Miriam Innes, Joolie Gibbs, Leeroy Todd commemorate 2022 Gympie floods with exhibition

An exhibition by three local artists will honour Gympie’s collective resilience during the record 2022 floods.

The works of three talented Gympie artists will bring together the community 12 months on from the region’s worst natural disaster in 120 years.

Miriam Innes, Joolie Gibbs and Leeroy Todd are behind the 22.96/Receding at the Gympie Regional Gallery which runs from February 14 until April 15.

22.96/Receding is an artistic interpretation of the 2022 floods that intends to capture the significance of the experience and its impact on the residents, businesses and environment.

With more than $100 million worth of damage, the impact is still being felt across the community.

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“The exhibition aims to bring together the community and acknowledge the community’s resilience while encouraging healing through creative recovery initiatives,” a Gympie Regional Council representative said.

The narrative focuses not on “the worst the river can do, but by what the river provides”.

A new exhibition which focuses on Gympie’s worst natural disaster in 120 years will soon begin. Picture: Leeroy Todd

Innes and Gibbs will showcase earth mediums connected with the Mary River to chronicle the urban and natural environment of the waterway.

Todd will focus on human storytelling through “striking photography and videography”.

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The exhibition will also include artist talks and artist in-residence days, a series of public programs and community activities.

It is hoped the community will contribute by sharing experiences and stories in creative and meaningful ways.

The legacy of the exhibition is defined as documenting an “important event in the region’s history and to highlight the community spirit and collective resilience in the face of natural disasters”.

The gallery will host an official opening on Friday, February 24 at 6pm.

To attend visit the Gympie Regional Gallery website. Admission is free.