Open Pages Community Zine Project - The View From Here - Edition 1 (1)-compressed by Arts North West Inc.

Edition 1 — The View From Here

Open Pages is a community zine made by the people of the New England North West

Page 1 of 40 Open Pages runs through Arts North West's Enable Arts Program

Arts North West acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands we work on; we recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people and respect the Aboriginal Elders past and present. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 2 of 40

A zine can hold almost anything words, pictures, collage, scribbles Open Pages runs through Arts North West's Enable Arts Program, and it's here to do a few simple things: get more local voices heard, get more people making things, and build a bit of connection across our towns, one page at a time. No experience needed. No qualifications required. It's made by the community, for the community. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 3 of 40

Spring has sprung in ‘The Dale’ Daryl Albertson | Armidale | Personal Reflection | Photography The wisteria that climbs over my front gate welcomes me home and its flowering tells me that spring has arrived. Hues of lavender to violet blues, herald the welcome change from the cools of winter. Armidale is a strong garden town, with many species planted from foreign shores. The classic colours of Autumn are well known, but for me it's the colours that arrive in early spring that connect me to my home in 'The Dale'.

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Spikey Felicity Nash | Tamworth | Photography A sighting of an echidna, on the council reserve behind the house where I live. I look out the window and see a strange sight. A brown cat, all tucked up? A moving rock? I walk the hill to approach it slowly… Sightings of our native wildlife are becoming more rare. It’s special to get a moment like this. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 5 of 40

A Colour Story, Mount Duval Kate Blackmore | Armidale | Mixed Media Collage & Acrylic on Board

The artwork is inspired by the landscape surrounding Mount Duval located near Armidale, New South Wales. Using layered collage, acrylic paint, and repeated patterns, the work simplifies the mountain and surrounding hills into bold shapes and decorative forms. A deep indigo silhouette of Mount Duval stretches across the horizon, anchoring the composition against a richly textured sky of layered blues and violets. The expressive brushstrokes evoke shifting light and the ever-changing atmosphere of the New England Tablelands. The composition focuses on colour, texture, and pattern rather than realism, using a palette of blues, greens, overlaid with white details to reflect the New England landscape.

This is a personal interpretation of a familiar local landmark, exploring the character of the landscape through abstraction. Living in Armidale, Mount Duval is a constant presence on the horizon. It is a landmark that changes with the seasons, the weather and the light. For this work, I was less interested in recording a literal view than in interpreting the landscape through colour, pattern and collage. The repeated motifs and layered textures reflect my response to the forms and rhythms of the New England landscape. The theme also suggests the very individual lens through which each artist or person experiences and interprets their surroundings. Ultimately, there are many ways of seeing and interpreting a landscape, as one’s perspective is shaped by our experiences, observations, and connections to place.

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My House Violet Betts | Tamworth | Drawing/ Illustration | Photography It's what my house looks like on a boring day. I can only just see on my kitchen bench. I like that.

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Morning Chorus Daniel Elliott | Armidale| Photography Morning Chorus was a photo project

distance, but during the early hours of the

captured between November - December

morning while I'm on my walks they act like

2025, taking an old Canon 200D out with a

they own the place and I find it endlessly

70-300mm lens to capture the bird life of

captivating to watch, especially against the

Armidale's CBD at 5:30 in the morning twice moody morning light. a week in high contrast black and white. I hope to take the project deeper this year

Perhaps it's a little too literal, as its literally

once the light returns to the early mornings. my view as I walk around town, but I guess not everyone takes the time to actually The biggest inspiration for this project was

look up and see what is happening above

the birds themselves, during the day when

them.

town is busy the birds tend to keep their

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Moonage Daydream Fonda Shae | Gunnedah | Oil Painting on Copper My painting ‘Moonage Daydream’ is of the view from our lookout, the view from here. People around the world often say my paintings are dream like, they are also so inspired by my reality, the landscape around me. In this painting I have scratched through the paint to expose the copper beneath, and that is the road to my home out on the Kamilaroi Road. The title of the piece is inspired by a David Bowie song but everything else is inspired by the landscape around me. I am forever inspired by the sky, the landscape here and the full moon that rises once a month… I look forward to it. And I tried to capture my love of all these things in the painting. My home is on the right although not visible I know that’s where I live and where I came from.

