Susan Shulman is a Canadian artist who I have featured on this blog before in her collaborations with the Kalicorp Collective, and the Mount Analogue project. In the next few posts, Susan turns guest blogger with her impressions from a recent trip to Melbourne, Austriala. All photos were taken by Susan Shulman.
The Kali Collective began in 2010 as an experiment in the use of social
media to produce collaborative work without the need for a defined home base. We’ve
used social media platforms and blogs to invite other artists into a virtual
collaborative space, which has resulted in several international projects
exhibited in different cities around the world. By bringing our work to the
already vibrant Melbourne art scene, I hope I furthered our explorations in how
artists can use social media collaboration.
* * *
I
spent three weeks combing the city’s galleries, museums and streets, eating and
breathing art at every corner. What I thought would be an easy assignment has
turned into an explosive overload of creativity. Melbourne is a city of
inspiration, in a country of stunning beauty. It will take time to process all
I have seen. These are the highlights.
State
Library of Victoria, Melbourne
I
went to the State Library of Victoria to meet Robert Heather, curator and
manager of Collections Interpretations at the library. I had no idea about the
size of the building I was about to enter. I was shocked to find myself at the
“Hogwarts-like” domed library in Melbourne Australia. Inside I was in awe of
the La Trobe Reading Room. It is a panopticon,
designed to allow the head librarian to watch everyone from a raised mid-point
without the attendees knowing they were being viewed. A similar design was used
in prisons in the eighteenth century to monitor the inmates.
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| The reading room, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. |
Robert
graciously gave me a tour of the premises and the vast collection of priceless
manuscripts on display, and explained their historical backgrounds. The library
holds over 1.5 million books as well as collections of photos, artworks, and
items of interest. So much caught my eye, from illuminated manuscripts to
miniature books. Each bookcase and wall beckoned me on. I was excited to see a
section on graphic novels. I had no idea that Australia had a long history of
comic book publishing, and the library prides itself in holding a large
selection of the finest comics, graphic novels and ‘zines. In front of me were
the original sketches of “Sin City”, and “In the Shadow of No Towers” by
Pulitzer Prize winning artist Art Spiegelman. Spiegelman created this comic based
on his experiences after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack
on New York City.
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| Top: Susan Shulman and 'zines. Bottom: Detail of Art Spiegelman's work. |
Kalicorp Down Under
I was really excited to hand out “Kalicorp Art
Mysteries” ‘zines around Melbourne, and to find the Kali Edition a new home in
Australia. I personally presented a copy of the limited edition to curators Des
Crowley and Robert Heather at the State Library of Victoria.
 |
| Susan Shulman (centre) with curators Des Crowley and Robert Heathers. |
The
self titled "Kali" Edition was hand produced in a limited edition of
9 numbered copies with 3 additional Artist Proofs (AP). The edition contains
six works each by me, William Evertson (USA), and Ria Vanden Eynde (Belgium).
The clamshell case is also handmade and lettered in gold leaf.
Tomorrow: Susan Shulman sees some of the oldest and the newest art on the Australian continent.