A Celebration of Art and Timber at the Riddoch

The Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre presents two exhibitions that explore the artistic and cultural significance of wood in the South East. Wood Work and The Woodcutter will launch with an opening event at 6:00pm on Friday 11 April 2025, with both exhibitions running from Saturday 12 April to Sunday 8 June 2025.

Wood Work draws from the Riddoch’s own collection to highlight the rich tradition of working with wood as a medium. This exhibition showcases a variety of works that demonstrate the craftsmanship, labour and imagination that artists invest in shaping wood into art.

The Woodcutter, presented by the South East Art Society takes inspiration from ‘Gus the Woodcutter,’ a beautifully carved figure by Gustav M. Christensen (1916–1997) that has become the society’s mascot. Artists have been invited to respond to the theme of wood—whether materially, figuratively, or through tributes to the region’s deep connection to forestry. The exhibition will feature a diverse range of works in 2D, 3D and mixed media, with winning entries in each category announced on opening night.

Wood has played an essential role in shaping the South East, both environmentally and economically, and these exhibitions reflect its significance in the region’s creative landscape.
- Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre Director Ashleigh Whatling

“From the ancient red gums, native wattles, banksia and blackwood that provide habitat to birdlife, to the massive pine plantations that form the back bone of our economy, artists respond with their own stories expressed through and about wood,” Ms Whatling said.

Carmel Wallace, whose sculpture Wedge Forest (pictured) features in the Wood Work exhibition, will deliver a floor talk on her practices at 10:00am on Saturday 12 April. As a printmaker, sculptor and installation-artist, Carmel is interested in the roles art can play in strengthening connections to place and developing environmental awareness. She employs a variety of media in her sculpture, installation and printmaking processes, often incorporating cast-off or recycled materials into her work.

For more information or to RSVP for the opening night or floor talk, visit the Riddoch Arts & Cultural Centre at 1 Bay Road Mount Gambier, or online at www.theriddoch.com.au

Media contact: City of Mount Gambier Communications Officer Ashlea Watson at awatson@mountgambier.sa.gov.au or (08) 8721 2578.