Arthur Wicks Australian artist big river show emails

From: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Wednesday, 14 November 2001 5:25 PM

To: arthur wicks

Subject: reply

Arthur,

Always good to hear from you - The BRS is going ahead at WWRAG in October 2002 - Due to Louise's departure and the uncertainty re- directorship at the gallery, the proposed tour has been scrapped. I Would like 'Survival Boat' for the show along wiith the new piece we discussed earlier. Of course, we will have to negotiate the crating of the work within the exhibition budget which is yet to be finalised.

More news as is happens---

Gavin

From: Last, Sarah

Sent: Wednesday, 20 February 2002 12:28 PM

To: awicks@tpg.com.au

Subject: Big River Show

Hi Arthur

as per our discussion on the phone this morning the dates for The Big River
Show exhibition are Friday 11 October - Sunday 1 December. The Art Gallery
will require delivery of the work 2 weeks prior to the opening date of 11 October.
Since our discussion I have spoken to the curator Gavin Wilson and we both
agree that your interactive salt encrusted boat would be a wonderful
inclusion in the exhibition. I understand that you are very busy and you put
this project on hold until you had further confirmation. In light of this
situation could you please give me an outline of how you think you can
develop the work in time for the exhibition.

thanks Sarah

Sarah Last

Exhibitions Curator
Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery
PO box 20
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Phone: (02) 6926 9660
Fax: (02) 6926 9669
Email: lasts@wagga.nsw.gov.au

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From: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Sunday, 10 March 2002 2:52 PM

To: arthur wicks

Subject: big river show

Dear Arthur,

Thanks for the update on the salt encrusted one -- I'll contact you end of the month about the drawings. Kirsty Davies has assured me BRS is her top priority for ther year ( what else would they have on!!) Her present mission is to nail down catalogue funding.

Keep in touch -We've got 8 weeks before we go down (Dingo Blue) - we can't win were with one tel before this!

best wishes,

Gavin.

From: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Wednesday, 24 April 2002 7:24 PM

To: trevor brentnall; tim olsen; suzanne brett; smh; simon porm; simeon kronenberg; Sheona White; sarah last; rosemary senn; phil aboriginal fine arts; Peter Crayford; patrick leong; patrick leong; pam brooks; niki mortimer; nick rigby; myriad@bigpond.net.au; michael phoon; michael carr; maudie; matthew carroll; made wijaya; mackay c.c.; m.morgan@mackay.qld.gov.au; louise scott; louise doyle; lisa forrest; leo schofield; lauraine diggins; Last, Sarah; kirsty davies; kinkos; Kerb e-mail; JunoGemes-Paper Bark Press; Juliet Ramsay; judy cotton; Josephine Brett; john darling; jilly pascoe; jenny mulherin; Jennifer Thompson; jane westbrook; Jane Raffan; jan allen; james weirick; hill end school; hanut dodd; gavin newton; frances thompson; fran moore; Fenella Briscomb; emmas@ag.nsw.gov.au; elizabeth mossop; don hayes accountant; diana simmonds; david perry; David Marr; dan todd; dan todd; craig burton; clem browne; claudine marzik; christine mcmillan; chris wilson; Catherine Williams; Cath Bowdler 24hrart; Carol McCance; bundanon trust; bob adamson; barry pearce; barbara konkolowicz; barbara hickson; artspace the gunnery; arthur wicks; arkie whiteley; Anthea Boesenberg; anne schofield; Anita Angel; amy willing; amanda lawson; alison bennett; Ali Gripper; alexandra bergstrom; alex torrens

Subject: Fw: new address

----- Original Message -----

From: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 6:44 PM

Subject: new address

Dear All,

Please note new email address Wilsontodd@bigpond.com

Old address wilsontodd@dingoblue.net.au will be functioning for a few more days

Maggy & Gavin

From: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Saturday, 4 May 2002 6:19 PM

To: A Wicks

Subject: reply

Morning Arthur,

My apologies for not getting back to you earlier - Have been tied up over the last week or so hosting a bewildered Curatorium in Mackay Qld. with an inaugural exhibition I've been committed to deliver to Artspace Mackay in Feb. 2003 .

"Beneath the Monsoon: Visions North of Capricorn" Fed. + state + local funds are building the new AAA regional gallery space in the state, due to open in Dec 2002.

