It's big, it's bold and it's wonderfully fantastical.
Ballarat's brand new immersive art experience, Sunnyside, is a cheery celebration of colour, creativity and community.
Book your tickets now for the inaugural event, which will see internationally acclaimed UK artist Morag Myerscough transform the historic Ballarat Mining Exchange into a wondrous new nature-inspired installation, Chasing Sunbeams, from 6–23 November.
An immersive soundscape by local musician and composer Raul Sanchez i Jorge will drift through the space, offering a sensory connection that will be as intimate as it is surprising.
Chasing Sunbeams is the London-born artist's first major large-scale Australian installation.
To help bring her vision to life, Myerscough ran several word and pattern workshops in the Ballarat community earlier this year to explore themes like belonging and identity.
Extending beyond the main installation, Sunnyside will spill into Ballarat's laneways, unexpected pockets and hidden corners in a playful program of free wanderings, community collaborations, ticketed experiences and a creative workshop series.
The colourful line-up includes:
- opening night festivities at the Ballarat Mining Exchange (Thursday 6 November, 5.30pm–8.30pm)
- design your own chatterboxes with Ballarat-based artist, illustrator and teacher Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling (Saturday 8 November, 9am–11am)
- free artist talk with Morag Myerscough (Saturday 8 November, 1pm–2.30pm)
- paint your own sunny placards with Pitty Witty's Carly Witts (Sunday 9 November, 9am–11am)
- neon block printing workshop with Carly Witts (Saturday 15 November, 9am–11am)
- colour and storytelling workshop with Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and First Nations artist Jenna Oldaker from Murrup Art (Sunday 16 November, 9am–11am)
- make your own colourful granny squares with Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling (Saturday 22 November, 9am–12pm)
Fontella The Zine Machine (created by Ballarat artists Siobhan Finn and Tegan Crosbie) will add a playful, analogue twist with 16 freshly made zines up for grabs, alongside opportunities to create your own with local zinesters.
And a collaboration between Myerscough and Murrup Art's Jenna Oldaker will transform a series of CBD laneways, drawing on the outcomes of inclusive community workshops that celebrate identity, culture and collective expression.
Sunnyside will run from 6– 23 November.
For the full program and tickets, head to sunnysideart.com.au
6–23 November
Sunnyside – An Art Experience
All aboard for this once-in-a-lifetime creative adventure
