August 20, 2011

Catch NOKO at SCA on Thursday.

They're part of Lizzen.org at SCA

Dets here

CAPTURING THE UNSEEN DATA OF THE EVERYDAY

Maybe you’ve wondered what pattern a tree branch makes when the wind blows on it or the movements of a parcel as it goes through in the post? What about about the different shapes women carve their lipsticks into when they use them? These activities and more are captured in UTS Gallery’s latest exhibition, Incidental Data, part of the Sydney Design Festival 2011. Accompanying Public Program: Data Poetry seminar on Wednesday 10 August 6.30-8.15pm

What: Incidental Data
Where: UTS Gallery, Level 4, 702 Harris Street, Ultimo
When: 2 Aug - 2 Sept. Open Mon-Fri 12-6pm

Monica Epstein - Faces behind the self

Sheffer Gallery
38 Lander Street, Darlington.
Aug 12- 27th
Artist talk Sat 27th 4pm

Faces behind the self is an exhibition of faces, which have been brought to life through both paintings and drawings to tell the story of the individuals represented.

It begins with some of the European masters painters and sculptors that I grew up with: Goya Van Gogh, Cezanne, Francis Bacon and Freud to name a few, all of whom had a huge influence on me.

The exhibition then leads to Australian painters, who opened my eyes to a totally new directions, having arrived in Australia in 1998.

This in turn leads to contemporary Australians who have played a significant of my life here. The fields they encompass are wide ranging: artists, gallery directors and opera directors through to friends and also my doctor and dentist.

"It’s a very personal journey and very much an ongoing series. Once up on the walls I realise that the guiding principal for everyone represented is the depiction of the humanity of the self.

August 5, 2011

‘Refugee Stories’ told through art

Amnesty International Australia is collaborating with Sydney artists to highlight the experiences of refugees at Chippendale’s Fraser Studios for the opening night of “Refugee Stories” on Thursday 11 August at 6pm.

Several artworks will be exhibited, ranging from photographs of refugees fleeing war-torn Chad; pieces focusing on human rights created by young Afghani women, photographs exploring the plight of refugees coming to Australia, and a film which seeks to display the common humanity shared between Australians and people who have fled their countries in search of safety.

“People need to be able to express their thoughts and feelings in as many ways as possible. The exhibition will give guests an honest glimpse into not only the realities of the refugee experience, but also what young people think about the ongoing debate,” said Matt Woodham, facilitator of a film project which will screen at the exhibit.

"The key to changing the current negativity in the refugee debate is to give more Australians the opportunity to connect and empathise with the courageous stories of real people who have sought asylum in Australia. Art is a powerful medium that can provide this connection,” said Ms Alex Pagliaro, Refugee Coordinator, Amnesty International Australia.

“This exhibition highlights the personal refugee experience and shows the faces and emotions behind the political rhetoric," said Ms Pagliaro.

The opening night will give guests an opportunity to engage with the artworks, meet the artists and hear from a range of high profile refugee advocates. ‘Refugee Stories’ will run from 11-17 August.


Event Details
Where: Fraser Studios (Queen Street Studio), 10-14 Kensington St, Chippendale
When: Thursday, 11 August, 6.00-9.00pm (exhibition will then run 12 – 17 August 1.00-5.00pm weekdays and 11.00-4.00pm weekends)

Speakers and interview opportunities on opening night:
Najeeba Wazefadost, Afghani refugee and Amnesty International Ambassador
Graham Thom, Amnesty International’s Refugee Coordinator

Designer and Industry Collaborate to Propose Improved Traffic Safety

Inviting visitors to make, critique and curate new designs for fluorescent traffic control bollards, Australian artist and designer Jane Gavan’s new exhibition, Factory as Studio opens at UTS’s DAB LAB on Wednesday 3 August.

Gavan’s interest in traffic control bollards began after personally experiencing an all too close encounter with one in Belgium.

“I was commuting from Germany for a residency at the Radiant fluorescent colourant factory in Belgium, and towards the end of a long journey, I hit an out of place roadworks bollard and completely wiped out my car’s side mirror.”

“I wondered why the bollards were so dull, unlike those in Australia that use fluorescents. Later at the Radiant factory, the research and development team explained that stringent European protocols require that traffic bollards only be white and red.”

“There’s a real case for changing to fluorescent colours because people see fluorescents 30% sooner and 30% longer at the end of the day as the light fades, so they’re much safer,” says Gavan.

Understanding that the European protocols are very difficult to change, Gavan took a close look and discovered a by-clause stating that bollards of alternative colours may be used for special occasions.

Gavan then met with cultural officers and the mayor of the Belgium city of Hasselt, who agreed that they would allow her to create new fluorescent bollards with the Belgium Radiant Colour Factory for use during the city’s cultural festivals and events in order to raise awareness to the issue and make a case for change.

