The wonderful world of Tom Moore
A collection of the fantastic hybrid animal / plant sculptures by glass artist Tom Moore is currently in the historic phone booths of Adelaide train station in the first of a new series of exhibitions curated by JamFactory.
Tom Moore’s sculptures at Adelaide Railway Station. Photo: JamFactory
Dating back to the 1920s when the station was built, the stalls were among the many amenities considered essential for short- and long-haul passengers at the time – including dining rooms, a cigar shop, wine bar, hairdresser, and beauty salon.
Today’s commuters don’t usually give them a second look, but Moore’s colorful creations, on display through May, are causing a stir. While much of his work has an element of humor or surprise, and is inspired by illustrations that he found in books by Edward Lear, Dr. Seuss and Lewis Carroll, it also touches contemporary social and environmental concerns.
The phone booth exhibition series is being developed as part of a partnership between JamFactory and Renewal SA. Future exhibitions will show the work of other South Australian artists. Next in line is the ceramist Gerry Wedd from June 5th to August 29th.
Present moment extended
The art gallery of South Australia’s largest exhibition by modernist painter Clarice Beckett has had its art gallery popularity extended for an additional week.
Clarice Beckett: The Present Moment opened on February 27th and was originally supposed to close on May 16th, but art lovers now have until May 23rd to see the exhibition, which the gallery said has drawn visitors from all over Australia.
Installation view: Clarice Beckett: The Present Moment with Zinnias (Flower Piece) by Clarice Beckett, 1927, private collection, AGSA. Photo: Saul Steed
AGSA curator Tracey Lock presented the 130 paintings in such a way that a “sensory journey” is created from sunrise to sunset and dusk. The story of how Beckett was lost to Australia’s art historical narrative for years also cast a spell over gallery visitors.
“It was exciting to see this exhibit move Clarice Beckett from a position of national importance to a position of international importance,” says Lock. “After all, we understand the full emotional power of your work.”
Activities related to The Present Moment include an event on the first Friday where poets Jill Jones and Alison Flett respond to Beckett’s painting (May 7), the premiere of a new work by musician Gabriella Smart with sound artist Daniel Pitman ( May 7th and 15th). and a soundscape tour with violinist Simone Slattery (May 16). Read InReview contributor John Neylon’s article about the Clarice Beckett exhibit here.
Market mural
The artist Shane Cook paints another of his murals.
Visitors to Adelaide Central Market are likely to see Adelaide artist Shane Cook painting a large indigenous mural in the prominent Gouger Street entrance in the coming weeks.
When commissioning the work, the central market stated that it had identified a prominent location next to its largest common dining area, so that the work will create a strong entry-level statement. The assignment for an Aboriginal artist was to create a mural that “recognizes and celebrates Aboriginal cultures.”
Cook began practicing as an artist at a young age, first learning traditional painting from his mother. His interest later extended to graffiti culture, street art and tattooing. He is also a youth mentor and has designed Indigenous Round soccer guernseys for AFL and SANFL teams.
The mural will be officially unveiled during Reconciliation Action Week.
“Golden Opportunity” for various writers
South Australian aspiring writers from underrepresented groups in the video industry are encouraged to apply for an internship through the SBS Emerging Writers’ Incubator.
The Incubator is a three-year national initiative co-funded by SBS, Screen Australia, and state and territorial agencies including the SA Film Corporation. Each year, an SA writer receives a 12 month paid internship with an Australian production company, where he develops treatment ideas, participates in writing rooms and works in other areas that expand his knowledge and skills.
Kate Croser, CEO of SAFC, said the incubator supports its goal of increasing diversity in the South Australian screen sector: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any writer, but especially for someone building their credit on television and developing relationships with renowned producers would like to.”
Applicants must come from underrepresented groups, including First Nations Australians, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people with disabilities, women and people who identify as trans / gender specific, people from the LGBTQIA + community, and residents of local and regional remote areas areas. The application opened on Monday and ends on May 28th. Details here.
Looked at more closely
Looking Glass is a new exhibition of paintings, videos and sculptural works by contemporary indigenous artists Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce at FUMA.
Queensland-born Watson takes inspiration from her Waanyi legacy for her practice, which is based on drawing and printing and which often accesses archival material. A number of works in this exhibition were made in response to visits to English, Scottish and Irish sites of prehistoric importance – including Stonehenge – as well as British museums. The idea, she says, was “to have images of standing stone shapes – shady or very eerie presence – and Aboriginal cultural material floating over the top”.
The Woomera-born glass artist Scarce from Kokatha and Nukunu previously created works that were inspired by the atomic bomb tests in Maralinga. She did research for Looking Glass in Birmingham, which has a long history in glass manufacturing. Scientific calculations were also carried out there that led to the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.
Installation view: Spiegel – Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce, FUMA, May 2021. Photo: Brianna Speight.
Looking Glass – organized by the TarraWarra Museum of Art and Ikon in Birmingham with Arrernte and Kalkadoon curator Hetti Perkins – is touring nationally and at the Flinders University Museum of Art until July 2nd.
“The seductive beauty of Watson and Scarce’s work belies their strong message about the ongoing campaign of land, culture and community destruction in Australian Aboriginal people – their work is a kind of ‘delicate trap’,” says Perkins.
Win books
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Adelaide Williams author Pip Williams has won another victory and received the “General Fiction Book of the Year” award at this year’s ABIAs (Australian Book Industry Awards).
The awards, presented by an academy of more than 250 publishing personalities, were announced during the Sydney Writers’ Festival and presented by actress Cate Blanchett. Julia Baird’s Phosphorescence was named General Non-Fiction Book of the Year and won the Complete Book of the Year title. Other winners were Jessica Tus A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing (literary fiction book of the year), rapper Adam Briggs’ Our Home, Our Heartbeat (children’s picture book of the year) and singer Archie Roach’s Tell Me Why (audio book of the year).
For Williams, whose novel was recently reviewed by InReview, the ABIA Award joins a number of other achievements for The Dictionary of Lost Words, including being named The Indie Book Awards 2021 Book of the Year and winning the MUD Literature Award 2021 for best debut literary novel by an Australian writer.
Last chance for SALA 2021
You only have five days to register if you want to attend the South Australian Living Artists Festival 2021. Registration ends on Monday, May 10th.
SALA runs in August and is open to all local visual artists regardless of age or experience. Attendees can choose to exhibit in a physical location or online. The festival website has a number of helpful registration resources, including an Artist & Venue Finder for venues searching for artists and artists, as well as a registration demonstration video.
After registration, artists can also nominate themselves for the SALA prizes by filling out nomination forms via the SALA online portal.
Green Room is a regular column for InReview, providing quick news for those interested in or involved in the arts and culture in South Australia.
Contact us by email at editorial@solsticemedia.com.au
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This article is endorsed by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.
