Strand ephemera 2009 Catalogue

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Cnr. Denham St and Flinders Mall, Townsvile PO Box 1268 Townsville QLD 4810 Ph: (07) 4727 9011 Fax: (07) 4772 3656 Email: ptrg@townsville.qld.gov.au Web: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/recreation/gallery/perctucker

PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY

PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY

PRESENTS

STRAND EPHEMERA 5 4 -14 SEPTEMBER 2009 / TOWNSVILLE

CONTENTS Message from the Mayor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Exhibition Background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Artists and their work . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Artwork Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Program of free events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Townsville City Council is proud to present Strand Ephemera 5.

Photographic Competition. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

From 4 – 14 September 2009 the Strand will be transformed into an outdoor gallery, showcasing sculptures and installations by 22 artists from around Australia.

Artist Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

First held in 2001, Strand Ephemera is a biennial festival of arts. In addition to the exhibition, there are guided tours, talks presented by the participating artists and a series of drop-in workshops for the whole community to enjoy.

Townsville City Council is grateful for the support of local businesses and volunteers who are committed to ensuring the success of this event.

Strand Ephemera provides an opportunity for residents and visitors to engage with contemporary art, enriching our lives in the process. I encourage you to include a visit to Strand Ephemera on your “must do” list.

Acknowledgement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Many thanks for the generous support of the following partners and sponsors: Major Sponsors

Media Sponsors

Exhibition Supporters

Councillor Les Tyrell OAM MAYOR Townsville

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Strand Ephemera 5 is initiated and co-ordinated by Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, owned and operated by Townsville City Council.

Cover image: Tony Cuthbertson, Bottiger‘s Hut

Jill Chism, Smother Shed 2009

EXHIBITION BACKGROUND From 2001 to now.

Held first in 2001 and then biennially, Strand Ephemera is in its 5th incarnation. Strand Ephemera was initiated by Townsville’s Regional Gallery to explore public art in a contained context. Strand Ephemera presents possibilities of public art for selection for “permanent” works, ensures an audience for contemporary practice by presenting the exhibition in a magnificent outdoor environment, and engages the visiting public.

At the time it began, and as a driving rationale, Strand Ephemera provided an opportunity for north Queensland practitioners. Strand Ephemera gave artists a reason to experiment in moving from a studio based practice to a public art focus, and ultimately to prepare them to compete for lucrative art commissions being offered under the State Government’s Art Built-in Program. This objective was achieved with a number of artists moving into the public art arena.

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“Ephemera” was and is the creative element to be interpreted by artists in any possible way. It can simply refer to the short life span of the exhibition, or as an encouragement to be innovative in the use of materials - accessible, organic, or as some artists interpret the brief, to produce work that disintegrates over the period of the exhibition.

A major sculpture exhibition could easily become a juggernaut that is rolled out each time. To maintain interest, particularly of the artists and artsworkers involved, and to develop the exhibition, it has been necessary to investigate different elements each year.

In 2007 Australia Council funding was accessed to introduce the work of selected practitioners, presented in containers. Where we had been increasingly tending to select individual works to please the general public, to restore a balance within the exhibition it became important to present focussed contemporary practice. The security provided by lockable containers gave greater scope.

2007 was also the biggest year, with 49 works.

As the preceding event informs the next, in 2009, this year, a guest curator, Head of Sculpture at a Melbourne University, was asked to select the works from the applications received. There had already been a discussion about reducing the number of works, and the implementation of a rigorous selection process resulted in this.

With fewer works, a focus could be given to the public program.

This year will also mark a fresh approach to the public program, presenting more structured opportunities for the general public to participate in workshops held on the Strand. To continue to develop a national profile, Strand Ephemera 5 is held in conjunction with the Fourth National Public Galleries Summit, a three day conference attracting delegates from across Australia and New Zealand.

The exhibition also develops from feedback received from the participators and visitors. Your comments are welcomed.

These can be left on the back of the Walters IGA People’s Choice Award, or sent directly to our email: ptrg@townsville.qld.gov.au The Gallery team works tirelessly to present this exhibition and I acknowledge all team members for their extraordinary contributions, in particular Curator Amber Church.

Strand Ephemera is a living exhibition.

Frances Thomson Manager, Gallery Services

Perc Tucker Regional Gallery & Pinnacles Gallery

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Elizabeth Poole

Toogoolawah / Queensland Poole is atttracted to the seen and unseen aspects of our ancient Australian landscape. The unseen encompasses the still strong spiritual presence of indigenous people.

Each day of the exhibition this work will appear somewhere different along the Strand.

