Dan Monceaux – Force of Nature

Posted on September 29, 2021September 29, 2021 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Inspired by Trees art exhibition at Burnside Civic Centre, September 29 to October 22, 2021

ForceofNature.eco artists Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux have two artworks showing in the group art exhibition Inspired by Trees, which opened on September 29 in the Burnside Atrium at the Burnside Civic Centre. The exhibition is part of South Australia’s 2021 Nature Festival. Curated by the staff of Pepper Street Arts Centre in Magill, the exhibition features work from over 50 South Australian artists who were invited to respond to the following statement:

“The natural world is a vital component of the human experience, providing food, water, air, relaxation and inspiration. Trees are conspicuous ambassadors of the natural world, their lives entwined within the cycles of resources on which we depend. Trees are also conspicuous in our community, bringing beauty, peace, shelter, wildlife and wellbeing. Trees are fundamental to the landscape of Burnside.”

Funeral for a Tree – Emma Monceaux (2017)

Emma’s work Funeral for a Tree is a starkly-lit nocturnal portrait of a tree that is no longer standing. It was cut down during the redevelopment of Glenside, a former mental health precinct which lies within the City of Burnside. Many trees there were felled to accommodate residential construction. Emma staged the photograph in 2017, casting intense red light onto the tree from below and shooting on film with a long-exposure technique to give the image an ethereal, other-worldly quality. Her artist statement reads:

“This mature Eucalyptus tree was photographed at the Glenside Hospital site where hundreds of trees were felled to make way for a housing development in 2017. Before the chainsaws and bulldozers moved in, the land contained large areas of green space, including many mature trees deemed Regulated and Significant for their size and age. Despite community opposition, the housing development proceeded, removing habitat and food for native wildlife, including protected species like the Brushtail possum. Green spaces are proven to be beneficial to people’s mental and physical health, and provide invaluable cooling in our increasingly warming climate. Sadly, our green spaces are shrinking with increasing urban development and high density living. By creating concrete jungles that will be too hot to live in during Summer in some areas, we’re reducing the space needed for natural environments to flourish and provide benefits to ourselves and to native flora and fauna.”

This Tree is Our Home – Dan Monceaux (2021)

Dan’s new work This tree is our home is thematically-related. Loss of habitat due to the felling of mature trees has long been a concern of the artist, who also personally lobbied for the erection of possum boxes as some compensation for the loss of large trees in parks in Unley and Adelaide. The artwork was drawn, then machine-cut from coloured paper and assembled by hand with tape and glue.

The other works in the show are mostly two-dimensional- a range of drawings, paintings, textiles, a mosaic, some mixed media and digital prints on paper or canvas. They demonstrate a diverse range of approaches to the theme and will fill the walls of the Burnside Atrium at the Burnside Civic Centre until October 22, 2021. The Burnside Atrium is open Monday to Friday, from 8.30am until 5pm.

Also on display are a collection of award-winning tree-inspired poetry by high school students and an artwork made by children from Kensington Gardens Kindergarten. Visitors to the exhibition can also cast a vote for a People’s Choice award by filling out a form at the service desk.

Burnside Civic Centre
Corner of Greenhill Rd & Portrush Rd, Burnside, South Australia
Open hours – Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 5 pm
Last day: October 22, 2021
Wheelchair accessible. Onsite parking available.
Free entry.

Inspired by Trees art exhibition in the Burnside Atrium

Posted on September 24, 2021September 24, 2021 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux’s new art reflects climate change, polar melt and the gaze of the Surveillance State

Shows Dan Monceaux's iceberg sculpture suspended from the ceiling in Gallery 1855

Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux’s latest artworks reflect their attention to existential threats, the environment and the surveillance state. The creative husband and wife team have two new works currently showing at Gallery 1855 in Tea Tree Gully, South Australia in the group exhibition “I see you, you see me”. Dan also recently delivered a spoken word piece at Truth to Power Cafe, a special one-off theatrical event held at the Adelaide Festival Centre on September 17, 2021.

