“When I was really little my mum had a rainbow maker hanging in my parents’ bedroom. I don’t even really remember the rainbows it made but I remember the weight of it and being mesmerised. Twisting it up and letting it unwind, the rainbows moving.” 

Over the past 18 months, Briony Galligan and Mel Deerson have been working collaboratively on a project about childhood, reading and rainbows. This is an exhibition of some of the drawings, prints and a publication that they made together over that time.

E. W. Cole, a Melbournian entrepreneur from the late 1800s, espoused the Oneness of Man through worldwide English Literacy, and created many children’s books. He owned a huge book arcade which occupied the site now called Howey Place place in Naarm/Melbourne. The patented trademark of his arcade and books was a rainbow, and he also issued metal token coins emblazoned with ominous, paternalistic slogans about obedience, reading and morality.

Taking the arcade, these books, coins and their rainbows as a starting point, the artists have worked, played and told stories together, figuring the rainbow as both glimmering and dangerous - a strange, messy, slippery, varied thing.

The artists would like to thank: Zeth Cameron for book design and layout, Danni McGrath and Original Copy Press for screenprinting and print training, Jacqui Shelton for photography and Kristina Tsoulis-Reay for reading and feedback.

Additional thanks to Australia Council for the Arts.

This project is being developed in another material and spatial iteration through Test Sites - many thanks to the City of Melbourne and Testing Grounds for all their support.

Rainbow Maker is part of the City of Yarra 2021 Exhibition Program supported by Yarra City Arts and Yarra Libraries.