AN exhibition drawing inspiration from the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of 2020 is ready to go on display at the Frankston Arts Centre.
The works on show aim to capture life as it was a year ago – truly a time like no other.
The Time, Last Year opens at the Arts Centre this month. The event will feature the launch of a community anthology, Stories at the End of the Line, on Friday 14 May.
Anthology contributor Susan Chapman has written a prose piece titled Beach Cleaner. “Beach cleaning became an important part of my day. I’d go out with my gardening gloves, salad servers and large hat, and I’d be meeting people,” she said.
“Being out in nature has been an important part of what we’re doing and being able to write about it has been fun and something to share with people. Cathartic is a good word for it, because our time on the beach has really saved our sanity.”
Amy Newman, another contributor to the anthology, said “I’ve always been a keen writer. I wanted a way to develop my writing skills when I had just had my baby and it was also an ideal way of connecting with the community. I got a lot of enjoyment out of it. I was so thrilled to be a part of it.”
Frankston mayor Kris Bolam said “brimming with bold, heartfelt, thoughtful and inventive pieces, Stories at the End of the Line captures a remarkable time we’ll never forget thanks to members of the community sharing stories about their time in isolation.”
“Locals well and truly embraced this storytelling project with 143 submissions from writers aged 12 to 90 years sharing stories of love, loss, the mundane and the simple pleasures of family and friends,” he said. “This anthology features 75 pieces – we’re incredibly proud of all those who participated and shared their stories.”
This Time, Last Year works will feature on the Curved Wall Gallery at the Arts Centre from Thursday 13 May to Saturday 26 June. A lockdown film competition screening will be held at Cube 37 on Friday 21 May, 6pm to 8pm.
For more information visit thefac.com.au