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By: Max Olijnyk
Date: 6th Dec 07
Medium: Photography
Drink: Herbal tea
What:
Do you remember what it was? - Conor O'Brien, Amanda Maxwell and Thomas Jeppe
Where:
Utopian Slumps, 5/25 Easey St, Collingwood
When:
Opening Thurs Dec 6, 6-9pm
Exhibition runs Dec 6 - 22
How much:
Free
Image:
By Conor O'Brien
When friends focus their energy into something, great things inevitably occur. Melissa Loughnan's Utopian Slumps gallery in Collingwood is testament to this theory, hosting shows from some of Melbourne's most memorable and progressive artists over its first 12 months in existence.
A fitting punctuation to mark the occasion of this first anniversary, Do you remember what it was? is a collection of photographs from three friends whose work shares a celebrative spirit in spontaneous moments, which are often in fact made special by the presence of friends.
This is, however, a particularly productive group of friends: a few achievements over the past year being a solo show at Sydney's ACP and a finalist place in the National Portrait Prize (O'Brien), contributions to the wonderful Doingbird magazine and an upcoming book of short stories (Maxwell) and launching publishing company Serps Press while editing the NowNow Gallery (Jeppe).
All this busyness does not detract from the work's contemplative nature. Though in the thick of things, the artists always display a reverence of the moment, the camera allowing them to pay homage to the beauty of the every day.
For a glimpse of the exhibition, see here.