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Dungog region

Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub (PAWSIH)

PAWSIH has been providing science & arts engagement activities in the Dungog Shire region since 2016 with funding and support from Inspiring Australia.

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• Defashion Dungog

Celebrating sustainable wearables – PAWSIH’s major event for National Science Week 2024. Fashion parade on the catwalk • live youth band ‘Metanoia’ • after party dancing. Jane Richens was an MC, is chair of PAWSIH and creator of this event and her collaborator and fellow MC was Freya Rubeli.

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• ‘Science+Art’ Zoom online dance party

Dungog Masked Ball (Plague Theme) — an online Zoom dance party Jane initiated and produced through the Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub (PAWSIH) during the 2021 COVID lockdown. It reimagined Dungog’s traditional Masked Balls (which she was also behind) as a playful, participatory science-meets-arts event that kept our community connected through play, creativity, laughter and learning at a difficult time.

Over 200 households joined the live event, which mixed prerecorded videos, live dancing, science micro-chats and creative performances. Guests tuned in from across the globe, dressed up, decorated their rooms and shared the joy of being “together apart.” Contributions came from all ages—children, families, singles and older people—making it a truly intergenerational celebration. Some of the prerecorded highlights included a youth-led Acknowledgement of Country, interviews with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Dr Mark Temple (who sonified the COVID genetic code), science-and-cooking demonstrations and artist-made art/sound videos.

The outcomes were both social and lasting. The event lifted spirits during lockdown, providing an inclusive celebration that reduced isolation and supported mental wellbeing. It inspired new digital confidence among participants—our local yoga teacher, for example, now runs ongoing online classes as a result.

The project demonstrated how humour, art, education and science can combine to foster connection and resilience. Participants still talk about it years later as a joyful moment in a difficult time—proof that creativity and community can thrive even in isolation.

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Gresford News

Jane & Brian have been putting out this monthly news publication with community contributions for 20 years. Current & back issues (from 2012) are available online at Issuu.

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Dungog Community College

For 7 years Jane Richens & John O’Brien co-coordinated Dungog Community College bringing lifelong learning opportunities to Dungog Shire. We created a broad range of community education & creative learning programs offering both lifestyle courses & partnering with RTOs to provide accredited courses. Some of our courses included • Key short courses: First Aid, RSA, paving, computers & social media, termites, traffic control, retail & business • Eye-opening FUN classes: sound design, sewing, cooking (from Italian to Indian, spices to baking), crosswords, photography, gardening, ceramics & art, music & meaning • Events: Masked Balls, Day in the Roses, expert talks & walks, pizza nights • Qualifications: Aged Care, Community Services Work, Frontline Management, TAE & Youth Work.

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• Masked Balls

Jane, John O’Brien + a team of local creatives ran 6 Masked Balls. The Dungog community dressed up, joined in the live performances and danced the night away.

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Dungog Shire Community Centre

Jane worked at the Dungog Shire Community Centre contributing to a number of support projects for the community.

• Project Bounce Forward

‘Project Bounce Forward’ was a major project at the Community Centre to support the community after the 2015 floods. Jane collaborated on strategies and created graphic design materials to communicate support and facilitate participation.

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Sydney

SIN – Sydney Intermedia Network

1989-95 Brian was the Coordinator of Sydney Intermedia Network. Curated programs of screen arts, film & video art, film & video access facilities, workshops, distribution.

Major exhibitions included: MATINAZE 1990-1995 – an annual selected screening of Australian film and video art held at the Art Gallery of NSW • PAUL WINKLER FILMS 1964-94, 1995, a retrospective of the work of Australian experimental filmmaker Paul Winkler at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Included 72pp full colour catalogue • ELECTRIC GHOSTS: Video Art in Public Sites, 1992 • VISUAL PURPLE: Survey of Australian Women’s Film & Video, Sydney, 1991

In 1996 Brian curated a retrospective of the work of Australian experimental filmmakers Arthur and Corinne Cantrill for the Sydney Film Festival.

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Cienfuegos Film Society

1990-92 Jane, Brian, David Watson & Denise Corrigan ran Cienfuegos Film Society – an independent film society screening 16mm film in Callan St, Rozelle.

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Brisbane

QAA – Qld Artworkers Alliance

QAA AGM at THAT Contemporary Art Space

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• Wet Breakfast

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• Artists’ Picnic

1st Annual Artists’ Picnic – Sun 8 March 1987, under the Storey Bridge, Brisbane

In 2016 Brian wrote this: See you at the picnic this Sunday…  2nd Annual Artists’ Picnic  on the lawns outside the QAGOMA (near the end of the pedestrian bridge or somewhere in the vicinity at around 1.30pm BYO food & drink & picnic blanket & conversation to share … All welcome

The Queensland Artworkers Alliance first ANNUAL Artists Picnic was held on Sunday 8 March 1987 in the Park under the Storey Bridge. The Second (annual) Artists Picnic only had to wait a little over 29 years to be organised – by the same people – for Sunday 10 April 2016.  

