Still I - VI

In this work Duxbury investigates the concept of 'place' by linking a world-wide fascination for the phenomena of the volcano with a particular local Australian area, the Stony Rises. Duxbury's work consists of a set of six small, monochrome photographs of views of the Stony Rises area from the tops of volcanic cones. The photographs included proportionally large areas of sky and predominance of cloud formations to indicate the significance of local climate as responsible for part of the process of weathering the landscape of its formation. Overlaying the photographs using transparent silkscreen printing on the inside glass of the frame Duxbury inserted barely readable texts from the 'Volcano Lover' William Hamilton, whose research and artwork into Italian volcanoes provided the basis of much scientific research.
The work was exhibited as part of the Stony Rises Project, which involved collaboration to investigate the concept of 'place' through differing practices - of artists, designers, architects, historians, geologists - in ways not undertaken previously. This area of Western Victoria has been defined and written about through its geology, geography, its peculiar dry stone walls, its historic houses and heritage, but these have never been brought together under the scrutiny of artists and designers in collaboration with scientists and historians. Such collaborative groups worldwide might include the Cape Farewell Project; however, Australia has few examples of such projects.
Duxbury's participation in the project was by open competitive expression of interest and related to her previous research in this field. Funding for the Stony Rises project was secured from DRI and NETS Victoria to tour the Victorian Regional Galleries. More than 5,000 visitors viewed the exhibition over a period of 45 days.