Press Release

Ocular NotesŠ
Various members of artists' group Ocular Lab: John Abbate, Sandra Bridie. Julie Davies. Raafat Ishak. Sean Loughrey Jonathan Luker. Sally Mannall. Elvis Richardson, and Alex Rizkalla.
Ocular NotesŠ the Orientation 2007 exhibition at the George Paton Gallery exhibits informal and notational works of nine members of Melbourne artists' group Ocular Lab. Works on display will range  from slide projections by Sally Mannall and Elvis Richardson, a site specific installation in the crevices and awkward spaces of the gallery of memorabilia from his teenage days participating in student activitist activities at Melbourne Uni by Alex Rizkalla, photographic documentation of artists dismantling their exhibitions by Julie Davies, failed and discontinued experiments using electrical components by Jonathan Luker, archival material including publications and interviews with members from the group, and more.
Each year Ocular Lab hosts off-site projects engaging with the peculiarities of specific locations such as ACMI, Spacement Gallery, and Trinity College University of Melbourne. Ocular NotesŠ continues this off-site engagement with other spaces and their particular environments.
Ocular Lab as an artists' project has 'headless' structure that is based on a fluid form of collectivity rather than the traditional model of an artist-run-space in Australia. Located in a disused milk bar in West Brunswick and established in 2003, the lab was initiated for the purpose of encouraging and extending dialogue and experimentation amongst its core group, peers and associates.
Ocular Lab has evolved through professional activities, discussions and relationships established over time.   It builds on the histories of 'h' project (1997-1998) and Ocular Lab's past incarnation Ocular Laboratory (2000 -2001), as well as numerous off site projects and collaborations. Ocular Lab is established as a site for experimental and alternative models of artistic representation and activity that encourages the development of professional practice. However, it is principally through experimentation, discussion and participation that the Ocular Lab envisages an alternative to mainstream opportunities.
The core group consists of artists: John Abbate, Damiano Bertoli. Sandra Bridie. Julie Davies. Katherine Huang, Raafat Ishak. Sean Loughrey Jonathan Luker. Sally Mannall. Tom Nicholson, Elvis Richardson, and Alex Rizkalla.
Exhibition dates: 20 February / 9 March
Exhibition open: 11am-5pm Mon to Fri
Opening night: Wed 21 February October 5-7pm
George Paton Gallery
Second floor, Union House
University of Melbourne
Enquiries: 8344 5418
gpg@union.unimelb.edu.au