Tuesday 17 July 2012

Latest exhibition details - Co.Lab 2012: Words & Art


Media Release for Co.lab project.
James WF Roberts

It's not often that writers get to their hang their work in a gallery, next to a work of art. It's not very often that the individual act of reading and appreciating the printed word, is done communally. And it is not often these days that artists and writers come together to create work based on each other's own vision. But this is what's going on in Bendigo at the moment. The Co.lab project, brought together by Hugh Waller, of Bendarts, and Jessica Cola, of View Point Handmade Gallery, is one of the most remarkable exhibitions going around. The artists and writers either responded to each other's work, worked together on a new project or used existing pieces to create something new.

To coincide with the exhibition a catalogue of the works has been produced in the form of a book - a first of it's kind, this anthology will serve to showcase the amazing works produced long after the exhibition ends. The book can be pre-ordered online via the co.lab website (www.colab.bendarts.org) or at View Point Handmade Gallery. Proceeds from book sales go back to the writers and the artists.

Jessica Cola, from View Point Handmade Gallery, states on the official site; “This exhibition has been an exercise in collaboration from the very beginning. Hugh Waller, founder of Bend Arts and one of the participating artists, approached us here at View Point with the idea of running a show to coincide with the inaugural Bendigo Writers Festival. Many coffees and brainstorming sessions later, we had thrashed out the idea of a collaborative exhibition, bringing writers and visual artists together to create a dialogue between words and art. The collaborative process has taken on a life of it's own within the individual pairings – with some groups choosing to create entirely new pieces, revamp past works or team up for the entire creative process, both written and visual.”

The book launch and exhibition coincides with inaugural Bendigo Writer's Festival in August this year. The exhibition opening will be held at View Point Handmade Gallery, 13 View Point Bendigo, on Friday the 3rd of August from 7pm – 9pm to which the public are welcome to attend. The exhibition runs from Saturday, August 4th to Friday, August 31st.

As a participating writer in this project, I can tell you that level of professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm coming from Hugh and Jessica, and pouring down to the rest of us, is like nothing I have ever seen before.

Book specifications: gloss soft cover, satin pages, size: 25 x 20cm it has 58 pages. Price $50.00
So do yourself a favour if you are anywhere near View Point Handmade Gallery in August, drop in and have a look and see the level of artistry that Bendigo has at present.

For further information contact:
Hugh Waller, info@bendarts.org 
Jessica Cola, info@viewpointgallery.com.au

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