Synapse artists contributed to a number of international conferences and symposiums including:

Grant Kester

Chimera participants

Parliament House exhibition opening,
Adrian Hall and Clover Moore

Ian Hunter, Littoral UK, centre left,
and Susan Philipsz, centre right

Celia Larner

Doors to Dawn Light exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery
installation by Christina Shmigel

Liz Coats speaking at the gallery’s Edogawa Gardens

Evening performance by Ji-Eon Lee amongst the
Mangroves in the Littoral zone on Brisbane Water

Wallace Heim

David Abram

Littoral: New Zones for Critical Practice in Art. 1994

Held at the School of Visual Arts, University of Salford; in collaboration with Littoral Arts Trust (Ian Hunter and Celia Larner).

Adrian Hall and Neil Berecry represented Synapse.

“NEW CRITICAL NARRATIVES: A symposium re-thinking art practice: An examination of artists’ projects in the context of social, environmental and cultural change, intended to address the new kinds of artist-led organisations and initiatives which seek engagement within real-life issues and processes through extended collaborations, interdisciplinary ways of working, and improvisation of new strategies for art practice in life-world contexts.”

SPEAKERS INCLUDED:

Conrad Atkinson, Dean of Fine Arts, University of California at Davis; Carol Becker (Dean, Chicago Art Institute); Sean Cubitt (Liverpool John Moores

University; Karl Beverage, artist, Toronto; Adrian Hall (Sydney); David Harding (Glasgow School of Art); Dr. David Reason, Senior Lecturer, Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Kent at Canterbury; Helen Mayer and Newton Harrison (San Diego); Pat Hoffie (Queensland College of Art, Brisbane); Grant Kester (Washington State University); Suzanne Lacy (Dean, California College of Arts and Crafts); Sarat Maharaj (Goldsmiths College,London); Pitika Ntuli (Dean of Fine Arts, University of Westville-Durban, SouthAfrica; Stephen Willats (London); Wolfgang Zinggl (Vienna) Jochen Becker, Copy Shop/BuroBert, Dusseldorf; Jon Large, Dogs of Heaven, Hulme, Manchester; Pat Naldi/Wendy Kirkup, Newcastle upon Tyne; Susan Lacy, Dean of California College of Art and Design, Oakland, Bruce Barber, Intermedia Studies, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Canada; Keith Higgins/ Jonathan Swain, Visual Stress, Liverpool; Francis Gomila, Fine Rats International, Birmingham; Neil Berecry, Synapse, Sydney; David Edward, Grupo Escombros, La Plata, Argentina; Maud Sulter/Lubaina Hamid, former directors of Elbow Room Gallery, Preston; Raphael Santos, Ala Plastica, La Plata, Argentina); Artig (Köln); Marie Barrett, ArtLink (Donegal); AWAD (African Women's Arts and Development, Manchester); Bogside Artists, (Derry); Coopérations (Luxembourg); Mick Wilson/Martin McCabe, Critical Access, (Dublin); Community Response (drugs education group, Dublin); Empower/Namchewit (Bangkok); Jon Bewley/Simon Herbert, LOCUS+, (Newcastle); Katherina Lenz, Wochenklausur (Vienna/Zurich); Hank Bull, Western Font, Vancouver, Suhall Khan, Cultural Transmissions Network, Manchester, Katherine Moonan, media artist, Liverpool, Mike Stubbs, Time Based Arts, Hull, Mitchell Kane, Hirsch Farm Project, Illinois; Peter Dunn/Lorraine Leeson, The Art of Change, London; (anonymous artists) Protoplast, Basel, Switzerland; Vivian Stone, South Island Arts Projects, Christchurch, New Zealand; Stephan Szczelkun, Working Press, London; Val Murray/Peter Hatton, TEA Manchester; Wendy Gunn/Gavin Renwick Whaur Extremes Meet, Glasgow; Frederica Thiene, Art Way of Thinking, Venice; Santiago Bose, Baguio Arts Guild, Luzon, Phillipines; James Marriot/Dan Gretton, PLATFORM, London; Peter Fend, Ocean Earth, Austria; Herbert Mally, Cooperations, Luxembourg; Sunil Gupta, artist curator, Organisation for Visual Arts, London; Roslyn Kemp, Fire-Works gallery, Brisbane; Sara Bates, artist/director, American Indian Contemporary Arts, San Francisco; Jacques Rangasamy; Janis Bowley, Terra, Vancouver; Rasheed Araeen, artist/curator, Black Umbrella and founder Third Text; John Nuttall, Head of Visual Arts University College, Salford; Bryan Biggs, Director Bluecoat Gallery, Liverpool; Ian Hunter/Celia Larner, Projects Environment, Manchester; Jill Morgan, Co-ordinator, Fine Arts, Leeds Metropolitan, University; Tim Dunbar, Visual Arts and Culture, University College, Salford; Simon Brennan, artist/curator, Manchester; Alan Gunner, Head of Centre, Design, Manufacturing and Technology University College, Salford.