Suspended from the ceiling in one of Gallery 1855’s three main rooms is “Icy, I sea, I see” by Dan Monceaux. The sculpture is made from recycled polystyrene foam packaging, which has been reshaped using glue and hot wire into a semblance of an iceberg. The iceberg is “split” by a large, round perspex disc, which evokes the surface of the ocean while acting as a mirror in which a curious observer can see their own reflection. The work is suspended from the ceiling by fishing line and chain. Dan’s artist statement reads:

“Since 1990, Australia has consistently ranked among the top 8 per-capita greenhouse gas-emitting nations. Pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans are on track to outnumber fish by 2050. Ice is melting, seas are rising, mass extinction is occurring. Humanity needs to reflect on its past and rapidly shape a survivable future.“

Emma Monceaux’s untitled artwork at Gallery 1855 is an arrangement of two fused glass circles, placed on a recycled mirror. The piece evokes an unblinking eye, and is a response to the unwanted attention of the Surveillance State that this husband and wife pair have endured for over five consecutive years.

Dan Monceaux recently addressed this same subject more directly with spoken word piece, as a guest participant in Truth to Power Cafe. Conceived and directed by Jeremy Goldstein, the Truth to Power Cafe invites participants to answer the question: “Who has power over you and what would you say to them?” The pair has experienced the combined chronic and acute stresses of being held against their will under total surveillance for over five years. In his speech, Monceaux declared the Surveillance State “an abomination… a rogue force… reckless, cruel, unaccountable” after listing some of the many ways its apparatus and personnel have interfered with his life. The performance was well-attended and received by the audience and Dan is considering developing his piece further for presentation in another format.

Both Dan and Emma are developing a reputation for stretching the boundaries of group exhibitions between occasional dedicated ForceofNature.eco exhibitions. In the case of “I see you, you see me” at Gallery 1855, the pair responded to a call for portraiture. Both artists remain attentive to social and environmental justice issues and often reflect these in their artwork which vary in media and form, and range from representational to abstract.

Dan and Emma Monceaux’s next public exhibition will be as contributing artists in “Inspired by Trees”; a group exhibition curated for the Burnside Civic Centre by Pepper Street Art Centre.

The group art exhibition “I see you, you see me” is on at Gallery 1855 until October 2, 2021. The gallery is free to enter, wheelchair accessible and is open from 12 noon until 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday. The gallery is set among the gum trees at 2 Haines Road, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia.

Gallery 1855, 2 Haines Rd, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia

Posted on July 4, 2021July 6, 2021 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Dan & Emma Monceaux make and exhibit art promoting social justice

In addition to their commitment to promoting nature and its conservation and restoration, Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux’s artworks often promote social justice. Emma’s most recent artwork “Freedom from Fear” is the latest manifestation of this, though the theme has been present in their work for many years.

“Freedom from Fear” is currently showing in Stitch & Resist, a group art exhibition curated by the Centre of Democracy in Adelaide, and presented at The Mill. Emma’s new work is typographical, hand-stitched onto a wire fly-screen background using long black glass beads and evocative red silk thread.

Emma’s artist statement for “Freedom from Fear” follows:

Everyone deserves to feel safe and live without fear. To live a life free from physical
and psychological abuse, free from slavery, torture, exploitation, racism, oppression,
discrimination, intimidation, harassment, interference and gaslighting. The trauma response
to such experiences can have long-term and devastating impacts on an individual, not all of
which are visible to others. Fear is fuelled when an individual’s freedom is taken away by the
cruel intentions of another.

Dan Monceaux’s prior artworks with social justice themes include his works on surveillance, policing, Julian Assange and Wikileaks, racism, freedom and national security. These themes have emerged in his animated LED badge designs (in production), designs for shirts and other apparel available to buy on Redbubble and Zazzle, and most recently his Intelligence Ltd cartoon series (in production). Some of those design feature in the gallery below.

Cartoon depicting a father and son stargazing. They notice a drone flying above them and discuss it.

Dan Monceaux - Trustbuster 6L value pack (2019)

Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux will continue to make artwork that supports a more peaceful, just and equitable world for people and the biosphere. You can support them by purchasing work from this website.

Posted on July 2, 2021September 22, 2021 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Call for artists and artworks inspired by or depicting temperate Australian marine life

Are you a visual artist? Is your work inspired by the temperate marine environment? Does it reflect the plants or animals that live there? If the answer is “yes” then we want to see it!

