WAYWORD FORWORD
An exhibition of concrete poetry by Collective Effort Press
Curated by Collective Effort Press and Victoria Perin
The legendary Collective Effort Press was inaugurated about 1978, around a lay-out table, as a group of friends put together a book of poetry. The structure of Collective Effort Press is anarcho-collectivist, politically and artistically. They are committed to bringing poetry out of the academies, and over the years they have performed poetry readings in schools, shop floors, factories, prisons, offices, outdoor festivals, as well as art galleries, zoos, cafes, pubs, and clubs.
This group grew out of Melbourne’s Poets’ Union and the magazine Fitzrot (1973–1974), a magazine that had begun to pioneer a form of concrete poetry that is, to this day, neglected by local art and literary historians alike.
In the words of Jas H. Duke, a founding member of Collective Effort Press, a concrete poem is “a picture made of words and nothing else”.
This exhibition presents new and selected visual poems by Collective Effort Press members: Arjun von Cammerer, Jas H. Duke, Peter Murphy, π.o., Sandy Caldow and thalia, as well as performances by exhibiting poets.
We welcome you to join us from 6–8pm on Friday, 5 May for drinks and performances at the exhibition opening.
Download a copy of Victoria Perin’s exhibition essay
Listen back to Alice Allen’s interview with π.o. and Collective Effort on the Poetry Says Podcast, available online and Spotify.
Dates: 5 to 21 May 2023
Hours: Thursday to Saturday 12–6pm and Sunday 12–4pm
This exhibition is proudly supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants.