Human Animal Artist (2016-2017)

20 November 2016 - 19 February 2017
curated by Janine Burke at McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery Langwarrin Victoria Australia

Featured Artists Lauren Berkowitz, Catherine Chalmers (USA), Catherine Clover, Joe Japanangka James, Nicholas Mangan, Vera Möller, Samuel Namunjdja, Sean Peoples, Elizabeth Presa, David Rothenberg (USA), Sandra Selig, Tai Snaith, Jason deCaires Taylor (UK), Esme Timbery, Greg Mosquito, Louise Weaver, Shona Wilson, Watarru Collaborative, John Wolseley

Confab (2016)
Vinyl lettering on glass
Dimensions 5.4m x 2.7m

This text work, commissioned by Dr Burke is a site specific response to the voices and exchanges of the birds and people who visit the gallery and sculpture park. Voice is described in italics. The birds' voices were heard on site in the grounds and in the café. I use words adapted from bird field guides and my own interpretations of the sounds to transcribe excerpts of their voices. Human voices are those I have heard (and possibly misheard) in the grounds, the café, the gallery, the front desk etc. I draw correlations between the bird and human voices through word choice etc. Other content includes bird names taken from the bird lists that the gallery provided, mostly the 1974-8 survey. Artist names and materials are from the permanent sculpture collection in the grounds of McClelland, includng works by Inge King, Lenton Parr, Louise Paramor, Lisa Roet, Yvonne Kendall.

Preview in The Age by Gabriella Coslovich 19.11.16 and the Sydney Morning Herald
Review in Art and Australia by Lynn Mowson Feb 2017
Poster