FLUX
FLUX was a collaborative multimedia project taking place during The Unconformity festival in Queenstown from 14-16 October 2016, featuring a program of local and international artists, musicians and poets.
Unconformity audiences and artists were invited to reclaim an old limestone quarry in the heart of Queenstown, transforming it into a meeting place, cultural crucible, and experimental singing bowl.
ARTISTS
PLACE
The geology of the site is composed of fossileferous limestone deposited during the Ordovician Period of the Paleozoic era, between 485.4 and 443.8 million years ago. This period included the formation of the southern continent of Gondwana.
In the 1890s, the site began to be quarried for 'flux' to assist with purification of copper ore in the pyritic smelting process at the Mt Lyell mine. As a flotation process replaced smelting in the 1920s, the need for flux reduced and the quarry was used for a variety of purposes, including a workshop, storage space for explosives and dump for industrial scrap. Some say a complete steam locomotive lies buried there.
At one point the quarry was used as the site for a chairlift, and a trout run, and is now a private residence. We thank the owners for generously opening their backyard for Flux.
Limestone
'Feed floor' of Mt Lyell smelters (photo courtesy National Library of Australia)
EVENT
SPONSORS
FLUX was generously supported by The Unconformity and has been assisted by the Australian government through the Department of Communication and the Arts’ Catalyst—Australian Arts and Culture Fund.
