Brian Doherty – ARI Remix – A Polyvocal Memory of Australian Artist-Run Culture and Heritage "Work in Progress"

“Everything You Wanted To Know About The Visual Arts But Couldn’t Find Out" Short Film

February 1, 2016 In

(Re) Presenting | ARI Remix Artist’s Super 8mm Series | “Everything You Wanted to Know About the Visual Arts…” Artworker’s Union QLD, Conference, 1984 – Short Film

Everything You Wanted to Know About the Visual Arts

September 5, 2015 In

Brian Doherty and Lehan Ramsay, Bitumen River Gallery

Bitumen River Gallery and That Space Exchange, 1986

September 4, 2015 In

Letter from artist Dianne Heenan, A Room Collective Member, 1985

Artist-run models and methods, 1984

Exhibition Poster- A Room - Courtesy of QAGOMA Library Collection

November 25, 2014 In

Poster promoting exhibition at various public locations. Artist designer Brian Doherty commissioned by A Room Collective. Printed by Brian Doherty, Ted Riggs, Barbara Campbell at The Activities Centre, 1984

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so much to remember, so much to love

It hurts to think of it demolished. Somehow it was a subversive secret. Makes a mockery of overpriced soulless accommodation. A gift of love and beauty to the like-minded that recognised and cherished it.

Dearest Marshall... can't believe the chalets have gone !!

It was a truly memorable & accepting space - a wonderland of kitsch glory. I've never found anywhere in Qld that compared in design, or the warmth imbued by Marshall & Colin but I'm sure there were others that met the same fate decades before I arrived. What lovely men with a wonderfully ecclectic attitude to the gathering & preservation of ephemera & parts of other once loved island buildings. I wish it was still here. We can all name haunts; once majestic homes bulging with creative activity; & venues, hotels, warehouses, galleries & inner city studios etc that met that fate. The attitude of the ruling culture towards history (pre & post invasion) bewildered me. People complained about a lack of history despite being surrounded by it. The answer to 12 yr old me seemed simple - stop employing the Dean bros. It would have been a timely solution. I still ponder the Qld that could have been had many buildings remained & sites respected. Most of my old watering holes are gone. I miss so much of their character - from plaster work to fireplaces; rooftops & long verandas; humid nights, cool breezes & cold drinks; creaking elevators; features from the 1870's through to the Target building's space age appeal of primary colours & plastic bubbles; creativity driven by passion & sometimes high youth unemployment...& occasional table top dancing. It's a long list of missed buildings. I keep promising to contribute content Paul. The digitising will eventually happen. I'll likely find some surprising gems & hopefully some from my summer in the Chalets. Fun times.

And if anyone is keen to write a little story about this fabulous queer artist-run place with some photos this is the new community archives zine anthology we are making this year and next of you would like to contribute : ) remix.org.au/extrazine

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(Re) Presenting | ARI Remix Artist’s Super 8mm Series | “Everything You Wanted to Know About the Visual Arts…” Artworker’s Union QLD, Conference, 1984 – Short Film

Brian Doherty and Lehan Ramsay, Bitumen River Gallery

No Names

Letter from artist Dianne Heenan, A Room Collective Member, 1985

A Room, Opening Poster

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