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1

Big Yellow Taxi (Tree Museum)

2009

Hilux truck, aluminum frame, steel tray and approximately 4,000 clear PVC carved leaves suspended from wire mesh.

170 h x 185 w x 480 l cm with truck

The ethereal quality of clear vinyl evokes dreams and memories of a lost environment. This work has been inspired by the prophetic lyrics of Joni Mitchell.

Amanda Feher Tinaroo / Queensland

Born on the Atherton Tablelands Feher completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours at James Cook University Townsville.

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The Cray 2005-09 copper & galvanised steel 750 x 350 x 110 cm $ 39,600

I used a live specimen which I captured from Lake Tinaroo as a model for this work. I hope that those who view The Cray can enjoy the form and character of the creature as well as the appropriate natural patina the copper has assumed.

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Tony Cuthbertson Townsville /Queensland

Tony Cuthbertson currently resides on Magnetic Island and in 2006 completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts at James Cook University Townsville.

Inset photo: Magnetic Island History and Craft Centre from the Miriam Hardy Collection

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3

Bottiger’s Hut 2009

Timber, natural fibres, polystyrene foam, plastic board and fibreglass sheeting, 3/4 life-size Mr Otto Bottiger, a retired bank manager, built a one-roomed cottage on a sand dune at the north-eastern end of Nelly Bay beach on Magnetic Island, in about 1920. In recreating a three-quarter replica my aim is to evoke a sense of nostalgia, as well as to pose questions about what we collectively seek, what we collectively achieve and what we collectively lose.

Tijn Meulendijks Kuranda /Queensland

Tijn Meulendijks is a Dutch born installation artist currently based in Cairns. After completing his masters training in floral art in the Netherlands, Tijn moved to Australia and established himself as a contemporary foral-designer.

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Untitled 2009

plant material,vines 180 h x 80 w x 60/70 d cm

The cocoon, the wrapping form, is a form that‘s coming back to me all the time. As an artist working mainly with vegetation it has a lot of meaning for me - thinking of germination, growing, flowering, wilting and decaying.

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Jan Hynes

Townsville /Queensland Jan Hynes has a Bachelor of Arts Degree (painting) from Queensland College of Art and completed a Masters of Creative Arts from James Cook University.Â

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Pink Piano 2009 painted piano, cards life-size $ 1000

I see Pink Piano as an interactive artwork that will appeal to all ages and entice people to linger, participate and enjoy the combination of music, art and nature on the Strand.

Candace Miles

Townsville /Queensland By making metaphors visible, Miles focuses on local and regional issues developed through sensitivity to insights of place and the effects of ecological intervention on the wider social and environmental realm.

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FINish enDANGER 2009

polystyrene foam and acrylic paint 150 x 20 cm approx $ 1200 for set or $ 160 - $ 210 each

The threatened species? The practice of shark finning is killing sharks every year at an increasing rate. This increased catching of sharks is a concern with many species considered to be endangered.

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Pam Lane

Ingham /Queensland Lane‘s original training in graphic design often features in her work. 3D assemblage however holds the strongest appeal. Lane continues to explore different mediums, primarily clay.

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This work is scattered along the beach between Landsborough and Stuart Street Headlands.

Participants are invited to collect and complete the drift cards before returning to the Strand Ephemera Information Desk for this data to be recorded.

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Drift Capsules 2009

mixed medium Each capsule is approx 15 cm long by 5 cm in diameter

In contrast to the traditional release of drift cards to track ocean currents, these symbolic capsules prompt the audience to consider discarded inland refuse travelling over land to reach the waterways.

Barbara Pierce

Townsville / Queensland Pierce is a Townsville born artist who lived in the UK for several years. After studying art, she travelled to Britain again on an Australia Council grant. This research continues to inform her current practice.

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Quarantine (1+2) 2009

Mixed media - recycled timber/furniture, household linen (some recycled), perspex (1) calico, thread, acrylic paint, tent pegs (1 + 2) 106 x 166 x 166 cm (1) varying widths and lengths (2)

Early local quarantine history includes details of facility relocation with recycling of timbers. Accomodation, furniture and linen were supplied according to a person’s “class” (1). Quarantine is now a scattered process (2).

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Matthew Staples Sydney / New South Wales

Studied sculpture in the UK and quietly makes sculpture in Sydney.

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Observer of the Moon 2009 mild steel, welded together, iron oxide finish.

290 h x 80 w x 130 d cm $ 6000

The ocean, its surrounds and its inhabitants, are governed by the moon.

