'Last Things' in Exhibition and Book Launch at ANU School of Art, Canberra May 4-9th

LAST THINGS:

An exhibition of photographic images and writings by Ruth Skilbeck 
In Intertwined: Exhibiting Mother Artists, ANU School of Art, May 4-9, 2015
Author talk and book launch of Australian Fugue: The Antipode Room, 4-5pm May 9

The talk and exhibition opening were televised for  Sydney "Coffee Break" CommunityTV show, producer Jan Wood

The exhibition was of nine photographic images from the Last Things series with an essay.

Wall Essay:

First Things: Reflections on Single-lens Reflex Digital Photography with a Wide-angle Lens
by Ruth Skilbeck
Published in The International Journal of the Image, Vol. 3, 2013

This reflective practice essay discusses the psychology of perception and the proposition of processing trauma and loss through digital photography focusing on “Last Things” series of photographic images by the author. The paper reflexively explores the proposition of Art making as means of processing Traumatic experience, of loss, and shock of the unknown, in this case literally as well as symbolically, in images that go beyond words. The room was “empty” but needed clearing of the last things. She entered her mother’s death chamber with camera held to her face as shield and mask and took photographs of objects that she found there. The author learned from her own response, that she turned to the visual, to images, before words; she used her digital single-lens reflex camera, with wide-angle lens. This experience shifted her focus as arts journalist, to reflectively writing of her own perceptions and response, and the images made in that passing moment. Here she also refers to other artists and critics including urban Aboriginal artists, Mary Kelly, Barthes in his "Camera Lucida" and to further published exhibited works she has made.

And:

Blue Fugue, 2013  (Book cover image)

Australian Fugue: The Antipode Room, Newcastle: PostMistress Press, 2015. 

Exhibition: Intertwined: Exhibiting Mother Artists

Curated by Ruth Skilbeck, Vee Malnar and Joan Garvan 

with Book Launch of Australian Fugue: The Antipode Room a novel by Ruth Skilbeck

Exhibition: ANU School of Art Monday 4 May- Saturday 9 May.

Author Talk and Book Launch: 4-5 Saturday 9 May 2015