29 January 2006

The Let’s Talk Art lecture series will return to the Shepparton Art Gallery on Thursday 16 February with photographer Donna Bailey as guest speaker.

Ms Bailey is one of the finalists of the 2003 Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award, currently showing at the gallery until 19 February, and will be speaking on the topic ‘Documenting the Young Subject’.

After beginning a Bachelor of Arts degree at La Trobe University in Bendigo, Ms Bailey found that she disliked the subjects and searched for other challenges. She began experimenting with a large format camera that she borrowed from the university and took a few shots of her children in and around her 1.2 hectare property at Kangaroo Flat.

These early experiments developed into an ongoing series on Bailey’s children and their friends at home. The recurring backdrop for her documentary style photographs has become her semi-rural backyard, populated by a constantly evolving young cast.

Bailey views the process of taking the photographs as a collaboration between herself and her young subjects and it is this relationship and the photographic process that she will discuss in her lecture.

The cost of the lecture is a gold coin donation and bookings can be made through the Shepparton Art Gallery on 5832 9861.