Additional InformationThe 1993 Aqueous Festival was held in a variety of locations and venues around Noosa Shire from Friday 4 June to Monday 14 June 1993. It was described as ‘Noosa’s unique Arts Festival with a sensational program of art exhibitions, music events, cabaret, writer’s forums, children’s arts, street theatre, movies and a fantastic expo of arts and crafts…’ (Event advertisement, Noosa News, 4 June 1993). The event’s focus was to present a fusion of professional arts practice and community input. The festival was coordinated by Julia Carter.
Events over the 10 days included:
• Writer’s Forum with authors Nancy Cato and Jenny Wagner at Noosa Regional Gallery at 7pm on 9 June 1993.
• The Australian premiere of independent American film ‘Passion Fish’, held at Noosa Cinemas on 9 June 1993 at 8.45pm
• A dinner concert with Australia’s top jazz singer Kerrie Biddell at Dilozo’s on the Beach (Hastings Street) on June 11 1993 at 7pm. Kerrie was accompanied on piano by Julian Lee. Kerrie made her debut performing with the Daly-Wilson Big Band in the 1970s. Tickets were $40 including dinner, beer and wine.
• A children’s festival held at Noosa Fair Shopping Centre on 12 June 1993. The festival included a colouring-in competition to be judged by Julie Fitzgerald, face painting, a graffiti board from Oz Artz, an art display from Tewantin State School, free giveaways from Shazza Shark from Underwater World and Pineapple Pete from Sunshine Plantation, a performance by entertainers ‘Hairy Critters’, a performance of excerpts from the musical ‘Wiz’ by the Noosa Arts Senior Youth Theatre, and appearance by Sunshine Sam (Sunshine Coast Daily) with bags of goodies to giveaway. The theme of the day was ‘water’ and children were urged to dress up in their favourite fish or mermaid costumes. The colouring competition was sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Daily.
• The handover of Wallace House to Noosa Arts and Crafts Association, including a community arts and crafts festival at Wallace Park on 12 and 13 June 1993.
• Musical group ‘Brass Razoo’ appeared at the Peregian Beach local festival event, Noosa Fair, and Bay Village on 5 June.
• Music Society members Joanne Sorenson and Sharon Matheson gave a harp and flute recital at Halse Lodge on Sunday 13 June. Tickets were $12.
• Jasper’s Restaurant hosted a performance by ‘Visions of a Nomad’ on Saturday 12 June.
• Exhibitions at: Halse Lodge (Lorna Marton), the Hyatt (Betty and Jennifer Pugh), La Plage (Genevieve De Couvreur), Café Coco (Blair McNamara), La Sabbia (Elizabeth Muir and Earthware Ceramics), the Beach Studio (Sue Eapie and Nadiane Sawyer), Postcards (Peter Hales), and Noosa Shire Chambers (Focus on Noosa photographs).
• A raku firing workshop with Peter Harris at Noosa Regional Gallery.
• The opening of the Environment Centre at Wallace Park.
• Tarzan movies at Aromas.
• Morning tea launch of Nancy Cato’s revised Mister Maloga at the Sheraton.
• Grand finale concert event including Imbala Aboriginal Dance Group and ‘Visions of a Nomad’ (world music fusion group) on Monday 14 June 1993 at Noosa Regional Gallery.
Noosa Regional Gallery hosted the gala opening of the festival and a specially commissioned exhibition entitled Noosa Aqueous, curated by Chris Downie (Gallery Director) with the assistance of Brian Murray (Gallery Assistant) and Festival Co-ordinator Julia Carter. The Gala Opening on Friday 4 June was hosted by ABC arts presenter and television personality Peter Ross. Architect Gabriel Poole unveiled the model of a new home designed for beach and country, Star Jaffa (described as a ‘hermit sculptor’ specialising in jewelled surfboards) presented three new surf boards, Mona Ryder and Linda Woods created fibre art sculptures and Mo Riggs created a new major work for the exhibition.
Noosa News columnist ‘Cassandra’ reported the event as follows:
"The Aqueous Arts Festival launched itself with a glorious exhibition at the Noosa Regional Gallery, a clinging slit pink gown on glorious organise Julia Carter, and a roll up of enviable proportions, going a long way to prove guest of honour Peter Ross’s contentions that more people go to art exhibitions than to footy matches.
"Harry and Jane Middleton, John Wilkes, Alan Jones, Dawn Armitage, Geoff Rugglea, Robert Clark and a lady some people call Joy Satter sauntered with Milton and Marie Gloster, Pennie Steel, Gabriel Pool, Dr Nancy Cato in black and gold, Phil and Jackie Jarratt, Emma Freeman, George Corkill, Vivienne Dart, Merton Chambers and Vala Sudek, Bland, Morrison and Cock, Paul Church, the divine Mary Hollywood, Joy and legendary yottie (yachtie) Lance Scott.