As observers we can just gaze in wonder.

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Vic McEwan & Sarah Moor

Sydney / New South Wales Both Vic and Sarah run The Cad Factory, a Sydney performance and exhibition space.

They are multi-instumentalists playing in various groups and creators of site-specific installation and visual/sound art.

10 Listen. Now Walk 2009 sounds of the Strand

Your fingers have their own memory, it’s called finger memory. Every bit of everything has various histories.

Various histories with many cracks, ready to explore.

This work is an audio walk which takes listeners on a journey along the Strand. To participate download the MP3 file from www.cadfactory.com.au or ask about how to hire a MP3 player with the recording from the Strand Ephemera Information Desk at the Burke St Headland.

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Alan Valentine

Townsville / Queensland Previously acquired practical skills, coupled with design and conceptual abilities developed whilst studying art at Townsville TAFE and James Cook University, has allowed Valentine the freedom and joy to design and create.

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11 Fishing Trawlers 2009 timber, copper and brass various sizes NFS

The fishing trawlers are a response to the marine industry and other activities around and about the mouth of Townsville’s Ross River and Ross Creek. They are made from demolition timber, a fallen eucalyptus tree, copper and brass.

Fatih Semiz

Brighton / Victoria Fatih completed a degree in Fine Art at Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul. He works with various materials such as stone, wood and metals. Fatih has completed several public commissions and has exhibited in Australia, Turkey and Sweden.

12 Ab aeterno 2009

155 x 200 x 90 cm. exterior plywood, Tasmanian Oak veneer and paint $ 13,000

On the body of this Cambrian mollusc frame-like form, limited numbers become unlimited...... unlimited become infinite

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Jenny Fraser

Darwin / Northern Territory Jenny Fraser was born in Mareeba, Far North Queensland. Her people originally hailed from Yugambeh Country in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Jenny has completed a Masters of Indigenous Wellbeing at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW.

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13 Dark Day at Sea 2004 video installation 7 minutes $ 715

‘We only know the last sad squires ride slowly towards the sea, And a new people takes the land: and still it is not we’ – Chesterton, Gilbert Keith

Geoff Harvey

Sydney / New South Wales Lives and works in Sydney. Geoff Harvey has a Masters Degree in Fine Art and has been included in numerous group exhibitions in Australia, England and USA.

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Pierre the French Bulldog 2009,

Buster 2006, Rover 2006

Steel Edition of 10 115 x 82 cm, 106 x 106 cm, 90 x 130 cm $ 4,400 each

There are many reasons I chose to sculpt dogs. The main reason is that I simply like having dog sculptures around me. My house and studio are littered with dogs of all shapes and sizes.

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ART WORK MAP

9 5 Jan Hynes page 10

2 Amanda Feher page 7

4 Tijn Meulendijks

page 9

Matthew Staples

page 14

10 Vic McEwan & Sarah Moor page 15

7 Pam Lane page 12

20 Marion Gaemers page 31

Tobruk Pool

16 Jill Chism page 27 Fryer Street

i Howlitt Street

1 Elizabeth Poole

page 6 Each day of the exhibition this work will appear somewhere different along the Strand.

See artist page

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17 Jo Cruickshanks page 28

12 Fatih Semiz page 17

This work is an audio walk which takes listeners on a journey along the Strand. See artist page

Rock Pool

22 Kalven Lloyd page 33

11 Alan Valentine page 16

McKinley Street

3 Tony Cuthbertson

page 8

Strand Park

Landsborough Street

6 Candace Miles page 11

8 Barbara Pierce page 13

i

Oxley Street

Kennedy Street Gregory Street

15 Alison McDonald page 26 14 Geoff Harvey page 19 13 Jenny Fraser page 18

Strand Ephemera Information Desk

Picnic Bay Lifesaving Club

18 Tegan Ollett page 29 This work is a live performance – see event program on page 24 for performance times.

21 Denise Vanderlugt

page 32 19 Joanna Anglesey page 30

Olympic Circle

PROGRAM OF FREE EVENTS

PEOPLE‘S CHOICE AWARD

Main Exhibition Tour

Date/Time: Saturday 5 Sept, 10am – 12pm Location: Meet at the Strand Rockpool Be among the first to visit Strand Ephemera 5, and hear first-hand from the exhibiting artists about their work.

