- Background -
Sean James Cassidy studied at the Julian Ashton School of Drawing at The Rocks and Charlie Sheard's studio of 16th Century painting techniques at Redfern.
In 2005 The Rex-Livingston Art Dealer gallery hosted Sean's first solo exhibition New Songs for Ancestral Voices in Sydney. The Exhibitions Ante Chamber to Dream in 2006, Sydney, and Excavating Bridges for Future Streams 2007, Philippines followed the very well received 2005 event.
In 2006 Sean was chosen by United Nations Chair in Human Rights and Solidarity Virginia Dandan to be artist in residence at the University of the Philippines to study Universal Language and teach introductory lessons in 16 Century paint layering techniques. He then went on to work with Filipino artists to build a cultural hub in Sagada mountain provenience in collaboration with the Australian Embassy Manila.
The project was supported by Parkes citizens and groups (Sean’s home town), Amanda Zappia, the Australian Embassy, many acclaimed Filipino artists and the Australian’s ambassadors fund Manila.
International art and music group Ub Ubbo Exchange, of which Sean is a founding member and Director, was initially created around the development and maintenance of the Cultural hub in Northern Philippines. In 2008-2009 Sean worked on the Three Rivers project with CentraCare in Bourke, Cowra, Lake Cargelligo, Condobolin, Forbes, Parkes. This project identified talented artists in remote areas of N.S.W, with Sean teaching them art techniques and curating their art in multiple exhibitions in Australia and Philippines.
In 2010 Sean curated the travelling exhibition Melodies of Woven Light which toured Canberra, Parkes and Sydney. Part of this exhibition including importing delicate artwork from the Philippines and involving local Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.
Sean shares his skills and talents in the Parkes Shire multiple times a year, and has held cartooning workshops for Parkes Library Curiosity and Wonder Festival, as well as workshops in many Parkes Shire schools.
A recent highlight of Sean’s career is the design and creation of a Peace Park in Parkes in 2017. This installation and garden represents the different stages of conflict and ways to make peace. Sean collaborated with local Indigenous artist of the Wiradjuri tribe, Scott Turnbull and Scott Sauce Towney for their iconographies, a feature in the installation.
Sean’s career has taken a different page since he commenced and completed graphic design studies at Enmore Design Centre, Sydney in 2017. These studies have led to Sean being offered an internship with the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) User experience unit, working on customer experience in 2018-2019.
This year has Sean working on two solo exhibitions, Computer and Friends May 2019 and Digital and Mud October 2019.