LEE WALTON

This short film documenting Lee Walton’s ‘Experiential Declarations’ opening was made by Aidan Rayn, a wonderful film maker who has been making short films for ‘The Range’ Festival.

THE RANGE

The Range festival curated by Ashleigh Bunter, of A. Bunter Projects has just finished. The 9 day festival ran from November 1-9 2012.  Reflecting on the festival, especially after coming across more of Aiden Ryan’s short films, I am transported.  The Range created both a critical dialogue and brought people together in Toowoomba. I met so many people in the 9 days who I had no idea were interested in creating the kind of dynamic, and dialogue, that the gallery directors work so damn hard to create. Aside from bringing people together and demonstrating what art is able to facilitate, The Range festival brought to light exactly what it is that we strive to do at RAYGUN. The events and programming demonstrated interesting practices, created dialogue, and most importantly introduced new ways of being with art, and social practices. It created the opportunity to engage with a wider community, and discuss what it is that we do. Many of the people who I spoke with were at the event, not as regulars, but because it was a part of The Range’s programming.  The shared excitement and critical engagement that ‘The Range’ facilitated through the events and programming, has demonstrated that Toowoomba is a great place to be for art. The Gallery directors from MOP and ALASKA  (Sydney) who we spoke with as part of the festival last Thursday night were so excited about the vibe that Toowoomba is creating,  astonished by the exciting things that are happening in a regional city. My point is, ‘The Range’ has brought the energy already here and magnified it. It has positively impacted the galleries, artists and wider community, demonstrating that a 9 day independent Art festival in Toowoomba is not only possible, but will go off.