Professor Ryan Daniel
The second teaching semester is now well under way and students are busy and engaged in learning, innovation and creative practice across both campuses. The teaching staff in the School have established a wonderful set of learning environments for students which are flexible in orientation and rigorous in academic and practical focus. The School continues to strive to create the most cutting-edge subjects and programs and our work continues in this area.
In 2008 we have seen some amazing new work on display by students in the various programs in Cairns and Townsville. For example, I was recently part of a panel of judges assessing possible designs for the new 2009 JCU student t-shirt. Many of the designs were simply outstanding and the creativity on show was exemplary. Stay tuned for the results! Also, at the end of this semester, we look forward to end of year performances, exhibitions and other events which showcase the creative work that has been developed.
September is the time when prospective students get serious about their options for 2009. I can confidently say to parents, teachers and students that the School today is one of quality, excellence and innovation. If you have any questions about what we do, please feel free to contact me. If you have a passion for creativity, talk to us about how to make this a reality and a career. Go to our web pages to see where our graduates are located – the world is an exciting place for people with passion and commitment to the arts!
Ron McBurnie
As well as lecturing at JCU, Ron McBurnie works as a practicing artist as well as director of Monsoon Publishing, a limited edition printmaking and artist book publishing press. In 2007 he built a new studio to house this venture. Ron collaborates with different artists on projects. His present collaborations include artists, Euan Macleod (Sydney) and Jeff Dixon
(Cairns) as well as poet, Elizabeth Springer (Townsville).
In June 2009 Perc Tucker Regional Gallery plan to host a survey exhibition of Ron’s printmaking output in the last thirty years. A catalogue will be produced to coincide with the event.
Ron’s general interests are quite diverse. He is an avid collector of historical etchings and engraved prints from 16th Century to the present, as well as vinyl records which are either great examples of or contain interesting music.
He enjoys the challenge of trying to adapt to the new teaching structure and surroundings. “This is sometimes difficult for an artist whose interests are often deeply embedded in the history of the past but I believe that there are exciting and innovative ways of learning from the past so it has resonance for the future,’ claims Ron.
His artwork is inspired through what he is exposed to at the time. “If I am marvelling at an old print, then that inspires me. If I hear idiotic story about a corrupt politician then that story will inspire me. If I am playing a piece of music that takes me to an extraordinary place, then that is my inspiration. To me, inspiration for my work comes from a variety of different sources. Sometimes ideas and inspiration come from the weirdest of sources.”
“I’ve always wanted to work as an artist and a teacher and I guess as far as achieving these career paths, I have always tried to act on opportunities as they came to me. I know my limits, but I am also happy to be challenged by interesting prospects and the possibility that I can achieve them,’ said Ron.
Eric Nash
A 2007 graduate with a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the School of Creative Arts at JCU, Eric Nash now uses his skills and passion for art and promoting local talent through the local gallery scene.
Eric is currently completing his Arts Administration Traineeship at the Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, where he writes for gallery publications, helps to install and take down exhibitions, and is learning all he can about the design aspects of a gallery.
He began his degree with his eye on drawing and painting, but during his studies realised a passion for the contemporary art scene and gallery work. “The thought of being able to work with artists who are creating such amazing works was a major factor,” he said. “While (the degree) doesn’t prepare you for the type of work you do in a gallery, the background of knowledge it provides, and the interest it sparks is invaluable.”
The 20 year old has been in the industry just seven months, after applying for the 12-month traineeship after seeing some posters advertising the position in the gallery. “I was actually showing some work in a JCU show at the gallery when I found the poster, but at first didn’t really think it would be for me,” he said.
Eric decided to consult his lecturer at the time, and also sought the advice of a fellow student, with both encouraging him to apply for the role and gain the experience. “So I applied one week before the cut off, and went through the interview process,” Eric said. He now has the chance to see amazing artworks up close, and take part in the process of working out where the pieces should go in the gallery.
