free radical notes #102

 Censorial Draftee #102 [aka a bunch of stuff]           #102     08/2/2009

Haiku stuff

Printer not ready.
Could be a fatal error.
Have a pen handy?

editorial stuff

[courtesy fr#686 Julie Millowick]

Toddlers image sparks controversy in nanny state The age of overzealous risk management and fear of upsetting the most sensitive of minds hit the West Australian arts community this week when an innocent photograph of two children without t-shirts was pulled from an exhibition. Perth photographer Nicole Boenig-McGrade shot two young children pottering about on a typically Australian street for the exhibition entitled Kids in Suburbia. She captured an image of childish activity that takes place in most suburbs every day. Prominent arts figures contacted by WAtoday.com.au said the image was no different from that screened on countless nappy advertisements on television. Many questioned just what kind of a "nanny state" WA was becoming. The library manager charged with overseeing the exhibition in the Subiaco Library deemed the image too controversial to be hung. The decision was taken following the furore artist Bill Henson ignited when he showed an image of a naked 13-year-old girl at a Sydney exhibition last year.
Perth artists and gallery owners today questioned whether an arts specialist, instead of a bureaucrat, should have made the decision to pull the photo. The black and white picture by Boenig-McGrade shows a boy and a girl, both wearing pants, playing with chalk and a bucket on a suburban footpath. This morning the Subiaco Council reinstated the image in the exhibition. Deputy mayor Andrew McTaggart admitted the decision to pull the photograph was erring too far on the side of caution. Artrage director Marcus Canning said the notion of restriction and censorship pained artists. "In this instance a bureaucratic and administrative body has made the decision, and institutions have a tendency to play it safe," he said. "When risk management starts to filter down and results in an image as innocuous as this one being take out of the public eye it's getting a bit ridiculous."
Read the full article in W.A. Topday at this link: toddlers image spark conroversy in nanny state

weather extreme stuff

Whilst free radical members in FNQ are going mouldy, [fr#666 Robin Gauld writes 1metre of rain since Xmas in Townsville] there's not a single millimeter in the rain gauge at free radical World HQ over the same period, and coming through this weekend unscathed I feel like I have dodged a bullet. For those of you unfamiliar with the location of World HQ, Lyonville is surrounded by the Wombat State Forest. In fact, World HQ backs directly on to 66,000 hectares of tinder dry bush.
Having been a resident of Aireys Inlet in the Ash Wednesday Bushfires, and having lost virtually everything I owned, watching the helicopter images of the devastation of Marysville this morning brought back major feelings of deja vu.

And whilst we down south ponder the ramifications of our own contribution to the weather extremes and who or what is to blame, the following is just in from Ingham QLD in this morning's dispatches.

This is Ann Vardanega, fr# 602 from North Queensland, Are you affected by the fires? Was looking at the ABC news, updating the information on our flooding up here and wondered if you were affected by those terrible fires around Melbourne?

Anthony [fr# 634] and I as well as Theresa [fr#635] have been living in the shop for nearly a week now because of the flooding. Thank goodness we had a kettle and microwave down here. I lost power and telephone at home on Monday afternoon, and so with only the last of power on the mobile phone, called a neighbour with a boat who collected myself, Theresa, a grandson and two cats to be evacuated out to down here. Just as well as we spent the next two days stopping leaks into the minilab, attempting to save this business. At my studio I have had around 7 foot of water through, lost some things, but all computers, hard drives and back up discs now reside in the ceiling of a two story house for safety. Theresa and I put them up there through the manhole before we left.

Ann also sent a few pics which I will pass on to webmeister Cam to post. You will be able to check them out at www.freeradicaloz.com soon

new members stuff

A big warm and fuzzy welcome to our newest free radical members, Dennis Wild from TAS, Aaron Tait from QLD and Masaki Hirano from Japan.

call for entry stuff

It's always a good idea to thoroughly read and understand terms of entry for any photographic prize or competition. If you don't like what they say, or feel terms and conditions are not clearly spelled out, or appear exploitative, don't enter!

