2013
2013
30 AUGUST - 8 SEPTEMBER
PUBLISHER
Published on the occasion of the exhibition
Gallery Services, Townsville City Council PO Box 1268 Townsville Queensland, 4810 Australia ptrg@townsville.qld.gov.au +61 7 47279011 © Gallery Services, Townsville City Council and the authors 2013
2013
30 AUGUST - 8 SEPTEMBER
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Exhibition organised by GALLERY SERVICES
Shane Fitzgerald
Shane Fitzgerald Manager Gallery Services
EXHIBITION CURATORS
Eric Nash Curator Jo Stacey Team Leader Administration Gallery Services
Eric Nash / Jak Henson
Michael Pope Education and Programs Coordinator Jak Henson Exhibitions and Collection Coordinator
REGISTRATION TEAM
Sarah Welch Acting Exhibitions and Collection Coordinator Rob Donaldson Digital Media and Exhibition Design Coordinator Wendy Bainbridge Administration Officer
Jak Henson / Eric Nash / Leah McManus Holly Grech-Fitzgerald / Sarah Welch
Gillian Ribbins Administration Officer Breanna Capell Gallery Assistant
PUBLICATION DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
Michelle Littman Gallery Assistant
Rob Donaldson / Eric Nash / Carly Sheil / Shane Fitzgerald
Nic Horton Education and Programs Officer
Typeset in Google Open Sans (Text)
Tegan Ollett Education and Programs Assistant
Printing: LOTSA Print and Design
Leah McManus Exhibitions Officer
Photography: All photography by Gallery Services and the Artists unless
Holly Grech-Fitzgerald Collections Management Officer
otherwise noted.
Carly Sheil Digital Media and Exhibition Design Officer
Presentation Partner
School of
Creative Arts
Print Partner
Media Sponsors
People’s Choice Award Sponsor
In-kind Sponsors
CONTENTS Message from the Mayor
6
Foreword
7
2011 Winners
8
Introduction: Strand Ephemera 2013
9
Exhibiting Artist Statements (1 - 24)
10 - 33
Map: Strand Ephemera Site Locations
34 - 35
Exhibiting Artist Statements (25 - 31)
36 - 42
List: Artists Strand Ephemera 2013
43
Workshops, Tours and Events
44
Public Programs Timetable
45 - 51
Photographic Competitions
52
Public Art Symposium
53 - 55
On The Fringe
56 - 62
Permanent Public Art
63
Concurrent Gallery Major Exhibitions
64 - 65
MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Townsville City Council is delighted to present
Of course the artists contribute their time,
Strand Ephemera 2013.
dedication and amazing creativity, while Townsville City Council’s Gallery Services
The event, which transforms Townsville’s iconic
staff members and volunteers have worked
Strand foreshore into an outdoor exhibition
extensively to build on the success of this
of engaging artworks supported by dynamic
much-loved event. My heartfelt thanks to all of
programs, is the highlight of the region’s arts
the artists, staff and volunteers involved.
calendar. Established in 2001, Strand Ephemera is presented biennially and has enchanted
I also thank the various sponsors - both those
hundreds of thousands of viewers over the
who have sponsored specific components
years - many of these viewers hailing from all
of the event and those who have supported
corners of the nation.
individual artists in realising their works. These financial and in-kind contributions
This year, Strand Ephemera will be presented
have enabled Strand Ephemera to grow into a
from 30 August – 8 September, capitalising on
comprehensive festival offering something to
Townsville’s idyllic climate and the beautiful
appeal to all sections of the community.
natural environment. I implore everyone to once again revel in The exhibition features 31 artworks by local
Strand Ephemera. The exhibition is a
and national artists across a range of mediums
celebration of the imagination and
including hard and soft sculpture, photography,
resourcefulness of the participating artists,
projection, and installation works. The artworks
an opportunity to bask in Townsville’s sublime
explore diverse concepts and invite
environment and outdoor lifestyle, and a
consideration, enjoyment and, in some
showcase of how art contributes significantly
cases, interaction.
to our public and recreational spaces.
An event of this magnitude can only be successfully delivered through the hard work and support of a large number of people.
Cr Jenny Hill Mayor of Townsville
6
FOREWORD As a relatively newcomer to Townsville, this year’s Strand
I would be remiss not to thank these countless collaborators,
Ephemera will be the first occasion I have seen the event first-
from our many volunteers and sponsors, to the various
hand. Having been peripherally aware of Strand Ephemera for
sections and staff within Townsville City Council who assist;
many years through its developed national reputation and
including those at Community Services; Performing Arts, Events
glowing testimonials from artists, this is an opportunity I have
and Protocol; Parks and Open Spaces Engineering Services;
been excited about since long before my appointment with
Marketing Communication; Together Townsville; and Property
Gallery Services.
Management.
From this ‘newcomer’ viewpoint I can also confidently say
For the first time Gallery Services has also partnered with James
Townsville is a truly fortunate region. It is clear to me that many
Cook University’s School of Creative Arts for the presentation of
of the region’s attributes have enabled an event like Strand
the Public Art Symposium. Many SoCA students have also been
Ephemera to thrive. Firstly, Townsville is blessed with 300 days of
invaluable in the development of all facets of the exhibition - my
brilliant sunshine, and a recreational beachfront parkland that is
thanks to all SoCA staff and students. Similarly, Gallery Services
the envy of the nation. The Strand offers the perfect platform on
has developed mutually beneficial relationships with many arts
which to stage an exhibition outside the “white box”, a strategy
and cultural organisations who are delivering Fringe Events
which facilitates increased engagement with a broad cross-
during Strand Ephemera. I encourage all to attend and enjoy
section of the community.
these diverse events, and thank the various organisations for their enthusiasm and vision for a more holistic arts festival.
Secondly - on the topic of community - Townsville is home to one of the most dynamic and enthusiastic groups of artists and
Finally, I wish to express my excitement for Strand Ephemera’s
arts patrons I have encountered. Due to this, Strand Ephemera
new direction and future growth. In 2013 the exhibition will
has an inexhaustible creative resource which reinvigorates the
feature a night component for the very first time. I am sure this
exhibition with each showing, and an audience which actively
endeavour will allow the interaction of countless more locals and
participates and champions the event. I thank all of our kind
visitors to the region who may only have an opportunity to visit
supporters, and the artists who have participated since the
after dark. Further, it allows artists more scope to engage with
exhibition’s inception in 2001, for your energy and dedication
new technologies in the presentation of their works.
developing Strand Ephemera into what it is today. This focus is indicative of the way in which the exhibition has Finally, Townsville is home to a great number of people who
and will for many years - continued to grow and evolve for the
are truly giving of their time and effort. My team within Gallery
benefit of all.
Services have gone above and beyond to see to the success of every element of this exhibition. However, these efforts would be
Shane Fitzgerald
for nought without the passionate assistance of many others.
Manager, Gallery Services
7
2011 WINNERS The previous Strand Ephemera took place from 2-12 September 2011. The exhibition featured 36 artworks, and was widely acclaimed by the 70,000 plus visitors, culminating in the event winning the Festivals and Events Section of the 2012 Townsville Airport NQ Tourism Awards. With a vast array of art works to marvel at, the job of selecting a winner was always going to be a difficult one for guest judge Sebastian Di Mauro, Senior Lecturer at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith Univesity. After much deliberation, Di Mauro settled on splitting the prize between two knockout works; Erica Gray’s striking Rock Anemone, and an installation of 13 life sized figures entitled Bagu with Jiman by Girringun Artists. Rock Anemone showcased Gray’s amazing skill with soft sculpture and colour, tapping in to her background in fashion and textile arts. Of Bagu with Jiman, the Girringun Artists stated, “Bagu, a mystical spirit of fire, would throw the Jiman (firestick) across the sky and a trail of fire would follow. These mixed media bagu are a contemporary development from the traditional firemaker which was made of wood and painted with ochres.”
