A little about Fern Smith the artist

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2 A little about Fern Smith the artist Fern s raison d être (reason for) for producing artwork is driven by the need to explore and enquire on the subject of equality. The artwork is extensively and continuously researched from primary, secondary and anecdotal evidence and recalibrated it into a pictorial form working from within a feminist perspective. This is illustrated in the areas of: Promoting democracy Moving landscape (2008): This work was a representation of the journey women in Victoria had to democracy and is one painting comprised of 10 panels. Each panel represents a decade of suffrage from 1901 to This work was exhibited at Parliament House Victoria during 2008 to support the celebration of 100 years of Women s suffrage and is freely accessible to the public Culture Victoria s website. Breaking down the stereotypes and supporting anti-discrimination dis-easehcv ( ): The aim of the exhibition was to highlight that the Hepatitis C disease cuts across all ages, all populations. The exhibition comprised of 10 oils paintings on boards, each board opening up like a book. The images were a representation of people living with Hepatitis C. Research for this project was drawn from extensive research. The Health Minister the Honourable Bronwyn Pike launched dis-easehcv exhibition during Hepatitis Week Feminism waiting ( ): This exhibition explores the issues surrounding women and their dreams by using the metaphor of women waiting at tram stops. This exhibition was researched by reviewing women s status within the community in regard to equality and if their status had changed from the decade before. This was the first exhibition where Fern introduced an innovative approach by developing interactive storyboards (large oil on board that opens like a book 90 x 61 cms). Held at Axiom Gallery and opened by Kelly Gellatly, then Curator, Heidi MoMA and Historian, Dr Ussher. The rights of refugees Fern is committed to the rights of refugees and to the belief that everyone has a right to a place, a home and to live freely without fear of prosecution which is why since the 1990 s 2

3 Fern has painted the struggles, the challenges faced by refugees. This is an ongoing body of work (Rau [digital print], Mr. T [oil on canvas] and Mr. X [oil on canvas]). AREAS OF EXPERTISE - DIGITAL PRINT, OIL, BANNER, GOUACHE Fern Smith fuses poster, graphic and figurative art together across media. Smith is known for her digital print, banner art, oil painting and gauche. Examples of her broad media expertise are: Digital print: Sitting Duck 42 cms x 29.7 cms on Crane Museo Portfolio Rag (Matt) 300 gsm matt 2013 (Current Tendencies, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick Victoria) Oil painting: moving landscape oil on canvas 10 panels 1m x 7.60m 2008 (widely exhibited) Banner art: Vida Goldstein 87 cms x 67 cms Tautflex paint on calico 2008 (widely exhibited) Gouache: hooked 35 cms x 35 cms gouache on calico 2014 (not yet exhibited) FERN SMITH INTERFACE WITH THE COMMUNITY Community art space 2014: Fern hosted Merlynston s inaugural pop-up shop at the end of 2014; she invited two local artists to display their art work. Over three days, the community were invited to pop-in and view the works. This initiative not only gave a space for artists to display their work but also an opportunity for the community to connect, meet and support their local artists. The community feedback was very positive. Local residents have since approached Fern requesting they work with her to create pop up art spaces in the future. (This is a developing concept and a work in progress). Accessible art spaces: Fern has a strong belief that art and art spaces should be accessible to all. This has been achieved for: Merlynston Sustainability Group: The studio is used as the community meeting space. Diverse Voices Festival: The studio was used as a pre-workshop space running activities so the children could prepare for the festival by making hats and decorations for the park. Neighbourhood drawings: Often you will walk past the studio shopfront and see a Picasso in the window on display done by a child of the neighbourhood, proudly hung for all to see. Save Progress Hall: The studio is also used as a central space where the community could meet to make the Save Progress Hall banners. Fern initiated a successful partnership amongst the Women s Electoral Lobby Victoria, League of Women Voters and RMIT, School of Industrial Design. This partnership supported a number of projects celebrating Victoria s 100 years of Women s suffrage in Victoria. Reflections and Celebration (2007): Fern prepared and delivered a course at RMIT. The aim of the course was to support young people to explore and celebrate feminism and women in leadership. The outcome of the project was 30 handcrafted books and e-books of the interviews. The method the students uses was to interview women, develop their stories, presenting their stories back to them women in both hand crafted books and e-books. During 2007 and 2008 the students also presented the project at four public events. They interviewed the following women: Angela Clarke, Beatrice Faust, Elleni Bereded Samuel, Ellen Chandler, Gracia Baylor, Jenny Strauss, Mary Owen, Marion Quartly, Patricia Grimshaw, Pat Goble and Ursula Dutkiewicz. 3

4 Conversations (2008): The focus of conversations was to bring local communities together to discuss equality, social and cultural issues impacting women in Victoria. This partnership delivered three conversation events in St Kilda, South Melbourne and Brunswick. Fern invited artist Ursula Dutkiewicz to form a partnership to develop community projects celebrating democracy and 100 years since women had been able to vote. Art of Suff-Rage (2008): This partnership explored and celebrated the Centenary of Women s Suffrage. Throughout 2008 this involved: Art performances by dressing in period costume, taking public transport to distribute the Suff-Rage news and promote democracy. These performances were well received on the street. Participating in many events around Victoria by exhibiting installations and providing avenues for the community to participate in the Centenary of Suffrage in creative ways. Editor and producer Suff-Rage News that focused on providing a narrative of Victoria s journey of suffrage. Further information: & Fern produced two bodies of work during which supported the State Government Celebration of 100 years of Women Voters Victoria and were part of Art of Suff-Rage, conversation and The centaury of Women Voters Victoria events. Moving landscape, as discussed on page one. For further information go to Culture Victoria s website. Banner project, in a modern democracy campaigning is a mechanism to raise awareness to the public and decisions makers on issues. The Banner project represents the issues women have fought for over the past century. The Banners were created using the Tuthill method, which is a traditional banner making method. These banners are housed in Fern s Studio and used at public events such as Reclaim the Night Street marches. SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2015: Smith, F: moving landscape (2008) Coburg Town Hall, Melbourne Victoria. 2012: Smith, F: Banners project (2008) Queen Victoria Women s Centre, Melbourne Victoria. 2009: Smith, F: moving landscape (2008), Queen Victoria Women s Centre, Melbourne Victoria. Smith, F: moving landscape (2008), Shell Building foyer CBD, Melbourne Victoria. 2008: Smith, F: moving landscape (2008), Parliament House, Melbourne Victoria. 2006: Smith, F: nous, Brunswick Street Gallery Fitzroy, Melbourne Victoria. 2004: Smith, F: dis-easehcv, Horti Hall, Melbourne Victoria. 2002: Smith, F: waiting, Axiom Gallery, North Melbourne Victoria. 1997: Smith, F: Untitled, Hill Station Hume, Canberra ACT. 1993: Smith, F: Mixed artworks, Tosolinis Cafe CBD, Canberra ACT. Smith, F: Mermaids Tale, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie ACT. 1992: Smith, F: Public Property, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie ACT. 4

5 1991: Smith, F: Untitled, Craft Council ACT now the Craft and Design Centre, Canberra ACT. 1990: Smith, F: Welcome, Tillys Divine Lynham, Canberra ACT. 1987: Smith, F: Taming of the dunes, Overflow Café, Fremantle Western Australia. Smith, F: (self-titled) Tresillian Gallery, Nedlands Western Australia. 1986: Smith, F: (self-titled) Dalkeith House, Fremantle Western Australia. GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2013: 40x40, Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy, Victoria. Current Tendencies, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick Victoria. 2010: Women s Salon, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick Victoria. 2009: Women s Salon, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick Victoria. Art of Suff-Rage and moving landscape, Portland Art Centre Gallery, Victoria 2008: Women s Salon, Counihan Gallery, Brunswick Victoria. Art of Suff- Rage in 30 locations around Victoria. 2006: Post Mod, Toyota Australia corporate headquarters. She Who Belongs, Walker Street Gallery, Dandenong Victoria. 2002: Freefall, Axiom Gallery Inc., North Melbourne Victoria. 2000: Digi-Tales, Arty Ms. Balmain Watch House, Sydney New South Wales. 1999: Lemons online, Arty Ms. Balmain Watch House, Sydney New South Wales. 1998: Deca-Dance, Arty Ms. Balmain Watch House, Sydney New South Wales. 1995: Interlace Interface, ANCA Gallery Dickson, Canberra ACT. Pots and Pans, Provisions Gallery, Williamstown Victoria. 1994: Which Witch, Provisions Gallery, Williamstown Victoria. 1993: Mermaids, Gorman House Arts Centre, Ainslie ACT. 1989: Reclaim the night, Casuarina Shopping Centre, Darwin Northern Territory. Untitled, Browns Mart Community Arts Centre, Darwin Northern Territory. 1988: Untitled, Broome Library, Broome Western Australia. 1986: Five Artists, The Film & Television Institute (FTI) Gallery. Wood Street Gallery Fremantle, Perth Western Australia. 1985: A dream within a dream, Theatre Gallery CBD, Canberra ACT. PUBLICATIONS Ongoing circa 1999 Website : Smith, F (2012): sing anyway illustration, CD Cover Brunswick Women s Choir, released : Smith, F Suffrage is unstoppable, front cover illustration, published by Portia Women Lawyers annual report : Smith, F (2009) Changing landscape front cover illustration from Moving Landscape series (2008), published, Portia Women lawyers annual report. (2009) Moving Landscape series, Culture Victoria Website : Smith, F (2008): Feminist, front cover illustration, published by Portia Women Lawyers annual report

6 Smith, F; and Dutkiewicz, U: (2008) The Age of Suffrage broadsheets. 2007: Smith, F (2007) Boy in Boat, cover illustration, Moylan, D (2007) Beautiful Place, released Smith, F (2005) halfway to nowhere, illustration, dis-ease HCV series, published Australian Hepatitis Chronicle, Issue 14, March : Smith, F (2004) disease HCV, PDF booklet produced for the Hepatitis C Council Victoria. 2002: Smith, F (2002) Design Image in Photoshop, pp , Digital Image in Dreamweaver pp ; Digital images pp , Gallery (2002) Graphic Design 2002: INFORBOOKS, S.L Barcelona, edited by, Rosairo Pena Perez CD ROM (2002) Smith, F (2002) Fact and fiction, correspondence, pp.13, published Art Monthly, April 2002, Number : Smith, F (1993) Swap, educational cards for Drug Referral Inc. (DRIC) Smith, F (1993) Drag net-7, front cover illustration, published Bogong (1993) Volume 14, Number 1, Autumn 1993 Smith, F (1992) Untitled illustration, 1992, published Bogong (1993) Volume 14, Number 3 Spring Smith, F (1992) Untitled illustration, published Bogong (1992) Volume 13, Number 2, winter, (1992), pp 11 & 12 illustrations. Smith, F (1992) Untitled illustration, published Bogong (1992) Volume 13, Number 4, summer, pp 4 & : Smith, F (1991) Hidden side of adoption, front cover illustration, published Muse Art Magazine, June 1991, vol : Smith, F (1990) untitled front cover illustration published Bogong, volume 11, number 2, winter : Writing Pad set for Natural Paper TM CONTACT DETAILS Fern Smith Postal: PO BOX 948 Merlynston Coburg North VICTORIA 3058 Mobile: fernsmith@fernartz.com Website: 6

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