PAVE Festival and Emerald Lions Club Photographic Exhibition 9am to 4pm Saturday & Sunday April 18th & 19th 2009 Emerald Mechanics Institute Hall (Melway Reference 127 F4) The PAVE Festival Committee, (Performing and Visual Arts in Emerald), and the Lions Club of Emerald are proud to coordinate a Photography Exhibition on Saturday & Sunday 18th & 19th April, 2009, at the Mechanics Institute Hall in Emerald. The PAVE festival will run from 13th to 19th April and will be advertised widely in local papers, school newsletters, city publications, radio etc. The theme for the exhibition is "Close Up" however photographs based on alternative ideas will be accepted. ALL ENTRIES TO BE FRAMED FOR HANGING If you would like to be part of this event, please complete the form and return to the address stated with entry fee by April 9th. Entry Fees are $5- per item and $2- per item for Under 21s. Cheques made payable to Emerald Lions Club. There are limited places, so places will be allocated on a first in, first serve basis. After this date we will consolidate all expressions of interest and send confirmation. Please see terms and conditions sheet for important additional information. Both entry form and terms and conditions can be found at this link: PAVE website

HEAD ON CALL FOR ENTRIES 2009 DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION – Sunday 11pm (EDT), 22 March 2009. Head on Foundation invites photographers to submit images to the 2009 photographic portrait competition. Prizes will be awarded for the best 3 images. The selection of images will be done anonymously based on the power of the photograph rather than the celebrity of the subject or photographer. Further prizes will be awarded to images selected for 'The Critic's Prize' and for 'People's Choice'. Finalists' work will be selected by Magnum photographer Trent Parke, Award winning Photographer Narelle Autio, Good Weekend picture editor Judith Love and Head On curator Moshe Rosenzveig. The 'Critic's Prize' will be selected by the Sydney Morning Herald photography critic Robert McFarlane. Total value of prizes is approximately $37,000. Details from www.headon.com.au

The Kodak Salon is an annual event celebrating the latest developments in photo-based practice. An open-entry exhibition and competition the Kodak Salon provides an excellent opportunity to exhibit work in a professional, high profile context. The Kodak Salon is one of the largest and most renowned photographic award exhibitions in the country, including artists from all around Australia. Entries Close Friday 6 March 2009. Artwork Due Tuesday 24 March 2009. Exhibition Opening Thursday 2 April 2009, 6–8pm. Exhibition Dates 3 April–23 May 2009. Artwork Collection Sunday 24 May and Monday 25 May 2009. ENTER ONLINE. This year CCP is introducing full online payment and registration for Kodak Salon, including uploading your catalogue information and publicity image. For prize categories and more information go to www.ccp.org.au/kodak_salon.php

The Sony World Photography Awards are entirely international, welcoming professional photographers from across the globe to submit their photographs into a highly competitive awards programme. You will be judged by the World Photographic Academy to receive one of the 12 prestigious category awards and, the most coveted prize, L'iris d'Or, with the recipient taking prize money of $25,000.
A shortlist of 7 photographers in each of the 12 categories will be selected and announced on 24th of February, 2009. The announcement of the 36 total winners will be made on 17th of March, 2009. For the final stage of judging, one single photographer will be chosen by the Honorary Judging Committee from the 12 First Place category winners. This photographer will be announced and awarded in Cannes as the recipient of the 2009 L'iris d'or. All 36 Category finalists will be showcased as part of the official 2009 Finalists exhibitions in Cannes .The first place winner of each category will be flown out to Cannes to attend the World Photography Festival screenings, workshops, exhibitions, talks and other events taking place throughout the city of Cannes from the 14th – 19th of April. Detail from www.worldphotographyawards.org