I'de like to talk to you later about a future project they've asked me to develop post Feb.2003. -- anyway, back to the Big River Show :I will be overseeing the final design (along with Sarah) of the catalogue - could you email me a compressed scan of your drawing - I believe Sarah will be seeing you on Monday for lunch - It would be great to discuss your proposed scheme in the context of the exhibition once I get the image.

I intend to see Wild Men and look forward to the upcoming show at Nagy

Cheers,

Gavin

----- Original Message -----

From: A Wicks

To: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 8:55 AM

Subject: Re: new address

Hi Gavin,

    Got your new email address which I'm testing right now!
    I guess in a year or 2 we'll all be hopping around in the big pond
    together.

    More important issues. I've already been to Sydney & returned.
    Managed to do most of the have-to's . Forgot about Anzac day being
    a holiday which meant that I had to write it off so decided to fast track back
    to WW where the 100 hour day waits me.
    So I didn't see you & deliver the drawing. I have however spoken to Sarah, who
    gave me the impression that she will be doing the final stages of organising the
    printing of the catalogue.

    Should I just hand her my drawing or a high scan file of it (approx 37meg on a CD)?
    If so do you want to see the image before it hits the printer? In which case I would
    email you a compressed scan & we could discuss the impact or otherwise of the image at that point.
    I await instruction! Hope you have a chance to see the "3 Wild Men" show.
    My works in that show are old ones (12 years old). I'll be showing new work
    at Michael Nagy Fine Art mid June. I'll keep you in touch.

keep smiling

cheers,

Arthur

From: A Wicks [awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Monday, 22 July 2002 12:43 PM

To: Kirsty Davies

Cc: Last, Sarah

Subject: Survival boat & 2 boulders

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Kirsty,

Here are the images of the survival boat that you requested.
Please let me know fairly quickly which one(s) you will be needing for
the catalogue and I will supply it (them) on CD as they are fairly large files.

Also attached are 2 images from progressive work on the boulder installation.
I agree that at this point it would be better to keep the boulder work out of the
Big River show, but that we should look at setting up a monitor or 2 - perhaps even
in the corridor outside the art gallery where the boulders can be seen as a separate item sometime after
the river show and perhaps as a footnote to it. In the meantime I will be sending material
on the boulder installation for the
web site to Adam & expect it to be on view shortly.

I will be talking to Sarah later this week about the 2nd piece for the river show and an
image of that for the catalogue.

cheers,

Arthur

"On War & Peace: a Virtual Encounter" (1995),

www.csu.edu.au/faculty/vpa/archives/exhibits/war_and_peace

From: Last, Sarah

Sent: Monday, 22 July 2002 12:58 PM

To: 'A Wicks'

Subject: RE: Survival boat & 2 boulders

thanks Arthur
could you tell me the dpi and the image size of the Survival Boat images you
have... I had assumed they would not be suitable for the reproduction scale
we intend for the BRS cat. but I could be wrong...

cheers S

-----Original Message-----

From: A Wicks [mailto:awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Monday, 22 July 2002 12:43

To: Kirsty Davies

Cc: Last, Sarah

Subject: Survival boat & 2 boulders

Hi Kirsty,

Also attached are 2 images from progressive work on the boulder
installation.
I agree that at this point it would be better to keep the boulder work out
of the Big River show, but that we should look at setting up a monitor or 2 -
perhaps even in the corridor outside the art gallery where the boulders can be seen as a
separate item sometime after the river show and perhaps as a footnote to it. In the meantime I will be
sending material on the boulder installation for the web site to Adam & expect it to be on view shortly.

I will be talking to Sarah later this week about the 2nd piece for the rivershow and an image of that for the catalogue.

cheers,

Arthur

#############################################################################################

From: A Wicks [awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Monday, 22 July 2002 3:11 PM

To: Last, Sarah

Subject: Re: Survival boat & 2 boulders

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

----- Original Message -----

From: Last, Sarah

To: 'A Wicks'

Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 12:58 PM

Subject: RE: Survival boat & 2 boulders

thanks Arthur

could you tell me the dpi and the image size of the Survival Boat images you have... I had assumed they would not be suitable for the reproduction scale we intend for the BRS cat. but I could be wrong...

cheers S

Sarah,

Roughly the pixel rating is 1960 x 1300 ie 15cm x 10cm at 330 dpi or its equivalent.
I could actually double this with a high res scan of the chosen image(s).

cheers,

Arthur

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Last, Sarah

Sent: Friday, 2 August 2002 12:33 PM

To: 'Arthur Wicks'

