Image: Judy Holding, Goldfields II (2023), Watercolour on Paper, 72 cm x 197 cm framed.
Courtesy of Alcaston Gallery.
Creative Constellations: Atlas of Radical Hope
Located across two sites and held in association with the National Sustainability Festival, the exhibition launching 'Creative Constellations: Atlas of Radical Hope' opened on 'Valentine's Day' 14 February and runs until 2 March 2024.
In the context of the Climate Emergency, Creative Constellations: Atlas of Radical Hope makes visible locally focused creative work that intersects climate, culture and community in ways that boldly envision a fair, socially and ecologically sustainable future based on respect and reciprocity.
This dynamic project presents work that reflects on the power of art to inform, engage and mobilise people to effectively address the extractive ‘business as usual’ culture at the heart of the Climate Emergency, biodiversity and inequity crises.
Commencing in Victoria, this is a place-based project aiming to elevate the voices of artists whose work focuses on the Climate Emergency and energy transition, as well as exceptional, community-led sustainability initiatives.
Artists
Trace Balla & Andrew McSweeney, Kirri Büchler, Olivia Davies, Louise Devenish & Aaron Wyatt, Chelsea Hickman, The Hive Collective, Judy Holding, Iona Julian-Walters, Alice Kenyon, Jo Lane, Gabrielle Leah New, Jarrad Martyn, Amanda Page, Tashi Singleton, Carmel Wallace and Jena Zelezny.
Exhibition Dates: 14 February – 2 March 2024
Exhibition sites:
Gallery at City Library, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne – Open Mondays – Fridays 9am – 6pm, Saturdays 10am – 4pm, Sundays 12noon – 4pm – visiting information.
120 Bridge Road, Richmond – Open Tuesdays – Saturdays 12noon – 5pm.
Opening Event in two parts, 14 February 2024
Part I: 5pm, Gallery at City Library, 253 Flinders Lane
Part II: 6.30pm, 120 Bridge Road, Richmond
Creative Constellations: Atlas of Radical Hope will be launched by Dr Giselle Wilkinson, Co-founder and President of National Sustainability Festival and CLIMARTE Committee Member.
We celebrated Valentine’s Day 2024 with the launch of a radically creative, nature loving exhibition that transformed spaces, and contributed to an Atlas of artists creating work addressing the Ecological Emergency.
Free Public Events
A Basket of Songs Book Launch
Featuring lyrics and illustrations by Trace Balla and music by Andrew McSweeney, A Basket of Songs is for celebrations, ceremonies, schools, sunsets, around fires and kitchen tables, at memorials, on your bike, anywhere a song can be sung. Saturday 17 February, 11am at the Old Bandstand, Fitzroy Garden (cnr Grey and Clarendon Streets). Please see details here.
Art + Ecology Discussion – a conversation focused on the work of Carmel Wallace with John Bradford, Grassland Restoration Ecologist at Nature Glenelg Trust, Saturday 17 February, 2pm at 120 Bridge Road, Richmond. Please see more details here.
Artist Talk + BILYA presentation – was an opportunity to meet the artists, with a presentation of BILYA by Jen Rae and Claire G. Coleman, who are developing a relational map of people, projects, and organisations engaging with the Climate Emergency. Wednesday 21 February, 6pm at 120 Bridge Rd, Richmond. Please see more details here.
A collaboration between CLIMARTE and the Cultural Gardeners, this project is made possible by Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.
The launching exhibition is held in association with the National Sustainability Festival, with support from the City of Melbourne and City of Yarra.
Creative Constellations Work List pdf here >
Creative Constellations Artist Statements pdf here >
Produced through an open and simplified submission process, you can read the Artist Brief by clicking here.
Creative Constellations launches:
One Project two Galleries. The Gallery at 120 Bridge Road, Richmond and the Gallery at City Library, Melbourne.
Photos from the launch are courtesy of Julian Meehan.
Creative Constellations:
The works at the Gallery at 120 Bridge Road, Richmond
Creative Constellations:
The works at the Gallery at City Library, Melbourne
Artwork at Gallery at City Library by Iona Julian-Walters 'Present Boat for a Past And Future River' Materials: found chemical barrels found compost bin salvaged wood poly-pipe surveyors string screws. 2023 'Portage' 2 min 43 seconds looped video of site-specific performance of walk along the original path of William’s Creek on what is now known as Elizabeth Street Naarm / Melbourne with photographic series 2050 behind
Artwork at Gallery at City Library by Iona Julian-Walters 'Present Boat for a Past And Future River' Materials: found chemical barrels found compost bin salvaged wood poly-pipe surveyors string screws. 2023 'Portage' 2 min 43 seconds looped video of site-specific performance of walk along the original path of William’s Creek on what is now known as Elizabeth Street Naarm / Melbourne
Artworks at Gallery at City Library by (background) Jane Millington 'Quiet Future' 2023 Margaret Delahunty Spencer – Music in the Mangroves Acrylic paint and oil pastel on canvas 2023 (foreground) Kirsty Manger Estuary series Ceramics 2024 Lucy McEachern Dusky Moorhen & Pied Heron Bronze limited editions of 25
