Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries

Current Exhibitions

Belmont Library

One Stroke Painting

A selection of paintings showing traditional Chinese brush painting techniques by local resident Stephen Cassettari. An exponent of the art of Chinese Painting since 1979, Stephen Cassettari is a full-time artist, poet and calligrapher, as well as a teacher of Chinese brush painting. Having studied Chinese brush painting for over 34 years, he is conversant in the Southern, spontaneous, single-stroke style and also the lesser-known Northern, slower outline style. Stephen is a specialist of Bamboo painting, the most difficult category of the Chinese Art. Stephen has written over 10 books on the various aspects of the techniques of Chinese Painting. He has produced four books of his poetry combined with calligraphy and Chinese Painting. He operates from the Morning Lake Studio, on beautiful Lake Macquarie. Stephen is providing three free workshops during the exhibition, please contact Belmont Library staff for details and to book your place.

Charlestown Library

Fantasy Teapots

Students from Warners Bay High School Students were tasked to design and produce a "Fantasy Teapot" with a concept of the student's choice. Students researched teapots and practising artists and explored personal themes which they then transferred into 3D teapot forms. Teapots could be functional or sculptural. The only pre-requisite was that each teapot must have a handle, lid & spout in their design.

Swansea Library

Lets Not Waste Our Words

Jen Denzin, One Thousand Leaves: A Space Odyssey, 2020, 1700 x 1500mm, mixed media including decommissioned library books. About the project: Lake Mac Libraries discard over 20,000 books annually in order to provide the community with a diverse selection of new titles. While this is a necessary part of managing a contemporary library collection creativity is needed to ensure we are re-using and recycling books where possible. Artist Jen Denzin was asked to work with community members to create art using books as her inspiration and medium. Artist Statement: One Thousand Leaves: A Space Odyssey is an interactive visual novel. It connects a little over one thousand years of literary heritage, after the first novel The Tale of Genji written by Murasaki Shikibu in 11th-Century Japan, with ideas about what happens to our brains and bodies when we read. Viewers are encouraged to 'choose-their-own-adventure' to determine a different outcome of the artwork with each interaction. Like an antique block puzzle, different combinations of cube faces will create unique results.

Toronto Library

Ouvre

'Ouvre' compiles a substantial body of work by Goya Torres constituting her artist vision and style, a result of her past ten years in Australia as a professional artist. The exhibition showcases a mix of original paintings, print-making pieces and 3D work. Goya Torres is a visual/street-artist and muralist originally born in Mexico, now based in Lake Macquarie. Her work moves towards blurring the separation line between fine arts, street-art and illustration in order to develop a visual contemporary language that encapsulates reality nowadays. With 25 murals under her belt and counting, Goya has been involved in group exhibitions, live-painting events, street-art festivals, mural and public art projects in Australia, Mexico, Latino-america, USA, United Kingdom and Europe.

Come and watch Goya paint live on Saturday 10 April from 9.30am - 11.30am.

Meet the Artist

Throughout the year we host a series of Meet the artist events at Launchpad libraries.

These events come in a variety of formats from live art performances to in-depth discussions on the artist's careers, inspirations and techniques. Bookings are essential and can be made online, by phone or in-person prior to the event. These events will re-commence as soon as Co-vid social distancing and gathering restrictions allow.

Call out for artists

Launch your career at the library! With four concurrent exhibitions at different locations and an exciting program of artists’ talks, workshops and demonstrations, Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries aims offer new opportunities to emerging artists with a connection to the community.

Applications can be submitted online (see application information). If you are not able to submit online please contact Julie Dunn, Lifelong Learning Leader, on 0436 915752 or jdunn@lakemac.nsw.gov.au.

Lake Mac Libraries’ exhibition spaces show drawings, paintings and photographs from exciting local emerging and community artists, students and groups.

With four concurrent exhibitions at different locations, and a program of artist’s talks, workshops or demonstrations, Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries aims to connect emerging artists with the community and host new opportunities for community participation in the arts.

Lake Mac Libraries is committed to fostering a creative community by providing quality, accessible exhibition spaces within community facilities to encourage awareness, create professional development and exchange of ideas.

Exhibition space is available at four Lake Mac Libraries branches at Belmont, Toronto, Charlestown and Swansea for students, emerging artists and community art groups.

Applications will be considered by Launchpad @Lake Mac Libraries that best reflect the objectives of the program.

