![woman opening door](https://regionriverina.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/08/20230803_101146-1200x900.jpg)
Photomedia artist Brittany Hefren is inviting people to explore with her at her first solo exhibition at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
Photographer Brittany Hefren’s first solo exhibition, Windows of Wondering, is a love letter to the details that make a neighbourhood a home.
The exhibition features photographs, poetry and interactive sculptures and is now on display at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery E3 Art Space.
Brittany spent time curating her work through her walks in Cootamundra, where she grew up, and Wagga Wagga.
“As I’ve been walking, I’ve been reflecting on the idea that home is not only a physical space but a choice of mindset so we can build our home through actively connecting with the place that we live,” said Brittany.
“What I love about photography is how it can be used to facilitate introspection.
“A lot of my photos are taken intuitively on my walk … and I play with them, layering them into these new photo collage works or using them as building blocks for my photo sculptures.”
The young photographer uses poetry and photography as tools to draw parallels between patterns observed in nature and human experience.
She worked on her exhibition for more than a year, starting at the Future Photographers program at the art gallery with F.Stop Workshops across 10 weeks.
The 23-year-old artist is excited to push her creative practice with her photo sculptures and present her first showcase to the community.
“I like to be able to invite people to explore with me, so being able to open the door to this kind of world of curiosity and wondering that you can find joy and magic in every day,” Brittany said.
Aside from her photography, Brittany has been exploring poetry for the first time. She has included the poetry alongside her photographs.
“It’s kind of like adding thoughts that I’ve been having on my walks … sense of meditation, reflection and mindfulness,” Brittany said.
She has been a photographer since she can remember.
![three framed photos on a wall](https://regionriverina.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/08/20230803_101259-1200x900.jpg)
Brittany’s work was curated from her walks through Cootamundra and Wagga. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
“My mum was always taking photos growing up. I would just pick up her camera, run around and use it whenever I could,” she said.
“My first camera was a very small Canon point-and-shoot.”
Windows of Wondering is part of the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery’s 2023 Regional Artist Development (RAD) program.
The program promotes the development of and mentoring opportunities for artists across the Riverina region.
Coordinator Mary Egan said the gallery was happy to have Brittany for her first solo exhibition.
“We’re pleased to present a couple of programs so members of the public can come along, meet Brittany, see her work and learn more about her process and her methods,” Mary said.
Windows of Wondering will be on show until Sunday, 20 August, in the E3 Art Space at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.
Members of the public are invited to Brittany’s artist talk and photo walk on Sunday, 13 August, at 11 am.
The photo walk encourages people to explore mindful walking and capture their surroundings through a camera lens.