Earlier this year Tanja sculptor Ross Cameron threw open the doors to his foundry for a bronze casting workshop, themed ‘Beauty from the Ashes’.

At the time, what he envisaged was an opportunity for members of fire ravaged communities to engage with the medium of fire in a new and creative way.

With funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) Ross, in conjunction with Sculpture Bermagui, opened up spots for six applicants to participate in his eight-week course.

The fruits of these participants’ labours will be on display at Navigate Arts, Tanja, December 6-8, with an opening event Friday, December 6.

Ross Cameron, Taisha Reed, Craig Rowlands, Anneke Paijans, Blossom Young, Tara Matthews, Nik Kaydos-Nitis and Jesse Graham. Photo Craig Bryant

Drawn from the surrounding far south coast communities the six successful applicants each learnt the process of creating a cast bronze piece of their own design.

Able to fashion their initial model from clay, wax or plasticine, Ross guided them through silicon mould making, the production of wax replicas, finessing the mould, pouring the bronze and then finally the finishing and mounting process.

Nik Kaydos-Nitis from Wallaga Lake is a local primary school teacher, who along with his partner, lost their new home in Yowrie to the Black Summer fires. He said he was drawn to the opportunity to work with Ross, after a long stint building and making practical things post-fires. Nik wanted to turn his hand to the creative.

Nik had sculpted his initial model, a replica of his right wrist and hand. “When Ross suggested ‘Beauty Through the Ashes’ I immediately thought of a hand literally reaching up through the ashes. I still wanted it to have a practical purpose so it will be home to a cactus, which will hopefully thrive within the hand.”

With young children at home and work, Nik said he was drawn to using plasticine initially, taking him back to his own childhood and somewhat less daunting than clay. Process driven and excited by acquiring new skills, Nik has found the hands-on approach and assistance of Ross invaluable.

Bermagui based jewellery maker Tara Matthews agreed that having the expert onsite tuition trumped Youtube any day.

“There is so much online that you can try and learn, but actually grasping it is so different,” she said. “The opportunity to do it in person – just such a great opportunity. I had no idea how bronze worked.”

Tara had previously studied under Ross, learning cuttlefish casting. When Ross and his partner Peta proposed the bronze casting workshop she knew she would apply. When the Black Summer fires were burning Tara was called away to the Northern Rivers region, where she watched in horror as the fire threatened many areas dear to her. The fires affected a triangle of area from Numerella and to Moruya and down to Merimbula where much of her family were – an area she called “my triangle”. Tara had embraced the themes of beauty and rejuvenation also, and created a female form with foliage bursting from her like new growth.

Both Nik and Tara were reframing themselves through the workshop, Tara gently coming around to seeing herself as an artist, while Nik who had once wanted to go to art school was relishing the company he was in, “surrounded by artists”.

‘Beauty from the Ashes – Transformation through Fire’ will exhibit the works of the six artists who participated, including Nik Kaydos-Nitis, Tara Matthews, Taisha Reed, Anneke Paijans, Jesse Graham and Blossom Young, alongside works by Ross Cameron and assistant Craig Rowlands, at Navigate Arts, Tanja from December 6-8.