Here is some my official documentation from the two sites for Art in Public Places. You can see more on my installation page.
When photographing work, it’s a good time to evaluate what I’ve done and to think through the content of the work. Some say that artwork isn’t complete until ‘the viewer’ looks at it…
Ah public art. Everyone has an opinion, and I have inserted myself into that scene with eyes somewhat open, knowing what I might find there, but hopeful that the experience would be overall good.
Linked Internal Space II, another of my works which is part of Art in Public Places, is situated on a fairly main thoroughfare for parents with kids on their way to the park, commuters on their way to the train station and those out for a little local shopping. Another artwork for a previous project had occupied the wall up until a week or two before I installed – underneath was blank coffee-coloured brick wall with black graffiti tags spray painted all over. My first job was to paint the bricks grey, my desired background colour. Most passers-by seemed to think I was just painting out the graffiti – what a good citizen. Sorry ladies and gentlemen, I had ulterior motives.
Aaaaand, I’m done. All three sites for Art in Public Places are complete – Mies Coffee Bar, The Substation and Mason Street sites.
I’m currently in the thick of installing work for the Hobsons Bay City Council initiative, Art in Public Places.
Three sites and I have two days left(!).
The first site, is at Mason St Newport. And outdoor site, brick wall and asphalt footpath. Once the previous artwork was removed from the wall, it revealed what I had to work with; a painted brick wall, with some damage. I painted it a pale grey all over for the base coat.
Working outdoors has presented some challenges I’m not used to. For starters, it gets dark of an evening – earlier and earlier now that we are headed to shorter days. So I have needed to work around my other commitments and daylight. But not only that, the weather has been hits and misses since the weekend, with intermittent showers.
At great speed, 2013 is hurtling along already. Dramatic, isn’t it?
I have a few projects starting to take shape, and it’s a pretty exciting time. I can see some of my work behind the scenes start to bring forward opportunities. That’s always comforting – at times I can get such tunnel vision for those behind the scenes tasks and wonder if I’m just obsessing for no solid outcomes.
In 2013, I will be doing an Honours year at a different and highly respected art school in Melbourne. So excited to get back to study and pulling apart my practice. I have come a long way from when I first found out in November. I have progressed through feelings of uncertainty, nerves – now I’m pumped, and ready to go. Roll on end-of-Feb.
After all the hard slog preparing, the Graduate Exhibition was a great success. We had a great opening night, standing room only in many areas of the buildings. Approx. 750 people responded with an RSVP and that seems about right. We also had a great many through during the rest of the exhibition.
Thanks to my fellow artists, RMIT staff and all who contributed and made it a great opening and great exhibition. And thanks to friends and family for coming to see the show.