Ballarat Sacred Heart Convent My site-specific photo-installation In the Process of Healing is currently on show at the former Sacred Heart Convent in Ballarat East, now a Ballarat Welcome Centre managed by Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council. Below is an old circa 1884-1886 photo of the convent building and link to more information on the congregation. On…
Airbnb Based On A True Review For all who love sharing your homes to strangers. Few months ago I took part in an international writing contest by an online hospitality service Airbnb and wrote a short story about my first ever hosting experience, which won a 3rd prize from thousands of international submissions. My very first…
Photographer Aldona Kmiec’s exhibition reflects on trauma and healing Ballarat artist Aldona Kmiec’s exhibition reflects on trauma and healing Michelle Smith 9 Aug 2017, 5:30 p.m. Healing after trauma and distress is a long and often arduous path but life can begin anew and photographer Aldona Kmiec has created a striking exhibition celebrating the strength…
Really thrilled to be (again!) named as one of 47 female finalists who will exhibit at Brightspace Gallery in St Kilda in September. Thanks to jury: Hoda Afshar, Rob Imhoff and Julie Millowick who had a terrible task of choosing finalists amongst over 300 entries. Good luck with the final! Winner will be announced at the…
About the Exhibition In The Process of Healing is a site-specific immersive installation of photography, sound and space which attempts to remove the stigma around trauma and normalise conversations that are difficult. ‘In the Process of Healing’ tells a story of hope and survival. Responding to the stories of institutional abuse and high rates…
Join Ballarat artists from SHAC – Soldiers Hill Artist Collective at their art studios open to public on all May weekends. Soldiers Hill Artist Collective presents a self guided tour through the historic streets of Soldiers Hill. Over 20 Artists exhibit in venues within the front windows of old shop fronts, private residences, pubs and…
Ballarat Arts Foundation Eureka Art Award 2016 Wed 23 Nov – Sat 24 Dec 2016 Please join me for the announcement of the $2,500 Eureka Art Award and exhibition opening on Thu 24 Nov 2016 @5.30, for 6pm. Winner announced by Anthony Camm, Director, Ararat Regional Art Gallery. Guest speaker, Dr Lisa Anderson, Adjunct Professor, Arts…
Picture This! is an exciting Art Exhibition by SHAC – Soldiers Hill Arts Collective opening on November 12th 6pm at Fairbanks Gallery in Ballarat. My photographic landscape print on canvas titled ‘Fields’ taken at a location just outside of Clunes during Jessica Andersen’s photoshoot is probably one of the biggest artworks in the show measuring 130cm lengthwise.…
Polish Arts Foundation (PAF) members are presenting another exhibition called Impressions. Victorian Artists Society Gallery 430 Albert St, East Melbourne Gallery Hours 10am – 4pm Monday – Friday 1pm – 4pm Saturday – Sunday Exhibition Dates 10 November – 15 November 2016 15 November 10am – 2pm only www.polishartfoundation.org.au
THIS IS ME: Examination of the art of self-image Lost Ones Gallery exhibition 24 Aug – 11 Sept 2016 GROUP SHOW THIS IS ME: Examination of the art of self-image We’re taking a look at the self portrait and asking if the selfie is the natural evolution of self portraiture. Exhibiting artists; Aldona Kmiec, Ali Afzali, Fabrizio Biviano,…
Dreamscapes are Aldona Kmiec’s new photographic series. Aldona’s use of photography brings the viewer a unique dreamscape perspective of the Australian landscape and explores the feminine psyche. Limited edition photographs of staged performances with romantic scenes of local art heroes emerging from an ever-changing landscape are part of the Dreamscapes series. Elusive unicorn in a dreamlike walk…
Ballarat is a beautiful place to visit and live in so it’s no wonder the city is experiencing a mini boom! If you are planning to visit, consider staying at arty Greenfield Place in Soldiers Hill, stone’s throw from my home studio. Located just a block from Ballarat Train Station on historic Lydiard Street, Greenfield…
Ballarat Editorial Australian Country homes, lifestyle country life & interior design Artist in Residence, October/November 2015 issue. I loved chatting to journalist Sue Peacock about the history of my old Victorian cottage and how it has transformed over the years alongside with my life tree change in regional Ballarat. Read more here
Photo wall mural Stoked to be featured on Channel 7 Better Homes and Gardens with Tara Dennis, who joined me during the program, touring Ballarat and showcasing all it has to offer in terms of arts and culture. Watch the episode here.
Earlier in July, I landed a great opportunity to feature Ballarat on a national TV and showcase some of the artistic projects that are happening here in Ballarat. The crew from Better Homes & Gardens spent three days in our beautiful town, the filming is almost complete and it was awesome to involve a couple…
‘Introspective’ by Artist Aldona Kmiec | Ballarat International Foto Biennale Join me on Opening Night on Sat, August 22nd, 5pm | Venue: Mitchell Harris Wines “Submerged in their own worlds, dreams are reluctant subjects to photograph. Sometimes a dream image materialises and we catch a glimpse of that other world. Sometimes these images emerge thanks to the…
One more ambitious photoshoot behind me! I wanted to Thank a great team at the Kryal Castle for letting me use their premises today. Thank you to my fellow artist and friend Nathan Curnow for his great spirit despite wearing a 20kg heavy armour for three hours and to Serena Eldridge for a coffee when we needed…
Gordon Prior, disability advocate – Portrait commission for NDIS campaign for Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka What makes you, you? Should people care more about doing the right thing, or doing things right? Recently I was invited to contribute to an important project Grassroots Democracy: The Campaign for Disability Rights Exhibition for M.A.D.E Ballarat alongside…
Eureka Art Award Winner I am very pleased to announce that I have just won the Ballarat Arts Foundation 2016 Eureka Art Prize for the artwork called “Balancing Act’. It features my (then pregnant) Polish friend Magda Kazmierczak. This year the judges were Melissa Griffin (BAF), Gordon Williamson (BAF) and Mark Guirguis (Ballarat surgeon, founder of GNAP…
William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize Finalist 2014 $25 000 non-acquisitive first prize and $1 000 People’s Choice Award. Press Release Woo hoo! Extremely proud to see my portraiture work about migrants shortlisted in this year MGA Bowness Photography Prize together with 47 other names. All finalists images, please click here. Here’s a great photo coverage from announcement night…