A multi-media installation of projection, sculpture, digital collage, video and sound to critically examine the unseen labour of women.

Written by Melania Jack of The Ironing Maidens

The Ironing Maidens project is the art love child of Patty Preece and myself, Melania Jack. Over many years of shifting industry paradigms, from live shows to live streams and back, the project has seen many incarnations. During lockdown our inbox filled with cancellations of the live show into which we had just invested a year of work., So we adapted to the strange times by experimenting with media new to us, including a pilot episode of a narrative-based podcast, a live stream project, and most recently installation work. Some of these projects were a great experience, helping us to acquire new skills and experience new collaborations; others were like random op shop finds: we took them home, and they just didn’t quite fit.

We slowly realised that the previous show, A Soap Opera, would not tour again. It would be too long until venues reopened; and more personally, we had outgrown this work. Our political views on these subjects had changed too much. The world also felt different, more serious. How can we pun about ironing while people are dying from covid? How can we broach these domestic issues when people have had no choice but to be contained to the domestic home? It’s like calling a caged bird lazy. Still, it felt like there was so much left to say. While families isolated, more people spending more time at home meant more work for women. Sourdough bread and home improvements became just another expectation for women to add to their massive daily list of to do’s.

Statistically, and anecdotally, the housework situation hasn’t changed much for women since the 1950s. The stats show that from cleaning the home to cleaning up the environment, it’s still women doing the bulk of the work – physically and emotionally. On top of that we are not getting paid for it. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency, in a report released on the 12th December 2022, show that women earned, on average, $26,596 less than men in 2021-22.

We’ve spent generations teaching girls that they can ‘do anything’: more women as CEOs, more women learning to code, more women in tech; but when women in Australia are spending the equivalent of one whole month of housework each year more than their partners – how do they find time to further their careers and invest in themselves? How do we reinvigorate the stalled feminist revolution of the ‘70s that was meant to free women from the role of ‘domestic goddess’ when social media is bursting with cleaning influencers like Mrs Hinch, who are glamourising and cashing in on the collective social anxiety of the (COVID) moment?

With a lack of real solutions to the gender imbalance in the domestic debate, the common response is to send the work further down an even more feminised and also racialised line – hire a cleaner, send the clothes to the dry cleaner, pay for help, and in the spirit of the 4 hour work week – outsource, outsource, outsource. This excess work is increasingly the lot of low-paid, migrant and women of colour who are then experiencing rising rates of exploitation and abuse.

Feminists can call out for women to march, smash the patriarchy, pull down the capitalist structures, decolonise the country – but how do we start any of that while standing at a kitchen sink full of the greasy slippery dishes of romantic promise, family expectations and the ground-in grime of gender socialisation?
This is what I am exploring in Pressing Topics, a sound and projection installation that is presenting at NorthSite Contemporary Arts from December 2022.

In Strike, a projection and sculpture piece, I use the lens of glitch feminism (a term coined by Legacy Russell) to explore ironing itself – utilising a 1950s image of the quintessential housewife ironing. This is the image that second wave feminists rallied against – a white, middle class housewife doing all the housework among the avalanche of white goods designed to lure her back into the post war household. But there is a glitch, an error; the image breaks and reveals what is underneath: the women working in the factories to sew and iron those clothes she irons, the women in the factories building the iron and its components. Women are employed for their patience, attention to detail and ‘nimble fingers’. This trend that has moved from the fashion industry to the IT and new tech sector is seeing millions of women existing in modern day slavery conditions. Their slavery builds irons, for other slaves to iron. The irony is real.

In Domestic Body, I explore my own gender training within my family and society as an eldest girl child. The need to please, the guilt of not doing enough, the idea that satisfaction should come from a clean kitchen floor. The patronising pink used in this work is overt and constant, bleeding into the skin while the forced smile gleams. The body has become part of the machine: washing machine belly, iron hands – I am the tool and the work itself. Again, the glitch disrupts, exposing other emotions – fear, sadness, regret, loss, mania, anger. How is my self imagined in this domestic body?

I am sometimes asked: why do I care? As a queer, non-binary person who is trying to build a different life to the one I was raised in, I can choose to sit and read a book and let the dishes wait. But can I? I still feel the pressure to do the dishes first. Since taking on the co-care of an elder with dementia, I feel keenly the sense of duty to provide this care. As a woman. It seems cellular, but it is sold as feminine and nurturing – I know it is socialised. Children and elder care are a massive global themes. It is the work of women and like all feminised industries, it is underpaid and unacknowledged.

