Two Mid North Coast artists, Ed Barnes and Carly Marchment, have spent the past week creating new works as part of the 2024 Bundanon Artist in Residence Program on the NSW South Coast. This unique opportunity is a collaboration between Accessible Arts and Bundanon Trust, designed to support the creativity and career development of artists with disability.
Ed Barnes has been immersing himself in Bundanon’s natural beauty, producing a new series of paintings inspired by the area’s flora and fauna. He arrived with an open mind, allowing the environment to shape his creative journey. In addition to painting, Ed has explored the landscape, connected with other artists, and drawn inspiration from the scenic surroundings.
(Photos by Jack Hodges).
Carly Marchment has been developing work for her upcoming 2025 exhibition, Legacy of Lines, which explores resilience and the complex journey of overcoming physical challenges. Through simple, abstract forms, Carly aims to convey strength and connection. Reflecting on her experience, Carly says:
“Bundanon has truly given me the time to decompress and connect with the environment and the other residents. I have been creating work inspired by my surroundings and using found objects to create the work also. It is giving me clarity with my project and how I intend to work within my arts practice when I return. Not to mention my studio looks down on the late great Arthur Boyd’s studio. I peeked into his studio windows yesterday. Absolutely blown away and have definitely ticked something off my bucket list. Seeing and being in the surroundings that inspired him has been the most incredible experience for me.”
(Photos provided by Carly Marchment)
The residency has offered both artists the space, inspiration, and community to evolve their practices in new ways and we are excited to see what works have developed from Ed and Carly’s week at Bundanon.