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 
Follow and share
Tell your friends, family and colleagues to become a member of http://www.movinggalleries.org and follow us on ...
www.facebook.com/movinggalleries.org
www.twitter.com/MovingGalleries
www.youtube.com/user/movinggalleriesmelb
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.
