Basketmakers of Victoria Drift Exhibition
Basketmakers of Victoria present Drift Exhibitionas part of the Herring Island Summer Arts Festival
The Basketmakers of Victoria create an amazing variety of functional and sculptural pieces from plant fibres, such as reeds and prunings, as well as man-made materials and found objects. There will be demonstrations and interactive sessions each day, as well as an opportunity to meet the basket makers.
When: From 4-19 February 2012 – Saturdays and Sundays only from 12noon until 4.45pm
Where: The Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park on the Yarra river is easily reached by the punt from Como landing, adjacent to Alexandra Avenue. It runs on demand between 11am and 5pm. Pensioners, unemployed persons and children under 12 travel free, family fare is $5, or $2 per person. BBQ and picnic facilities in a grand setting.
Contact: 9857 8318 or 0407 098 022
9551 3554
War and cows: an interview with poet Susan Hawthorne
GIVEAWAYS: Thanks to @spinifexpress we have copies of Susan Hawthorne’s latest & second latest poetry collections to give away. Send us a message on Facebook or Twitter and tell us why you love poetry to go in the draw.
Susan Hawthorne is a poet, publisher and academic. Her book, Earth’s Breath, was shortlisted for the 2010 Judith Wright Poetry Award. She is Adjunct Professor in the Writing Program at James Cook University and the author of books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction, including co-editing (with Bronwyn Winter) the classic anthology, September 11, 2001: Feminist perspectives. Her latest collections of poetry are Valence and Cow.
Tonight (Friday 2 December) Susan Hawthorne will be reading from Valence at a special event at Collected Works from 6pm. We asked Susan some questions about Valence and her other recent collection Cow.
Q&A with the author of ‘The Abbotsford Mysteries’
We chat with Patricia Sykes for Spinifex Press about her new book of poetry: The Abbotsford Mysteries
Read more information http://www.spinifexpress.com.au/Events/event/eid=23/
Tell us a little about you?
I’m a poet and librettist
What will people experience when they come to the reading?
Pleasure I hope! And some idea of what it was like to live at the Convent. Kavisha Mazzella will also be singing at the launch.
How long have you been working on this book? And what’s been involved?
I’ve been researching this collection for a number of years and have interviewed 70 ex residents of the Convent as well as consulting my sisters and my own memories.
Where did you draw your inspiration from?
Personal experience and the stories of the women.
In 10 words or less why should people get moving and check it out?
The Convent – once an institution, now an arts precinct – oozes stories.
What was your biggest challenge along the way?
Juggling the amount of material I gathered without losing sight of the poetic impulse.
Where will we see you next?
At the launch!
Launch details:
Date: Saturday 5 November, 10 for 10.30 am
Venue: Abbotsford Convent Foundation,1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (look for signs). Ample parking in car park ($4 in gold coins) or free street parking.
RSVP: RSVP by 28th October to 9329-6088 or
What’s the best way to get to the venue?
By train: Victoria Park station on the Epping and Hurstbridge lines is the closest railway station to the Abbotsford Convent. Please note that some services express past Victoria Park station. Once out of the station and on Johnston St, walk east (away from the City) down Johnston St for around 12 minutes to Clarke St. Turn right into Clarke Street (the last right before the Yarra) and left into St Heliers St. The main entrance to Abbotsford Convent is on the right of St Heliers St before you reach the Collingwood Children’s farm.
Alternatively, the bus can be caught from Victoria Park Station down Johnston St rather than walk down Johnston St from the station. The bus details are below.
By tram: Catch any tram down Victoria St Abbotsford/Richmond and get off at Nicholson St Abbotsford (or Lennox St Richmond). Walk north up Nicholson St all the way to Abbotsford St and turn right. At the end of Abbotsford St turn left into Clarke St and then right into St Heliers St. This is a 20-25 minute walk.
By bus: From the City- the 200 City to Doncaster Shoppingtown/ Bulleen, The 201 City to Doncaster Shoppingtown/ Bulleen, and the 207 City to Doncaster Shoppingtown/ Donvale depart from Melbourne Central/ Lonsdale St in the city, run along Lygon St, Elgin St then Johnston St. Alight at Clarke Street bus stop (before Johnston Street crosses the Yarra). Turn right at Clarke St then turn left into St Heliers St. The 205 Melbourne University to Doncaster Shoppingtown begins at Melbourne University then proceeds down Elgin and Johnston St and pasts Clarke St.
