Celebrated local photographer Julie Millowick is set to unveil her latest exhibition Surrounding at Castlemaine Art Museum this Thursday.
Julie Millowick: Surrounding exhibits a curated selection of the artist’s significant body of work including a new series seen for the first time, examining the beauty of central Victoria’s landscape in tumult and recovery.
Exhibition curator Jenny Long said Millowick was a localist, an artist who was deeply embedded in the place where she lived.
“Over many years, Millowick has documented the environmental legacy of gold mining around her home near Fryerstown in Central Victoria,” Long said.
“This strangely poignant landscape has been turned upside down through violent extraction – but it remains resilient and in the process of recovery.”
Millowick’s photographs show us the devastating effects of mining, drought, flood and invasive plants, but also remind us of the interconnectedness that links all parts of this ecosystem including its human occupants.
Millowick began her photographic career working in the darkroom of Athol Shmith, John Cato and Peter Barr.
After completing her studies at Prahran College of Advanced Education, she worked as a press and public relations photographer.
Millowick achieved early recognition for her photojournalism when she exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria and Australian Centre for Photography in 1977 in Australian New Work. She has exhibited and published regularly since then, with work held in major photography collections in Australia and internationally.
Julie Millowick: Surrounding at CAM is also an official exhibition of PHOTO 2024 International Festival of Photography, a major biennial of new photography and ideas taking place from March 1-24 in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Responding to the theme ‘The Future Is Shaped by Those Who Can See It’, PHOTO 2024’s expansive program invites audiences to discover the possible and parallel futures that lie ahead, and how current actions and activisms are shaping future realities.All are welcome to celebrate the official opening at CAM on Saturday February 24.
The launch will take place at 2pm and will feature local wine and beers supported by local winemaking co-operative Boomtown Wine, and local bar and brewery Love Shack Brewing Company, alongside support from StrangeLove with non-alc beverages. Visit castlemaineartmuseum. org.au for more.