Public Art Symposium

Date/Time: Saturday 5 Sept, 1pm – 3pm Location: Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Exploring contemporary public art practice, listen to guest speakers involved with Melbourne Laneways Commissions, Noosa Floating Land and Art + Place, Queensland State Government Public Art Program.

rk, as judged by Strand The most popular artwo presented with the Ephemera visitors, will be

oi Walters IGA People‘s Ch

ce Award

Join artists on the Strand to create your own artworks. Daily drop-in workshops scheduled in the mornings and afternoons throughout the exhibition including: Bird Boat Weaving, Plastic Fantastic Jellyfish, Wire Critter Sculpting and Sculpting in Nature.

For more details about times and locations ask at the Strand Ephemera Information Desk or visit the website: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/recreation/ gallery/perctucker/strand_ephemera

Live Performances

m: Entry forms available fro ation Desk (Picnic Bay Strand Ephemera Inform rc Tucker Regional Surf Lifesaving Club), Pe ‘ ry or any of the Walters Gallery, Pinnacles Galle .

IGA stores in Townsville

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Drop-In Workshops along the Strand

Date/Time: Saturday 5 Sept @ 11:30am, Sunday 6, Monday 7, Friday 11 Sept @ 6:00pm, Wednesday 9 Sept @ 5:30pm Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 Sept @ 5:00pm Location: Strand Amphitheatre at Gregory Street Enjoy live performances by artist, Tegan Ollett – see page 29 24

Photograph by Andersson & Yrstad

After 5 Access

Date/Time: Tuesday 8 Sept, 6pm – 7pm Location: Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Enjoy a night at the Gallery as part of PTRG’s monthly After 5 Access series, with a talk by Strand Ephemera 5 artist, Jill Chism on the Water’s Edge project

Guided Art Tours Artists Talks

Date/Time: Sunday 13 Sept, 11am – 12pm Location: Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Listen to a selection of exhibiting artists including Joanna Anglesey, Marion Gaemers and Elizabeth Poole talk about their practice.

Date/Time: Sunday 6, Monday 7, Tuesday 8, Thursday 10, Friday 11 Sept @ 5:30pm Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 @ 4:30pm Location: Depart from Strand Ephemera Information Desk at Burke St Headland Take a guided walk along the Strand to hear more about the artworks on display.

Ferry Education Program

Taking place from Monday 7 – Monday 14 September is a comprehensive program of school workshops and tours along the Strand. This is accompanied by a children’s activity booklet and teachers resource kit. For more information ask at the Strand Ephemera Information Desk or contact the Gallery.

Strand Ephemera Information Desk located near Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club (the Strand) Open 9am – 6pm daily throughout the exhibition 25

Alison McDonald Townsville / Queensland

Since completing her Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours at James Cook University, McDonald has worked continuously to integrate her passions of recycling into her sculptures, exhibiting regularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

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15 The Bather 2004-09 brazed cup hooks 136 x 68 x 58 cm $ 5,900

Driving this work are my values that question the ideal female body form and the pressure upon today’s women to conform. In presenting an alternative way of looking at a voluptuous woman, I hope to create a visual challenge to viewers’ perceptions.

Jill Chism

16 Smother Shed 2009

Oak Beach / Queensland

plastic flotsam and Jetsam installation covers three tree trunks

Jill Chism exhibits nationally as a prolific North Queensland artist. Working with diverse materials her work spans environmental art, installation, sculpture, digital art and public art.

The work is an ironical comment on plastic’s original attractiveness and its current malign ugliness as it forms into the millions of tonnes of rubbish floating in earth’s oceans and smothering nature’s eco-systems.

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Jo Cruickshanks Brisbane / Queensland

Jo Cruickshanks, from Northern England, has spent the last 20 years living on the West and East coasts of Australia as a sculptor, artsworker and educator.

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17 Safe Guard 2009

orange plastic‚ Barrier Guard fencing material & plastic cable ties 100 x 200 cm

My work focuses on environmental issues. It is predominantly site-specific, ephemeral, installation-based. I am interested in work raising awareness of people and place and the creation of socially effective aesthetics.

Tegan Ollett

Townsville /Queensland Tegan began her dance training in Townsville at the Anne Roberts School of Dancing and Extensions Youth Dance Company. In 2003 she was awarded the Royal Academy of Dancing North Queensland Bursary and graduated from the Queensland University of Technology in 2007.

This work is a live performance – see event program on page 24 for performance times

‚ 18 B‘I NDING 2009

chairs, vinyl floor mat, television, DVD player, floor light x 3, extension leads, rope.

300 cm wide We have the opportunity to confront negativity in our lives. We sit and stare it in the face, allowing it to move us in a direction we may not wish to go. We allow it to bind us, to manipulate us and to hinder our progression as individuals. There is a moment when we are presented with a choice to continue this cycle or let it go; to move freely without the ropes of negative thought and feeling.