“It’s exciting, finishing installing what you think is a fantastic show, but having to wait for the public response…A show earlier in the year Piccinini, which was a collection of recent works by a fantastic Australian artist Patricia Piccinini was a great example of this. Thankfully people in the community really responded to the show.”
Eric has also discovered the benefits of the gallery on promoting and developing new talent in the area. “Everyone at the gallery invests all their energy into trying to help further artists, especially ones in our local community, by showing their work,” he said. “While it’s sometimes disappointing that I don’t have any energy left at home to create or paint things of my own anymore, there’s a kick in helping someone else take that next step in their career.”
With just five months to go on his traineeship, Eric will have the new title of project officer, and much more responsibility. But he said there was another way to become involved in galleries, whether it is for employment or just as a hobby. “Another great way to get into the industry is to volunteer, build some experience and see whether it’s a career path that would interest you,” he said. “Both Perc Tucker and Pinnacles Gallery encourage people to volunteer, and we really appreciate the work these people do.”
For potential art gallery workers though, he does have one warning. “Be prepared to dedicate a lot of time, effort, and also to invest a lot of yourself in it.” (Article taken from CareerOne, Exhibiting a creative flair, Rachel Toune, Townsville Bulletin newspaper, Wed 3 Sept 2008).
For student testimonials and graduate careers, see here.
A great turn out for Open Day at JCU
This year’s JCU Open Day, held on Sunday the 24 August, was a huge success with the best attendance numbers seen at the SoCA so far. Both secondary students and parents were engaged by the numerous activities on offer and had their questions and concerns answered by the enthusiastic staff available at the event.
Secondary school student workshops continue throughout the year for a true SoCA experience.
Local and regional students from Townsville and Cairns are invited to take part in creative arts workshops on Uni campus.
To date there have been many fun and exciting activities ranging from digital sound recording to photo morphing where students learn a new skill and get a good sense of what SoCA offers. See one art teacher’s testimonial as follows:
“Just a quick message to express our sincere thanks for the excellent school workshops which you organised at the JCU School of Creative Arts on Tuesday 29th July 2008.
The feedback I have received from the teachers and students who attended the workshops has been overwhelmingly positive. I thought you would like to know that there is a definite buzz amongst our senior students about opportunities in the Creative Arts at JCU! Students were highly impressed by the great new facilities, and the approachability and expertise of the staff who led the sessions.
Please extend our thanks to all academic and support staff who were involved in facilitating the workshops with our students and teachers on the day.”
Paul Allan
Head of Arts Department
Kirwan State High School
For more information or to book a workshop session contact elly.murrell@jcu.edu.au or phone (07) 48713142
Secondary teachers exposed to SoCA through information sessions
Recently two information sessions were held at the new School of Creative Arts complex for music and drama teachers. This was a good way for these creative arts teachers to have a tour of the facilities, learn more about what is offered in these study areas and meet others in the industry.
Although digital sound and performance were the main focus at this stage, there will also be information sessions for teachers in other discipline areas including photography, visual arts, graphics and design in the near future. So stay tuned…
JCU Performance On Tour
2nd Year performance students from the School of Creative Arts are going on tour and offering Townsville secondary schools the chance to see them in action through a 50 min devised performance.
Schools can choose between Obzcured, a performance suitable for lower secondary level students and Pheromones, Mobile Phones and Road Maps aimed at upper secondary level students.
All shows are complimentary, brought to your school and limited bookings are still available!
The performance session options are:
10:00 – 10:50am OR 11:00 – 11:50am
Thurs 16 Oct, Thurs 23 Oct, Thurs 30 Oct OR Thurs 6 Nov
Schools’ unable to accommodate an ‘On Tour’ performance during the nominated times also have the opportunity to attend an evening of the two productions at JCU’s Cowshed Theatre on Wed 5 Nov, 6:30pm free of charge.
