Fringe Artists Talk At BIFB 15

Highlights of the second weekend of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale will include talks by Fringe Exhibition artists.

Fringe Exhibition artists will talk about how they have developed their work as part of the second weekend of the month-long Ballarat International Foto Biennale, a celebration of international and Australian photography.

The weekend includes fringe artist’s talks from Elaine Batton, Kate Vivian and Rhonda Baum, held on Sunday August 30 at the Mining Exchange in central Ballarat. As well, The Conversation Program, where photographers discuss issues they experience in their careers, will run throughout the biennale, with this weekend featuring Kathleen Whelan on Friday, August 28, and Sam Harris and Alison Stieven-Taylor on Saturday, August 29, at the Mr Rede function centre.

Other artists showing at the festival include Elaine Batton, whose works are part of the BIFB Fringe Program, at the Blue Artz Gallery, on Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 3pm. Her images expand on travel as it mixes with explorations of light, emotion, past travels and art influences. Kim Percy’s work is also part of the BIFB Fringe Program. Percy has exhibited in every biennale since it began in 2005. This year she will be presenting two exhibitions, the first is a partnered initiative with City of Ballarat called ContainArt, and the second, Alava, a continuum of the work in ContainArt. ContainArt is a mobile gallery designed to tour contemporary artwork around Central Victoria. ContainArt will be on display at Alfred Deakin Square.

The AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) Workshop Program, where enthusiasts can learn new ideas and expand on your photographic knowledge, will host five workshops over the second weekend. The workshops include ‘Magic of light painting’ with Peter Solness on Friday, August 28, ‘Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary’ with Helga Leunig on Saturday, August 29; ‘Light painting Masterclass’ with Peter Solness Saturday August 29; ‘Environmental Portraiture’ with Martin Reftel on Saturday, August 29; and ‘Off camera flash, light, colour & creativity’ with Michelle Dunn on Sunday August 30.

There are two main components of the BIFB, – the Core Program and the Fringe Program. The Core Program features exhibitions from 21 Australian and international photographers to be shown at seven major venues throughout Ballarat, all within walking distance of each other. The Fringe Program is open entry, citywide exhibitions staged at venues such as cafes, restaurants, galleries and commercial and community spaces.

This year BIFB celebrates a notable 10-year milestone. The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is running continuously at various venues until September 20.

For more information see www.ballaratfoto.org


'Waterscape' by Peter Solness. Solness will conduct classes on how to paint with light.


'The Middle of Somewhere' by Sam Harris. Harris' work is one of the Core Program exhibitions.