Top: Erica Gray Rock Anemone 2011, PVC fabric, polyester fibre, 120 x 350 x 75 cm. Co-recipient of the Award for Artistic Excellence Strand Ephemera 2011. Photo: Brigitte Zimmerman Bottom: Girringun Artists Bagu with Jiman 2011, Ceramic, wood, string, cane, grass and metal, 13 figures. Co-recipient of the Award for Artistic Excellence Strand Ephemera 2011. Photo: David Lynam
8
STRAND EPHEMERA 2013 The journey to here started as long as a year ago for many of
Strand Ephemera also encourages artists to respond to the
this year’s exhibited artists; brain-storming innovative concepts
location in which their work will be displayed, and in doing
that would be put forward for consideration and possible
so consider a level of conceptual engagement with prevalent
inclusion in the 2013 Strand Ephemera. Assessment processes
environmental issues.
can be challenging for any artist and Gallery Services’ offers its profuse thanks to not only those selected, but to all of those who
It is encouraging to see so many artists included in this
submitted applications.
exhibition (too many to list) highlighting current environmental and social issues of genuine concern. The consideration of these
This year’s Strand Ephemera features 31 artworks, however the
issues by a broad cross-section of the community who visit the
realisation of these works has involved the considerable effort of
exhibition can only result in increased awareness and, with luck,
over 40 artists and participants—and countless more sponsors
solutions moving forward.
and supporters. Congratulations must go to all those involved in achieving the stunning final works.
The success of an exhibition of this magnitude also relies heavily on the interaction and participation of viewers. Gallery
The artworks that have been included in Strand Ephemera
Services develops a vibrant array of programs to this end, but
represent a fine balance between conceptually challenging and
a number of works also feature built-in participatory elements.
visually captivating. Most pleasing, a number of common trends
Such works include Jan Hynes’ Strabble, the sprawling cardboard
running throughout the exhibition have emerged.
metropolis Vertical Disaster organised by La Luna Youth Arts and facilitated by local artists Shane Keen and HARRY, and the
Most obviously, and meeting the requirements of this year’s
mammoth Whale Thong which is constructed by artists with and
increased focus on the exhibition’s night presence, many of
without a disability.
the artists have considered the display of their work after dark. While in many cases this involves the incorporation of a lighting
Gallery Services is extremely proud to present this year’s
element to increase the work’s visual presence, there are those
Strand Ephemera, and of the achievements of its artists and
that have taken the concept further.
participants. To fully appreciate the exhibition and the full scope of the artists’ achievements and vision I encourage you to read
For Gabi Sturman, it is the playful presentation of a nocturnal
the detailed information about each work provided within
creature, the owl; while the collaboration between Robert Crispe,
this publication.
Michelle Hall and Jo Lankester has resulted in a work that is completely transformed at night through a projection element. Sarah Emily Kate’s backlit photography also includes kinetic
Eric Nash
components encouraging interaction.
Curator, Gallery Services
9
1 The Winged Collective Adaptation
2013
Plastic, thread, wire, button cell batteries, LED lights, wire, polyester filling Multiple forms varying in size Price on application
Adaptation is a direct attack on the rubbish dumped in the ocean by humans; the small things that get washed down storm water drains that appear to be harmless yet cause enormous damage to the ecosystem. These items are often either eaten by or wrapped around sea animals. The hermit crab is both an inspiring and tragic example of the adaptability required of marine life to not only deter natural predators, but also to withstand pollution. In this case the hermit crab’s adaptation both utilises and highlights the detritus of mankind.
10
2 Naomi Gittoes Imagine‌.. Epiphany Bubbles
2013
Clear cast perspex spheres, cast vinyl images from artist’s pen & ink drawings, solar powered marine lights on foam mount, high tension wire, plastic tubing, concrete anchoring block Installation of 5 spheres, 51 cm diameter each Price on application
Naomi grew up by the sea in Bundeena on the Southern edge of Sydney, surrounded by the second oldest national park in the world. Art, as well as the sea, claimed her early in life and from her earliest memories she has always felt a need to be in the ocean, now using it to inspire her art practice. At 25, Naomi places enormous value on the preservation of imagination, and has developed a strong creative voice and consistent creative output, creating flexibility by working from mobile studios around the world in such places as New York, the West Caribbean island of Utila, the East coast of Mexico, and Hawaii.
11
3 Steve Campbell & Donna Foley 100 things that change with the wind 2013 PVC pipe, ZINC and nylon construction with vinyl on corflute wind-vanes 280 x 310 cm Price on application
Steve Campbell is a Sound Artist and Senior Lecturer in music at James Cook University, Townsville. Donna Foley is a Visual Artist whose work explores the intersection of the visual and verbal. Of their 2013 artwork, the artists state; “This playful installation provides a sense of the primal power and effects of the wind, both sonically through the incorporation of a wind instrument, and visually. The work includes Western Art’s iconic images of Flora, the Goddess of Spring and, on the flipside of these depictions, Zephyr the Winter Wind as an instrument of transformation. From winter to spring and, simultaneously and metaphorically, from lust to love, the song of life is sanctioned. One hundred windvanes arranged in prime numbers represent the wind’s primal force as the possibility of positive or negative subtexts strike chords/discords at whim.”
12
4 India Collins Light my Way
2013
Plastic dome and toys, lighting, enamel paint Installation of multiple lamps, 60 x 80 x 80 cm each Price on application
Cairns based, Canadian born artist India Collins strives to blur the lines between art and design. Much of her work has a natural bent towards functionality, creating lifestyle pieces that serve a purpose while revitalising a space through colour, texture and playful narratives. With an extensive background in textile and surface design, she regularly pushes the boundaries of conventionality and aesthetics by combining ‘built’ pieces with bespoke surface design. Of Light my Way Collins states; “This is an interactive cluster of large dome shaped lights which hang together suspended from the branches of a tree. The domes are unassuming on the outside and are uniform in colour. However, upon approach of these lamps, each one reveals a surprising narrative within. This work is a play on the enjoyment we glean from some of life’s unexpected little surprises as we carry on with our busy lives.”
13
5 Rainer H. Schlüter Blue Dancers (Danseuses Bleues) Quintet 2013 Beachwood, acrylic paint 10 forms varying in size, max size 150 x 30 x 320 cm $10,500
A monumental artwork, Blue Dancers (Danseuses Bleues) - Quintet takes inspiration from two famous works; Matisse’s Danseuses Bleues and Giacometti’s Walking Man. The 10 beachwood forms representing abstract dancers transform these classical references into something that is entirely new, poetic, and evidently influenced by the tropical environment. Made from fallen beach trees, the long abstract human forms have been carved and assembled, and then painted in acrylic ultramarine blue. The sculpture’s finesse, longitudinal tension and precarious balance represent the dancing movement of the trees, the waves of the sea when exposed to tropical winds, and the fragility of human relations.
14
6 Chandra Paul The Space between the Waves 2013 Installation of hundreds of porcelain ceramic forms Approximately 2 x 3 cm each Price on application
With a Diploma of Ceramics from Chisholm Institute of TAFE (2003), Chandra Paul has been exhibiting in Melbourne since 2008. The Space between the Waves is an ephemeral ceramic installation exploring the idea of void, loss of place and the existential notion that we exist as a reflection in another entity. It is a collection of cast and carved porcelain wave forms dispersed organically on the ground in a formation designed to look like a wave, or a picture of the sea. Consistent with the theme of void, it forms a picture of an elusive space, or a place which does not exist. The artist’s intent is to convey that it is just as hard to locate the space between the waves, as it is to construct meaning free from subjectivity.
15
7 Ralph Knight Vanishing Facades
2013
Recycled timber and glass 5 forms varying in size, max size 180 x 180 cm Price on application
In 2000 Ralph began exploring the use of timber, wood carving and model making. It was at this time he became aware of the gradual disappearance of the iconic Queenslander from his neighbourhood. In response, he began exploring possibilities of reproducing facades to capture the many variations of style, structure and ornamentation which are fast disappearing. Of Vanishing Facades, Knight states; “Living in the north, we have become alarmed at the disappearance of the ‘old Queenslander’ style of house; Australia’s unique contribution to world architecture. Vanishing Facades shows five ‘old Queenslander’ facades, disappearing into the distance along a sightline to Cape Cleveland, representing some essential features of the style. The facades represent the changing face of Townsville and the north: nostalgia for a NQ that was.”
16
8 Joy Heylen Coquillage 2013 Copper rolled and distressed with puddled finish 150 x 100 x 60 cm $7,760
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” Leonardo Da Vinci With a nod to Da Vinci’s concept of refined aesthetics, Joy Heylen has created a stunning and restrained organic form from raw metal. Of Coquillage the artist states; “The work is an interpretation of organic emotion and physical matter. It explores the relationship between the organic qualities and resistance of metal, and also the tension between the complex realisation of form and the limitations and economy of the materials used. It is a multi-positional sculpture for display both indoor and outdoor, and has been hand-crafted in the timeless method of sculpting copper with flame, linking both art and history with contemporary design.”