Force of Nature is thrilled to to be working with Experiencing Marine Sactuaries on two exciting projects in 2021. Both will help weave celebrations of creative expression into the not-for-profit organisation’s established marine environmental education program.

We’ll be hand-selecting artworks from anywhere in the world to present alongside online professional marine science presentations. The talks will be delivered via Zoom live, then republished on EMS’ Youtube channel. We’ll also be selecting some feature artists, and curating the “real life” return of Totally Immersed in mid-November 2021. Totally Immersed debuted in 2019 as an art, underwater photography and video exhibition, held in the City of Marion, South Australia. We’ll be building on the success of the first edition and bringing it to a new venue, TBC.

These projects present several opportunities for visual artists working in any medium. A selection of works will be integrated into each of the online marine science talks. Each artwork will be shown in the video, along with a 1-minute selfie video in which the artist can discuss their work. Some marine science talks may include a single “feature artist” which presents an additional speaking opportunity. The November event, Totally Immersed, will be a showcase event for South Australian marine-themed art, where artists’ work will remain on display for several weeks and be available for purchase at the artist’s discretion.

The 2019 exhibition included work in a range of media by Frances Allan, Carl Charter, Helen Crawford, Stephen Johnson, Zinia King, Dan Monceaux, Emma Monceaux, Barbary O’Brien, Daryll Rivett, Allan Sumner and Julia Wakefield. Some of the work exhibited appears below.

The opportunity

If your artwork is selected for inclusion in the marine science talks program, a small fee will be offered as a gratuity for its use, along with on-screen attribution. You are also encourage to provide a 1-minute selfie-video discussing your work to include in the presentation. Some talks may include a “feature artist” while others will include a collection of works from multiple artists. Artists are also welcome to decline the usage fee and instead donate their work for inclusion in the talk and publication to video platforms and social networks, if they like. All the available opportunities and options are set out on the entry form below.

The marine science talk program is currently in preparation. Examples of subjects include:

Little penguins
Sharks and rays
Cryptic creatures
Museum collections
Marine protected areas
Seal and sealions

How to enter

Works and collections will be considered as they are received, with selected artists notified by email. Entries received later than October 31 may not be considered for these 2021 events. Force of Nature will also be actively scouting for artists and artworks.

To enter, download the .PDF entry form below, and email it to: dan@danimations.com.au

Download 2021 Artist Expression of Interest Form

Posted on May 26, 2021May 26, 2021 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Help needed: Catch a Giant Australian Cuttlefish in Gulf St Vincent for scientific study

Photo of Giant Australian Cuttlefish on deck of boat, grabbing a horsehoe leatherjacket

Have you ever caught a cuttlefish while fishing from shore or sea in Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia? Next time you catch one, you might like to consider donating it to science to help modern scientists complete a 172 year-old task that will enhance our understanding of Giant Australian cuttlefish, Australia-wide. Read on for background information, or skip to the end of the article for contact details if you catch one and are willing to donate it. This article will be updated once we have received roughly five male and five female cuttlefish specimens.

BACKGROUND

Since the late 1990s, the Giant Australian Cuttlefish aggregation that occurs each winter in South Australia’s upper Spencer Gulf has developed an international profile as a tourist attraction and bonafide natural wonder. But giant Australian cuttlefish occur right across temperate and sub-tropical Australia, and form numerous distinct populations- possibly even different species.

The northern Spencer Gulf cuttlefish population is the central subject of a forthcoming documentary film called Cuttlefish Country that we’ve been working on since 2011. In our research, we learned that many scientific questions about cuttlefish in Australia remain unanswered. There is a role to play for “citizen scientists” like you to help professional scientists fill these knowledge gaps and advance our understanding of life in the sea.

Understanding these populations, and determining whether they are distinct species or subspecies, begins with the art and science of taxonomy. For centuries, taxonomy has relied on naturalists collecting, observing, drawing and precisely noting the physical features of an animal or plant. Once published, this would then provide scientists worldwide with a visual and verbal “description” to compare other organisms with.

Taxonomy has allowed biologists worldwide to gradually figure out relationships within and between different groups of plants and animals. Once described, a species is given a unique scientific name, which may change in time as relationships between different animals are better understood. Advances in genetic analysis in recent decades have lead to many taxonomic “shuffles”, but a complete and detailed physical description of every organism is where the magic begins.

