Home > Whats On > The Vitrine > Punctuated Equilibrium

punctuated equilibrium

a site-specific multi-media installation by Meliors Simms

31 july - 7 november 2010

detail of punctuated equilibrium
image courtesy of the artist

artist's statement

Punctuated Equilibrium refers to a theory of evolution in which species stay stable for long periods with adaptation and extinction happening relatively swiftly in response to environmental changes.

The installation manifests a new direction for my work which has been developing for several years as Living in the Anthropocene.

I have long been fascinated by fossils and the stories they tell about evolution, adaptation, and the causes and consequences of extinction. These stories are particularly relevant for the current period which can be characterized by widespread extinctions of many diverse species of flora and fauna as a result of human behaviours.

The Vitrine’s associations with the cabinets of curiosities of Victorian naturalists (such as Darwin) makes it an ideal setting for images of fossils and other natural phenomena through which we understand the processes of evolution and extinction on earth. The confined space allows a manageable scale- representation of geological time. The glass windows are perfect for exhibiting artist’s books which need to be seen but not touched.

Artist's bio

Meliors Simms' (1966, Canada) love of objects made by hand has led her to the love of book-making and other craft praxis such as knitting, embroidery and crocheting. The use of objects that are made with love are, often recycled objects and are always in conversation with her concerns for the planet. Her crafted works extend beyond the utilitarian nature that crafts are often known for.
For Simms, the blanket becomes new ground upon which to make art. The book is no longer a vehicle for text, but is transformed as a fluid, tactile sculptural object. The hand-stitching we commonly associate with domesticity is now charged with the power of the political.
Meliors Simms is currently working and residing in the Waikato, Aotearoa-New Zealand.

Exhibitions

Solo shows
• National Contemporary Art Awards, Hamilton, September 2010(finalist)
• Pins and Needles Uxbridge Art Centre, Auckland, June 2010
• Light: watercolour jewellery textiles North Shore City, May 2010
• Estuary Artworks, Uxbridge Art Centre, Auckland, March 2010 (finalist)
• Waiprint, ArtsPost, Hamilton October 2009
• National Contemporary Art Awards, Hamilton, September 2009 (finalist)
• *Membranes, Ignition Fringe Festival, Hamilton, June 2009
• End of Year Show, Douglas Arts Base, QLD, Australia, December 2008
• Books 08, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD Australia, September 2008
• Write On! Women Writers of Northland, Whangarei Museum, 2008
• New Zealand Art Awards Challenge, Takapuna, 2008 (finalist)
• *Domestic Pilgrimage, Yvonne Rust Gallery, Whangarei, Nov 2007
• Books ‘07, Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD, September 2007
• Bookworks, Northart Galleries, Auckland, June 2007
• Heritage Award Exhibition, NZ Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, 2005
• Works of Imagination textasimageastext Noosa Regional Gallery, QLD 2005
• Handmade Books, Auckland City Libraries, September 2005
• Bookworks, Northart Galleries, Auckland, June 2005
• CrossOver, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, March 2005
• From the Same Foundations, Artspost Galleries, Hamilton, July 2004
• Wordform, Thistle Hall, Wellington, July 2004

Awards and Honours
• Finalist –National Contemporary Art Awards 2009
• Finalist – New Zealand Art Guild Art Award 2008
• Australian Political Exchange Programme 2000
• Masters Scholarship 1997-8
• Blackwood Paul Memorial Prize 1995

Residencies
Writer/Artist in Residence, Hamilton Girls High School 2009

Public Art/Installations
• Anzac Poetry, Waikato Museum, April 2009
• Love Letters at Your Feet, Hamilton Summer Festival, February 2009
• After the Big Storm, 25 public libraries, Northland Region, August 2007
• Love Letters at Your Feet, Whangarei Mid Winter Arts Festival, July 2007
• Addicted to Capitalism, 8 public libraries, 4 countries, June 2007

Commissions
• Deep Time Writer’s Residency, original poem in unique artist’s book for Hamilton Girls High School 2009
• Weeds Catalogue, handmade edition 1000, for Weeds InDesign
• Moves Afoot artist’s book edition 100, collaboration with Alan Deare, for Waikato Society of Arts (WSA) 2009
• Sea of Tears original poem in artist’s book edition 25 for Judith Sleavin 2009
• Narnia original poem in unique artist’s book for Narnia Café 2006

Collected artist’s books
Special Collection, Auckland City Libraries
• Do the Dishes (2007)
• Waipoua Forest (2005)
• Karori Sanctuary: Interleaving (2005)
• Wind Talk (2004)
• The Optimistic Heart (2004)

Bibliography (selected)
Poetry
• Two Kinds of Time Voyagers: Science fiction poetry from NZ 2009 (nominated for 2010 Rhysling Award)
• Extravagant Promises and In the Wet Enamel March 2009

Video Poems
• Non-Linear Time 2009, www.youtube.com/meliors6
• Daintree Calling 2009, www.youtube.com/meliors6

Zines
• Happy Bus 2009
• The Bibliphiliac’s Little Book of Basic Book Making Skills 2009
• Blog
• Bibliophilia 705+ posts from January 2005 to present, www.meliors.net