In Focus Shift

In 2014, Gallery Services initiated SHIFT: elevator art project, a new Creative Spaces program that saw north Queensland artists employed to activate non-traditional art spaces and transform them with innovative artwork designs into locations of significance.

The impetus behind SHIFT was to transform these often overlooked spaces into dynamic transformative artworks to surprise, delight and challenge the viewer while furthering exposure of north Queensland art and artists.

SHIFT: elevator art project showcases Townsville as an arts innovator by commissioning artists to create public artworks for the chosen elevator spaces. Projects of a similar nature have occurred in Tokyo, Japan and Antwerp, Belgium.

By participating, venues not only showed their support for the project and public art but they also: had their elevator beautified with an original, local artwork; created a talking piece for staff and the public; provided an employed opportunity for commissioning local artworks; became part of an urban arts trail; and contributed to the redevelopment and revitalisation of Townsville’s CBD into a cultural hub.

In the first instalment, Gallery Services commissioned four local artists to create artwork for a four-month display across four CBD venues.

The venues were Central, Federation Place, Northtown and Townsville Civic Theatre. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery was also a venue with an existing Ron McBurnie artwork. To participate in the project, venues were required to be publicly accessible.

The four artists commissioned for SHIFT: elevator art project in the first instalment were: Jacqui Duffy (Central), Aaron Ashley (Federation Place), Gerald Soworka (Northtown) and Raul Posse (Townsville Civic Theatre).

Each artist submitted a design which was approved by Gallery Services and the venue. The artworks were then reproduced onto a vinyl material for application. No curatorial restrictions were placed on the artists, however the work needed to be suitable for public display.

SHIFT: elevator art project was officially launched by Councillor Colleen Doyle in a gala event at Federation Place on Friday 28 March 2014. SHIFT received media coverage in the Townsville Bulletin, Seven News and WIN News.

SHIFT is continuing in the 2014/2015 financial year with changeovers scheduled to begin in early July. The next round of artists contracted are: Gai Copeman, Ashleigh Peters and Tommy Pau.

opposite: Jacque DUFFY

Places to go [detail] 2014 elevator art installation

Central, Townsville

Jan being interviewed in front of her large scale paste-up as part of the Faces of Townsville project, Flinders Street. Faces of Townsville is a collaborative project between ABC Open and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery