New Exhibition Chases The Elusive Light

A new exhibition will explore the presence and absence of light when it opens at the City of Melville’s Heathcote Museum and Gallery in Applecross on Thursday, 10 March 2011.

The Elusive Light exhibition will feature works by Artists Stephen Armitstead and Lia McKnight, including their first ever collaborative work.

City of Melville Curator Soula Veyradier said, “Visitors will experience light physically and conceptually, from the act of capturing light to the ways of distributing it. Moving away from traditional photography this exhibition is contemplative, inquisitive and thought provoking.”

Artists Stephen Armitstead said, “The theme or idea of working around the idea of light is something that Lia saw first off. She had been taking photographs of early morning and evening light projections around our house and she started to see the connections with some of my older work and it just grew from there.”

“In my work, I have played around with a few ideas connected to light, some are phrases; ‘see the light’, ‘decisions made lightly’, others are more physical like dealing with weight and mass and some are puns on the idea of visual illusions caused by light.

“This exhibition is for people who enjoy work that is elegant, interactive, reflective and contemplative, but also not too serious. It has a gentle sense of humour.”

An exhibition on the theme of light and its diverse permutations, viewers of The Elusive Light exhibition will be able to see the physical effects of light in the space of the Heathcote Museum and Gallery and also contemplate the more conceptual elements of what makes up light and its use in language.

Artist Lia McKnight said,“One of my ambitions for this exhibition is that people will experience something that I am always hopeful for when I visit an exhibition: to feel moved or surprised; to laugh or feel curious; or a mixture of these things. As the works are quite diverse, there should be something that a whole range of different people can respond to.”

The Elusive Light exhibition will be opened by Curtin University John Curtin Gallery Director Christopher Malcolm on Thursday, 10 March 2011 at 6.00pm. RSVP for the opening by Monday, 7 March 2011 to claire.bushby@melville.wa.gov.au or phone 9364 5666.

An Artists’ talk will be held on Saturday, 2 April at 2.00pm with exhibition Artists Stephen Armitstead and Lia McKnight in discussion with respected Artist and Curator Erin Coates.

The Elusive Light will be exhibited at the City of Melville’s Heathcote Museum and Gallery, Duncraig Road, Applecross from Friday, 11 March to Sunday, 10 April 2011.

Gallery opening hours are Tuesday to Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm, Saturday and Sunday 11.00am to 3.00pm.

To find out more call 9364 5666 or visit www.melvillecity.com.au/theelusivelight