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Echoes and Spotlight James Arthur Warren | Guyra | Poetry | Collage "The View From Here" is a visual duet poem and photo collage exploring the intersection of literary history and live performance at the Australian Poetry Hall of Fame in Guyra. The piece contrasts two distinct viewpoints within the historic Arcadia Theatre. One voice represents the echoes of past poets—the legacy preserved within the Australian Poetry Library and Archive, and the watchful eyes of the Famous Australian Poet Portrait Gallery. The second voice captures the immediate perspective of a contemporary poet, Thundercloud Repairian, standing on the Arcadia's stage, looking out at the audience. The collage visually represents our historic poets feeding directly into the living, breathing spoken word of today. This piece was inspired by the profound contrast between the ancestors of Australian verse and the living, breathing energy of a modern performer. As Thundercloud, standing on the live performance stage of the historic Arcadia Theatre in Guyra, my "view from here" is a dual perspective. It connects to the theme by exploring two converging views within one physical space. Behind me is the immense historical weight of the Australian Poetry Library and Archive, alongside the watchful eyes of the Famous Australian Poet Portrait Gallery with the static, enduring view of the past. In front of me is the microphone and the audience—the immediate, electric view of a living poet. The collage and duet poem merge these two views, demonstrating how the ghosts of our literary history directly feed into the spoken word of today.

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To Do On A Cold Morning Anonymous | Tamworth | Poetry It's just reflecting on the different thoughts and movements of a winter morning routine. It's my view from my home when winter cold can make the doubt and negativity creep in.

Tell Alexa to turn on the aircon when a chill wakes me. Marvel at a connected world. A rainbow bounces on the bedroom wall as sunlight hits the glass. Condensation makes the world outside seem distant and lost. Must find out how much insulation costs. Scroll the dating apps. What's your favourite colour? How are you broken? Take my pills; lower my blood pressure and cholesterol. Hesitate on the Dex. Is ADHD my friend today? Vow to be a better friend. Do I have friends? I should reread Unmasking Autism. Maybe I should do morning pages like The Artist's Way. I used to be creative. Sigh at the empty side of my bed. Scroll TikTok. Wonder what limerence is, and if it really is love. Who decides? Attach the tracking collar to the ginger cat pawing at my face and get up to open the door.

Consider protein. I am a terrible parent. Am I? I should cook more. Look at shopping list. Add some items. Track nutrients in an app. Fitbit is flat. Rummage for charger. I forgot to apply my estrogen gel. Toast. Sit. To office or not to office? Flip through excuses to work from home again. The cubicle lights are too bright, the smiles too fake. Check calendar. Business shirt over PJ pants. Incoming Teams chime. Meeting reminder.

Find crumpled uniform, search for lost tie, sign the school paperwork thrust out on the way to the door. "Balalalala," I say, and fist bump the teen. A reference to Big Hero 6 that has become Coffee, tea? routine. Resolve to use only sweetener. Must buy 16th birthday present. "Good morning Boo," I call out to the teen, "I am satisfied with my care," he jokes. Is he? fastening my oversized dressing gown. I bought Insist on a hug. this when I was pregnant. I hate the colour. Boring "We have to count to eight," I say, and he blue. Does not spark joy. rests his chin on my head. So tall now. I hear a grunt and a toilet flush. Heavy steps to At three, he relaxes his arms and wraps them the kitchen. tightly around my back. Google calories in pizza and wonder if I should "That's what releases oxytocin," I tell him. stop him microwaving one for breakfast. I read that somewhere. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 17 of 40

Readers Companion James O'Hanlon | Armidale | Drawing / Illustration Like all regional towns, it seems, Armidale is working towards re-invigorating its public spaces, malls, laneways and local businesses. One of the great champions of Armidale's local scene is the Readers Companion bookshop. I hoped to show the warm lights of this cosy bookshop spilling out into the streets and broader community. This original piece was created using watercolour and pencil. This piece was originally created for the Illustrating Armidale exhibition curated by NERAM in 2023. The exhibition invited 15 local artists to reimagine local landmarks in their own unique style. I chose to illustrate Readers Companion as a love letter to Michelle, Roy, and the whole team behind this wonderful local bookshop. They're indefatigable champions for what makes Armidale such a fun, creative, and nourishing community. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 18 of 40