17
9 Robert Crispe, Michelle Hall & Jo Lankester Flotilla 2013 Textiles, paper, wooden hoops, ink, projection, jenkai and crimps, tiger wire 1000 x 1500 x 1000 cm Price on application
Flotilla is an ambitious collaborative work by three of Townsville’s most prolific artists and artsworkers; Robert Crispe, Michelle Hall and Jo Lankester. Crispe is a recent graduate of JCU’s School of Creative Arts with extensive experience in projection artwork, Hall is a contemporary artist and community arts facilitator, specialising in soft sculpture installations and Lankester, who graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (1994) is a printmaker with a particular interest in the natural environment. Flotilla combines three distinct disciplines, with the work exploring notions of loss and anonymity experienced during chaotic times. Textile forms, suggestive of ghosts, have been printed with boat forms. The appearance of the work shifts with nightfall as an atmospheric projection acts as a storm on which the ghosts and boats float.
18
10 Ian Loiterton The End Game
2013
Fibreglass, steel, mixed media 260 x 700 x 300 cm Price on application
Born in New South Wales in 1970, Ian lived on Magnetic Island until mid-August 2013. Using drawing as a starting point, Ian has utilised a range of technologies to realise his concepts in two-dimensional, sculptural and digital formats. Of The End Game, Loiterton states; “This Strand Ephemera entry includes a central figure, which was created from an original, free hand concept drawing, then developed into technical drawings showing the front, side and top projections. From this point, a 3D computer model was generated to allow a smaller prototype to be machine milled, prior to the fabrication of the full scale machine milled version in 2011. The central figure has been shown in different formats in the USA and a major competition in Victoria, but is reinterpreted here as The End Game. In this work, the figure is being taken by a large hand, which suggests the figure is a piece in the game of chess, which is a metaphor for life.�
19
11 The Winged Collective The Sirens
2013
Printed digital dibond, mirrored alucobond, solar lighting, metal wire, sand pegs Multiple forms varying in size $1,200 per head
Square in your ship’s path are Sirens, crying beauty to bewitch men coasting by; woe to the innocent who hears that sound! He will not see his lady nor his children in joy, crowding about him, home from sea; The Sirens will sing his mind away on their sweet meadow lolling. There are bones of dead men rotting in a pile beside them and flayed skins shrivel around the spot. Steer wide; keep well to seaward; plug your oarsmen’s ears with beeswax kneaded soft; none of the rest should hear that song. But if you wish to listen, let the men tie you in the lugger, hand and foot, back to the mast, lashed to the mast so you may hear those harpies’ thrilling voices; shout as you will, begging to be untied, your crew must only twist more line around you and keep their stroke up, till the singers fade. Homer Odyssey, Book 12, 41-58
20
12 Jan Hynes Strabble 2013 Timber, paint, varnish Dimensions variable Price on application
Having attained a Master of Creative Arts majoring in Painting from James Cook University, Jan Hynes has evidenced her adaptability, inventiveness, skill and humour across countless solo exhibitions in Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville, and as a selected artist in Strand Ephemera since its inception in 2001. She states that Strabble; “evokes memories of pre-electronic times when board games were part of holiday fun. It provides the opportunity to socialise and play a game not experienced since childhood, in the beautiful outdoors of The Strand.� Strabble is a simplified, score-free variation of outdoor Scrabble where people can participate by adding a word or playing a complete game according to their interest. Satisfaction comes not from winning, but from seeing a word completed, and participating in a team effort.
21
13 Sue Tilley One Fish, Two Fish, NO Red Fish, NO Blue Fish 2013 Cutlery and saucepan over stainless steel armature 180 x 93 x 87 cm Price on application
A sculptor working predominantly in found vintage metal, Tilley is passionate about both environment and community. The materials used in each work are integral to the concept. Her aim is to engage the viewer as they identify the objects used in the sculpture, leading them to consider the issue being addressed. Of One Fish, Two Fish, NO Red Fish, NO Blue Fish, Tilley states; “Global overfishing since the 1960s has depleted nearly all commercial fish populations and degraded the ecosystems that support them. Several ‘big fish species’ which are vital global food sources are facing extinction. Ultimately the greatest impact will be felt in developing countries which rely on fish as a primary source of protein.”
22
14 GhostNets Australia Concept by Karen Hethey and Cecile Williams. Collaborative work created at a public workshop at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2011 with TSI artists Frank Petero, Georgia Curry, Angela Torenbeek, Jimmy Thaiday and the general public.
Ghost Net Crocodile
2011
Bamboo, rattan, ghost net, marine debris 1200 x 450 x 65 cm Not For Sale Pictured with the work are Angela Torenbeek, Greg Adams and Georgia Curry
Ghost nets are fishing nets that are lost or abandoned at sea, representing a major threat for marine fauna and an ongoing problem for indigenous saltwater communities across Australia’s top end. GhostNets Australia (GNA) works with indigenous ranger groups to retrieve the nets and to collect data on their type and location. The Ghost Net Art Project arose from the conundrum of what to do with the mountains of ghost net and marine debris retrieved from beaches along Australia’s remote northern coastline. GNA’s Ghost Net Art Project focuses on communities that have been identified as ‘ghost net hotspots’, sponsoring workshops with a view to engaging community members to create art, craft and functional pieces from ghost nets. Kindly Supported By
23
15 S.A. Adair Fleeting
2013
Felt, glue Dimensions variable $1,800
S.A. Adair’s work explores the metaphysical potential of objects and materials, and the interplay these elements have within a particular environment. The artist states; “Forms and ideas are generated through experimentation with ‘process’ where chance and errors have an integral part to play in the development of the work. Working in a site-related manner, I use the sense of space and location to influence the final construction of the piece. I like to think that my work functions as an undercurrent, a murmuring - whispering to the viewer and encouraging subtle reflections of self, space and environment.” S.A. Adair has been a frequent exhibitor in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT since the early 2000s, and holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours from the Australian National University, majoring in Sculpture.
24
16 Adriaan Vanderlugt Unearthed
2013
Recycled farm steel, paint, marble, granite, limestone, soapstone, steatite and basalt Dimensions variable based on grouping, height of forms variable up to 120 cm $9,900 complete work, or $1,100 each form
Adriaan Vanderlugt was born in the Netherlands, grew up in Canada and from 1977 has lived in the Whitsundays in Queensland. Adriaan has a background in graphic design and has been creating environmental sculptures in bone, stone, marble, wood and metal for over four decades. In 2003 he was honoured with a Centenary Medal for distinguished service to the arts. Unearthed is an installation of 9 bird forms constructed from recycled farm steel, each with an egg carved from various stones at their feet. Of Unearthed, Vanderlugt states; “The process of cultivation upends what is; what was below is now on top. Have these birds unearthed their history? Or have they unearthed their future?�
25
17 MJ Ryan Bennett Come Play with Me
2013
Mild steel with concrete footing Installation of 4 forms 200 cm x various widths each $5,000 for complete work of 4 forms Photo: Anya Kramansky
Ryan Bennett’s work to date is a combination of sculptural jewellery compositions, small objects and public art commissions. Her designs are inspired by “the environment within which I live; the complexity of form and how it contributes to a perception and dialogue of the community.” Of Come Play with Me, the artist states; “Come play with Me includes four life-size steel sculptures referencing the various stages of performing a handstand. This interactive composition encourages the viewer to mimic each sculpture’s pose, and brings out the ephemeral quality of play, which is never the same and always changing.”
26
18 Julie Bruce, Elizabeth Tillack & Sue Valis Breezeway 2013 Timber, paint, ceramic, fabric, printing inks, dyes 220 x 230 x 115 cm $3,900
Breezeway was inspired by the artists’ shared stories about living in the environment of the tropics. Within a wooden framework resembling the façade of a typical Queenslander, two weathered French doors are incorporated. These were sourced from the demolished family home of Murray Massi of Cardwell following Tropical Cyclone Yasi. Hand rolled and cut, the terracotta louvres have been decorated with salt-encrusted debris from The Strand, causing the rustic flushing when fired in a gas kiln. The louvres are set within old disused railway carriage window frames. The curtains, which create the movement in the installation, have been spraypainted with inks and printed with screened stencils. The leaves of the sea almond trees found along The Strand are featured in the design.