“The 1994 Salford conference helped change the direction of critical art practice internationally. I am very keen to return and join with artist colleagues from Europe, Asia, and elsewhere to explore the new critical narratives and agendas for the 21st century.”
(Suzanne Lacy, Dean of Otis Art Institute, San Francisco)

Chimera 1995

The Chimera symposium was a project of Synapse Art Initiatives . It was held at the Goethe-Institut Sydney, The University of NSW, Parliament House Sydney and at other sites around the city, from the 22nd to the 26th of February 1995.

The vitality and optimism of new areas of practice was celebrated, demonstrated and scrutinised in a programme of conversations, live art events, research projects and social exchanges. Participants came from Australia, Austria, Canada, England, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Germany, Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

PRESENTERS AT CHIMERA CONFERENCE:

Bruce Barber. Artist/Critic/Writer. Nova Scotia College of Art and Design CANADA; Marie Barrett, Artist, Artlink, IRELAND; Neil Berecry, Artist. Coordinator, Synapse Art Initiatives and Chimera co-convener, AUSTRALIA; Rod Berry, Musician/sound artist, AUSTRALIA; Lucy Bleach, Artist, AUSTRALIA; Patrizia Brusarosco, Director, Viafarini, ITALY; Liz Coats, Artist, AUSTRALIA; Isabelle Delmotte, Artist, AUSTRALIA; Michael Eather, Fire-Works Gallery Network, AUSTRALIA; Peter Fend, Ocean Earth, USA; Francis Gomila, Fine Rats International, ENGLAND/SPAIN; Adrian Hall, Artist, Co-founder Synapse Art Initiatives and Chimera co-convenor, AUSTRALIA; Jennifer Hall, Artist. Founder and Director, Do While Studio, USA; Maria Hamilton, Fire-Works Gallery Network, AUSTRALIA; Pat Hoffie. Artist and writer, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, AUSTRALIA; Horst Kiechle, Artist, AUSTRALIA; Kil-Young Yoo, York University, CANADA; David Haines, Artist, AUSTRALIA; Katharina Lenz, Artist, AUSTRIA; Pam Lofts, Watch This Space, AUSTRALIA; Renate Lorenz, Artist, GERMANY and Shedhalle, SWITZERLAND; Stefania Mantovani, Art Way of Thinking, ITALY; Richard McCarthy, Fire-Works Gallery Network, AUSTRALIA; Susan McHattie, Community Arts Marrickville, AUSTRALIA; Ailbhe Murphy, Unspoken Truths Project, IRELAND; Eilis O’BaoilI, Catalyst Arts, N. IRELAND; Francesca Pasini, Independent art writer, curator and critic. Curator with the Museum of Contemporary Art Castello di Rivoli, ITALY; Margaret Roberts, Artist, AUSTRALIA; Kristen Sabiel. Artist, Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children, AUSTRALIA; Kevin Shehan. Artist, AUSTRALIA; Judy Silver, Sound Artist/Radio Journalist, AUSTRALIA, Ivan Smith, Fine Rats International, ENGLAND/SPAIN; Frederica Thiene, Art Way of Thinking, ITALY; David Whelan, Artist and representative of Art Workers Section, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, AUSTRALIA; Dennis Michael Wilcox, Artist, AUSTRALIA.

Critical Sites 1998

Critical Sites: Issues in Critical Art Practice and Pedagogy, Dún Laoghaire College of Art and Design, Dublin 1998, organised by  Littoral UK and Critical Sites group (Mick Wilson and Martin McCabe), Dublin.

“This was a three day conference on new practices and theoretical issues in contemporary art practice and pedagogy, including discussions on new models for art school curricula, education for socially engaged art practice, international exchanges and research opportunities for artists, issues in telematics, education and cultural communications, operative art practice and practitioner-led and community-based training opportunities for young artists.”

