THE newly-established Social SEEN Gallery celebrated its official launch last week with Artisans of the New England, a large-scale photographic exhibition by photographer Jim A. Barker.

The show marked the first exhibition at the Social SEEN Gallery, a collaboration between Social Co House and Jule Jarner Studio to promote regional creative talent and connect community through the arts.

The exhibition, supported by Arts North West as part of its Arts North West Connect event series, brought together portraits of 75 creatives from across the New South Wales New England region.

Mr Barker travelled thousands of kilometres across 18 months, documenting the people behind the region’s diverse creative practices – fuelled, he says, by “38 cups of tea, 24 coffees, and more cold drinks than I could count”.

The result is a stunning, honest body of work that shines a light on a region too often overlooked in national creative conversations.

Artisans of the New England, a large-scale photographic exhibition by photographer Jim A. Barker last week launched the opening Social SEEN Gallery. (from left) Annie Brazier, Jule Jarner, Jim A. Barker and Tyler Macey (Image courtesy of Grace Louise Photography).

“It’s strange to me that a region so rich in creativity and creators like the New England is just unknown as such to outsiders,” Barker said.

“Byron is known for alternative culture, the Hunter for wine, and Broken Hill for mining. Why can’t the New England – home to some of Australia’s best painters, sculptors and potters – be known for its creatives.”

One of the featured artisans was Moree’s Colleen Moloney of Col Art Glass, who also facilitates regular lead-lighting classes at Jule Jarner Studio.

Ms Moloney’s journey began in the early 1980s at the Willoughby Arts Centre in Sydney.

She returned to Moree in 1988 to establish her practice and has since spent more than four decades creating intricate stained-glass artworks as well as mentoring others in the craft.

Her own pieces – and works from her students – were showcased during the launch in the adjoining Jule Jarner Studio space.

Gallery co-founder and artist Jule Jarner said the decision to open with Jim A. Barker’s work was deliberate.

“This exhibition speaks to everything the gallery is about – celebrating local stories, making space for creatives from across the region, and encouraging our community to see itself as a vital part of the broader arts landscape,” she said.

“Jim’s work captures not just faces, but the depth, skill and spirit of the region’s makers. We’re thrilled to have opened with this.”

The exhibition will remain on display at The Social SEEN Gallery in Moree over the coming weeks, with future programming to be announced soon.