• Promote exhibitions of local or cultural relevance, artistic merit and innovation
• Present exhibitions that showcase the work of emerging artists in all mediums
• Present exhibitions that are diverse and thought-provoking    

• Act as a platform for creative dialogue by encouraging wider community participation in the arts

Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries includes:                

• free exhibition space
• Promotional and marketing support for your exhibition through existing channels - 30,000 Lake Mac Libraries e-list, Council and Library websites and associated social media platforms
• Opportunity for artwork sales
• Administration of artwork sales. Lake Mac Libraries will retain a 25 per cent commission on works sold during the exhibition period.
• Lake Mac Libraries staff and volunteers will supervise the exhibition for its duration, handle art sales and provide information during opening hours.
• Exhibition period of up to 12 weeks
• Lake Mac staff and volunteers will support an exhibition opening or event of artist’s choice.
•  Exhibition sign and wall labels

Artists:

• Will provide works framed and suitable to use the supplied hanging system.   
• Will present one exhibition event of their choice - an exhibition opening, artist talk, workshop or demonstration - for no charge during the exhibition period
• are responsible for the insurance of works during the period of the exhibition and in transit to and from the library
• Lake Mac Libraries will retain a 25 per cent commission on works sold during the exhibition period unless otherwise specified.

Apply here

Launchpad @ Lake Mac Libraries Application

Lake Mac Libraries is committed to fostering a creative community by providing quality, accessible exhibition spaces within community facilities to encourage awareness, create professional development and exchange of ideas.

The Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries’ school’s program offers school students the opportunity to exhibit their work and to assist with organising and installing an exhibition.

Exhibition space is available at four Lake Mac Libraries branches at Belmont, Toronto, Charlestown and Swansea for student groups and classes.

Launchpad@LakeMacLibraries for Schools Objectives:

• Present exhibitions that showcase the work of school students in all mediums
• Act as a platform for creative dialogue by encouraging wider community participation in the arts
• Provide students with an experience of preparing and installing an exhibition

Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries for Schools includes:

• Free exhibition space
• Promotional and marketing support for your exhibition through existing channels - 30,000 Lake Mac Libraries e-list, Council and Library websites and associated social media platforms
• Exhibition sign and wall labels
• Opportunity for artwork sales
• Administration of artwork sales, if required. Lake Mac Libraries will retain a 25 per cent commission on works sold during the exhibition period.
• Lake Mac Libraries staff and volunteers will supervise the exhibition for its duration, handle art sales and provide information during opening hours.
• Exhibition period of up to 12 weeks
• Lake Mac staff will work with teachers and students to: install the exhibition, organise and prepare signage and marketing material
• Lake Mac staff and volunteers will support any exhibition opening event
• 15 reusable frames suitable for A4 or A3 works on paper available for loan

Students and teachers:

• works need to be suitable to use the supplied hanging system, and/or cabinets
• up to five students and/or teacher attend the venue on two days to assist with and experience installation and take-down of the exhibition including preparation of signage, wall labels and copy for marketing
• may elect to hold an exhibition launch event
• are responsible for the insurance of works during the period of the exhibition and in transit to and from the venue
• May elect to have works for sale. Lake Mac Libraries will retain a 25 per cent commission on works sold during the exhibition period unless otherwise specified.

Apply here

Launchpad @ Lake Mac Libraries Application for Schools

Launchpad@Belmont

• Address: 19 Ernest Street, Belmont
• Location of Launchpad: Located to the right of the entry into the branch
• Hanging Space: 10 metre wall length at 2.2 metre height (one wall)
• Linear Space: 27 metres
• Hanging System: Track system

Launchpad@Charlestown

• Address: Cnr Smith and Ridley Streets, Charlestown
• Location: Located within the branch to the right of the library entrance
• Hanging Space: 11 metres at 2.5 metre height (broken into 3 spaces)
• Linear Space: 22 metres
• Hanging System: Track system
• Display cabinets: External dimensions - 600cm (L) x 600cm (W) x 2000cm (H)
• Three moveable shelves per cabinet
• Three display cabinets available

Launchpad@Swansea

• Address: Swansea Centre, 228 Pacific Highway, Swansea
• Location of Launchpad: Located at the rear of the branch
• Hanging Space: Six metre wall length at 2.5 metre height
• Linear Space: 15 metres
• Hanging System: Track system
• Display cabinet: External dimensions - 1200cm (L) x 450cm (W) x 2000cm (H)
• 3 moveable shelves

Launchpad@Toronto

• Address: Cnr Pemell Street and Brighton Avenue, Toronto
• Location of Launchpad: Located within the branch, to the right of the service counter
• Hanging Space: 10 metre wall length at 2.2 metre height (consists of two walls 5.7m and 4.3m)
• Linear Space: 22 metres
• Hanging System: Track system
• Display cabinet: External dimensions - 600cm (L) x 600cm (W) x 2000cm (H)
• 3 moveable shelves