Castlemaine Art Museum (CAM) celebrated the launch of its two major 2023 Castlemaine State Festival exhibitions – Melbourne artist David Rosetzky’s highly anticipated Air to Atmosphere and For the Love of Song by local printmaker David Frazer – last Friday evening.
Community members will have a chance to learn more about both installations tomorrow, Saturday April 1, when CAM hosts artists talks with David Fraser at 10am and David Rosetzky at 12 noon.
David Frazer’s For the Love of Song is a passionate and unique collaboration between the renowned printmaker and local artist and some of the most iconic Australian and International songwriters of a generation: Paul Kelly (Aus); Don Walker (Aus); Nick Cave (Aus/UK); Nick Lowe (UK) and Tom Waits (USA). Two great artforms entwine – image-making and song writing – together they reach into our hearts in profound ways. Frazer’s most recent collaboration with Tom Waits is a world premiere.
Rosetzky’s Air to Atmosphere explores the diversity, trauma, resilience, and pride of the local LGBTQIA+ community and has been two years in the making.
Rosetzky, in collaboration with members of the community in central Victoria, including &so, Eden Swan, Terence Jaensch and Rhett D’Costa amongst others, has created the major new work, commissioned by CAM which spans across the Stoneman, Higgins and Benefactor Galleries, including live performance, and a Terrace Projection every evening at dusk.
Flowing from Rosetzky’s renowned practice in video and performance, this large collaborative and multi-disciplinary work includes photography, filmmaking, performance, publishing, music, song, choreography by Jo Lloyd and social events created with and about local artists and community members.
Rosetzky told the Mail he was relieved and excited to see the exhibition finally installed at CAM and to see the community responding and engaging with the work.
“The feedback has already been incredibly positive,” he said.
The artist collaborated with 16 representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community to develop the new work.
“With the work being multifaceted participants were free to be involved with the project in a way they felt comfortable with,” David said.
The work includes beautiful portraits of the various participants, stories of the lived experiences of each of the community members, an hour-long video which delves deeper into five of these personal stories offering different perspectives. There are also paste ups of quotes from each participant, the Terrace Projection on the CAM façade, and a dance element which will include five live performances with choreography by Jo Lloyd to be scheduled throughout the exhibition run at CAM.
“The participants have been brave and courageous to open up and share their stories, but they are also proud to be part of this diverse LGBTQIA+ community and they want to celebrate it and help the wider community gain a better knowledge and understanding,” he said.
“The exhibition is accompanied by a publication printed by Sonntag Press which includes these stories and poetry by Terence Jaensch. Gallery visitors can purchase a copy of the book at CAM or via the Sonntag Press website.
“We also have a micro-site on the CAM website where people can learn more about each of the stories,” David said.
Keep an eye on the website and social media for performance dates.
The exhibition has been supported by the Australian Government through the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund and the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, and the Victorian Government’s Pride Events and Festivals Fund. In-kind support provided by Bendigo Art Gallery, Castlemaine State Festival, Haymes Paint, Pidgeon Ward, and Tint Design. Catalogue published by Sonntag Press.