Hatched: Healthway National Graduate Show 1997 presented the work of 44 graduates from 12 universities and art schools across the country. This exhibition celebrated the acquisition of practical, expressive and conceptual skills by Australia’s visual and fine arts graduates through their education and training, and offered a critical overview of contemporary arts practice as created by emerging artists throughout Australia.

In the sixth Hatched, there was a diversity of approaches, interpretations, readings and media exploited by the participating graduates. The artists represented in this exhibition are drawn from institutions in regional and metropolitan centres around Australia. Their concerns range from the personal to the global encompassing a spectrum of ideas and possibilities.

Professor Fazal Rizvi presented the keynote address at the Hatched Forum, situating Australian arts practice and cultural policy within a global context. Dr lan Maclean discussed the long term historical and ideological reasons for the failure of Australian art schools to adequately address issues of indigeneity. Su Baker, Jon Catapan, Dr David McNeill and Jay Younger presented forum papers around issues pertaining to ethics, racism, censorship, funding cuts and critical practice as well as local speakers, Professor Neville Weston and Ann Schilo. Associate Professor Ted Snell, Dean Chan, Barbara Bolt and Julie Dowling for (respectively) undertook the role of Chairperson during the symposium.

Hatched: Healthway National Graduate Show & Symposium ’97 was made possible by major sponsor, Healthway, the Western Australian Health Promotion Fund and the Family Planning Association. Special thanks to X-Press Magazine whose ongoing commitment and promotion of the National Graduate Show has been critical to its continued success. Regular sponsors included Schweppes, Integrated Print Management, Luna Cinemas and Radio 6 RT FM.

We would like to acknowledge the support and hard work of the PICA staff, particularly Exhibition Officer, Katie Major and Installation Officer, Japonica Sheridan. Michelle McMahon produced and designed the exhibition catalogue whilst undertaking the responsibility for publicity and print sponsorship. Special thanks to Sanja Arambasic, Mike Nanning, Andrew Ho and Mick Hender for their hard work, patience and cheerfulness. Their hard work and commitment has been matched by support from the installation crew, Tony Pankiw, Carolien Lunel, Damon Lee and Mick Hender and volunteers, in particular Katie Faulder, who has made an enormous contribution. This year we have been pleased to work with Visual Arts Management students from CMC TAFE. Thanks to Cassandra Cooper, Allison Doherty, Lisa McCarthy, Vonne Mitchell and Chris Trewin for their assistance

PICA acknowledged Dr Margaret Seares, the outgoing CEO of ArtsWA and incoming Chairperson of the Australia Council and thanked her for opening the exhibition.

Artists

Jeremy Empson – Western Australian School of Art & Design, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE (WA) 
Philip Gamblen – Western Australian School of Art & Design, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE (WA) 
Loman McCann – Western Australian School of Art & Design, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE (WA) 
Dianne Wheatley – Western Australian School of Art & Design, Central Metropolitan College of TAFE (WA) 
Sam Collins – Curtin University of Technology, School of Art (WA)  
Andre Cornford – Curtin University of Technology, School of Art (WA)  
Jane Finlay – Curtin University of Technology, School of Art (WA)   
Ross Turner – Curtin University of Technology, School of Art (WA) 
Marion Manifold – School of Visual Art & Media, Deakin University (VIC)  
Gordon Stokes – School of Visual Art & Media, Deakin University (VIC) 
Anastasia Bradley – Western Australian School of Visual Arts, Edith Cowan University (WA)   
Cy O’Neill – Western Australian School of Visual Arts, Edith Cowan University (WA)  
Matthew Sharp – Western Australian School of Visual Arts, Edith Cowan University (WA) 
David Steed – Western Australian School of Visual Arts, Edith Cowan University (WA) 
Clare Lah – Queensland College of Art, Griffith University (QLD) 
Jennifer Sanzaro – Queensland College of Art, Griffith University (QLD) 
David Cardona – Faculty of Art & Design, Newcastle University (NSW)  
Elizabeth Milgate – Faculty of Art & Design, Newcastle University (NSW) 
Natasha Beg – Academy of the Arts, Queensland University of Technology (QLD) 
Catherine Brown – Academy of the Arts, Queensland University of Technology (QLD) 
Geoffrey Hawkes – Academy of the Arts, Queensland University of Technology (QLD)  
Pip Haydon – Academy of the Arts, Queensland University of Technology (QLD) 
Denis Beaubois – College of Fine Arts, School of Art, University of New South Wales (NSW)   
David Eastwood – College of Fine Arts, School of Art, University of New South Wales (NSW)   
Benjamin Guthrie – College of Fine Arts, School of Art, University of New South Wales (NSW)   
Jade Oakley – College of Fine Arts, School of Art, University of New South Wales (NSW) 
Carla Cescon – Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney (NSW)  
Nicola Ericson – Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney (NSW)  
Shaun Gladwell – Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney (NSW)  
Maria Russo – Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney (NSW) 
Tara Badcock – Tasmanian School of Art, Hobart, University of Tasmania (TAS)  
Linda Erceg – Tasmanian School of Art, Hobart, University of Tasmania (TAS)  
Michael Travalia – Tasmanian School of Art, Hobart, University of Tasmania (TAS)  
Minka Gillian – Tasmanian School of Art, Hobart, University of Tasmania (TAS) 
Marcus Canning – School of Architecture & Fine Arts, University of Western Australia (WA)  
Emma Langridge – School of Architecture & Fine Arts, University of Western Australia (WA)  
Linda Mateljan – School of Architecture & Fine Arts, University of Western Australia (WA) 
Erna Lilje – Faculty of Visual & Performing Arts, University of Western Sydney, Nepan (NSW)  
Doris Rainsford – Faculty of Visual & Performing Arts, University of Western Sydney, Nepan (NSW)  
Andrew Stevens – Faculty of Visual & Performing Arts, University of Western Sydney, Nepan (NSW)  
Paul White – Faculty of Visual & Performing Arts, University of Western Sydney, Nepan (NSW) 
Paul Clarke – School of Art, Victorian College of the Arts (VIC)  
Lorrae Head – School of Art, Victorian College of the Arts (VIC)