Moreland Public Art Show
Michelle Robinson and Lani Fender’s art collective “andeverythinginbetween” has had two pieces selected for the City of Moreland’s ‘MoreArt Public Art Show’, an annual temporary public art show which showcases contemporary art in the unexpected nooks and crannies along the Upfield Train Line Precinct.
There are 18 works and their pieces are “Affinity” and “Fugitive Piano”.
“Affinity” is a large scale, site specific, placemaking installation consisting of an array of filaments that form an undulating canopy across a 45m x 15m, otherwise empty, landscape. The topographical remapping of the space subverts the viewers understanding and preconceptions by injecting a new reading and experience into a ‘forgotten space’.
“Affinity” is located in Brunswick and accessed from a pedestrian/bicycle path (parallel to the Upfield railway line), just north of Anstey Train Station. Tinning Street is the closest street crossing - head north from here. Refer to map in the photos section below.
A 350m stroll along the bike path south from here just past Anstey train Station takes you to our other piece, “Fugitive Piano”. An upright piano sits as a foreign object in an outdoor space. A series of performances by high profile pianists is scheduled during the month long exhibition, but for the most part the piano will stand out of context in the space, creating a feeling of intrigue and anticipation.
Read more about ‘andeverythinginbetween’
Read more about the art exhibition
Visit the exhibition Facebook page
Pop up gallery arrives at the show
After visiting Flinders Street Station and 530 Collins Street, Moving Galleries has arrived at its next destination, the Royal Melbourne Show.
Our pop up gallery will be at the show until Tuesday 4 October with a number of poets, artists and volunteers dropping in to talk about art and poetry.
Drop in and check out the 18 pieces of art from Arts Project Australia and the 30 poems by Victorian poets.
Pick up your favourite postcard and vote in the ‘Observance’ People’s Choice Awards for your chance to win a $500 prize.
You can also share a rooku about the Royal Melbourne Show by tweeting us @MovingGalleries or adding it to our Facebook page.
Want to be a volunteer art/poetry guide?
Want to talk about art and poetry at the Royal Melbourne Show?
Can you spare a few hours to help take our latest exhibition of art and poetry, Observance, to the Royal Melbourne Show from Saturday 24 September until 5 October.
The exhibition features artwork from Arts Project Australia and 30 poems from Victorian novice and professional poets.
We need people to tell visitors to our pop up gallery about the art and poetry on show, hand out postcards and encourage people to vote in the People’s Choice Awards.
We will provide you with FREE entry to the show & all the information you need to know about Moving Galleries. Plus you will become a part of our exciting Melbourne project.
If you’re interested, please email your preferred date and time to
Visit our pop up gallery at 530 Collins Street
After a month at Metro’s Flinders Street Station, Moving Galleries latest exhibition of art and poetry has moved into the busy foyer at 530 Collins Street thanks to the support of The GPT Group.You can view the entire collection at 530 Collins Street until Thursday 22 September and then at the Royal Melbourne Show from Saturday 24 September until Tuesday 4 October.
Chapbook launch at Overload Poetry Festival
We chat with Emilie Collyer who will be launching ‘Your Looking Eyes’ during the 2011 Overload Poetry Festival.
When?
Wednesday 14 September from 5pm – 7pm
Where?
c3 contemporary art space
Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
What’s the best train or tram to catch?
Victoria Park Station on the Epping and Hurstbridge Line
Any Victoria Street tram get off at Nicholson Street, Abbotsford
Frankston hosts poetry workshop and poetry slam
Poetry Workshop
Tuesday, 30 August from 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Frankston Library
Free poetry workshop hosted by Benjamin “IQ” Sanders, poet, educator, publisher, international slam champion and Melbourne’s very own 2008 Slam Champion.
This workshop is open to all ages interested in progressing their poetry with the chance to demonstrate their work at our upcoming Library Slam in September.
Bookings required on 9784 1020.
Poetry Slam
Thursday, 8 September from 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Frankston Library
Calling all poets, this is your chance to showcase your original work with two minutes to slam and the chance to win cash prizes.
Entry is free for participants and audience members. Content to be family friendly. Registrations open at 6:30pm, first 20 people registered will compete.
Visit the Frankston City Library webpage for further details.
Moving Galleries departs Flinders Street Station
After a four week stay at Flinders Street Station, Moving Galleries pop up gallery has departed for its next destination.
During its stay at the iconic station, more than 600 people voted in the People’s Choice Awards, more than 2,000 postcards were collected and more than 100,000 people passed the gallery each day.
