David Jones, artist and poet (1895-1974) begins his PREFACE TO THE ANATHEMATA :

'I have made a heap of all that I could find.' (1) So wrote Nennius, or whoever composed the introductory matter to Historia Brittonum. He speaks of an 'inward wound' which was caused by the fear that certain things dear to him 'should be like smoke dissipated'. Further, he says, 'not trusting my own learning, which is none at all, but partly from writings and monuments of the ancient inhabitants of Britain, partly from the annals of the Romans and the chronicles of the sacred fathers, Isidore, Hieronymous, Prosper, Eusebius and from the histories of the Scots and Saxons although our enemies . . . I have lispingly put together this . . . about past transactions, that [this material] might not be trodden under foot'. (2)

(1) The actual words are coacervavi omne quod inveni, and occur in Prologue 2 to the Historia.
(2) Quoted from the translation of Prologue 1. See The Works of Gildas and Nennius, J.A.Giles, London 1841.


29 August 2014

Then now


Tonight and tomorrow :

'Kiffy Rubbo and The George Paton Gallery : Curating the 1970s'
      
A dynamic and unique force in Australian art, Kiffy Rubbo was director of the Ewing (later the George Paton) Gallery, at the University of Melbourne Student Union, 1971-1980. For the first time, her major role in Australian visual culture as well as her legacy are explored. Her curatorial strategies and the narratives she proposed about contemporary art are investigated together with the Gallery's radical agenda. With Meredith Rogers, assistant director (1974-1979), Rubbo devised an innovative and inclusive program presenting a wide range of art forms. Under Rubbo's leadership, the Gallery became a vital, nationally recognised venue, the first institutionally supported experimental art space.

Keynote Lecture: 'Kiffy Rubbo, Women Curators and Australian Art Galleries' by Frances Lindsay AM
Friday August 29, 2014
7pm - 8pm
 
Symposium: 'Kiffy Rubbo and The George Paton Gallery: Curating the 1970s'
Saturday August 30, 2014
9am - 5pm

Speakers: Micky Allan, Carolyn Barnes, Sandra Bridie, Janine Burke, Bridie Carter, Peter Cripps, Domenico de Clario, Rachel Fensham, Elizabeth Gower, Grazia Gunn, Lyndal Jones, Shaune Lakin, Anne Marsh, Jill Orr, Matthew Perkins, Meredith Rogers, Anna Rubbo, Stelarc, Peter Tyndall. 

Theatre A
Elisabeth Murdoch Building
The University of Melbourne
PARKVILLE VIC 3010

Below, Theatre of the Actors of Regard at the Ewing Gallery, 1974; at 'Events/Structures', a two week program curated by Peter Cripps. Peter is squatting at the back; beside him is Aleks Danko, with beard; standing beside Aleks is Jennifer Phipps who died last week - NGV curator through the 1970s. Vale Jennifer. Performance with theremin by Philippa Cullen. Kiffy is seated on the floor, back to the wall, on the right.

click image to enlarge                           photo : AAA_Art Archive Australia

detail
A Person Looks At A Work Of Art/
someone looks at something ... 

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