From Out The Kitchen Window Lorrayne Fishenden | Tamworth | Essay / Opinion Piece Success isn’t measured by the distance travelled from where you began. It’s measured by how you remember when you come from, how you acknowledge those that helped you get where you are and how many others you take with you on your journey to success. My corner of the region is made up of small towns, familiar faces and people who quietly show up when it matters. It is shaped by community, connection and the understanding that none of us reaches success entirely on our own. When opportunities come my way, I want to hold the door open for the person behind me. I want to share what I have learned, speak someone’s name in rooms they have not yet entered and remind others that there is space for them too. Because success should never make us believe we are better than the people or places that raised us. It should give us a greater responsibility to reach back. From where I stand, kindness is not weakness. It is choosing to encourage rather than compete, to listen rather than judge and to recognise that everyone is carrying a story we may know nothing about. No matter where life takes me, I never want to forget where I come from and the people who believed in and backed me, the community that shaped me and the lessons learned from living and working in regional Australia. The view may change as we move through life, but our values should remain steady. Take your community with you. Choose kindness whenever you can. And no matter how far you travel or how successful you become, never forget the ground beneath your feet or the people who helped you stand there. This piece was inspired by a time of reflection and hurt caused by the actions of others. It speaks to the choice to hold my head high, remain humble and try to understand that everyone sees the world through their own experiences. From where I stand, success is not about rising above others or forgetting where you came from. It is about staying true to yourself, choosing kindness and taking your community with you as you move forward. The View From Here is shaped by both the pain I have experienced and the strength I have found within it, a reminder to support those around us without allowing the actions of others to change who we are. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 19 of 40

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The Barrister..."The Artists Craftsman" ... Miss Cynful | Tamworth | Essay / Poetry

What is the difference between an ART & a SKILL. .. ??? The skill is your life,,, & the ART,,, Is your will ... ! ! ! What is the difference between an "Art" & a "CRAFT" ... ??? The 'ART' of life is expressed & unforeseen,,, A 'CRAFT',,, 1 can do in the dark. .. 4. repartition & skill,,, Yes, go hand in hand,,, Thus experience & learning,,, Makes a boy a man ... The 'ART' of humanity,,, Is interactions that's true,,, The foundation of an 'Artful Life',,, Is the interaction between your home, people & you ... !!! Peace in your heart,,, Content,,, Happy 2 please .... Makes a skilled man,,, His place truly deemed ... Deemed 2.B. appreciated,,, Respected & adored by some ... He could be an enthusiastic friend,,, & his 'WILL' is your chum ... 4. Art & Culture R. hand in hand ... 4. decades & bloody centuries,,, Australia has been a barren land ... EYE do appreciate black religions,,, EYE acknowledge their 'SPIRITS',,, R,,, In fact TRUE ... 4. they, it seems,,, Understand their spirituality,,, The spirituality of our soul,,,, "Mother Nature" & you .... Is it true that those of no spiritual awakening,,, R. hardened 2. this world ... They fight its ways,,, Steal kill & lead others astray,,, So the only punishment received,,, R. the objects & problems flung their way ... 4. it seems,,, OBJECTS,,, R. the "ART" of this life ... All objects have a will ... A will it seems controlled by the 'UNSEEN',,, Controlled by a greater force,,, Some say the "UNKNOWN" ... It is the "ART" of a spiritual object,,, My life has truly shown ... That being a soulful sculptor,,, I understand the "Psychoanalytic Clone" ... Any skilful Art Critic,,, Can make a fool of me 2.U ... But ART is a religion,,, A natural way of life... That's TRUE ... & some can view me as self-righteous ... But I know "The ART of LIFE" ... Trying 2.C.,,,The issues that confront me .. .Is the reason,,, The reason ... That I trust,,, My Wife ... ! ! OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 21 of 40

Flock Joanne Stead | Tamworth | Poetry | Drawing/ Illustration Flock is inspired by the latest collaborative exhibition idea that is occupying me - hatched with fellow regional artist Maree Kelly - we are aiming to bring regional bird artists together for some joint workshops and exhibitions starting in 2027. The view from here The birds I paint are from my place, my connection to place, they are companions and familiar/s to many of us within the New England North West region who love the birds who live here. I hope they will call to the bird artists.