In the case of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish, Sepia apama, that work is incomplete. It was started in 1859 by the British zoologist, John Edward Gray, but the specimen he described was a cuttlebone only. This has complicated modern scientists’ efforts to compare the originally described population from Gulf St Vincent with populations elsewhere.

Before the Sepia apama record can be updated with a complete description of the animal, new specimens need to be collected from the same region where the original cuttlebone was collected: Gulf St Vincent. Those waters extend from Cape Jervis in the east to Port Wakefield in the north and Edithburgh in the west.

Scientists are ideally seeking a total of 5 male and 5 female specimens from these waters, which is where South Australia’s recreational fishers can help out. Our first specimen was supplied last week by Tony Bainbridge, who caught it offshore from Seaford (pictured above and below). Other fishers have caught them previously from jetties, kayaks and boats at locations like Rapid Bay, Second Valley, Moana, Port Noarlunga, Marino, Brighton and Outer Harbor.

Giant Australian cuttlefish caught in Gulf St Vincent, with human hand for scale

hand holding a Sepia apama caught in Gulf St Vincent

HOW CAN I HELP?

If you catch a Giant Australian cuttlefish in Gulf St Vincent waters and are willing to donate it to science, please photograph it when you first catch it, then keep it refrigerated or frozen. Call or message me (Dan) on 0411039592 or send an email to dan@danimations.com.au . Please take note of the depth and location if you’re on a boat or kayak. I’ll arrange to collect it from you and deposit it at the South Australian Museum. The scientists there will take a tissue sample for genetic analysis and the body will be pickled and preserved for physical comparisons. You will be recorded as the collector.

Completing the taxonomic description of Sepia apama is a crucial step in understanding and classifying the Giant Australian cuttlefish populations of Australian waters and a great chance for fishos to help get this 172 year-old job done! I’ll be sure to keep all volunteers updated via Facebook as the project progresses. There is no deadline for providing specimens, so this call will remain open until we have a total of roughly five male and five female cuttlefish suitable for study.

Posted on February 19, 2021February 20, 2021 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

New environmental and political artworks by Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux on show at Adelaide Fringe 2021

Thumbnail of complete collage artwork (without frame)

Force of Nature artists Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux have new environmental and political artworks showing in two group art exhibitions during the 2021 Adelaide Fringe. Both exhibitions are now open and free to enter. Works are available for purchase at each of the galleries, and unsold works will be available to purchase from this website thereafter.

Coral 1 – Glass – Emma Monceaux (2020)
Sea Ice- Digital illustration on linen – Emma Monceaux (2017)
Money Trap – Crab net, corrugated iron, chain & fishing tackle – Dan Monceaux (2021)
Enslaved – Collage – Dan Monceaux (2021)
Neon Sunset – Collage – Emma Monceaux (2021)
Intelligence Ltd: Stargazing – Digital illustration – Dan Monceaux (2021)

At Gallery 1855 in Tea Tree Gully, South Australia, Dan and Emma are among over fifty exhibiting artists who have responded to the exhibition name and theme: Remade. South Australian artists were encouraged to make new works using found, recovered, repurposed and up-cycled material from home, natural or industrial sources.

Studio photograph of completed artwork Coral 1

Emma’s new glass work Coral 1 is a shallow fused glass dish inspired by climate change and coral bleaching events. It was made from transparent glass off-cuts produced in her studio while working on other artworks. The medium itself has already been “remade” from silica (sand) into glass, before being cut, arranged, fused and slumped into its current form in a kiln.

Also showing in Remade is Dan Monceaux’s new hanging sculpture, Money Trap. The work was inspired by his work researching the fish farm aquaculture industry in Australia and its environmental consequences. The work is made from an abandoned crab net recovered while snorkelling under a jetty in Port Adelaide, fishing tackle, chain, and fish cut from a piece of discarded corrugated iron fencing.

Four more of Dan and Emma Monceaux’s artworks are showing in A Light in the Dark in the Auditorium Gallery at the City of West Torrens’ civic centre. Artists were invited to “explore what light they have found in complex social and political times” for the group exhibition. Emma’s interest in responding to the consequences of climate change in abstract illustrative work can be seen in her large-format work, Sea ice. The piece is a digital illustration printed on linen, previously exhibited at the Port Adelaide Artists Forum in 2017.

