Tuggeranong Arts Centre Exhibitions
Julie Ryder | Nicky Dickson + Malcolm Cooke | Canberra Spinners and Weavers
23 October – 12 December 2026
Location | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North, Greenway ACT 2900
Opening Hours | Open Tuesday–Saturday, 10am-4pm
Entry | Free | No bookings required
Access | Accessible parking, wheelchair access, accessible toilet, off-street parking, assistance animals welcome
Tuggeranong Arts Centre presents three exhibitions that privilege slow craft to refute disposable consumerism in favour of intergenerational investment in quality crafted and designed objects.
HOME GROUND | JULIE RYDER
Home Ground is a solo exhibition of new work by textile artist Julie Ryder featuring textiles, works on paper and objects that explore her ongoing relationship with nature through the medium of plant dyed fabrics, mark making and stitch. Drawing inspiration from the concept of terraphilia, a term combining terra (earth) and philia (love/friendship), Julie expresses connections with the natural world.
PLACING PATTERN | NICOLA DICKSON AND MALCOLM COOKE
In Placing Pattern painter Nicola Dickson and ceramicist Malcolm Cooke respond to nature by incorporating patterns in their work to reference design history as well as the specifics of and threats to local environment. This is an innovative pairing of outstanding Canberra-based practitioners, both recognised as highly accomplished in their fields.
60 YEARS | CANBERRA SPINNERS AND WEAVERS
Celebrating 60 years, the Canberra Spinners and Weavers (CSW), Canberra’s grass roots textile makers’ association, presents a show of contemporary works. CSW has provided training and support for textile practitioners for sixty years, resisting disposable consumer trends and encouraging do-it-yourself skills and knowledge. They promote and share their learning using the traditional community paradigm to pass on information and celebrate their members’ lifelong commitments to excellence in crafts practice.
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Opened in 1998, Tuggeranong Arts Centre (TAC) is staffed by arts professionals with direction from CEO Caroline Downer OAM and a voluntary board. The Tuggeranong Community Arts Association manages the building and facilities, including three purpose-built galleries, a 100 seat theatre, classroom and event spaces, also presenting multi-artform community engagement programs and events.
SEE WEBSITE HERE -
Canberra-based textile designer Julie Ryder, has national and international recognition for her work as a textile artist, designer and educator. Originally trained in science, Julie retrained as a textile designer at RMIT and started her own design studio focusing on designing and hand-printing fabrics for homewares, fashion and interiors. She completed a Master of Arts (Visual Arts - Textiles) at ANU in 2004. Her hybrid practice combines her knowledge of science and love of textiles. She uses nature as both muse and co-collaborator, using natural materials for dyes and paper-based artworks.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
Nicola Dickson, a highly collectible Canberra artist, employs a range of media including drawing, installation, printmaking and ceramics. Her practice communicates the sense of wonder she feels about the natural world. Small treasures, large landscapes, living creatures and remnants of past lives and stories folded into locations inspire her practice. Her paintings and drawings depict elusive woodland birds, some of the diverse under-storey vegetation comprising this ecosystem and the weeds invading it, to tell tales of a complex, fragile biodiversity.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
For five decades, Malcolm Cooke has created hand-made domestic and bespoke individual ceramic works in porcelain and stoneware fired in a wood fired kiln. He is inspired by the bush setting of his Tharwa studio and Australian flora in the immediate environment.
SEE ARTIST WEBSITE HERE -
Canberra Spinners and Weavers have supported local communities for 60 years, fostering interest in and knowledge of textile-craft practices through teaching, exhibitions and workshops.
SEE WEBSITE HERE
Proudly supported by Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Images
Julie Ryder | Grevillea (detail) 2018 | Photo courtesy of the artist
Nicola Dickson | Encounter Regent Bowerbirds Cox’s Pass New South Wales | Photo courtesy of the artist and Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Malcolm Cooke | Lidded Jar wheel thrown stoneware wood fired carved and stamped and applied slip decoration
celadon glaze | Photo courtesy of the artist