Subject: FW: Survival boat & 2 boulders

-----Original Message-----

From: Davies, Kirsty

Sent: Tuesday, 23 July 2002 9:09

To: 'Gavin Wilson & Associates'; Last, Sarah

Subject: RE: Survival boat & 2 boulders

Thanks Gavin, Sarah has also had a discussion with Arthur re these images
will leave to her to check dpi with Arthur on these to ensure that print
quality will be good enough.. and to check with you on the sizes you
envisage they will be reproduced at.. Kirsty

-----Original Message-----

From: Gavin Wilson & Associates [mailto:wilsontodd@bigpond.com]

Sent: Monday, 22 July 2002 18:29

To: Davies, Kirsty

Subject: Re: Survival boat & 2 boulders

Dear Kirsty,

Good to see you the other day - how did it go at AGNSW?
The images I'll need for the catalogue selection from Arthur's J.pegs are:

1 Swanston St 85

2 Boat in Irving from front

3 Boat at WWRAG 1984

4 Boat drawing

Cheers,

Gavin

Also attached are 2 images from progressive work on the boulder installation.
I agree that at this point it would be better to keep the boulder work out of the
Big River show, but that we should look at setting up a monitor or 2 - perhaps even
in the corridor outside the art gallery where the boulders can be seen as a separate item sometime after
the river show and perhaps as a footnote to it. In the meantime I will be
sending material on the boulder installation for the web site to Adam & expect it to be on view shortly.

I will be talking to Sarah later this week about the 2nd piece for the river show and an image of that for the catalogue.

cheers,

Arthur

#############################################################################################

From: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Tuesday, 20 August 2002 4:38 PM

To: arthur wicks

Subject: attachment

From: A Wicks [awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Tuesday, 27 August 2002 3:16 PM

To: Last, Sarah

Subject: BRS - bits & pieces

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Sarah,
Here is the text that Gavin Wilson emailed me. You will note Michael Murphy's
name listed there. Have just spoken to Gavin who apologises for that slip as Murphy's
work is definitely not included in the BRS. Gavin also reminded me to get the signed contract to you
as there were copyright issues that were outstanding.
Regarding copyright, I am with Viscopy (not that they've done anything for me),
but I am relaxed about the issue so long as I'm contacted ahead of the use of any of my images.

Regarding the boat here are the details:
Full title, "Survival Boat for the 21st Century"
constructed 1984 and first appeared publicly in performance as a sculpture show (Sculpture 85) in Melbourne
in Jan 1985 where the boat was rowed along 2 blocks in Swanston St in the CBD area.
In October 1985 the boat was part of the Perspecta 85 show during which it was rowed along a section
of rail line at St Leonard's siding. Otherwise it was on show at the Irving Sculpture Gallery in Glebe
for the duration of Perspecta. After Perspecta it became part of the AGNSW collection.

The image in Wilson text is my addition but I intend to use the text as part of an email out & here
I will be adding small images of the boat etc.

cheers,

Arthur

From: Last, Sarah

Sent: Tuesday, 27 August 2002 3:31 PM

To: 'A Wicks'

Subject: RE: BRS - bits & pieces

thanks Arthur
Gavin was confused I approached Viscopy about your AGNSW work ages ago and
have paid them .... Do you require me to go through them for the images you
gave me recently? will the copyright clause on the loan agreement suffice
for the work you are making?

thanks S

-----Original Message-----

From: A Wicks [mailto:awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Tuesday, 27 August 2002 15:16

To: Last, Sarah

Subject: BRS - bits & pieces

Hi Sarah,
Here is the text that Gavin Wilson emailed me. You will note Michael
Murphy's name listed there. Have just spoken to Gavin who apologises for that slip as Murphy's
work is definitely not included in the BRS. Gavin also reminded me to get
the signed contract to you as there were copyright issues that were outstanding.
Regarding copyright, I am with Viscopy (not that they've done anything for me),
but I am relaxed about the issue so long as I'm contacted ahead of the use
of any of my images.

Regarding the boat here are the details:
Full title, "Survival Boat for the 21st Century"
constructed 1984 and first appeared publicly in performance as a sculpture
show (Sculpture 85) in Melbourne
in Jan 1985 where the boat was rowed along 2 blocks in Swanston St in the CBD area.
In October 1985 the boat was part of the Perspecta 85 show during which it
was rowed along a section of rail line at St Leonard's siding. Otherwise it was on show at the Irving
Sculpture Gallery in Glebe for the duration of Perspecta. After Perspecta it became part of the AGNSW collection.

