Penelope Skliros
Melbourne, 12 May – 24 September, 2011
Dear Rose,
This is an open letter urging you to resuscitate your artpals blog, which I’ve noted has drifted into a semi-permanent hibernation. I’m convinced there’s a great need (or at least, I have a great need) for your review-swapping blog. In my case, its not just that baby-land has interrupted my passion for indulgent art-themed international tours. More significantly, the coincidental closure of several of Melbourne’s most energetic artspaces means I’ve been spending extra time on the net looking beyond the Australasian clique for inspiration. The problem is that when I come across a show that stirs my attention, the web shots are seldom satisfying and I’m left wanting details, details. But fortunately (or potentially fortunately, if artpals revives!), there always seems to be someone-I-vaguely-know somewhere-I-want-to-be, as I’m constantly reminded by facebook status updates. (Despite its insidiousness, maybe there’s a useful facebook-artpals synergy?)
With all that in mind, here’s a review for you, with the fervent hope it will prompt one in return, and thereby kickstart artpals back to a state of currency.