Entrance of the Virtual Gallery Space dedicated to the performance works: Measuring Stick, and Against the Tide.
Measuring Stick, an outdoor performance in the tidal zone between low and high tides; first performed at Durras Beach NSW South Coast January1980,
then repeated at Glenelg Beach Adelaide South Australia March 1980 for the Adelaide Fringe Festival.
They are complex works intended to interact with each other - one as an interior work and the other as its exterior complement.
Each was videoed separately and at various times the dual videos were projected so they could be viewed simultaneously.
Against the Tide was an interior 'studio' performance; performed first at the RCAE (now CSU) campus Wagga Wagga in 1979,
and repeated 1980 at the Sculpture Centre, Sydney as contribution to the Sydney Biennale satellite events.
Images and notes relating to both below.
When you are ready you may want to check out one of the other galleries.
Just click the appropriate button below.
measuring stick
against the tide
image
details
general commentary
artist's running commentary
MEASURING STICK
Durras Beach, NSW South Coast
slide show of 4 images;
click this image to start,
then click RHS last image to return here
Preparation and installation of the equipment for the performance on the beach.
The Measuring Stick performance involved the use of a fibreglass sleeve inserted into the sand just below the high tide level. This sleeve became the resting place for the performer, Arthur Wicks, who was strapped to a wooden "X" structure and lowered into the sand exactly at the low tide timing. He waited there for the incoming tide to reach him, a period of 6 hours; the duration of the performance .
gif animation
Video clip (105 secs) of the performance on Durras Beach
slide show of 5 images;
click this image to start,
then click RHS last image to return here
Settling into the space and waiting for the tide to flow in.
slide show of 4 images;
click this image to start,
then click RHS last image to return here
The action as high tide approaches
click for larger image:
then click that image to return here
Still taken from the video.
Last moments.
Glenelg Beach, Adelaide, South Australia, March 1980
gif animation
Measuring Stick
exploring the littoral zone between low and high tide at Glenelg Beach, Adelaide, South Australia,
1980
photos: Nick Day
Measuring Stick involved the use of a fibreglass sleeve inserted into the sand just below the high tide level. This sleeve became the resting place for the performer, Arthur Wicks, who was strapped to a wooden "X" structure and lowered into the sand exactly at the low tide point. There he waited for the incoming tide to reach him. This took some six hours, the duration of the performance work.
slide show of 10 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
an instant audience at the beach at Glenelg, Adelaide, South Australia
photos: Nick Day
slide show of 4 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
Isolated at high tide at Glenelg Beach, Adelaide, South Australia
photos: Nick Day
slide show of 5 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
Another angle of Measuring Stick;
almost isolated as high tide approaches;
at Glenelg Beach, Adelaide, South Australia
photos: Nick Day
click for larger;
click RHS of large to return here
slide show of 5 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
photos: Nick Day
click for larger;
click RHS of large to return here
slide show of 3 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
Noel Sheridan ambushing police interest in the man "suiciding at Glenelg Beach"
Someone was concerned and had alerted the local constables.
photos: Nick Day
Gif animation
photos: Nick Day
slide show of 3 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
photos: Nick Day
click to enlarge;
click RHS large image tor return
final image at high tide
photos: Nick Day
AGAINST THE TIDE 1979
slide show of 6 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
Preparation of the space and initiation of the performance.
Against the Tide was devised as a performance using an interior space as a foil to the exterior performance of Measuring Stick. After the performer, Arthur Wicks, has identified his space/territory, he positions himself onto a wooden "X" from which point a series of actions are carried out on his body. This parallels what is happening in the tidal zone on the other screen.
slide show of 8 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
slide show of 7 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
slide show of 13 images;
click to start;
click RHS last image to return
DUAL IMAGES
slide show of 8 images;
clck to start; click RHS last image to return
slide show of 8 images;
clck to start; click RHS last image to return
Multiple outdoor projection Albury Art Centre September 2011
