Feeling Colour Poetry Workshop

Feeling Colour: Responding in Poetry to ‘Thinking Through Pink by Dr Sally Gray’ with Robyn Rowland

The workshop begins with a guided tour of the exhibition at 12pm, then poetry workshop: 12.30pm - 3.30pm. A complimentary gallery catalogue will also be provided.

Think for a moment of all the pinks you know and their associations: childhood and girls dresses, oleanders and their poisonous possibilities; pink diamonds and the fragile fleeting pink of cherry blossoms. Animals in pink like flamingos; strawberries, raspberries, cochineal. 

In the gallery we have an exhibition ‘Thinking Through Pink’, but can we explore further into ‘feeling’ through colour. Beginning with some history of ‘pink’ we will write into our own visions of what colour means for us. 

This workshop begins with a talk by Robyn on use of the ‘the particular’, in poetry, analysing her poetry and that of others.  It then moves into a guided moment followed by writing towards the topic, a period of writing, and feedback for each participant on their work in terms of the topic set. Each participant is given notes to keep relating to the topic for each workshop, as well as copies of Robyn’s or other poems which exemplify the theme.  

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Robyn Rowland is an Irish-Australian citizen living in both countries, who has written 13 books, 10 of poetry. Robyn’s poetry appears in national and international journals and in over forty anthologies, including eight editions of Best Australian Poems. Robyn’s poetry has been featured on Australian and Irish national radio programs. She was an Honorary Fellow, School of Culture and Communication 2008-2012, University of Melbourne; was a member of the National Advisory Council for Australia Poetry Ltd 2010-2013; curated and presented the Poetry & Conversation Series for the Geelong Library Corporation, 2010-2013; and was inaugural Deputy Chair of the Board of the Australian Poetry Centre 2007-2009.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

THINKING THROUGH PINK
Curated by Dr Sally Gray
3 December – 5 March 2023

Pink is probably the most provocative and ideologically freighted of all the colours. Pink resonates across gender, sexuality, race, class, political alignments and notions of good and bad taste. Guest curated by Dr Sally Gray for Wollongong Art Gallery Thinking Through Pink carefully juxtaposes diverse cultural objects inviting pleasure and speculation around the many manifestations of pink – the colour and the idea.

The exhibition aims at an experience of pure visual pleasure, inviting visitors to suspend aesthetic judgements and bask in the visual and conceptual delights of PINK. Thinking Through Pink includes works from invited contemporary artists; works from the Wollongong Art Gallery collection and carefully selected objects from the Powerhouse, Sydney – notably ceramic and glass works from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries chosen for their visual, conceptual and historical resonances.