Wagga artist Melanie Baulch is part of the ‘Beyond the Brush’ exhibition at NSW Parliament House. Photo: Supplied.
Visitors to NSW Parliament House in Sydney this month have been treated to an artistic showcase of works from up-and-coming creatives across NSW, including the Riverina.
‘Beyond the Brush’ celebrates the work of the 2023 graduating students from TAFE NSW and includes painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics.
Wagga artist Melanie Baulch recently completed the Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts and is one of almost 90 students and graduates exhibiting in Sydney.
“I was very surprised to be chosen, but I love that the work is out there,” she said.
“I don’t know why I was chosen; I don’t know what people think about it, but I love that it’s there and for me it was something unexpected and random.”
The pieces included in the Beyond the Brush exhibition are from a series of eight works entitled ‘The Traveller‘.
“There are two small mixed media drawings using acrylic and ink and they are abstract and a bit figurative. They are quite quirky and there’s movement and energy in them and I thought they were interesting.”
The Traveler 1 & 2 by Melanie Baulch. Photo: Supplied.
An experienced painter, Ms Baulch decided to enrol in the TAFE NSW course to “extend herself” and has continued her study into the Bachelor of Creative Practice.
“I wanted to upskill and explore different media and gain more knowledge around what I’d been doing intuitively as an artist,” she said.
“We learned so many different techniques, so much about materials, so much about the theory and Australian culture and history.”
“I love learning and I’m still curious, and I’m looking to where my career as an artist takes me.”
TAFE NSW’s Director of Media, Art, Design and Entertainment, Jasmine Robertson, said that the exhibition was an amazing opportunity for emerging artists to have their work seen.
“Exhibiting in prestige locations such as Sydney’s NSW Parliament House can help cement our students’ reputations within the larger art community and lead to new opportunities for sales and career advancement,” she said.
“This exhibition embodies the spirit of artistic expression that TAFE NSW fosters, providing a glimpse into the bright future of the creative arts sector in the state of NSW and beyond.”
With the creative arts sector estimated to contribute more than $122 billion to the Australian economy, Ms Robertson said there was a growing range of employment opportunities.
“Graduates … are in high demand, with the sector forecasting the need for an additional 23,700 workers between 2021 and November 2026,” she explained.
“TAFE NSW is doing its part to meet the growing demand for skilled arts and cultural workers by delivering a range of programs across NSW, from bite-sized short courses through to advanced diplomas designed and delivered by industry-experienced creative arts professionals.”
In addition to the artworks on display in the Fountain Court at NSW Parliament House, an interactive online gallery and a collection of artist talks allow the public to engage directly with the creatives and learn about their process and inspiration.
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