Astra Howard in Gosford

Sydney artist Astra Howard was in Gosford CBD today, engaging the people with her "conversation booth". She'll be back again tomorrow, and is well worth visiting. For more information about her work, visit Back Page. Meanwhile, here are some pictures I took today...

the journal's progress

I just received and posted off the journal, and took some snaps of how it's progressing so far... it still has a while to go before it's filled, so I have a feeling we'll still be passing it around come 2008...

Liz Wright



Betty Saez



Sharyn Walker



Fiona Doyle

Exhibition - Kiera O'Toole

"Romantic Ireland's Dead and Gone"
Kiera O'Toole

An emotional investigation into cultural identity; migration and a sense of place and displacement of language and community

10 November - 5 December
Opening, Saturday 10 November, 2pm

Foyer Gallery
Gosford Regional Gallery
36 Webb St, East Gosford

the journal

Just to let everyone know I posted our journal to fellow artist Liz Wright on Wednesday last week.. so it's journey has begun. She will post it on to the next artist, then the next, and eventually I will end up with it again, before posting it on and so forth. We'll basically keep posting it around the Central Coast until it is full, and then photograph and publish the artworks inside.

Journal Project

Dear eO members,

As mentioned in a previous post, eO will be organising a project in conjunction with the Big Draw for 2007. There has been much interest in the idea of posting or personally delivering a hard copy journal from artist to artist. Each page of the journal will contain a contribution of a drawing or several drawings from each artist. This project is to begin in September and continue through to October. I will send an email with the full details to all those who have expressed interest, so if you would still like to be involved and haven't let us know yet, please reply to this post or send us an email.

More soon...

I Recall

Now that he had started her remembering, recollections
– like flotsam on a river in sudden spate – came dancing,
gliding, bobbing and bumping across her reluctant mind.

Fanny by Gaslight, Michael Sadleir 1940


Sharyn has been questioning memory and recollection
for several years, since a statement from a family
member led to emotional and physical estrangement.

“Remembering seems to be a process of selection
and using that selection to move forward, positively
or negatively. What I remember, subconsciously or
not, reflects my personality and shapes my life.
Or maybe my personality dictates what I choose to
remember.”

In this exhibition I Recall, she explores her
childhood memories and recent recollections
and has created Art Objects recalling A Dream,
A Face and A Fragmented Memory Collection.

the space between words

In February of this year, several eO members partook in an event run by Browns Cows Art Projects in Gosford CBD entitled the space between words. A local video documentary team produced a DVD of the event, which incorporated LED light text and performance pieces from a few different artists. Below are some screencaptures taken from the DVD of artists during their performances...




Betty Saez



Neil Berecry Brown



Fiona Doyle and Lisa Doyle



Sharyn Walker and Jieon Lee


More details (and images) of the event can be found at
Backpage

Toward Finland....

While the Kvinna, Nainen of Finland, Sweden work hard to curate the exhibition - here is a preview of the Australian eO contribution.....

eO Gallery

Fredrika Runeberg

Fiona Doyle

FREDRIKA RUNEBERG - WOMAN FOR HER TIME AND

SOCIAL ACTIVIST (1807-1879)
Fredrika Runeberg, née Tengström, is known for being the

wife of Finnish national poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg,

but she was also one of the most accomplished women

of her time. In addition to being an author, she is

considered to be the first female newspaper reporter

in Finland. In Porvoo, she established a women's

association and a school for destitute girls, also

writing opinion pieces about women's issues,

art and language issues.

The year 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of

Fredrika Runeberg's birth, wich Porvoo will celebrate

by holding celebrations on Runeberg Day, February 5,

and her birthday, September 2. An exhibition opens

at the Home of J.L. Runeberg Museum in late spring,

running until the end of 2007.

http://tourism.porvoo.fi/en/stories_of_porvoo/fredrika_runeberg

eO members are proud to be a part of the

Kvinna!Nainen!Woman! the theme being 'self portrait':


'The idea is to gather self-portraits from women

from all over the world, independent of nationality,

language, age, or (arts-) education and show these

in an exciting and, for Pargas, different exhibition,

that celebrates diversity and shows different approaches

to art. For this reason, all entrants will be accepted.