27
19 UnitingCare Community With visual artist Vonnie van Bemmel and silversmith/sculptor Julie Bentley: A collaborative recycled art project by artists with and without disability
Whale Thong
2013
Plyboard, steel rods, reinforced wire, chicken wire, thongs, battery operated audio, LED lights 300 x 300 x 150 cm Price on application
A group of amateur artists with disability were mentored through a series of workshops to conceptualise, design and construct a life-size sculpture of a whale’s tail. Local visual artist Vonnie van Bemmel and sculptor and silversmith Julie Bentley led the project, which was hosted by UnitingCare Community. Whale Thong is a humorous title for a project with a serious message about the benefits of inclusive communities and environmental conservation. It is a great example of what people with and without disabilities can produce together and is proudly showcased during Disability Action Week. The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government initiative that supports sustainable cultural development in regional, remote and very remote Australia. The program is delivered in partnership with Artslink Queensland. The thongs used in this artwork have been kindly donated by the Lifeline Distribution Centre.
28
20 Geoff Overheu Gates of Reason 2013 Polyethylene, bronze, solar components Installation of 6 barrier forms, 90 x 120 x 240 cm each $24,000
Having completed his BA Hons Fine Arts Degree from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2004, Overheu has held 8 solo and many group exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, and even as far as Basel, Switzerland. Of Gates of Reason, Overheu states; “Barriers take away any necessity for us to make decisions. Their function is to guide, direct, prevent or divide the flow of humanity. No decision is required by us once we are confronted by a barrier. We simply follow the silent instruction that it gives without any recourse to thinking. It is simply doing its job for our own wellbeing. By placing bronze bas relief sculpture within the barrier, the viewer is compelled to stop, and by the very action they subvert the function of the barrier. The barrier has changed from its utilitarian function to something of a dilemma.�
29
21 Annee Miron You are still part of the Commonwealth 2013 Sisal rope, glow rope, and found vintage Union Jack flag 10 x 400 cm Price on application Photo: Deirdre Carmichael, 2011
Miron’s work is chiefly concerned with notions of transience, and avoids the use of permanent fixtures in favour of more ephemeral, delicate or vulnerable works. Of You are still part of the Commonwealth, Miron states; “Australia’s colonisation brought straight lines, roads, rails and fences breaking the many indigenous countries into Anglo-European manageable and marketable pieces. Great fires, droughts, floods and storms demonstrate that the country itself does not know these lines. Many of us live on, rather than with, our country as Australian identity remains tied to Britain and the Union Jack occupies a quarter of our flag. In You are still part of the Commonwealth, hand plaitted ropes tighten a noose around the Australian shoreline whilst the Union Jack drags them back out to sea.”
30
22 John Stanley Elements of Ambience 2013 Steel, aluminium, timber, plants, soft stone installation of modular pots 80 x 120 x 100 cm each Price on application
A business owner for 25 years, John Stanley is the Designer and Creator of modular forms for ‘living sculpture’. In recent times he has furthered his investigation of these sculptures, and this work is indicative of the boundless possibilities for functional artwork. Of his practice, Stanley states; “This is the start of a new journey for me as a creative practitioner. It began in 2012 and I am discovering there are infinite possibilities to the functional sculptural forms that can be created, be it in response to a client’s needs or wishes, or responding directly to a site or theme. I am passionate about both sculpture and nature, and wish to find a way to meld them into a functional feature that is interesting to live with and sit within. To achieve this, I utilise colour, light, volume, mass, space and formal coherence. Elements of Ambience has been created to respond to the theme of North Queensland.”
31
23 Hugh Martin Dragonfly Spirits 2013 Aluminium, steel, nylon, automotive paint Installation of 21 forms, 40 x 67 x 40 cm each form $50 each form
Popular Townsville sculptor Hugh Martin has developed an installation of multiple dragonfly forms as a means to explore colour, and the way in which we perceive it based on various influences. Of Dragonfly Spirits, Martin states; “People might think ‘why insects?’…Why not? To me, insects such as dragonflies are mesmerising with their amazing colours, which can be iridescent or metallic in appearance. These colours are also fluid, shifting depending on different light conditions or even the mood of the viewer. The installation is also about having fun; society and all its challenges can often leave us feeling there is no time for fun as we get caught up in all of the serious stuff. This is where I think the celebration of colour comes in, for both the viewer, and my own enjoyment in the process of creation.”
32
24 Erica Gray Complicated Tap Sets 2013 Wooden base, plush fabric, polyester stuffing Dimensions variable $4,800
An award winning artist with a background in fashion, Erica utilises a variety of techniques and materials to stitch her soft sculptures. Erica’s artworks have been exhibited in both indoor and outdoor shows, including the World of WearableArt Awards show, winning the Gen-i Creative Excellence Section. Of Complicated Tap Sets, the artist states; “With a father that worked as a plumber and three brothers that would eventually follow him into the trade it isn’t surprising that plumbing fixtures are a continuing theme within my art practice. As a soft sculpture artist I enjoy using unconventional materials to challenge the nature of sculpture and these nonsensical plush tap sets allow us to relax our predetermined ideas of what the size, scale and materiality of an object should be.”
33
3 2
12
Steve Campbell & Donna Foley (Page 12)
Naomi Gittoes
5
(Page 11)
8
Rainer H. Schl端ter
Jan Hynes (Page 21)
Joy Heylen
13
(Page 17)
(Page 14)
10
i2
14 Sue Tilley (Page 22)
Ian Loiterton (Page 19)
GhostNets Australia
15
S.A
(Pa
Concept by Karen Hethey and Cecile Williams. Collaborative work created at a public workshop at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2011 with TSI artists Frank Petero, Georgia Curry, Angela Torenbeek, Jimmy Thaiday and members of the general public
(Page 10)
4 F Amanda Feher Flex
Permanent Public Artwork
(Page 63)
34
India Collins
7
(Page 13)
6
Landsboough St.
The Winged Collective
Howitt St.
1
McKinley St.
(Page 23)
Ralph Knight (Page 16)
Chandra Paul (Page 15)
9
Robert Crispe, Michelle Hall & Jo Lankester (Page 18)
11
The Winged Collective (Page 20)
i1
1
SITE LOCATIONS 31 28
19
A.Adair
(Page 30)
(Page 42)
Marion Gaemers (Page 39)
Stephen de Jersey & Alison McDonald (Page 38)
23
Hugh Martin (Page 32)
(Page 28)
MJ Ryan Bennett
Adriaan Vanderlugt (Page 25)
18
20 Julie Bruce, Elizabeth Tillack & Sue Valis (Page 27)
Geoff Overheu (Page 29)
Fryer St.
Oxley St.
Kennedy St.
(Page 26)
Gregory St.
16
27 Annee Miron
with visual artist Vonnie van Bemmel and silversmith/sculptor Julie Bentley: A collaborative recycled art project by artists with and without disability
age 24)
17
UnitingCare Community
21
Sarah Emily Kate
22
i3
John Stanley (Page 31)
24
Erica Gray
30 29
Lynnette Griffiths (Page 41)
Jo Anglesey (Page 40)
26
Gabi Sturman
25
La Luna Youth Arts
(Page 37)
Facilitated by HARRY and Shane Keen
(Page 33)
(Page 36)
Legend #
Strand Ephemera artwork locations
i#
Strand Ephemera Information Desk locations
F
Permanent Public Artwork unveiled during Strand Ephemera
35
25 La Luna Youth Arts Facilitated By HARRY & Shane Keen
Vertical Disaster
2013
Cardboard boxes, paint, audio visual equipment, fishing line, tent pegs, tarpaulin Dimensions variable
Exploring the sensitivity of cities to extreme weather, artists and young people will construct a city scape. Changes to the installation caused by the weather will be incorporated into the sprawl of the city, with new buildings and walkways being constructed on a daily basis. Battling the elements, the construction will see taller and larger buildings built on top of damaged structures; walkways will become narrower with increasing twists and turns. Ultimately, a large, densely constructed metropolis will emerge. Which will be victorious, the builders and their city, or the natural elements? The final days of the installation will provide an answer to this interactive community installation project.
36
26 Gabi Sturman A vulnerable parliament
2013
Slip cast porcelain, LED lighting Installation of multiple owl forms Dimensions variable $4,500 parliament of 12 owls or $380 each form
A vulnerable parliament is an installation featuring life size ceramic sculptures of the Lesser Sooty Owl, Tyto multipunctata. Of the installation, Sturman states; “The Lesser Sooty Owl is found only in the wet tropical rainforests and is classified as vulnerable. A parliament is the name given to a group of owls. As the Lesser Sooty Owl is unable to build a true nest and depends on nest hollows, it is especially vulnerable to habitat loss. The most significant conservation problem is the destruction, degradation and alteration of habitat.�
37
27 Stephen de Jersey & Alison McDonald Lost & Found
2013
Installation of 500 recycled tyres and industrial ties Dimensions variable Price on Application
Alison McDonald’s artwork sits at the junction of sculpture, consumer culture and environmental concern. Architect Stephen de Jersey anchors projects by responding to the unique conditions associated with the individual site. The artists state; “The site has many unique qualities including its topography and spatial composition, available views and vistas, and its solar and wind orientations. This built form utilises these site qualities, thereby finding a ‘Lost-Space’. The work utilises commonplace waste product (used car tyres) as its principal building block. The method of arrangement of these tyres enables an engagement with the bedding beach sand and the creation of an entirely interactive space synonymous with the particularities of the site; a found ‘Lost-Space’.”
