DiVerse

Between Real & Shadowed Worlds

2011-08-09T20:23:00.005+10:00

The original artworks of Lawrence Daws have inspired five poets from DiVerse to respond to his creative painting.

The Promised Land of Lawrence Daws is a fertile landscape for DiVerse, rich with innuendo and iconic scenery. Conversant with the work of Carl Jung from the mid 60s, with Taoism, the I Ching and Tarot, Daws' interest in the collective unconscious led him to explore the "space between real and shadow worlds" in his art.

DiVerse performed their specially written poetry on Sunday the 7th of August, 2011.

45

2010-11-01T08:48:00.002+11:00

2010 celebrates 45 years of the Portia Geach Memorial Award, a national visual arts award that salutes the talents and creativity of Australian female artists for achievement in portrait painting. The award was established by Florence Kate Geach in 1961 in memory of her sister, Portia Geach (1873-1959), an artist and an activist for women’s rights. Each year the prize is awarded to the“best portrait painted from life of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters or the Sciences.”

This is the second time DiVerse has responded to the artworks in the Portia Geach Memorial award.

Photo by Peter Hislop of DiVerse at the 2010 Portia Geach Awaard at the S.H. Ervin Gallery.

Salon des Refusés

2010-05-24T10:12:00.004+10:00

The S. H. Ervin Gallery exhibition Salon des Refusés follows the tradition made famous by Napoleon III in Paris in 1863. The Emperor insisted that the huge number of works which had been rejected by the Academy for that year’s Salon be displayed for the public to view and judge. Selection for the S.H. Ervin Gallery, Salon des Refusés is considered to be prestigious in its own right. The very first Salon des Refusés included works by Manet and Pissarro.

The DiVerse poets have been invited to write ekphrastic responses to this eclectic selection of works. Ekphrasis is the transcription of visual art into poetry, a tradition dating perhaps from Homer’s description of images on Achilles’ shield. Ekphrasis may take many forms and goes beyond merely describing, annotating or substituting words for images.

DiVerse at the 2010 Salon des Refusés
Sunday the 23rd of May, for the 2010 SWF.

Material Images

2010-02-16T09:00:00.007+11:00

DiVerse at the S.H. Evrin Gallery 14.2.2010

Material Images introduces poetry based on the art of Nicholas Harding in the S. H. Ervin Gallery’s exhibition Drawn to Paint. Every work of creative art is a considered representation of experience rendered into form through the artist’s chosen medium. These works, the paintings and poems, have a shared sense of presence in the impact of their subjects, compositions and their striking materiality. For the poetry, there is a sense of the immediacy of the poets’ creative responses to their viewing of Harding’s works, responses transcribed into form through language and voice.

Light Lines

2009-12-16T08:58:00.006+11:00

DiVerse at the S.H. Erving gallery for the Nora Heysen exhibition, Light & Life - 13th of December 2009

The paintings and drawings of Nora Heysen have inspired artists and students for many years, especially her exceptional finely crafted drawings. DiVerse have taken a selection of Nora Heysen’s artworks and transcribed them into poetry.

Nora Heysen is regarded as one of Australia’s premier portrait and still-life artists. Born in 1911, Nora Heysen, one of eight children, grew up surrounded by family and art. Heysen learnt to paint in the studio of her father, landscape artist, Hans Heysen. Her early works influenced by her father and by the Dutch masters, were concerned with form and substance and the effect of light on objects and colour.

DiVerse at the Newcastle Art Gallery

2009-09-27T16:23:00.007+10:00

DiVerse repeated their performance of their Margaret Olley poems for her exhibition, "Life's Journey" at the Newcastle Art Gallery on Sunday the 20th of September 2009.

In addition to the regular line up for DiVerse we had a special geust reader Jacqui Simmonds. Jacqui can be seen standing between Paulay McKay and Louise Wakeling, also there Sheryl Persson and Robert Kennedy.

Performing before a small audience the poems were warmy received.

Lines Drawn from a Journey

2009-05-30T10:33:00.012+10:00

DiVerse at the S.H.Ervin Galley - 24th May 2009. A 2009 SWF event.

