The Spectacle of Performance Drawing

Tweed River Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah, Australia

MAY – JUNE 2009

Musicans : Azo Bell, Michael Dick, Jem Edwards and Vasudah Harte

Images : Peter King, Cal McKinnon, Georgina Tait

Susi Muddiman, Director, Tweed River Art Gallery

Opening Speech, The Spectacle, 16^th May 2009 (edited)

“The Focus Macnaughton Gallery space is one that we reserve for artists of our region…I saw Kellie ‘in action’ for the first time at the opening of the fantastic Barratt Galleries in Alstonville. It was clear that Kellie had the ‘wow factor’ and her drawing performance was completely captivating. When Kellie put in a proposal for a show here I was both excited and perplexed as to how it would work in a static exhibition space. I was of course, silly to even doubt the proposal, as Kellie had come up with the idea of her show being a drawing ‘work in progress’ exhibition, with her series of performances adding to the exhibition as it went along. The idea really is genius and a credit to her. I hope you all had the opportunity to see her in action this evening. She really is a spectacle in herself!

Kellie has been performance drawing for about 7 years now. Her idea stems from the 1950s idea of action drawing, and includes a strong element of performance combined with drawing, collage, music and painting.

Kellie has performed in so many locations over quite a long period of time – from Brisbane’s Powerhouse to the Barbican in London during 2005 in an event splendidly titled The Importance of Drawing Earnest; another in Berlin; in Melbourne and even Shanghai earlier this year. As some of the photographs included in her exhibition here, and the fascinating DVD show us, she is truly a talented, energetic and spectacular (in the true sense of the word) artist whose love of drawing and performance is almost infectious.

Her work has been featured on SBS’s program Eat Carpet, and not one to be idle, she is currently working on her Masters in Performance Drawing through Southern Cross University in Lismore.

There are many complimentary words I could use to describe Kellie, but inspiring and professional would have to be the two that are most pertinent today. She is such a hard worker, and really doesn’t believe in the concept of ‘too difficult’. She asked me about a flash fandango DVD player screen for the exhibition, I said we didn’t have that facility, so she went out and purloined a sponsored one for the duration of the show. That is impressive.

She has been so mindful of the Gallery’s other activities in working on her performances, and totally appreciative of the Gallery staff’s time in working on her show. She has really made it a pleasure. AND what a SPECTACULAR outfit!

It is my absolute pleasure to open Kellie’s exhibition, I commend it to you and encourage you to come and see her performances. So many congratulations Kellie! Let’s give her a round of applause…”

Part One

Part Two

Part Three