MOVING GALLERIES LAUNCHES THIRD SERIES OF ART AND POETRY
Moving Galleries today launched its latest series of art and poetry works cementing Melbourne’s status as the nation’s cultural capital.
On track with London and New York, Melbourne’s travelling exhibition will showcase the third series of 18 artworks and 36 rooku on 40 Connex trains, comprising more than 1400 pieces across the city.
Launched today by the Committee for Melbourne, the Autumn 2008 series features emerging, established and young artists who have contributed to the latest collection of visual art works and Rooku poetry. Rooku poems follow the ancient Japanese Haiku structure, but are built on Melbourne-inspired images and traditions.
The Spring 2008 and Autumn 2009 Moving Galleries exhibitions - Poetry submissions now open
Moving Galleries is now seeking poetry for its next two travelling exhibitions, from poets residing in Victoria.
The themes for the next two exhibitions is innocence and transformation. Poets are encouraged to respond to the themes as creatively as possible and submit their poems by May 31st 2008. All poets selected will have their work published and displayed inside 40 Connex trains travelling around Melbourne.
Spring 2008 Exhibition: Innocence
The Spring 2008 exhibition will draw from artwork selected from the Artplay programme. In keeping with the children’s art, the theme for the poetry will be innocence. We are looking for creative responses to the theme. Here are some ideas to get you started: beginnings, childhood, renewal, freedom, simplicity, the primitive, a fresh way of looking at the world, spring.
Autumn 2009 Exhibition: Transformation
The Autumn 2009 exhibition will draw from artwork selected from the Creative Spaces initiative. In keeping with changing non-traditional gallery spaces with works of art, the theme for the poetry will be transformation. A few thoughts to kick-start your own: metamorphosis, a sea change, renovation, the migrant experience, evolution, making a break, seasonal change.
The Spring 2008 and Autumn 2009 Moving Galleries exhibitions will be incorporating all forms of poetry, from rooku to sonnets, acrostics to blank verse. Moving Galleries we will be looking to include a wide variety of poetic forms in each exhibition period.
To submit your poem, first register on this website, then submit your poem. You can also join the Moving Galleries e-mailing list so you can receive Moving Galleries news and vote for your favourite Moving Galleries poem or artwork.
The Autumn 2009 Moving Galleries exhibition - art submissions now open
Moving Galleries together with Creative Spaces is currently seeking submissions from artists located in Melbourne and throughout Victoria.
Connex finds beauty in the most unexpected places
Connex is well known for moving people around Melbourne, but did you know that they are also helping to move the profile of the arts in Melbourne?
The Australian Poetry Centre
Coming up to its first birthday this June, the Australian Poetry Centre (APC) is feeling excited about its future, even though it is really only funded to the end of this calendar year, as part of a 2 year start up grant from CAL.
How to write poetry
A few suggestions:
• The sound and rhythm of the words – the MUSICALITY – is important. ‘The sound should seem an echo to the sense’ (Alexander Pope).
• Write about what MATTERS most to you, right at the centre of yourself.
• AVOID clichés.
• DISTIL the language.
• SHOW, don’t tell, i.e. rather than saying “I feel happy”, describe the feeling (“I have a bird dancing in my chest”…)
• You can write poetry about ANYTHING.
• READ good poetry.
• Then forget all the rules and just WRITE.
Click here to go to the Moving Galleries Submissions page for information on how to submit your poem.
Experiences, influences and advice
A writer of poetry, short stories and novels, Michael de Valle’s poetry has featured in both the Moving Galleries pilot and the Spring 2007 Exhibition. Moving Galleries editor, and poet, Lea Hills, approached Michael to discuss his influences.
LH: What sort of experiences do you draw on in your writing?
MdV: Sometimes I draw on my own experiences as a starting point, but more often my writing comes out of human observation and circumstance - being open to those moments and details that make us truly human:
terminal
she starts to rewrite
her diary
nativity play
an angel
picks her nose
Supporting young, emerging and established artists: Kings ARI
Artists Siri Hayes and Victoria Bennett are representing Kings ARI in Moving Galleries Spring 2007 Exhibition
Located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, Kings Artist-run Initiative aims to present the best in contemporary arts practice. The gallery on the first floor comprises two large exhibition spaces, plus a purpose built video projection room with surround-sound. Kings ARI promotes ideas-based practices and curated projects. Proposals are accepted on artistic merit with a preference for showcasing emerging talent and providing a venue for established artists to experiment and take risks.
The iconic Melbourne Poets Union
Melbourne Poets Union (MPU) was formed in 1977 as the ‘Poets Union’, and other branches were subsequently formed throughout Australia. A non-profit organisation, staffed by volunteers, MPU promotes the writing of poetry by providing a meeting place for poets - through poetry workshops and readings - and a forum for news, discussion and publication via our newsletter POAM, our website and other publications.
History blesses Moving Galleries
If an idea has a future, it often has a past.
The first decorated tram in Melbourne was painted for a First World War recruitment drive in around 1914. Trams have been painted for advertising purposes since then but poetry and art boarded the public transport system last.
What is rooku?
Rooku is an Australian variant of the short Japanese form called haiku, but without the usual rules. Rooku also lends itself to humour. Want to learn how to rooku? Melbourne poet Myron Lysenko has created a wonderful guide to writing rooku.
