Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations’ living cultures.
Artist wins scholarship
Highly regarded regional artist Cindy Durant is constantly looking for inspiration, new opportunities and new approaches to sustain and refresh her practice.
For the last 19 years Cindy has lived and practiced in the beautiful yet remote and isolated beach community of Penong on the far west coast of the Eyre Peninsula. Cindy works in various kiln formed glass, enamel on metal and jewellery techniques.
Her studio is all solar and wind power. Cindy says, “We have only rain water and my largest kilns run on LPG which is starting to cost a fortune. There are sometimes poisonous snakes in my studio. I love a challenge!”
Living 800 kilometres west of Adelaide does make it difficult to access skills development and enhance artistic enrichment. In early 2013 Cindy applied to the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, USA for a full scholarship. Penland is a highly regarded craft school that offers a unique immersion program for its students.
Cindy was thrilled when she received the scholarship to the value of $1,871. Like most regionally based artists Cindy has had to engage more creative, resourceful and innovative ways to source the additional funds required to make the trip Pozible so, that she can continue to grow as professional artist.
With her own contribution of $3,433 Cindy then successfully applied to Country Arts SA through a Quick Step Grant for $1,391 to cover her domestic travel costs. Cindy has now turned to technology to help her achieve her goal.
She has appealed for her remaining project costs of $4,325 on the crowdfunding website Pozible. Cindy is hoping that the broader community will get on board so that she can fulfil her scholarship opportunity to learn, develop, experiment and enjoy.
Cindy says, “In order for me to learn, network and source materials the distances are huge and the travel costs are often difficult to meet. To study there are not any institutions anywhere near and city based workshop options are run over longer periods of time making it impossible for me.”
With this creative learning opportunity she hopes to “Bring newly learned skills into my current arts practices. I will design and make unique art pieces and develop a new object and jewellery range. I just need some help making it happen.”
While in the States from June 28 to August 9 Cindy will visit galleries and art fairs around southern California, visit with family, undertake the scholarship intensive workshop at Penland School of Craft and, funds permitting attend the Enamellist Society Conference in the USA.
You can see more of Cindy’s work at: www.cindydurant.com
To find out more about Country Arts SA support and funding for regional communities and artists click here