REEF | Exhibition Summary | 2016
Exhibition Summary:
REEF a major exhibition concluding a 12 month program of collaborative Reef events
Gallery Services Shane Fitzgerald Eric Nash Erwin Cruz Louise Cummins Rob Donaldson Jo Stacey Holly Grech-Fitzgerald Carly Sheil Andrea Schutz Sarah Welch Leonardo Valero Rurik Henry Jess Cuddihy Sarah Reddington Ruth Hughes Wendy Bainbridge Danielle Berry Damian Cumner Jillian Macfie Denise Weightman Kelly Bianchi
Manager Gallery Services Curator Exhibitions and Collection Coordinator Education and Programs Coordinator Digital Media and Exhibition Design Coordinator Team Leader Administration Gallery Services Collections Management Officer Digital Media and Exhibition Design Officer Digital Media and Exhibition Design Fellow Public Art Officer Exhibitions Officer Exhibitions Officer Education and Programs Officer Education and Programs Assistant Administration Officer Administration Officer Arts Officer Gallery Assistant Gallery Assistant Gallery Assistant Gallery Assistant
Cover REEF exhibition on display at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
Contact Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Cnr. Denham and Flinders St Townsville QLD 4810 Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm Sat - Sun: 10am - 2pm
(07) 4727 9011 ptrg@townsville.qld.gov.au www.townsville.qld.gov.au @TCC_PercTucker PercTuckerTCC
Pinnacles Gallery Riverway Arts Centre 20 Village Boulevard Thuringowa Central QLD 4817 Tues - Sun: 10am - 5pm
(07) 4773 8871 pinnacle@townsville.qld.gov.au www.townsville.qld.gov.au @TCC_Pinnacles PinnaclesTCC
Contents OVERVIEW
PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION
DOCUMENTATION
VISITOR FEEDBACK
MEDIA AND MARKETING
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OVERVIEW
Overview The major exhibition REEF investigated and celebrated the Great Barrier Reef. Coral reefs, of which there is no finer example in the world than the Great Barrier Reef, are amazingly diverse ecosystems and also perhaps the ocean’s most dazzling jewel. Coral reef structures are stunningly varied in colour and form, and also provide a home for a large selection of marine species. Tragically, the Great Barrier Reef is diminishing and is in great peril due to numerous factors, many of which are linked to human exploitation of the environment. At this critical juncture, Gallery Services felt it was imperative that the community continued to think about the Great Barrier Reef and ways to ensure its long-term sustainability. Selected for display were works in a variety of media that highlighted the spectacular beauty of the reef, but also its fragility. Works were drawn from the City of Townsville Art Collection; the National Gallery of Australia Collection; were kindly loaned by artists, private collectors, and various organisations; or were produced as part of the Weave the Reef | Love the Reef workshop series. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery extends its thanks to those who kindly loaned work for this exhibition, or assisted and participated in programs throughout 2015. The contribution of artists, lenders and participants in the Weave the Reef | Love the Reef workshop series ensured this was a truly successful exhibition in every respect, attracting an impressive 6,414 visitors and recording 100% positive feedback. The major exhibition REEF was also the concluding event in an ambitious 12 month program of Reef themed events delivered by various collaborating organisations and institutions. Collaborating organisations included Townsville City Council; Perc Tucker Regional Gallery; Fibres and Fabrics Association Inc; Museum of Tropical Queensland; Reef HQ Aquarium; Tangaroa Blue Foundation; PechaKucha Night™ Townsville; and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. A number of REEF highlights occurred throughout 2015. Of course, the Weave the Reef | Love the Reef workshop series saw hundreds of community members learn new fibre art techniques throughout the year. Guided by Marion Gaemers and members of the Fibres and Fabrics Association Inc, the workshop series brought more life to the CBD, as well as adding an extra element to popular events such as Eco Fiesta and Strand Ephemera. The varied and hugely colourful work in this exhibition is testament to the success of the program, which also creatively re-purposed marine debris and rubbish. AIMS Open Day 2015 was a great success, with over 10,000 attendees turning up to get a greater idea of what goes on at the Cape Cleveland facility. Visitors enjoyed 24 scientific displays on topics including ocean acidification, Crown-of-Thorns starfish, and ocean observing tools. Close to 4,000 people enjoyed access to the world’s “smartest aquarium” – the National Sea Simulator, as well as the opportunity to hear 23 scientific presentations by some of Australia’s most prominent marine scientists. The Museum of Tropical Queensland continued to enlighten audiences throughout the year as to how coral and marine creatures on the Great Barrier Reef use colour, light, patterns and textures to communicate in the major exhibition, Colour - Secret Language of the Reef. Reef HQ’s packed program affirmed its reputation as not only the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium, but also the best. Members of the community and representatives from the various collaborating organisations came together on September 3 for a very special themed PechaKucha Night. Speakers shared their passion and knowledge of the coral reef with entertaining presentations in the much-loved 20 images x 20 seconds format.