The pop up gallery, designed by Daniel Dalla Riva at 6 Hats and built by ISIS Group Australia, showcased 18 pieces of art and 30 poems.
Many of the artists from Arts Project Australia and poets from across Victoria brought their friends and family to the station to see the pop up gallery. There were also many fans of Moving Galleries and past contributors popping by for a visit.
The next destination will be revealed in coming weeks, but you will be able to see the pop up gallery at the Royal Melbourne Show from 24 September until 4 October and then at Federation Square from 14-28 February.
In the meantime, view the entire collection of art and poetry and vote for your favourite pieces.
Moving Galleries extends its stay at Flinders Street Station until 14 August
Our latest exhibition, Observance, has extended its stay at Flinders Street Station for another week.
You have until Sunday 14 August to view the entire collection of 30 poems and 18 artworks in the pop up gallery next to the Police Station on the main concourse of Metro’s Flinders Street Station.
The art from Arts Project Australia and the poetry submitted by Victorian poets has already been viewed by thousands of Melbourne commuters with hundreds of votes in the People’s Choice Awards being cast.
Vote for your favourite artwork and poem in the People’s Choice Awards and go into the draw to win a $500 prize.
Moving Galleries’ “Observance” exhibition is proudly supported by the Victorian Government’s Department of Transport, Metro, ISIS Group Australia, Committee for Melbourne, Arts Project Australia, 6 Hats, housemouse, Liquid Ink, Allens Arthur Robinson, the c word, Royal Melbourne Show, Federation Square, The Melbourne Review, and the State of Design Festival.
Moving Galleries sixth exhibition at Flinders Street Station until 1 August
Yesterday Moving Galleries launched its latest exhibition of art and poetry, “Observance”, at Flinders Street Station. The exhibition is on show until 1 August and is part of the 2011 State of Design Festival.
The exhibition will then move to a number of public places around Melbourne including the Royal Melbourne Show in September and Federation Square in February 2012.
More than 60 people attended yesterday’s launch including many of the artists and poets, our partners, and representatives from government, business, art and literature organisations. You can check out photos from the launch on our Facebook page.
Get moving to … Stopping all stations poetry readings
Poetry event
Carole Poustie and Helen Boettcher present Stopping all Stations
Date and time
Third Saturday of the month (except July)
Venue
Station Street Cafe
26 Station Street
Nunawading (across from Nunawading Station)
Entry fee
$5 and $3 concession
Best train or tram stop
Nunawading station – Belgrave/Lilydale line
Check out - Six Years Later Magazine Launch & Exhibition
Six Years Later Magazine Launch & Exhibition
Dates and Times
Opening Night
Friday, 15th April 2011
7pm – 10pm (Doors open at 6.30pm)
Exhibition 16th -18th April 2011
10am – 4pm
Venue
1000 Pound Bend
361 Lt Lonsdale St
Melbourne
Entry fee and booking details (if any)
Free entry
Best train or tram stop
Get off at Melbourne Central or catch any tram along Elizabeth Street
http://www.sixyearslater.com.au
Exhibition profile - Irene Amorosi’s Beyond the Grey
Irene Amorosi presents Beyond The Grey
Irene has been inspired by her daily visits to the Docklands. Irene’s art exhibition, Beyond The Grey depicts the metamorphous of the Docklands precinct. With a progressive and evolving landscape including construction development, cosmetic improvement of surrounding structures and the gradual increase of population, its public profile continues to grow.
Dates and Times
Until 24 April 2011: Monday to Sunday,12-5pm
Venue
Shed 4, Dock 4, North Wharf Road, Victoria Harbour, DOCKLANDS Vic 3008
Best train or tram stop
Southern Cross Station
Art exhibition: Peter Burke presents ‘Findings (Glove Series)’
Artist Peter Burke has completed 74 drawings of the gloves which are on display at Trocadero Artspace until March 19.
We asked Peter Burke, a former Moving Galleries artist, about his latest exhibition Findings (Gloves series)
Dates:
Wed-Sat
11am-5pm
Until Saturday 19 March
Venue:
Trocadero Artspace
Level 1 / 119 Hopkins Street
Footscray
Best train station:
Footscray Station
Event - Help keep Collected Works alive - Wednesday 8 December
What’s happening?
Friends of Collected Works Raffle Draw and Party
When?
Pre Christmas Shopping until 8 December, $25+ purchase qualifies for raffle drawn on 8 December
Where?
