Art is a chore

Visual artists Zoe Martin and Michael Ciavarella want to start a conversation about the repetitive everyday things that "get us down".

VISUAL artists Zoe Martin and Michael Ciavarella want to talk about repetitive household chores through art and are calling on the community to help start the conversation.
Zoe and Martin will hold workshops at the Eumundi Markets for the Iron Cage Project that aims to “get real about daily life” by celebrating the daily duties in the form of a community art project.
Anyone is welcome to take part in the project by bringing along a white business shirt or an old birdcage to donate to the art installation.
The donations will be turned into works of art to be exhibited as a sculptural installation at the markets in September.
Zoe and Michael will hold workshops at the markets where people will be asked to write on a shirt their thoughts and feelings about daily responsibilities such as domestic duties.
“It is a chance to discuss relevant social issues while being creative and contributions will remain anonymous,” Zoe said.
“Your contribution will be part of the finished artwork. We need to talk to each other about the repetitive things that sometimes get us down.
“By sharing thoughts and feelings creatively leads to constructive change.
“Reflective writing and art are tangible ways to express personal and social issues and a constructive way of healing them.”
The text will explore questions such as how people feel about household duties, what do they like or dislike about chores and are there any differences in duties between partners?
The workshops will start on Saturday 13 August at the Original Eumundi Markets and donations of white business shirts and birdcages can be dropped off at the market workshops on Saturdays or by contacting Zoe directly on zoe@zoemartin.com.au.
“It is our responsibility as artists to maintain a healthy creative community,” she said.