This gender imbalance seems to run all the way into our futures. Technology will not save us; it didn’t save the women of the 1950s, who just ended up with more work at home, managing the new machines. Now the smart homes of the future require new attention – to program the smart fridge, to talk to the assistant who will turn the lights on. Studies such as those in the recent book, ‘The Smart Wife’ by Jenny Kennedy and Yolande Strengers, show that in this ‘smart future’ the work is still feminised; from the voices of the assistants, to the design of modern robots, we are building this sexism into our future.

They (seem to) burn with a strange fury, a comment by a critic of the original Wages for Housework activists of the 1970s, is the title of one of the pieces of this exhibition. In it I have used an algorithm to explore the extent of our gendered programing around domestic labour. I use the words ‘cleaner’ and ‘housework’ to search online video and image. The top image results from these search terms are generally women. I project these images onto ironing boards that stand around a burning fire of irons. Are they planning a revolution? Are they burning the tools that oppress them? Are they the ghosts of the past or are they people from our future?

These strange years have birthed this new work, a deeper exploration of the themes of The Ironing Maidens project.
My hope with this exhibition is that I can navigate a path out of my own gender training, to check myself and my privilege. To find ways to revive that stalled domestic revolution, with a more expanded and inclusive view. Because really, I am tired of the housework. I am busting to get onto the next work, a new world, the next question – what does a non-binary, de-capitalised, de-colonialised world look and sound like?
I don’t know yet, but I have some ideas; I imagine you might too.

Words by Melania Jack
The Ironing Maidens
2022

VIEW EXHIBITION

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Cairns Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

NorthSite appoints Katrina Iosia as Programs Coordinator

NorthSite Contemporary Arts is thrilled to announce the appointment of
Katrina Iosia in the position of Programs Coordinator.

Katrina joins the team from New Zealand, where she was working mostly in Public Programmes Assistant, Gallery Assistant at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, and formerly an Art Tutor/ Educator at Whitecliffe College of Art and Design.

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the amazing team here at NorthSite. The amount of support has made settling into the role so much easier, especially being part of a healthy work environment that supports inclusion, cultural diversity and a positive work and family life balance.

A huge thank you to Ashleigh, NorthSite staff and the Board for their support. I’m really looking forward to working together to create art and design workshops with the arts community. Continue to support the astonishing and well-established printmaking society, and introduce creative technologies, NFT workshops, and activities that will increase engagement for families, youth, and outreach into the wider community,” said Katrina Iosia.

As a celebrated Niuean artist and designer, Katrina Iosia is recognized as a leading female AR designer and developer in Aotearoa.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Katrina into the NorthSite family and I can see that her passion, drive and skills will really benefit artists and designers in Far North Queensland. Particularly as we build a program of art workshops and activities and increase community delivery and programs from our new venue, NorthSite Art Studios in Cairns.
Katrina’s knowledge and culturally embedded approach to arts education and design will be an asset to creatives in Far North Queensland and Australia more widely.” said Ashleigh Campbell, Artistic Director / CEO.

Katrina has hit the ground running and this week has been invited to present and participate in the Art Gallery of New South Wales Sydney Modern Opening Week Program, presenting digital interactive art and also presenting a deep dive into the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens).
Link to book

Congratulations Katrina and welcome to Aus and NorthSite!!
 

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ARTIST BIO

Katrina Iosia has quickly emerged as a dynamic and leading woman in Augmented Reality as a designer, developer and artist in Aotearoa (NZ). As a Pasifika woman in Art and Technology, she has traversed seamlessly into the international Mixed Reality art scene. She has exhibited with ‘Digital Art Month’ in Paris (2021), a featured artist in the 2022 Vancouver Mural Winter Arts Festival. Katrina is the only lens creator with Snapchat from Aoteroa, an ambassador, and creator for Snap Spectacles AR powered glasses. She has years of experience as an NFT creator and coordinator, who has been a voice within the NFT Pasifika Pilot Program (Creative NZ), Digital Fellowship Program Partnership(Australian Council for the arts), Panelist for Digital Moana, Pacific Summit and currently Digital Moana Fellowship (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Welcoming Hamish Sawyer

On behalf of the NorthSite Board and Artistic Director/CEO Ashleigh Campbell we are pleased to announce that Hamish Sawyer is joining the NorthSite team as Acting Director in November 2022. Hamish has extensive experience and expertise within the creative arts industry and will support NorthSite during Ashleigh’s maternity leave from March 2023.

“NorthSite is in a stable and exciting position, and I’m extremely grateful to our dedicated staff and Board who have worked hard over the past years to reach our position.

It means a lot to be well supported, at this time of incoming baby while running a multifaceted, not-for-profit arts company.