OVERVIEW
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REEF Perc Tucker Regional Gallery 11 December 2015 - 14 February 2016
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PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION Top: Participants in the June 2015 Weave the Reef | Love the Reef workshop at Townsville Bulletin Square. Bottom: Participants with artist Anut Azulay following a reef-themed polymer clay jewellery box making workshop.
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Gallery Services is committed to promoting engagement with the arts and its program of exhibitions through the delivery of a series of public and educational programs, each sitting within either the Creative Communities, Creative Classrooms, or Creative Spaces themes of the Visual Arts Strategy. A number of programs were scheduled and delivered to in the lead-up to and during the major exhibition REEF, involving the artists, collaborating organisations, or hosted by Gallery staff, which further emphasise this committment. Programs arranged to complement REEF included: Weave the Reef | Love the Reef Workshop series Creative Classrooms Program Members of Fibres and Fabrics Association Inc. and artist Marion Gaemers delivered a series of free, pop-up community workshops throughout 2015 in the Townsville CBD and at various events. Participants were guided in creating coral reef structures from marine debris, recycled clothing and crochet, including ghost nets and rubbish collected from Tangaroa Blue Foundation Beach Clean Ups. AIMS Open Day 2015 AIMS Open Day allowed the community to enjoy tours of the Cape Ferguson facility, including the National Sea Simulator, a world-class marine research aquarium. Visitors heard from some of the nation’s most knowledgeable marine scientists on topics ranging from climate change to coral genetics. The Australian Institute of Marine Science Cape Ferguson facility is an international landmark in tropical marine science situated about 50 km from Townsville’s CBD. The event included a Weave the Reef | Love the Reef workshop, and live sculpting by NQ artist Adriaan Vanderlugt. Sunday 14 June 2015 Attendance: 4000 guests PechaKucha™ Night Townsville vol. 9 In a very special themed PechaKucha Night™, speakers shared their passion and knowledge of the coral reef with entertaining presentations in the much-loved 20 images x 20 seconds format. Speakers included representatives from a number of the collaborating organisations. 6.30pm Thursday 3 September 2015 Attendance: 190 guests
REEF Exhibition Launch Creative Communities Program The opening celebration of the major exhibition REEF, held at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and launched by Marion Gaemers. 7pm Friday 11 December 2015 Attendance: 113 guests REEF workshops Creative Communities Program Members of the public were invited to participate in a variety of workshops with local artists to create reef-themed items in a variety of mediums. Programmed workshops included a series of five reef-themed Art Escape School Holiday Workshops delivered in December; Reef weekend workshops delivered by local artists for adults; a Free Family Fun Day (Free Drop-in activity for children and families at the Gallery from 10.30am - 12.30pm on the third Sunday of the month); and two lessons as part of the After School Art program focussing on creating a reef structure from plastic straws. Dates variable Attendance: 149 guests Exhibition Tours Creative Communities Program Gallery staff provided a series of exhibition tours for community groups and organisations upon request, and in a number of instances coupled this tour with a tailored workshops. Groups to tour the exhibition included a local homeschooling class, Endeavour Foundation, and Village Kids. Dates variable Attendance: 73 guests
PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION
Public Programs and Education
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PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION Top: Joanna Bone delivers a Guest Lecture for St. Anthony’s Catholic College students about her glass art practice. Bottom: Marion Gaemers launches the exhibition.