Workshop Stuff

Environmental Photography Workshop presented by The Performing And Visual Arts in Emerald Festival and the Emerald Lions Club
This workshop explores techniques for macro and landscape approaches to photography, as well as focusing on aspects of camera operation, composition, exposure, depth of field and perspective and most importantly, inspiration!
The workshop will be illustrated with many visual examples, a short field trip and is suitable to those working with either film or digital cameras
The workshop will be run by photographer & environmental scientist, Alison Pouliot
For workshop bookings Ph: 0419 326 930 Limited places available! For further details about the workshop please visit www.alisonpouliot.com or email Alison directly at alison (at) alisonpouliot.com

photography festival stuff

Interested in exposing your work to a panel of important and career influential persons? The Ballarat International Foto Biennale 2009 is offering 2 days of Portfolio Reviews as part of BIFB'09. Reviews will take place on Thursday Sept 3rd and Friday Sept 4th, and will give serious photographers the opportunity to present their folios - one on one – to a range of curators, publishers, agents, gallery and festival directors from all over Australia. Places will be limited and allocated on a first come first served basis. For more information email portfolioreviews (at) ballaratfoto.org Also, If you are a teacher of photography, BIFB'09 is putting together a program specially for school tour groups, which will include supervised visits to Core program exhibitions with special presentations by participating artists and curators. If you are interested in having your students participate, send an email to schools@ballaratfoto.org for more details. The Festival will run from Sept 4 to Oct 4 2009, with a Core Program of 20+ exhibitions of the best of Australian and International contemporary photography. The Fringe will grow with events in both Ballarat and Daylesford, as well as a comprehensive program of workshops, seminars, lectures, projections, special and affiliate events throughout the month. To keep abreast of all the news, go to www.ballaratfoto.org to get on the email list.

other happening stuff

The AIPP is proud to announce Celebrating Women in Photography – a black tie gala evening to support International Women's Day & the Olivia Newton John Wellness Centre being held in Melbourne on Monday 9th March 2009.

Held in conjunction with photographic organizations in the UK, New Zealand and the USA, Celebrating Women in Photography will showcase some of Australia's leading women photographers. We will be celebrating the lives and careers of:
- Ruby Spowart
- Bronwyn Kidd
- Kate Geraghty
- Karen Gowlett-Holmes
- Lyn Whitfield King
- Jackie Ranken

Also a there will be commemorative presentation of Olive Cotton's life and career
Where: Park Hyatt Melbourne
When: Monday 9th March 2009
Cost: $120 – More info and tickets from www.aipp.com.au

call to arms stuff

The time has come to elevate the free radicals to a position of preeminence with the re emergence of the Rupert Ball Prize for photographic self portraiture as part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. The R Chee Ball prize ran for three years from 2002 – 2004 and was a bit of fun, and now seems like as good a time as any to resurrect the Prize, specially when there is a potential audience of 40,000 that could get to see how photographers might represent themselves on a gallery wall. The only drawback is that we need someone to put their hand up to organize the show. If you think you are capable and would like to discuss further, please dropme an email to free radicaloz [at] gmail.com

And whilst on the subject of calling to arms, don't forget to mark your diary with the last Sunday in April, which is World Pinhole Day. People all over the world are asked to make a pinhole image on that day and then you have a month to upload it to the WPD website. Details from www.pinholeday.org

exhibition stuff  stuff

Happy to list your show be it in Melbourne, Darwin, Hobart or wherever, but if it's too much trouble to send me your exhibition details in a format that I can readily cut and paste, ie in the body of an email, then it's too much trouble for me to transcribe details from a pdf or go chasing websites for the information that's missing. Send the details to free radicaloz [at] gmail.com Include details of opening and closing dates, gallery address, opening hours, and if you like, a brief synopsis of the show.
Send information as text only, preferably pasted into the body of an email and not as an attachment. Sometimes it's 4 - 6 weeks between editions of the notes, so if you want to be sure of getting a listing, get your details in early.

