22 April - 10 May 2009

Of love, of hate

Katrina Coleman

The strong focus of my photography is to utilise and take hold of a stage and to theatrically choreograph my own body within the space. I seek to take dominance of the stage and yet find myself shying away, lingering within the shadows of these poetic images. These stages are certainly more than just a space, but that of which becomes the being, where surrealism is welcomed and the subconscious is encouraged to take flight. With the pinhole camera especially I am able to create a moody cascading of layers and a timely performance within a film still, in which I explore issues of identity and self-image in context with society, family and friends. Katrina Coleman

In a State

Chris Brown

"In a State" is a collection of photographs dealing with the modes of the mind. The subjects in my photographs are experiencing intense emotional, mental and physical states such as extreme pain and pure ecstasy, total intoxication and visceral catharsis. Chris Brown

Written with Intent

Philippe Ribbons

Interpretation of language ultimately determines the effectiveness of the creator's intent.
Illegible graffiti tagging seeks to empower the writer through the paradox of anonymity. Abbreviated (and capitalised) terminology has the purpose of saving time, space and money but often appears alien without an 'actual' derivation or identity, or a specified context.
Technological advancement and the increasing extinction of much punctuation continue to bite into the brains of the 'new' generation, where written language is increasingly misspelt, misused and misunderstood. Socially isolating, the 'damage' is a bi-product of progress. Philippe Ribbons

Tools R Us

Rhonda Partridge

Tools are a particular device that enables us to perform manual and mechanical work. The tools I have created give thema non-functional life; identifying those tools can be for our visual pleasure not just for work. My inspiration for this contemporary body of work was inspired by inheriting my grandfather's tools. These wonderful 75 year old rusted tools now hang in my shed and inspire my creative thoughts. I wanted to create the tools in my art works to restore their life. My art works are an expression of love, gratitude and memories of my grandparents. Rhonda Partridge

Escape

Anita Craw

Following the success of Anita's previous show in 2008 she has chosen to push her love of the Australian landscape. The whimsical and flow of the brush that was evident in her previous works have been used in these works as she truly believes that is shows change and freedom that we have living in Australia. Anita Craw

Unedition: Hello Blackbird

Caelli Jo Brooker

Unedition: Hello Blackbird explores the monoprint and monotype as unique print states using the blackbird as a visual motif. The blackbird is that of Wallace Stevens' poem and the prints are physical manifestations of inexact repetition - the unedition of the exhibition title. Caelli Jo Booker

Watt Space is funded by the UoN Services Limited and supported by the School of Drama, Fine Art and Music at the University of Newcastle.  All associated images and information copyright © the artists, Watt Space & the University of Newcastle, Australia. Building images © Roger Hanley