Art After Dark Artist Talk by Joanna Bone Creative Communities Program One of Queensland’s foremost glass artists, Joanna Bone, provided an informative evening exploring her visual arts practice. Joanne discussed the techniques involved in creating her stunning artworks as well as touching upon the natural environments from which she draws inspiration for her fragile glass pieces. 6.30pm Thursday 11 February 2016 Attendance: 13 guests Guest Lecture Series Creative Classrooms Program Whilst in Townsville to deliver her Art After Dark artist talk, Joanna Bone also provided guest lectures to three local secondary classes to discuss her practice and encourage the next generation of glass artists. Lectures were delivered to classes at Heatley Secondary School and St. Anthony’s Catholic College. Thursday 11 and Friday 12 February 2016 Attendance: 57 guests
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DOCUMENTATION
DOCUMENTATION
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Documentation Please find on this spread and the following pages a selection of images taken fromthe Perc Tucker Regional Gallery display of the major exhibition, REEF and its associated programs.
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DOCUMENTATION Above: Weave the Reef | Love the Reef installation by Fibres & Fabrics Ass. Inc. with artist Marion Gaemers and community members.
DOCUMENTATION
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Top: Weave the Reef | Love the Reef installation by Fibres & Fabrics Ass. Inc. with artist Marion Gaemers and community members. Bottom: Weave the Reef | Love the Reef installation by Fibres & Fabrics Ass. Inc. with artist Marion Gaemers and community members.
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DOCUMENTATION Marion Gaemers officially launches REEF.
DOCUMENTATION
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DOCUMENTATION Peter Masters Untitled [detail] 1996 (Restored 2015) Sodium-vapour-glazed porcelain Size variable, installation of 10 forms Courtesy of the Artist, Peter Masters
DOCUMENTATION
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DOCUMENTATION Weave the Reef | Love the Reef installation by Fibres & Fabrics Ass. Inc. with artist Marion Gaemers and community members.
DOCUMENTATION
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DOCUMENTATION Above: Peter Masters Untitled [detail], 1996 (Restored 2015). Sodium-vapour-glazed porcelain, Size variable, installation of 10 forms. Courtesy of the Artist, Peter Masters
DOCUMENTATION
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Top: Works by Pamela Griffith and Joe Nalo displayed in REEF. Bottom: Works by Len Cook, Joanna Bone, Aaron Micallef, and Brian Robinson displayed in REEF.
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DOCUMENTATION Top: Works by Joanna Bone, Aaron Micallef, and Joe Nalo displayed in REEF. Bottom:Works by Wareed Tapau (Bai) Kabe and Jimmi R Bramantya displayed in REEF.
DOCUMENTATION
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Top: REEF. Bottom: Weave the Reef | Love the Reef installation and works by Ben Trupperbäumer and Pamela Griffith displayed in REEF.
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DOCUMENTATION Works by Brian Robinson.
DOCUMENTATION
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Visitor Feedback VISITOR FEEDBACK
With over 6,400 visitors to the exhibition, it was inevitable that a wealth of visitor feedback was recorded.
Indicative of patrons’ appreciation of the exhibition, 163 comments were left in the Gallery’s guest book, of which 100% were positive accounts.
Many compliments for the exhibition were paid in passing to staff and volunteers at the Gallery, while others preferred to leave a more lasting tribute.
A very small selection of our favourite comments are provided below and overleaf.
Fabulous show, brilliantly presented. Congratulations!! Richard Lane - 4815 Wonderful! Fantastically diverse artwork, well presented. Christopher Hoare Gorgeous exhibition. It’s great to see that numerous people are interested in educating and creating awareness about the importance of preserving the reef and its delicate ecosystem. Chiara Bussini - 4819 Congratulations. A wonderful piece of work. Participation was lots of fun. Jackie Suhke - 4819 I hope this exhibition travels to other parts of Australia. Well done on this collaboration, collation and curation. If people can’t go to the reef, take it to them! Michelle Jonke - 4810 Amazing and unique artworks. A wonderful amount of diversity in mediums. Leigh and Craig - 4870 Loved the ceramics and glass. Great diversity. Sheryl D. - 2450 Incredibly clever and creative! Wonderful way to recycle! Loved it!!! Brittany - 4035 Important to raise awareness of the threats to the reef. Beautiful and informative. Wendy Willcox - 4812 Once again a brilliant coming together of so many talented people - well done. Donna Beningfield More of this, please! Brian Boulton - 4810 Beautiful artworks. Very creative use of materials - never get bored of looking at them. Rebecca Steele - 4812 Beautiful exhibition, very professional, inspiring and diverse! Well done! Katya Venter - 3333
VISITOR FEEDBACK
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John Büsst Untitled [Self Portrait] n.d. Synthetic polymer paint on timber panel 38 x 29.5 cm Courtesy of Margaret Thorsborne OA and Friends of Ninney Rise