Kim Tonelli [fr# 184] Australia's leading music and celebrity photographer is exhibiting some rare and exciting images that she has assembled from her impressive career which spans London and Australia. Show includes images of Crowded House's Paul Hester, Bert Newton, Rove, Matthew LLoyd, John Butler, Living End, Veronicas and to mention a few.
The exhibition is taking place at Melbourne style located at 155 Clarendon St South Melbourne 3205. Show Opens Tues 10 February 6-8pm and then daily to 27 February inclusive. www.melbournestyle.com.au

No standing only dancing - Photographs by Rennie Ellis at the NGV Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square . Show current to 22 February 09 Galleries 15 & 16, Level 3
Admission free

Andreas Gursky; Temporary exhibition space 2, National Gallery of Victoria International, St Kilda Rd. [admission fees apply] Andreas Gursky (born 1955) is one of the world's leading contemporary international artists. In essence, his photographs are concerned with the experience of life in a globalised world. Through a combination of enormous scale; the most precise pin-sharp detail; and bold use of colour, he systematically represents the individuals place within our complex, fast-paced consumer society. As Flash Art (2007) noted, Gursky scours global locations for scenes that explore 'thematic dichotomies of macro and micro; individual and mass; photographic documentation and abstract formalism.' Gursky has photographed quintessentially modern scenes – shops, stock markets, apartment buildings, leisure centres, and tourist sites – showing the world as high-tech, fast-paced, expensive, commercialised and overpopulated. Far more than a depressing spectacle of consumerism and globalisation, the sheer beauty and scale of Gursky's photographs is highly seductive. Ultimately his extraordinary images are a visceral experience that makes us profoundly consider our own place within this world. [ed. well worth the admission price] Show current to Feb 22nd
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Order and Disorder – Archives and photography in the photography gallery, level 3. Archives contain elements of truth and error, order and disorder and are infinitely fascinating. As both collections of records and repositories of data, archives are able to shape history and memory depending on how, when and by whom the materials are accessed. Their vastness allows for multiple readings to be unravelled over time. Photography is naturally associated with archives because of its inherent ability to record, store and organise visual images. With this in mind, this exhibition brings together artists drawn largely from the permanent collection of the NGV who explore the idea of archives as complex, living and occasionally mysterious systems of knowledge. Several of the selected artists act as archivists, collecting and ordering their own unique bodies of photographs, while others create disorder by critiquing the ideas and systems of archives. Show current to April 19.

Stumps of Silence by Masaki Hirano [fr#752] plus images from his Down the Road of Life book Volume 1, featuring images from Cuba, East Timor and Bosnia is showing at the Convent Gallery, Daly St Daylesford www.theconvent.com.au Show current to early April

Then & now: South African photography in the Special Exhibitions Gallery. Feb 12 to May 3

Then & now: South African photography was conceived as a dialogue between eight documentary photographers whose practices traverse two highly distinctive periods in South African history: before and after the country's transition to democracy. The exhibition provides insight into the personal, intellectual and photographic journeys that each artist has taken as they have witnessed, recorded and lived through remarkable times both past and present, then and now. It includes the work of David Goldblatt, George Hallett, Eric Miller, Cedric Nunn, Guy Tillim, Paul Weinberg, Graeme Williams and Gisele Wulfsohn. This exhibition is staged in association with Southern Exchange and Paul Weinberg.
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Black & white: Documenting Indigenous Australia in the Wilbow Gallery. Feb 12 to May 3 Indigenous Australians are central to the history of Australian photography. Aboriginal and Islander life has been a subject of photographic documentation in this country since the earliest days of the camera, and Indigenous subjects have continued to feature in the images of photographers working in a wide range of genres over the last 150 years. During recent decades, Indigenous Australians have also become some of this country's most important photographers, and have often turned their cameras back on their own people and traditions. This exhibition draws primarily on works from the MGA Collection and includes photographs by Gordon Bennett, Brenda L Croft, Rennie Ellis, Fred Kruger, David Moore Derek O'Connor, Phillip Pike and Axel Poignant.
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Janina Green: Maid in Hong Kong in the Focus Gallery. Feb 12 to March 10Though bonded by their employers all week, Phillippino maids in Hong Kong find joy and freedom on Sundays. They take over public spaces around the city where they picnic, dance, sing, chat and gossip under bridges, in parks and around department stores. Since participating in a West Space Project in Hong Kong in 2003, Janina Green has been fascinated by the study of femininity that such a congregation of women affords and has made a series of hand-coloured sepia images in response to it.
all at the Monash Gallery of Art Corner Jells & Ferntree Gully Roads, Wheelers Hill Victoria 3150 Tel: 03 9562 1569 mga (at) monash.vic.gov.au Web: www.mga.org.au
Open: Tue-Fri: 10-5pm, Sat-Sun: 12-5pm, Mon & public holidays: closed. Gallery, gift shop, licensed cafe and sculpture park FREE ADMISSION

