Mel Deerson

Writing the field: text and place with Mel Deerson

25

February 2024

25

Feb

2024

Seventh Gallery

Writing the field: text and place with Mel Deerson

Mel Deerson

25

February 2024

25

February

2024

Seventh Gallery

What are the forcefields (historical, structural, sensory and im/material) that hover around us? And how do we tune into them? We will explore site-responsive writing through examples, prompts and simple in-class writing exercises.

Seventh Gallery is a multi-layered site: a former maternal child health centre on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land, sandwiched between a sports field and a cop shop. Writing the field will lead participants through imaginative, sensory writing in response to this place; we will also draw on the forcefields of rebellious, feminist and queer histories that flow through Richmond. This includes Sally Milner's feminist publishing house Greenhouse Publications, established and run out of Richmond in 1972, and the Kingston Hotel pub, a centre of lesbian and feminist activity on Highett Street, Richmond, which ran for six years during the 1980s. Beyond the field of vision and the fields of grass are invisible fields of power and control, imagination and community.

We will look at writing by Ellen van Neerven, Derek Jarman and more.

No writing experience required. No preparation required. And although we will be doing some writing in class, there’s no expectation to share it with others.

__________________________

Bring:

- Pen/paper/something to write on;

- Sunscreen/sun protection and/or weather-appropriate clothing (we’ll be going outside!);

- Snacks;


There will be some time at the end to relax and buy a drink from Seventh’s bar at the end if you’d like.

Click the link to register.

What are the forcefields (historical, structural, sensory and im/material) that hover around us? And how do we tune into them? We will explore site-responsive writing through examples, prompts and simple in-class writing exercises.

Seventh Gallery is a multi-layered site: a former maternal child health centre on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land, sandwiched between a sports field and a cop shop. Writing the field will lead participants through imaginative, sensory writing in response to this place; we will also draw on the forcefields of rebellious, feminist and queer histories that flow through Richmond. This includes Sally Milner's feminist publishing house Greenhouse Publications, established and run out of Richmond in 1972, and the Kingston Hotel pub, a centre of lesbian and feminist activity on Highett Street, Richmond, which ran for six years during the 1980s. Beyond the field of vision and the fields of grass are invisible fields of power and control, imagination and community.

We will look at writing by Ellen van Neerven, Derek Jarman and more.

No writing experience required. No preparation required. And although we will be doing some writing in class, there’s no expectation to share it with others.

__________________________

Bring:

- Pen/paper/something to write on;

- Sunscreen/sun protection and/or weather-appropriate clothing (we’ll be going outside!);

- Snacks;


There will be some time at the end to relax and buy a drink from Seventh’s bar at the end if you’d like.

Click the link to register.

Image: Dorrit Black. Corner of the Garden, 1936.

Mel Deerson

Mel Deerson has many years’ experience as a teacher, artist and writer. They are passionate about creativity as a powerful act — as something anyone can access, and on their own terms. Mel also has collaborative practices with Briony Galligan and Spiros Panigirakis, and is currently undertaking a PhD at UNSW.