South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa

4 October - 25 November 2018

Regional galleries and community hubs are evolving, thriving on the creativity and connectivity of their volunteers in the delivery of innovative programs that are bringing people together, to share their personal and collective experience, provoking debate, discussion, and stimulating the creation of new work. Solastalgia’s emergence in regional centres is largely dependent on these relationships. The gallery director’s knowledge of local artists, audiences and their collective recognition of the importance of the theme is an essential element. Sharply aware of the region’s environmental concerns and the artists working in that space, SCRAC and Signal Point gallery director Leah Grace must be credited with the success of the third iteration of Solastalgia. The exhibition was officially opened by Stephanie Radok.

Despite the efforts of many helping to preserve ecosystems, water allocation continues to threaten the health of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth system. Artists with connection to country were keen to share their solastalgic experiences.

“The Millennium Drought, from 2001 to 2009, devastated communities, industries and the environment, which all rely on a healthy River Murray to prosper. A combination of low rainfall and the lowest inflows into the river in recorded history meant flows over the border into South Australia virtually ceased, with unprecedented impacts…Thirty three wetlands were temporarily disconnected to help save water, risking long-term damage to the ecosystem. The Lower Lakes began to dry up, exposing acidic soils, and the Murray Mouth closed, forcing around-the-clock dredging to ensure salt and other pollutants could be flushed out of the river system. Parts of the Coorong became too salty for many native plants and animals to survive, becoming five times saltier than the sea.”

—Department of Environment and Water