WE ARE UNION (2023) - Trades Hall Art Prize & Exhibition, AUS
The union movement has a long history of supporting artists as workers. The Victorian Trades Hall commissioned 11 artists to contribute artwork towards the Inaugural Trades Hall Art Prize - a rewarding project for artists committed to workers rights.
Painters, printmakers, sculptors, photographers, collagists, miniaturists and illustrators came together in solidarity for the union movement. The exhibition represents a collective voice in the spirit of workplace justice.
‘The Working Party’ (see first and second images below), is Michelle’s playful snapshot emphasising diversity in the workplace. Over one hundred pieces of paper make up this collage - each piece represents the labour underpinning the creation of art, and thematically advances the importance of working together to celebrate a united work front.
Artists featured in this year's prize are:
Madeleine Thornton-Smith
Ron Guy
Catherine Forsayeth
Sue Jarvis
Michelle Leber
Cass Stevens (winner)
Judy Kuo
Chris Lawry
Glenn Corbett
Danny Humphrey
Ben Hattingh
Cass Steven’s artwork, ‘Behind the Change’ (third photo below), was the winner of the prize. Her work was ‘inspired by Bob Hawke’s tenure as the president of the ACTU’.
Support this valuable event - the exhibition runs to December 2023 - Trades Hall, Paddy’s Gallery, 54 Victoria St Carlton. And pop into the Workers Museum on the same level as the exhibition - an impressive collection of artefacts from working people’s campaigns through history.
Exhibition photo credits: Troy Framstad
RENEW (2023) - Exhibition, Cube 32 Gallery, AUS
What do we need to change in life? Philosophers swivel in their chairs contemplating a reply. Poets prefer we conjure up new adventures. Analysts talk of broken politics - there is a world to fix. Michelle’s artwork, The Quiet Viewpoint (first and second image below), asks us to study perspective, our personal stance. Sometimes it is within the small not the grand that offers the greater reward.
Opening night photo credit: Troy Framstad
AUSTRALIAN POETRY ANTHOLOGY (2023) - Commissioned Publication, Shortlisted for Contemporary Collage Magazine Awards
What visual zeitgeist would befit 60 diverse poets? This was the challenge for Michelle in creating artwork for the front and back cover of Australian Poetry Anthology. The one thing Australians share in their collective experience is the prevalence of extreme climate events. The result was two images forming a conversation with alarms bells ringing. These seemingly docile images require a closer look as a bleaker scenario unfolds. Allow magical realism to deliver a warning.
Book Designer: Chris Edwards
Australian Poetry Anthology Vol 10, edited by Rae White and Peter Boyle is available for purchase here.
ART FOR A CAUSE (2023) - Exhibition, USA
Illness can sometimes be a pathway to strength. This was a thought echoed in the artwork Michelle conceived for the Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program exhibition held in Georgetown, USA.
The exhibition was held in the cancer centre, and upon conclusion each artwork was mounted on a greeting card to be made available to cancer patients, their families or caregivers, and staff. Art becomes a therapeutic gift to those in need. A worthwhile project for many artists who contributed to this valuable project.
Other photos courtesy of artist curator, Jennifer Wilkin Penick.
THE ART OF CAR(D)S (2022) - Publication & Exhibition, UK
In a car you may prefer the fast lane, with the open road ahead you can zoom along to anywhere. Or you might drive wisely like an older person with cautionary tales blinking on the radar. For some, the automobile is gratefully utilitarian, for others it is an exotic appendage. Throughout history, cars have captured the imagination of artists, and in this project conceived by Sleeping with Art, there are exciting new interpretations to explore through the medium of collage produced on a playing deck of cards.
Michelle’s ‘Jack of Hearts’ was an image to join the cavalcade of 52 creative ‘motor enthusiasts’. Aside from the production of this extraordinary card deck, the project’s outcome also resulted in an exhibition of artwork at Hedsor House, Buckinghamshire (UK).
Deane Hodgson (Sleeping with Art), responsible for the concept and design of the card deck, conceived this great way to share art images.
Percentage of profits went to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
LOOK AROUND (2022) - Exhibition, Quebec
In Japanese calligraphy, the drawing of a circle describes the basis of the spiritual discipline known as ensō. This Zen practice, emblematic of connection and strength, became the investigative force joining collage artists from 25 countries.
