A Literature of Equinox
Equinox = Balance
Desert Equinox Solar Art Prize, Broken Hill
March 18-27, 2016
First Word
Founded in 2001, the Broken Hill Art Exchange is a non-profit association operated by volunteers. Its aim is to promote and support the progress of art and artists. BHAE provides a trans-disciplinary international artist residency along with workshops, exhibitions, consultancy and project management. See more at www.brokenhillartexchange.com
The Desert Equinox Solar Art Prize was initiated by BHAE with major sponsorship from AGL Energy. Held from 18-27 March 2016, this event is a Prelude to the future Broken Hill Biennale of Art. As the first event, Solar leads into other preludes later in 2016, focused on the ancient elements of Earth, Water and Air. See more at http://bhaeinc.wix.com/desertequinox
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Graeme Gibson and Meg Bishop have been partners in the personal and professional realm for more than 20 years.
In recent years Meg has focused on furniture restoration, upholstery and textile art. This brings together her passion for recycling, fixing things up and being creative. Funky, is Meg’s way of describing the work she best likes. See more at www.facebook.com/MUPfurniture
Graeme has been writing and regularly presenting writing workshops the last several years. Most of his work is non-fiction. Drawing on his background in adult learning, community development and the environment he has developed Little Literature – poetry or prose that responds to art, place or events. See more at www.morethanjusttalk.com.au
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This booklet presents the exhibition that bought Meg and Graeme’s work together, including the making of Little Literature before the exhibition opening and then during the period of the exhibition. The booklet closes with an invitation extended to readers to share any thoughts or suggestions on Little Literature.
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Published by Broken Hill Art Exchange and More Than Just Talk, 2016.
© Individual authors retain copyright over their individual contributions.
Copyright over this compilation is with Graeme Gibson of More Than Just Talk
Equinox = Balance = Comfort
This was Meg Bishops and Graeme Gibson’s exhibit in the Desert Equinox Solar Art Prize. The exhibit is in two parts – a pair of armchairs and a literary component. It was exhibited in the Broken Hill Town Hall Facade.
Meg found the armchairs on a roadside at Huskisson NSW. Removal of several layers of dark lacquer revealed the timber to be silky oak, a valuable cabinet timber. The chairs were rebuilt, re-upholstered and embroidered with the Yin Yang symbols.
Yin and Yang – two halves that together complete wholeness. In Chinese philosophy Yin and Yang describe how opposite forces (light and dark, fire and water) are complimentary, interconnected and interdependent.
Installed adjacent the very comfortable armchairs is a literary component based on Little Literature.
This is participatory or performative art. You never know what you are going to get until you get it. It needs a clear process, faith in the process and a steady nerve.
Some of the contributors to this exhibit think of themselves as poets or writers. Others like playing with words. Some were just plain curious and wanted to be involved. Participation is at the heart of Little Literature meaning all contributions are equally valued.
Making Little Literature
On Friday March 18, just hours before the exhibition opening, 12 people joined a tour of the AGL solar plant. During this a number of things were learnt:
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The plant supplies all of Broken Hill’s energy needs, with a large part being exported to the grid
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The plant consists of 670,000 panels, making it about half the size of the solar plant at Nyngan
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The largest solar plant in the world, in the United States, is nine million panels
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The plant requires a very small workforce to maintain.
Some of the participants on the Solar Plant tour. The peaks in the background are known as “The Pinnacles.” Significant landmarks in a flat landscape
On returning from the tour nine people spent a couple of hours developing a literary response – poetry or prose – to the solar plant tour along with issues of balance. Equinox, after all, is same length day and night. Or black and white. Or balance.
Over that period 14 pieces were produced and installed adjacent the two armchairs. These are shown below. There was no time for other than handwriting, although this illustrates the immediacy and authenticity of the work.