OPEN SPACE Spotlight: Stage 2 reflection from Emerging Producer Rochelle O’Brien

Apr 8

Rochelle is part of SPACED’s emerging producer program, OPEN SPACE, and is the Arts Development Officer for Shire of Carnarvon. She is assisting Circular Economies artist Linda Tegg and has offered us a reflection of her experience.

I’m Rochelle and I’m based in Gwoonwardu/Carnarvon on Yinggarda country. I am the Arts Development Officer for the Shire of Carnarvon and I support creatives all over the Gascoyne region on various exhibitions, projects and initiatives. I am very passionate about the arts and working to support the growth of both our local creative community as well as our arts and culture offerings within our region to become world class.

I was invited to join the Circular Economies project as emerging producer, together with my colleague Naomi Sepiso. The journey has proved to be an exceptional and expansive one.

My role began by making key introductions to members of our community and to the places that make our town so special, immersing Linda into our world here.

I connected Linda with our creatives to share ideas, have those initial fascinating conversations and identify areas of interest to explore. Also, help in whatever way possible to support Linda to make the most of her time here.

One of the most interesting things I learned through the OPEN SPACE program (a capacity-building, professional development program for arts workers all over WA) was the value of creating space for uncertainty within a project. Rather than having everything tightly defined from the beginning, the process was very flexible, allowing ideas to evolve naturally and in response to the environment and the people involved.

Working alongside Linda, she reinforced this approach. Observing how a project can grow through attentiveness and her tender care, rather than control, has shifted my perspective on what producing can look like. It’s not always about directing outcomes and getting straight into the art-making process. Such is the concept of a socially engaged residency; which is a whole new concept for me! It’s about supporting a process, inviting the community to share the experiences together and holding space for something more organic to emerge.

Another very valuable part of participating in OPEN SPACE was joining the producers from other locations on this project for online workshops with University of Western Australia’s School of Design team. Learning from experts across different disciplines, including design, architecture and sustainability, has expanded my thinking around circular economies and how these ideas intersect across fields. It has reinforced how the arts are a powerful conduit through which to explore many different themes and stories.

Bringing those insights together with a hands-on, artist-led experience made all of this a rich learning journey and something I will definitely carry forward into future projects.

Supporting Linda has been genuinely fascinating. Our exchange of ideas and conversations inspired me (and prompted many follow-up reads upon discovering new resources and research), all expanding my perspective. Through her practice, I was introduced to ways of thinking about the relationship between the abiotic and the biotic (the non-living and living elements of an environment); how deeply interconnected, they and we, all are. All of which has deepened my connection to this place I have called home for over 20 years.

My favourite part of working with SPACED has definitely been the opportunity to connect with such a diverse network of artists and professionals. As someone living and working in such a remote place, these kinds of opportunities aren’t always readily accessible. Being part of this project has really opened up those opportunities for me, which is exciting. It has been incredibly valuable to meet new people, exchange ideas and be part of conversations that extend beyond my immediate context.

That sense of connection, both professionally and creatively, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience. It has made the learning experience a very rich one and has been monumental, having a profound impact on me both personally and professionally.

I am forever changed by it and forever grateful for each part of it.

OPEN SPACE is a professional development program run in partnership with UWA School of Design. The professional development sessions for our current cohort of emerging producers assisting SPACED 5: Circular Economies artists included community engagement, documentation, creative production and more. It targeted the skills needed by producers working in community and socially engaged arts.

More information about the Carnarvon Art Gallery and the Space and Technology Museum.

More information about Linda Tegg’s Circular Economies work.

Image by SPACED.

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SPACED is supported by West Australian Government, through the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, and the Commonwealth Government through Creative Australia.