Some of the artworks will be selected and hung in a

‘traditional’ way, while others will become part of a strong

installation that will fill one (or more) of the gallery

spaces. The hanging of works will be handled in an

indiscriminative way; the work of professional artists

will not be prioritized to the works of so called

‘amateur artists’. ' Sandra Nyberg (Curator).

Postcard from Vietnam

eO artist Robyn Wainman and family have recently returned from a backpacking trip to Vietnam.

In this emailed "postcard", Robyn makes comment on Vietnam's contemporary art culture and in particular, the work of twin brothers Le Ngoc ThanH and Le Duc Hai. Their work can be found here

"Tamara Lempicka appropriations and any other

painting you may want - all over Saigon (Ho

Chi Minh City) - you walk into the galleries

and see the artists reproducing from

a meagre post card size!

Away from Saigon (the Copy City) there

are brilliant artists being shown in galleries

in the funniest locations - conceptual and

bloody brilliant artists - with massive accreditations

and European exhibitions under there belts.

I have been blown away with the contemporary

works (many in lacquer work) that are shown

in down town poverty areas.

The starting prices are not cheap (approx $900

US for 1mt sq. as an average), but that is before

haggling for a 'happy' price! - that is 'happy

for them and happy for us"!

There has been many works that I would have

haggled for at another time. The Vietnamese

artist works are so out there, but when you meet

the artist, they are ordinary, and usually middle

aged, simple 'males' who must be considered

radical amongst there own. I did not come

across a female artist, but that doesn't surprise

me as the female is still a second class citizen

in Vietnam, and lesser than all if she is the mother

of daughters only! Even now, the doctors lie to

pregnant mums about the sex of their babies

until they are into their seventh month if they

are carrying a girl baby, to avoid abortion - as

they are 'women without voice' if they don't first

bear a son. Many times over the last three weeks

I have been congratulated on my 'powerful voice',

as the mother of two sons! - if only they knew!!

In Saigon we met a professor of social (something),

who lectures in Australia and England on the

inequality of Vietnamese females and socialist

doctrines that could bring about his assassination

if it wasn't for the powerful few that he has in his pocket.

The dramatic difference in the social equality

explodes as you travel from north to south. The

people in the north are decades behind those

in the south, with a visible difference in each

province. The people have put the war behind

them, but those in the rural north would have

no comprehension of what has been gained

in the south. Our last day in ‘Nam took us to

the 'Remnant Museum' - a strange name for a

mainly photographic recollection of the

atrocities of the war. There is little reference to

Australia’s contribution - it is the US who altered

the destiny of Vietnam - the US have a lot to

answer for, as we know, but when seen graphically

depicted, as this museum does, there remains

so many unanswered questions.

Getting heavy now - change of subject…….."

Attention! Huom! Obs.! eO Women

Caterina van Hemessen
Self Portrait
1548
oil on canvas
Offentliche Kunstsammlung, Basil

eO members have been invited to contribute self portraits to an international exhibition for women to be held in Finland in June –

KVINNA!
NAINEN!
WOMAN!

Translations:

Kvinna is Swedish for Woman
Nainen is Finnish for Woman

The first self-directed workshop will be held on 6th of May from 11am to 3.30pm with a possibility of another one a fortnight later.
Cost is $10 which covers tea, coffee, facilities, postage and administration.
This is an opportunity to socialise with other artists while enjoying our art practise.

If you cannot make the workshop but would like to contribute, please contact me for further details.

Spots are limited so book soon to avoid disappointment.
For more details please phone Sharyn Walker on 0403395297 or email me

For more information about eO please email eO

Spaces and Places

eO will have a representative at the next meeting of "Spaces and Places", Tuesday 24th April (for more information, go to Backpage), as Gosford Council prepares a report for a “Cultural Spaces and Places Framework”.

If you would like to contribute ideas, comments etc. please email me or post a comment here.

