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.
As diverse and eclectic as the exhibition itself, the attendees not only represented the range of artistic personalities within the city, but its unusual blend with corporate identities celebrated the very nature of the Moving Galleries project; where business and art work together to ensure Melbourne’s emerging cultural capital status.
CEO of Committee for Melbourne, Sally Capp, highlighted the significance of this collaboration claiming that ‘what differentiates one city from another is the way in which culture moves within its structure, working to shape a city, ultimately giving it its own personality’.
Bruce Hughes, CEO for Connex Melbourne, acknowledged the unlikely partnership between art and trains, but put it simply that, when you’re able to catch a train and ‘enjoy example of cultural creativity provided by some of Melbourne’s best up and coming artists’ then its travel time spent well.
Winners of the 2007 people’s choice awards were announced as the collaborative art piece You know this isn’t the way home don’t you by Louise Jennison and Gracia Haby, and Rob Scott for the poetry.
At the end of the evening guests were invited to view Melbourne from the nearby ferris wheel, perhaps with a newfound perception of their city after having been immersed in so many creative interpretations.