Back in 1987 we were also in the final stages of putting together the first issue of Eyeline Magazine – May 1987 – no doubt the cause of the delay!

The April/May QAA Newsletter reported the Picnic “was well-attended and enjoyed by all. No record appears to exist for the winners of the egg-and-spoon race and the three-legged race, although impressive injuries were displayed by some. Picture a bright sunny day, lots of green-ants, laughter, exclamations of pain, the odd drunken giggle, overheard snatches of conversation about Art, parties, openings, art, gossip, art. The egg and spoon race was a bit suspect; it seemed that a lot of people had actually melted their chocolate eggs to the spoon, but whats a little honest cheating between friends………During the afternoon the Annual General Meeting put in a performance…mercifully business was completed in record short time.”

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• Da Da Doo

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• Eyeline magazine

Jane & Brian were part of the team that started Eyeline – an Australian contemporary art magazine. Brian was the Manager between 1987-89 and the first office was in our spare bedroom in Twine St, Spring Hill, Brisbane.

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Qld Artworkers Union

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ARIs • Artist-Run-Initiatives

1980s ARI culture in Brisbane • It was a time of major & rapid Brisbane city urban redevelopment & World Expo88. Artworkers activated spaces with short-term vacancies due to be demolished – warehouses, inner city buildings & shop fronts. • Ephemeral activities, exhibitions, performances, talks, studios, magazines. Jane & Brian were involved in all these activities as organisers, exhibiting artists & assistants to other’s arts projects. 

• THAT Contemporary Art Space

THAT Contemporary Art Space [1985-88 • rear 20 Charlotte St, Brisbane] was an artist-run-initiative with a street-level gallery & upstairs studio spaces. It was a very lively & active contemporary & emerging artist hub with exhibitions/openings every 3 weeks • Exhibitions, performances, artist projects, collaborative artist activities, fundraisers, talks.

Jane & Brian were both exhibiting artists • Jane was a studio member & Treasurer • Brian worked out of the Qld Artworkers Alliance office/space also upstairs

​​https://ariremix.com.au/portfolio_page/that-contemporary-art-space-interior-and-exterior-photos-2/

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• Bureau Art Space

Bureau Art Space was a short-term 3 month ARI gallery in a shop front facilitated by the QAA 
• Dec 1988-Feb 1989 • Shop 3/4, City Plaza Shopping Centre, cnr George Street & Adelaide Street, Brisbane • Jane was a committee member & exhibiting artist.

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‘Activities’

At various periods in the 1980s Brian worked at the University of Queensland Student Union ‘Activities’ Centre, a community accessible art facility on the University of Queensland campus (above 4ZZZ radio). He was full-time as the Activities Director and as a screen-printer-in-residence providing support for university & community groups including bands and political activists. In particular, he created facilities for screen-printing, photography & ceramics.

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‘Art Walk’ magazine

‘Art Walk’ magazine was initiated by Brian Doherty, Russell Lake & Jeanelle Hurst • 1982-83

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Blunt Focus Collective + Centre Cinema

Brian was an active member of the independent film collective that ran ‘Centre Cinema’ at Metro Arts in Edward St Brisbane in the late 1980s and was one of the projectionists. Jane was occasionally Front of House and assisted Brian at times.

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Institute of Modern Art – film program

Brian initiated & ran a weekly film program at the Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane.

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Art in Working Life project

Brian was the Artist-in-residence, Australian Public Service Association, Brisbane
A consultative art-in-working life project. Production of interviews, photography, posters, calendar & newsletters.

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‘Interface 88: City as a Work of Art’

Jane was one of 18 artists contributing (10 billboards around the city & on the Queensland Art Gallery, images for projections & large electronic display boards) to ‘Interface 88’ – Qld’s Bicentennial Art Spaces Project created by Jeanelle Hurst. An experimental public art strategy – High-rise buildings were used for light displays, projections & musical interludes. Billboards, electronic display boards, commercial buildings, retail stores, Hoyts Cinema, the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queen St Mall were sites for still images, sound and video works.

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Masked Chess Set

1986 • Jane created an event for the ‘Demolition Show’ at the Observatory Gallery. She created masks for a ‘Masked Chess Set‘ which was played in Arch Lane outside the gallery. Photos: David Holden

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‘Backdrops’

Brian created backdrops for theatre & performances, Brisbane