In an unsettled and divided world during the height of the pandemic, the creative brief to include a circle within artwork was an inspired impetus behind the digital exhibition, Look Around (Canada).
In Michelle’s interpretation we find cautionary road markers falling from the skies into the present. The circle to enlightenment is a challenging path, sometimes broken. What happens when we peep through rose-coloured glasses to find the truth?
SHOW OF HANDS (2021) - Solo Exhibition, Cordite, AUS
Take the human hand and rearrange it within 10 historical landscapes. This collage series reflects on Australia’s colonial legacy with themes on the hysteria of loss, isolation and resilience. Michelle created this commissioned collection for Cordite 103, Amble.
IMage: Masthead of Cordite’s AMBLE Edition, including Michelle’s ARTWORK
KINDNESS FARM (2021) - Installation, USA
Curated by the PNW Collage Collective, a permanent art installation is on display within the Kindness Farm, Portland, Oregon. Feeding those in need and teaching regenerative gardening practices, the Kindness Farm helps their local neighbourhood thrive. Volunteers and visitors of the farm can view this collection as they wander among the vegetable beds. Michelle’s collage appears as part of this international line-up.
PHOTOS: Stills of various artist’s work from the PNW Collage Collective archive
GAME (2021) - Exhibition & Publication, Russia
A group show, part of the Rezh da Kley Festival in Moscow, was held at Na Peschanoy Gallery, Moscow. 70 collage artists from 42 countries examined the personal and political rigours of the collective ‘GAME’. Olga Kirsanova, curator of the festival, selected Michelle’s work from a global playing field.
TOP LEFT PHOTO: ‘Last Game’ by Michelle Leber (analogue collage, paper, 2021) OTHER PHOTOS: Lena Balakireva from the Exhibition Opening
THE BURNOUT SOCIETY (2021) - Exhibition, Red Collage Peru
Responding to Byung-Chui Han’s philosophical notions of ‘The Burnout Society’, Michelle recast Venus, offering resilience as a counter to the adversities in life. Find Michelle’s submission below and a snapshot of some of the international artwork selected. Curated by Paty Benavides and Caroline Cruz.
LEFT PHOTO: ‘The Others’ by Michelle Leber (3D collage, mixed-media, 2021) RIGHT PHOTO: TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Michelle Leber (AUST), Rebel Deer (BUENOS AIRES), Sergio Toro (CHILE) SECOND ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Lisa Litvinenko (UKRAINE), Beny Barbosa (BASIL), Caroline Cruz (PERU) THIRD ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: Audrey Jeamart (FRANCE), Kuba Skorus (POLAND), Paola Dcroz (SPAIN)
FENCEWORK (2021) - Exhibition, USA
Michelle’s collage was selected for a group show at FENCEWORK GALLERY, Portland Oregon (USA). Hosted by the Pacific Northwest Collage Collective, sponsored by the Kanyer Art Collection, the exhibition showcases 24 international collage artists.
PHOTOS: Courtesy of PNW Collage Collective’s archive
HOPE (2021) - Exhibition, UK
Celebrating World Collage Day (May 8th), one of Michelle’s collages appeared in an exhibition hosted by Fragmented Collective (Glasgow).
LEFT IMAGE: ‘The Inner Life’ by Michelle Leber (3D mixed-media collage, 2021) RIGHT IMAGE: Exhibition Poster
THIS KIND OF BIRD FLIES BACKWARDS (2021)
Join Michelle Leber, Angela Costi, Elena Gomez, Jen Mackenzie, George Mouratidis, Lucy Toong, Dimitris Troaditis and Lucy Van reading the poetry of the late Diane di Prima.
WORDS IN WINTER (2019)
Come join four poets rattle Winter’s chain! Michelle Leber, Robbie Coburn, Katherine Seppings and Ken Smeaton will be wearing their woollies, there’ll be poems tucked under arms.
Blackbird Cafe - 16 Lyons St, Newstead, VIC
$15 (& tea & cake)
TALKING TO THE SHORELINE (2018) - Installation (Steel & Wood), Point Leo Foreshore
Michelle Leber was commissioned by Remember the Wild and the Point Leo Foreshore Park to write a poetry sequence to acknowledge the cultural identity and the coastal environment of Point Leo. This four part series asks you to reconcile the past with the future, the inner and outer world, to explore the interchange with the sea and all living creatures. Visit the installation on the clifftop walking track - let poetry be your guide as you stand in awe of coastal life.
