Artists explore Geelong’s iconic industry

A new exhibition concentrating on the buildings and sites of Geelong’s deindustrialisation, the thousands of acres of land and the often overlooked beauty of its industrial buildings is the subject of a new exhibition.

Through the work of artists Sarah Duyshart, Robert Mihajlovski, Bindi Cole Chocka, Merinda Kelly, Amanda Shone, Alex Hamilton and a team of Architecture and Creative Arts-based Deakin University researchers and students, Iconic Industry powerfully evokes the sounds, views, atmosphere and memories of Geelong’s industrial legacy.

Iconic Industry is part of the #VacantGeelong project.

Deakin University senior lecturer and #VacantGeelong project leader Dr Mirjana Lozanovska said Iconic Industry worked to provide a platform for “us to understand and value the industrial legacy of Geelong and provide a way to go forward through this phase of deindustrialisation”.

Artists engaged the local community and former Ford workers to acknowledge and celebrate the history and community memories of Geelong’s iconic industrial buildings before they are adapted for re-use.

Deakin University’s #VacantGeelong project received $10,000 in funding through the City of Greater Geelong’s (COGG) Community Arts Grants Program.

COGG manager of arts and culture Kaz Paton said the city was thrilled to support the #VacantGeelong project through the grants program.

“The Iconic Industry exhibition is a captivating celebration of Geelong’s industrial past.”

The Iconic Industry exhibition is a major phase of the #VacantGeelong project and is on display at the National Wool Museum until October 1.

For more information about the National Wool Museum and coming exhibitions, head to nwm.vic.gov.au.