Life Support Systems- Making Sense of the Earth's Ecologies

'Space travel meets art in reflective exhibition' - Wonderland artworks Reviewed!

2012-02-28T23:01:00.001-08:00

Monash international media center has released a feature article and review on my latest works in Wonderland at the Museum of Contemporary Art - Taipei

http://www.monash.edu.au/news/show/space-travel-meets-art-in-reflective-exhibition

Click on the image or link above to read more on the exhibition and works.

Wonderland @ MOCA Taipei: 10 Feb - 8 April 2012.

Jasmine Targett opening at Museum of Contemporary Taipei

2012-01-30T22:31:00.000-08:00

We are delighted to announce that Jasmine Targett's series Life Support Systems is opening next week in Wonderland at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei.

Exhibited recently in Making Sense at Craft Victoria, Life Support Systems was curated into Wonderland by the Associate Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Antoanetta Ivanova at MOCA Taipei.

Other works by Jasmine Targett on display include- Atmosphere: and your troubles like bubbles will disappear (above) which recently toured Australia.

Wonderland is a survey of innovative contemporary art emerging from Australia, the exhibition will feature works from 24 artists including- Kristy Boyle, Bindi Cole, Daniel Crooks, Anna Davern, Alex Davies, Julie Dowling, Matthew Gardiner, Matthew Gingold, Chris Henschke, George Khut, Fiona Lowry, Jasmine Targett, Jess MacNeil, Jon McCormack, Cath Robinson, Julie Ryder, Kuuki (Priscilla Bracks, Gavin Sade), Kylie Stillman, Josephine Starrs and Leon Cmielewski, Martin Walch and Yvette Coyle.

The exhibition is on from the 10th February - 8th April 2012.

Accompanying the exhibition will be a 200 page colour catalogue in English and Chinese featuring an essay Life Support Systems by John Gregory. If you would like to purchase a catalogue please email- jasminetargett@hotmail.com

For further information on Wonderland please go to- www.mocataipei.org.tw

New Images - Exhibition at Craft Victoria

2011-10-24T02:08:00.000-07:00

Two years in the making, Debbie Symons and Jasmine Targett's latest exhibition 'Making Sense' closed last week at Craft Victoria. If you didn't to to see the show, here is a guided tour through the works.

New Scientist - Dazzling glass art reveals hidden crises on Earth

2011-10-13T23:41:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the last day of Making Sense at Craft Victroia, Wendy Zuckerman's article has hit Culture Lab!

Click on the image above to read more!

If you want to see the work in the flesh, its last day is this Saturday, 15^th October.

'A Glass Above'

2011-10-04T01:07:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to share this feature article on Jazzy's work new work Life Support Systems, currently on exhibition at Craft Victoria till the 15th of October.

'A Glass Above'- Progress Leader - by Holly McKay, picture by Josie Hayden

**Meet the Artists**
You can meet both Debbie and Jasmine this Saturday at Craft Victoria's free artist talks. Do pop down if your in the area & have a chat, we would love to see you there!

Jasmine and Debbie interviewed on Beyond Zero Emissions Radio!

2011-10-04T01:06:00.001-07:00

Last week Debbie and I were interviewed by Vivien Langford on Beyond Zero Emissions radio!!

Click on the image above to follow the link to the Pod Cast of the interview. It is a quick download.

We chatted about the work at the Craft Victoria exhibition, the ways in which science and art can work together to communicate messages about climate change and the ways in which art can make visible issues that otherwise evade our senses and understandings.

You can check out more on Zero Emissions here- http://beyondzeroemissions.org/

Guy Abrahams Presents at Craft Victoria for Making Sense

2011-10-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

To a near full house, Guy Abrahams from ClimArte gave a fantastic talk on Climate Change Sustainability and the Arts.

Guy's talk encouraged a lively critical debate amongst audience members. We left feeling as though there was a real community of people who care tremendously about our arts, environment and future. Thank you to everyone who came and shared your ideas. We hope you will continue to be inspired in the days to come. It has resonated strongly with Debbie and Jasmine... they have even thought of a few new artworks to start researching!