Collected Works Bookshop
Level 1, Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston St., Melbourne CBD, 3000
Tel 9654 8873
How much?
Buy a book!
What’s the best train/tram?
Flinders Street Station, up Swanston St to Flinders Lane intersection; the Nicholas Building cannot be missed
Where can we get more information?
Collected Works bookshop Facebook page
LAUNCH: Tiggy Johnson’s debut poetry collection
This week we ask Tiggy Johnson a few questions ahead of the launch of ‘First taste’ and Going Away Party this Sunday!
What’s happening?
The launch of Tiggy Johnson’s debut poetry collection, ‘First taste’ is her last Melbourne appearance before moving interstate.
When’s it happening?
Sunday 28th November 2010 at 3pm
Where’s it happening?
Caffe Sospeso
428 Burwood Road
Hawthorn, Vic
Where’s the closest train, tram or bus?
Glenferrie Train Station
Where can we get more information?
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170056003012024
Get moving to Flying Home, wherever that is (Free Poetry Event)
Melbourne Poets Union presents ‘Flying Home, wherever that is’
When is it on?
Sunday 31 October 2010 from 2 pm to 4 pm.
Where is it on at?
Immigration Museum, Flinders Street
How much and how do we book?
FREE EVENT
What’s the best train or tram stop?
Flinders St Station
Where can we get more information?
Melbourne Poets Union’s website
Get moving and check out People’s Choice Award Winning Poet, Sean M Whelan
We asked the winner of the 2010 poetry award for the Moving Galleries’ People’s Choice Awards a few questions in the lead up to his album launch this Sunday.
What’s happening?
Sean M Whelan & The Interim Lovers are launching their Softly & Suddenly Album
When’s it happening?
Sunday 24 October at 8pm
Where’s it happening?
The Toff In Town. Level 2. 252 Swanston Street.
How much does it cost?
$12/$20 with CD.
What’s the best train or tram stop to get off at?
Any tram stopping at the corner of Swanston and Lonsdale. Or Melbourne Central train station.
Where can we get more information?
Head to our website.
Now for some questions about the launch and the works!
Interview with Sweet Streets Curator, Tessa Yee
We asked Tessa Yee, the curator of the Sweet Streets Festival Award Show a few questions.
When is the festival running until?
It’s on until 24 October from 8am-7pm weekdays and 11am-7pm weekends. The works start coming down Sunday 24 October.
Where can we see it?
1000 Pound Bend, 361 little Lonsdale Street
How much does it cost and how do we book?
It’s free!
What’s the best train or tram stop to get off at?
Melbourne Central Station, or Tram on cnr Elizabeth and La Trobe Street
Where can we get more information?
Head to our website
Now for some questions about creating the show and what’s next.
E-newsletter - October 2010
Welcome
The past two months have been filled with literature and art!
Literary fans were spoilt for choice in September with the Melbourne Writers Festival and the Overload Poetry Festival. At the same time, art fans enjoyed the Melbourne Art Fair and a spectucular range of exhibition openings across the city.
And if that wasn’t enough, Melbourne Fringe has just ended and the Melbourne Festival runs until 23 October.
It has also been a busy period for the Moving Galleries Poetry Selection Committee reviewing more than 700 poems.
We hope you enjoy the remainder of the festival season as well as the regular art and poetry events around Victoria.
Cheers, Jack Walden and the Moving Galleries Advisory Board
PS. Don’t forget, you can join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter
Get moving and check out - Black Face/White Mask: A Play About Transforming Identity
We chatted with the team at Western Edge Youth Arts and The Flemington Theatre Group who are presenting Black Face/White Mask: A Play About Transforming Identity next Thursday at 8pm. It’s a free production in Flemington, which should be both entertaining and confronting.
Here are the main details.
What
Black Face/White Mask: A Play About Transforming Identity
When
Thursday 14 October at 8pm
Where
Flemington Community Centre, 25 Mount Alexander Road, Flemington.
How much and bookings
Tickets are free on the door
Best train or tram stop:
Flemington Bridge Train Station
Now here are some questions we asked them about the show.
Get moving and check out - Cold Light: Photographic series
Exhibition Title
Cold Light: Photographic series
Artist’s name
Tara Gilbee
Dates and Times
15 September to 24 October 2010
10am-5pm, Wednesday to Sunday
Venue
Latrobe Visual Arts Centre, 121 View Street, Bendigo Vic 3550
Entry fee and booking details (if any)
n/a
Best train or tram stop
Bendigo train station is a 20 minute walk down View Street. The gallery is opposite Bendigo Art Gallery and The Bendigo Capital Theatre.
