Arthur Wicks Australian artist

sand memories
image	details	general commentary	artist's running commentary
the Dunes
Slide show of 12 images: click to start series larger images; click RHS final image to return here.	The original sand dunes progressively photographed across 5 years beginning in 1974.	Sand memories is a complex series of works which began in 1975. It originated on the beach and sand dunes of Durras on the New South Wales South Coast. A specific and prominent set of sand dunes were selected as the base of the work. The entirety of the selected sand dune system was photographed as a series of static images assembled as a single panoramic statement. Between 1975 and 1978 this same set of sand dunes was re-photographed into panoramic images to record their response to the effect of weathering. Photographic prints of the resulting nine panoramic images were glued onto thin board and in 1978 these boards were buried into the sand dunes themselves. In a metaphorical sense the sand dunes were digesting their own history.
	This image shot around 1980 at the time of performance Journey from Low Tide to High Tide
	Images of each of the sand dune panoramas were glued to thin board and buried into the dunes themselves. These are the images dug out from the sand many months later.
Performance Sand Memory at Durras
	This gif animation captures the spirit of the 1979 performance on the Durras sand dunes. The New York content was to be performed and incorporated later.	In 1979 a performance work titled "Sand Memories at Durras" took place on these identical sand dunes. The performance involved burying panoramic images of the dunes (shown above), and uncovering similar montaged images buried some time earlier. Finally the artist/observer was buried with them. Videoed onto U-matic format.	Selected images from the performance "Sand Memories at Durras"; on the sand dunes at Durras 1976. Videotapes onto U-matic video and several years later edited into a format that was used publicly.
Slide show 6 images; Click thumb to start; click RHS last image to return here	Selected images from the ritualised performance in the video studio at RCAE (now Charles Dturt University) and recorded into U-matic video.	As a foil to the "external" experiences, an "internal" studio performance was developed using a highly ritualised activity where the Broome Street environment was laid out on the studio floor in intricate detail then discarded; to be replaced by miniature objects developed from the Durras sand dunes experience. The studio performance mirrored the external performances but in a tighter more contained space. This was videoed on colour U-Matic equipment.
Slide show 16 images Click thumb to start; click RHS last to return here	Before leaving for New York, "Sand Memories at Durras" was performed at the Institute of Contempory Art (ICA) Sydney 1977. These ritualised actions involving the dunes only. The Broome St performance
Performance Sand Memories at Durras at Broome St
Slide show of 12 images. Click RHS last image to return here	Performance at the Pratt Graphic Center, New York, New York, January 1977 photos: Quince Selden	Later, in 1977, the artist was on study leave in New York City at the Pratt Graphic Center. Here, he was able to develop and execute an ancillary performance on the corner of Broome Street and West Broadway which developed as "Sand Memories at Durras at Broome Street". Briefly, the action involved gluing the nine photographic panoramic images of the sand dunes onto Broome Street intersection in the nature of a pedestrian crossing. Their destruction by the traffic was recorded onto J format PortaPak video equipment. The videotapes, one from the Broome St performance and the other from the Durras performance were combined as black/white video in that order. The destruction of the images by the New York traffic was juxtaposed against the destruction and absorption of the Durras dunes themselves. The combined dual performances, recorded on black and white video could be considered as the "external" performances involving the pysical environment.
photo: Quince Selden	Performance at the Pratt Graphic Center, New York, New York January 1977 the finale of the performance
Slide show of 10 images	Montaged images of the 19thC buildings around the Broome St, West Braodway intersection.
the Prints
	Working Fragment for Sand Memories,- consisted of miniature panoramic images of the sand dunes with a linear map showing roughly their location,	A set of silkscreened prints were made in 1978 to be used as an installation together with a small monitor showing the Sand memories dual videotapes.
	Sand memories at Broome Street - consisted of a stylised layout of the Broome Street/West Broadway space together with a linear location map,
	Sand memories III - consisted of the New York intersection in flattened format, balanced against a miniature set of the nine sand dunes.
the Kit in its entirety	Sand Memories Kit - containes two sections; the upper containing strips of patterned silkscreened paper with miniature images of the 19thC buildings surrounding the intersection, the lower being a larger granular surface containing the ghost linear image of the New York intersection: all sewn into a large polythene bag. This "Kit" is an invitation for the owner (should they wish) to develop their own ritual according to their own devised set of rules.
upper section of the Kit
lower section of the Kit
Performance Sand Memories at Durras at Broome St (continued)
NB left monitor showing the colour studio based work; right hand monitor shows the B&W exterior Broome St then Durras Dune works. Click for large image, click RHS large image to return here	The "Sand Memories" was performed as a contribution to the Sydney Biennale 1978, with the satellite Alternatives at the Sculpture Centre, Sydney April May 1979.. To access & view the entire Alternatives programme click HERE	At this point there are now 2 videotapes: one black & white containing the Broome St performance and the Durras work in that order. The 2nd tape in colour contains the studio based performance of ritualised actions bassed on the other videoed performance works.	information relating to this performance published in Cantrill's Film Notes, 1978 To access & view the entire article, click HERE
	Sand Memories videotapes shown at the Venice Biennale 1980 as contribution to "Video Australia". The year earlier, Stephen Jones had toured the collection of videos through the US mainland.
slide show of 16 images Click to start. Click the RHS of the last image to return here.	Later performed in its entirety at the Experimental Art Foundation (EAF) in Adelaide, organised by Noel Sheridan, 1979
the Dual System
These 2 animated gifs give a good idea of how the 2 independent performances link together through the video medium.		The final Sand Memories work consists of: 2 videotapes played synchronously, and 4 prints displayed nearby on the walls. The 2 videotapes comprise: 1. a black & white dedicated to the Broome St performance and the Durras Dune performance spliced together in that order. Each performance takes place outside iin the real world; 2. a colour videotape dedicated to an interior performance comprising a series of rituals and which parallel the external performances.	The 2 videos (the black & white and the colour) were always intended to be seen simultaneously. As a result there are 2 versions: one consisting of the 2 videos (B/W & colour) separated, but to be projected together; and an alternate widescreen video where both sets of works are spliced together; automatically seen as one.