Albany 2026: Josephine Jay’s documentary In the Making offers glimpse into lives of Great Southern artists

The artist’s world is often a secretive one, but Albany filmmaker Josephine Jay’s new documentary In the Making lifts the curtain on some of the city’s most talented creatives in its bicentenary year.

Jay set out to make a documentary that shone a light on the lives and practices of Albany artists after receiving funding from the City of Albany’s Albany 2026 project fund.

She spent almost a year bringing the documentary to life, interviewing and filming creatives around the region and capturing hundreds of hours of footage from studios, sheds and living rooms — all places where art comes alive.

The final film was launched at the Albany Town Hall on Saturday and features nine artists whose work ranges from scrimshawing to glassmaking.

Some of the artists who were featured in the film brought some of their wares to show people at the launch, giving them a close-up look at the level of craftsmanship featured onscreen.

This included Sally Pell, who creates wearable art out of vintage woollen blankets and chronicles the history of the Albany Woollen Mills, Meagan Gardiner whose intricate creations celebrate the beauty of everyday objects, and the musicians behind the Luthier’s Emporium.

The documentary has a run time of less than an hour, but in a short time manages to reveal both the hard work that goes into handmade art, and what makes each piece of art — and its artist — special.

The range of artistic practices featured in the piece and the depth of passion with which each artist talks about their craft is testament to Albany’s special reputation as a haven for creative types.

According to mayor Greg Stocks, Albany is home to the highest number of creatives per capita of any city in Australia and the documentary digs into the reasons the Great Southern region has become such a stronghold of artistic talent.

Jay introduced her film to the packed Town Hall, thanking everyone who was part of the process, and reiterated the importance of supporting artists.

“This is a very special place, and there are many stories here to share,” she said.

“I would like to thank all the creatives who have shared their stories with me.

“I know it hasn’t been easy at times, and you’ve really pushed yourselves out of your comfort zones.

“This has been so inspiring.

“I think when we are making and creating, we lose ourselves, and that is a wonderful and sometimes indulgent thing, but it’s also very painful, confronting, and it’s terrifying to put your work out there.

“I have the deepest respect for anybody who creates anything.

“Creativity can be as small as a colour in a spreadsheet, or the feel of a blanket, or a bird in the sky that we see and trace the movement of.

“What struck me in the creatives I’ve met is their resilience, their patience, their gumption, their courage, and the sense of satisfaction that comes from making something yourself.

“It is very important to be creative, but also to share that creativity, it’s how we understand each other and how we understand ourselves here in Albany.

“All across the world we’re making ripples. We are a place with spirit and personality, and we’re changing all the time, but the ripples that we make, they continue, and I think it’s wonderful to tap into those ripples sometimes, to see where they began.”