The image in Wilson text is my addition but I intend to use the text as part of an email out & here I will be adding small images of the boat etc.

cheers,

Arthur

THE BIG RIVER SHOW

MURRUMBIDGEE RIVERINE

JULY 2002

Gavin Wilson

Mr Macleay and I enjoyed a most beautiful view. Beneath us to the S.E. [is]

the rich and lightly timbered valley through which the Morumbidgee flows ...

- Charles Sturt, 1 December 1829.

Looking at landscape is seldom a straightforward matter. When explorers

Charles Sturt and George Macleay gazed across the Murrumbidgee River they

did so with a certain duality of vision. They were delighted to see a

landscape that conformed to their ideal of the picturesque, but their

contemplation also incorporated a favourable valuation of the place in terms

of its pastoral potential. The fact that the region was already a cultural

and economic resource for its indigenous inhabitants - and had been for

thousands of years - was a fact that did not form part of this reverie.

For the explorers and their followers, there was never any doubt about the

value of the colonial enterprise. The need to impose order fitted in with

their ideology of progress, and the opportunity to transform the wilderness

into a 'productive' landscape justified their presence. Time would tell a

different tale.

Nevertheless, the grandeur and interconnectedness of the myriad riverine

systems throughout the Murrumbidgee catchment is irresistible, and its

celebration by this exhibition is richly deserved. Roaming along its course,

The Big River Show detects the convergence of creative activity with those

aspects of the Murrumbidgee's history and topography that are its unifying

elements. While the presence of the river itself may not always be obvious,

the works assembled for display are a consideration of the shifting

landscape and cultural values perceived over time. The exhibition reflects

not only upon the region's beauty, but also upon aspects of loss,

displacement and isolation that mark the Aboriginal, migrant and settler

stories - narratives that remain at the core of the Australian experience.

A key focus of the show has been to remain mindful of and receptive to

historic and contemporary art practice reflected in the experience of life

in and around the Murrumbidgee catchment. A rich array of works including

paintings, sculpture, photography and graphics has been selected from the

following artists: Denis Allard, Gordon Bennett, John Caldwell, John Carney,

Jeff Carter, Margaret Coen, Beryl Feron, Shay Docking, Russell Drysdale,

Rosalie Gascoigne, Barry Gazzard, Elioth Gruner, Treahna Hamm, Ludwig

Hirshfeld Mack, Roy Kennedy, Elwyn Lynn, Michael Murphy, John Olsen, Michael

Ramsden, Michael Taylor, Imants Tillers, Anita Wickey, Arthur Wicks, John

Wolseley and Anne Zahalka.

In many ways, the works assembled for The Big River Show reflects the

evolving shift to the present perception of the Murrumbidgee as a threatened

entity. The key to the survival of the river and its surrounds may lie in

the unlocking of the imagination we need to be able to see - and to value

for ourselves - the intricate systems that make up the richly interwoven

fabric of this great riverine landscape.

Gavin Wilson is presently preparing the inaugural exhibition for Artspace,

Mackay

Beneath the Monsoon: Visions North of Capricorn in February 2003.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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From: A Wicks [awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Tuesday, 27 August 2002 4:50 PM

To: Last, Sarah

Subject: Re: BRS - bits & pieces

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

thanks Arthur

Gavin was confused I approached Viscopy about your AGNSW work ages ago and have paid them .... Do you require me to go through them for the images you gave me recently?

No, let's keep it simple. I have the original of the drawing. Do you want that drawing on the back of the room divider where the aluminium track cantilevers over the back?
will the copyright clause on the loan agreement suffice for the work you are making?

Yes, as long as

    a.. I'm notified of the use of the image(s) as this takes place,
    b.. the copyright is used for the purposes listed in contract & the waiver ends at the close of the show, and that
    c.. I am able to document the work for my own purposes at any time during the show.
I am regarding this 2nd work as a "work in progress" but to all appearances it will be a "finished" piece.

cheers,

Arthur

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: A Wicks [awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Wednesday, 4 September 2002 2:48 PM

To: Sarah Last

Subject: more BRS stuff

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Sarah,

Before using any of this I would like to discuss the contents with you first.
It is imperitive that the Oz Council gets its coverage in relation to the 2nd of the boat pieces.
Phone me and I get the coffee ready.
Attached is CV.
Title of 2nd piece (ie the small scaled motorised boat) is
"The Last Unscheduled Ferry Trip", 2002

Artists statement.
I can think of nothing more pertinent than my original statement describing the 2 water pieces in the main street.
It's a pity that the WWCC hasn't already used this sentiment in its general publicity promotions.