Emma and Dan each have new cut paper collage works hanging in A Light in the Dark. Emma’s piece, in stark contrast to the black, white and red palette of Sea ice is a jubilant explosion of colour. Made from paper, Neon sunset beams out brilliant neon hues from a carefully balanced, circular geometric composition. Dan’s cut paper piece Enslaved? is a minimal reflection on the abhorrent practice of slavery, which persists in the 21^st century. It invites the viewer to ask themselves: am I enslaved? Saved? Or both?

Dan Monceaux’s other contribution to A Light in the Dark is a digital illustration printed and hung in A0 poster format. Entitled Stargazing, the artwork is the first in a forthcoming series of cartoons under the series name: Intelligence Ltd. These cartoons are a response to the expansion of the Surveillance State and its impact on civil society. Combining whimsy, pathos and humour, the series promises to enlighten and promote public discussion of liberty and human rights in the age of rampant and poorly regulated mass and targeted surveillance.

The artists are available for interview or comment on their works. They can be contacted via instagram at: @emma.monceaux and @dan.monceaux .

Gallery addresses and opening hours for the two exhibitions are included in the table below.

Gallery	West Torrens Auditorium	Gallery 1855
Address	1 Brooker Tce, Hilton, SA	2 Haines Rd, Tea Tree Gully, SA
Sunday	1pm-4pm	Closed
Monday	10am-6pm	Closed
Tuesday	12noon-6pm	Closed
Wednesday	8am-6pm	12noon-5pm
Thursday	12noon-8pm	12noon-5pm
Friday	10am-6pm	12noon-5pm
Saturday	10am-4pm	12noon-5pm
Last day	21/03/21	24/04/21

Emma Monceaux & Dan Monceaux’s works (centre) in the group art exhibition *A Light in the Dark* at the West Torrens Auditorium Gallery

Posted on December 18, 2020December 18, 2020 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Emma Monceaux’s kiln-formed glass plates now available in the Onkaparinga Art Shop

Emma Monceaux River 4 square plate small front 2020

Despite the massive global upheaval caused by COVID-19, Force of Nature artists have kept busy, working on new designs, artwork and products inspired by the natural world. Since exhibiting with her husband Dan Monceaux in the two-person exhibition River to Reef, Emma Monceaux has continued to extend her various nature-inspired glass plate series. Many of these new works can now be seen on this website.

A small selection of Emma’s kiln-formed glass plates is also now available to view and purchase at the Onkaparinga Arts Art Shop. Housed under the same roof as a public gallery, the building is chock full of original works by South Australian artists. Works range from small wearable artworks, gift cards and jewellery to painted and sculptural works suitable for hanging.

Emma Monceaux - Wave 1 (2020) — Emma Monceaux – Wave 1 (2020)

Emma’s self-standing sculptural glass artwork Wave 1 also features in the annual Onkaparinga Surf Art Exhibition, which will be showing until 1 February 2021. Emma’s glass plate selection on sale in the Art Shop also appears in the slideshow below.

Emma Monceaux Ocean 12 square plate small front 2020

Emma Monceaux - Ocean 5 square plate (2020)

Emma Monceaux - River 1 square plate (2020)

Emma Monceaux - Ocean 6 square plate (2020)

The Onkaparinga Arts gallery and shop are staffed by a combination of City of Onkaparinga employees and volunteers, some of which are also exhibiting artists so feel free to ask them about the work when you visit. The gallery is located at 22 Gawler Street, Port Noarlunga, South Australia and is open the following days and hours:

Monday 10:00 AM–04:00 PM
Tuesday 10:00 AM–04:00 PM
Wednesday 10:00 AM–04:00 PM
Thursday 10:00 AM–04:00 PM
Friday 10:00 AM–04:00 PM
Saturday 01:00 PM–04:00 PM
Sunday CLOSED

Posted on May 26, 2020February 19, 2021 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

River to Reef online art exhibition, May-June 2020

River to Reef -artworks by Dan and Emma Monceaux

Our latest Force of Nature art exhibition is available to view entirely online, in response to COVID19 control measures taken by our presenting partner, the City of Onkaparinga. River to Reef is a celebration of the marine flora and fauna of Port Noarlunga in South Australia, where the Onkaparinga River meets a rocky barrier reef. Both teem with life, but many of these plants and animals are rarely observed or reflected in artwork.

