Vitalstatistix. Emma has just finished her one-woman show commissioned for the Adelaide Festival, The Photo Box.

free-range residency, spotlight residency, theatre residency

Breakout Residencies 2023: Announcing the successful recipients

chloe metcalfe ·

Spotlight Residency: CRAM Collective

 

Photo: Verity Lo.

 

About the artist:

CRAM is a South Australian independent theatre collective. By cramming the most passionate and daring creatives into a room, creating opportunities for independent artists, we make work that excites and strengthens the Adelaide art scene. Since CRAM’s launch in November of 2021, we have presented two sold out, world-premiere seasons of work – first a devised piece, titled NEW WORLD COMING, which was created in just 5 days through a collaboration with 11 artists, and the second show, award-winning playwright Anna Barnes’, Something Big.

CRAM have collaborated with Renew Adelaide to open the CRAM Hub on Pirie Street, running an Artist in Residence Program, and monthly CRAM Scrams, our scratch night program. We were also part of the Helpmann Creative Innovator Program for six months, being awarded the seed funding upon completion. 

Free-range Residency: Astrid Pill

 

Photo: Supplied by Astrid Pill.

 

About the artist:

Astrid Pill is a performer/theatre maker who has worked with numerous companies and collaborators since 1996. She worked with Restless Dance Theatre and Patch Theatre Company, both over 10 year periods and has a 20-year collaborative relationship with Ingrid Voorendt and Zoe Barry, with whom she is creating the new work – Widow Weirdo. She has worked with Brand X, Yashchin Ensemble, The Border Project, Sarah Neville, Maude Davey and Vitalstatistix, Ingrid Voorendt, Ladykillers, Daisy Brown/Cabaret Festival, Windmill and State Theatre SA/Brink.

She sang for The New Pollutants re-score of Metropolis, which toured to major venues and film festivals including The Sydney Opera House and Fed Square. Astrid has won many awards including an Adelaide Critics Circle Award for Cake, which she wrote, toured and adapted for ABC’s airplay and an Arts SA Emerging Artist Award, which enabled her to study voice and physical theatre in France and Poland. 

Free-range Residency: Taylor Nobes

 

Photo: Jamie Hornsby.

 

About the artist:

Taylor Nobes is a professionally trained actor, singer and theatre maker based in South Australia and a 2019 graduate from Adelaide College of the Arts. Taylor has a passion for creating innovative art with elements of music, dark comedy and physical theatre, with a strong focus on mental health awareness.

Taylor has worked and collaborated with BRINK Productions on The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2021) and performed in FRANK Theatres’ Chameleon (2020) and then again as part of the SALT Festival in 2021.

Taylor’s original work “Does It Please You?” debuted as part of the Adelaide Fringe 2021 and was the recipient of the week 4 Best Emerging Artist Award and was the winner of The Holden Street Theatres Award for 2021. The remounted version of "Does it Please You?" played its latest season as part of the Adelaide Fringe 2022 at Holden Street Theatres.

Taylor’s most recent work MUSIC & YOU premiered in 2022 and received many accolades, its developed version (MUSIC & YOU - Cabaret’s Not Really My Thing) will be showing as part of the Adelaide Fringe 2023 at the Adelaide Migration Museum.

Taylor will be collaborating with local creatives Jamie Hornsby, Felicity Boyd and Max Garcia-Underwood for this residency.

expand, public program

Artist Talk: Tikari Rigney and the Solidarity Collective

chloe metcalfe ·

Artwork: Tikari Rigney. Photo carousel: Daniel Marks.

Artist Talk

When: February 21, 5:30-6:30pm

Where: The Mill Exhibition Space, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta

Cost: Free

  • The Mill has two entrances, the main entrance on the corner of Angas and Gunson Street and an accessible entrance further down Angas Street.

    Both doors are locked from the outside, there is a doorbell on the main door that will alert The Mill team. They will meet you at the accessible entrance to welcome you into the building.

    The Mill has concrete flooring throughout with no internal steps and a disability toilet on site.

    Read more in-depth information on our accessibility web page.

Join artist Tikari Rigney and members of the Solidarity Collective for an informal artist talk, chatting about themes in their collaborative work as part of Tikari’s exhibition Snug Diaries. The collective have contributed an installation of objects, performance and poetry. The emphasis on peer learning and multidisciplinary collaboration within this project create a profound sense of community and care.