Moving Galleries E-News July 2010
Welcome
This month, we celebrate the first five years of Moving Galleries. In that time, and with your support, we’ve transformed it from an idea into a reality, and we have produced five sensational exhibitions, which have been seen by hundreds of thousands of Melbourne commuters.
While it may be a few more months before the next exhibition of Moving Galleries is up and running, don’t think for a second we’re resting on our laurels.
As you’ll see from this issue, there has been plenty of activity at Moving Galleries. Firstly, we’ve tallied up your votes and we are delighted to announce the winners of the ‘People’s Choice Awards’ ... you’ll have to read on to find out who won.
We’ve also gathered a group of passionate Moving Galleries supporters to form an Advisory Board. They are helping us take the necessary steps to establish Moving Galleries as a separate organisation, with a clear and sustainable model for future operations.
At the same time, our Poetry Selection Committee has been knee deep in short poems, prose, rookus and haikus sorting through submissions for the ‘Observance’ exhibition, which we’re hoping to bring you in the coming months, with art from our arts partner, Arts Projects Australia.
Between now and the next issue, we’ll be letting the shortlisted poets know of their involvement and announcing the exhibition dates - so stay tuned.
And don’t forget, you can always join us at http://www.facebook.com/MovingGalleries.org or follow us at http://twitter.com/movinggalleries
Cheers,
Jack Walden and the Moving Galleries team
Program news
People’s Choice Award Winners
Did you see the announcement on the ‘Melbourne Life’ page of The Age today?
Moving Galleries is pleased to announce the recipients of the People’s Choice Awards for the Transformation exhibition are Sean M Whelan and Kirsty Hulm.
The Poetry Award goes to Sean M Whelan for his poem ‘everything we ever changed our minds about’. His poem about autumn and love was a standout among the final 30 poems displayed.
Kirsty Hulm won the Artist Award for her installation ‘Imagine Me and You I Do’, which featured on the city’s St Paul Cathedral. Her work was originally part of the 2008 Next Wave Festival.
Congratulations to Sean and Kirsty as well as all the wonderful poets and artists who were involved in the ‘Transformation’ exhibition.
Public prize
Congratulations also go to Daniel Donahoo who won a prize worth $500 for simply casting his vote in the People’s Choice Awards.
Daniel was a little taken aback by the prize, as he was unaware that with voting came a reward. So what does he think about receiving a prize for simply voting for the piece that resonated with him the most?
“Moving Galleries has provided me with so much enjoyment over the years. A Moving Galleries carriage demands that we commuters pick ourselves up from our seat and survey each poem and artwork before we depart for jobs or home or otherwise.
I think Moving Galleries is demonstrating the increasing connection authors and readers have with each other, and hopefully with this city. The Internet has emerged from its infancy and we are now capable of all simultaneously being producers and receivers of words, stories, poems, pictures and ideas.
Thanks for making the journey a little brighter Moving Galleries, and thanks to all those that contribute to a project that we hope prospers and thrives well into the future.”
Well done Daniel and thank you for supporting our poets and artists.
Advisory Board
An interim Advisory Board has been established to help take the necessary steps to set Moving Galleries up as a separate entity, and develop a sustainable business model.
We will be keeping you updated on the progress of the Advisory Board via our website.
Poetry Selection
Thank you for the overwhelming response to our call for poetry submissions for the next exhibition.
Our Selection Committee now has the task of sorting through hundreds of submissions of short poems and haikus for the ‘Observance’ exhibition. Selection is well underway and we should have our final 30 poems chosen in the coming weeks.
The final selection will be undertaken by veteran Moving Galleries selector Kevin Brophy from the University of Melbourne as well as Luis Serrano Gonzalez, the new director of Overload Poetry Festival and Elisabeth Williams from the Department of Transport.
Commuting with… Matt Hetherington
Matt Hetherington performing at the 2008 Overload Poetry Festival (Image courtesy of Michael Reynolds)
In each issue of our e-newsletter, we’re going to ask a poet, artist, sponsor or a member of the team about their experiences commuting with Moving Galleries.
What’s your role with Moving Galleries?
Along with Lia Hills and Myron Lysenko, I was the initiator of the poetry aspect of the project. So I see my role partly as looking after the artistic side of things, remembering where we started, and making sure the poets don’t get forgotten in the middle of this massive, many-sided enterprise. Officially, I’m one of the poetry editors, and also I’m on the Advisory Board.