38
28 Marion Gaemers Germination
2013
Cane, paper, net, beach and urban flotsam Installation of 3 large seed pod forms, Dimensions variable $400 each form
Marion Gaemers holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts (1994) from James Cook University, and has staged a host of solo exhibitions of her fibre-based artworks in central and northern Queensland since the early 1990s. Of Germination, Gaemers states; “This work continues my exploration of the interaction between humans and the environment, and the questioning of who will win. Germination is an installation of 3 large seed pods that are just sprouting. It shows them adapting to their environment, using the beach and urban flotsam (rubbish) to develop the growing shoot from the seed. This work illustrates that plants can adapt, modify and alter to survive.�
39
29 Jo Anglesey Rainbows 2013 Fabric Dimensions variable
Rainbows symbolises the protection of trees, forests, and environmental eco-cultures. Anglesey states; “Rainbows are a testament of natural elements, upon which life depends, and a natural phenomenon used as a symbol of hope since ancient times. This work draws attention to trees that make the air we breathe, upon which life depends.� Anglesey is currently completing a PhD at the University of Tasmania which is focussed on ephemeral installation with environmental critique, under the overarching umbrella of Festival. Recently she was Artist in Residence for Riverside Primary School in Tasmania, and devised and supervised an art program, Our Living Garden = Our Living Earth, with Grade 4/5 students.
40
30 Lynnette Griffiths Salt Water Immigrants
2013
Steel frame and stand, thongs, ghost nets, recycled materials 200 x 150 x 60 cm Price on application
Lynnette Griffiths works between Cairns and the Torres Strait, predominantly with Indigenous artists, and finds inspiration in the social networks of family and community life. Of Salt Water Immigrants, Griffiths states; “Convicts, migrants, refugees - all have crossed the high tide mark by some means to be part of this country. This sculpture depicts a ‘New Australian Family’. As the global problem of oceanic plastic waste increases it is difficult to find a pristine shoreline. Much of this rubbish travels many sea miles to end up on Australian soil. I want to highlight the huge environmental problem to our eco system this rubbish creates. However, once this flotsam enters our environment it becomes our collective responsibility; something must be done with it. New beginnings can be creatively constructed, generating new meaning and life.”
41
31 Sarah Emily Kate Beautiful One Day
2013
PVC pipe, acrylic sheet, inkjet photographs on backlit film, marine and exterior paint, marine plywood, waterproof lights, solar panel, water Dimensions variable $8,900
Originating from Hervey Bay, Sarah Emily Kate is a photographic artist whose practice is inspired by both travel, and an ingrained curiosity and admiration for the landscape and natural wonders. Of Beautiful One Day, she states; “Life is a journey and wherever it takes us, we see new environments through the memory of old places. We forge a connection to places that have brought us happiness, and this instils a sense of responsibility within us to preserve that happiness. Connecting memory to place is an important aspect of this work that asks the viewer to physically interact with the kinetic components of the piece. The viewer experiences the landscape within the work, whilst interacting within the landscape surrounding the work. Perhaps this will start a whole new journey into long forgotten places.�
42
ARTISTS STRAND EPHEMERA 2013 S.A.Adair (page 24) Jo Anglesey (page 40) Julie Bruce, Elizabeth Tillack and Sue Valis (page 27) Steve Campbell and Donna Foley (page 12) India Collins (page 13) Robert Crispe, Michelle Hall and Jo Lankester (page 18) Stephen de Jersey and Alison McDonald (page 38) Marion Gaemers (page 39) GhostNets Australia: Concept by Karen Hethey and Cecile Williams. Collaborative work created at a public workshop at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2011 with TSI artists Frank Petero, Georgia Curry, Angela Torenbeek, Jimmy Thaiday and the general public. (page 23) Naomi Gittoes (page 11)
La Luna Youth Arts: Facilitated by HARRY and Shane Keen (page 36) Ian Loiterton (page 19) Hugh Martin (page 32) Annee Miron (page 30) Geoff Overheu (page 29) Chandra Paul (page 15) MJ Ryan Bennett (page 26) Rainer H. Schl端ter (page 14) John Stanley (page 31) Gabi Sturman (page 37) Sue Tilley (page 22)
Lynnette Griffiths (page 41)
UnitingCare Community: with visual artist Vonnie van Bemmel and silversmith/sculptor Julie Bentley. A collaborative recycled art project by artists with and without disability (page 28)
Joy Heylen (page 17)
Adriaan Vanderlugt (page 25)
Jan Hynes (page 21)
The Winged Collective (pages 10, 20)
Erica Gray (page 33)
Sarah Emily Kate (page 42) Ralph Knight (page 16)
43
WORKSHOPS, TOURS AND EVENTS The public program for this year’s Strand Ephemera features a variety of activities designed to complement and enhance the visitors’ experience of this wonderful ten-day event. The program features daily guided tours of Strand Ephemera, drop-in workshops by some of the artists from Strand Ephemera, performances and Fringe Events.
Drop-in workshops are programmed all along The Strand and are suitable for both adults and children. These workshops are free and are led by participating artists, with a variety of different activities ranging from sculpting animals from clay through to making balls from recycled plastic bottles! A highlight of this program will be the chance to work with GhostNets Australia over three days to make a turtle from ghost nets and flotsam. work shop
Guided tours take in the artworks along The Strand each day. There are morning, late afternoon and evening tours on selected days that depart from the Information Desk 1 near the Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club. Selected guided tours include an artist talk by Strand Ephemera artists, while all the 7pm tours are followed by video bombing by ABC Open at 8pm. tour
Performances and Fringe Events will occur on each day of the festival. These events are your chance to work with artists to construct artwork, enjoy wonderful music from the Pink Piano or take in some more art, performance and artist talks at external venues that coincide with Strand Ephemera. The arts in Townsville truly comes alive during the festival so take the opportunity to immerse yourself in what the region has to offer. event
fringe
Please refer to the program for day-by-day listings to plan your visit, and we hope you enjoy everything this wonderful event has to offer.
44
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TIMETABLE
30
Vertical Disaster construction
Friday, August
30
Pink Ladies Plus performance
Friday, August
11am - 2pm
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
5.30pm
31
Main Exhibition Tour
Saturday, August
This special tour commencing from The Winged
Music from North Queensland composed in
Collective’s Adaptation will explore all artworks in
the early 20th century.
for adults and school-aged children.
Strand Ephemera, and includes brief artist talks by the
event
9.30am - 12pm
participating artists.
at artwork location
25
31
Guided Tour and Artist Talk
Saturday, August
7pm
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
31
Drop-in Workshops
Saturday, August
1.30 - 4pm Drop-in workshop with
centrally and moving towards Tobruk Pool. This tour will
GhostNets Australia
be accompanied by an artist talk at Lynnette Griffiths’
Learn simple fibre techniques and contribute to
work Salt Water Immigrants.
tour
fringe at the Pink Piano
making a turtle using ghost nets and other marine
at artwork location
1
31
Bohemian Masquerade Ball
Saturday, August
7 - 11.45pm
- Artspaced, Federation Place, Sturt Street - Tickets $30 prepaid or $40 at the door
debris. All ages.
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
31
ABC Open Video Bomb
Saturday, August
8pm
ABC Open is bombing the city with videos made
work shop
near Information Desk 1
3 - 5pm Wearable Art with MJ Ryan Bennett Learn simple jewellery making techniques to produce a piece of wearable art using cable ties, beads and French knitting. Ages 12+. work shop
near Information Desk 1
by north Queensland residents. Bring a chair, snacks, drinks and warm clothes and watch quality short movies.
fringe
Artspaced Federation Place, Sturt Street
01
Vertical Disaster construction
Sunday, September
11am - 2pm
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts 3 - 5pm Weaving with Marion Gaemers
and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
Using rope and hay bailing twine, make sunflowers
for adults and school-aged children.
with stitching and weaving techniques. Ages 12+.