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FLOCK Bring your strange birds Your impossible birds Your beloved birds The ones you can't name Hug the warm winds and soar Flock bring me stories from your last migration Some birds carry a whole landscape in their bodies Some just a stone a shiny trinket a bottle cap in that particular shade of blue that brings the ladies Flock All you bird artists, bird lovers, bird noticers who only ever occupied a very specific ecological niche each in your own studios Unfold wings from the margins The feathers pulled from here and there Bring the birds that wouldn't let you sleep Fly, fledge, swarm, swoop Soar The sun warms wings that beat together Flock

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What More Do You Want From Me?? Moral Lackley | Tamworth | Drawing/ Illustration What More Do You Want? — A View From Here from here, motherhood feels like a constant negotiation between who I am, who I was, who I am expected to be, and who everybody needs me to become. There is a social expectation to mother well, earn money, maintain a home, raise good children, succeed professionally— and look the part while doing it. My milk. My body. My time. My work. My attention. I work. I cook. I care. I clean. I organise. I remember. I earn. I provide. I carry the things that nobody notices need carrying. And amongst all of this, there is another kind of labour: the expectation to remain presentable, productive, desirable, capable and composed. Motherhood asks for the body, but society still judges what that body looks like afterwards. Work asks for ambition, but motherhood demands availability. The home requires labour, but much of that labour remains invisible. We are encouraged to earn our own money, build careers and maintain independence, while still carrying the cultural expectation that a "good mother" will somehow always put everyone else first. And we are supposed to make it look effortless. I love fiercely. I am grateful for the life I have created. But gratitude does not erase exhaustion, frustration or the feeling that sometimes I am being consumed by the roles I perform. What more do you want from me? The domestic imagery in this work comes from the repetition of my days: cooking, cleaning, earning, spending, caring, dressing, working, feeding. The figures are fragmented because that is sometimes how I experience myself. A piece of me belongs to work. A piece belongs to my children. A piece to the house. A piece to my relationships. A piece is expected to be beautiful. A piece is expected to be successful. And somewhere amongst those pieces is the artist. The hot pink line moves through the work like an umbilical cord—a connection that gives life, but also a tether. It feeds, binds and pulls. It asks where the boundary exists between giving myself to the people I love and giving so much that I can no longer recognise myself. The money symbols sit uncomfortably alongside images of domestic femininity because care exists within an economic reality. Love does not pay the mortgage. Motherhood does not remove the expectation to earn. Yet earning does not remove the expectation to mother. Be nurturing. Be successful. Be attractive. Be financially independent. Keep the house. Raise the children. Don't complain. Be grateful. This work is my view from here—caught between devotion and resentment, fulfilment and exhaustion, independence and obligation. I am a mother. I am a worker. I am an artist. I am a woman. I am all of these things. But beneath the endless question of what more I can give, I am beginning to ask another: What is the view from here when I stop drowning? This work comes from my view inside motherhood — loving, relentless and consuming. Want more? My milk? My body? My time? I work. I cook. I care. I clean. And still, somehow, I am expected to give more — while earning, nurturing, providing and looking like I have it all together. The View From Here is the tension between loving being needed and wondering how much of myself I can give before I disappear. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 24 of 40

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i sit in parks Troian Everett | Wallabadah | Poetry This poem came from sitting in a park and realising how ordinary moments can make you question the life you’re living. It’s about longing for something you’ve never had, wondering about the paths you didn’t take, and trying to make peace with the choices that shaped you. While it touches on fatherhood, it’s really about the quiet grief of imagined futures and learning that healing doesn’t always silence the “what ifs.” I wanted it to feel honest, vulnerable, and leave space for readers to find their own meaning in it. This piece was inspired by the quiet moments of people-watching in public parks and the way ordinary scenes can unexpectedly stir something deeply personal. Watching families together made me reflect on the life I’ve built, the version of myself that survived, and the futures I sometimes wonder about.

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i sit in parks and count the strollers like sins, watch fathers lift their sons like the world is still light enough to carry. someone laughs near the duck pond, someone drops a sandwich, someone’s mother says careful like the word itself can save them. so i sit in parks, sunglasses dark, and i hit the vape, ruminate, on a nursery with noah’s ark. they lie on a blanket, and goddamn, he loves her. i wonder if he wants my freedom the way i wanna be a father. he kisses her forehead. she closes her eyes. their baby sleeps between them like a promise that knew where to land. and i wonder if i traded too much for the version of me that survived. but my psychologist says i’m on the right road, so i refill my lexapro, thinkin’: did i outrun it? or was it never mine? was i too busy chasing a different finish line? time doesn’t slow down just because i ask it to. i built the life i dreamed about, so why does it still feel half-true? and still i sit in parks, watching the swings move even after the children leave, wondering if the thing i missed is still somewhere missing me too. OPEN PAGES | EDITION 1 Page 27 of 40