The Mill’s Solidarity Collective (working title) is a new project initiated and facilitated by Kaurna, Narrungga and Ngarrindjeri artist, and 2022 Sponsored Studio recipient Tikari Rigney. The Solidarity Collective is made up of South Australian based artists who identify as First Nations, and/or People of Colour. The collective has held regular meetings in late 2022, creating a community of multi-disciplinary artists who share, create and work collaboratively. Ultimately providing a platform for artists to express themselves and share stories within a safe space, while also making friends and sharing.

  • Tikari Rigney is a non-binary (they/them) Kaurna, Narrungga and Ngarrindjeri visual artist and poet living and working on Kaurna land. Their process is centred around their language, identity specifically their family’s First Nations history and informed by personal challenges and experiences. Their interests are in community connection, solidarity and learning. These are explored through a range of mediums however, their practice currently is focused on textiles and fleshy anthropomorphic sculptures. 

    Tikari has been involved with several group shows and will be exhibiting their first solo exhibition at the completion of their residency at The Mill in February 2023. Their next residency is at Nexus towards the end of 2023.

This project has support from

 
 
 

The Mill’s Sponsored Studio program is presented in cooperation with Mahmood Martin Foundation

 
 
 

sponsored studio, sponsored studio recipien

MMF Sponsored Studio 2023: Yasemin Sabuncu

chloe metcalfe ·

The Mill is thrilled to announce Yasemin Sabuncu as the recipient of the Sponsored Studio for the January-June 2023 residency. The Mill’s Sponsored Studio is a new initiative supported by the Mahmood Martin Foundation. In 2023 two selected artists will join our community, with each receiving 6-months of studio space and an exhibition outcome as part of The Mill Showcase.

  • Yasemin is a multidisciplinary creative with a Turkish background who works as a writer, director, actress, artist and comedian. Studying a double major in screen and theatre production at Flinders University, she went on to study Honours specialising in video, digital technology and performance.

    She also studied long form improv and sketch comedy at the improv conspiracy in Melbourne, and at Groundlings and UCB in LA.

    Yasemin aims to create stories that uplift, engage and promote diversity in innovative ways. Her work explores ideas of belonging, identity, liminality, spirituality, the environment, race, health and being “the other.” 

    Her work has been shown as part of FELTSpace’s FELTdark program in 2022 and she has participated in ActNow Theatre’s digital residency in 2021. She has also been a Midsumma Pathways participant,receiving mentorship from Victoria Falconer and Tj Dawe, Canada, for her 2021 Fringe show the Illest.

    Yasemin will be presenting her latest work Sick Bitch as part of Adelaide Fringe 2023 at The Mill, supported by the Adelaide Fringe Artist Fund.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Outcomes

 

The Mill’s Sponsored Studio program is presented in cooperation with Mahmood Martin Foundation

 
 
 

virtual gallery

Virtual Gallery: Sonya Mellor, Deep Listening

chloe metcalfe ·

Sonya Mellor's Deep Listening was a multi-disciplinary exhibition that utilised various mediums such as sculpture, installation, movement, sound, and performance art to create a unique and immersive experience for the audience.

The focus of the exhibition was on the concept of deep listening, which refers to the practice of listening with full attention and without judgment. Through her artwork, Mellor invited audiences to engage with the exhibition space in a new way and experience the world around them with a heightened sense of awareness and mindfulness.

This Virtual Gallery includes photographic documentation of the exhibition and Sonya’s performances, as well as an audio recording of the Midsummer Meditation event.

Photo: Finn Mellor

My practice is about finding a unique visual, sound and movement language for ‘deep listening’. I am inspired by nature and what the community/public has to offer, contribute and share. This exhibition will translate community poems into movement, language and sound works. Creating a practice of embodiment, the exhibition is about finding my own way of ‘deep listening’. It navigates my connection to the Earth and Nature, here in South Australia, from a non Indigenous persons perspective, whilst holding a deep appreciation and respect for Indigenous connection to the land, sea and sky.

