Posts Tagged ‘Susi Muddiman’
RUBY SPOWART DOCUMENTARY HOTA COLLECTS
Ruby Spowart with LEICA M6 c1994
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HOTA COLLECTS: RUBY SPOWART – A DOCUMENTARY
Late in 2025 Home Of The Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast featured a selection of Ruby Spowart’s photomontage works in the exhibition HOTA Collects: Metamorphosis. The show was a major undertaking bringing together over 30 works from the HOTA collection that represented artists’ use of collage and photomontage to reconfigure images examining themes such as feminism, environmentalism, and the connection between self and place.
Ruby Spowart works Metamorphosis PHOTOs: Charlie Hillhouse
Artists selected for Metamorphosis included: Brett Whiteley, Rebecca Ross, Rosalie Gascoigne, James Gleeson, Robert Klippel, Julie Rrap, Sally Smart, Jemima Wyman, Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Judith Wright as well as Ruby.
RUBY’S WORKS IN THE EXHIBITION
Ruby Spowart South Stradbroke Triptych 1992
Ruby Spowart – EXPO Geometric 1, 2 & 3 1988
RUBY SPOWART FEATURED IN A HOTA DOCUMENTARY
To accompany the Metamorphosis exhibition HOTA commissioned a documentary film which covered her background, her work and legacy. Four artists were invited to reflect on how Ruby had shaped their lives and artistic journeys.
HOTA’s statement for the documentary states:
Born in 1928 in the regional Victorian town of Numurkah, Ruby Spowart was a pioneering artist who forged an expansive arts career and enduring legacy. Her visionary spirit was always evident, sustaining a prolific photographic practice whilst giving back to the community through her role as co-founder of Imagery Gallery (Brisbane).
Edit Suite filming of interviews IMAGES: Courtesy of The Edit Suite
THE INTERVIEWEES: Top Left – Doug and Kimberly Stokes, Top Right – Rebecca Ross, b-l Jo-Ann Driessens and b-r – Paul Andrew and Doug Spowart
Each artist provided their insights: Paul Andrew connected with Ruby and her work in the 1980s by attending Imagery Gallery exhibitions. After time working as a curator at the Australian Centre for Photography, he is now well known for his Australian ARI Living Archives Blog and research on the Gay movement. Jo-Anne Driessens attended Imagery Gallery photo workshops in the 1980s and is a respected first nations photographer, curator and consultant. Rebecca Ross is a Gold Coast artist, curator and academic who although never met Ruby personally has been inspired by Ruby’s work.
Commenting on Ruby’s practice and legacy online documentary interviewee Paul Andrew was to make the following comment about working on this video project:
it was … a great joy and pleasure to be involved in. Speaking reflectively about the photomedia informed creative practice, experimental practice and social practice of Ruby Spowart [1928-2024] was an essential experience for me, as Ruby was one of many invaluable mentors for myself and many others as we set out as young artists in Eighties Brisbane to start a series of artist run spaces in Brisbane Meanjin. The short HOTA documentary includes artist colleagues from the Gold Coast region and forms part of the bedazzling exhibition. As a stalwart of Southeast Queensland artist-run communities of practice in the 1980s and 1990s Ruby’s practice is kaleidoscopic in nature and her legacy continues today, a cultural polymath.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/headlandsrevisited/posts/1264915432315439/
TO VIEW THE DOCUMENTARY ON YOUTUBE
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RUBY SPOWART AND HOTA: A 40 YEAR CONNECTION
Ruby’s ROIDSCAPES exhibition @ Centre Gallery opening
Ruby had quite a connection with the Gold Coast City Art Gallery (now known as HOTA). Back in 1986 her exhibition ROIDSCAPES (Polaroid SX-70 collages) premiered along with a Jim Brodie exhibition when The Centre Gallery was opened. Her work was included in the exhibition A Complementary Caste: A Homage to Women Artists in Queensland Past and Present held at The Centre Gallery on the Gold Coast in 1988.