Tobruk Pool Coffee Shop
fringe
work shop
near Information Desk 3
event
at artwork location
25 45
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TIMETABLE
01 Sunday, September
P ink Ladies performance 4pm
01
Guided Tour
Sunday, September
Sunday, September
5pm
Catch a performance of modern classics and jazz music performed by the Pink Ladies at the Pink Piano.
01
Drop-in Workshops
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting centrally and moving towards Kissing Point.
10am - 12pm Sculptures from Ghost Nets and Flotsam with Lynnette Griffiths
Using supplied net and marine debris participants will learn suitable construction techniques to build a
fringe
at the Pink Piano
02
Guided Tour
Monday, September
9.30am
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting centrally and moving towards Kissing Point.
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
tour
three-dimensional form. Suitable for adults.
departs from Information Desk 1
02
near Information Desk 3
10am - 12pm Rope with Annee Miron
Vertical Disaster construction
Monday, September
work shop
Annee Miron will teach participants how to weave and tie various knots during this practical drop-in workshop. All ages.
11am - 2pm
work shop
near Information Desk 1
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
Drop-in workshop with GhostNets Australia
for adults and school-aged children.
10am - 12.30pm
event
at artwork location
25
1.30 - 4pm Learn simple fibre techniques and contribute to making a turtle using ghost nets and other marine debris. All ages.
02
Pink Piano performances
Monday, September
4 - 6pm Music students from the Townsville area
02
Guided Tour and Artist Talk
Monday, September
7pm
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
6pm Pink Ladies at the Pink Piano
centrally and moving towards Kissing Point. This tour
Catch a performance of modern classics and jazz.
will be accompanied by an artist talk at Donna Foley and Steve Campbell’s work.
fringe
46
at the Pink Piano
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
work shop
near Information Desk 1
3 - 5pm Wave Form with Chandra Paul Ephemeral clay workshop with basic hand modelling techniques and practices that focus on making leaf and wave forms. All ages.
work shop
near Information Desk 2
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TIMETABLE
02
ABC Open Video Bomb
Monday, September
Monday, September
8pm
ABC Open is bombing the city with videos made by north Queensland residents. Bring a chair, snacks, drinks and warm clothes and watch quality short movies.
fringe
02
Drop-in Workshops
10am - 12pm Wrapping with Rainbows
Learn simple jewellery making techniques to
with Jo Anglesey
produce a piece of wearable art. Ages 12+.
Over three days, artist Jo Anglesey’s artwork will grow! Please join us to wrap some of the other trees in the
near Information Desk 1
at the Rock Pool
surrounding area. You’ll start at the roots winding up to the foliage as you wrap the trees in rainbows. All ages.
3 - 5pm Clay Animals with Gabi Sturman Learn how to sculpt realistic animals. All ages.
03
Vertical Disaster construction
Tuesday, September
Tuesday, September
10am - 12pm Wearable Art with MJ Ryan Bennett
work shop
Surf Life Saver Shed
03
Drop-in Workshops
work shop
at artwork location
3 - 5pm Wave Form with Chandra Paul
10am - 12.30pm
Ephemeral clay workshop with basic hand modelling techniques and practices that focus on making leaf and
1.30 - 4pm
wave forms. All ages.
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts
Learn simple fibre techniques and contribute to
and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
making a turtle using ghost nets and other marine
work shop
for adults and school-aged children.
debris. All ages.
event
25
29
near Information Desk 3
Drop-in workshop with GhostNets Australia
11am - 2pm
work shop
work shop
near Information Desk 2
near Information Desk 1
at artwork location
03
Music students at the Pink Piano
Tuesday, September
4 - 6pm
Catch a performance by some of Townsville’s most talented Music students at the Pink Piano.
03
Guided Tour
Tuesday, September
5pm
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
04
Guided Tour
Wednesday, September
9.30am
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
centrally and moving towards Tobruk Pool.
centrally and moving towards Kissing Point.
tour
tour
fringe
at the Pink Piano
departs from Information Desk 1
departs from Information Desk 1
47
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TIMETABLE
04
Vertical Disaster construction
Wednesday, September
04
Music students at the Pink Piano
Wednesday, September
11am - 2pm
4 - 6pm
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts
Catch a performance by some of Townsville’s most
and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
talented Music students at the Pink Piano.
for adults and school-aged children.
at artwork location
Wednesday, September
10am - 12pm Lucky Letter with Jan Hynes Join artist Jan Hynes and make yourself a “Lucky Letter” pendant. By using a stencil and transferring your
event
04
Drop-in Workshops
25
favourite letter onto a wooden tile, you’ll have a fun and
fringe
funky pendant to wear. All ages.
at the Pink Piano
04
Light on the Fringe: Launch
Wednesday, September
6pm
Join Umbrella Studio for the launch of Light on the
Fringe: a collaborative new media project featuring multiple digital projections, sound and moving images
work shop
near Information Desk 2
10am - 12pm Wrapping with Rainbows with Jo Anglesey Over three days, artist Jo Anglesey’s artwork will grow! Please join us to wrap some of the other trees in the surrounding area. You’ll start at the roots winding up to the foliage as you wrap the trees in rainbows. All ages.
work shop
at artwork location
29
illuminating the building’s outside east wall. 3 - 5pm Glorious Bugs with Erica Gray
fringe
Umbrella Studio 482 Flinders Street
You’ll be the envy of your friends in your new bug mask and fly broach! Using the inspirational shapes of insects, bug bodies and wings are cut out of black
04 Wednesday, September
Lettuce Dance Band performance 6pm
Catch a performance of Balkan and Klezmer inspired
Wednesday, September
7pm
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
centrally and moving towards Tobruk Pool. This tour
performances at the Pink Piano by the Lettuce Dance
will be accompanied by an artist talk at Geoff Overheu’s
Band.
artwork Gates of Reason.
fringe
48
04
Guided Tour and Artist Talk
at the Pink Piano
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
paper and then layered together to create threedimensional bug masks and broaches. All ages.
work shop
near Information Desk 3
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TIMETABLE
04
ABC Open Video Bomb
Wednesday, September
8pm
ABC Open is bombing the city with videos made by north Queensland residents. Bring a chair, snacks, drinks and warm clothes and watch quality short movies.
fringe
05
05
Vertical Disaster construction
Drop-in Workshops
Thursday, September
Thursday, September
10am - 12pm Sublime Wind Chimes with
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts
Erica Gray
and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
Learn about basic macramé techniques to transform
for adults and school-aged children.
everyday objects into decorative pieces of art. Bring
Fig Tree near Strand Park
along shells, sticks, beads and other objects that you
(Mitchell Street)
would like to turn into a wind chime. All ages.
05
Music students at the Pink Piano
Thursday, September
4 - 6pm
Catch a performance by some of Townsville’s most talented Music students at the Pink Piano.
work shop
at artwork location
25
05
Guided Tour and Artist Talk
3 - 5pm Wrapping with Rainbows with Jo Anglesey Over three days, artist Jo Anglesey’s artwork will grow! Please join us to wrap some of the other trees in the surrounding area. You’ll start at the roots winding up to
Thursday, September
5pm
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
the foliage as you wrap the trees in rainbows. All ages.
centrally and moving towards Tobruk Pool. This tour will
work shop
be accompanied by an artist talk at La Luna Youth Arts’
at artwork location
29
3 - 5pm Spherical Spheres with
at the Pink Piano
event
near Information Desk 3
fringe
11am - 2pm
work Vertical Disaster by Shane Keen and HARRY.
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
Alison McDonald In this drop-in workshop you’ll make playful balls
05
Light on the Fringe: Artist Talk
Thursday, September
7pm
Listen to a selection of artists featured in Umbrella
from recycled plastic bottles and cable ties! Save up your plastic bottles, bring them along and use them to make a three-dimensional sculpture out of recycled materials. Ages 12+.
work shop
near Information Desk 3
Studio’s Light on the Fringe speak about their works, which include digital experiments incorporating photography, video, animation, drawing and painting.
fringe
Umbrella Studio 482 Flinders Street
49
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TIMETABLE
06
Guided Tour and Artist Talk
Friday, September
9.30am
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
06
Vertical Disaster construction
Friday, September
Friday, September
11am - 2pm
centrally and moving towards Tobruk Pool. This tour
06
Drop-in Workshops
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts
will be accompanied by an artist talk at UnitingCare
and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
Community’s work Whale Thong.
for adults and school-aged children.
10am - 12pm Abstraction from the Everyday with S.A. Adair Participants will create a series of drawings of an object of their choice, overlay the drawings, and add
tour
event
departs from Information Desk 1
at artwork location
25
and subtract line work to build up the image. This image will become a template to create a final abstract artwork! Ages 12+.
