Three works from Special Mechanism for Universal Uncertainty, a
suite of 10 cut-poems by Sandra Selig with accompanying recordings by Leighton Craig.
Exhibited at Before and After Science: 2010 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art, Art Gallery of South Australia, February - May 2010 (review) and Milani Gallery, Brisbane, November 2010.
(We are discussing a set of prints with lathe-cut record - wishful but possible!)
When wandering punk minstrel Pumice recently tried to fly home to Aotearoa from Sydney, his plane was grounded by plumes of Chilean volcanic ash that had wandered 9 000km across the Pacific.
Being himself a solidified volcanic emission and finely attuned to the convergence of tectonic plates, he had 'sensed' the grumblings of Puyehue and the imminent stratospheric mass several days prior to its arrival. Aghast at the prospect of being trapped south of the border, he had pre-purchased a bus ticket to deliver him from the perils of the Harbour City into the arms of his kin folk in Brisbane, The Deadnotes.
Sixteen hours later, and following several bags of his favoured Smiths crinkle cut crisps and roadside stops for milky cups of tea, a Trans-Tasman summit of sorts transpired in Milani Gallery, captured for posterity be ye faithful archivist Sandy Seashore Selig.
With resident string-bender Mr E collecting mandarines by moonlight at his country retreat, axe duties passed to our man from the Shaky Isles, who garnished with heavy delay throat sung doo wop. Here's a wee dram. Eyes and ears out for release of the full session later this year...
A Nathan Shepherdson post-it poem, found between the high-hat cymbals during The Deadnotes performance at the opening of Madonna Staunton's Homework exhibition, Milani Gallery, 27 May 2010. How he posted it remains a sweet mystery.
