Chance meeting of renowned curators leads to major exhibition at MAC

Published on 09 February 2022

A chance meeting of two curators in the Mallee several years ago was the catalyst for a new major exhibition set to open at Mildura Arts Centre (MAC) this month.

Southern Western opens on 19 February and is the result of a collaboration between curators Gareth Hart and Jane Polkinghorne.

Jane and Gareth found themselves living in the Mallee in 2019-2020, and although drawn to the region from difference places and for different reasons, were united in their intrigue for the area.

From the Mallee’s colonial history and the incredible First Nations artists who live in the region, through to the lifeblood of two river systems converging and Mildura’s distal relationship with a metropolitan centre, the Sunraysia region provided plenty of inspiration for the two artists.

Southern Western was commissioned by MAC and brings together 14 significant artists from both the Mallee and outside the region.

Councillor for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Healy encouraged Sunraysia residents to take advantage of having a major exhibition of this calibre in their own region.

"Both Jane and Gareth are incredibly talented artists who individually have created some amazing work in very different genres," Cr Healy said.

"Gareth has an extensive background in the performing arts, with more than 15 years as a practicing artist, creating a suite of innovative dance and installation work.

"Jane lives in Bendigo and is an artist researcher with vast experience as a curator, regularly collaborating with other artists across a broad range of mediums."

Southern Western Curated by Gareth Hart and Jane Polkinghorne Galleries 1 and 2 19 February - 1 May

Biographies Gareth Hart

Gareth Hart is an independent artist, producer and director, with a Masters of Choreography (by research) from the Victorian College of the Arts, and has spent over 15 years as a practicing artist, creating a suite of innovative dance and installation work. This body of work has toured extensively around Australia, received critical acclaim internationally, and won several awards.In 2017 Gareth was awarded an Australia Day Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the Yarra Ranges community’. In 2018, Gareth was fortunate enough to be selected by the Australia Council for the Arts to participate in the highly competitive Future Leaders program.

Jane Polkinghorne

Jane Polkinghorne is an artist researcher living in Bendigo whose curatorial practice works through collaboration and cooperation using embedded participation artist-run projects. From 2012-2016, in collaboration with Sarah Newall, Jane developed and ran the zero-cost artist space Marrickville Garage from their single-car garage in inner-west Sydney. In this domestic and suburban location their curatorial practice expanded through negotiating space and relationships with artists, neighbours and art audiences.

ENDS