For further information about Michelle’s poetry installation Talking to the Shoreline at Point Leo, click here.
PHOTO: Rachel Fetherstone - REmemeber the WILD
OOTA’S POETRY DAY (2017) - Freemantle Arts Centre, WA
Michelle Leber was invited to read new work at OOTA's Poetry Day. She was delighted to share her poems based on the Western Australian women who collected plant specimens for the botanist, Ferdinand Mueller.
LONGLIST (2017) - The Ron Pretty Poetry Prize, AUS
Michelle's poem How Not to Fall in Love with an Owl was long-listed for the Ron Pretty Poetry Prize 2017, administered by Five Islands Press.
LONGLIST (2016) - The University of Canberra Vice Chancellor's International Poetry Prize
Michelle's poem The Forbidden Room was longlisted for The University of Canberra Vice Chancellor's International Poetry Prize 2016. The winning, shortlisted and longlisted poems are published in a print and on-line collection, tremble (IPSI, 2016).
LAUNCH (2016) - Contemporary Australian Feminist Anthology, Hunter Publishers
Thursday 15th September 2016 at 6pm
Come and support the launch of this significant Australian anthology.
Michelle Leber's poem, ‘She’s Talking About her Gothic Chair’, was selected for this anthology; a tribute poem to the Australian wood carver & plant collector, Annie Beal (1857-1943).
“Australia has a rich history of feminist poetry but there is no one kind of feminist voice.
The seventy new poems commissioned for this anthology demonstrate a complexity of social, political, and cultural visions.
Contemporary Australian Feminist Poetry is united by the shared effort to shape ‘responsible writing’ on everyday subject matter: family, fear, dreams, love, literary inheritance, the body, power, fun, pain, metaphors of self.
Each of these poems cuts its own path through language. Together, their politics are restless, inextricably tied to the now.”
GIRLS ON KEY (2015) - Open Studio
Wednesday 12th August 2015
Michelle Leber and Maggie Atkinson will be the feature poets PLUS Open Section (sign up on the night). Michelle will read work from her latest collection, The Yellow Emperor (Five Islands Press) - books for sale on the night.
Girls on Key was established to provide opportunities for women performers and to raise funds for refugee girls to learn music through the Fitzroy Learning Network.
Open Studio Bar - 204 High Street Northcote
Entry $8/$5
Doors open, 7:30. Starts 8pm
Delicious crepes and mulled wine available!
LA MAMA POETICA (2015)
APRIL 7th 2015, 7.30 - 10.00pm
Michelle Leber will be reading with GEOFF LEMON, ALEX SKOVRON and M.J. HUGHES at La Mama Courthouse Theatre. Michelle will read work from her latest collection, The Yellow Emperor (Five Islands Press) - books for sale on the night.
La Mama Courthouse Theatre
349 Drummond Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
ENTRY: $12 Full | $8 Concession
Box office & bar 7.30pm
Book tickets at http://lamama.com.au/programs/la-mama-poetica/ or ph: 9347 6142
THE HOUSE OF BRICKS (2015) - Collingwood, AUS
FEB 27th 2015, 7pm
MICHELLE LEBER will be reading at THE HOUSE OF BRICKS with PIO, Dimitris Troaditis & James WF Roberts. Michelle will read from her latest collection, The Yellow Emperor (Five Islands Press), books for sale on the night.
THE HOUSE OF BRICKS - 40 Budd St, Collingwood
FREE EVENT
LAND BEFORE LINES (2014) - Hunter Publishers,
Nicholas Walton-Healey’s ambitious book, Land Before Lines, investigates 70 contemporary Victorian-based poets through photography accompanied by a poet’s response to ‘where the self sits’ in the portrait. Michelle’s portrait, included in this ‘anthology’, was taken on the Sandringham foreshore, accompanied by her poem - Walking Sea Cliffs Thinking About Bird as Architect. The launch of Land Before Lines (limited edition of 500) included an exhibition of the poet’s portraits at Thousand Pound Bend as part of The Emerging Writers’ Festival, and again exhibited at Manning Clarke House in Canberra in 2015.
‘This is a collaborative work between photographer and poets that creates conversations extending well beyond the ‘limits’ of page or gallery. It is a superbly crafted undertaking that investigates issues of subjectivity, objectivity and place, and carries a fascinating documentary quality’ - John Kinsella
