Also changes for Mandy Burgess and I. We are excited with the formalisation of our creative partnership based at Mt Victoria, with our new website and our new email address (murrayandburgess@murrayandburgess.com.au). Since meeting up again at NAS 2015, we have collaborated on many projects and group exhibitions, and been selected for many art prizes and staged three solo exhibitions.
Recently we were selected finalists for Sculpture at Sawmillers McMahons Point now rescheduled 18-27 February 2022 with our work MISE-EN-ABYME (YELLOW), which repeats our previous work in BLUE TOO shown at Kandos with MAPBM in FEB-April 2021. This work is a mini forest of dead trees echoing the more and more occurrence of natural disasters due to climate change.
Contour556, Canberra Biennial in October 2022. Our work FALLEN FOREST highlights the plight of endangered woodland birds, particularly the Regent honeyeater, whose near extinction is being caused by the catastrophic reduction of its habitat by drought, land clearing and flooding.
Concept drawing Fallen Forest
We are also thrilled to be selected for The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Expose Program, which gives exhibition opportunities to emerging and mid-career local artists. We will exhibit CALL AND RESPONSE: A SEARCH FOR BIRDSONG IN THE FALLEN FOREST 1 December 2022-29 January 2023.
This exhibition is a development of the Contour556 work exploring new professional terrain: forming links with conservation groups and applying for a grant to collaborate with a local composer and musicians. Our intention with this eco-arts project is direct attention for collaborator organisations: Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Birdlife Australia, Taronga Zoo, and their programs supporting the survival of the critically endangered regent honeyeater.
Murray and Burgess, Call and Response (excerpt) score drawing