For more information or to book an‘On Tour’ performance, or for more details about the event at the Cowshed please contact the Performance Lecturer by ph 4781 4905 or email debra.thomas@jcu.edu.au
When booking a performance please let Debra know your prefered session, the approx. number of students for audience and the type of space(s) available for the performance (the space does not have to be a traditional performance space, however, a number of power points are required for projector, sound and lighting)
Write About Art
Arts Queensland is searching for Queensland senior school students who want to write about art and design.
Write About Art is a new competition for Queensland state and non-state school senior students to submit essays, interviews, or feature stories about a visual art or design exhibition, event, or idea from their local community.
Up to 30 students will be selected to have their work published in a special issue of Eyeline Magazine, a leading visual art journal. Students will also work with established visual art and design industry mentors.
Entries close 17 October 2008 and all students who register for Write About Art will get the chance to win a place in the Brisbane Writers Festival Word Play program.
For more information and registration visit the Learning Place website or email. at Arts Queensland
Photojournalism students gain skills for the real world
Townsville’s environmental issues recently came under close examination in the block mode subject Photojournalism: Documentation and Communication held for the first time at the beginning of second semester.
Over a period of three weeks 38 students reported back on our most pressing and confronting environmental problems. Topics ranged from the ever present cane toad, to deforestation through to Townsville’s mysterious ‘black dust’. The students produced feature articles, news reports and front covers for an environmental magazine.
The task was daunting with most students having little prior knowledge of their delegated topic. Students conducted original research of their topic, identified key players, conducted interviews and took photographs in an intensive ‘quasi real world’ experience.
During the classroom aspects of the subject guest speakers such as Scott Radford-Chisholm, Head Photographer from the Townsville Bulletin, Paul Dymond a Cairns based Photojournalist and Lindsay Simpson, Head of Journalism at JCU, joined SoCA Photo-imaging Lecturers Clive Hutchison and Kirsten Heritage to deliver the subject.
Cairns student is winner of emerging artist award
Cairns Regional Gallery has announced that Simon Poole is the winner of the 2008 Heather Blair Memorial Award. The award was initiated by the Blair family in memory of their devoted, talented wife and mother as a gesture of support for emerging artists in Far North Queensland.
Poole, who is completing his Bachelor of Creative Industries degree at JCU, Cairns Campus, was selected on his successful submission for the 2009 Cairns Regional Gallery Community Exhibitions Program. Poole’s exhibition Art Rocks will be on display at the Cairns Regional Gallery in late May 2009.
Cairns Sun newspaper, Wed 27/08/08
Life is an island breeze for some photography students
Twelve bleary-eyed adventurers emerged from their cars, clutching cameras, tripods and the last remnants of sleep. Loading the boat with essentials for 3 days in the sun, students and staff boarded Challenger III and headed for the beautiful Orpheus Island located just off Ingham in the Great Barrier Reef.
SoCA lecturers Kirsten Heritage and Stephen Naylor recently took ten 2nd and 3rd year Digital Imaging students to Orpheus Island to engage in landscape and environmental photography in the unique tropical environment of the university’s research station. This is the 11th year of this field trip, with students always marveling in the wonderful opportunity such a location offers. During the long weekend, students were offered many opportunities to explore the site, including travelling via dinghy to Pioneer Bay to walk to the top of the island where the views extend over the group of nearby islands and out to sea. A number of students saw migrating whales and many snorkeled on the reef just offshore. All who attended had a relaxing and rewarding long weekend and returned with many wonderful photographs as seen below.
Digital Storytelling, a big hit online
Running for the first time this semester, students are logging on every week to download the latest study materials and then going online with the chat program Skype to share stories, get help, and getting to know each other.
Digital Storytelling is the bringing together of images, videos, and other digitised material to construct new stories that are driven by the author’s spoken narrative. Primarily designed as a creative subject for JCU Education students, enrollments in the subject are coming from a wide range of students from all faculties. In its first year, 53 students have enrolled in this subject!
