Meet the Creatives: Chris Roe on wizard hats, wild ideas and finding his place at The Station
The Station Creative Workspace is full of stories – you just have to open the door. Since moving into his studio at The Station in March, artist and television producer Chris Roe has brought his unique blend of media, art and imagination to the space. And true to form, his desk might be home to a laptop, a half-finished portrait, or a freshly built steampunk wizard staff. You never quite know… but that’s the magic of The Station.
“The Station is a stimulating, creative space where I can work with producers across the country and remain connected to Riverina creatives,” Chris Roe says. With a foot in both the media world and the arts scene, he’s found the perfect hybrid habitat.
“I am a television producer and journalist, but I am also a painter, a sculptor and maker of random things,” he explains. Recent projects range from a portrait of bush poet Henry Lawson to “a sheep riding a penny-farthing.” And that wizard staff? “I've just finished building a steampunk wizard staff and customising a maroon felt wizard hat for my friend Mike who is launching a book.”
While his practice is undeniably eclectic, what’s constant is the creative energy The Station provides. “I also walk through an art gallery every morning which is beautiful and inspiring,” he says. “The building has character, and it is starting to generate a flow of creatives coming in and out throughout the week.”
Before Wagga, Chris tried to break into Sydney’s arts scene, only to find it closed off. But in the Riverina, doors opened. “Since moving to Wagga, I have now done four solo exhibitions, which has been a huge encouragement and seen my arts practice accelerate.”
Now he’s throwing open his own studio-gallery for The Station’s big launch weekend, and he’s hoping others will jump in. “There is so much opportunity for The Station to become a thriving hub for the Riverina arts community. Get on board and let's make it the focal point for a regional arts explosion!”
Ready to see inside? Check out what Chris and dozens of other creatives see in The Station at launch weekend, May 16–18.