The Manchester and Sydney conferences revealed the extent of “Littoral” practice as an international phenomenon and network, with active groups and projects represented from Thailand, Australia, Canada, USA, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, New Zealand, Poland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Israel and in Ireland and Britain.

Speakers scheduled:

Carol Becker (Dean, Chicago Art Institute); Sean Cubitt (Liverpool John Moores University; Adrian Hall (Sydney); David Harding (Glasgow School of Art); Helen Mayer and Newton Harrison (San Diego); Pat Hoffie (Queensland College of Art, Brisbane); Grant Kester (Washington State University); Suzanne Lacy (Dean, California College of Arts and Crafts); John Latham and Barbara Stevini (Artist Placement Group); Sarat Maharaj (Goldsmiths College, London); Pitika Ntuli (Dean of Fine Arts, University of Westville-Durban, South Africa; Stephen Willats (London); Wolfgang Zinggl (Vienna); Neil Berecry (Synapse Sydney); Ala Plastica (La Plata, Argentina); Arting (Köln); ArtLink (Donegal); AWAD (African Women's Arts and Development, Manchester); Bogside Artists, (Derry); Coopérations (Luxembourg); Critical Access, (Dublin); Community Response (drugs education group, Dublin); Empower/Namchewit (Bangkok); LOCUS+ (Newcastle); Platform (London); Wochenklausur (Vienna).

Key Organizers and Facilitators: Ian Hunter and Celia Larner, Co-directors of Projects Environment UK., and Critical Access (Dublin).

Unfortunately, due to computer issues, a full list of participating artists and organisations can’t be found, however it included Susan Philipsz and Ailbhe Murphy (verified from photographs).

Between Nature 2000

Lancaster University UK

Neil Berecry-Brown represented Synapse at "Between Nature: Explorations in Ecology and Performance" an academic conference and performance art event at Lancaster University in July 2000

“It was one of the first international trans-disciplinary conferences specifically dedicated to exploring the intersection of ecology, environmental change, and live performance art. It was a collaborative crossover co-curated by Wallace Heim within the Philosophy Department at Lancaster University, working alongside the university's Centre for the Study of Environmental Change and the Theatre Studies Department.”

Presenters:

David Abram; Barbara Adam and Kathleen Sullivan (Cardiff University, UK and Kathleen Sullivan Freelance researcher UK); John Adams (Department of Drama Film and Television, University of Bristol, UK); Ric Allsopp (“Performance Research”/ Darlington College of Arts, UK); Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio (University of Puerto Rico, Maya, USA); Asa Anderson (Staffordshire University, UK); Lisa Arnold (Department of Theatre and dance(University of Minnesota, USA); Elaine Aston (Department of Theatre Studies, University of Lancaster, UK); Greg Bankoff (University of Aukland, NZ); Adam Barnard (Department of Economic and Politics, The Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK); Veronica Baxter (Drama Studies University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa); Alan Beatie - paper + workshop (St. Martin’s College, Lancaster, UK); Barbara Bender (Department of Anthropology, University College London, UK); Barbara Bender with Martin Hubbard, Mike Venning, Simon Persighetti, and Heather Kier Cross - installion (University College London & Falmouth College of Art, UK); John Bennion (Brigham Young University, USA); Neil Berecry-Brown (Synapse Art Initiatives, and University of Newcastle, Australia); Amanda Bingley (University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK); Emily Brady (Philosophy Department, Lancaster University, UK); Frances Bronet (School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA); Laura Cameron (Research Fellow in Historical Geography, Churchill College, Cambridge, UK); Beth Carruthers - presentation (Founding director of SongBird Project, Canada); Una Chaudhuri (New York University, USA) ; Nigel Clark (Open University, UK); Sue Clifford (Founder Director of Common Ground, UK); Paul Cloke & Owain Jones (University of Bristol, UK); Enzo Cozzi (Drama Department, Royal Holloway, UK); David Crouch (Tourism School, University of Derby, UK); Rebecca Daniels - presentation (St Lawrence University, USA); R. G. Davis - performance (University of California, USA); Barbara Jane Davy (Concordia University, Montreal, Canada); Monica Degen (Sociology Department, Lancaster University, UK); Hans Dielman and Céline Louche (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands); Jim Dratwa (centre de Sociologie de L’Innovation, Ecole des Mines, Paris, France); Michael Duckett (Tyneside Action for People and Planet, UK); Rosaleen Duffy (Department of Politics and International Relations, Lancaster University UK); Jeane Fabb - installation (Boréal Art/Nature, Canada); Nick Fells - performance (University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK); Sue Flowers - exhibition (Green Close Studios Ltd. UK); John Fox (artist and director of Welfare State International, UK); Sarah Franklin and Jackie Stacey -Paper +installation (Lancaster University, UK; Colin Funk - workshop (Artistic Director Precipice Theatre Society, Canada); Gabriella Giannachi (Department of Theatre Studies, Lancaster University, UK); Rachel Gomme - installation (Independent artist, UK); Elizabeth Goodenough (University of Michigan Residential College, USA); Jean Grant (Independent artist, UK); Nelson Gray - presentation (Artistic director of Savage media and Co-Director of the BirdSong Project, Canada); David Green (School of Sociology, University of West England, UK); Ronald L. Grimes (Department of Religion and Culture, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada); Arto Haapala (University of Helsinki, Finland); David Haley - performed installation (Arts for Health/Water and Well-being, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK); Tori Haring-Smith - presentation (Brown University, USA); Geraldine Harris (Department of theatre Studies, Lancaster University, UK); Jill Hayes (University College, Chichester, UK); Wallace Heim (Department of Philosophy, Lancaster University, UK); Jeffrey Higley (Landscape and Art Network, UK); Richard Holden - exhibition and paper (Independent cultural worker, Canada); Sue Holden and Dave Horton (Centre for the Study of Environmental Change and Department of Sociology, Lancaster University, UK); Alan Holland (Lancaster University, UK); Keith Hollinshead and Tazim B. Jamal (University of Luton, UK and Texas A&M University, USA) ; Jane Hunt (Lancaster University, UK); IMAGICA - performance (USA); Basia Irland - exhibition and paper (Department of Art and Art History, University of New Mexico, USA); Adrian Ivakhiv (Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, Canada); Simon Jones (Department of Drama, University of Bristol, UK); John Jordan (Reclaim the Streets and Sheffield Hallam University, UK); Nick Kaye (Department of Drama, Manchester University, UK); Baz Kershaw (Department of Drama,Theatre, Film and Television, University of Bristol, UK); Petra Kuppers - installation and paper (Research Fellow in Performing Arts, Manchester, Metropolitan University, UK); Catharina Landström (University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, Australia); John Law and Vicky Singleton (Lancaster University, UK); Mary Lemley - installation (Independent artist, London, UK); Lisa Lewis ((Department of Theatre, Film and Television, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK); Neil Lewis (Lancaster University, UK; John Lyall - exhibition and paper (Sculpture Department, Unitec, Auckland, New Zealand); John Lyall with Nigel Clark - performance; Hayden Lorimer (University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK); Theodore Lotis (City University UK); Sophia Lycouris - installation (Kunstwerk-Blend/Nottingham Trent University, UK); Benjamín Macías (national University, Mexico); Jennifer Madden (Brown University, USA); Eleanor Margolies (London College of Printing, UK); David Matless (Department of Geography, Nottingham University, UK); Theresa May - workshop (University of Washington USA. Artistic Director Theatre in the Wild, Canada); Nick Mayhew (Oikos, UK); Andra McCartney - installation and workshop (Concordia University, Canada); Graeme Miller - installation (Artist London, UK); Eamonn Molloy (Corporate Citizenship Unit, Warwick Business School, UK); Daro Montag - exhibition (Falmouth College of Arts, UK); Catherine Mougenot (SEED/FUL, Belgium); Fiona O’Neill and Hester Reeve - installation/live art (“storyteller” / bioethicist, UK and (Hester) independent artist affiliated with the Storey Gallery, Lancaster UK); Roger Owen (Department of Theatre, Film and Television, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK); Jenneth Parker (South Bank University, UK); Mike Pearson (Department of Theatre, Film and Television, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK); Peter Pearson - paper/performance (Imperial College, UK); Andrea Phillips (Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, UK); PLATFORM presentation/workshop (Social practice art, London, UK); Andrew Quick (Department of Theatre Studies, Lancaster University, UK); Ruth Quinn - Workshop (UK); Alan Read (School of Art, University of Surrey, Roehampton, UK); Red Earth - Installation and performance (UK); Gisela Renolds - workshop (Global Link development education centre UK); Sven Riemer - Installation (The Social Sculpture Research Unit, Oxford Brookes University, UK); Jill Rock - exhibition (Independent artist, UK); Melita Rogelj (Pop Sustainability, New York, USA); David Rothenberg - paper + performance (Independent Artist and Scholar, USA); Shelley Sacks - lecture/action (Director, The Social Sculpture Research Unit, Oxford Brookes University, UK); Wes Sanders - Paper with performance (Co-Founder, Underground Railway Theater, President, Art Culture Nature, USA); Rafael Santos (Ala Plastica, Argentina); Michael Schillmeier (Department of Sociology, University of Munich, Germany); Susan L. Scott (Women in Wilderness, Ontario, Canada); Michael Selwood (Lancaster University, UK); Joe Sheridan (York University, Canada); Vicky Singleton and John Law (Lancaster University, UK); Steven Smith (Director Oau. Member of the Riba, UK); Linda Soneryd (MTM, Orebro University, Sweden); Kate Soper (London Metropolitan University, UK); Nigel Stewart (Lancaster University, UK); Bronislaw Szerszynski (Centre for the Study of Environmental Change Lancaster University, UK); Tedi Tafel - performance and workshop (Artist choreographer, National Theatre School of Canada); Nigel Thrift (Department of Geography University of Bristol, UK); John Urry (University of Lancaster, UK); Julie Ward- presentation; Claire Waterton (Centre for the Study of Environmental Change, Lancaster University UK); Sally Watkins - performance (Independent Artist, UK); Welfare State International - Installation (Ulverston, Cumbria, UK); Simon Whitehead with Barnaby Oliver and Stirling Stewart - installation (UK); Nicholas Whybrow (Department of Performing Arts, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK); Judy Ling Wong (Black Environment Network, UK); David Wright - workshop (University of Western Sydney, Australia); Brian Wynne (Lancaster University, UK)

