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Adamson and Gemes at Manning Clark

MANNING Clark House is hopping with activity in the new few days, with events set around one of Australia’s eminent poets and his photographer partner.

Robert Adamson 2010, photo by Juno Gemes
Robert Adamson 2010, photo by Juno Gemes

Poet Robert Adamson will deliver the 2015 Axel Clark Literary Oration at the National Library of Australia on Monday, while the daring humanitarian photographer Juno Gemes, will use the spaces of Manning Clark House in Forrest to exhibit “Spirit Maps,” which interweaves threads of her artistic practice, with two photographic series, a film, and a selection of artists notebooks.

Juno Gemes in action, photo junogemes.com
Juno Gemes in action, photo junogemes.com

Adamson lives with Gemes, on the Hawkesbury River. Born in 1943, he grew up in Neutral Bay, finding his way to poetry. Over the past five decades he has produced twenty books of poetry and three books of prose. From 1970 to 1985 he was the driving force behind the magazine “New Poetry.”

In 1987, with Gemes, he established Paper Bark Press. He has won the Christopher Brennan Prize for lifetime achievement, the Patrick White Award, The Age Book of the Year Award, and The Victorian Premier’s Poetry Award. He currently holds the Chair in Poetry at the University of Technology, Sydney.

“Spirit Maps” is the third solo exhibition in Canberra by Gemes. She was first introduced to the ACT  in 1981 at the Bitumen River Gallery in Manuka, then more than two decades later, the National Portrait Gallery played host to “Proof: Portraits from The Movement 1978-2003”. This mid-career survey featured images of Australian champions of change, including Charles Perkins, Chicka Dickson, Wanjuk Marika, Essie Coffey and Oodgeroo Noonucal.

“Spirit Maps” by Juno Gemes opening at Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle Forrest, 4pm August 16, runs to August 30.

The 2015 Axel Clark Literary Oration with Robert Adamson will be at the National Library of Australia, Conference Room, 6pm Monday, August 17, Entry $15/$10 (concession), MCH members free. All payments at the door.

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Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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