From this place
FROM THIS PLACE – Inspiring Women Artists of the Upper Yarra Valley is a book and exhibition by Lindy Schneider, writer, and Angela Rivas, photographer.
For a project that started as an exploration into why so many women artists chose to live and work in Warburton, the book and exhibition that are the creative artefacts of From This Place offer a visually stunning and a universally compelling insight into the many ways women create lives that sustain their art practice.
Creators Angela Rivas, photographer, and Lindy Schneider, writer, lovingly take us into the studios and lives of fourteen women artists from their hometown in the Yarra Valley. They feature women that could be your neighbour, of every age and medium (there are painters, poets, potters, scenographers, sculptors, authors and more), with the wise words of the artists as moving as the ‘Essence’ portraits that define the visual heart and soul of the book.
To create something of real beauty, both Angela and Lindy have nurtured this independent work into being for more than two years. During that time, they have found themselves living out the very themes that define the stories in this book. The value of community and collaboration, the need to live authentically and courageously take a leap of faith from time to time, the unfettered belief that what is created is of value are all themes that permeate not only the book but also their own lives.
The stories, told against the backdrop of mountains, forests and the Yarra River provides a theme in which nature and the river is the thread by which all stories are connected, and are motifs that can be felt by any reader, anywhere in the world. Together, Angela and Lindy have also
sensitively explored and documented the intersecting themes of community, art, collaboration, body image and working sustainably as artists.
‘We wanted to create a project that could be an inspiration to others,’ says Angela, who has a profound interest in bringing out the beauty in women, evident in her ‘Essence’ portraits, where each artist was supported to create their ‘ultimate’ photo shoot.
‘We followed a shared impulse to pursue this project feeling that it was a wonderful opportunity to work creatively in the way we ached for, while also supporting our women artists by helping raise their profiles,’ says Lindy. ‘We all rise together.’ The ripple effect will mean the inspiration and beauty of this book will be felt by many women for a long time to come.
‘Community and art don’t exist without each other.’
The book
This is a book of stories told in words and images – stories of courage, hope, love and togetherness. Stories of finally saying yes, of heartfelt longings set free to shape new lives, regardless of age, or stage, or medium. This is a book that allows you to unearth your own wisdom.
FROM THIS PLACE is a book you will keep forever – the kind of book you keep close to dip into whenever you’re in need of a little inspiration. The voice of each artists is like a song of their own becoming. For every artist, there will be approx. an 8-page spread with a 1500 word story and a photographic series.
Is this book only for women? – Art is for everyone. Art unites. This book is inspiring for everyone.
The artists
So we developed a list of 14 artists at various stages in their careers. There are painters and poets, potters and scenographers, sculptors and authors and artists that have so many layers it’s difficult to hold them in any one definition. They gave us the honour of entering their lives, to photograph and interview them in their practice. They also showed us their essence by curating (with Angela) their own unique photo shoot to show something of their inner world. Each one shared something we could learn from. And we loved them all. Women’s art is important. These women are important, their work matters and they deserve the world’s attention.