Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery: In the Mid North region of South Australia

What makes a community? It's a big question and one, which the people of Port Pirie put to the test with a major photographic exhibition at the local Tourism and Arts Centre.

Many of the photos were taken by photojournalist Suzanne Laslett, whose work featured in a previous Postcards story at the Lipson Street Cafe. In her Port Pirie Exhibition she took her trusty Nikon camera into what was then the Pasminco complex. Her goal was to record the daily routines of the workers who produce 240,000 tonnes of lead, 400 tonnes of silver and 40,000 tonnes of zinc per year. Due to a change in ownership it's now called the Zinifex Smelter but the work remains just as hot, hard and demanding.

“The project was called ‘Faces of the Smelter’ and its aim was to bring a more human face to the smelters,” Curator, Kelly De Giglio said.

So there are photos of blokes like Adrian "Duck" Davies. He’s a systems coordinator during the week, but come the weekend, he swaps the overalls and safety helmet for a footy guernsey and boots to coach a team at the Solomontown Football Club.

“He's with the Sollie footy club and it's that whole thing of they work at the smelters but they also have a huge role in the community. That was the whole point of this exhibition - here I am at work and here I am at play.”

Suzanne Laslett also co-ordinated a group of eight local photographers who took their own shots of friends, family and neighbours. That means the people of Pirie can see Des Memen, the zinc plant safety officer as his alter ego - the man who's been Chairman of the local Meals on Wheels for twenty two years. The exhibition set out to capture that sense of community -both old and very new.

“I think the photos are just beautiful because it’s all so natural. It doesn't look they were posing for a photo - and it's family.”

Port Pirie's extended family is captured in a specially commissioned book, which celebrates the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery's 10th Anniversary. It's called "Faces of the Smelter" and is on sale at the Gallery in Mary Elie Street. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

"Faces of the Smelter"
Photographer Suzanne Laslett
On sale at Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery
3 Mary Elie Street
Port Pirie