Ruby with South Stradbroke Triptych at the Gallery in 1992
In 1989 she was a joint winner, National Women’s Art Award Gold Coast Art Prize. Following on in 1992 as a participant in an artist’s in residence on South Stradbroke Island with other art luminaries which resulted in her seminal work South Stradbroke Triptych 1992 and exhibited at the gallery in 1992. In 2005 Ruby moved to the Gold Coast and continued with the Gold Coast City Art Gallery connection as a volunteer for many years.
HOTA Gallery Director Tracy Lavery-Cooper’s mention in VAULT Magazine
In 2019 the HOTA Gallery Director Tracy Lavery-Cooper contributed to an article in VAULT Magazine asked a series of prominent female curators, artists and creatives to nominate a female artist or artists for whom recognition is overdue. Lavery-Cooper nominated Ruby remarking that:
Ruby’s work has a freshness that aligns more with a younger generation of photographers. Her constructed images explore collage and Polaroid techniques and have a clear tendency towards international photography practice in the 1970s. Now in her early 90s Ruby lives locally and is still active in national photography awards and exhibitions.
In 2021 negotiations began with HOTA to receive a selection of Ruby’s work. It concluded the following year with a large and comprehensive collection of Ruby’s works being acquired by part purchase and part donation. The range of work, all vintage in origin and mostly as unique states, provided an opportunity for HOTA to have a unique and important body of Ruby’s work. She was quite excited with this outcome. Additionally the QAGOMA acquired a small number of works to add to their small collection of Ruby’s works, and later on the State Library of Queensland took her professional archive and a suite of photographs into their artist’s archive. The SLQ had in 1995 accepted the 15-year Imagery Gallery archive.
Ruby + Doug in Imagery Gallery c1988
Ruby and Doug co-founded Imagery as a photo-based artist-run space in South Brisbane in 1980. Imagery Gallery operated between 1980 to 1995 and showed 205 exhibitions featuring work by Ruby, Doug and many local, interstate and international artists.
THE DOCUMENTARY TEAM
The documentary was coordinated by HOTA Curator Kimberly Stokes and produced by The Edit Suite team on the Gold Coast. Four interviews for the documentary were completed over two days in Brisbane and at the Gallery on the Gold Coast. Doug Spowart provided visual material from personal archives and advice on matters relating to Ruby’s work and life.
EPILOGUE
Ruby Spowart @ HOTA Opening 2021 PHOTO Ted Spowart
Ruby passed away late in 2024 – there is no doubt she would have been excited by this exhibition and documentary project. If she were here, she would have expressed her thanks to all who made this possible including the 4 interviewees, HOTA Curators Kimberly Stokes and Sam Creyton, HOTA Registration Manager Liam Bryan-Brown, artist colleagues Rebecca Ross, Jo-Ann Driessens, Paul Andrew, former HOTA Directors Tracy Lavery-Cooper, Susi Muddiman and The Edit Suite team.
Doug Spowart and Victoria Cooper also wish to express their thanks to all involved with the project.
Copyright: Portraits of Ruby by Doug Spowart except for the 2021 photo by Ted Spowart. Gallery installation photos are by Charlie Hillhouse. Film stills and video ‘HOTA Collects: Ruby Spowart’ (2025), produced by The Edit Suite. Courtesy of The Edit Suite. @theeditsuite
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In the preparation of this text Doug Spowart sourced some text elements from the HOTA website and press material, Doug also wishes to acknowledge that some editorial refinement and structural feedback was provided through dialogue with ChatGPT.
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ARTISTS BOOKS IN AUSTRALIA: The People+Events
Doug Spowart’s ARTISTS BOOK FAMILY Mosaic
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In July the artists book symposium ABBE 2025 took place at Artspace Mackay. A key theme of this event was the ‘mapping Australia’s artists book histories’ and in the extended brief for the conference there was the lament that while artists books in Australia had been broad and active there was a scant record of the history the discipline.
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Reference was made to the understated history of the two main texts Gary Catalano’s The Bandaged Image (1983) and Alex Selenitsch’s NGA published Australian Artists Books 2008, conferences such as those coordinated by Artspace Mackay, many unpublished PhD thesis and the ‘valiant attempts by journals’ that burn out after a few years.
