Uneasily Along the Sand

Research background: 'Uneasily Along the Sand' was a mixed media installation and video made by Paul Carter - and collaborators - at the old Mildura Base Hospital and Pyrenees House, Ararat and exhibited at Mildura waterfront, Pioneers' Cottage as part of a six-day arts festival, Palimpsest #8. Carter was one of 46 artists and reserachers who were invited by Arts Mildura to create work for the festival. Research contribution: In about 1900, the great Mallee poet John Shaw Neilson was admitted to hospital with nervous exhaustion. He heard strange voices and saw visions and 'Uneasily' evokes this state of mind via a set of actions performed in Mildura's Old Base Hospital. For example, the hospital solarium is transformed into a strangely distorted Mallee paddock of sand, barbed wire and leaking matresses. This piece was inspired by Carter's book 'Ground Truthing: Explorations in a Creative Region' (University of Western Australia Publishing, 2010). Research significance: 'Uneasily Along the Sand' was part of a major Arts Mildura festival and symposium. Palimpsest #8, held in the remote regional Victorian city of Mildura, was funded by Victorian State Government body Arts Victoria, the Federal Government, Tourism Victoria, La Trobe University and Mildura Rural City Council. The sound installation for 'Uneasily' was a remix of 'Mac', a radio play broadcast on ABC Radio National in 2011. The festival was mentioned in 'The Canberra Times' (Diana Plater, 'Worth their weight in salt', 21 May 2011) and online.