What does the initial selection process involve?
LOTS of poems! Reducing the submissions down to the required number (usually from something like 1,000 to around 90 or so), which seems to involve open-mindedness, tact, and the ability to give up poems that one likes, too...Lia and I get on pretty well, and generally have fairly similar ideas of what good poetry is and isn’t, and are both able to compromise. Although, I’m the good guy, of course…
What is your overall reaction to the quality of poetry submissions, for this exhibition and previous exhibitions?
Funny, actually, this was the first time I thought ‘Wow, pretty low standard there’, and then later realised I was wrong. About half the people who submit obviously don’t read much poetry, but I think occasionally can produce a good poem anyway. I’d actually like to see even MORE well-known poets submitting, but the amount of input from the general public has been really large, which is what we were hoping for, and a big part of what we wanted the project to be about.
What’s your favourite part of Moving Galleries?
Seeing the work when travelling myself, the genuine gratitude from the writers (who are so glad to actually be read by people who may well not read poetry any other time), and hearing stories from folk who don’t know I’m involved, and tell me about this great piece they’ve seen on the train…
What’s next for you?
Coffee.
Have you got a tip to share with budding poets/writers?
Other than writing and writing and practicing patience? I think the other way to become a good writer is to read intensely and widely, particularly in the forms in which you’re writing.
Get moving and check out...
Henri ROUSSEAU
French 1844-1910
The avenue in St. Cloud Park (1907-08)
(Allée dans le parc de Saint-Cloud)
oil on canvas
46.2 x 37.6 cm
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Acquired in 1926
Image courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria
Catch a train to Flinders Street station and walk or catch any tram along St Kilda Road to:
European Masters: Städel Museum, 19th-20th Century
19 June - 10 October 2010
National Gallery of Victoria
Tickets: $23 Concession: $18
European Masters brings together a remarkable collection of masterpieces from the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, one of the finest collections in Europe.
For more information, visit www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Get off the train at Melbourne Central and head along to:
Debut Mondays: Featuring Daniel Ducrou, Anna Dusk, Tess Evans and Andy Jackson
19 July 2010, 6.15 - 7.15pm
The Wheeler Centre Auditorium, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Free event
For more information, visit www.wheelercentre.com
Also watch out for Melbourne Art Fair (4-8 August), Melbourne Writers Festival (27 August - 5 September) and Overload Poetry Festival (10 - 19 September).
Check out more arts and literate events you can head along to at www.movinggalleries.org/getmoving
And in other arts and literature news
Skype Slam
Melbourne poets will be taking on the cream of the crop from Singapore’s LIT UP festival in the first round of a Tri-Nations Skype Slam on July 18 at the Wheeler Centre. Representing Team Melbourne will be Emilie Zoey Baker, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Steve Smart. Ezra Bix will emcee the night.
May the best cyber-slammer win!
Tickets are available on the night. For more information, please visit http://www.overloadpoetry.org
What does $60 million buy you?
Did you know that Pablo Picasso’s Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto - also known as The Absinthe Drinker - sold for £34.7million? That’s $60million in Australian dollars. Painted in 1903 during Picasso’s blue period, the piece set a new record for British art sales.
At this stage, we can confirm this will NOT be featured in the next Moving Galleries exhibition 
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Thanks to our sponsors
Yandell Walton collaborates for Gertrude Street Projection
Moving Galleries artist Yandell Walton, who’s work ‘Cargo’ featured in the ‘Transformation’ exhibition, is part of an exciting collaboration which will feature in the 2010 Gertrude Projection Festival from this Friday.
Walton has collaborated with the indigenous communities of Fitzroy and the Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sports Centre (MAYSAR) in a series of workshops to create a shadow projection titled “From All Over”.
The work is a cultural community art project funded by the City of Yarra and part of the 2010 Gertrude St Projection Festival opening this Friday night and running for 10 nights along Gertrude St, Fitzroy.
The festival’s theme “Me You Us” is reflected in the work. It is a shadow projection reflecting the coming together of the indigenous communities in Fitzroy from across Australia.
Over the last 10 weeks, Yandell and group met informally at community barbecues and at the recreation centre. Yandell said, “This was such an important part of the process, because by getting to know each other, the stories of the people and the importance of this area and street to the people came out.”
It was during this process that Walton ran the workshops at MAYSAR and at her studio in Collingwood.
