What is it like to be a science artist in residence?  Boiling Point chat with Dr Sarah Jane Moore to find out.

Dr Sarah Jane is the Australian Network for Art and Technology On Country Artist in Residence and is hosted in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) UNSW. Her residency focuses on the humble oyster and maps the stories of the Baludarri, the Sydney Rock Oyster and their importance to Sea Country, Oceanic Health and Indigenous well-being.

Sarah Jane graduated from the University of Sydney with a PhD in Reconciliation through Music and Art in 2016 and since then has worked as an independent creative artist, writer, researcher and artist in residence. She has developed oceanic research dialogues with communities in Samoa, Noumea, Guam and Fiji and from May 2019 she has been working in a studio/lab at UNSW.

Through an art meets science approach residency Sarah Jane has been discovering the lost stories of the Baludarri, or the Sydney Rock Oyster. Through the residency she has collected over 3000 shells and has created collages, sculptures, stories, songs and poetry. Her research partner on the World Is her Baludarri residency project is the Wiradjuri Scientia Fellow Dr Laura Parker and together they have been developing an art meets science approach and friendship. The organisational affiliation with UNSW has provided me with the opportunity to record music in a studio, visit Port Stephens (Worimi Country) and experience oyster research in the field (At Fisheries and on the water

In November, the project will culminate in an exhibition entitled I Know where Oysters Lie at the Accelerator Gallery.

At Culture at Work at the Accelerator Gallery, through Culture at Work 6-8 Scott Street, Pyrmont. The show launches on Saturday 9 November, 5pm with an Acknowledgment of Country by Blak Douglas and a talk by Associate Professor Dr Sandy Sullivan Deputy Head, School of Creative Industries, University of Sunshine Coast. The exhibition runs from Saturday 9 November, 11am – 3 pm, Sunday 10 November, 11am – 3pm and Wednesday 13 – Saturday 16 November, 11am – 3 pm with an artist’s talk on Saturday 16 at 2 pm.

For more information please contact the artist sarahjane.moore@unsw.edu.au or 0422146011

Sarah Jane Moore is a Tasmanian born creative artist who developed her artistic practise through undergraduate and post graduate study at The University of Wollongong’s School of Creative Arts where she met her long-time friend and artistic collaborator Richard Starr.

Richard Starr

Richard Starr (b.1968) is an Australian composer from rural New South Wales currently residing in Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia. His music is reminiscent of the broad horizons and unique life forms found in the Australian environment and landscape. While in the Northern Territory he has worked with Story tellers from the Roper and Daly River regions in Ngukurr, Beswick and Nauiyu communities to create films, music recordings and live performances.

“Spending time listening to the country/nature has always been a part of my life experience. As I encounter people who are of these lands, the listening becomes less about dialogue and more about the together stillness of Dadirri.”

My recent works include collaborating with Dr Sarah Jane Moore as a composer and performer, creating the film sound-track for Lil Bois and working on the Red Air sculpture sound track for Glow Festival Melbourne.

Sarah Jane will share two tracks; one composed in 2019 with Richard Starr entitled I know where Oysters lie and the other entitled ‘Over Yandro’ composed in 2013 with collaborator Dizar Lee.

Dizar Lee

Dizar Lee is a DJ/Turntablist/Writer-Producer. He spins Hip-hop, Soul, Funk, R&B, Reggae, Dub, Dancehall & bits and pieces of sub-genres that it is related to. Whilst living in London, Dizar Lee represented the UK alongside Invincible Armour Crew in the World DMC DJ Team Championships 2011. He then furthered his education in Music Production & Audio Engineering in London. He is currently working on different projects and genres with various artists and songwriters. Dizar Lee has performed locally and internationally including London, all around the UK, Auckland, NZ and Los Angeles and the USA.

Darren’s website is www.dizarlee.com