"Judith and Ian Murray, Peter and Shirley Sinclair, Henry and Jenny Dupriez, Rhonda Burns, Ron and Pat Kerr, Steve and Lisa Cross were all on view with Margaret Cochrane, Stephen and Joan Eckersley, John and Rosie Butler, Chairman Noel and Diana Playford, Gwenda Marriott-Burton, Dennis and Toni Glen, Rene Blin, Dean Thorvaldsen, Ted and Lil Lourey, Glen Donahue, Mark Newbold, Nancy Gow, Gallery Director Chris Downie, Michael and Janey Richardson, Collette Otth, Kay Eyre, Pam and Col Smyth, B. Curley, Tom Offerman, June Porter, Pammy Hutchins and George Christmas, Stephen Clark, Jean Neville, Frank Woolf, Brendan and Louise Foley and Blair McNamara.
"Best specs went to Graham Pearce; best baby to Mehera Mahoney’s Roshanna; best music to Allegro Viva, best hat to Tony Thornhill-Cole, best wedding anniversary to Col and Anne Lawford, best sponsor to Warren and Gail Nationwide and Ted Evans; the best jacket to Lulu and Marcus Everett."
Artists whose works were featured in the Aqueous Exhibition at the Noosa Regional Gallery included: Alison Bates, Julia Fitzgerald, Wayne Fleming, Joe Furlonger, Darrell Hook, Bob E Lees, Clare Llewellyn, Blair McNamara, Malla, Sally Moroney, David Parker, Jane Parker, David Allen Paton, Gabriel Poole, Robert Arthur Porritt, Melinda Rackham, Maureen Riggs, Mona Ryder, Tom Risley, Gavin Ryan Starrjaffa, Anthony Thornhill-Cole, Ian Tremewen, Wendy Wright, Linda Woods, and Bernadette Anne Will.
The Aqueous Exhibition was sponsored by Warren Evans Realty, Accom Noosa, Bay Village on Hastings, Montville Art Gallery, Christopher B Brinkley Solicitor, Dennis Glen, Dili Deli, Dilozo’s on the Beach, La Plage, Netanya Noosa, La Sabbia/Hotel Laguna, Saltwater Tom, Offermann Real Estate.
A grand finale event was also held at Noosa Regional Gallery. The Kabi Kabi Corporation were awarded $2000 from the United Nations International Year of the Indigenous People fund to enable storytellers, didgeridoo players and spiritualists to stage a display at Noosa Regional Gallery on 14 June at 2pm.
The opening of Noosa’s new Environment Centre at Wallace Park was held on Environment Day and featured as part of the festival activities. ‘Cassandra’ reports as follows:
"Environment Day was hosted in utopian style at Noosa’s new Environment Centre at Wallace Park, hosted by the Noosa Parks Association with lovely landscape architect Glen Gloster delivering official thanks on behalf of absent president and spouse Michael G.
Chairman Noel Playford opened the fascinating art exhibition curated by talented artist Sally Moroney. There was harlequin music, superb food, displays, raffles, stalls, billy tea thanks to Vic Collins and George Oxborough, volunteer tree plantings, rampant peace and goodwill. The Noosa Parks Association combines grass roots old timer support with sophistication, professional flair, integrity and a common and quite admirable purpose – the new Environment Centre embodies it all.
"Amongst Sunday’s delighted revellers were chainsaw genius Gordon Turnage, Gwen Oswell, John and Ivy Ollier, Kay and Bob Cartwright, Frank and Nancy the cake Cilas, cartoonish Doug and artist Alice Tainsh, Claude and Berry Batten, Gwen and Fred Cooper, Lyn and Dea King, Norma Paynter, Earle Ricketson, Fred Harris, Dr Arthur and Marjorie Harrold, writer Jock and Cora Brown and the very literate Jan Collins.
"Isobel Pert, George Ward, passionfruiter Viva Sealy, Ralphe Rickman, and a birthdaying Nikki Barber were all on deck with Anne Kennedy, Ida Noble, John and Natalie Mainwaring, Crs Helen Melrose and Peter Sinclair, Dawn Forrer, Jillian Cummings and dedicated Landcare chairperson Jacky Williams."
‘Harlequin’ was a local duo comprising of Geoff and Maggie Adeney who played a blend of gypsy, violin, swing and popular music.
An exhibition of art by members of the Environment Centre called the ‘Associates’ featured a variety of styles and techniques including paintings ranging from traditional landscapes and delicate wildlife art to modern themes. It included Doug Tainsh’s cartoons, including the well known Alfie cartoons, Elma Reilly’s wildflower photographs as well as pottery, jewellery, and silk. Chainsaw sculptor Gordon Turnage displayed furniture and sculpture made from timber discarded from development sites. Jason McKieg and Jackie Williams created a special piece with a Barrier Reef theme from leadlight glass and weaving. Local musicians Geoff and Maggie Adeney provided music.
Wallace House was officially handed over to the Noosa Arts and Crafts Association on 8 June 1993 when Noosa Shire Chairman Noel Playford handed the keys to B Curley. To celebrate the opening, the Association held an exhibition of their works at the house, including work of the Tewantin patchwork group, textile art, painting and pottery. Descendants of William Arthur Wallace, who built the house in 1929, were in attendance.
SOURCES:
Noosa Citizen, 9 June 1993 (include photo of Gabriel Poole model), 16 June (photos of gallery attendees)
Noosa News 29 May, 1 June (p. 1), 4 June (cover photo of Julia Carter), 8 June (photos), 11 June 1993 (inc full page ad for Children’s morning and half page for finale weekend). Date4 - 14 June 1993
