Organisers, artists and audience members have praised Cementa_15, bringing the community together to celebrate contemporary art and the town of Kandos.
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The second biennial event brought artists, performers and musicians to the town for four days of workshops, tours, exhibitions and installations.
Sydney artist, Jola Jones, who attended as an audience member said Cementa was an example of how to slowly bring people together into a community.
Ms Jones liked that people had to explore the town to find the art and make their own trail.
“You come across interesting things by accident as you’re making your way to the next site,” she said.
Ms Jones said Sydney artists could easily get caught up in their own bubble, but it was great to explore different parts of the country and realise how much you’re missing.
She applauded the social and political engagement in the artworks, which included pieces inspired by mining in Wollar and the Laird Forest blockade, as well as the artists’ use of materials found in Kandos.
Ken Simpson, a video and multimedia artist based in Sydney, did a residency at Kandos Projects and shot footage at the festival.
He said Cementa offered the opportunity to meet other artist, work in an unfamiliar area and experiment.
Kandos resident Kat Brown, who has been involved in running the festival, said this year’s event brought new artists with different responses to the community and landscape.
Georgina Pollard, another resident who helped to run the festival, said Cementa-15 had a more “eclectic vibe” with more art on the streets, including a spray painted hopscotch that will remain after the festival is over.
For the first time, the St Laurence Anglican Church joined in the festival, with Reverend Leigh Gardiner conducting a special ceremony.
”The festival had a stronger indigenous aspect this time and the community and artists enjoyed that,” Ms Pollard said.
Kandos resident Leanne Wicks, who hosted an artist, said the Kandos community was more welcoming than at the first event and more people came out to explore the festival.
Ms Wicks said more people should be encourage to host artists and hear their thoughts and experiences.
It was nice to see the community being so welcoming and helpful, and treating artists like family, she said, recalling a Kandos woman who went out of her way to bring a copy of a newspaper article for the artist featured to see.
“It’s neighbourly,” said Leanne.