Lines Drawn from a Journey will introduce audiences to an aspect of Margaret Olley’s work that perhaps only a poet can explain. In all works of art, there are inner and outer representations of forms, ideas and experiences. DiVerse hope to bring out those inner connections while extending the surface ideas into new stories, new voices.

MARGARET OLLEY: Life's journey provides a unique insight into the world of National Trust Living Treasure, Margaret Olley, one of this country’s most celebrated artists. The exhibition traces the many places Olley has lived and worked from the late 1940s to the 1970s, years which helped define an important era in Australia's cultural life.

Poetry Through Landscape

2008-06-16T16:55:00.012+10:00

DiVerse have fallen in love with the artworks of John R Walker in ‘Journey through Landscape’. For the past two hundred years, a tradition of landscape painting and poetry has existed in Australia but Walker’s powerful and original visions of the landscape have inspired DiVerse to respond with a new voice.

Margaret Bradstock reads a poem to John R Walker in long brown coat, leaning against the wall. Other DiVerse poets and audience listen on.

Through their unique poetic interpretations of Walker’s fresh and enticing works of art, DiVerse have undertaken a journey of their own and added another contemporary level of interpretation of the hypnotic Australian landscape.

John R Walker has immersed himself in the Australian landscape since childhood and is now considered one of the leading practitioners of the genre. Although Walker is a five time Archibald Prize finalist for portraiture, landscape remains his first love.

DiVerse - 15th June 2008 at the S.H. Ervin Gallery

Bringing it Back

2008-03-09T15:45:00.018+11:00

DiVerse with the artist Alan Jones in front of his work, On the Rock'n Roll

Sunday 24th of Feburary - 2008. DiVerse poets responded to the Led Zeppelin exhibition through experiencing the music of Led Zeppelin and connecting directly to the works of the artists represented.

The Led Zeppelin World Tour is an exhibition of documentary photographs and contemporary artworks. Rarely seen images by freelance photographer Ted Harvey documenting Led Zeppelin’s 1972 Sydney concert.

DiVerse on Nolan

2007-12-16T09:37:00.003+11:00

DiVerse at the Art Gallery of NSW, the 5th and 12th December, 2007.

This exhibition, the first major retrospective since Nolan's death in 1992, presents a selection of his most important masterpieces of landscape, Ned Kelly, and other themes of Australian and European history. Consisting of approximately 135 paintings, this new retrospective underlines the evolution of Nolan's vision from its genesis in St Kilda during the late 1930s to the United Kingdom a half a century later when the artist finally released his passion for large-scale spray-painted abstractions.

Poetic Gestures

2007-11-23T08:30:00.000+11:00

DiVerse at Penrith Regional, in front of Peter Upward's New Reality (1961)
18th of November 2007.

The art of Peter Upward has had a strong influence on the poets from DiVerse. It was Peter’s iconic image, New Reality (1961) that first caught the attention of the poets when on display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2004.

Frozen Gestures will be the first retrospective of this important yet sadly forgotten artist. Often described as the purest of Australia's abstractionists, this exhibition celebrates Upward as a great artist. The exhibition will feature more than fifty works including paintings, screen prints and posters from the late 1950s through to the early 1980s.

2007 Portia Geach Memorial Award

2007-11-23T08:21:00.000+11:00

DiVerse with Eugenie Lee (in white) November 5th at the S.H. Ervin Gallery

DiVerse poets interact with and respond to visual works of art by creating dialogues and conversations through their poetry. Each poet responds individually when they encounter the visual images of other artists. In ‘Face to Face’ women poets from DiVerse engage with portraits created by the artists represented in the Portia Geach Memorial Award Exhibition. This award acknowledges and celebrates the creativity and skill of Australian female portrait artists and these poems have been written especially for the 2007 Exhibition.

Janet Dawson Survey

2007-06-18T09:39:00.000+10:00

DiVerse with Graham Blondel on far right.

JANET DAWSON SURVEY examines the career of one of Australia’s most accomplished yet enigmatic artists from the 1950s through to the present day. Curated by respected historian Dr Christine France, the works in the exhibition come from public galleries and private collections across the country, including 22 works from the National Gallery of Australia.