06
Music students at the Pink Piano
Friday, september
4 - 5.30pm
06
Celtic Strings performance
Friday, September
Catch a performance by some of Townsville’s most
5.30 - 6pm
Catch a performance of Celtic Strings’ music at the
talented Music students at the Pink Piano.
Pink Piano by Megan Donnelly.
work shop
near Information Desk 1
3 - 5pm Lucky Letter with Jan Hynes Join artist Jan Hynes and make yourself a “Lucky Letter” pendant. By using a stencil and transferring your favourite letter onto a wooden tile, you’ll have a fun and funky pendant to wear. All ages.
work shop
near Information Desk 2
fringe
at the Pink Piano
06
Light on the Fringe
Friday, September
6 - 9pm
View works in Light on the Fringe: a collaborative
fringe
at the Pink Piano
06
Guided Tour and Artist Talk
Friday, September
7pm
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
06
ABC Open Video Bomb
Friday, September
8pm
ABC Open is bombing the city with videos made
new media project featuring digital projections, sound
centrally and moving towards Kissing Point. This tour
by north Queensland residents. Bring a chair, snacks,
and moving images illuminating the building’s outside
will be accompanied by an artist talk at Robert Crispe,
drinks and warm clothes and watch quality short
east wall.
Michelle Hall and Jo Lankester’s work Flotilla.
movies.
fringe
50
Umbrella Studio 482 Flinders Street
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
fringe
The Strand Jetty Sails Roof
PUBLIC PROGRAMS TIMETABLE
07
Drop-in Workshops
Saturday, September
10am - 12pm Beginners Banquet with Erica Gray
07
Vertical Disaster construction
Saturday, September
07
Guided Tour
Saturday, September
11am - 2pm
5pm
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts
Do you suffer button anxiety, are you hem-o-phobic
and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
or have other sewing related emergencies? Take back
for adults and school-aged children.
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting centrally and moving towards Tobruk Pool.
control and learn some basic sewing techniques in this drop-in workshop! Learn some basic mending, such as how to sew on buttons, create invisible hems, and
event
at artwork location
25
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
other hand sewing techniques. Ages 12+.
work shop
Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club
3 - 5pm Clay Animals with Gabi Sturman Participants will sculpt their own realistic animals from clay and be taught how to position and construct their sculpture to create a dynamic and life-like animal. After constructing the body, participants
07 Saturday, September
PechaKucha Night Townsville V.4 6.30pm
A fast-paced and fun presentation of images and
08
Public Art Symposium
Sunday, September
10am - 12.30pm
Presented by the School of Creative Arts in
will learn how to model details such as eyes, toes,
the stories behind them by local creative practitioners,
collaboration with Gallery Services, the Symposium will
feathers, scales and texture. All ages.
including a selection of Strand Ephemera artists.
be an informative discussion on Public Art featuring
work shop
leading industry figures.
near Information Desk 3
fringe
School of the Arts
event
188-210 Stanley Street
08
Vertical Disaster construction
Sunday, September
James Cook University 1 James Cook Drive
08
Guided Tour and Artist Talk
Sunday, September
11am - 2pm
Vertical Disaster will explore environmental impacts
7pm
Guided tour of half of Strand Ephemera, starting
and extreme weather on buildings and cities. Suitable
centrally and moving towards Tobruk Pool. This tour will
for adults and school-aged children.
be accompanied by an artist talk by Sarah Emily Kate at her work Beautiful One Day.
event
at artwork location
25
tour
departs from Information Desk 1
51
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITIONS
INSTAGRAM COMPETITION Capture your Instagram moments! Join us at Strand Ephemera and share your favourite moments using the hashtag #StrandEphemera
The best photo uploaded as judged by way of popular vote will win $100! Voting closes at midnight on the final day of the exhibition, Sunday 8 September.
08
Mobile Phone Photography with Andrew Rankin
Sunday, September
3 - 5pm
Photo Competition We’re calling for visitors to The Strand to capture their favourite moment during Strand Ephemera 2013 for a chance to win some great prizes. Category Prize 18 Years and Over $500 Under 18 Years $250 To enter simply download an entry form from the Strand Ephemera page of Townsville City Council’s website: www.townsville.qld.gov.au Once you’ve completed the entry form, email it along with your photographs (maximum of five) to danielle.berry@townsville.qld.gov.au by 5pm Sunday 8 September 2013.
Join local photographer Andrew Rankin to explore the world of Mobile Phone Photography. The workshop will include demonstrations of techniques and apps, and a ‘photo walk’ on location at Strand Ephemera, The Strand. The workshop is demonstrated for iPhones but participants can also use android phones.
work shop
52
Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club
This year’s Strand Ephemera Photo Competition will be judged by local photographer Honey Atkinson of Insight Creative. A keen photographer from age 13, Atkinson completed a Bachelor of Photography from JCU before hitting the world of fashion in Sydney.
PUBLIC ART SYMPOSIUM When: Where: RSVP: event
10am Sunday 8 September Room DA134-010, Education Centre James Cook University, Townsville Campus 1 James Cook Drive (07) 4727 9011
*Bus seats are limited. To confirm your space, please RSVP with Perc Tucker Regional Gallery: (07) 4727 9011
The curtain will come down on the 2013 Strand Ephemera exhibition with a discussion on Public Art by leading industry figures. The Symposium, which is presented by Gallery Services in partnership with James Cook University’s School of Creative Arts, will feature key speakers Professor Steffen Lehmann, Richard Brecknock, and Professor Michael Parekowhai. Access to speakers of this quality and level of experience presents a unique opportunity for local artists, architects and arts enthusiasts to tap into their wealth of knowledge in the field of public art and urban design. Admission is free, all are welcome to attend. Gallery Services is providing a free shuttle bus service to the Symposium. Please contact the Gallery at the number listed above to reserve your seat.
Schedule 8.50am
Bus will depart Perc Tucker Regional Gallery for The Strand*
9.10am
Bus will depart The Strand for James Cook University*
9.45am
Bus arrives at James Cook University
10am
Welcome by Professor Peter Murphy, Head of School, School of Creative Arts
10.15am
Professor Steffen Lehmann: Interventions in Public Space as Informal Urban Design
10.40am
Richard Brecknock: Development of Public Art
11.10am
Morning Tea
11.35am
Michael Parekowhai: Public Art in Practice
12pm
Questions for Panel
12.45pm
Bus departs James Cook University for Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and The Strand*
53
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS Professor Steffen Lehmann
Research Professor and Director, China-Australia Centre for Sustainable Urban Development, University of South Australia Presentation: Interventions in Public Space as Informal Urban Design Professor Steffen Lehmann is a German-Australian architect, curator, urbanist, author and educator, registered as a chartered architect in Berlin. He is an internationally renowned leader in the field of sustainable buildings and urban development. Many of his research projects are collaborations with artists, concerned with the integration of low-carbon technologies in urban design and the social context. Steffen has worked with some of the world’s most respected international architecture and urban design practices. From 1990 to 1993 he worked as an architect in the offices of world-recognised architects, James Stirling in London and Arata Isozaki in Tokyo, before establishing his own research-based and ideas-driven practice, s_Lab, Space Laboratory for Architectural Research and Design, in Berlin, to pursue a more ethically correct practice.
Richard Brecknock,
Director of Brecknock Consulting Presentation: Development of Public Art Richard is an urban strategist, a Director of Brecknock Consulting P/L and an Associate of COMEDIA UK. He has a Master of Arts in Cultural and Media Policy from Griffith University and is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia’s Social Planning and Urban Design chapters. Richard established the consultancy in 1988 following successful careers as a film director and professional visual artist. Richard is committed to developing culturally rich urban environments. He believes that culture underpins every aspect of our lives and decision making, and needs to be better recognised as the foundation element in building creative and sustainable communities.
54
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS Professor Michael Parekowhai
Practicing Artist and Lecturer at the University of Auckland, National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries Presentation: Public Art in Practice Michael Parekowhai works across the disciplines of sculpture, installation and photography. Conceptual drivers for his research include: the ambiguities of identity; the shifting sensitivities of historical memory; the value of aesthetics; an appropriation and assimilation of an artistic cannon; the significance of biculturalism; and the fluid relationship between art and craft.
Presentation Partner
His work is held in significant public and private collections throughout New Zealand and Australia, as well as in permanent collections across the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. He has an extensive exhibition history, including: the Venice Biennale, Italy (2011); the Asia-Pacific Triennial, Australia (1999, 2006-2007); the Gwangju Biennale, Korea (2004); and the Sydney Biennale, Australia (2002).