To check out more on Guy & Climate Change-

We were over seating capacity for our Symposium on Art and the Communication of Climate Science!

2011-09-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

We were delighted by the number of people that came down to Craft Victoria to share in our discussion with the panel. The audience participation raised some pertinent issues and topics. Professor David Karoly began the symposium by explaining the impacts and causes of the ozone hole in Antarctica. David’s presentation enabled the audience a clear understanding of the affects of ozone hole depletion. Following on was Professor Kate Rigby. Who discussed the importance of the literature, music and the visual arts to enable a greater understanding of climate change. Kate raised the importance of the arts to effect cultural change. Professor Lesley Duxbury and Harry Nankin discussed their practice, and how they research and investigate environment issues within their works.

One of the most rewarding parts of the symposium was the audience engagement and discourse following the panels opening addresses. Issued raised included “can art be political”, “Is art that concerns the environment a form of activisms”, “What is our Climate Change anthem? We have had numerous songs that discussed/ explore the Vietnam war and Feminism. Where are the anthems of Climate Change?”

We would sincerely like to thank all the members of the Symposium and Professor Linda Williams for donating their time for this important discussion. And thank everyone that attended. It was a inspiring and energetic evening.

Click the poster image to find out more information on the speakers and event.

We will try and upload some excerpts from the evening soon, so check back for more updates.

Art vs Science- Jasmine Targett's lastest work reviewed!

2011-09-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Jasmine Targett's latest artwork from Making Sense- the Similarity of Parallel Worlds reviewed on Monash University Press!! Check out the article to read about the research collaboration between the artist, a solar scientist and cell biologist that helped make this multimedia installation.
-click on the image to go to the full article.

Our first review on Carbon Arts

2011-09-11T01:58:00.000-07:00

Check out Making Sense's first review on Carbon Arts!
Carbon Arts is a non-profit arts organisation that is working to facilitate an increased role for artists in generating awareness and action on climate change, you can find out more on the information on Carbon Arts here.

Lesley Duxbury joins panel

2011-09-04T05:32:00.003-07:00

Professor Lesley Duxbury has signed on as our final panel member on the upcoming symposium @ Craft Victoria.

Art and the Communication of Climate Science: Making Sense of how artists and scientists can collaborate on the question of the ozone hole and biodiversity in Antarctica- Tuesday 20 September 2011, 6-7pm

Professor Lesley Duxbury is currently the Deputy Head, Research and Innovation in the School of Art at RMIT University. She has been exhibiting for the past 25 years in Australia and internationally with solo exhibitions in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and more than 50 selected group exhibitions in Australia including NGA and NGV, Korea, Austria and Hong Kong. She has been the recipient of the Australia Council VACB studio residency in Paris and completed a large public art commission for Edith Cowan University in Perth. Her work is held in all major public collections in Australia.

Lesley Duxbury is also an artist who uses Printmedia – images and text – to make work that addresses issues concerning the natural environment, in particular the atmosphere and its phenomena, which she explores through work that emulates and recreates our experiences and perception of it. The phenomenological experiences of extended walks in remote landscapes, during which Lesley takes photographs and makes extensive notes, are the impetus for her investigations. Recent walks in the Canadian Arctic and Iceland have invigorated Lesley’s concerns about the possible effects Climate Change.

Kit Wise opening Making Sense at Craft Victoria

2011-09-04T05:32:00.001-07:00

Debbie and I are thrilled that Kit Wise artist and mentor, will be opening the exhibition.

