Writing the field: text + place with Mel Deerson

Writing the field: text + place with Mel Deerson at Seventh Gallery.

A creative writing workshop run by the artist, writer and teacher Mel Deerson 

Sunday 25th February - 2-5pm.

Cost: free

What are the forcefields (historical, structural, sensory and im/material) that hover around us? And how do we tune into them? We will explore site-responsive writing through examples, prompts and simple in-class writing exercises.

Seventh Gallery is a multi-layered site: a former maternal child health centre on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land, sandwiched between a sports field and a cop shop. Writing the field will lead participants through imaginative, sensory writing in response to this place; we will also draw on the forcefields of rebellious, feminist and queer histories that flow through Richmond. This includes Sally Milner's feminist publishing house Greenhouse Publications, established and run out of Richmond in 1972, and the Kingston Hotel pub, a centre of lesbian and feminist activity on Highett Street, Richmond, which ran for six years during the 1980s. Beyond the field of vision and the fields of grass are invisible fields of power and control, imagination and community. 

We will look at writing by Ellen van Neerven, Derek Jarman and more. 

No writing experience required. No preparation required. And although we will be doing some writing in class, there’s no expectation to share it with others. 

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Bring: 

Pen/paper/something to write on

Sunscreen/sun protection and/or weather-appropriate clothing (we’ll be going outside!)

Snacks

There will be some time at the end to relax and buy a drink from Seventh’s bar at the end if you’d like.

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Mel Deerson has many years’ experience as a teacher, artist and writer. They are passionate about creativity as a powerful act — as something anyone can access, and on their own terms. Mel also has collaborative practices with Briony Galligan and Spiros Panigirakis, and is currently undertaking a PhD at UNSW. 

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Accessibility:

Seventh gallery space and bathroom are accessible. 

There’s one accessible car park. 

There’s no expectation for you to stay still, produce anything or attend all parts of the workshop.

If you have particular accessibility needs, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Get in touch with Seventh Gallery at info@seventhgallery.org if you have any questions.

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Image: Dorrit Black. Corner of the Garden, 1936.