The Stay Cool exhibition is now on display at Artspace at the Griffith Regional Theatre until July 24, 2026, showcasing a unique blend of poetry, music and photography created through an international collaboration.
The project has evolved from local writing workshops into contemporary music composition, illustrated with striking photography, with works connected via QR codes to original soundtracks.
Stay Cool is the latest event from a group that has been steadily building a reputation for community-driven art in Griffith, following initiatives such as 2024's Night At The Museum, the Action Day Photography Competition and the landmark Ngurambang exhibition at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery in 2023.
This new collaboration between Red Earth Ecology and Italian record label Naviar builds on previous projects, particularly the 'Crossing Streams' exhibition held in Narrandera in 2017.
"It's the way each of us cannot help but bring our own experiences to an activity that infuses creativity with meaning and spirit, which is what Jennifer Yane identifies in their wonderful observation that 'Art is spirituality in drag," said exhibition curator Jason Richardson.
For many contributors, the exhibition marks their first time presenting creative work publicly, including Wagga Wagga's Anne Carpenter, who is new to writing haiku poetry.
A selection of poems were shared globally through Naviar Records, inviting musicians to interpret the words through sound. An album from the Stay Cool project is available to download at Naviar Haiku 32 album.
"I knew it would be cool to participate but there's something a whole lot deeper going on with this cross-creative collaboration," said Capertee Valley-based artist Leanne Wicks.
"It is wonderful to be part of an exhibition in Griffith," said Marco Sebastiano Alessi from Treviso in Italy.
"I hear the city is known for its multiculturalism, so an exhibition of Japanese-style poetry that brings together people from around the world should be right at home."
The project has been supported by Griffith Regional Art Gallery, along with financial assistance from the NSW Government through Western Riverina Arts and Create NSW.
Supplied image by William Macleod of cbrmedia.au
