The Riddoch and Main Corner Complex have handed over their social media channels to accomplished local artist April Hague this week as part of the first programmed ‘takeover’ for the arts and cultural centre.
As part of the ‘Riddoch at home’ programming the artist was invited to access the Facebook and Instagram accounts to provide an exclusive insight into her home studio and practices. The takeover will culminate with a live Facebook event on Friday 8 May 2020 at 7:00pm.
While we get to show the work of artists all the time, we very rarely get to show our audience behind the scenes, so it is exciting for us to be able to bring an artist’s practice to life through social media.
– City of Mount Gambier Arts and Culture Development Officer Serena Wong
April’s public work around Mount Gambier is often done in collaboration with fellow artist Charlene Riley, and includes work with the Gordon Education Centre, Bay Blue Espresso Bar , AF Sutton Reserve Skate Park, Expresso Eatery and most recently a mural at Badenoch’s Deli.
“April has also hosted workshops with The Riddoch and these have included a highly successful portraiture for beginners, and she is also one of the facilitators at our regular life drawing sessions,” Ms Wong said.
As an artist and art teacher based in Mount Gambier April’s arts practice is varied and incorporates portraiture work, figurative art, augmented reality, design and large scale mural production. She exhibits regularly both in the South East and Adelaide and in 2018 was the recipient of the Minister’s Award for Arts Education (Secondary).
“I am super excited to be the first local creative to do a social media takeover for the Riddoch Art Gallery,” Ms Hague said.
“It is humbling to have been asked and I am enjoying creating content for the social media channels that highlights my practices as a local artist, and allows my community to get an insight into my life and the work that I love to create through this creative, engaging and fun medium.”
The week-long takeover has included an insight from the artist around her favourite materials to use, techniques, and a tour of her local public works and will conclude with a one hour live Facebook event on Friday evening that will allow participants to follow along to create their own portrait.
“It has been fantastic to have April takeover and see her describe all the projects she has been working on in the past few years, I think it shows just how much we have going on in Mount Gambier, even now during COVID-19,” Ms Wong said.
“Keep watching the Riddoch’s social channels and website follow the #riddochathome.”