I’m particularly thrilled that we’ve engaged Hamish Sawyer as Acting Director. Hamish brings a wealth of insight and curatorial skills, and his perspectives are valued and supported as we work with our team to look ahead, collaborating across our organisation to build the next 5-year plan for NorthSite.

I have no doubt that Hamish’s appointment will strengthen our artistic program and the profile of artists in the north, through his close working relationships with the arts community, NorthSite curator and gallery office Aven Noah Jr and the rest of our creative team,” said Ashleigh Campbell.

Hamish is well respected within the arts industry and is highly experienced as a curator and senior leader.

“I’m very grateful to the NorthSite board for this opportunity to join the organisation at a pivotal moment in its history. NorthSite plays a leading role in the development and presentation of contemporary visual art in Far North Queensland, one of the most culturally diverse and dynamic arts ecologies in Australia.
 
I’m looking forward to working with Ashleigh Campbell and the amazing NorthSite team to deliver next year’s calendar of exhibitions and events; as well as developing longer-term strategic exhibition and program priorities.
 
I can’t wait to get started,” said Hamish Sawyer.

Welcome to the team Hamish! 

Hamish Sawyer, Acting Director – NorthSite Contemporary Arts

New creative space

You may have heard the buzz… NorthSite and our friends at InkMasters are excited to have been through a process of transition recently, with the handing over of the baton!

NorthSite is commencing operations of NorthSite Art Studios, 55 Greenslopes Street, Edge Hill.

This phenomenal workshop space was managed by InkMasters recently and operated as Djumbunji Press KickArts Fine Art Printmaking 2009 – 2012.

We’re aware we have huge shoes to fill in terms of the extraordinary work that the InkMasters committee have achieved for printmaking in the region over the past decade, but we’re also aware of the huge potential of the site for the far north community of artists.

We want to hear from you. Tell us your experiences and aspirations and if you have a burning idea for a creative workshop you’d like to deliver or participate in – let us know by filling in the survey here.

Yours in art – Team NorthSite

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Read more in Tropic Magazine: Click here

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UPCOMING EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

 

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Careers: Acting Director

DOWNLOAD POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

Position title: Acting Director
Category of employment: 1 year contract, full-time position
Reports to: NorthSite Board Chair and Board
Closing date: 19 October 2022

 

NORTHSITE CONTEMPORARY ARTS

NorthSite is a leading contemporary art gallery located within the Cairns CBD. Each year, NorthSite engages with over 300 artists to deliver exhibitions and programs to Far North Queensland and beyond.

The NorthSite Mission is to link ideas, artists, audiences and supporters to present contemporary art and design that brings people together, stimulates conversation and provides transformative experiences.

NorthSite has a fundamental role to play in ensuring the promotion of contemporary art in Cairns and greater North Queensland, through the on-going development, delivery and promotion of exhibitions and programs and provision of artist services.

POSITION

The Acting Director will lead the organisation’s artistic vision, exhibitions, and programs throughout 2023, during the Artistic Director/CEO’s maternity leave (1 March – 1 November 2023 -provisional), as set out in the 2023 program aligned with NorthSite’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025.

As Acting Director, you will be responsible for leading a team of 8 professional arts workers, across exhibitions, programs, retail, communications and finance portfolios with a hands-on approach to exhibition development and delivery.

The Acting Director will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of the overall strategic objectives, artistic output, retail activities, communications and financial performance of the company in 2023, guided by and enhancing NorthSite’s vision, purpose and values. The Acting Director will be responsible for reporting the financial and operational performance of the company to the Board of Directors at bi-monthly meetings.

The Acting Director will oversee the company’s exhibitions and creative programs, supervise and mentor staff to assist with the delivery of all aspects of daily operations. The Acting Director will ensure personnel are supported and have all the information they require to carry out their duties in the most effective, efficient, and professional manner.

The Acting Director will be supported by the Executive Administrator and Chairperson to ensure strong governance processes are upheld and ensure ongoing financial stability. A four-month handover and collaboration period will be allowed for with the Artistic Director/CEO.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Applicants must be able to demonstrate commitment and experience in related roles, with:

• Excellent communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Experience with HR and excellent team management
• Proven project management skills, inc. financial processes and contract management
• Ability to prioritise team and individual work to meet deadlines – self-motivated, flexible and resourceful
• Experience with statistics and reporting, writing/updating processes, protocols and plans
• Evidenced familiarly sourcing new avenues of financial support for artists & arts activities
• Knowledge of all-ability and diversity access principles, high cultural competency
• Understanding of diverse artistic practices and operation of studio/gallery environments
• Detailed understanding of industry with ability to identify and articulate important issues
• Experience in safe-handling of works of art and managing WH&S processes
• Precise attention to detail and commitment to transparency & accuracy
• Good time-management skills and ability to manage workflow and provide regular updates to colleagues, partners and Board members