"STATEMENT PERTAINING TO THE TWO WATER FEATURES IN THE MAIN STREET UPGRADE PROGRAM

Water is the life-blood of Australia. Wagga owes its very existence to the Murrumbidgee River.
The opportunity to make two small water features as part of the Wagga Wagga's main street upgrade, is a reminder of these facts.
An image came to mind of water freely gushing from the earth as if from a never-ending spring; clear, fresh and forceful.
A reminder of the source of our great rivers.
In a second image, the water flows strongly below the surface, unseen from above.
An intrusive object breaks this life-flow, forcing the water to gush defensively around the rupture.

Both images present water as strong but fragile. Water is a national treasure that must be thoughtfully sustained.

Arthur Wicks

15 March 2000"

The boat works in the Big River Show relate directly to my feelings towards the Murrumbidgee River
and the metaphors that flow from this. The first boat constructed in 1984 was designed to be "rowed"
along train or tram tracks to become a "Survival Boat" for the 21st century. It was actually used in performance
during 1984 and 1985, after which it ended up in the collection of the AGNSW.
The second boat is a product of the New Media Fellowship 2001 - 2002 from the Australia Council. The goal of the
Fellowship is to develop my earlier machine performances with animated, articulated human forms. This boat is the
first of such works, is miniature in scale, and relies strongly on interactive electronic devices to make its journey possible.

Arthur Wicks

4 September 2002

cheers,
Arthur

From: A Wicks [awicks@tpg.com.au]

Sent: Tuesday, 8 October 2002 9:53 PM

To: robbh@wagga.nsw.gov.au

Subject: Deserving (& some undeserving) people to receive invites to the BRS

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Helen,

Here is the list of folks to receive the invite only for the BRS. I would be very
grateful if you could please organise that. Some of these people may already have received
an invite in which case please delete their name from my list.

thanks, cheers,

Arthur

From: A Wicks

Sent: Thursday, 20 February 2003 5:13 PM

To: Sarah Last

Subject: the salt laden boat

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Hi Sarah,

To put you in the picture of what I have in mind & which will take shape
as soon as I can get these wretched body parts out of my system (I don't
think that's quite the right metaphor).

The bottom of the propositions is a static object on railing similar to the
"Yellow Rocking Hill" attached; in this instance a coracle- like craft which has
been encrusted with salt..
Higher on the chain is the proposal to built a mechanical boat which would move
on railing across the ceiling. An extra to this would be the attachment of a computer
with software installed together with sensors which would make the installation
interactive. This latter would tend to visually dominate the show & may be inappropriate
at this time. It would additionally, require a dedicated enclosed space which would be
specially illuminated. The attached doc file will fill in the details.

This year I have 4 deadlines. I can see myself making the salt-encrusted boat but I
think that the interactive development will have to wait till next year.
A suggestion would be to offer the new boat as an adjunct to the one from
AGNSW but with the teaser that in 200? the full installation will be on view & that
WW audiences will be the first to see it. blah blah. But that could be an interesting bait.

Let me know your thoughts.

cheers,

Arthur

PS At the moment I can't network the other CPUs which have these files so I'll send this email
again when that problem is sorted. No, I've compressed them & tranferred them by floppy.
Looking at the proposal sketches again, I think I could probably get to the stage of construction minus
the diminutuve figure but that would in part miss the point. Perhaps I can swing my priorities to get the boat
ready by April for Nick Vickers in Sydney & then get the rest of the work finished by October.
But I will still have the June stuff to prepare & Dec in Canberra to construct. The latter will be a sudden
death event & if that's not ready, ............!

cheers, A

From: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Sunday, 27 April 2003 4:34 PM

To: arthur wicks

Subject: contact

Re: congratsArthur, As requested.

Gavin

----- Original Message -----

From: Susan McCulloch

To: Gavin Wilson & Associates

Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 8:25 AM

Subject: Re: congrats

Hi gavin...just to confirm that the mackay review wll be in paper coming saturday...unless ww 111 happens and gazumps all.. horrible thought.. all best, S
Susan McCulloch
National Art Critic
The Australian