Show Notes
In episode 20, we sit down with renowned Australian artist and activist Elizabeth Day. Known for her inventive use of materials such as unraveled textiles, grass casts, and even chewing gum, Elizabeth shares her meandering career path from traditional painting, to working with inmates, to large-scale installations that address themes of migration, trauma, and social change. Tune in to hear about: • Her unique approach to textile-based installations • Public art projects addressing Indigenous histories and social issues • Transforming everyday materials into impactful works • Processing personal and collective trauma through art • Upcoming projects, including a retrospective exhibition This conversation offers a deep dive into Day’s artistic philosophy, her commitment to activism through art, and her advice to emerging artists. Perfect for anyone seeking insights into socially engaged art practices and innovative material use. Elizabeth Day is based in Sydney, Australia. You can find out more about her work on her website https://elizabethday.art/ and on her Instagram @elizabethday28 https://www.instagram.com/elizabethday28/ 02:42 Migration and Family Background 05:05 Art Education and Early Influences 06:14 Exploring Installation Art 09:54 Life in London and Artistic Awakening 11:39 Return to Australia and First Installations 16:26 Prisons and Social Issues 21:51 Unravelling and Textile Art 23:22 Chewing Gum Paintings and Activism 26:28 Site-Specific Art and Public Spaces 27:27 Material Choices and Sustainability 28:13 Textile Art in the Contemporary Scene 31:49 Grass Casts: A Unique Medium 33:48 Liverpool, Liverpool: A Tale of Two Cities 37:51 Studio Spaces: The Struggle for Artists 44:51 Processing Trauma Through Art 49:21 Current Projects and Future Aspirations
Elizabeth is exhibited by Mais Wright gallery: https://www.maiswright.com/artists/elizabeth-day/ You san see her work in person in “Dreams Nursed in Darkness” at Woollongong Art Gallery until 24 November 2024: https://wollongongartgallery.au/wag-exhibitions/dreams-nursed-in-darkness
Also mentioned in this episode: Cementa Festival: https://cementa.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/cementafestival/ Anton Holzner: https://www.artnet.com/artists/anton-holzner/ Greenham Common: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenham_Common_Women's_Peace_Camp Sydney College of the Arts: https://www.sydney.edu.au/arts/schools/sydney-college-of-the-arts.html | https://www.instagram.com/artss_sydney/ Rose Ann McGreevy: http://roseannmcgreevy.blogspot.com/ Barbara Halnan: https://www.articulateprojectspace.org/project/22-03-W Robert Smithson: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/smithson-robert/ Long Bay Correctional Centre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Bay_Correctional_Centre Dreams Nursed in Darkness exhibition: https://wollongongartgallery.au/wag-exhibitions/dreams-nursed-in-darkness Claire Taylor: https://imaginaries.wordpress.com/ Karla Dickens: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/artists/dickens-karla/ | https://www.instagram.com/karla_dickens/ Leanne Tobin: https://www.facebook.com/p/Tobin-Art-100063743792327/ Megan Cope: https://www.megancope.com.au/ | https://www.instagram.com/nutmegandhoney/ Fred Williams: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/artists/williams-fred/ Conny Dietzschold Gallery: https://www.connydietzscholdgallery.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/connydietzscholdgallery/ Mais Wright gallery: https://www.maiswright.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/maiswright.gallery Paul Howard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Howard_(artist_curator) Waverley Artist Studios: https://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/recreation/arts_and_culture/creative_opportunities/waverley_artist_studios Clothing Factory at Carriageworks: https://carriageworks.com.au/events/the-clothing-store-artist-studios/ | https://www.instagram.com/carriageworks/ The National: https://www.the-national.com.au/ Fauvette Loureiro Memorial Scolarship: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinio
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Samuelle Green grew up in rural Pennsylvania in a family of makers and studied art at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and Parsons in New York. After nearly 20 years in NYC working across galleries, museums, fabrication and film sets, she made a pivotal decision: leave the city to have the space to finally build the work she had always wanted to make. That work is large scale immersive installations built from rolled cones of reclaimed books and found paper. Exhibited across the US as well as in China, Italy, France and Estonia. Green’s work has also appeared on HBO and AMC+ and won the Arte Laguna Prize in Venice. What we cover: • The decision to leave New York City after nearly 20 years to reclaim her studio practice • What it takes to create immersive installations out of paper and what happens when huge panels of work go missing two weeks before a show • The accidental acoustic discovery: paper installations as anechoic chambers, concert venues and restaurant sound dampeners • Creating art for TV and film sets and what artists should know before saying yes • Reflective outdoor sculptures activated only by car headlights and flash photography and pivoting your medium after finding success
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I made a 3-minute listener survey to help shape the podcast's future. Your feedback genuinely matters. Fill out here: https://forms.gle/qqHJrMXpsC9UYu2m7 Leave a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/installationartpodcast