Nature - Naturally

Nature - Naturally

Renate Leyer captures her personal response

with this new body of work to

be exhibited

20 to 22 April

The Studio Gallery

Gosford Regional Art Gallery

36 Webb St

East Gosford

Opening Friday 6.30pm

enquiries: rleyer@tac.com.au

Reef

Poppies

The Habitat

Garden Space

Rock Erosion

Changeling: Response from the Mayor

The following is the response from Mr Maher dated 29 March 2007, received 3 April 2007.

.

Photographic Exhibition 'Changeling: Childhood and the Uncanny'

.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me on behalf of the eO Committee regarding your concerns about the early closure of the above-mentioned exhibition. Let me preface my response by saying that we are very proud of the Gosford Regional Gallery and the high standard of exhibitions, level of professional development opportunities and artist support and community linkages that have been achieved in the relatively short period it has been open. These achievements have only been possible through the expertise and efforts of the staff, whom we also support completely.

.

Undoubtedly, the 'Changeling' exhibition received an unprecedented amount of negative and positive feedback that was recorded in the visitor book at the Gallery, through letters to Gosford City Council staff and Councillors and through direct representations to Councillors, including me -through the entire exhibition period. It was only after an article in the local paper that made claims of child pornography that the exhibition was closed ahead of schedule. This was not Council censorship of the artists' work, but rather an attempt by Gosford City Council to ensure the works would not be trivialised as a consequence of the articles that appeared in the papers and the public comments which referred to the works being child pornography.

.

Contemporary art practice currently does have a place in Gosford. Contemporary art continues to be a key component in the Gosford Regional Gallery exhibition program - through exhibitions such as 'Dawn Light', "Night Walks' and 'Emerging'.

.

Thank you again for your correspondence in relation to this matter.

.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Laurie Maher

MAYOR

_____________

In relation to the timeliness of the response, correspondence was also received today from T J Thirwell, Director, Community Services And Organisation Development:

.

Letter Regarding the Photographic Exhibition 'Changeling:

Childhood and the Uncanny'

I have discussed with the Mayor the response to your letter of 7 February 2007.

.

Unfortunately an error occurred in the tasking of the letter by Council Staff and hence this caused the delay in responding.

.

A letter has been drafted in response now and has been forwarded to the Mayor for his signature.

.

Once again I apologise for the delay in responding.

A 'memorable' Night

Joe and Josephine consider Kiera O'Toole's ash-filled artwork,

Something that Once Was

Opening night of Re-VIEW - Memories Reframed

photo F.Doyle

From the observed deterioration of the memory to sweet

recollections of childhood encounters, each box projects

personal yet collectively familiar stories.

.

Fourteen eO artists compose their own narrative

on Memory and Reframe in sixteen clear perspex boxes.

.

Opening night was celebrated with family, friends and

lovers of contemporary art and many artists

were commended on concepts and execution.

.

eO inc. would especially like to thank the following

for their support during this exhibition:

.

Liam, Khara and Grace

Newview Gallery, Newtown

.

Adam and Ross

Courthouse Hotel, Newtown

.

Craig

Formation Signs and Plastics

Chittaway Point

.

www.artwhatson.com.au

.

Ricardo Saez

Saez Network Solutions

Bateau Bay

.

Re-VIEW runs until April 8,

Newview Gallery

277 Australia St

Newtown

Liz Reviews New Media Concepts

Last night (29 March) I attended the opening of an exhibition by five
fourth year students from Leeds Universities Fine Art
Degree. It was a show that they had organized
themselves and was held in The Merrion Centre. The
Merrion Centre is a shopping centre not far from the Uni,
however, not unlike Gosford, there are quite a few shops
that are closed.

The exhibition – in one of these shops was an exploration
of conceptual art through new media, so many works
included the use of film and sound. I found the works to
be extremely interesting, and three in particular
innovative and exciting.

The first work that caught my attention was by Eva.
She had set up a television monitor at the back of the
shop, this was connected to a small camera at the front
of the shop that went unnoticed by passerby’s. The
camera, pointed to the ground and recorded the
shadows of light, people passing, moments that are
still and moments that change.

I talked to her after the show about her work, it
was a work that revealed her fascination with time
and place and these two ideas intertwined to create
ephemeral moments where the viewer, unwittingly
is part of the artwork, yet does not realize this until
the moment has passed.

