With the opening of The Creative Foundations Alumni Exhibition in October, past artists-in- residence will return to Portland to welcome locals and visitors alike.
This exhibition features 16 artists who are all associated with The Squatter’s Artist in Residence program held at The Foundations at Portland in the NSW Central West. It’s part of the new Makers Month at The Foundations throughout October.
Artists exhibiting are Harrie Fasher, Penelope McKeown, Robbie Flowers, Tim Hall, Gwenda Hall, Stephen Hogan, Margaret Hogan, Monique Lovering, Nic Mason, Kim Fasher, Martin Oldfield, Adrian Cook, Ellen Ferrier, Aiya Dreaming, Annabel Mason and Lindsey Johnson.
Sculpture, drawing and painting are all on the menu for this exhibition. The exhibition includes evocative landscape paintings created by Margaret Hogan; rhythmic line-based drawings by Penelope McKeown; raw and active abstract paintings created by Monique Lovering; character full recycled steel sculptures created by Steven Hogan and Robbie Flowers’ immersive large paintings drawing the viewer in.
The Squatter’s Artist in Residence program was established in 2020 and has housed over forty artists staying for up to four weeks in ‘The Squatter’s Cottage’ and working on site at The Foundations. The cottage was originally the first Bank of New South Wales in Portland and is clearly loved by a community of Artists in Residence.
This exhibition, held in The Annexe at The Foundations, at is open to the public each weekend coinciding with October (now closed on the weekend 25-26) Makers Month at The Foundations. Maker’s Month highlights include:
Weekend 1: October long weekend Markets, Saturday 4 October
Weekend 2: Draw Portland, Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 October
Weekend 3: Leather and Threads, Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 October
Weekend 4: Firey Finale, Sunday 26 October (exhibition now closed 25-26/10)
The last weekend of the exhibition concludes with the Lithgow Arts Trail annual open weekend:
Weekend 5: Lithgow Arts Trail, Saturday 1 – Sunday 2 November
The Mix, MusicNSW Music Mixer night is being held onsite at The Annexe in the exhibition space on Wednesday 8 October from 6pm. Local musicians will be showcasing their film clips. Arts OutWest will host an Out of the Studio visual artists networking event at The Annexe on Tuesday 28 October (10am-1pm).
The official The Creative Foundations Alumni Exhibition opening celebration event will be held during the exhibition on 11 October at 5pm till 7pm. In addition to the exhibition being open to the public on weekends, and it is open by appointment to partners and galleries from 20 September 2025 to the end of October.
Makers Month, supported by Lithgow City Council is an exciting new arts festival that will see The Foundations at Portland come alive with the “spirit of making”. From artisan markets and leathercraft, to plein air drawing and fire , Makers Month is a celebration of art, culture, local heritage, and regional talent.
The Foundations Portland is on the site of the Portland Cement Works which opened in 1902. There are a number of projects underway to reactivate this heritage industrial site including arts and cultural events such as The Squatter’s Exhibition 2025 and October Makers Month 2025.
Arts OutWest is the regional arts development organisation of the NSW Central West. We are supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW; by the Australian Government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program; by the 12 contributing councils of Bathurst Region, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western Region, Oberon, Orange, Parkes and Weddin; and by Charles Sturt University. We’re a member of Regional Arts NSW.
Images Nicola Mason:
Feature image: main room view of Creative Foundations Alumni exhibition 1.
Gallery images 1-10 Official opening: Harrie Fasher, Rich Evans and Kylie Shead speaking hearty words at the opening. 2. Kylie Shead with Lithgow City Council Mayor Cass Coleman. 3. Rich Evans with Lithgow City Council Deputy Mayor Steve Ring. 4. Penelope McKeown with Harrie Fasher. 5 – 10 room shots of the exhibition artists and attendees.
Gallery images from 11: Curation and installation of Creative Foundations Alumni exhibition 1 with works by Harrie Fasher (images 24 & 25), Penelope McKeown (images 11 & 18) Robbie Flowers (images 31 & 36), Tim Hall (16, 27 & 28), Gwenda Hall (24, 38 & 39), Stephen Hogan (12, 24, 35 & 40), Margaret Hogan (17, 19), Monique Lovering (19 & 20), Nic Mason (13, 23 & 34), Kim Fasher (13 & 34), Martin Oldfield (26 & 33), Adrian Cook (21 & 30), Ellen Ferrier (14), Aiya Dreaming (19 & 20), Annabel Mason (15, 32, 36 & 37) and Lindsey Johnson (17).
