Exhibitions » Exhibition Archive » Hirschfeld Gallery Archive » Further Convictions Pending
Further Convictions Pending
20 March - 2 May 2010 in the Hirschfeld Gallery
The title of this exhibition stated its approach: work that is forward looking, part of a larger body that is still developing. This was new work representing a specific moment for each artist: a moment of conviction, fulfilment or pause, but also optimistic about the future – the next certainty is on the horizon. Behind these readings is a darker one. Also a common legal phrase, Further Convictions Pending comes with a sense of foreboding, the horizon is not necessarily a bright place.
Further Convictions Pending presented new work by four artists, working across media: a typographic wall work, black and white architectural photography, and oil painting. Each of these artists was at a different stage in their practice, from professionally established (Sarah Maxey) to recent graduates Tim Thatcher and Douglas Stichbury (MFA) and current student Andrew Beck (BFA). The combination of artists was central to this exhibition, representing a cross-section of practice which intersects at this moment of conviction.
After three solo Hirschfeld exhibitions focused on established practitioners, a group show of recent work created a response to the place which is now. The strong headline work by designer Sarah Maxey offered a graphic banner in the space for the other works to play off, while for her it expanded the restrictive dimensions of the page format she usually works with. Positioned high on the wall, it served both as a work and as a title for the exhibition.
The title of the exhibition drew on a book of the same name by Vincent O’Sullivan, a collection of his poems from the last decade. Sarah Maxey designed the cover for this book, and it is one her discarded drafts from this time which served as the impetus for the type design that is included in this exhibition. The drafts, the cast offs, the process as opposed to the product, are all points of orientation for the exhibition. As is the mistake; Further Convictions Pending proposes that independence is only as valuable as the scope it allows for error.
Public Programmes
Curator's introduction by Abby Cunnane
Saturday 20 March 2010 2pm
Artists' Talk
Saturday 24 April 2010 2pm
Artist's Presentation—Sarah Maxey on bespoke handlettering
Thursday 22 April 2010 6pm