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Fibres & Fabrics - fantastic work! I wish I’d had time to be involved. Exhibition overall is gorgeous and so varied! Anne Henderson - 4812
VISITOR FEEDBACK
Thank you very much. A wonderful feast for the senses. Shane and Ange Baxter - 4807 Wonderful display - portrayal of reef in so many styles - F&F have surpassed yourselves this time. Jean - 4814 Amazing wander through the Reef - such a colourful, creative experience that left me in awe...ta! Sharon - 4817 Amazing workshops! Loved it! Please publish a book to explain how artists made all these amazing works!! Kat and Yui - 4812 Kids loved the woven reef and the sand dollars. Wonderful! 4818 What a fabulous mixture of medium and colour. I am sure “MONA” would love to exhibit some of these. Bill Turek - 4812 Wonderful creativity, indenuity and talent on display. Well done to all involved. Caitlin - 4815 An amazing collection of varied artworks. Inspirational. LOVE the fibre works, printmaking and ceramics. Ann - 4120 Love the ocean and some amazing works in this exhibition. Steve and Chris Greenwell - Cranbrook Jellyfish in jars are amazing. Love the glassblowing. Sam and Jake This. Place. Is. Awesome. Ayanide - 6030 Beautiful gallery. Great for tourists. 6155 It’s amazing, inspiring and breathtaking to see what the collection of marine debris from our clean-ups can become! Such talent and creativity! I’d love to take part in this stage of marine debris as well. Vanessa - Tangaroa Blue representative of Townsville - 4812 Truly inspirational, both from an environmental and craft/art perspective. Barbara Booth - 4818 Very cool, educational, cute, amazing display by some very talented people. Little children in awe. Shearman family - 4811 Beautifully presented (as always). Sarah - 4812 Outstanding, wanted to embrace and immerse myself deeply in the exquisite sculptural forms, very much enjoyed all aspects of the exhibition. Jacqui Stock - 4810 Really well executed. Shows all the aspects of reef. Balance, chaos, serenity and destruction. Hope. 2452
VISITOR FEEDBACK
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Steffen Dam Specimen Jar 2012 Glass, wood, lighting fixture 31 x 32 x 19 cm Private Collection
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Media and Marketing MEDIA AND MARKETING
Media, marketing, and promotion through Gallery Services’ established mediums contributed to high levels of exposure for and attendance to the exhibition.
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Workshops and exhibition promotion on Townsville Bulletin Square big screen
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REEF folder of collaborative events, distribution of 10,000 throughout 2015
Marketing materials and exhibition collateral which promoted the event, and assisted visitors in interpreting and enjoying the exhibition, included:
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Art After Dark promotional flyer
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Editorial in Tripping Magazine
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2015 Exhibition Calendar, distribution of 10,000
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Invitation, distribution of 1,500
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Exhibition listing within the Townsville City Council website
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Stories in the December, January and February issues of Foreword, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery’s monthly e-news, combined distribution of 2,250
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Facebook coverage
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Twitter coverage
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Story in Townsville City Council’s Arts/ Culture/Events November - January quarterly newsletter, distribution of 10,000
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Listings and paid advertisements in Townsville eye, Townsville Bulletin’s weekend social liftout
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DUO Magazine exhibition listing
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Listing in November/December and January/ February editions of Art Guide Australia
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2 x banners on Perc Tucker Regional Gallery facade
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Local Radio promotion and coverage by local TV stations
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Posters at Gallery front and along Flinders Street
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Photo and article, Townsville Bulletin, Saturday December 26
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Workshops promotion in Pakmag throughout 2015
Left: Art After Dark flyer, Media clippings and Building banner
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MEDIA AND MARKETING
FILM
ART R E T F A K R A D E C N A ORM
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ry l Galle a n o i g ker Re April 2016 c u T c 1 at Per arch and 2 m p 30 - 9 uary, 17 M r Perc 11 Feb
Tucker Regional Gallery
11 December 2015 - 14 Februa
ry 2016
A major exhibition concluding a 12 month collaborative program of Reef eve nts
IMAGE: Steffen Dam Specimen Jar 2012 31 x 32 x 19 cm Glass, wood, lighting fixture Private Collection
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