Rhodes has been exploring the act of photography itself, building upon the assumption that the photographic image will be something "real" when it can actually be anything the artist decides. Rhodes' research investigates the materiality within the act of capturing, developing and eventually exhibiting the photographic medium.

He has experimented with methods of display including collage, construction, gold-leaf correction, hand-colouring - all within the boundaries of the wet darkroom.

His subject matter range from waterfalls to insects to people and everything in between, but it is his attention to detail that holds this exhibition in place.

Rhodes is an emerging photo-media based artist to watch. (jamesrhodesartist.myportfolio.com). The gallery is at GS Building, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan;

Mistress: second instalment opens at Blackstone Gallery Saturday, March 13, from 6pm. Curated by the gallery's Marguerite Tierney, the exhibition includes 11 locally-based women artists, Tierney says "I'm surprised that gap exists in the visual arts. A painting has no gender". Mistress continues until April 30.

The 13th First Class exhibition is on at Museum of Art and Culture, Lake Macquarie until May 2. Curated by Helen Willis and Melody Jones from submissions from 2020 local high school art students. Many of the major projects dealt with concept around the environment, family, society and of course, dealing with a new world order.

The Creator Incubator HIC Artist in Residence 2021 winner is emerging artist, Gillian Adamson.

Arrival exhibition by the newly formed WH!P (Women of the Hunter in Photography) starts March 18, with the launch on Friday, March 19, 6-8pm at Newcastle Art Space. Wh!P was founded by artist/photographer Edwina Richards, who brought together a diverse group of "female professional photographers to share stories, ideas, knowledge and inspiration." Follow the group on Instagram @whipcollective