07 Nov, 2013

New exhibition for Adelaide's Art Pod

A new exhibition at City of Adelaide’s Art Pod features digital artworks with a focus on family and genetic resemblance.

Mother Mask 1 and 2, by artist Jenna Pippett, is screening on the new LED Monitor in the Art Pod, along with larger printed work and two smaller framed works.

Jenna recently graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Art with Honours from Adelaide Central School of Art, and has been involved in several exhibitions since graduating in 2012.

She also won The City of Adelaide Award in the Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition in 2013. Her award included $3,000 and the opportunity to exhibit in Art Pod.

Jenna said the new work responds to items from her personal past.

“I’ve titled the show at Art Pod, My Mother’s Mother’s, Daughter’s Daughter. As the title suggests, the work kind of loops through three generations of women in my family: my grandmother, mother and myself. The work draws upon the notion of things that get passed down through generations, be it genetic qualities or anecdotes.

“I’m looking forward to presenting this body of work at Art Pod; the facilities and location are a massive draw card for the new exhibition space. It’s great exposure for other emerging artists like myself and enable them to engage with a wider audience.”

Art Pod, at 25 Pirie Street in the city, is part of a new public art grant program to encourage and financially support emerging artists and curators.

The Pod’s physical space, with floor to ceiling glass walls, lends itself to the public by creating a place to showcase exhibitions 24 hours a day, in the busy breezeway between the Town Hall and the customer centre.

City of Adelaide General Manager of City Culture and Community Services Sandy Verschoor said the space is part of Council’s vision to bring people into the city and enliven public spaces through art and events.

“The program is providing new, creative opportunities for artists to conceptualise and create artwork for public spaces accessible to everyone in the city”.

“It also provides a wonderful opportunity for emerging curators and recent graduates to get some real life experience in arts administration,” Sandy said.

New Emerging Curator, Carollyn Kavanagh, is currently curating Art Pod. Carollyn comes from a graphic design background with qualifications in curatorial and museum studies.

“The City of Adelaide and upcoming Arts SA Emerging Curator roles are my first major opportunities to produce and curate exhibitions,” Carollyn said.

“My planned curatorial program includes large group exhibitions for SALA, an Adelaide Fringe survey exhibition of local female emerging and established artists specialising in portraiture called Not Just a Pretty Face, and a collaboration with History SA which will use Adelaide Town Hall’s civic collection as the subject for the creation of new contemporary art.”

Jenna’s exhibition will be the fourth exhibition held in Art Pod. Thom Buchanan opened the space in August with his work Built Cartography which he created live on opening night, drawing inspiration from the music being played and the people around him.

The exhibition will run from 6 November until 3 December and can be viewed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To find out more about Art Pod programs go to http://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/artpod.