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Joanna Anglesey

West Launceston / Tasmania Joanna Anglesey is a practising artist based in Tasmania whose primary focus has been expressing through ephemeral installation issues surrounding British colonization of Australia. She is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Tasmania.

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Overlayunderlayoverlay 2009 black paint and white flour 10 x 750 x 750 cm

This work is an exploration of cultural similarities and differences within the boundaries of Australian landscape.

Marion Gaemers Townsville /Queensland

In my work I am interested in the relationships of humans and other animals with their environment. I like ephemeral work and the fact that it won‘t last but will be returned to the environment.

20 Journeys 2009

cane, paper, plant material, fabric & string 240 h x 360 l - 170 w cm x 3 $ 1500

Life is full of Journeys - both physical and spiritual.

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Denise Vanderlugt Proserpine / Queensland

Denise‘s creative practice since 1982 in the Whitsundays includes quiltmaking, basketry, printmaking, artists books and collage. She published her first book Where Rainbows Live in 2007.

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21 The rainbow jellyfish 2009 recycled plastics and fabric bodies 10 to 15 cm high, 10 to 25 cm wide, with tentacles to 75 cm in length $ 35 each

The process of creating an object and sharing that process either visually or physicaly gives to people great joy.

Kalven Lloyd

Townsville / Queensland Kalven completed his studies at James Cook University in 2007 and has exhibited in a number of group exhibitions in Townsville.

22 Tropical Snow 2009 mixed media 10 h x 200 w x 1500 w cm

Tropical Snow - sticks to you, gets where it is not expected, is fun to play with, can be blinding after long exposure, and can burn like ice - when heated by our tropical sun. Inspired by Leanne Genrich and Ned Archer

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Twelve Degrees of Latitude: Regional Gallery and University Art Collections in Queensland

Pinnacles Gallery

A dynamic arts space focussed on presenting leading edge contemporary practice.

PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY TOWNSVILLE 21 AUGUST - 4 OCTOBER 2009 Image: William Allom, Townsville, oil on canvas, 1884, City of Townsville Art Collection

Phone: 07 4773 8871 Fax: 07 4723 0280 Email: pinnacles@townsville.qld.gov.au Mail: PO Box 1268 Townsville QLD 4810 Web: http://riverway.townsville.qld.gov.au/ explore/gallery/index

Gallery Hours: Mon – Tues: Closed Wed – Thurs: 11am – 5pm Fri: 11am – 7pm Sat & Sun: 10am – 5pm

Riverway Arts Centre, 20 Village Boulevard,Thuringowa Central

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to the artists involved in Strand Ephemera 5 and to the dedicated volunteers who assisted with all aspects of the exhibition and public program.

Within Council, special thanks to all at the Strand Office, the Strand Crew and all at Parks.

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ARTIST INDEX

GALLERY TEAM

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Anglesey, Joanna / page 30

15

McDonald, Alison / page 26

16

Chism, Jill / page 27

10

Frances Thomson Amber Church Marg Naylor Anthony Edwards Eric Nash Leah McManus Hannah Murray Jo Lankester Jo Terry Tamika Wickham Gill Ribbins Wendy Bainbridge Matt Clark Kath Bailey

17

Cruickshanks, Jo / page 28

McEwan, Vic & / page 15 Moor, Sarah

3

Cuthbertson, Tony / page 8

4

Meulendijks, Tijn / page 9

2

Feher, Amanda / page 7

6

Miles, Candace / page 11

13

Fraser, Jenny / page 18

18

Ollett, Tegan / page 29

20

Gaemers, Marion / page 31

8

Pierce, Barbara / page 13

14

Harvey, Geoff / page 19

1

Poole, Elisabeth / page 6

5

Hynes, Jan / page 10

12

Semiz, Fatih / page 17

7

Lane, Pam / page 12

9

Staples, Matthew / page 14

22

Lloyd, Kalven / page 33

11

Valentine, Alan / page 16

21

Vanderlugt, Denise / page 32

Director Curator Marketing & Media Supervisor, Pinnacles Project Officer Installation, Pinnacles Education Exhibitions/Collection Administration Administration, Pinnacles Administration, Pinnacles Gallery Officer Weekends Gallery Trainee Artabout

Artworks from Strand Ephemera 2007 featured on page 34 (from left to right): The Outrigger Crew, Graeme Buckley, Just a Drop in the Ocean, Alison McDonald, Nimbus (detail), Casselle Mountford

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