Contributions were in various forms;  including papers, presentations, performances, installations, workshops, exhibitions and multi-modal

The conference yielded two prominent books that introduced performance theory into the sociology and anthropology of the environment: Nature Performed: Environment, Culture and Performance (published in 2003)  and Performing Nature: Explorations in Ecology and the Arts (published in 2005)

Dawn Light 2005

A Symposium at The University of Newcastle (Ourimbah) with performances and exhibited works at Gosford Regional Gallery. Co-curated by Synapse artists Neil Berecry-Brown and Juliet Fowler Smith. Supported by The Australia/Korea Foundation and Brown’s Cows Art Projects Inc.

The event focussed on ecological attitudes and cultural values regarding ‘nature’ in different cultures and the way in which societal change and historical depth play out in the formulation of options for the future.

18 international artists attended along with an equal number of Australians.

Artforms included formal and improvised combinations of performance, site-specific installation, music/sound, spoken word, natural processes and the use of technical interventions, as well more traditional mediums.

The symposium included participants working in the fields of philosophy, poetry, science and music, as well as contemporary art. An objective of Dawn Light was to promote awareness and appreciation of the sophistication and complexity of different societies and the subtlety of poetic expression in their cultural forms.

Following the preceding conferences, Dawn Light investigated how the emerging fields of practice found expression in our region; a moving time-based littoral zone west of the international date line; where a new day begins.

Participants:

Suzanne Bartos, Australia; Emilie Bell, Australia; Ali Bramwell, Blue Oyster Gallery, Dunedin, New Zealand; Alison Clouston & Boyd, Australia; Liz Coats, New Zealand/Australia; Chae, Myung-Sook, Korea; Fiona Doyle, Australia; Anne Graham, University of Newcastle, Australia; Susie Heymans, Australia; Ichi Ikeda, Japan; Sandy James, Australia; Jung, Hee-Suk, Korea; Yoko Kajio, Japan/Australia; Kim, Suk-Man, Korea; Kazanori Kitazawa, Japan; Lee, Ji-Eon, Director, 60 Tree Dance Troupe, Korea/Australia; Bridie Lonie, Head, of Art, Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand; John Lyall, New Zealand; nature nature, Australia; Park, Byoung-Uk, Director, Nine Dragon Heads Symposium, Korea; Maryam Rashidi, Iran/Australia; Margaret Roberts Australia; Miles Sanderson, Norfolk Island; Christina Shmigel, Associate Professor, Webster University, St Louis, USA/China; Shin, Yong-Gu, Korea; Sharon Walker, Australia; Yoo, Joung-Hye, Korea.

(Participating Synapse artists - Juliet Fowler Smith, Susanne Bartos, Liz Coats, Margaret Robert, Neil Berecry-Brown)

Martin McCabe, Critical Sites