Another feature of the subject is the weekly recording of a video podcast by the subject’s coordinator Clive Hutchison. This podcast, streaming online, keeps students up to date with what they should look for online, and is able to provide feedback on common questions and difficulties. Everyone involved is excitedly looking forward for the first completed digital stories to emerge…stay tuned…
New SoCA building recently opened by Qld Governor
The new $10 million facility was officially by the Queensland Governor, Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO on Wed 8 Oct, 2008 with a great turn out for the event. This was the Governor’s first visit to Townsville and she was very impressed with the complex. See here for more information.
SoCA design students involved in sprucing up the JCU t/shirt
A JCU T-shirt design competition provided 50 design students from the Bachelor of New Media Arts degree an opportunity to create an iconic alternative to JCUs traditional marketing apparel.
Developed by JCU Bookshop Manager, David McMahon in conjunction with School of Creative Arts lecturer, Mitch Goodwin, the design competition is a new annual event which will see the winning design printed for sale out of the University’s bookshop in 2009.
All students were briefed with the challenge to look beyond JCU’s traditional approach to marketing their brand and create a design which would appeal to students both as a symbol of their time at JCU and an independently stylistic piece of youthful fashion.
This year’s winner was Josh Dykgraaf with 2nd and 3rd going to Alan Quilala and Luke Taylor. Each of their designs took this brief to heart and effectively “messed” with the brand to create something that was fresh and exuberant.
David McMahon said, “We wanted to give students the opportunity to take ownership over the image as students studying at JCU and to communicate that to their peers and the wider community.”
The New Media Arts student’s commitment to good design and creative expression produced a diverse range of responses which challenged traditional perceptions of “youth culture” and what it means to be a student in the far north in the 21st century.
Silver’s serious fun for artists
Fabulous Flying Artist Anneke Silver will be making a whistle stop tour in the south west next month including on the tour Roma, Augathella, Blackall, Bacaldine and Boulia.
Dr Anneke Silver is an adjunct Associate Professor in Visual Arts at JCU. Her teaching areas are painting, drawing and art history. As a practising artist, Anneke’s interests are multi-faceted and she works across all media. She has had more than 20 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 40 group and invitation exhibitions.
Flying Arts Touring program manager Anne Toovey said “This tour exemplifies the talent and strong interest that exists in the artistic communities of regional Queensland”…”This is another wonderful opportunity for the creative people of the region the share their knowledge and have a great weekend together.”
Western Times newspaper, Thurs 28/08/08
Photo-imaging lecturer brings the community to life through the lens
Kirsten Heritage has been photographing the Palm Creek Folk Festival for the past 5 years where her Images are used to promote the locally-run event. Her images capture the colour, life, energy and spirit of the 2-day event held over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend each year..
Digital Media Design students to give local arts organisation’s webpage a face lift
Townsville’s up and coming design students are giving back to the community with 2nd year New Media Arts students, from JCU’s School of Creative Arts, vying against each other to re-vamp a webpage for La Luna Youth Arts over the next six weeks.
Since going online in early 2002, enrolments and workshops at La Luna Youth Arts have dramatically increased, meaning that tasks such as regularly updating the webpage got pushed down the list of importance. “Every day is go, go, go” says SoCA graduate and La Luna Youth Arts Marketing Officer Nam Enever. “We run workshops five days a week and because we’re such a small organisation, non-essential items tend to get overlooked, like our webpage.”
Realising that the web is a vital tool in recruitment for the arts organisation, SoCA lecturer Katja Fleischmann, believes that it is important students be able to work on real-life projects like this as it gives them an understanding of the pressures they will encounter in the workplace. “Every client is different and so is each project. Students need to practise being firm but flexible in their approach with clients and La Luna Youth Arts came along at the right time for a perfect solution.” Re-designing the webpage follows on from other live projects SoCA students have undertaken recently such as the development of a new logo for the Charters Towers Recreational Lake project.