Je toto lokalni, nebo narodni zvyk? by Peter Fitzpatrick. This series Je toto lokální, nebo národní zvyk? was produced during a five month artist-in-residence program at the Meet Factory in Prague, Czech Republic from November 2007 to April 2008. Fitzpatrick was living in the outer suburb of Prague known as Smíchov, a once thriving industrial area that now consists of abandoned factory buildings, crumbling flats and a major transport hub. The transitory people that inhabit this part of Prague are the protagonists in this body of work.
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Cub separated from spooked polar bear by Sanja Pahoki. Cub separated from spooked polar bear is Sanja Pahoki's latest investigation into mother-child relationships, mental illness and language. The exhibition is based on media reportage of two polar bear cubs that were hand-reared by German zookeepers after being rejected by their mothers. One of the mothers became disturbed when a photographer entered her enclosure. The zoo feared that the fate of the polar bear cub, named Flocke would follow that of two other cubs that had been eaten by their mother, Vilma. Flocke has been compared to Berlin Zoo's celebrity polar bear, Knut, who was also rejected by his mother Tosca, an ex-East European circus performer. Like Elvis Presley, Knut had a twin brother that died shortly after birth. At the height of Knut's fame he was photographed by Annie Leibovitz and featured on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine with Leonardo DiCaprio. The decision to hand-rear polar bears has been controversial with some animal activists claiming that the zoos should have let 'nature take its course' by leaving the cubs to die. As vindication of this belief there has been speculation about Knut's mental health. Zookeepers have claimed that Knut is a 'psychopath' who is addicted to human adulation.
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On The Line: by Catherine Bell (Aus), Semâ Bekirovic (Nl), Olga Chernysheva (Ru), Domenico De Clario (Aus), Miranda July (Usa), Sarah Lewis (Aus), Jan Nelson (Aus), Kate Swinson (Aus), Anne Wilson (Aus). Curated By Anne Wilson. On the line brings together national and international artists whose process involves risk or who use their immediate environment to explore universal themes. Initially these environments are seen relative to the artists' methodology, yet over time a shift occurs in the viewing experience transporting viewers into a poetically inscribed reflection on the human condition. Produced through a variety of mediums, these works are heartfelt, and the underlying curatorial cohesion comes out of a resonance that continues long after first viewing.

All shows current to March 21st at the CCP, 404 George St Fitzroy. Gallery hours Weds to Sat 11 - 6. info at www.ccp.org.au

Beneath and Beyond by Julie Stephenson Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane City Hall, King George Square
Exhibition dates: 19 December 2008 - 8 February 2009

classified stuff

classifieds are free, but only run for one edition unless you email me to run in the following edition due to lack of enquiries, or you wish to delete, add, or change the price of items. Don't send an essay – just item, price and contact details. KISS

WANTED, Russian lenses for Fed or Zorki. Optics must be good as these lenses are required for use. John Austin fr#708 mail2 (at) jbaphoto.com.au http://www.jbaphoto.com.au 08 9773 1288

Wanted, Metz 60CT1 with Battery Pack. Frank Amato fr#611 info (at) frankamato.com.au m:0418 380 341

end stuff

Feeling neglected because of lack of information on events happening in your neck of the woods? I can't include it if i don't know about it!! Any editorial content, exhibition notices, classifieds etc. to free radicaloz [at] gmail.com

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