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University of Melbourne, Centre of Visual Art
‘Art + Ecology’ residency
Studio 1, Old Agriculture and Engineering Building,
Dookie Campus
Monday 4 September, 10—11AM
Join us on the first Monday in September for a presentation by Dr Suzie Fraser, Coordinator at the Centre of Visual Art, University of Melbourne, in conversation with exhibiting artist Jen Valender about the ‘Art + Ecology’ residency program at Dookie Campus. The presentation coincides with the display of four works resulting from the residency program in the major exhibition Always and Altered.
Dookie Campus, located 25 minutes from Benalla, has played a key role in the development of agriculture and agricultural teaching and learning in Australia since 1886. In its continuing role as a key site for the research, teaching and technology development shaping the future of agriculture in Australia, Dookie Campus provided inspiration for the University of Melbourne’s ‘Art + Ecology’ residency program in 2022. Conceived by the University’s Centre of Visual Art (CoVA) in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, in partnership with Dookie campus staff and researchers, the residency program saw nine artists each spend three to four weeks on site to create new site responsive works, each informed by the history of the campus and surrounding environment, meetings with graduate researchers, and local community members.
About Dr Suzie Fraser
Dr Fraser is Centre Coordinator at the Centre of Visual Art and has previously been a lecturer in Art History at the University of Melbourne. As well as lecturing, she is an arts writer and researcher. Her PhD investigated the role of colonial art collections in shaping Australian cultural identity and her current research uses postcolonial theory to analyse digital imperialism in contemporary art practice. She co-authored the report Refuge 2017 Evaluation: Heatwave (2018) on behalf of the Research Unit in Public Cultures and the City of Melbourne.
About Jen Valender
Jen Valender is a visual artist and researcher originally from Aotearoa New Zealand and based in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. She predominantly works with moving image, performance, sculpture and sound to express her interest in ethical binds, psychology and cross-species coexistence. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and public spaces in Australia, France, South Africa, Germany and Portugal. She holds an MFA (Research) from the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne and a BFA (Visual Arts) from Monash University.
Registration essential: T 03 5760 2619 or gallery@benalla.vic.gov.au
Cost: $2
Benalla Art Gallery Exhibition Partners
