Exhibition, Naked Landscapes of Victoria by Arlene Texta Queen opens Fri 13th Nov

For her latest drawing series, Naked Landscapes of Victoria, Arlene Texta Queen invited performative personalities to travel with her from Melbourne to locations of personal or cultural iconic significance within the state of Victoria. On individual camping trips in a custom painted 1977 Bedford van, women posed as nude re-interpretations of Australian cultural and historical identities within the landscape. They uncovered the true history of the Kelly Gang in the Warby Ranges. They exposed the legend of big cats in the Grampians. They sliced home-made cakes by a lake. And an octopus helped solve the mysterious disappearance of Harold Holt.

Arlene would like to thank all the marvelous models (Lou, Nat, Esther, Salote, Poss, Pash, Carla, Bec, Ginny, Jen Jen, Tara, Tallace, Trevor) for getting naked and chaos camping with her, battling lusty leeches, odd opshop ladies, failing headlights and other mechanical mayhem, helicopter surveillance, curious tourists, extreme weather conditions and most of all for putting up with her sense of humour.

Naked Landscapes of Victoria
By Arlene TextaQueen
@ Gallerysmith
170-174 Abbotsford St North Melbourne
opens Friday November 13th, 2009
6 – 8 pm

gallery hours Thursday, Friday 11-6
Saturday 11-4

preview if you must at
www.gallerysmith.com.au
runs til Dec 12th, 2009