‘Bring your stories, your artifacts, and your memories’ they said so I put forward a submission consisting of aspects of the visual record that I have been making over 22 years of the artists book scene. My submission was to be an illustrated presentation consisting of approximately 200 portraits of the people of the artists book discipline as well as a few events.
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Here is my submission rationale:
AN ARTISTS BOOK FAMILY ALBUM – A ‘paper’ by Dr Doug Spowart
“A family’s photograph album is generally about the extended family
and, often, is all that remains of it.”
Susan Sontag in On Photography 1977
Family archives are a profound thread connecting past, present, and future, serving as repositories of memory, identity, and history.
Photography is more than just a medium for capturing pictures—it is a lens through which we view and understand history. Its ability to document, provoke, and preserve moments in time has made it an indispensable tool for both personal and collective memory.
In this way photographs hold the power to evoke vivid recollections, introducing us to lost relatives and forgotten stories while anchoring us within a broader familial narrative. Yet, the fragility of these archives is striking — images tucked away on devices or in drawers risk being lost to time, their stories untold.
The passing of key family members often deepens this void, as context and meaning tied to people and events can vanish. Establishing and preserving a family archive becomes not just an act of personal curation but a legacy-building effort, ensuring that these visual fragments of memory remain accessible to future generations.
In an era where countless photos are taken but rarely saved, the challenge lies in collecting and annotating these fleeting moments. A taking them into lasting archives for some to have as a touchtone for memory, and for others to review and research. Maybe to tell the story for future eyes and minds of the books that were made, what events happened and who was there…
This paper will present an illustrated fragment of photographs of the artists book family taken by the author over a 20 years period.
Dr Doug Spowart
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This submission was accepted, and the presentation offered to attendees of the symposium, and later online as a movie via the Artspace website.
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A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE VIDEO ON DOUG SPOWART’s Channel: “CLICK IMAGE”
For BEST viewing quality select HD quality in the SETTINGS menu. NOTE: The full video is 12 minutes long.
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PRESENTER’S COMMENT from Doug Spowart
In curating these photographs I have focussed on selecting images from the broad artists book community and have not included many photographs from my collaborative practice with Victoria Cooper.
Every attempt has been made to ensure correct captions – Please advise of any errors or omissions. Thanks to Caren Florance, Helen Cole, Robert Heather and Adele Outteridge for their assistance with captions.
Victoria and I have provided commentary about the artists book and photobook disciplines for many years in our Blog, journals, events coordinated and lecture presentations.
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All photographs are Copyright Doug Spowart (Some by Victoria Cooper). The subject pictured, after contacting the copyright owner, may be able to use the portrait of themselves for non-commercial applications. Other usage may require negotiation of a fee.
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WHAT FOLLOWS IS A LIST OF ALL CAPTIONS IN THE VIDEO
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MABF 2017 National Gallery of Victoria
Deanna Hitti and Deidre Brollo @ MABF 2017 National Gallery of Victoria
‘Life’s Journey’ exhibition @ Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland 2012
Julie Barratt in her gallery at Alstonville 2011
Dianne Longley in her exhibition ‘Navigations’ at Barrett Galleries 2008
Tim Mosely in his exhibition Make Like An Eskimo 2012
grahame galleries opening of Lessons in History Vol. II – Democracy 2012
Heather Matthew and Stephen Spurrier @ grahame galleries opening of Lessons in History Vol. II – Democracy 2012
Monica Oppen and Jan Davis @ grahame galleries opening of Lessons in History Vol. II – Democracy 2012
Volume Art Book Fair, Artspace, Woolloomooloo, Sydney 2017
Helen Cole chairs presentations by Keith Smith and Scott McCarney State Library of Queensland 2012
Siganto Seminar: The Trouble with Artists’ Books SLQ 2013
Helen Cole –Siganto Seminar: The Trouble with Artists’ Books SLQ 2013
Noreen Graeme and Jan Davis – Siganto Seminar: The Trouble with Artists’ Books SLQ 2013
Hearsay book launch with Euan Mcleod, Ron McBurnie, Susi Muddiman & Lloyd Jones SLQ 2013
Jo Kambourian at Artists Books Flash Mob Survey Book event Grafton 2013
Catherine McCue Boes Books as art: 30 years in the making Bundaberg Regional Gallery 2014
George Paton Gallery, Artist’s Books (reprised) University of Melbourne 2014
International speaker Sarah Bodman presents a paper – Abbe 2015 Griffith University