The second work that fascinated me was by Rosa.
She had set up three booths at the back of the shop.
Each booth contained a disc player for the audience
to listen too. Each disc contained a conversation of
sorts between the artist’s sister and their
Grandfather. All three conversations consisted of
a German word (their Grandfather is German),
reflected back between the two, each time the word
becoming more meaningless as the rendition
becomes more ridiculous. This work looked at the
linguistical meanings of the three words and how
that falters under the misrepresentation, or
mispronunciation of the word.

The third work, that actually links into my current
research to do with the body, is by Hammam. His
work, through the use of sound, maps his body,
recording its experience in a certain condition.
Lined on the wall were approximately 60 tapes.
Each tape contained a recording of the sound of a
microphone tapping on the different parts of his
body. You could select a tape and listen to it on
the walkman provided. I listened to his left jaw.
This work was interesting to me because of its
reference to phenomenology, or the
representation of an experience felt by his body
(and thus consciousness).

This exhibition showed a quality of work,
conceptually and practically that reveals the
potential of these students to show at an
international level. It has shown me the
advantages of living in the UK ( or Europe), and
having easier access to world renowned artists
that push the conceptual boundary, and how this
can inspire art students here to do the same.

I am not criticizing the remoteness of Australia
at all – that can have its own advantages,
however, I am glad to have had this opportunity
to see the standard of student work here in the
UK, by some truly talented artists.

Liz Wright.

Karen's Shorethyme Exhibition

Exhibition of paintings by
Karen Williams & Pam Walsh
available for viewing
Tuesday 27th March
until Sunday 8th April 2007
at
Shorethyme Restaurant
9 Mitchell Street, Norah Head
Central Coast, NSW.

Open times –
6pm Tuesday to Sunday
9am to 2pm Sunday
(welcome to view art only from around 2pm to

open times Tuesday to Saturday)
bookings to eat at restaurant
Ph. 02 43964507

Re- VIEW at Newview

Sandra Walsh, Crypsis and Mimicry

All welcome to eO's opening night.

Re - VIEW

(memories reframed)

6pm

Thur 29th March

2007

Newview Gallery

277 Australia St

Newtown, Sydney

Come and join the celebration of contemporary

art with fourteen Central Coast Artists.

for further details contact

Fiona Doyle at

eo_inc@hotmail.com

or Betty Saez on

0404067758

Exhibition runs from 27 March to April 8

Gaye Merrylees, Time Deleted

.. Long, Lost, Liz ..

St. Patrick's Parade, Dublin

Liz (centre) with her friends and flatmates Steph and Marie

I know that it has been awhile since I have written a

journal entry, but the past two weeks have been rather

eventful – and not all to do with my studies. Firstly though,

I will update you one how my studies have been going.

.
Last week, practical wise, I had a refresher in the technical

side of photography. Claire, the photography lecturer,

spent the afternoon with me showing me how to set up

professional lighting, to do a meter, how to do effects with

brollies, etc. It was a very interesting afternoon, and

allowed me to think more about the technical aspects

of how to achieve my practical goals. At the moment,

with reference to my theory, I feel that using photography

as a documenting process for my ideas is the

way to pursue my prac ideas.

.
In regards to theory, I had another meeting with

Griselda, and discussion was raised in consideration to

the fine line drawn between identity and subjectivity. In the

Collins Online Dictionary, identity means – ‘the state of

having unique identifying characteristics held by no

other person or thing’, or ‘the individual characteristics

by which a person or thing is recognized’, whilst subject

(in reference to a person) means – ‘that which thinks

or feels as opposed to the object of thinking and feeling;

the self or the mind’, or ‘a substance as opposed to

it’s attributes’. Within my own research I view identity

as that with which I am labeled socially, such as woman,

white, disabled, short, etc; the subject, however, I

consider as being my self, my inside, the experience of

my embodiment. It is through subjectivity that artists

such as Hannah Wilke, Jo Spence, Mary Duffy and Alison

Lapper have managed to express the experiences

of their embodiment, the attempted destruction

of the object by becoming the subject.

