Art Matters

Presented by Council in collaboration with Flaxley Woven, REKINDLE was a magical evening of community connection in the spirit of reconciliation.

Artist and psychology graduate Marie-Louise Incoll is embracing all the senses as she embarks on her residency in The Stable at The Three Brothers Arms Hotel. The poet and music creator is using her time in Macclesfield to expand her repertoire by venturing into the visual arts for the first time. In this Q and A, Marie-Louise explains how practising the arts led her to studying the mind and what’s she hopes to gain by releasing control and letting creativity come naturally.

Painter Natalia Jastrzebski is venturing beyond her comfort zone for her residency in The Stable at The Three Brothers Arms Hotel. The Burnside-based portrait and still life artist is embarking on an exciting era of creative growth painting local native bushland landscapes. In this Q and A, Natalia explains what she’s discovering about the Hills environment, how creativity is a life-long learning journey and the message behind her new works.

Painter Mia Behrens is on a journey of exploration as she undertakes her four- week residency in The Stable at The Three Brothers Arms Hotel in Macclesfield. For her latest project ‘Macclesfield Through My Brush’, the emerging artist from Waterfall Gully intends to capture the township’s people, places and everything in between. In this Q and A, Mia sheds light on her creative ambitions for her residency, why she’s embracing experimentation and how she defines artistic success.

Adelaide poet Arantza Garcia likes to say she was ‘tricked’ into competing in poetry slams. She’s anything but the fool having recently won the 2025 Australian Poetry Slam National Final at the Sydney Opera House. In a coup for Mount Barker district, Arantza will perform new works and pieces she presented at the recent national titles at Spring Slam in the Hills in Hahndorf later this month. In this Q and A, Arantza provides insights into the wild world of poetry slam and why spoken word artists are needed now more than ever.

Brenton Hill is bringing the forgotten to the fore during his five-week artist residency at The Stable for Make Believe Dream Create in Macclesfield. In this Q and A, the Aldgate artist and graphic designer reveals why he’s celebrating Macclesfield’s natural beauty, how creativity is his gateway to self-expression and the importance of the arts in preserving our collective history.

Mount Barker was centre stage on the weekend playing host to some of South Australia’s best writers, directors and actors for the 24 Hour Theatre Project (24TP).

Carving stone is not for the faint-hearted. Surrendering control, and trusting there are no bad decisions, is all part of the creative process for Macclesfield sculptor Glenn Hastings. Working from The Stable at The Three Brothers Arms Hotel as part of Council’s new artist-in-residence program Make Believe Dream Create in Macclesfield, Glenn’s working with locally sourced materials to create a design he’s been contemplating for a long time. In this Q and A, Glenn explains how sculpting called to him, why it’s key to his wellbeing and the appeal of playing with perception.

As the first creative to work from The Stable as part of our new artist-in-residence program Make Believe Dream Create in Macclesfield, Strathalbyn’s Jake Logos is embracing the opportunity to have a dedicated space where he can bring ideas into being. In this Q and A, Jake explains how he’s working on a multi-sensory experience that challenges reality and explores ancient and personal ancestries.

Since adopting the Arts Plan 2022–2027 in December 2022, Mount Barker District Council has made significant progress in developing a vibrant and sustainable arts sector, aligned with the Community Plan 2044 vision of becoming the most liveable region in South Australia.

A drum teacher who believed planted the seed of self-confidence for Alexander Flood to pursue a full-time career in music. As the award-winning drummer and band leader prepares to headline Mount Barker youth music festival Street Beats and embark on a tour to promote his new album Artifactual Rhythm, Alexander shares his advice for aspiring young musicians, how live performance shaped the artist he’s become and his measures of success.