Photo: Finn Mellor

Life is about movement, moving forwards, under, around and through. By utilizing the action of ‘deep listening’, we can access these movements more readily, with a sense of grace, calm, peace and a sprinkle of humour. In these times of busy, busy, rush, rush...by ’listening deeply’ and weaving gossamer threads of nature, connection and community.

All photos: Finn Mellor

writers in residence

Writer in Residence 2023: Aushaf Widisto

chloe metcalfe ·

The Mill is thrilled to announce Aushaf Widisto as the recipient of the Citymag 2023 Writer in Residence July-December residency.

The Writer in Residence program, in partnership with Citymag, supports emerging writers from a variety of disciplines. The program creates a broader audience for writing through leadership, mentorship and publication.

  • Aushaf Widisto is an emerging writer from Indonesia, currently based in Kaurna Yerta (Adelaide), Australia. His writing has been published in numerous publications across the web, both under his real name and pen name Adam Erland.

    As Aushaf, he writes about arts, culture, creative industries and urbanism – which are subjects he is formally trained in. While as Adam, he writes more freely about his other passions – ranging from 'serious' stuff like philosophy to 'trivial' stuff like pop culture.

    Aushaf writes in both English and Bahasa Indonesia, and has dabbled with many writing forms, including reviews, listicles and even academic papers. That said, he is most comfortable when writing memoirs and personal essays. He loves sharing lessons and experiences from his own life and finding the common humanity between his stories and other people’s.

    In 2022, Aushaf launched the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT)’s Emerging Writer Series as the inaugural emerging writer, where he wrote about SPECTRA, ANAT’s triennial festival of art, science and technology.

    Learn more about Aushaf's work on his website.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Read the articles

writers in residence

Writer in Residence 2023: Corrie Hosking

chloe metcalfe ·

The Mill is thrilled to announce Corrie Hosking as the recipient of the Citymag 2023 Writer in Residence January-June residency.

The Writer in Residence program, in partnership with Citymag, supports emerging writers from a variety of disciplines. The program creates a broader audience for writing through leadership, mentorship and publication.

  • Corrie has spent the past 17 years focusing on family, land-restoration and employment as a Paediatric Social Worker. She is privileged with experience across the Arts and Health sectors (including PhD: Creative Writing). Interwoven with academic education, Corrie’s early writing achieved various awards and publications—including Festival Award for Literature: Unpublished Manuscript, prompting publication of first novel, Ash Rain (Wakefield Press, 2004), Sydney Morning Herald’s Best Young Australian Writer (2005), publication of second novel, Eating Lolly (Forth-Estate, 2008) and the fortune of Arts SA and Australia Council support.

    More recently, she has sought opportunities to explore new creative terrain. Corrie has attended International Artists Residencies including ‘Luminous Bodies 2018’, Toronto Island, Canada and in 2019, ‘New Course’, Hämeenkyrö, Finland.

    Most recently, Corrie was awarded the 2022 Deep Creek Residency Fellowship—the inaugural initiative of Matilda Bookshop, Writers SA, Ultimo Press, with mentorship provided by Hannah Kent.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist

sponsored studio, sponsored studio recipien

Sanaa Sponsored Studio: LK Artist in Residence 2023 recipient Charlene Komuntale

chloe metcalfe ·

We are thrilled to welcome Charlene Komuntale to The Mill as the recipient of the Sanaa 2023 LK Artist in Residence.

Sanaa is a not-for-profit, multidisciplinary cultural arts collective, facilitating and celebrating the power of art and its capacity to bridge cultural gaps. The Mill’s partnership with Sanaa offers one Sponsored Studio for culturally diverse artists.

Travelling from Uganda, Charlene will join The Mill’s artist community in a Sponsored Studio for 6 weeks. During that time she will present an artist talk and a workshop at The Mill, culminating in a group exhibition at Kerry Packer Civic Gallery at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, running February to March 2023.

  • Charlene Komuntale is a digital artist and illustrator based in Kampala, Uganda. She holds a BA in Animation from Limkokwing University, Malaysia. In her recent series “Not Fragile”, Komuntale portrays women - mostly black African women.

    The subject matter is personal yet presented in a relatable way as inspiration is drawn from her own experiences but also informed by the experiences of other women around her.

