The fibro beach house has been an important part of Australia’s iconic beach culture for more than three generations. Not only are these dwellings among the most loved and recognised of mid-twentieth century Australian design, they also hold the stories and memories of the many families who settled or holidayed on the beach. They are central to Australia’s beach and holiday heritage.
The Fibro Coast Projectwill deliver a shared exhibition at the Gold Coast City Gallery (Feb/March 2014) and University of the Sunshine Coast Gallery (May/June2014). The exhibition will present material from local private and public collections and comprise; artworks, architectural drawings, contemporary and historic photographs, ephemera, objects, and oral history documentaries.
A unique part of the project is a local artist intervention that will see projection and installation artists collaborate with house owners and community collections and prepare work for the exhibition and public programmes.
In the Northern part of the Sunshine Coast artist Judy Barrass will be seeking owners and buildings to help her develop artworks that respond to the theme. Judy is a local artist who has lived in Noosa for over 15 years. She has been involved in a number of projects that blend heritage and art, on the Sunshine Coast and in Maryborough and Ipswich. One of her major concerns is that many of the heritage buildings which give the coast its character, especially those in areas near the water, are being demolished for townhouse and other developments. Through her work for this project she hopes to bring back some memories of the post-war expansion into the coast, when life had a simpler and more relaxed flavor.
The curator of Fibro Coast for the Sunshine Coast is John Waldron from Blue Sky View. John can be contacted via email at john@blueskyview.com.au .
If you would like to contribute your memories to the project, if you have a house you think could be included, or if you have any questions please contact Judy Barrass via email at
backstudio@yahoo.com.au
creativehistories 