In 2012, the Crumbling Ecologies Project was awarded full funding and support from the City of Melbourne’s Arts Projects.

Overview: The Crumbling Ecologies Project uses the ecological conundrum as a metaphor to discuss crumbling diversity and sustainability in Melbourne’s diminishing arts schools. The works presented critically address how the economic climate has affected the infrastructures that support artistic practice in Melbourne, commenting on how the culture of learning is changing.

Objective: The project’s distinct objective is to bring together the group of artists impacted and activate a Creative Network of makers independent of the Universities and TAFEs through making a large collaborative installation to be presented- April 2012 at Craft Victoria. The aim of the Creative Network is to stimulate future independent art initiatives and collaborations, to ensure that craft practice in Melbourne endures this time of change.

The work: Crumbling Ecology is a large collaborative installation to be made with the assistance of volunteering artists who wish to comment on how the closure of Melbourne’s craft based studios will impact their ongoing arts practice. The installation will feature hand made geranium leaves that upon closer inspection appear on the brink of crumbling, embodying the story of their makers.

To read more about the Crumbling Ecologies Project- check out the blog by following the link below-

http://www.crumblingecologies.blogspot.com.au/

WHY GERANIUMS?

In many parts of the world there are species of geranium that are critically endangered or extinct. The garden geranium is on the Australian National Heritage Trust’s Alert List for Environmental Weeds that threaten biodiversity and cause environmental damage[1].

Soon to become a huge pest to Victoria’s native flora and fauna, they are one of the most popular commercially sold garden plants. In Victoria, geraniums sit ambiguously between a plant and a weed, deriving connotations of being out-dated and old fashioned.

One of the key arguments used to justify the closure of these craft studios is that they have become out-dated and no longer relevant to contemporary arts practice and research. Geraniums symbolise the economic impact on the ecological equilibrium and the importance of preserving craft as a diverse form of contemporary arts practice within Victoria....

 

Article: Crumbling Ecologies Awarded City of Melbourne Grant