Member of Central Australian Tourism Industry Association

Larapinta Creative Camps 2008

		Camp 1: ‘Creating Country’ Thurs 17 - Thurs 24 April The opportunity to immerse yourself creatively in beautiful country. Explore its detail, its vastness and its spirit. There will be day trips by 4WD to some of the most special locations in the National Park with some gentle walking. We will avail ourselves of the cool, cathedral like respite of the gorges and take our time to feel the resonance of these special places. There will time for swimming in the Finke and working in the shade of the ancient river red gums that line its bed Cost: $1,500* Deposit of $300 to confirm your booking. Camp 2: 'Art and About' Sat 21 June. - Sat 28 June Our first ever Creative Camp at beautiful Ruby Gap in the East Macdonnell Ranges. This is a remote area camp about 4 hours drive west of Alice. Ruby Gap is in a spectacular gorge with towering red cliffs, drifts of pink sand and magnificent river gums. A walk upstream reveals the enchanting Glen Annie Gorge, the best kept secret in the ranges. This will provide a new opportunity for people whio have already camped with us at our 'home' on the Finke. (10% discount for second timers) Cost: $1,500* Deposit of $300 to confirm your booking. Camp 3: 'A Walk of Art' Tues 19 - Tues 26 Aug Good walking weather makes this camp the perfect time for creative and active engagement with the environment. Providing a unique opportunity to discover the spectacular terrain of the West Macdonnell Ranges National Park, with some easy and expertly guided walks on the Larapinta Trail. Delight in the fauna, flora and geology, with your sketchbook, notepad or camera at hand. In camp, there will be plenty of time (including whole days) to reflect, relax and creatively draw on your experience. There is always the possibility of 'staying home' and enjoying the immediate vicinity of camp. Cost: $1,500* Deposit of $300 to confirm your booking. Camp 4: ‘Art and Soul ’ Wed 24 Sept - Wed 1 Oct Scheduled to coincide with the National Regional Arts Conference in Alice Springs entitled 'Art at the Heart', this camp is an opportunity for people attending the conference and any other art workers to engage creatively with the heart and soul of this country. With a base camp on the Finke River you will have the luxury of exploring your creative response in any media you choose. There will be some day trips by 4WD to some of the most special locations in the National Park and some short walks. We will avail ourselves of the cool, cathedral like respite of the gorges and take our time to feel the resonance of these special places. There will time for swimming in the Finke and art working in the shade of the ancient river red gums that line its bed. Your special time to re-create and renew. Cost: $1,500* Deposit of $300 to confirm your booking.

 

*Please note that prices are ex Alice Springs & include all camping equipment, food, drinks, (including a beer and wine with dinner), local transport, plus some art materials and artworking equipment. No refund of deposit if cancellation occurs less than 3 weeks prior to departure time. Full payment required prior to commencement of camp

 

The images below are from the Creative Camps in 2007. To view more photos from these and other Creative Camps CLICK HERE

 

CAMP LOCATION & AMENITIES

Our campsite on the Finke River is near Glen Helen about 130 k’s from Alice Springs. It is stunningly beautiful with a deep waterhole for swimming, shady river red gums and arresting views of the Pacoota Range. (see photo above) It is a ‘bush’ style camp situated within the West Macdonnell National Park, therefore there are no amenity blocks and consequently neither are there buses, caravans and crowds of tourists. However Trek Larapinta provides you with everything needed to make sure your camping experience is very comfortable. We provide a private bush toilet and can arrange for hot showers at nearby locations on several occasions during the week. In between showers you can swim or use a large bowl of warm water for a 'cat's lick' style body wash.

We are are always complimented on our delicious and generous meals, made with fresh ingredients and our excellent choice of bottled wine with dinner and great coffee. We provide comfortable chairs, a large camp table and the trademark of true territorian camping style, a cosy ‘swag’, for sleeping. A swag is an ingenious combination of comfy foam mattress, fluffy pillow, sleeping bag and sheet all contained by a zippered canvas sheath that allows you to enjoy our spectacular starry skies. For rainy occasions or for added privacy we provide tents when required or requested. Our transport is a 4WD mini bus (8 seater) and a kitchen trailer. We also take another small enclosed trailer on the art camps to house the extra equipment required, plus art materials and participants artwork. We pride ourselves on providing a true camping experience where you will always feel comfortable & well looked after.

THE CAMP PROGRAMME

The programme will to some degree be determined by the needs and physical capabilites of the group, so let us know what you would like to happen. On previous camps we have spent some days working in the vicinity of camp as there are some wonderful land features close by. On others we take short 4WD trips to some of the most special locations and gorges in the National Park. There will generally be some gentle walking involved each day and extended walks are offered on occasions for those who would like some longer, expertly guided adventures on the Larapinta Trail. Deborah offers tuition and support for those who request it. For those who wish to work independently on their own creative projects the camp offers a stimulating small group environment in which to share their creative process and ideas. We are fostering a relationship with with the Ngurratjuta Art Centre in Alice Springs so that we may hopefuly have a Western Arrente artist join us on occassions to share their stories and connection to this, their country. (Group size is small with a max. of 10 participants).

DEBORAH CLARKE

Deborah's background is in professional art practice and education (teaching Fine Arts at Tafe NSW and Charles Darwin University NT).
Her approach to creativity is broad, working in a variety of media from traditional drawing and painting to digital imaging, photography and creative writing. In March 2007 she will be exhibiting at Gallery Gondwana in Sydney and then in May at Araluen the Regional Gallery in Alice Springs. She has had several solo shows of mixed media work in Sydney and two solo photo media exhibitions in Alice Springs since she arrived in 2002. In 2004 she was selected to exhibit in the prestigious Alice Art Prize, a contemporary national art award and in 2006 and 2005 was represented in the Desert Divas exhibition at Gallery Gondwana(Alice Springs). She has also spent many years working as a freelance designer and illustrator for some of Australia's best known book publishers. And incidentally, designed /created and maintains this web site. To view some of Deborah's work click here
She brings to her role as teacher an empathic understanding of the creative process and professional knowledge of a broad spectrum of art media including new technology. A willing communicator, and natural teacher, she enjoys the process of helping her students realise their creative potential in whatever medium they choose to work.

To see more photos from the July 06 Creative Camp click here

To view a selection of work by our Creative Camp participants click here

To view Deborah Clarke's artist's profile click here