    The heads of the women she portrays are covered by different elements, which create poetic yet striking narratives around a broadly relatable figure. At first sight, the works evoke a dreamy, peaceful, and quiet atmosphere, whereas at a closer look powerful, empowering and unapologetic messages come to the fore. Dominant, male-centered perspectives on women’s roles and supposedly nature-given capabilities and constraints attached to female bodies are being evaluated and re-examined. The juxtaposition of different elements creates an interesting asymmetry between awareness of self and the (male-centered) gaze of others. Intimacy, tenderness, vulnerability, and female beauty do not suggest fragility. Instead, it is related to strength and unapologetic confidence. Komuntale’s digital paintings deconstruct patriarchal narratives as shaped by culture, religion, and politics and provide a ground for inquiry and interrogation, and for visions of different futures.

    Her compositional choices create a space at the edges of reality – moments frozen in time and filled with surreal elements and metaphorical and symbolical references.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist

This Sponsored Studio has support from

 
 

public program

The Mill in Conversation: Charlene Komuntale, LK Artist in Residence

Adele Sliuzas ·

Artwork: Charlene Komuntale. Photo gallery: Daniel Marks.

The Mill in Conversation

When: February 10, 6:45pm

Where: The Mill’s Sponsored Studio,154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta

Cost: Free

  • The Mill has two entrances, the main entrance on the corner of Angas and Gunson Street and an accessible entrance further down Angas Street.

    Both doors are locked from the outside, there is a doorbell on the main door that will alert The Mill team. They will meet you at the accessible entrance to welcome you into the building.

    The Mill has concrete flooring throughout with no internal steps and a disability toilet on site.

    Read more in-depth information on our accessibility web page.

Join Ugandan artist Charlene Komuntale for a chat in her studio about work she is developing for the Sanaa exhibition at Kerry Packer Civic Gallery this February. Charlene is the current LK Artist in Residence, she will be spending 6 weeks living in Adelaide and working from a studio at The Mill supported by Sanaa. Charlene uses digital mediums to create stunning portraits of Black African women that centre empowerment, liberation and confidence. During the talk Charlene will chat about her practice, her subjects and use of symbolism in her portraiture.

  • Charlene Komuntale is a digital artist and illustrator based in Kampala, Uganda. She holds a BA in Animation from Limkokwing University, Malaysia. In her recent series “Not Fragile”, Komuntale portrays women - mostly black African women.

    The subject matter is personal yet presented in a relatable way as inspiration is drawn from her own experiences but also informed by the experiences of other women around her.

    The heads of the women she portrays are covered by different elements, which create poetic yet striking narratives around a broadly relatable figure. At first sight, the works evoke a dreamy, peaceful, and quiet atmosphere, whereas at a closer look powerful, empowering and unapologetic messages come to the fore. Dominant, male-centered perspectives on women’s roles and supposedly nature-given capabilities and constraints attached to female bodies are being evaluated and re-examined. The juxtaposition of different elements creates an interesting asymmetry between awareness of self and the (male-centered) gaze of others. Intimacy, tenderness, vulnerability, and female beauty do not suggest fragility. Instead, it is related to strength and unapologetic confidence. Komuntale’s digital paintings deconstruct patriarchal narratives as shaped by culture, religion, and politics and provide a ground for inquiry and interrogation, and for visions of different futures.

    Her compositional choices create a space at the edges of reality – moments frozen in time and filled with surreal elements and metaphorical and symbolical references.

 

The LK Artist in Residence Sponsored Studio is presented in partnership with Sanaa.

Sanaa aims to facilitate intercultural understanding by providing a platform to artists from culturally diverse backgrounds, with past exhibitions featuring international artists from many other cultures around the world, alongside Australian-based artists from Aboriginal, African, Middle Eastern and South American backgrounds.

The LK Artist in Residence is supported by Principal Partner LK Law.

 

public program, gallery I, gallery II

Exhibition: Snug Diaries, Tikari Rigney

Adele Sliuzas ·

Artwork: Tikari Rigney

February 6 - March 24, 2023

Opening event: Friday, February 10, 6-8pm

The Mill Exhibition Space, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta

  • You can find Snug Diaries in The Mill’s Gallery II, located at 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta (Adelaide).

    Gallery II is open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm.