DiVerse performed their poetic interpretations of Janet Dawson's artworks on the last day of the event, 17th June 2007.

Impressions

2006-09-18T09:34:00.002+10:00

Poets from DiVerse and the tall artist Rew Hanks (center)
at the SH Ervin Gallery, Sunday 17th of September 2006.

With the proliferation of artists producing prints in Australia, the SH Ervin Gallery has a timely look at the important contribution of the Sydney Printmakers group, as they celebrate 45 years as a society.

It is also timely and appropriate that DiVerse a group of Sydney poets respond to this vibrant and creative Sydney Prints exhibition with their unique voice and experience of turning visual art into poetry.

Poetry and Conflict

2006-08-14T08:46:00.000+10:00

Sheryl Perrson, Paula McKay, Marcelle Freiman, Rob Kennedy, Margaret Bradstock, Louise Wakeling.

At the SH Ervin Gallery on Sunday the 13th of August, poets from DiVerse performed their specially written works for an appreciative audience in the Australian War Memorial travelling exhibition, Witness to war.

The paintings and photography of Witness to War captures conflicts and peace keeping actions that are portrayed in moments of meditation and action. This reflects the influence of conflict not only on members of the armed forces but also on the artists themselves and the many civilians who have been caught up in turmoil and devastation.

The works in Poetry and Conflict aim to extend those images through the experiences and understanding of poets.

Constable, Turning Visual Art into Poetry

2006-05-22T09:17:00.000+10:00

Photo by Peter Hislop
Saturday 20th of May 2006. Anne Edgeworth, Carolyne Bruyn, Paula McKay, Sheryl Persson & Robert Kennedy of DiVerse, performed their specially written poetry during a unique one off event within the John Constable exhibition. Impressions of land, sea and sky. At the National Gallery of Australia.

These poets from DiVerse in a sold out performance gave the paintings of Constable a new voice and added another level as to how a visual art can be interpreted. An audience member commented that "they are writing and saying what I feel about the paintings" Another audience member was so thrilled with the performance he wanted to know when they were coming back.

This particular process of turning visual art into poetry (Ekphrasis) has gained a hold in galleries where DiVerse have performed, especially at the the Art Gallery of NSW with 13 performances there. They have had over 30 performances at galleries and museums in Australia.

Kindred Spirits

2006-03-19T18:29:00.000+11:00

The Kindred Spirits of Margaret Olley and Donald Friend have created many images of a contrasting but highly colourful nature that has seen their works become especially distinctive in the art world.

Their long rich lives have inspired the poets of DiVerse to create poetry from their art that offers another voice into their works. This response or transcription as some see it, to the paintings of Olley & Friend lets you into the extended possibilities of a visual artwork through the eyes, ears and heart of a poet.

All poems in Kindred Spirits were performed by the poets of DiVerse in a special event, marking the final public performance of the Margaret Olley & Donald Friend exhibition at the SH Ervin gallery in Sydney, March 19, 2006.

Grace Cossington Smith

2006-01-05T09:58:00.000+11:00

Over two weeks 4/1/2006 - 11/1/2006 at the Art Gallery of NSW, DiVerse performed their specially written poetry based on the artworks of Grace Cossington Smith, before a very enthusiastic audience.

Grace Cossington Smith is widely considered to be one of Australia's most significant artists. She played a vital role in the development of modernism in Australia. This retrospective exhibition traces Grace Cossington Smith's artistic development through paintings and drawings, as well as through her many sketchbooks, to reveal an artist of considerable depth, insight and spirituality.

2005-06-04T15:01:00.000+10:00

DiVerse at the PHM 29.5.2005

Animal Vegetable Mineral: A Poetic Selection

2005-06-04T14:44:00.000+10:00

DiVerse draw their inspiration for poetry through
the visual (Ekphrasis) and have written poetry for the Powerhouse Museum’s latest exhibition Animal, Vegetable and Mineral: The weird and wonderful world of the Powerhouse Museum 1880-1939 provides a visual feast for their talents. Everything from horse teeth to large scale models of silk worm cocoons is on display in a charming reminder to the Museum’s own past and the interests of the working person in the 19th century. Museum’s first curators organised the collections to convey the three kingdoms of nature in their relation to everyday life.

