The Unconformity is pleased to announce the appointment of Loren Kronemyer as its new Artistic Director. Loren will lead the cultural and creative vision of The Unconformity festival and explorations, taking over from founding Artistic Director Travis Tiddy who completed his tenure in August 2024.
Loren is an artist living and working in regional Lutruwita/Tasmania whose work spans interactive and live performance, experimental media art, curatorial work, and large-scale world-building projects aimed at exploring ecological futures and survival skills.
She received the first Masters of Biological Arts Degree from SymbioticA Lab at the University of Western Australia and has a PhD from the University of Tasmania. Most recently, Loren has worked as a curator on projects including Faux Mo at MONA FOMA Festival, Forest Congress Field Trip at MONA, and as the Director of Art Farm Birchs Bay.
‘As an artist and curator working in Lutruwita/Tasmania, I have grown up alongside The Unconformity, having the privilege of working with the team and other West Coast collaborators in many configurations over the years. I am honored to continue Travis Tiddy's indelible legacy, and to welcome both existing and new artists, collaborators, and audiences to come together and show the world what art can do,’ said Kronemyer.
Loren’s approach of deep and immersive research has led her to foster collaborations with a number of experimental societies, labs, and specialists. These include Australia's last broom factory, from whom she learned to make millet brooms for the project Millennial Reaper; and the World Archery federation, from whom she earned a coaching qualification for her project After Erika Eiffel, and the scientists at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, with whom she developed her show Receiver. Her work has played a role in brokering negotiation around ecological issues, via projects like Epoch Wars by Pony Express, her creative collaboration with Ian Sinclair.
'Experimental art has the power to change the future. I believe no one better demonstrates this than the people of the West Coast, who have created The Unconformity as a way to harness art's world-building potential. These high stakes and high spirits make The Unconformity an organisation unlike any other. I am excited to play my part in contributing to its next stages as Artistic Director, supporting acts of creative exploration, speculation, remembrance, play, and self-determination,’ she said.
The Unconformity CEO Louisa Gordon congratulated Loren on her appointment. ‘I am thrilled to share the news of Loren Kronemyer’s appointment as Artistic Director of The Unconformity. Loren’s engagement completes the change of leadership for The Unconformity that will propel us into a new phase of creative vision for the festival, explorations, and cultural development on the West Coast of Lutruwita/Tasmania. I look forward to sharing the strong collaborative spirit and the bold and innovative approach that Loren brings to place-based work with the team, community, artists and stakeholders that are integral to The Unconformity’s mission,’ she said.
Loren will begin her role on 7 October 2024, bringing her experience and knowledge to the development of the organisation’s 2025 festival and ongoing cultural programs.
The Unconformity invites the West Coast community to welcome Loren at an informal meet and greet event at 5:30pm on Wednesday 9 October 2024 at The Unconformity Hall, 35 Cutten Street Queenstown. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP by emailing your full name and contact details to helena@theunconformity.com.au
