Exhibited 2009:
Newcastle Art Space; 2 to 19 April, 2009. www.newcastleartspace.org
Loop Space; 25 April to 23 May, 2009. www.loopoz.com

About the work:
Coal Country predicts the effects of climate change on the Australian East coast landscape and from an aerial perspective, the sky above. The viewer flies over and listens to six locations from the peninsula at Newcastle East, the vineyards at Wollombi, the inlet at the Hawkesbury River, the bay at Pretty Beach, the beach at Avalon and finally King street in Newtown where the work was originally conceived of in early 2008.

The 6 land and seascapes are distorted (stretched or warped) and display an interpretation of their satellite image. Hovering above them web like black broken lines twist over/into each to imply a fracture in the earth's structure and are representative of oil coagulating after falling from the engine of an aircraft. The cloudy skies (above each wing) alter in hue from an aqua blue haze to violet and lime. The discoloration presents a future pollution of our atmosphere(s).

Panels:
The 6 photo media images are digitally printed 4 colours, 1 side on 180gsm premium satin. They have a gloss laminate on one side and are mounted to 10mm kappamount. The images are fixed onto oak porta mould, which also provides the support for an Acrylic (perspex) housing mounted below each photomedia panel. The perspex housings contain a substance consumed by and of the location and include; Coal (from Kooragang Island), Wine (Rose from Wollombi), Fish (gold fish from the Hawkesbury), Salt (from Pretty Beach inlet and general store), Water (tap water from Avalon beach) & Smoke (matches from King St supermarket).

Audio:
Each panel is accompanied by a 10 minute soundscape, mixed and edited from location sound recordings, electronic & acoustic music composition and oral history from one of the oldest residence currently living there. The audio excerpt you are listening to now is from the first Newcastle East, Coal Panel.

Panel Dimensions (including perspex):
Newcastle East to Avalon > 1600mm (w) X 770mm (h)
Newtown > 800mm (w) X 1500mm (h)

Price:
All Panels (including Audio CD) - $1,800.00 each.
Panels are also available on Perspex for outdoor installation in gardens or public spaces.
Printed onto Perspex – POA

Contact:
Damian Castaldi – Ph: 0405 639525   /   Email: damian[at]sodacake.com