I’m afraid this won’t last - Room cut through to the hall, Pre-demolition house, Separation Street (Sepo house), Melbourne, Australia, 2018
Part of a group show titled ‘Separation’ that brought together 6 artists to celebrate the final moments of a 1905 house in the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
Home to five generations of families the house featured pressed tin walls and ceilings.
Thanks to the family of Sepo house and collaborative artists Hannah Bertram, Brodie Butler-Robey, Michael O’Dwyer, Ben Wilhelms & Anon.
Repurposed Light Pole
The Strand, Townsville, 2017
Commissioned by Perc Tucker Gallery, Townsville
Grendas Bus Depot
1950’s House/Upholstery Workshop
Commissioned by The City of Greater Dandenong
2008
Church & Community Hall
Pre demolition 1900's Baptist Church
Dandenong, 2011
The Offering was a contemporary art intervention created by Robbie Rowlands in a single story weatherboard church and community hall in Dandenong, Victoria, Australia. The Church was officially opened in August 1904. In this same month, August 2009 – 105 years later – Rowlands’ arts intervention took place.
The artwork was produced using only the materials contained within its walls to create a visually powerful site specific installation. The Offering revealed the history of the site through exposed layers and sculptural forms that peeled and bent the inner surfaces of the building. Refusing the temptations of aestheticism or overt symbolism, Rowlands staged a complex mediation between the ageing structure and its former identity as a spiritual or communal anchor. The result was a profound encounter between the current state of the building and traces of its past, as well as a complex interrogation of the building’s interior spaces and materials.
Commissioned by The City of Greater Dandenong and Victorian Arts
Merricks Beach House
2007
Intervention into a pre-demolition beach house at Merricks beach Victoria Australia
Bell Primary School, Melbourne
2010
With the completion of the new federally funded learning centre Bell Primary Schools ‘portables’ known as the Bristol Building, were demolished. These classrooms had seen generations of children nurtured through their primary years. The exhibition, “Will you miss me when I’m gone?” paid homage to the history and memory of this site allowing past and present students, families and the broader community to experience the building in this important period of transition.
The exhibition comprised of site responsive installations by artists Cameron Robbins, Robbie Rowlands, James Carey, Moira Corby, Tanja Milbourne, Rebecca Mayo, and a pasteup collaborative project developed by Anne Atchenson, Ashlea O'Brian with students and guest artists Jason Wade and Karen Lokerse.
Web site Link HERE
Flinders Street Train Station - Abandoned Gymnasium
Contemporary Site Investigation, 2012
Commissioned by the City of Melbourne.
Created as part of a group site-responsive intervention. This work utilised stored office materials within the abandoned gymnasium. This group were the first to gain access to the site and have permission to explore the history and potential of the site. The gymnasium historically, pre world war II was a renowned wrestling centre. As part of the project a serendipitous linking up with one of the original members of the gym, Harry, created an important and emotional linkage to this history.
CSI artists included Robbie Rowlands, Cameron Robbins, James Carey, Campbell Drake, Elizabeth Drake and Jeremy Taylor. Produced by Philippa Abbott and Campbell Drake.
Pre demolition house
St Kilda, 2012
Fallow Exhibition with Carmen Reid and Tunni Kraus.
Commissioned by The Justin Art Foundation.
Re-purposed Steel Pipe
Substation Gallery Newport, 2014
Commissioned by Substation Gallery for Merchant City curated by Will Foster
Wright Farm, Charlton, 2014
'In-between' was an exhibition outcome of a one month artist residency series undertaken in the country town of Charlton Victoria in September 2014. The exhibition captures the essence of two sites united by one river through sculpture, photography and sound. Through a series of artist talks and the creation of site-specific artworks Rowlands introduced his practice to a broad section of the community. This engagement opened up new ways of considering contemporary art within the context of the rural landscape and country communities.
The project was co supported by Regional Arts Victoria and Charlton Arts Inc.
Thanks to Andy and Paula Wright, Charlton Men's Shed, Nola Wright, Carolyn Olive & Family, collaborative project participants, the Charlton community, Kim Bennett and Regional arts Victoria .
In-between exhibition
Commissioned by Regional Arts Victoria and Charlton Arts
Tread lightly for this ground may be hollow was the final exhibition outcome for a residency at Popps Packing ARI in Detroit USA. The title considers the fragility of this environment, possible dangers of unstable surfaces (hidden basements) but also considers the history of loss in this landscape both pre and post colonial.
Supported by Australia Council for the Arts & Popps Packing ARI
Gallery floor and wall, window reveal
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 2015
Created as part of a group show titled 'Substrate' curated by Mardee Goff this work utilised the floor prior to renovation. Through the intervention the cut through the wall revealed a covered window allowing natural light to penetrate the gallery space. On twilight the cut would glow with a brilliant blue as the natural light was set against the tungsten interior lights. If this light can hold highlights this moment but also considers the animated state of the cut floor guesture.
Belfield House intervention, Sighting Exhibition
Commissioned by Melbourne Comprehensive Eye Surgeons. 2016
Occupying the niche temporal and spatial plane between scheduled destruction and redevelopment, artists James Carey and Robbie Rowlands present a paradoxical and nuanced re-visioning of home in their collaborative exhibition ‘Sighting’. Set within the remnants of houses on 365 and 367 Bell St, Bellfield Carey and Rowlands’ sculptural and projected installations explored the transition of this site prior to its demolition and future development of Melbourne Comprehensive Eye Surgeons new building and practice.
Two Pianos, Rio Vista Historic House, Drawing room Mildura Arts Centre, 2013
Sculptural site intervention in an abandon shed North of Melbourne.