Subjects range from the prolific and inquisitive reef fishes that appear in the video piece and several photographs, to the colonial invertebrates that grow on reef walls and jetty piles which are relflected in various artforms.

In their first major double-hander exhibition, Dan’s underwater photographic work sets the scene, while Emma’s imagination creates even more other-worldly visages in the form of abstract illustrations, collage, glass dishes and sculpture.

Dan’s contribution also sees him return to his roots as an illustrator, with two pieces that marry illustration with machine and hand-cut collage. The combined result is the pair’s most extensive collection to date- 55 works in all.

The exhibition launched online on 22 May 2020, and will remain online until June 22. Sales are handled by Onkaparinga Arts through their website, and artworks can be shipped internationally (shipping quotes available on inquiry). Website visitors can also enjoy a musical soundtrack of songs inspired by the underwater world, curated by Dan (working under his DJ alias of DJ Sepia).

Please take your time exploring the works- each can be viewed in detail. Together, the work represents over a year of exploration and artistic response to this unique environment and its non-human inhabitants.

Posted on January 14, 2019January 20, 2019 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Call for entries: Underwater South Australia photography exhibition (Fleurieu Edition)

Following the success of Force of Nature’s first group underwater photography exhibition in 2018, Underwater South Australia is back… this time with a regional focus on Fleurieu Peninsula. Nature photographers and artists Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux (Force of Nature) are now seeking submissions of photographic and video works (from any year) showcasing underwater Fleurieu Peninsula and its offshore reefs and wrecks. Submissions will be considered for a forthcoming group exhibition to celebrate the region’s spectacular marine and aquatic biodiversity.

The exhibition will feature roughly 12 photographic works, plus video and will be installed at one of the region’s premiere art galleries. The exhibition will occur in April 2018, with further details to be announced.

Interested photographers of all experience levels are invited to provide a selection of up to 6 of their best qualifying photographic works for the curators’ consideration. The extent of the Fleurieu Peninsula includes all locations from Myponga Beach to Middleton, with some suggestions marked on the map below. Images from locations north of Myponga, or east of Middleton are not valid entries.

Submissions will be considered on their own merits and collectively against the exhibition’s objectives. They should reflect diversity of subjects (both common and rare), locations and artistic and technical merit. All images must have been captured or recorded in Fleurieu Peninsula waters (marine or fresh).

The exhibition is intended to serve as a celebration for those already exploring and photographing South Australia underwater, while introducing the wider public to the many destinations and subjects that make snorkeling and diving here such a pleasure.

DEADLINE: Submissions close midnight, March 8, 2019.

How to enter

Send an email with “Underwater South Australia” in the subject line to Dan Monceaux at dan@danimations.com.au . Your email should contain the following:

• Up to 6 low-resolution preview images or viewing links

• If submitting video, viewing links for 1 or 2 video clips (edited)

• Names of image/video locations (essential) and subjects (if known)

If your image is short-listed and has not been exhibited in a past Underwater South Australia exhibition, you will receive a follow-up email requesting a full resolution copy of your file. Force of Nature will then make arrangements to have your work professionally printed, framed and hung.

Works exhibited at a previous Underwater South Australia exhibition are eligible for re-entry.

Does it cost anything?

There is no entry fee to submit work for potential inclusion in this group exhibition. It is expected however, that artists will bear the cost of professional printing and framing of their works and that a standard will be set. The exhibition will be printed as a series, with consistent framing and print size (A3 images, with matte boards and black timber frames).

We will work with our existing printing and framing partners to offer selected artists a package that delivers a balance of print quality, image size and professional presentation. The costs are expected to be below $100 per work, including a handling fee for bringing your work from digital file to printed, framed and hung artwork.

Can I sell my work at the exhibition?

Artists can set a sale price for their work at their discretion. All unsold work will remain the property of the participating artist after the closing of the exhibition. Force of Nature reserves the right to reproduce the work in promotional and publicity materials only.