    Accessibility

    The Mill has two entrances, the main entrance on the corner of Angas and Gunson Street and an accessible entrance further down Angas Street.

    Both doors are locked from the outside, there is a doorbell on the main door that will alert The Mill team. They will meet you at the accessible entrance to welcome you into the building.

    The Mill has concrete flooring throughout with no internal steps and a disability toilet on site.

    Read more in-depth information on our accessibility web page.

The Mill is thrilled to present a new solo exhibition titled ‘Snug Diaries’ by Tikari Rigney. Kaurna, Narrungga and Ngarrindjeri visual artist and poet Tikari has developed this body of work during their 6-month Sponsored Studio Residency at The Mill in 2022, a new initiative supported by the Mahmood Martin Foundation. Snug Diaries is a sensory and tactile environment that encourages audiences to ponder the complexities of human experience. The exhibition includes soft ‘bodies’, made from textile scraps that have been machine and hand embroidered with Tikari’s poetry. The undulating forms are friendly and inviting to touch, providing a unique sensory experience for audiences. Yet, the words in both English and First Nations languages (Kaurna, Narrungga and Ngarrindjeri) explore Tikari’s experiences and challenges navigating queer, Aboriginal, non-binary identities.

The recently formed Solidarity Collective, facilitated by Tikari, have also contributed to the exhibition, with an installation of objects, performance and poetry. The emphasis on peer learning and multidisciplinary collaboration within this project create a profound sense of community and care.

  • I would like to acknowledge Snug Diaries at The Mill is on Kaurna land, my grandmother’s land. I feel grateful to the Kaurna community for looking after Country, this land for thousands of years and proud that I am part of the oldest living culture in the world. Sovereignty was never ceded, always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

    Snug Diaries is a culmination of works that highlight anti-monolith identities and explores the consistent changing and emotions of navigating identity. 

    I have to acknowledge and thank members of the Solidarity Collective as their sharing helped shape this exhibition and my practice as a whole.

    These poems are like diary entries, thoughts, emotions, bodily challenges documented and try to understand myself. Difficult, sometimes painfully honest insights into my identity yet comforted by the textures of flowing fabric and the hug of soft forms. I encourage you to touch, cuddle with the works, feel solace and familiarity in their fleshy humanoid forms. I hope my writing exploring my daily challenges with my mental health, First Nations culture, queerness and non-binary identity brings solidarity to folks in these communities and learning and empathy to allies.

    Ngathu tampinthi ngaityu nakunakupinya ‘Marti Tirntu-irntu Piiparna’ Tawiwardlingka Kaurna yartangka, ngaityu ngapapiku yartangka. I acknowledge (that) my exhibition Snug Diaries at The Mill is on Kaurna land, the land of my grandmother (father’s mother)

    Yaintya yarta irdinti yarta, pukipukinangku. Yaintya yarta irdinti yarta muinmurningutha tarrkarri-arra. This land is sovereign land, from long ago. This land will continue to be sovereign land into the future.

    Marti Tirntu-irntu Piiparnapira About the Snug Diaries

    Yaintya tunki ngaityu piipa. This cloth is my book.

    Ngaityu pintyapintyanya ngatparnarli tirntu-irntu piipangka. My writings are like entries in a diary.

    Ngathu ngaityu yailtya, ngaityu muiyu, ngaityu nunupira pintyanthi ngaintipira tirkatitya. I am writing my thoughts/beliefs, my emotions (and) about my body in order to understand/learn about myself.

    Ngai muiyu, ngai yitpi, ngai tuwila, ngaityu ngutu, ngaityu mukapa, ngaityu yailtya yaintya tunkingka. My emotions, my soul, my spirit, my knowledge, my memory, my thought is in this cloth. Kurdantu, manmantu, martintu yaintya tunki. Touch, grab, embrace this fabric! Ngaityu pintyapintyanya nintaitya wangkaingku! Let my writings speak to you!

    Yaintya ngaityu tiyati warra. This is my truth.

  • Tikari Rigney is a non-binary (they/them) Kaurna, Narrunga and Ngarrindjeri visual artist and poet living and working on Kaurna land. Their process is centred around their language, identity specifically their family’s First Nations history and informed by personal challenges and experiences. Their interests are in community connection, solidarity and learning. These are explored through a range of mediums however, their practice currently is focused on textiles and fleshy anthropomorphic sculptures. 