“The idea was to engage, talk about the concept and develop a work that has deep meaning for the people involved”
Celebrating and encouraging the diversity that makes up the Gertrude St community is an aim of the Gertrude Association, the not for profit group producing the Gertrude St Projection Festival.
Gertrude St is an incredible mix of social community services, artists, restaurants, high fashion shops and it’s also a place where indigenous people have strong emotional, historical and cultural connections. This street saw the birth of many key developments of modern indigenous history.
‘From All Over’ is projected down a lane beside The Charcoal Lane restaurant, named in honour of the real Charcoal lane of Archie Roach’s song.
While it’s not an official part of NAIDOC week, the Festival exhibits it with pride and in the spirit of celebrating our remarkable indigenous Fitzroy community.
Jump on a tram and head along to the Festival from Friday.
Still on track
Moving Galleries may not be on the trains right now but don’t think for one second that we’re resting on our laurels.
As you may be aware, Moving Galleries is an initiative of the Committee for Melbourne’s Future Focus Group to foster Victorian artistic and literary talent. Currently, we’re working to establish it as a separate entity, including the development of a sustainable business model. We’ve also been in talks to Melbourne’s public transport operators and exhibition partners and hope to bring you another exhibition very soon. For more information about our Advisory Board, click here.
If you have any comments or feedback, please contact Jack or Maryann on .
Moving Galleries’ wheels are in motion so keep an eye out for us.
Sigourney Young Poets Interview
What drives you to write/create?
I draw a lot of inspiration from the everyday situations and the world around me. I think that too often people let everything pass by while they’re caught up in work and stresses. In my writing I want to capture a moment or an image or scene and just slow it down. I want to appreciate details and the depth that can be found in ordinary situations
How would you describe your writing style?
My writing uses a lot of imagery and often concentrates on the rhythm and sound of sentences through structure and word choice. I’m fascinated with the way that these elements can create mood and so enjoy working with them in my writing. I write usually in the third person because it gives me the opportunity to explore a number of characters in depth…
Transformation Catalogue
Transformation exhibition catalogue is now available in the Collected Works Bookshop in the city and Avenue Bookstore in Albert Park.
Collected Works is at
Level 1 Nicholas Building
37 Swanston Street
Melbourne 3000
It will be available at more bookshops soon.
rrp $17.
Poets Interview - Sean M Whelan
Bunnies, broken hearts, line drawings, country music, trees at dusk, fifties dresses, skeletons, cowboy boots, rock and or roll, her handwriting, pushing back the waves of sadness, the memory of my father and a burning hole in my heart.
How would you describe your writing style?
I wouldn’t. Not unless I have to. I’ve never enjoyed trying to describe myself very much, perhaps because I don’t really have much of a plan to what I do. It comes mostly from a place of yearning, instinct and desperation.
Melbourne Transformed!
The Transformation Exhibition, the latest installment of the Moving Galleries travelling exhibition of art and poetry, was launched at Flinders Street station on a chilly morning in the middle of June. Peering through their winter woollies, artists and poets in attendance were able to view their work inside one of the trains that will usher the exhibition through the arteries of Melbourne.
The exhibition, the fifth in the Moving Galleries ‘Moving Melbourne through art’ series, features the musings of 23 poets and sublime creations of 26 artists on a series of posters dotting the walls of our city trains....
Transformation Media Release
MOVING_GALLERIES_TRANSFORMATION_Media_Release_17th_June_09.pdf
Transformation Launch at Flinders Street Station
The Transformation Exhibition was Launched at Flinders Street station on Wednesday morning the 17th June 2009. Artists and poets attended and were able to view their work on the walls of the carriages. Rob Hudson, Parliamentary Secretary for the Arts officially opened the exhibition and gave an enlighteing speech about the importance of the Moving Galleries Project for Melbourne. It was noted that projects like ours help make Melbourne the distinctive cultural capital of Australia, allowing a venue for artists to showcase their work and bringing art and poetry to a wider audience. Robbie Rowlands, an artist featured in the exhibition, spoke about the importance of projects like Moving Galleries to the arts communities of Melbourne and Victoria. In this instance, the ability for the ephemeral works that are within the exhibition to be able to “live on” and be seen by many more people than would otherwise be the case is of great importance to the artists in the exhibition.
Please Visit the on-line version of the exhibition on this website and don’t forget to Join, Vote and Comment on this website. Moving Galleries would love to know what you think and feel about the artwork you see and the poetry you read. Also let us know what you think of Moving Galleries?
