Line Up

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The day began with an overview of confirmed artists and their ideas. What a line up! Such an eclectic group with varied concepts and materials while the site-specific element is the commonality. Many of the artists haven’t exhibited in a public space before while some are well known public artists, so it will be an interesting and exiting outcome. Kendal has been guiding some of the artists through conversation. We visited one of the artist’s studio called Baby Guerrilla whom many locals will be familiar with. The artist works across many mediums but in public, abandoned buildings, forlorn walls, empty and isolated street surfaces are the artist’s life size sketchbook. Paste-ups of floating and gravity defiant figures capture your imagination as they appear randomly through the urban streets of the West. This is going to be one of the artist’s biggest artworks so far as part of the Couples series. We then visited the site, which the artist chose. The challenge is permission to use the site; that can be the most difficult part. More so, determining who owns a site and whom to negotiate with. Will keep you updated on that minor conundrum. Kym Ortenburg who was the co-founder and 2012 director of the Gertrude Street Projection Festival is coming on board with a projection on the council offices. The link gives you a tasty time lapse. In the afternoon, we met with Cate Broadbent who will be contributing a specially designed flag reflective of contemporary multicultural Footscray. This is no easy task so the result is much anticipated. There are more artists to come but enough added zest.

Your loyal public art servant.

Chantal Wynter

Baby Guerrilla's work in the streets. 
Images by Chantal Wynter

On the Edge; an introduction

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A call out for artists was advertised in February of this year to be part of the “On the Edge” – a public art project initiated by Gillian Savage of Maribyrnong City Council in collaboration with artist in resident Kendal Henry. The project involves exhibiting artwork at allocated public sites throughout the central business district of Footscray to be installed by the 15th of November.  The project developed out of a Public Art Policy that was adopted by council. Read it if you have an idle moment. As boring as it sounds, the policy is quite an ambitious and inspiring document. The invitation to exhibit in “On the Edge” had no formal guidelines or prerequisites and people of all backgrounds were encouraged to participate. The budget is small so experienced guidance is beneficial. Henry has 20 years of experience working with public art in many forms from large to small scale and temporary to permanent. Henry has approached this project without a theme and has let the site-specific element dictate the outcome; inevitably the artwork will address social and political issues on a local level. Henry has consulted the artists throughout the project beginning with the idea, expanding on the concept, problem solving the practical issues and studio visits. While artwork within a gallery environment can have problematic installation issues, this can be increased within public art context such as weather, structural site and public antipathy. A challenge for the artist is how they present their work to a public involuntary audience. Unlike a museum, a person doesn’t choose to view art in a public space. An interesting factor is how people view art and the time they have to engage and interpret work. This blog will endeavour to follow the progress of this project as an artist, a student in arts management and viewer.

Your loyal public art servant.

Chantal Wynter