FORDTOWN - Kaitlyn Church

Platform Arts is thrilled to present ‘FORDTOWN’, an expanded documentary series by Katelyn Church. 

In lieu of an opening event, Platform Arts will be hosting a special closing event between 6PM and 8PM.

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“Geelong has its tail up. The city rejoices.
Everyone is happy because more progress and prosperity have been visited suddenly upon the city by the advent of the Ford Organisation. There is, however, a tendency to over-estimate the value of this new achievement. This is forgivable, for Geelong slept for a long time.” 1

On October 7th, 2016, the last engine rolled off
the assembly line, thus ending the 91-year long manufacturing history between the Ford Motor Company and the city. The identity of the city of Geelong has been linked to the local Ford Factory since it began operation in 1925. The advent of Ford Australia allowed the city to enjoy the same type of wealth and prosperity as other motor cities across the globe like Detroit, Nagoya, and Birmingham. The city became so synonymous with the company that it would colloquially become known as Fordtown.

Fordtown is an expanded documentary project that explores the impact that the closure of the Ford Motor Company's manufacturing facilities has had on the city of Geelong. Cities will inevitably move forward from 'blue-collar' industries such as manufacturing, and transition into a post-industrial society, focusing on the production of knowledge, rather than the production of goods. This transition comes with many benefits for the environment and local working conditions. This project questions the human cost of this progress and documents the impact the loss of Ford has had on the city of Geelong through the stories of individual workers.

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Kaitlyn Church is a Melbourne based visual artist, employing photography, video and the archive. She utilizes her upbringing in rural Victoria as a source of inspiration for her photographic work; her current practice is focused on documenting the ever-changing landscape of regional Australia. She also has an interest in the history of Australia; and explores the impact of past events on the contemporary landscape.

Her project Fordtown questions the human cost of post-industrialization through the exploration of the ramifications of the closure of Ford's manufacturing facilities in her hometown of Geelong. This project is the culmination of her Master's degree research at the Photography Studies College.

Her work has been collected by various organizations including The Australian National Library, and The Asia Pacific Photobook Archive. Her work has also been exhibited throughout Melbourne, including in the Centre of Contemporary Photography and the Monash Gallery of Art.

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See Kaitlyn church’s Instagram here.

View more of Kaitlyn’s work here.

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1. 1925 'GEELONG'S NEW PLACE ON THE MAP', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 2 April, p. 9.

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Due to Covid-restrictions, Platform Arts events will be presented in alignment with state government guidelines regarding restricted venue capacity. Platform Arts insist that attendees comply with our Covid-Safety Policy, adhering to current guidelines set by the Department of Health and Human Services in relation to mask-wearing, social distancing, sanitation and check-in code systems. Updates regarding current restrictions can be found here.