Reimagining the traditional life drawing concept, a local artist has meshed classical themes with the world of fashion, performance, and set design.
Degas’ Ballet Dancers came to life on stage in a performance and historical art fusion in Upwey recently, in a still life portrait session that was anything but.
Part of a series of exciting workshops has begun at Burrinja Cultural Centre, the sessions are putting a spin on a classic concept, giving local artists at all levels a chance to experience a different kind of still life experience.
“It is such an incredible space and a great opportunity for artists at all levels to participate in something new, right here in the Yarra Ranges,” said creator of the workseries and local Upwey artist Julia Broad.
‘Not your classic life drawing’(NYCLD) is an innovative series set to run through until September at the Burrinja Cultural Centre, and delivered its first session on Sunday 27 July.
Julia Broad, also known by the handle ‘Lightbringer’, is both a photographer and stylist and said that while she can’t teach people how to paint or draw, she instead turned to create something that was highly experiential, unusual and interactive for people to be inspired by.
“I thought – wouldn’t it be cool to have a live piece of art – a painting or film scene come to life,” she said.
Broad is a life model, herself and was invited to model for Burrinja as part of their Sunset Salon series earlier in the year, in March.
The workshop series is part of a broader program of workshops and classes newly introduced this year at the centre.
Titled ‘Burrinja: In the Making’, the program of artist-run workshops and classes is designed to cook up some creative energy and support artistic development in the Yarra Ranges.
Pairing traditional life drawing with a unique performance aspect, the Broad’s first session for NYCLD was based on Degas’ Ballerinas, which ties into the French Impressionists collection currently exhibiting at the National Gallery Victoria.
“On the day, the dancers moved through gentle poses, wearing the signature Degas ribbon around their necks and giving life to the scene, along with music from Coppelia, Giselle and Don Giovanni, and Degas’s work projected behind them,” said Broad.
To find performers, Broad reached out to dance schools and Facebook groups for actors and models for the project.
“I was so pleased to feature a local dancer,” she said.
Broad herself is relatively new to the Hills area, moving at the end of 2023 after 18 years in Sydney and Asia.
“Working with Burrinja and meeting other artists has been so inspirational – the Yarra Ranges has been a hub and inspiration for artists for decades,” she said.
Broad said that life drawing classes are often very quiet, reserved affairs, so she hoped to make something more social and dynamic.
“This is for artists at all levels, and using lots of different mediums to experience something together, and then interpret that experience through their own lens,” she said.
For future projects, Broad said she would love to create even bigger and better scenes.
“Imagine what having five or ten models/actors re-enacting a piece would be?” she said.
“I joke I’d love to recreate the Bayeux Tapestry… but maybe that’s a few years away!”
Looking further into the future, Broad said she would love to continue her work connecting and collaborating with like minds across the area.
“We can focus on creating new experiences together. I’m currently working with the Mums of the Hills Inc (MotHs)and some other businesses to create workshops and space to help our community experience something that supports our local economy, art scene and, perhaps most importantly, mental wellness,” she said.
With the next lot of themes for the remaining workshops yet to be announced, the NYCLD sessions are open to all levels of artists and across all mediums and will continue through to September.
The next one is scheduled for Sunday 10 August at the Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey.