DESIRABLE

• Driver’s License
• Experience with Mac computer systems, software integrations and applications including Microsoft Office, Filemaker Pro, Trello, Hubspot, Vend, Eventbrite and Adobe Creative Suite

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to the NorthSite Board Chair and Board
• Internal liaisons – NorthSite Board of Directors, other staff including Executive Administrator, Curator, Communications Coordinator, Retail Manager, Gallery Officer, Events and Content Producer, Programs Coordinator, volunteers, studio technicians, contracted facilitators, artists, and other Bulmba-ja tenants
• External liaisons – workshop and program participants, patrons to the galleries, arts peers, community, government, industry, and business associates

HOW TO APPLY

Download the Position Description document to ensure you meet the criteria. Provide the information outlined in the Position Description document and click the “Apply Now” button to submit your application.

 

DOWNLOAD POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

APPLY NOW
 

Illuminate FNQ Indigenous Science Festival

NorthSite recently partnered to support an Art Science Talk event for the inaugural illuminate FNQ Indigenous Science Festival.

The exhibition, Yuk Wuy Min Nguntamp, by Keith Wikmunea and Heather Koowootha produced by NorthSite in collaboration with Wik and Kugu Art Centre was included in the Friday activities of the Illuminate program. Heather Koowootha provided an extremely insightful explanation of her paintings of plants and natural resources that embody deep Wik cultural knowledge.

If you are interested in hearing more about this exciting new festival that drew scientists from across the world to Cairns and celebrated local ancient knowledge systems, check out the link to their wrap-up video, produced by artist and volunteer illuminate FNQ Board Director Dr. Jenny Fraser.

For more information about illuminate FNQ Indigenous Science Festival visit: https://illuminatefnq.org/home/

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In other news, Dr Jenny Fraser has recently been awarded the prestigious 2022 Australia Council Award for Emerging and Experimental Arts! Congratulations Jenny!

Dr Jenny Fraser – Australia Council Award for Emerging & Experimental Arts

SUPERCUT x Robert Tommy Pau

In July 2022, Robert Tommy Pau’s artwork, titled ‘Time‘, was presented on a billboard along the Bruce Highway as part of NorthSite’s partnership with Outer Space for the SUPERCUT program.

“NorthSite has been delighted to partner with Outer Space for SUPERCUT which has created new opportunities for regional artists to showcase their artwork to a wider audience”, said NorthSite’s Artistic Director/ CEO Ashleigh Campbell.

This artwork tells an important story in past and modern history for the Torres Strait Islanders, reflecting on two different points in time and showcasing the vast contrast between these timelines.

“1871 is a point in time where Islanders refers to Coming of the Light. This is a very profound statement as it is a demarcation between their past history and modern history.” said Robert Tommy Pau

Tommy is a descendant of the Eastern Torres Strait Islands, Australian Aboriginal, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islander and Asia. He speaks Torres Strait Creole and Australian English. He was taught about the need to keep culture strong through cultural practice by his father. He has a strong commitment to keeping old traditions alive and believes that culture must remain true to the past and move with time to exist in the future. Tommy has considerable experience in the arts and his art forms of choice include printmaking, painting and sculpture.

Billboard location: Bruce Highway, 3.2km west of Bundaberg Airport on Isis Highway
Outbound, Bundaberg, Queensland.

For more information visit: https://www.outerspacebrisbane.org/program/supercut-robert-tommy-pau

Billboard documentation by Sabrina Lauriston

Robert Tommy Pau, Time, 2021, linocut on somerset velvet white 300gsm 100% cotton, 59.5 78.5cm

Billboard documentation by Sabrina Lauriston

SUPERCUT is supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government Initiative and is presented in partnership with Artspace Mackay and NorthSite Contemporary Arts, Cairns.

Careers: Programs Coordinator

DOWNLOAD POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

Position title: Programs Coordinator
Category of employment: Permanent Full-Time
Reports to: Artistic Director/CEO
Closing date: 08.09.2022

 

NORTHSITE CONTEMPORARY ARTS

NorthSite is a leading contemporary art gallery located within the Cairns CBD. Each year, NorthSite engages with over 300 artists to deliver exhibitions and programs to Far North Queensland and beyond.

The NorthSite Mission is to link ideas, artists, audiences and supporters to present contemporary art and design that brings people together, stimulates conversation and provides transformative experiences.

POSITION

The NorthSite Programs Coordinator is responsible for the effective and efficient coordination of the not-for-profit arts company’s public programs.