International speaker Brad Freeman – Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Lyn Ashby – Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Convener Tim Mosely presenting – Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Books By Artists exhibition – Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Sue Anderson + Gwen Harrison Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Deidre Brollo with Christene Drewe + Helen Cole and Marian Crawford with Sarah Bodman
Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Penny Carey-Wells and Caren Florance Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Robyn Foster + Fiona Dempster and Angela Gardner Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Sheree Kinlyside and Impress Printmakers: Sue Poggioli + Jennifer Stuerzl Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Tim Mosely and Heather Matthew Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Adele Outteridge + Wim de Vos – Abbe 2015 Griffith University
Jo Kambourian and Darren Bryant at Lismore Art Space 2014
The SLQ White Gloves team Christene Drewe, Helen Cole and Jeanette Garrard for Abbe 2015
State Librarian Janette Wright welcomes attendees SLQ 2015
Brazillian artist Amir Brito Cadôr keynote presentation Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Seminar 2015
Julie Barratt and Clyde McGill discusse their Siganto Foundation Creative Fellowship 2015
Jan Davis and Doug Spowart discuss their Siganto Foundation Creative Fellowship 2015
A forum on collaboration – Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Seminar 2015
Judy Bourke and Adele Outteridge+Wim de Vos at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015
Clyde McGill and Anne Kirker and Sue Poggioli at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015
Helen Malone and Sandra Pearce at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015
Amir Brito Cadôr with Noreen Grahame & Helen Malone at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015
Helen Cole, Michael Wardell & Clyde McGill at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015
Dr Marie Siganto makes a presentation to Ana Paula Estrada and Victoria Cooper
PAPER CONTEMPORARY – Sydney Contemporary 2015
Grahame Galleries stand with Ron + Jonathan McBurnie at Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015
Victoria Cooper, Jan Davis and Trent Walter at Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015
Sue Anderson + Gwen Harrison and Brigita Oppen at Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015
Helen Cole, Akky van Ogtrop, Robyn Berkeley from Berkeley Editions and Victoria Cooper at
Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015
Fellow Travellers a book by William Kelly, SLV Creative Fellow and Baldessin Press Studio Residency recipient
Personal Histories International Artist Book Exhibition Uni of NSW Canberra 2015
Robyn Foster (Curator), Judy Bourke, Selena Griffith, Tracie Toohey, Rachel Hunter, Lisa Morisset –
Personal Histories International Artist Book Exhibition Uni of NSW Canberra 2015
Christene Drewe introduces UK artist Guy Begbie – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016 SLQ
Guy Begbie presents his keynote address – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016 SLQ
Victoria Cooper and Lyn Ashby presentations – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016-7 SLQ
Helen Douglas presents her keynote address – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2017 SLQ
Clyde McGill performs his book and a White Gloves presentation of artists books
– The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016 SLQ
Freestyle Books exhibition curated by Helen Cole at the State Library of Queensland 2008
Freestyle Books Symposium with Ron McBurnie, Peter Lyssiotis, Judy Watson, Jonathon Tse and others
at the State Library of Queensland 2008
At the launch of Ana Paula Estrada’s book MEMORANDUM – Ana Paula with Louis Lim and Annette Green 2016
Visiting Wim de Vos and Adele Outteridge at Studio West End Brisbane 2017
Visiting the 2017 Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair – Melbourne
David Dellafiora and Gracia Haby + Louise Jennison at the
2017 Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair – Melbourne
Ulrike Stoltz & Uta Schneider international presenters at Artists book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
A K Milroy + Brad Freeman – presenters at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Marian Crawford and Ana Paula Estrada presents their papers
Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Marian Macken presents at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Wim de Vos at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
A plenary session on artists books at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Noreen Grahame in her curated exhibition “… & So” – Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Barbara Davidson and Caren Florance at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Sue Poggioli and Anne-Maree Hunter at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Brad Freeman and Anita Milroy – Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Lyn Ashby and Sue Anderson at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017