.
I plan to begin writing my dissertation proposal these

holidays, as I am writing it I intend to contribute

more diary entries, in an attempt to draw discussion

into my work, please feel free to comment on

my research – I am curious as to what other

people think on the subject.

.
Now, onto the reason my journal entries have

not been frequent. I have gone into holiday mode

this past week and that included a weekend away

to Dublin, Ireland. I got to see the St. Patrick’s

Day Parade in Dublin, which was so much fun,

and of course, drink way to much Guinness. I

would recommend everyone go to Dublin – it is my

new favorite city. Whilst there I was also privileged

to see The Book of Kells, which is housed in Trinity

College, it was fascinating to see; the detail in

the illustrations and the neatness of the writing and

the age of the book gave me goose bumps. I am back

in Leeds now, and unfortunately am paying for

my all night Guinness binge, because I am

suffering from a cold. So lots of sleeping at the

moment and not much work done, Dublin

was worth every second though.

Liz

Art ' Meditation

develop a connection to spirit through art and meditation

.

Sandra McArthur offers a fun learning environment while

developing confidence in expression and connection to

spirit.

.

Courses offered:

.

Listening to your intuition
using
art and meditation

Mondays 10am-12 Wamberal Surf Club

$200 for 9 week course

.

journey to self
through colour and
creation.

.
Tuesdays 10am-12

Gnostic School of Higher Learning

Woy Woy

.
Wednesdays 10am-12

Centred Self Healing

Killarney Vale

$220 for a 9 week course.

.

Kids' Art Classes
Terrigal Primary School

3.15-4.15pm

$153 per term, 9 weeks.

.

For more information please contact Sandra McArthur

on 4384 7767 or 0402 050901

or email arts_sandra@yahoo.com.au

web address www.sandramaree.com.au

Moran Moran

Congratulations to Dawne Fahey for

the acceptance of two photographs, Daily

Exercise (seen above) and Ryan Flies a

Kite with Dad,

into the Moran Photography Prize

and Exhibition.

Dawne also received two "silvers" in

the AIPP State Awards.

Good Luck Dawne !

http://www.moranprizes.com.au/

Mayoral response?

Three weeks ago, eO inc sought a response from the Mayor of Gosford regarding the closure of the photographic exhibition Changelings (see previous post).

Yesterday I spoke to the Mayor's Office and a spokesperson had this today:

"Yes we have your letter and it has been forwarded to the Director. The Mayor is awaiting a response and will then reply to your letter......It is in the System".

I will keep you posted of the progression through the System.

Sharyn Walker
on behalf of eO inc.

More from Leeds (Diary part 2)

My experience at Leeds University is proving to be challenging and motivating, particularly in regards to the writing of my dissertation. I’ve been extremely lucky to be allocated Griselda Pollock as my supervisor whilst here and she has been extremely encouraging in the direction that I take my research in not only my dissertation, but also my practical work.
Here is her research biography from the Leeds University website –
Griselda Pollock's main research interests are in the issues of gender, race and class in the formations of modernism in late nineteenth century Europe and America;the history of women in the visual arts with a current project focusing on femininity, representation and modernity 1928-1968; the work of Vincent van Gogh; women's cinema 1940-9; the legend of Tarzan: myths of empire, identity and place, contemporary visual arts by women. Major research supervision is offered in cultural studies, art history, film studies and feminist studies in the visual arts. Her new research areas include issues of trauma, history and memory after the Holocaust and Jewish Art and Modernity.
My research is dealing with the representation of women with disabilities in the Visual Arts, and with Griselda’s prominent knowledge in feminist studies ( I am currently reading three books written by her ), her supervision has been priceless. How, you may ask? Well, when I first arrived here in Leeds, I admit I felt a little lost in direction, yet after my talk to her, she encouraged a lateral look at my research. This means the investigating of other minority/oppressed groups in society, and exploring how artists in these groups represent the embodiment of their experience/situation within a bodily/self context. For my own research, this has proved quite interesting, as the disabled body is considered all body and therefore viewed as asexual, uninteresting and repugnant. This is far from reality however.
I am still heavily reading on topics to do with my research – topics such as: embodiment, definition of self/body, expression of the body, performance work within art practice and body art. I am also currently looking at artists such as Hannah Wilke, Jo Spence, Alison Lapper and Mary Duffy. These are artists that deal with the female experience through the context of the body, and I am particularly interested in the last two as they are artists who deal with their disabled experience through their art practice.
Hopefully in a few weeks I can write a more comprehensive profile of my research, as I am only now beginning to gather my ideas and make sense of the thoughts that are directing me towards performance and body art. So yes, when I return to Australia, prepare for a work of performance!

