A reminder within 2 months of the conclusion of the project, recipients are required to submit to the Board of the IAF a report of between 500-1,000 words describing how the grant was used and the benefits that have been gained from the financial support provided. Photographic records documenting events and / or work produced should be included, as applicable.

The IAF grant that I received was used to fund a solo exhibition in Melbourne at SEVENTH Gallery, North Fitzroy. The grant amount of $1000 covered the bulk of the gallery fee for the installation space ‘7UP’ at SEVENTH. The exhibition at SEVENTH Gallery was my debut solo exhibition interstate, an important career step toward exposure, networking and gaining valuable knowledge on the act of transporting, installing and deinstalling an exhibition interstate.

The exhibition showcased an artwork developed during my Honours year at Adelaide Central School of Art. The work is titled Present Absent (a circuit) and is an immersive installation exploring grief as human phenomena. The work spanned the entirety of the space, with black shock cord stretching between elements of the architecture (wall and opposite corner or wall), designating an enveloping site. On opposite walls, two shapes were positioned, one of thick, pink felt and the other reflective black Perspex. Within the work, both nailing and stretching cord to it’s limit pinpoints the perpetual agony experienced in grief, as phenomena, where the materiality and contortion of the cord embodies the ricochet movement from a mnemonic to affect, in dense black. Black Perspex initially causes optical confusion, but then offers a view of both a projection and retraction to/from the shape on the opposite wall.

This work was adapted specially for the space at 7UP space at SEVENTH.

In terms of exposure, SEVENTH Gallery has a unique and advantageous position in Melbourne on Gertrude Street. It is opposite the well known and esteemed institution, Gertrude Contemporary, and has an established reputation for providing a high quality of engaging contemporary exhibition programming. The opening night of the exhibition was a busy event and attended by numerous curators, artists and other interested parties.

During the experience at SEVENTH I made numerous interesting connections. The connections made with other artists has proved to instigate a creative link where by I now remain engaged with the work of the practicing artists that I met, and remain in contact whenever we are interstate. I have already met with two of the artists who exhibited in other spaces at SEVENTH during the same exhibition period, and continue an enthusiastic dialogue about Australian contemporary art and the act of emerging within it. The board members at SEVENTH are a professional bunch of individuals, many with positions in other arts institutions in Melbourne. It was of great benefit for me to work with them on the exhibition install and discuss my conceptual and material motivations for the installation presented. I remain in contact with several of the board members, updating them on upcoming events regularly.

Since my exhibition at SEVENTH Gallery, I have been fortunate enough to have been chosen for several other interstate exhibitions throughout 2017. I feel strongly that the inclusion of my exhibition at SEVENTH on my CV has had an impact on these opportunities. I have been able to draw on that experience for prior learning consistently through out the year, and it has made for smooth executions of other exhibitions, to date. I would like to thank the IAF warmly for funding this brilliant, career enhancing opportunity!