Posted on January 13, 2019January 20, 2019 by Dan Monceaux — Leave a comment

Citizen science and community art project “It Came from the Harbour” begins in Port Adelaide

In 2019, Force of Nature artists Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux are teaming up with SpinFX AustrAliA artists Bob Daly and Kalyna Micenko to deliver an exciting new community cultural development art project entitled “It Came From the Harbour”. Conceived by the participating artists and presented by the Port Adelaide Artists Forum, the project is designed to celebrate and raise community awareness of the marine and coastal flora and fauna of the Port (Adelaide) River through observation, recording and art-making.

The project will take place in three stages, and span the first half of 2019. There will be many ways for people of all ages to participate in the project, either as a nature observer/photographer (capturing images of Port River biodiversity), a creative artist (making art inspired by nature) or as a volunteer exhibition attendant/guide.

The schedule for the project is rapidly taking shape. An official launch event will occur in February at Gallery Yampu (date TBC). The event will introduce the project, and the various ways people can participate. It will also present a visually rich guest lecture on the biodiversity of the Port Adelaide river, and show people how to contribute their own nature sightings.

Two days of community snorkeling days will follow in February-March with project partners, Experiencing Marine Sancturaries.

Meanwhile, Bob Daly and Kalyna Micenko will run workshops with school and community groups, helping them to design and make various depictions of the animals and plants that call the Port River home.

The final stage of the project will be a month-long art exhibition in Gallery Yampu (northwestern corner of the Birkenhead Bridge), which will transform the gallery into a vivid and colourful coastal and underwater world, teeming with biodiversity. The walk-in installation will combine community-made and professionally-guided sculptural art with photographic and video imagery, and field notes for nature lovers.

We are delighted to announce that the project has received funding from the South Australian government through its arts funding agency, Arts SA.

Tiny hermit crab, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Bryozoans on jetty pile, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Rock pool shrimp, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Godiva nudibranch, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Crab on jetty pile, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Myxicola fanworm, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Colonial ascidians on jetty pile, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Oyster blenny on jetty pile, Port River – Dan Monceaux
Christmas Tree Hydroid, Port River – Dan Monceaux

Part 1 – Nature observation

The Port Adelaide project on iNaturalist is online and accepting contributions now. The website is free to join, and photographic sightings of all forms of life are invited. If you’re unsure of what a plant or animal is, don’t worry… just upload it! The “crowd” of amateur and professional naturalists there is eager to help identify it with you. The project is geographically bound to include the entire Port River, from the mouth of the estuary at Outer Harbor to St. Kilda, past Torrens and Garden islands, south through the inner harbour, West Lakes and out to sea via the West Lakes inlet. If you make an observation anywhere in this area and upload it to iNaturalist (the mobile app is an easy option for adding terrestrial sightings), it will automatically appear in the project.. and if it’s really great, it might even be selected for the final exhibition!

Part 2 – Sculptural art-making

During Part 2, professional artists Bob Daly and Kalyna Micenko will lead a series of art-making workshops, inspired by the photographic work of citizen scientists. Workshop dates will be organised with community and school groups directly at dates TBC.

Part 3 – Immersive exhibition

During Part 3, a curated selection of community-made artwork, photographs and video will be installed at Gallery Yampu as a free “walk-in” exhibition experience.

Author: Dan Monceaux

Inspired by Trees art exhibition at Burnside Civic Centre, September 29 to October 22, 2021

Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux’s new art reflects climate change, polar melt and the gaze of the Surveillance State

Call for artists and artworks inspired by or depicting temperate Australian marine life

The opportunity

How to enter

Help needed: Catch a Giant Australian Cuttlefish in Gulf St Vincent for scientific study

BACKGROUND

HOW CAN I HELP?

New environmental and political artworks by Dan Monceaux and Emma Monceaux on show at Adelaide Fringe 2021

Emma Monceaux’s kiln-formed glass plates now available in the Onkaparinga Art Shop

River to Reef online art exhibition, May-June 2020

Call for entries: Underwater South Australia photography exhibition (Fleurieu Edition)

How to enter

Does it cost anything?

Can I sell my work at the exhibition?

Citizen science and community art project “It Came from the Harbour” begins in Port Adelaide

Part 1 – Nature observation

Part 2 – Sculptural art-making

Part 3 – Immersive exhibition

Do you want to find out more or get involved?