First built in 1861 and active for over 130 years, the Old Castlemaine Gaol has seen men, women and children of all ages pass through its imposing wooden gates. This site is currently utilised as a venue and for historic tours. With its high position above the town, it has the auspicious advantage of 360 views of the town of Castlemaine.
I have chosen the sites Old Guard Towers which are flanked at the back of the goal. The title of this project takes the nature of the site and the nature of the use of these towers as starting point to also explore wider concepts around the viewing platform and the socio political history of this site.
This project is a creative development of photo visual art works encompassing these four guard towers.
Utilising the cameraless processes of camera obscura and pinhole photography, I plan to research and develop an experimental process of converting the towers into a studio for artwork production and audience participation.
The works will draw the existing material of the site into a spectral field that engages light as a means to trace the delicate and hidden aspects of the landscape.
Regional Centre for Culture:
The Regional Centre for Culture program celebrates Victoria as a creative state and shines the light on one geographic region for one year, celebrating local creativity, culture and communities.
The 2018 Regional Centre for Culture region is one of Victoria’s key regional cultural hubs comprising the City of Greater Bendigo, Mount Alexander Shire, Central Goldfields Shire and Hepburn Shire.
This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. Further details about the 2018 Regional Centre for Culture program can be found here http://rcc2018.com/
Further information about The Old Castlemaine Goal can be found here https://www.oldcastlemainegaol.com.au/