Explosion (Peony) 2010, Duratrans C-Type photographic print on acrylic, lightbox, 1535 x 1895mm

Here is a little more on Kit and his amazing career thus far-

After graduating from Oxford University and the Royal College of Art with an MFA in Sculpture, Kit Wise received the Wingate Rome Scholarship in Fine Art in 1999, to study at the British School at Rome. In 2001 he received a Boise Travel Scholarship, administered by the Slade School of Fine Art, for subsequent research in New York & Australia. Since moving permanently to Australia in 2002, Wise has received three Australia Council grants in the categories of Presentation & Promotion (as curator), Skills Development (Tokyo Studio Residency) and New Work (Emerging).

Wise practices as an artist, art writer and curator. He has held 12 solo exhibitions in Australia and Italy, exhibited in group exhibitions in Australia, Taiwan, Korea, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Holland, and has published numerous articles, reviews, book chapters and catalogue essays including texts for Australian and international art journals such as Frieze, Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies and unMagazine.

He is currently Associate Dean (Education) and a Senior Lecturer in Fine Art in the Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University, Australia; as well as the Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours Course Coordinator.

You can check out more on Kit here

Exhibition Opening this Thursday!

2011-09-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and colleagues!! We are delighted to invite you to the exhibition opening of Making Sense at Craft Victoria, 6-8pm Thursday 8^th September.

Kit Wise, Artist & Associate Dean Teaching & Learning, Fine Arts Monash University will be opening the exhibition.

Jasmine Targett's new works in progress

2011-08-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

A strange combination of nervous, exhausted and excited I find myself coming to the end of a huge body of work, two years in the making. For the past two months of winter I have been searching for moments of sunlight to give my glass components sun baths to help them set. I can't help but laugh at the irony, the work needs good clear levels of UV light to set, and the work is about the multifaceted implications of ozone hole depletion and climate change...

Life Support Systems addresses awareness of the Earth's atmosphere through contemporary and historical mapping. Using NASA's dichroic glass as an innovative medium, the series of works re-evaluates the material's original use in space suit technology, drawing a parallel between the innate protective qualities of the man-made material and the protective function of the earth's ozone layer.

For more on the series click here.

Harry Nankin signs on Panel!

2011-08-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

We are excited and honoured that Artist Harry Nankin will be participating in the discussion panel for the up coming public forum on
Art and the Communication of Climate Science.

A little more on Nankin...

Melbourne based teacher, photographer and artist Harry Nankin investigates the contested meanings attributed to nature and landscape in modernity. Known for the eerily poetic rendering of simple, often cameraless, photographic processes on location, his work is best described as part land art, part performance and part photography. Harry Nankin has been the recipient of Arts Victoria and Australia Council grants and his work is included in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, the State Library of Victoria and the Monash Gallery of Art. Harry Nankin teaches at RMIT, LaTrobe and Deakin Universities and is currently undertaking a PhD at RMIT.

Making Sense goes global on Artabase

2011-08-30T23:14:00.000-07:00

Check out Making Sense on Artabase for all of the latest exhibition details-

There are even a few cheeky previews of the work!

Public Forum Speakers Confirmed

2011-08-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled to announce Scientist and Professor David Karoly, and Ecocritical Theorist Associate Professor Kate Rigby will be joining the discussion panel of Art and the Communication of Climate Science

Tuesday 20th September, 2011
6pm – 7pm @ Craft Victoria

Scientist- Professor David Karoly is Professor of Meteorology and an ARC Federation Fellow in the School of Earth Sciences. He is an expert in climate change science and was involved, through several different roles, in the preparation of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007. The IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2007, jointly with Al Gore, "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".

Ecocritical Theorist- Associate Professor Kate Rigby is an Associate Professor in Comparative Literature and Deputy Head of the School of English, Communications and Performance Studies at Monash University. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Her research ranges across German Studies, European philosophy, literature and religion, and culture and ecology. Among her many publications in these areas are Topographies of the Sacred (2004), an ecocritical study of European Romantic-era philosophies and aesthetics of nature and place, and (with Axel Goodbody) Ecocritical Theory: New European Approaches (2011). She is a founding co-editor of the ecological humanities journal, Philosophy Activism Nature, and was the founding President of the Australia-New Zealand Association for the Study of Literature, Environment and Culture and a founding member of the Australian Ecological Humanities research network.

