Profiles of our facilitating artists.
Rob Shannon
Rob Shannon from Bathurst is a world-renowned gypsy jazz guitarist, educator and the Director of the bi-annual Kalari River Arts Festival, Forbes. Rob’s experience as a community facilitator, draws on his musically diverse creative background in drumming that includes a tabla tutelage in India during the 1990sm, international touring with Arabesk and jazz trio The Straight-Backed Fellows, Bathurst Winter Festival, and Cabaret Kite at Bathurst memorial Entertainment Centre.
Cath MCNamara
Cath McNamara is an independent theatre performer living on Wiradjuri land. Cath graduated from the University of Wollongong B.A. Performance in 2015. From 2015-2020, she collaborated with erth Visual and Physical Inc. touring the interactive children’s show ‘Prehistoric Aquarium’ throughout regional Australia, Auckland, USA, and Abu Dhabi. Cath has worked on many dance/physical theatre projects, including ‘Tangi Wai: the cry of water’ by Victoria Hunt (Performance Space, 2015), and ‘Throne of Thorns’ by Norzizi Zulkifli (ASWARA Kuala Lumpur, 2017). She facilitates all-abilities performance workshops for Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, and Arts OutWest. She is also a drag king: the NSW Central West’s very own ‘Clint Taurus’.
Ro Burns
Rosalie Burns from Forbes is a Visual artist.
Creating art with the ‘refound’. Instagram
“In Art Snacks visual arts we will firstly look at different images of art, both historical and contemporary and have an informal chat (and laughs) sharing what we can see. Then we will respond to these artworks by making our own art following a suggested process. The artworks created will be celebrated, but it is the power of connecting through the arts which brings the greatest rewards”.
The group Choreography session at the end was great again. It works as a fun way to come together and also try to end with a smile. This week we were inspired by the Quick Step (Bob* from Baradine’s suggestion) and everyone appeared to enjoy the music and laughed at me being introduced to these dances that a lot of them used to do in their youth. “We just did it. YES, it was quick!” said the women at Nyngan. I think this dual-pathway of learning (where it is evident that I am picking up things from them too) is positive for all” – Cath McNamara, movement facilitator