By Tanya Steele
As winter creeps along a shining array of artwork throughout Knox continues to light the long nights. Delivering thought-provoking art and culture that steps away from traditional gallery viewing, Chalk River Labs is part of the huge line-up of artists. Star Mail journalist TANYA STEELE spoke with the projection artist about the projects he has presented for Immerse 2024.
Jay Tettamanti or Chalk River Labs has delivered two shining projection pieces to Knox council’s ‘Immerse’ event this year. An installation named ‘Business Trip to the Future’ on view in Ferntree Gully until July and ‘Night Parrots’ a pop-up featured at the Knox Westfield’s Ozone area in the school holidays.
“There’s so much happening in the world that we just walk past,” Jay said.
“If we don’t stop and actually check it out, we’ll never think about it,” he said.
‘Business Trip to the Future’ is a curious pyramid-shaped work with kaleidoscope projection art streaming a digital video sequence for people to sit and take in.
“The more time you spend with the work, the better,” Jay said.
Chalk River Labs first exhibited the pyramid projection at the Gertrude Street Projection Festival in 2023.
“At the time I was doing a lot of work that dealt with nature and trying to find the symmetry in nature,” he said.
“I was doing a lot of mirrored videos and trying to find interesting things that are happening all the time that we don’t see.”
The piece came about after the artist took a trip to Darwin in the Northern Territory and a hike through nature.
“I got onto this water’s edge, right near the edge of an estuary, where the tide was coming in and out and making little waves,” said Jay.
“It was this micro environment in this tiny little space – that normally you might just walk past and not even think about,” he said.
The piece evolved from there and the Chalk River Labs said the first time he presented it was projected onto a full pyramid timber frame, projection mapped on every side.
For Immerse the piece has been spread out more.
“I’ve separated the pyramid into two pieces and projected onto the walls as well,” Jay said.
Jay has worked as both a musician and artist, working in the arts for over 15 years, developing into projection-based art.
“Video art was kind of my medium to begin with,” he said.
“Projection came naturally as a way to present that kind of work.”
Chalk River Labs uses different forms to project onto and ‘Night Parrots’ was another piece he exhibited for Immerse.
The artworks were inspired by an Australian species of bird called the night parrot, which had been thought to be extinct.
The artist’s version of the night parrot features two colourful birds – one sheltering the other beneath its wing.
“It’s about the idea of nature looking after each other, and us as human beings needing to look after each other too so that we don’t become extinct,” Jay said.
The geometric projection patterns for the parrots are projected onto a two metre tall reinforced fibreglass sculpture and the piece won an award for artistic excellence in Townsville in July 2023.
Chalk River Labs will soon take a new work overseas to Canada and the United States, the latest work is incredibly visual but also encourages people to climb into it.
“Stargate is 12 feet by 12 feet and took some time to create,” he said.
The artist has been thrilled to be part of Immerse – which also features pop-ups, and interactive exhibits and continues for the public to enjoy during July.
“For us artists to have the opportunity – it’s great that Knox Immerse 2024 has given us the chance to show our work to the outer suburbs,” said Jay.
“Come out and see it, there’s so much on happening,” he said.
‘Business Trip to the Future’ is exhibiting at 52 Station Street, Ferntree Gully, from 5.00 pm to 9.30 pm until Sunday 28 July.
Other exhibits are featured in Boronia, Rowville, Ferntree Gully and more – including a ‘pop up’ interactive exhibit by Yomeci Fields at Wally Tew Reserve on Saturday 27 July from 11am to 1pm.
Immerse will continue throughout July and people can visit the program at the Knox city council website online a to find out where and when they can experience the various exhibits.