    Tikari has been involved with several group shows and will be exhibiting their first solo exhibition at the completion of their residency at The Mill in February 2023. Their next residency is at Nexus towards the end of 2023.

This exhibition has support from

 
 
 

The Mill’s Sponsored Studio program is presented in cooperation with Mahmood Martin Foundation

 
 
 

public program, gallery I

Exhibition: Museum of Old Money, THE GOOD NEW$ BANK (Nicholas Hanisch and Cassie Thring), curated by Steph Cibich

Adele Sliuzas ·

February 6 - March 24, 2023

Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, and extended hours during The Mill’s Adelaide Fringe season

The Mill Exhibition Space, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta

  • The Mill has two entrances, the main entrance on the corner of Angas and Gunson Street and an accessible entrance further down Angas Street.

    Both doors are locked from the outside, there is a doorbell on the main door that will alert The Mill team. They will meet you at the accessible entrance to welcome you into the building.

    The Mill has concrete flooring throughout with no internal steps and a disability toilet on site.

    Read more in-depth information on our accessibility web page.

The Mill is excited to present a new exhibition ‘Museum of Old Money’ by THE GOOD NEW$ BANK curated by Steph Cibich. THE GOOD NEW$ BANK is the collaborative moniker for artist duo Nicholas Hanisch and Cassie Thring, who have been working closely with Cibich to develop a body of work that playfully comments on the ideas surrounding ‘currency’, ‘value’ and ‘worth’ under consumer-capitalism. What is art worth? What value does the artist play within our society? How do we understand the exchange value of creative work? How do you put a price on the way that works of art make us feel?  

With the current ‘cozzie livs’ (cost of living crisis), we are all making daily choices to determine how we can make our money stretch. Art can be seen as a luxury item, but at what cost? We know from our times in pandemic lockdown that art and creativity are central to our sense of self, and sense of community. Featuring Art Vending Machine Australia’s (AVMA) ‘Adelaide Art Vending Machine’, in which Curator Steph Cibich seeks to democratise the process of buying artwork, without undermining the work of the artist.

The vending machine will sit alongside other works, developed through a collaborative relationship between curator and artists, offering unique moments for audience participation. Artworks will be available for purchase giving audiences an accessible option for becoming collectors of contemporary art.

  • ‘I’m not in it for the money – just the stuff it buys’ – Unknown.

    Our values change as our world evolves. In 2023, our consumer-driven culture determines what is ‘valuable’ based on how much something is ‘worth’. In other words, how much something costs or can be exchanged for something that is...well...better.

    Due to our contemporary relationship with commercialism, words like ‘value’ and ‘worth’ have lost their meaning. How we associate with people, relationships, places, objects, and experiences is commodified to reflect our globalised existence. In this environment, even trust is overthrown for economic opportunity. We find ourselves competing and comparing through any means necessary; on social media, in business, through our disposable possessions, even with new systems of currency. Yet, as people, we are often pressured by conflicting ‘values’ and seek to identify what (or who) is ‘worthy’, or ‘worthless’. We want to belong, to have someone reaffirm our ‘self-worth’ and to help our loved ones feel ‘valued’. Instead, we feel confused, disconnected, and lost. We’ve come to know the cost of everything but the ‘value’ of nothing.

    Cast against a backdrop of inflation, rising interest rates, a pandemic, the climate crisis, and escalating tensions overseas, The Museum of Old Money explores our evolving relationship with notions of ‘currency’, ‘value’ and ‘worth’. Curated by Steph Cibich and featuring new work by collaborative duo, THE GOOD NEW$ BANK (Cassie Thring and Nick Hanisch) including a unique takeover of Art Vending Machine Australia’s ‘Adelaide Art Vending Machine’, this exhibition offers a timely reminder of the things that really matter and how easy it is to get lost along the way. 

  • Steph Cibich is a Kaurna Country (Adelaide) based curator and arts writer. Since 2019, she has worked as the Assistant Curator/Program Officer at the Centre for Creative Health and has built a strong independent curatorial practice. She is the founding force behind Art Vending Machines Australia (AVMA) and received the inaugural City of Onkaparinga Contemporary Curator Award (SALA 2019). In 2020, Steph was simultaneously appointed FELTspace Emerging Curator and the inaugural ART WORKS Emerging Curator, presented by Guildhouse and the City of Adelaide. Recently, Steph was appointed Co-chair of the Art History & Curatorship Alumni Network (AHCAN) and was a writer for ‘Neoteric’, an exhibition presented as part of the Adelaide Festival (2022). Steph’s curatorial approach centres on collaborating with and championing the work of contemporary artists. Through democratic and meaningful art projects, Steph seeks to bring people and ideas together by fostering connections between artists, art and audiences.

    @steph_cibich

    __

    Nicholas Hanisch is a sculptural installation artist graduating as a scholarship recipient at Adelaide Central School of Art. Hanisch’s ongoing practice has involved a diverse and continual exploration of mediums, conceptual themes, and collaborations. His recent body of work investigates creation narratives within the field of figurative sculpture. Hanisch’s sculptural forms are informed by the history of figurative sculpture, whilst celebrating the humour, the horror, the happenstance, and the sheer endeavour of creation. Previously Hanisch has attended the New York Studio School, practiced, and exhibited in Berlin, participated in residencies across India, and exhibited as part of The Art Gallery of South Australia collection.

    @nicholashanisch

    www.nicholashanisch.com

    __

    Cassie Thring is a multidisciplinary artist working from Floating Goose Studios on Kaurna land, Adelaide, SA. A passionate advocate for accessible community art programs, her work reflects an interest in the riches and sorrows of life, often through an apparently humorous lens. A graduate of Adelaide Central School of Art, Thring has participated in local and international residencies. Her work A Gazillion was exhibited as part of The Art Gallery of South Australia and is now in their permanent collection. Thring’s work is also held in the National Museum of Canberra and private collections, both in Australia and internationally.

    @cmthring

    www.cassiethring.com 

This exhibition has support from

 
 

public program, free-range residency, dance residency

Breakout Residencies: A Dance Performance Research development with Daniel Jaber

chloe metcalfe ·

Photo: Daniel Marks

Public showing

When: Friday, December 16, 6-7pm (5:45pm arrival for 6pm sharp start)

Where: The Mill, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta (enter via The Exhibition Space)

Cost: $10 (+ booking fee)

Duration: 45 minutes (including casual Q&A)

  • This showing will be held in The Breakout at The Mill. Please come to the Exhibition Space at 154 Angas Street, the bar will be open to grab a drink before we take you through to The Breakout.

    Accessibility

    Disability access is available via our Angas St entrance, access the pedestrian ramp on the corner of Gunson St to get to our front door, which will be open.

    The Mill has concrete flooring throughout with no internal steps and a disability toilet on site.

    Read more in-depth information on our accessibility web page.

    If you have questions or would like to talk to one of The Mill team contact info@themilladelaide.com

The Mill presents the final showing of our 2022 Breakout Residency Program. 

We welcome you to view a showing of new solo dance work in development by renowned Adelaide independent dancer and choreographer Daniel Jaber, as part of his Free-range Residency. The showing will reveal the content being explored and a Q&A following the showing will take you inside the creation process of his newest work.

  • Daniel Jaber was born in Nairne, in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. He is of Lebanese and Maori cultural heritage. 

    Jaber has created work for Australian Dance Theatre, Expressions Dance Company (now Australasian Dance Collective), Houston Ballet 2, Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, Dance Moms, Dubai Festival, Architanz Tokyo and was the Creative Director of LW Dance Hub (now Dance Hub SA) in 2015. He has choreographed new works on many tertiary institutions, universities and colleges throughout Australasia and the US, including QUT, Adelaide College of the Arts, California State University (LA & Fullerton), Transit Dance and the New Zealand School of Dance. 

    Daniel’s dance training began in Adelaide with Christine Underdown (Dancecraft Studios) and Barbara Komazec (Barbie Jayne Dance Centre). He further pursued his training through the Queensland University of Technology, Queensland Ballet Company Professional Year and the Adelaide College of the Arts before joining Australian Dance Theatre as a trainee dancer, under the direction of Garry Stewart, at the age of 17. 