Chair for Exhibition Public Forum Announced

2011-08-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Art and the Communication of Climate Science- Making Sense of how artists and scientists can collaborate on the question of the ozone hole and biodiversity in Antarctica.

We are pleased to announce Associate Professor Linda Williams from RMIT will be Chairing the Public Symposium during the exhibition of Making Sense at Craft Victoria.The objective of the symposium is to stimulate an open dialogue between Melbourne based Artists and Scientists. We are interested in bringing together key people from both these fields to construct a community for future collaborations, further enriching both research disciplines.

Chair- Assoc Professor Linda Williams Associate Professor in Art, Environment and Cultural Studies and Program Coordinator of the Honours Program in the School of Art. She also leads the Art and Sustainability Research Cluster at RMIT. Along with her work as a widely published art critic, she has published in the field of the history of culture and science, philosophy and critical theory, and is an active member of the Globalization and Culture project in the Global Cities Research Institute at RMIT. She is also an international reader for the ARC.

John Gregory signs on as Catalogue Essay Writter

2011-08-29T05:42:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to announce the John Gregory has very generously come on to write the Catalogue Essay for the Making Sense. John is the former Head of Theory of Art and Design at Monash University and an elegant Art Writer known for his previous text in the Howard Arkley exhibition catalogue from the National Gallery of Victoria. We are currently putting together the catalogue lay out and design before it goes to print early next week. It will be published here once it is ready.

Guy Abrahams Public Presentation

2011-08-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

We are extremely excited to annouce that Guy Abrahams from Climarte will be presenting a talk as a part of Making Sense's Public Events at Craft Victoria.

Saturday 17th September, 2011
1-2pm @ Craft Victoria

Climate Change, Sustainability and the Arts

Throughout history the arts have played a major role in recording and reflecting the state of our society and of the natural world. At certain times we have needed the arts to also be a catalyst for change, a call to action, a pricking of the collective conscience. I believe that now is one of those times. This presentation gives a brief summary of current climate change science, the challenges that this science poses, and what broad measures may be undertaken to meet those challenges. I will then review a variety of Australian and international arts based initiatives that seek bring about positive engagement with environmental issues, particularly sustainability and climate change. The presentation concludes with proposals for further ways in which the arts could enhance broader understanding of sustainability and climate change and contribute to the implementation of personal and institutional actions that address these environmental crises.

Guy Abrahams was Director of Christine Abrahams Gallery in Melbourne for 22 years. He has been a Board member of the Melbourne Art Fair and the National Gallery of Victoria Art Foundation, and National President of the Australian Commercial Galleries Association. He is currently on the Board of the Australian Tapestry Workshop and the City of Melbourne's Art and Heritage Panel. Guy holds Law and Arts degrees, as well as a recently completed Master of Environment. In 2009 he was trained by former US Vice President Al Gore to give presentations on climate change. Guy is a Co-Founder of the not for profit organisation CLIMARTE: Arts for a Safe Climate, and a Director of the consultancy Art+Environment. Guy speaks regularly on the role of the arts sector in the climate debate.

Guy's enthusiasm for the visual arts and the environment will make this presentation a must see. For bookings please contact Craft Victoria- 03 9650 7775

Debbie Symons' new works in progress

2011-08-26T02:35:00.000-07:00

With the opening for Making Sense at Craft Victoria just around the corner, we have been fanatically working on getting our works finished! Debbie is putting the final touches on her six drawings which explore the environmental changes occurring in Antarctica. The research undertaken has revealed startling information, as the works merge together numerous statistics and data bases to form an entire view of this unique continent. Debbie's practice is primarily concerned with the environment and endangered species. The works created for Making Sense focuses on the predicament of the species that breed and feed in the Southern Ocean.

The Bounty of the Sea (2008 Fishing and Whaling)

To see more from Debbie's Tomorrow Land series click here