Looking forward to your feedback....
Spring “Innocence” Launch Huge Success
The Spring Moving Galleries “Innocence” Launch was a wonderful success. The Launch was held at ArtPlay, Project Partners for the Innocence Artwork, in Birrarung Marr late November. The 18 junior artists’ panel paintings and the 23 poets’ poetry was displayed within the space and enjoyed by all.
Sally Capp, CEO of the Committee for Melbourne officially launched the new exhibition. An interesting speech was given by Rob Hudson; Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and the Arts and it was wonderful to hear of his enthusiasm for the Moving Galleries Project. Following was an equally engaging speech by Connex’s Executive Chairman Jonathan Metcalfe about how their support of Moving Galleries helps to captivate, amuse and engage the commuters that travel across the train network. Mr Metcalfe explained that supporting local communities and also the arts in Melbourne is of great importance to Connex.
Look out for the great chidrens’ artwork and inspiring poetry on your traintrips around Melbourne over the next few months. Connex is currently working hard installing the new exhibition onto another 40 trains in their network!
You can also peruse the new poetry and artwork on this website by clicking on the Artwork and Poetry links on the left side of this page and do not forget to vote for your favourite artist and poet!
Voting now closed for Autumn 2008 Exhibition’s Peoples’ Choice Award
The voting process has closed for the Autumn 2008 Exhibition’s Peoples’ Choice Awards.
Thank you to everyone who voted online. Winners will be announced in the near future.
Last chance to vote for Peoples’ Choice Award
Public voting will close in one weeks’ time on 12 Wednesday, November, 2008. Place your votes via the website before next Wednesday as one lucky member of the voting public to take away a prize, to the value of $500.
Follow the link to the Peoples’ Choice Awards, and follow the instructions to place your vote. Good luck to all artists, poets and Moving Galleries members! The winners will be announced in a few weeks!
Spring exhibition selection finalised and Moving Galleries appoints new project manager
The Moving Galleries Spring Exhibition selection is finalised and all the poets and artists are being notified. Moving Galleries is full steam ahead getting ready for the roll out of the new season “Innocence” exhibition on Connex trains and you should start seeing the exciting new exhibition on your way to work or play from late November. The art side of the exhibition feature’s children’s’ art made at Artplay in Birrarung Marr, and the poetry selections have been expanded to include longer form poetry in addition to the Rooku.
The move to longer forms is part of Moving Galleries ongoing commitment to keeping the project vibrant and introducing a broader range of forms of poetry to the community. Over the coming exhibitions we will have everything from sonnets to free verse and we encourage those submitting to be innovative in their work (as long as it will fit on a decal). Also, we remain faithful to our original beginnings with short form poetry, or rooku, even as we expand into different forms. Our aim is to be as representative as possible of the type of poetry that is being read and written by Victorians.
Due to the long absence of a Project Manager for the Moving Galleries recently, the Autumn 2009 Creative Spaces short-listed artists and poets’ selection process has had to be put on hold. Jessie Doring the newly appointed Project Manager would like to state her many apologies to all artists and poets who are awaiting the results of the selection process. The new Project Manager is working hard at bringing all projects up to date. Final decisions for the Autumn 2009 selection for Creative Spaces will be announced in the new year of 2009.
Autumn 2008 exhibition Launch
Art transforming trains seemed a recurrent theme as we launched the Moving Galleries 2008 exhibition last Thursday night at Art Play, the historical red-brick railway shed now converted to a cultural precinct. Located at Birrarung Marr Park along the Yarra, just a short work from the hub of trains at Flinders St Station, the launch was yet another reminder that art and poetry need not confine themselves to traditional spaces.
The party mingled around the 36 hanging rooku and 18 artworks – little lightning bolts of Melbourne inspired moments – soon to be scattered and dispersed throughout 40 Connex trains for the next 6 months.
Moving Galleries in collaboration with established art programs
In line with Moving Galleries’ incentive to support and strengthen Melbourne’s art community, its upcoming exhibitions will draw artwork from two established programs creating opportunities for artists. ArtPlay and Creative Spaces, in their differing approaches of assistance, will also reflect the diversity of Melbourne’s art organisations.
The spring 2008 exhibition will select it artwork from children’s pieces produced at ArtPlay, located in Birrarung Marr at Federation Square. In accordance to the theme of ‘innocence’, this exhibition will aim to inspire its audience through poetry and art that considers or reflects a sense of wonder at the world, new beginnings and fresh perspectives.
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.