Elizabeth Wright

Memory ?

William Merrylees Re - Views memory.

Newview Gallery

March 27 to April 8

Artist Diary from abroad ..

Elizabeth Wright, Central Coast Artist, eO member

and Superb Personality, is currently undertaking

Bachelor of Fine Art Honours (Newcastle University)

and as a part of this course is studying at the School of Fine

Art, History of Art & Cultural Studies (http://www.leeds.ac.uk/fine_art/index.html)

which is situated in Leeds, UK.

.

.

.

The following is an excerpt from a letter from Liz which

begins her three month diary on her studies and

experiences as an artist in Leeds.

.

Next week: ' comprehensive detail of my research'

.

.

I have been busy. The time is going too quickly -

I can't believe I have been here nearly 6weeks now.

My house is a lovely old Victorian place, with three

stories and a cellar. My flatmate's and I only occupy

the bottom floor however, the other levels are empty.

My room is big and roomy. I am at the front of the house,

so I have a lovely large bay window in my bedroom.

My flatmates are fantastic. There is Marie from Denmark,

Marie from America, Stephanie from Canada and Isa,

Kathy and Nina from Germany.

.

.

The university is lovely and well situated. It is only a

fifteen minute walk from the city centre, a five minute

walk from our house and the campus isn't too big.

The lecturers have been amazing, they are so helpful

and passionate about their work. I am doing a second

year studio module (because the fourth years are organizing

their final year shows and therefore I couldn't really be

involved), and I am doing my dissertation module.

My supervisor is Griselda Pollock - she is rather famous

over here for her feminist writings and she is a fountain

of knowledge and has inspired me to think outside the

square in regards to my research.

.

Elizabeth Wright.

eO Exhibition

Re – VIEW:

MEMORIES REFRAMED

MEMORY FRAGMENTS / FRAGMENTED MEMORY
(ENCASED)


NEWVIEW GALLERY
277 AUSTRALIA STREET
NEWTOWN

27 MARCH 2007 TO 8 APRIL 2007

Artists

Fiona Doyle

.

Norma Dunston

.
Dawne Fahey

.

Terry Jackson

.
Josephine Laina

.

Helena Lewerenz
.

Renate Leyer
.

Gaye Merrylees
.

William Merrylees
.

Kiera O'Toole

.

Suzanne Robertson

.

Betty Saez

.

Sharyn Walker

.

Sandra Walsh

With special thanks to Craig at

Formation Signs and Plastic

Letter to the Mayor.....

The following is a copy of the letter seeking clarification and answers following the closure of Changeling: Childhood and the Uncanny.

7th February 2007

Dear Mr Maher,

The recent closure of the photographic exhibition Changeling: Childhood and the Uncanny shown at the Gosford Regional Gallery has caused considerable unease among contemporary artists of the Central Coast.

The following are some of the questions posed by Central Coast Contemporary Artists to which your prompt response would be appreciated.

. What events led to the decision to close the exhibition?

. Who made the decision to close down the exhibition and on what basis?

. Why was the exhibition shut down just one week from the proposed closing date?

. Who made judgement on the nature of the work and what was that judgement?

. Does Gosford City Council trust the personnel they have employed to judge the suitability of exhibitions for this Central Coast Gallery?

. How many complaints were made and from what sector of the community?

. To whom were these complaints made?

. What is your view on Contemporary Art and its place in Gosford?

. What would you term “controversial” when it comes to Contemporary Art?

. How can Central Coast artists be assured that our work won’t be censored and exhibitions shut down?


Questions and responses will be published for the benefit of Central Coast Artists.