Being a former SoCA student herself Ms. Enever said that remaining in contact with JCU staff had been a key strategy in this project. “I had a great time while doing my degree and I know the high quality work that JCU students are capable of producing” she said “so keeping in touch with ex-lecturers made sense when I entered the workforce”. The digital age is quickly becoming the domain of the young-at-heart and staying at the front of such technology is difficult. “We’re looking for something funky, a bit of pizzazz and on the cutting edge, so we’re excited to see what the students can create.” says Ms. Enever. The students will work tirelessly on the project during the second-half of the semester until they will present their innovative designs in early November.
Free workshop on Exhibitions and Budgeting in Townsville
22 Oct,9am – 12.30pm
Department of Tourism
Regional Development & Industry
Level 1, Cnr The Strand & Sir Leslie Thiess Dr
Townsville
AbaF is inviting professional artists who are looking to develop themselves as a business to register for this workshop which will provide an overview of the key stages in planning a successful exhibition.
Cost: free
Places are strictly limited and participants must register to attend.
For information and registration ph 1300 794 191, email skillsdev@abaf.org.au or visit www.abaf.org.au
2009 national art prize open for entry
Fostering the development of artistic talent in Australia, the Wilson HTM National Art Prize is again open for entry.
Launched in 2007, the Wilson HTM National Art Prize is an acquisitive art award open to emerging Australian based visual artists practicing in any media.
Supported by Wilson HTM Investment Group and managed by cultural development agency Artworkers, the award was devised with the aim to acknowledge the difficulties faced by artists in terms of national and international recognition for achievement; and the difficulties faced in regards to long-term financial stability.
Artworkers Program Director Kevin Wilson said the Wilson HTM National Art Prize was important to furthering the careers of some of Australia’s most promising emerging artists:
“The Wilson HTM National Art Prize not only provides the opportunity for new works to gain recognition, but also highlights the importance of collaboration between the corporate and arts sectors to nurture the creative talents of Australians,” Mr Wilson said.
The winner of the previous primary award was NSW artist Sam Smith for his new media work ‘Street Shift’. ACT artist Kensuke Todo was awarded the 2007 Highly Commended Award for his sculptural work ‘JR Osaka Station’, whilst QLD artist Bianca Beetson was awarded the 2007 People’s Choice Award for her painting ‘Sorry’.
Encouraging entries from all media, the art prize shines a light on the efforts and incredible talents of emerging Australian artists.
The prizes for the 2009 award include an acquisitive *$10, 000 primary prize (a $5000 cash payment and an investment portfolio to the value of $5000), a $1,500 non-acquisitive Highly Commended runners-up prize, and a $1,000 Wilson HTM Encouragement Award.
For the 2009 award – up to 12 finalists will be chosen to feature in an exhibition. The 2009 winners will be announced at a prizegiving at the launch of the finalist exhibition held at Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane in 2009.
Entries for the 2009 Wilson HTM National Art Prize close 5pm Friday 28 Nov.
Entry forms and terms and conditions available from Artworkers: www.artworkers.org
Australian Video Art Archive (AVAA) seeking video and performance art works
The AVAA is the first research collection and on-line archive of its type in Australia and is already becoming an important site for the cultural and research sectors. It contains video and performance art works from the early 1970s to the present.
We have established contact with 200 individual artists and we are now extending our research call to artists, galleries and institutions. We are interested in photographs, videos, taped interviews or seminars or any other ephemera that may be available.
The AVAA has 60 works already on-line and we are now seeking to expand the collection. Artists already in the collection include Jill Orr, Arthur Wicks, Kevin Mortensen, Jill Scott, Peter Callas, John Gillies, Sue Dodd and Catherine Bell.
These works can be viewed at: www.videoartchive.org.au
Artists enter into a contract with the archive and if their work is borrowed they receive fees which are distributed annually.
If you have art works on any format that you would like to contribute to the AVAA or wish to discuss further please contact us at: info@videoartchive.org.au or (03) 9903 2290 or (03) 9903 2255 at the Faculty of Art & Design, Monash University.
