The day's proceedings began with talks by five of the artists represented in the exhibition.

Thes artists spoke about their diverse and fascinating work which extends from Inez de Vega's emotive video art, Lyndal Walker's mysteriously provocative scarves, Eliza-Jane Gilchrist's curious cicada sculpture and Laurene Dietrich's documentation of feminist art actions.

Maryborough artist Georgia MacGuire spoke at the opening about her sculptures which evoke the female body and are intriguingly made from paperbark and tulle.

A winner at last year's Victorian Indigenous Art Awards, like many of the artists represented in this exhibition, Georgia is responding to the history of textiles in a fascinating new way.

Following the artists' talks the exhibition was officially opened with remarks by the exhibition's curator, Caroline Phillips, and Professor Julie McLeod, Deputy Director of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute.

'The f Word' is the second exhibition to be presented as part of a larger project which has seen women artists from across Victoria meet and make new art in a dialogue about the legacy of feminism in the visual arts.

One of the strengths of the project is the inclusion of both Melbourne-based artists, including some with very big reputations, alongside lesser known and emerging artists, including regional artists from Warrnambool, Maryborough and Castlemaine.

The exhibition was well attended with people travelling from across Victoria to Ararat for the day and staying overnight.

It will be interesting to see how the project develops in the coming years.

To learn more about 'The f Word' you can visit the blog: www.thefwordaus.wordpress.com

Anthony Camm

Director

Ararat Regional Art Gallery