Vitalstatistix’s Contemporary Communities initiative
Bodies of Work is Vitalstatistix’s latest multi-year Contemporary Communities project, exploring the broad territory of the nature of labour/work, labour organising and rights, artists as workers, and the future of work.
Bodies of Work includes development and commissioning of new works by Australian artists – which in 2021 commenced with a ten-day artist lab around May Day, and then the premiere of Natalie Harkin’s reckoning with Aboriginal women’s stories of domestic labour, APRON-SORROW / SOVEREIGN-TEA, in October with Tarnanthi/ the Art Gallery of South Australia.
The project also includes a series of other symposiums and curated labs, union and community work, and other activism/activities.
In 2022 we supported the development of three new works: The Read by Amrita Hepi with Tilly Lawless, Goddess Ball’s Fun House by amira.h. and Monte Masi, and Elegy of the Pale Lion by eDuard Helmbold and Motus Collective.
Alongside, we supported two major union events, May Day on Sunday 1 May, and the 150th anniversary of the Maritime Union of Australia, on Friday 19 August; co-organising a range of events with our collaborators Reset Arts and Culture including Artists Organise!, and supported the freelance advocacy work of our 2022 artist-in-residence Jennifer Mills.
Articles/Media
Jennifer Mills: A Liveable Income Guarantee should support artists – and artists should support a UBI
Jennifer Mills: It’s Time… To Demand Fair Pay in the Arts
Jennifer Mills: For a National Cultural Policy that supports artists and writers as essential workers
Jennifer Mills: Sick Leave
Jennifer Mills: Art in the works: Vitalstatistix’s Adhocracy Program 2022