Anna Welch, Des Cowley and Madeleine Say at Ballarat International Foto Biennale
World Photobook Day Book Fair 2019
Helen Cole presents and a floortalk – The First Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2004
Looking at books and the opening crowd – Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2004
Bruno Leti workshop – Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2004
Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2005
Caren Florance, Sasha Grishin and Dianne Fogwell in the ANU exhibition at FOAB 2005
Unknown lady, Adele Outteridge, Madonna Staunton and Wim de Vos and Sasha Grishin FOAB 2005
Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2006
Robert Heather welcomes attendees + Marshall Weber presents Focus of Artists Books at Artspace Mackay 2006
Katherine Nix workshop – Focus of Artists Books at Artspace Mackay 2006
The installation view of the 2008 Libris Awards
Michael Wardell welcomes attendees and a Forum at the 4th Focus on Artists Books event and
Judge Michael Desmon presents his address to the 2008 Libris Award
Clyde McGill’s foyer artwork FOAB 2028
Michael Desmond presents his lecture in the 4th Focus on Artists Books event
2008 FOAB some of the presenters McGill, Fogwell, Florance and Cooper
Focus on Artists Books V and the 5th Libris Awards 2010
Michael Wardell addresses the attendees – 2010 Libris Awards and 5th Focus on Artists Book event
2010 FOAB Deanna Hitti in her exhibition ‘Bint Trembucky (daughter of the drum)’
Caren Florance and David Dellafiora in their workshops – 5th Focus on Artists Book
Victoria Cooper with Judy Barrass and Linda Douglas – 5th Focus on Artists Book
Barbara Davidson and Caren Florance with Sheree Kinlyside of Red Rag Press – 5th Focus on Artists Book
Victoria Cooper with Monica Oppen and Sara Bowen (Book Art Object), Julie Barratt and Caren Florance
Visiting the 2016 Libris Artists Book Award
Visiting the 2016 Libris Artists Book Award
Denise Vanderlugt with her highly commended bookwork I used to wrap rainbows and Jamian Stayt’s
Soulless evolution 2016 Libris Artists Book Award
graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University 2007
Monica Oppen and Michael Wardell with Doug Spowart
at graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University
Helen Cole + Dianne Fogwell and Stephen Spurrier + Normana White
at graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University
Victoria Cooper with Dianne Longley and Anne-Maree Hunter
at graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University
12th Edition Noosa Artists Book event ‘Back to Basics’ 2008
Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2006
Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2007
Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award judged by Robert Heather 2008
Judge Tara O’Brien announces the winner – Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2009
Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2011 – Judge Ross Woodrow
Peter Lyssiotis is his studio 2014
Ana Paula Estrada presenting her Mexican photobook collection in Maud Gallery, Brisbane 2017
Keith Smith and Scott McCarney in a workshop at West End Studios Brisbane 2006
Deanna Hitti’s exhibition of the book ‘A is for Alam (pen)’ at the State Library of Victoria 2022
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Any RSS reposting from this Blog without permission represents a breach of Copyright.
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SLQ Siganto Seminar: The trouble with artists’ books
AT THIS TIME THE BLOG WILL FEATURE IMAGES OF THE EVENT
We are happy to receive comments and dialogue arising from the seminar and will post selected feedback. Please leave a comment on this blog for consideration by us for posting.
The podcast is available at http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/audio-video/webcasts/recent-webcasts/siganto-seminar
Cheers Doug+Victoria
From the SLQ website – Promo for the evnt
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The State Librarian Jeanette Wright opens proceedings
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Helen Cole presents the Librarian’s view
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Jan Davis presents the Artist’s view
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Noreen Grahame presents the Gallerist’s view
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Helen Cole chairing the Question and Answer session
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Noreen Grahame answers a question
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Jan Davis answers a question
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The Auditorium crowd
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The Hearsay team members discuss the project
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Attendees viewing the Hearsay book
BLOGPOSTS ABOUT THE EVENT ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING:
Judy Barrass ‘Critical mass Blog’ http://www.criticalmassblog.net/2012/?p=2568
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All photographs © Doug Spowart 2013.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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