Crumbling Ecologies interrogates the impact of the economic climate on both environmental conservation and arts education in Melbourne.

Crumbling Ecologies features thousands of hand-made geranium leaves that appear on the brink of crumbling.

In times of economic crisis both art and conservation funding is cut, raising questions on their value to culture and society. A response to the ongoing threatened closure of many media specific courses across Victoria, the works examine the relevancy of these materials within contemporary arts practice and the impact the loss of educators will have on Melbourne's artistic culture.

This exhibition was opened by Grace Cochrane, Independant Curator, former Senior Curator of Australian Decorative Art and Design Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. DOWNLOAD Grace's speech notes from the launch.

DOWNLOAD the pricelist. (pdf) 

Artist's statement

"In many parts of the world there are species of geranium that are critically endangered or extinct. In Australia the garden geranium is on the Australian National Heritage Trust's Alert List for Environmental Weeds that threaten biodiversity and cause environmental damage. 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 Melbourne, 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 the craft studios is that these materials and practices 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."

Jasmine Targett, April 2012

Crumbling Ecologies is supported by the City of Melbourne.