In his wonderful 'Canberra' (UNSW Press, Sydney, 2012) writer and journalist Paul Daley considered the national ambivalence towards, if not distain for the national capital and what might be done about it in this centenary year. He concluded that:
'No end of patient explanation or inclusive celebration of the centenary will destigmatise the place in a hurry.
Canberra has no real option but to get over itself—to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks'.
As he then conceded, ‘Easily said.’
In 2013 PhotoAccess is presenting a number of opportunities for people to bring their aesthetic and observational skills to look at the contemporary face of Canberra through photography. Our major project, the '100 Views of Canberra' exhibition and book, assisted by the Community Centenary Initiatives Fund, will be launched on 1 August.
Roland Henderson and Mark Mohell were thinking about present day Canberra and pondering some of the questions raised by Daley when they decided in 2012 to step out into Canberra’s suburbs in the pre-dawn hours. Theirs was not an attempt to defend Canberra to outsiders, clearly they shared Paul Daley’s view, but an exploration of the place and where it stands many years after its early planning and development. As they suggested in their 2012 exhibition proposal:
'Looking more closely at Canberra’s suburbs, their laneways, parks and public spaces reveal their development and societal changes over time. Early suburbs rose up without back fences and with clear and easy access to public space. This contrasts strongly with the suburbs constructed and planned in the later part of the century, which have dwellings built to the edge of the clearly defined property line, and no sense of community'.
'Verge' is one result of this exploration, Mohell and Henderson in the fine tradition of flâneurs making seemingly objective street based work with aesthetically attuned observation. They don’t propose definitive answers to questions in these 26 images made in near dark, people-less places. But on the cusp of day and night ‘… in Canberra’s streets we experienced quiet, soulful and inspiring moments.’
While they may not have set out to defend Canberra against its detractors, by making and showing this beautiful work Roland Henderson and Mark Mohell have contributed to the growing body of evidence that the city where we live has soul, meaning, strong community and, unfortunately, problems like other places in Australia.
PhotoAccess is delighted to present 'Verge' in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY at the Manuka Arts Centre.
David Chalker
Welcome to the PhotoAccess website. We hope the information and features on this site will help you become involved with PhotoAccess through our exhibitions, courses and other programs.
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PhotoAccess acknowledges the support of the ACT Government through artsACT and the ACT Arts Fund, and the Australian Government through the ACT component of the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy.
PhotoAccess and the HUW DAVIES GALLERY are located in the Manuka Arts Centre, an ACT Government arts facility.
Image: Monique Butselaar, 'Splitting headache' (winner Access all areas 2012 peoples choice award)
Our major members exhibition this year is Access all areas 2013 from 23 May to 9 June. Entries close on Wednesday 15 May.
The rules are different again this year to keep you thinking creatively
You may enter enter as many works as you like but you can only occupy a maximum wall width of 130 cm. So if, for example, you want to enter two or more panoramas of 130 cm we will hang them vertically down the wall. You could present a mini exhibition of smaller works as long as they can be accommodated between the floor and the ceiling and within your maximum 130 cm wall width.
As always, we will decide how to and where to hang the works.
We will not accept framed work this year.
The entry fee is $35 for any number of works from one upwards.
We reserve the right not to hang work if it is likely to disadvantage others or if we deem it unsuitable.
We encourage members to show new work and so images should be made no earlier than January 2011.
Works may be for sale: our commission on sales is 25%.
Entries must be made and paid for online by Wednesday 15 May.
Entries may be delivered to PhotoAccess from 10 am 7 May to 4 pm 17 May
We will be hanging your work on 21 and 22 May for the opening at 6 pm on Thursday 23 May.
Unsold work may be taken on Sunday 9 June at 4 pm or within a fortnight of the closing date.
We are pleased to announce that Canberra City Framing in Hobart Place (just around the corner from London Circuit) has agreed to give PhotoAccess members a 10% discount on framing. You will need to present a current membership card to take advantage of the discount.
Our thanks to Michael Cammack for offering this benefit to members.
kaori gallery at Canberra City Framing presents changing exhibitions of photography and other media. Drop in and have a look next time you're in Civic.
Sean Davey's 'Dog Food & Oysters' is a self-published book of images made in America some years ago. He says:
'This book is not necessarily a narrative about the US during this time, but looking at a lot of the images, I do see significant references to a country at war. Soldiers on the front page of the New York Times (p.19); pro-war supporters flying flags on a street corner in Nashville, Tennessee (p.79); soldiers departing for Germany on their way to Iraq (p.45), and tourists looking at The White House through a chain link fence during renovations to restrict public access to the area (p.85). There are undeniable signs that suggest conflict, but that certainly was not my intention in making the photographs. I was more interested in photographing for myself, to learn how to see things that did not require a written or verbal explanation'.
Sean's launch of the book on 2 May 2013 is accompanied by a showing of selected works from the 'Dog Food & Oysters' series in the HUW DAVIES GALLERY Multimedia Room. Copies of the book and images from the series will be avaiable at PhotoAccess until 19 May.
David Chalker
Image: 'Asatavi' Bougainville by Jon Lewis
Jon Lewis first exhibited his photographs in 1974. He was a member of Sydney's 'Yellow House' in the early 1970s, went on to make experimental video with Bush Video, and in 1977 was a founder of Greenpeace Australia, which led a successful campaign to end the slaughter of whales in Australia. Jon’s interests are reflected in his photography, and when not on the hop, photographing or teaching, he lives in the Southern Highlands of NSW, where he schemes for sponsorship, reads, writes and hunts wild pigs. Jon has worked extensively across Australia, including rural and remote locations in North Western Australia, Timor L’Este and Bougainville. Jon’s photographs are held in major national and international collections and he teaches photography at every given opportunity.
Do not miss this opportunity to see some of Jon's incredible work and to hear him talk about his life and photography, and what inspires him to keep going.
Refreshments provided (audience participation in discussion is encouraged)
$10 members / $15 non-members
Tuesday 21 May 6-8 pm
Our first 'In Conversation' for 2013 was Photographer and ANU lecturer Tim Brook's conversation on the topic of ‘Colour’.
Tim is an audio-visual artist, teacher, curator and writer, he describes himself as a ‘lapsed mathematician’ and is Visiting Fellow at the School of Art (Photography and Media Arts).
You can view a video version of the event by following this link:
PhotoAccess has a long history of supporting Indigenous artists. A particular focus for our support has been artist residencies and NAIDOOC Week exhibitions each year for emerging Indigenous photomedia artists.
We are pleased to announce that our 2013 PhotoAccess emerging Indigenous photomedia artist is Marissa McDowell, a Wiradjuri woman originally from Cowra. Marissa has worked in live production for the Canberra Raiders and Brumbies, hosts and produces an Indigenous radio program on 2XXfm 98.3 Community Radio and has worked on live news and events with the ABC, The National Folk Festival, National Museum and the Rock Eisteddfod at Canberra Theatre.
If you would like to be considered for a residency in 2014 read the information in the PhotoAccess emerging Indigenous photomedia artist program article on the About Us page and then email david@photoaccess.org.au attaching a CV. We aim to complete the selection of our 2014 emerging artist by November 2013.
You can pay online for your membership, course, gallery purchase or any other PhotoAccess service.
Our online payments gateway uses a secure payments page hosted by St George Bank.
If you have questions please feel free to call us on 6295 7810.
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