This event was part of the Sydney Writers Festival. Performed on 29.5.2005

2004-10-19T18:00:00.000+10:00

The Nine DiVerse Booklets

Past, Present & Future Projects

2004-09-04T18:00:00.000+10:00

This site records all the exhibitions and events that the Australian arts group DiVerse have initated and performed in.

Poetry from an Isolated Life

2004-09-04T15:06:00.000+10:00

2004 October 17th
Poetry from an Isolated Life
Vaucluse House
· This performance combined with a narration on the life of Henry Browne Hayes, (the original owner of Vaucluse House) by a local historian, and a musical performance of A Capella Italian songs, has been inspired by the Humanist/Poet and Writer, Francesco Petrarca.
· The Historic Houses Trust, in combination with DiVerse, Rolf Grunseit and Blindman's Holiday celebrated the 700th birthday of Francesco Petrarca, in the week of Italian Literature throughout the world.
· With a performance of specially written poetry inspired by Petrarca, and a reading of the poetry of Petrarca.
http://www.hht.nsw.gov.au/museums/vaucluse_house/exhibitionswhats_on

2004-09-04T15:05:00.004+10:00

Rolf and the audience at VH

2004-09-04T15:05:00.003+10:00

Rob at VH

2004-09-04T15:05:00.002+10:00

Jo at VH

2004-09-04T15:05:00.001+10:00

Elizabeth at VH

2004-09-04T15:05:00.000+10:00

Carolyne at VH

Poetry: Brought to Light

2004-09-04T15:04:00.000+10:00

2004 September
Poetry: Brought to Light
The Powerhouse Museum
· As a part of the Powerhouse Museum’s 125th birthday celebrations, DiVerse performed over two weeks their unique brand of poetry. Based on objects from the Powerhouse’s collection never seen before.
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/125/program.asp

2004-09-04T15:03:00.000+10:00

Elizabeth, me, Marcelle, Jo & Carolyne at the PHM 26.9.2004

Thought's Dictation

2004-09-04T14:59:00.000+10:00

2004 August
Thought’s Dictation
S H Ervin Gallery
· Part of the National Trust, the SH Ervin Gallery’s recent exhibition, Australian Surrealism, The Agapitos/Wilson collection.

· DiVerse performed on the final day Sunday 8th as a special presentation for the exhibition.

· James Agapitos and Ray Wilson who assisted with the production of the booklet Thought’s Dictation, were thrilled with the idea and the performance of our poetry in front of the artworks. As was Leah Haynes, the Media & Programs Coordinator, who helped with organisation. Following performances organised.
http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au/surrealpp.html
http://groups.msn.com/ThoughtsDictation

2004-09-04T14:58:00.000+10:00

James Agapitos, Jill Jones, Marcelle Freiman, me, Ray Wilson, Carolyne Bruyn. At the S H Ervin Gallery

Parallel Poetry III

2004-09-04T14:57:00.000+10:00

2004 June
Parallel Poetry III
Art Gallery of NSW
· Two poetry performances of specially written poetry, inspired by their exhibition, The Australian Collection.

· Performances were part of the Wednesday night, Art After Hour’s events. Around 100 people attended.
http://www.artnews.com.au/details.php?e=442

Audience at first Cosmos event

2004-09-04T14:56:00.004+10:00

Audience at first Cosmos event

2004-09-04T14:56:00.003+10:00

JIll Jones, Daryl Shires from NGA, Anne Edgeworth, me and Carolyne Bruyn, Elizabeth De Le Mont also performed

A Poetic Journey into the Cosmos

2004-09-04T14:56:00.001+10:00

2004 May
A Poetic Journey into the Cosmos
Sydney Writers Festival
http://www.swf.org.au/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&amp;amp;agid=99&year=&month=&day=&Itemid=81

Poets to the King

2004-09-04T14:56:00.000+10:00

2004 March
Poets to the King
National Gallery of Australia
· A program of specially written poetry for the NGA’s exhibition, The Edwardians. Organised and coordinated with Daryl Shires, head of public programs.