Michael Parekowhai The Horn of Africa 2006, Automotive paint, wood, fibreglass, steel, brass, 395 x 200 x 260 cm
School of
Creative Arts
55
ON THE FRINGE
fringe
ABC OPEN VIDEO BOMBING The art of telling good stories: Tips on how to tell a good story Films and photos made by north QLD residents through the ABC Open project. ABC Open will bomb the city with videos made by north Queensland residents. Get super close to a six-foot croc! Find out where Glenda’s happiest place is! Watch a ninety-year-old swim further than you thought possible! See locals become stars on the big screen! And much more! Video bombing happens every second night of Strand Ephemera with a half-hour show starting at 8pm. Look for the big ABC Open logo in the trees, on buildings and in other wacky places. Bring a chair, pillow, snack, drinks and warm clothes and watch quality short movies made by your friends and neighbours. Local ABC Open producer Michael Bromage will be on hand for ideas on how to make and get your stories seen on the ABC. Video bombs away!
56
ON THE FRINGE
fringe
PECHAKUCHA NIGHT TOWNSVILLE V.4 6.30pm Saturday 7 September School of Arts Theatre, 188 - 210 Stanley St Contact: www.pechakucha.org/cities/townsville or pechakuchatownsville@gmail.com
PechaKucha is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and you talk along to the images. PechaKucha Night, Townsville V.4 will feature presentations by local artists and creative practitioners, including a selection of artists featured in Strand Ephemera.
Proudly sponsored by the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) a Queensland Government and Townsville City Council partnership to support local arts and culture. PechaKucha night – devised and shared by Klein Dytham Architecture.
57
ON THE FRINGE
fringe
ARTSPACED INC. BOHEMIAN MASQUERADE BALL 7pm Saturday 31 August Federation Place, Sturt Street Tickets: $30 prepaid, or $40 at the door Contact: artzspace@gmail.com
Featuring thirteen musicians, contemporary dance, circus performance, Movimiento dancers and projection art by Berko Entertainment, plus heaps more, Artspaced Inc.’s Bohemian Masquerade Ball is a calebration not to be missed!
58
ON THE FRINGE
fringe
PINK PIANO
For more information or to book a time, Contact: pippambc@hotmail.com
Originally included in Strand Ephemera 2009 as an artwork by Jan Hynes, the Pink Piano will be at Strand Ephemera from Friday 30 August to Sunday 8 September for public use. Refer to the Public Programs calendar earlier within the catalogue for scheduled performance times. This year the piano is reserved for student musicians each weekday between 4 - 6pm, but you can play at any time of the day or evening. The piano is in honky-tonk mode - it’s fun and it’s also the meeting point for individual players or ensembles of other instruments; string, wind or brass can meet at the Pink Piano to play for the public.
59
ON THE FRINGE
fringe
GALLERY 48 EPHEMERA AS POSSIBLE
48 The Strand Ph: O7 47244898 Contact: gallery48thestrand@gmail.com
Gallery 48 presents Ephemera as Possible, an exhibition of ephemeral artworks. A number of pieces presented in Gallery 48 may not even last the whole duration of the official Strand Ephemera event; they take on a very short life as a butterfly does.
60
ON THE FRINGE
fringe
UMBRELLA STUDIO CONTEMPORARY ARTS LIGHT ON THE FRINGE 482 Flinders Street Hours: Mon - Fri 9am-5pm & Sun 9am-1pm Ph: 07 4772 7109
Light on the Fringe is a collaborative new media project featuring multiple digital projections, sound and moving images illuminating the outside east wall of the Umbrella Studio building. A variety of new media artists from local schools, James Cook University and Umbrella Studio members have come together to develop these works coordinated by Robert Crispe, SoCA Graduate, filmmaker and photographer. Artists Ainslie Langdon, Alan Junior, Clayton Tonkin, Danielle Berry, Ebony Wilson, George Hirst, Gerald Soworka, Jesse Midgley, Melinda Gould, Michelle Hall, Penelope Sheridan, Rhonda Stevens, Roshan Karunanayaka, Sarah Welch, Shane Gallagher & Tony Lamont.
Image: Alan Junior Production still 2013
61
ON THE FRINGE
fringe
AN INSIGHT INTO THE CREATIVE PROCESS
A digital presentation throughout Strand Ephemera This project is initiative of exhibited artist Ian Loiterton
This year, Strand Ephemera will feature a large format LCD screen presentation of imagery depicting many of the exhibited artists’ process of creation. The screen will be sited near the Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club, and feature images of works at various stages of completion, culminating in an image of the final work installed. This initiative of artist Ian Loiterton is intended to provide the visiting public with further insight into the creation of the works, leading to an increased understanding of and interaction with the physical works.
This project has been made possible by a Regional Quick Response Grant - an Australian Government initiative through the Regional Arts Fund, supporting the arts in regional and remote/isolated Australia.
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Townsville City Council partnership to support local arts and culture.
62
PERMANENT Flex
2013
Bronze and Stainless Steel 217 x 165 x 22 cm
PUBLIC ART
AMANDA FEHER
Amanda Feher’s permanent public artwork Flex, timed to be unveiled on The Strand during the 2013 Strand Ephemera, has been commissioned “In recognition of the resilience shown by the Townsville community during and after Cyclone Yasi (February 2, 2011).” Feher has lived in the Far Northern Region her whole life, and has completed numerous public art commissions, while also participating in a number of Strand Ephemera exhibitions since its inception in 2001. Of Flex, Feher states; “I’m pleased to present a work which relates to an important part of life in the North; the Weather. The sculpture is comprised of three main elements which, both together and independently, symbolise the natural regeneration and re-building after a disaster occurs. The Olive Backed Sunbird is native to the north and Townsville area. If the Olive Backed Sunbird’s nest is damaged by weather, they will often return to repair and inhabit the same nest again, or rebuild close by. Originally a mangrove dwelling species, the highly adaptable Sunbird has successfully inhabited and bred in cultivated and urban landscapes. The Sunbird, with all its traits, lends itself as the perfect symbol of resilience. The Grass Blade form represents the tumultuous local environment, with its flexibility when long, and its ability to regrow after being cut down. This is also true of many of the people who rebuild after their homes are damaged in Natural Disaster Events, which are typical of this region. Below the sculpture, the landscaping forms an Isobaric Ring configuration and references Storm Radar Map colour schemes with which we are familiar from weather maps televised during extreme weather events.” For more info on Amanda Feher’s art practice, visit: www.amandafeher.com.au
Flex has been made possible through funding provided under the Community Development and Recovery Package, which is a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
63
CONCURRENT GALLERY MAJOR EXHIBITIONS Arena: A Post Boom Beijing Pinnacles Gallery until 1 September 2013 Arena: A Post Boom Beijing is a survey of contemporary documentaries and video from China’s cultural capital Beijing, offering views of a society undergoing a frenzy of change since the 2008 Olympics and the Global Financial Crisis. The exhibition reflects Beijing’s cultural production following the boom in Chinese Contemporary Art. Gao Shiqqiang still from Total Eclipse [detail] 2010, Courtesy the artist and Magee Gallery, Beijing
The Personal and The Political: Selected Works 1990 – 2012 Perc Tucker Regional Gallery until 6 October 2013 Born in Melbourne in 1945, Bonney Bombach grew up as a second generation Australian of European Jewish refugee parentage. Her work is intrinsically linked to her personal experiences and family history, and is a meditation on love and loss, on memory and forgetting, and on brutality and the human dilemma. Bonney Bombach In Memoriam [detail] 1995, 28 panel installation, oil stick on photogram, 175 x 270cm
64
CONCURRENT GALLERY MAJOR EXHIBITIONS
Life in Your Hands: art from solastalgia Perc Tucker Regional Gallery until 13 October 2013 Life in Your Hands: art from solastalgia champions visual art, craft and design as an enabling force to combat solastalgia. Environmental stresses can adversely affect the mental health of communities, to the extent where there is a loss of connection between the community and the environment that has historically sustained it. The phenomenon ‘solastalgia’ was recognised and identified by Professor Glenn Albrecht as ‘the homesickness you have when you haven’t left home’. Jeff Mincham Full Moon – Dry Lake (No end in sight – ruin January 2009) [detail] 2012 multi-fired and multi-glazed ceramic, 40 x 59 x 11cm photography Michal Kluvanek © the artist
A Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery project curated by Robyn Daw, touring to six venues across Australia with Museums & Galleries NSW, supported by the Contemporary Touring Initiative.
65