    As a company member of Australian Dance Theatre (2004-2021), Jaber has toured the world extensively and participated in the creation of new works as well as touring repertoire.

sponsored studio, public program, international collabs

Call-out: Delima Residency at Rimbun Dahan 2023

chloe metcalfe ·

In 2023, The Mill will be offering one South Australian artist the opportunity to travel to Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia, for a 3-month (residential) residency, October-December 2023, in cooperation with Mahmood Martin Foundation.

This will be followed by a 3-month (non-residential) studio residency at The Mill, and a solo exhibition outcome presented in The Mill Showcase. 

Pronunciation guide:

The words below are Malay language words where all syllables have equal emphasis and are phonetic.

Delima: De-li-ma

Rimbun Dahan: Rim-bun Da-han

The ‘a’ in Dahan is a short, broad ‘a’ – as in, ‘ask’.  The ‘u’ in Rimbun is as in ‘put’. Delima is pronounced Deleema.

Application process:

  1. Read the Residency Information PDF, send us an email to visualarts@themilladelaide.com if you have any questions

  2. Information Night

    Hear from artist Rob Gutteridge about his experiences at Rimun Dahan. The info night is an optional but recommended part of the application process.

  3. Application form

    Applicants are required to fill in an application form linked below, which asks a series of questions relating to the selection criteria. If you need help with the form, send an email to visualarts@themilladelaide.com and we can have a chat!

  4. Interview

    A short-list of artists will be made by the selection panel. Short-listed artists will be required to attend an interview (in person or via zoom). 

Key dates:

Applications open: March 2023

Applications close: May 8, 11:59pm, 2023 

Short-list notified: May 16, 2023 

Rimun Dahan residency timeframe: October - December 2023

The Mill studio timeframe: January - March 2024

The Mill exhibition: April 2024

Read about our 2021 Sponsored Studio recipients Holly Childs and Hussain Alismail, and our 2022 Sponsored Studio recipients Viray Thach and Tikari Rigney. 

 
 
 

The Mill’s Sponsored Studio program is presented in cooperation with Mahmood Martin Foundation

 
 
 

breakout showing, public program, centre stage residency

Breakout Residencies: Emma Beech showing, 'Here We Are'

chloe metcalfe ·

Photo: Daniel Marks

Public showing

When: Friday, December 2, 5-6pm (4:45pm arrival for 5pm sharp start)

Where: The Mill, 154 Angas St, Kaurna Yarta (enter via The Exhibition Space)

Cost: $10 (+ booking fee)

Duration: 1 hour (including casual Q&A)

  • Grim Grinning Ghosts will be held in The Breakout at The Mill. Please come to the Exhibition Space at 154 Angas Street, the bar will be open to grab a drink before we take you through to The Breakout.

    Accessibility

    Disability access is available via our Angas St entrance, access the pedestrian ramp on the corner of Gunson St to get to our front door, which will be open.

    The Mill has concrete flooring throughout with no internal steps and a disability toilet on site.

    Read more in-depth information on our accessibility web page.

    If you have questions or would like to talk to one of The Mill team contact info@themilladelaide.com

The Mill’s Centre Stage Residency will progress a new work presented by Emma Beech to its next stage of development, including a work-in-progress public showing and culminating in a season at The Mill as part of Adelaide Fringe 2023.

Here We Are crosses forms between stand-up comedy, improvisational theatre, performance lecture and traditional theatre. Embracing simplicity in form, a low carbon footprint in all areas of design, as well as a focus on the here and now, by creating improvised story performances.

“No rehearsals, no story set list, no set design, just me, the craft I have so finely tuned, my stories from the wonderful story life I have lived and sought out, and the relationship I build with the audience over the course of a show.”

About the artist:

Emma Beech graduated from Flinders Drama Centre 2002, has worked in theatre and screen plus developed a practice making theatre shows from intimate conversations with strangers. Emma has made theatre across a broad range of genres with rigorous makers from Adelaide, to Melbourne, to Spain to Denmark, for over 15 years and has been commissioned by Carte Blanche, Vitalstatistix, Country Arts SA, Arts House, DreamBIG and recently the Adelaide Festival.

Collaborator:

Here We Are is directed by Tim Overton.

This residency has support from