· Performed on March 21st, for World Poetry Day in front of the chosen artworks, two performances were given on the one day. Possibly performing there for World Poetry Day 2005.
http://www.artsconnect.com.au/news/mar_diverse.htm

Astronomical

2004-09-04T14:55:00.000+10:00

2004 March
Astronomical
PoeticA Radio National
· A feature on the poetry of the cosmos including classical works as well as poems by contemporary Australian writers. Based on an idea by Robert Kennedy, the program grew out of a project called “A Poetic Journey Into the Cosmos”, by DiVerse. A series of readings held last year at Sydney Observatory.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/poetica/stories/s1041670.htm

2004-09-04T02:54:00.001+10:00

DiVerse in the Dock

Poets on Drugs

2004-09-04T02:54:00.000+10:00

2003 November
Poets on Drugs
Justice & Police Museum
· A special presentation of uniquely written poetry, based on the currently running exhibition, Drugs: A social History.

· The booklet Poets on Drugs is still on sale in the J&PM bookshop, which was designed and produced by DiVerse, and also the soundtrack.

· The J&PM part of the Historic Houses Trust were so delighted with what we did, and bringing in a new audience to a perceived old-fashioned group, we have been asked to write and perform at more of their exhibitions.

Vapour

2004-09-04T02:53:00.000+10:00

2003 September
Vapour
Blender Art Gallery
· A unique one off event, containing new member of DiVerse, Marcelle Freiman and Elizabeth De Le Mont.
· A poetic response to the photography of Anke Stacker and Cornelia Francesca Wiesemueller.

Parallel Poetry II

2004-09-04T02:52:00.000+10:00

2003 July/August
Parallel Poetry II
Art Gallery of NSW
· A response to the Charles Conder Retrospective. Over six weeks, performing poetry reads as a direct response to the visual artwork of Charles Conder. During the Wednesday night Art After Hour’s sessions.
· Performed to an estimated audience of over 400 people. A booklet is currently underway.
• http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/media/archives_2003/aah_9jul_13aug_03

A Poetic Journey into the Cosmos

2004-09-04T02:51:00.000+10:00

2003 June
A Poetic Journey into the Cosmos
Sydney Observatory
· An original idea. Transcribing images from the Hubble space telescope and other space photography into poetry.
· A highly Successful event for DiVerse and Sydney Observatory (SO). Which combined specially written poetry with space imagery. Also produced a specially written sound track for this event.
· The Cosmos event was so successful we have performed it five times at SO. To an audience of over 350 people. It was such a hit that PoeticA have used the idea and created a radio program on it.
· The booklet A Poetic Journey into the Cosmos, is still on sale in the SO bookshop. We are contemplating a second print run.

2004-09-04T02:50:00.000+10:00

Blurb from the SMH

Parallel Poetry I

2004-09-04T02:49:00.000+10:00

2003 March
Parallel Poetry I
Art Gallery of NSW
· Parallel Poetry out of the gallery’s exhibition Parallel Visions, became a poetic extension of this event.
· Initiated with Barry Pearce, Head curator of Australian Art. Parallel Poetry I (PPI) ran over three weeks. A first for the AG of NSW and for any Australian gallery; to have their artworks transcribed into poetry. Over 200 people attended it. 500 copies of the booklet PPI were produced. From this event we have performed 11 times at the Art Gallery of NSW.

2004-09-04T02:48:00.000+10:00

Blurb from the SMH

Ekphrasis

2004-09-04T02:47:00.000+10:00

2002 July
Ekphrasis on PoeticA
Radio National
· Ekphrasis is to transcribe the visual into literature. This program created from a worldwide search of artists that have written poetry based on visual art. DiVerse compiled the material for this program over a six-month period, in liaison with Mike Ladd.
• http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/poetica/stories/s584592.htm

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2004-09-03T02:46:00.000+10:00

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