Impressions of Tomorrow: Local Stories Through Portraiture

When

Location

Glasshouse Regional Gallery

Glasshouse Regional Gallery presents

Impressions of Tomorrow: Local Stories Through Portraiture

Ronnie Grammatica

Impressions of Tomorrow is a powerful exploration of community and identity, captured through the lens of portraiture. This project seeks to highlight the often-overlooked faces of everyday life - the faces we pass in our neighbourhoods but rarely stop to consider. By presenting these portraits out of their usual context, the artist invites us to pause and reflect: Who are these individuals? What are their stories? And, ultimately, what does their collective narrative reveal about us as a community?

Through collaboration with local organizations driving social change, the artist delves into the diverse and dynamic lives of those working on the frontlines of cultural, social and economic transformation. These organizations include a community theatre that fosters reflection on cultural issues, an Aboriginal disability support service offering mentorship and housing, an agricultural program for youth, the Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre and the inclusive celebration of diversity at “It’s OK on the Macleay.” Each portrait is a window into the lives of individuals whose experiences reflect the broader journey of the community, reminding us that in every face lies a story worth discovering.

Impressions of Tomorrow is an invitation to see beyond the surface, to acknowledge the hidden narratives that shape our shared future and to recognize the power of connection, empathy and belonging in an ever-evolving world.

Key Dates:

Exhibition On View: Saturday 15 February 2025 to Sunday 6 April 2025

Exhibition Opening: Saturday 15 February, 11am. Free event, bookings essential. Register here.

Image: Ronnie Grammatica, Portrait 1, Impressions of Tomorrow series, 2024.

Ronnie Grammatica

Ronnie Grammatica is a photomedia artist based on Dunghutti land in Crescent Head, NSW. Originally from Italy, Grammatica relocated to Australia in 2014, where his photographic practice has evolved into an exploration of Australian identity - both as a means to understand his own heritage and to engage with the cultures that make up this diverse landscape. A graduate of Bauer, Italy’s oldest photography school, he trained within a tradition deeply influenced by the Bauhaus movement and its emphasis on the intersection of art, society and technology.

Grammatica’s work is grounded in his background in graffiti and his fascination with urban human intervention. While he finds beauty in the natural world, it is the layers of human influence within urban landscapes that captivate him most. For Grammatica, there is a clear distinction between a beautiful image and a good image - an image that speaks, communicates and tells a story.

In addition to his ongoing work exploring the nature of regional communities, Grammatica’s portrait series, developed in collaboration with Ready Communities and funded by Arts Mid North Coast, forms part of this exhibition. This series was originally created for the Social Impact in The Regions 2024 conference.

@ronniegrammatica