On The Move, The Place To Be. October 2022

Have recent times created regional variations of shared experiences in the urban environment? Has isolation given rise to the personal within the universal urban environment? These are all questions of urban identity relating to individuality, locality, and the urban world at large. Not until recent times has the Local become so important.

"On The Move, The Place To Be” at the Rovay Window Gallery offers an intimate view that allows the complexities and challenges of the local environment to be better understood. Now, possibilities for interacting with art are as wide open as a room is closed. Take 10 minutes out of your busy Fringe schedule to walk up the footpath on the corner of Richardson Street and McGregor Street in Middle Park. In the Richardson Street Window, view the lead video featuring an overview of the exhibition presented Peter Beilharz, Professor of Culture and Society Media, Culture and Creative Arts, Curtin University Perth, WA, Professor of critical theory at Sichuan University, Chengdu, PRC, Visiting Professor Bauman Institute, University of Leeds.. Head around the corner into McGregor Street and view recent paintings by Rachel Rovay that offer responses to the above questions.

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What is the role of this Window Gallery in a post-covid recovery? How can we, as artists, still contribute to a local recovery? From our lockdown in early 2020, these windows became a critical way to reconnect during our isolation in a safe way—a found space, a home for art, sharing within the local community and online. There was a feeling that we were all in this together. As we continue to create a visual space for our local community, we ask, what did we learn from this new experience as artists? We have embraced the participation of locals and their families, a sense of mutual love for our locality, and a new common faith in local culture. One of the ‘silver linings’ of this pandemic has been the increased visibility of local village life and a source of inspiration. What this pandemic has shown us is the great value of art and culture in processing our shared experiences. This exhibition presents a visual dive into the local past through film and the perception of the new ‘normal’. Enjoy our new freedom.