Meet Amber Smith. Amber first graduated from Deakin in 2017, with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) – First Class. Since then they’ve secured a position as curator at PLATFORM Arts, a Geelong-based contemporary gallery; a position they say ‘fits nicely’ with their own art-making practice.
We talk to them about their journey in the arts, the skills gained in their degree that they apply to their curatorial role, and their abiding relationship with Deakin.
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As Amber Smith puts it, one of the biggest influences on their career was being taught by Patrick Pound and seeing his exhibition at the Ian Potter Centre.
‘Having always considered my art hard to place within a contemporary context, Patrick provided me with invaluable motivation to continue with my arts practice. Not only by generously providing me with important reference material and texts, but his arts practice showed me that there is a value in collections as art practice. His ease and wit when discussing his work also influenced me to continue with my direction,’ they said. ‘It sounds silly, but sometimes it’s not until you find a kindred spirit that you allow yourself to fully immerse yourself in your passion. It’s necessary affirmation and confirmation that you are doing something of value.’
Patrick’s advice – to both immerse yourself in your passion, and to see value in collections as art practice – is one Amber’s since taken to heart. These days, they work as a curator at PLATFORM Arts in Geelong, a contemporary gallery that champions a new generation of thinkers, makers, risk-takers and agitators.
‘The day-to-day is a lot of administration and organisation; I apply for funding and work with community organisations to make some projects come to life. My degree taught me a lot about proposals and time management in an arts-specific environment, and that has been the most helpful thing. But I also need to think on my feet, be agile and flexible, and work with a lot of different people. Being a curator is a really fluid role, and you need to realise that most shows will be a completely new experience; it’s a case-by-case, completely unique case each time. While you can apply the same framework in terms of planning and process, the nature of the work, audience and artist are always different.’
Chameleon Death by Daniel Longo. Curated by Amber Smith. Image credit: Leiko Manalang and Platform Arts
They credit their honours degree with equipping them with key curatorial skills, like the ability to conceive of how artworks should be grouped, and the ability to think and write critically about art. In addition, they say the ability to communicate effectively has come – perhaps unsurprisingly – to be of great help.
‘I learnt a lot in terms of public speaking and different communication styles; of how to give feedback and critique artwork. It’s come in handy working with artists.’
A practicing artist themselves, Amber is quick to acknowledge that it can be difficult to manage creative pursuits, particularly alongside a paid role. But, they say, curating provides them with a unique perspective of and purview in art; and further, feeds organically into their own practice.
‘I try to give myself a designated time each week that I spend getting into the studio, and I make sure that I am always reading and looking at things that flow into my own work. I think the nature of my own practice – collecting and the archive – fits in pretty nicely with curating. I am always thinking about objects and components and how they work together, their associative potential and spatial dimensions.
(Plus), I have been able to mentor a lot of emerging artists, which is the most rewarding part of my job. Watching them continue to grow and develop is amazing. I’ve also had the opportunity to bring some dream projects to life like Energetical, a womxn-led and devised public program.’
In the next five years, they’re hopeful they’ll be able to continue building both their curatorial and creative practice. They’ll also continue to build their relationship with Deakin, where they currently study towards a PhD on the construction of meaning in collections, and where they have recently accepted a role as a sessional academic. ‘Being a casual academic is something I really love doing,” they say. ‘It means I can share what I’ve learnt so far with emerging creatives.’
Amber Smith. Image credit: Sarah Walker and Platform Arts
Amber Smith
Bachelor of Creative Arts with first class honours
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