Free By Nature Jocelyn Cafe| Rylstone | Poetry I will be participating as an artist in the upcoming Armidale Creative Streets Festival, showcasing this poem and my metal sculptures as part of the festival. I am 16 years old and live in Rylstone. In 2026, I was the recipient of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales A.B. Paterson Bush Poetry Award. I read my 'Free by Nature' poem aloud at the Sydney Royal Easter Show during the Australian Citizenship Ceremony. This event celebrated 400 conferees that were in attendance receiving their citizenship. The ceremony was presided over by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC.My poem can be seen on the RAS website as follows: https://www.rasnsw.com.au/bushpoetry A free copy of Free by Nature is available through my website at www.freebynature.com.au, where readers can also explore a curated collection of books and poetry connected to Australia and a new book blog. Free by Nature was inspired by my own way of seeing and responding to the world around me. I feel it connects with The View From Here because the poem offers a personal perspective rather than trying to speak for everyone’s experience.

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Heart Worx: Seven Views Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting As a part of a social group coming together with the same concept but completely different views all of these paintings became something spectacular. These paintings show and symbolise how we see our surroundings so differently.

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Scarecrow Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting Inspiration was of the liking of this style of art. This artwork represents "the view from here" by showing the world from the perspective of a scarecrow standing in a field. From this particular place, the scarecrow has a view of the crops, trees and open skies. It tells us that everyone experiences the world from a different position, and that the same place can look different depending on where we are and what we see.

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Palms & Hay Barrels Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting This artwork explores the theme "the view from here" by showing a landscape from an aerial perspective, rather than viewing the fields from the ground. The artwork represents how changing our position can change the way we see and understand our surroundings. The bright colours and simplified shapes show that a view is not always about seeing something exactly as it is, but about how we personally experience and interpret it.

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Pumpkin Truck Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting "The View from here" represents seeing the world from my own perspective. The road ahead represents a journey moving forward, changing colours of autumn represent change and new experiences. This landscape view is more of a personal moment a reminder that the way we see the world depends on where we are and what we are experiencing.

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Sheep by the Water Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting This artwork connects with "the view from here" by showing a peaceful view from the countryside. This artwork represents seeing beauty and calmness of the world from one particular place and perspective. Seeing different surroundings depending on where we stand.

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Fishing by the Water Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting This artwork connects with "the view from here" by showing a peaceful rural landscape beside a flowing river. The old-fashioned clothing and windmill give us a glimpse of what past life may have looked like for people living in another time. The river connects the different parts of the scene and shows the importance of nature to the people around it. This artwork explores how our view of the world can change depending on where we are, who we are and the time in which we live.

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Farming & Music Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting This artwork connects with "the view from here" by representing a peaceful view of farm life and all the things that make a place feel like home. The guitar represents creativity and personal interests, while the farm animals show connection and belonging. The artwork shows that our view of the world is shaped by the places and things that are important to us.

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Animals & the Night Sky Heart Worx “Hearts & Crafts” Group | Painting This artwork explores how the world can look different depending on where we are and how we experience it. This artwork shows a peaceful farm in the nighttime, The animals beneath the moon give us a different perspective and encourage us to imagine what the world might look like from their point of view. The bright colours and large moon represents imagination and the different ways we can see and experience our surroundings.

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Coming Next: If Objects Could Talk Edition 2 · Submissions close 28 January 2027 · Out February 2027

The teapot, the toolbox, the thing you can’t throw out. Pick an object and tell its story, or let it tell yours. Send us between one and five pieces. Poetry, photos, drawings, comics, collage, short stories, a single good sentence. It’s free, and there’s no such thing as “not creative enough.” Still to come: Edition 3 Small Things That Matter Submissions close 21 May 2027 · Out June 2027 Edition 4 Bad Ideas, Great Stories Submissions close 17 September 2027 · Out October 2027

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Thank you! Open Pages is made by the community, for the community.

Arts North West is assisted by the NSW government through Create NSW and the partnership of eleven local government authorities in the New England North West. Local Government Partners Armidale Regional Council Glen Innes Severn Council Gunnedah Shire Council Gwydir Shire Council Liverpool Plains Shire Council Moree Plains Shire Council

Narrabri Shire Council Tamworth Regional Council Tenterfield Shire Council Uralla Shire Council Walcha Council

Arts North West | PO Box 801 Glen Innes NSW 2370 m 0493 316 463 e rado@artsnw.com.au

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Artist moves from small house in the mountains in Queensland to large house in Pilliga with 22 metre verandah. “Perfect for an art gallery” she thinks. Four months later and near to opening – her own hobby gallery, 43 Dangar St, Pilliga

Nancy Elle | Art 43 gallery

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