On the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, the town of Narrandera has played an important role in the agricultural life of Australia with its rich pastoral land.
As a major travelling stock route the town became famous for transporting goods and produce, as well as the stories that linked the Riverina communities.
A new art installation called Shadow Places is set to highlight those stories as it stretches for a kilometre along the famous route featuring a spectacular display of lights, sound and textiles.
Audiences walking along the route can take in 15 different artworks, including video and light installations projected onto hay bales and trees.
Artistic Director of The CAD Factory Vic McEwan said the exhibition was inspired by the work of Australian environmental philosopher Val Plumwood who described Shadow Places as locations that we rely on, but don't really know.
"The project is shining a spotlight on the importance of food and fibre production to Australia but also internationally," he said.
"But also to say amongst that, there's people, there's a human story."
Art exhibition years in the making
The event has been two years in the making and is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the NSW Rural Women's Gathering.
Beryl Brain from the group said it was formed to better recognise women's contribution to the land.
"It was started through women of the land wanting to get together and empower themselves and increase their knowledge and also network with other people of like minds."
One of the video artworks by Wiradjuri elder Lorraine Tye tells the story of the creation of the Murrumbidgee River through the goanna — the local totem.
"How the Murrumbidgee got its name was through the strong goanna women," she said.
"It's so connected to country with art and art does connect people to country."
Aim of the project is 'communication'
Other artworks include hay bale projections designed by local school students, telling their stories about growing up on the land.
"It really tells the story of their life — their perspective of rural life.
"What it means to be growing up in an area that's somewhat isolated," Mr McEwan said.
"Those sorts of materials that they use — hay bales for example, which they see as very practical — all of a sudden they're seeing them as a way that a story is being told and that something's being shared with their community."
The words of Wagga Wagga poet David Gilbey skim across the ripples of the water, accompanied by the natural soundscape.
"We went to install some sound just to accompany it but we noticed hidden under that water are just so many frogs that are just singing this song every night that we decided it would be easier for the frogs to do the soundtrack every night for that site," Mr McEwan said.
But he resists comparisons to Vivid, the big artistic light show in the city.
"None of this work's really about a wow factor... it's really about slow ways of sharing deep stories that have come out of deep and long processes with people here," Mr McEwan said.
"What the real aim of a project like this is, is it's kind of about communication.
"It's about allowing a space where people can talk about some of the issues that are confronting us about life in regional Australia."