The program focus is three-fold, firstly through the delivery of programs that enhance access, engagement and understanding of NorthSite exhibitions at Bulmba-ja (96 Abbott Street), secondly to provide artistic professional development and artsworker training within Far North Queensland, and thirdly to connect with community and coordinate a program of arts education through workshops, residencies, events and excellence-in-printmaking initiatives at NorthSite Art Studios (55 Greenslopes Street).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development and delivery of all NorthSite public programs.
• Facilitate and deliver talks, educational tours, events and panel discussions.
• Develop and deliver public learning programs to wide target audiences.
• Management of NorthSite Art Studios, including volunteer rostering, studio and booking coordination, WH&S, key and training registers and building maintenance schedules.
• Maintain and update NorthSite Workshops and NorthSite Art Studios procedures manuals.
• Delivery of programs associated with NorthSite exhibitions in partnership with colleagues including Curator and Events/Content Producer.
• Deliver programs to enhance relationships with members, sponsors, patrons and volunteers to promote NorthSite and further its aims in the arts community.
• Develop systems for scheduling and managing a range of activities involving various parties.
• Attract sponsorship and in-kind support for activities.
• Work with Communications Coordinator to document and provide educational content and copy for social media posts, promotions and news articles.
• Seek project funding and manage individual development program budgets.
• Provide statistical data and qualitative reporting for grant and program acquittals.
• Provide visitor service and administration services.
• Schedule programs associated with gallery exhibitions.
• Maintain strong relationships with educational partners, teachers, and current students to deliver relevant extensions to coursework and professional development pathways at the gallery.
• Manage documentation and communications, AV requirements of programs.
• When required, provide support to exhibition preparation, installation, and openings.
• Order materials and equipment, in line with NorthSite purchasing policies and budgetary requirements.
• Ensure safe workspaces and suitably stocked stores at NorthSite Art Studios.
• Maintain equipment and artwork inventories equipment and paper registers and monitor stock levels.
• Coordinate offsite workshops, including engagement of external facilitators and tutors and programs, material supplies, maintenance, security and access to building, advertising, bookings, budgets and financial records.
• Source information for funding applications, acquittals, funding proposals to grant funding bodies, trusts and sponsors.
• Support marketing, advertising, and promotional activities with the Communications Coordinator.
• Undertake safe-handling and storage of artworks, in particular works on paper.
• Assist with research/development/implementation of professional development programs including symposia, interdisciplinary festivals, conferences, residences, special projects, and consultancies.
• Provide draft copy to Artistic Director/CEO for programs content for website and other promotional channels.
• Carry out other duties within skill range as determined by the Director.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Excellent communication skills;
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines, self-motivated and resourceful;
• Understanding of artistic practices and studio environments, and an understanding of the arts sector, best-practice models with professional experience in art, craft, events, design, service, music or publishing industry;
• Ability to show initiative and flexibility in the performance of duties and the ability to work autonomously and act without supervision as well as part of a team to meet deadlines and manage weekly priorities;
• Knowledge and understanding of the visual contemporary arts industry and ability to articulate important issues relating to the arts;
• Public program administration – planning, development and delivery including statistical reporting of programs;
• Experience in safe-handling of works of art and hazardous materials;
• Proven project management skills, including financial management and contract management;
• Ability to maintain databases and mailing lists;
• Knowledge of all-ability and diversity access principles, high cultural competency;
• Precise attention to detail and commitment to accuracy;
• Good time-management skills and ability to manage workflow and provide regular updates to colleagues and Artistic Director/CEO.

DESIRABLE

• Contemporary arts, experimental practice and visual culture;
• Installation including technical equipment, data projectors, DVD players and sound equipment;
• Fine-art printmaking;
• Archiving and research work and ability to undertake long-range planning;
• Working with artists in presenting and promoting their work;
• Experience working with volunteers;
• Computer systems, software integrations and applications including Microsoft Office, Filemaker Pro, Trello, Hubspot, Vend, Eventbrite and Adobe.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to the NorthSite Artistic Director/CEO.
• Internal liaisons – NorthSite Board of Directors other staff including Executive Administrator, Curator, Communications Coordinator, Retail Manager, Gallery Officer, Events and Content Producer, volunteers, studio technicians, engaged facilitators, artists and other Bulmba-ja tenants.
• External liaisons – workshop participants, patrons to the galleries, program participants, community, industry and business associates.

HOW TO APPLY

Download the Position Description document to ensure you meet the criteria. Provide the information outlined in the Position Description document and click the “Apply Now” button to submit your application.

 

DOWNLOAD POSITION DESCRIPTION

 

APPLY NOW