“When I came back to Sydney, I decided I wanted to involve the local design and art community to get more input into the project,” says Gavan.

The exhibition Factory as Studio invites visitors to engage in the design process in several ways: as makers by developing models and drawings of bollards, as curators by collecting and re-presenting groups of models in mini exhibitions, and as critics by offering critical feedback.

Factory as Studio is part of Gavan’s ongoing research into the long tradition of innovative practices in factory communities and looks at how designers can create opportunities for collaboration within these industrial environments.

Factory as Studio by Jane Gavan is on show from Wednesday 3 - Friday 26 August 2011 at DAB LAB Research Gallery, University of Technology, Sydney, Building 6, Level 4 Courtyard, 702-730 Harris Street, Ultimo.
Gallery Hours: Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm.

An artist talk will be held on Thursday 11 August at 2pm.

Factory as Studio is part of Sydney Design 2011.

GREEN BANS ART WALK CELEBRATING THE LEAGACY OF GREEN BANS – 40 YEARS ON

Green Bans Art Walk is a collaborative project from BigFagPress and The Cross Art Projects. Presented by Performance Space, Green Bans Art Walk is comprised of two exhibitions, a self-guided walk and a series of public guided walks. These multi-venue walking tours will depart from Firstdraft Depot, Woolloomooloo and The Cross Art Projects, Kings Cross where
the related exhibitions will be open from 6–27 August 2011.

Approaching the 40th anniversary of the first Green Bans actions in Sydney, Green Bans Art Walk revives the excitement and struggle that was a part of 1970s Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross. Decades have passed since Victoria Street and Woolloomooloo were saved from demolition for large-scale building boom projects. Over four intense years
building workers withdrew their labour for social and environmental reasons, resulting in over 40 ‘bans’.

Under Jack Mundey’s leadership (as secretary from 1970–73) the Builders’ Labourers Federation made social and environmental advocacy part of its industrial role and Mundey’s term 'Green Ban' became internationally known. Local residents worked with building workers, unionists, wharfies, artists and architects to change the rules that now regulate urban planning and include community participation.

Green Bans Art Walk is a social history and artistic collaboration with the local community that celebrates the legacy of the five-year battle for ‘The Loo’ and the intense three-year-long 'sit-in' battle for Victoria Street. Many protesters were jailed, many reluctantly moved away and the struggle was believed to have killed Mick Fowler, the last Victoria Street squatter and it is widely speculated to have been a contributing factor in the murder of Juanita Nielsen, publisher of local newspaper Now.

Green Bans Art Walk is a project that opens up discussion between the public and the movement’s many individual activists, historians and agencies, and sheds light on a crucial part of Sydney’s history for a new generation of residents.

The project is part of Performance Space’s WALK, a season of walks, promenades, marches and strolls in and around Sydney taking place throughout 2011. It has been supported by The Firstdraft Depot and has received a cultural grant from the City of Sydney.

Artists: Louise Anderson, Pat Armstrong, Michelle Blakeney, Diego Bonetto, Josie Cavallero and Anne Kay, Alan Davies, Mini Graff, Margel Hinder, Jo Holder, Lucas Ihlein, Fiona MacDonald, Marion Marrison, Mickie Quick and Joe Szabo.

BOOKING INFORMATION:

WHERE The Firstdraft Depot Project Space 13 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo
The Cross Art Projects 8 Llankelly Lane, Kings Cross

WHEN Guided Walks departing from:
The Cross Art Projects
Sat & Sun 6 & 7 Aug, 2.30pm
Sat 13 & 20 Aug, 2.30pm

The Firstdraft Depot Space
Sat 6 Aug, 12 noon

Exhibitions 6–27 Aug, 11–6, Thu–Sat

TICKETS Green Ban Arts Walk exhibitions and tours are FREE.
To book into a guided tour, please go to performancespace.com.au
or call (02) 8571 9101

August 4, 2011

CULTURECYCLE

5 km ; Slow pace

Easy / Some Traffic / Uses Off-road Cyclepaths / Uses On-road Cycleways /

Cost $95 inclusive of museum entry and crochet workshop in the members lounge of Australia Museum

Contact: Angelina Russo; Ph 0416 106 097

Starts: 8:30AM; Remy and Lee's, 547 Bourke St reet, Surry Hills

Cycling, design and crochet all come together at this CultureCycle Tour. It lets you view Sydney by bicycle while experiencing cultural attractions and taking part in design events. When you’ve finished cycling, you’ll be learning an age-old skill – crochet – and discovering how it can be used in innovative ways for your everyday life. CultureCycle will have you pedalling, creating and exchanging tips and tricks both on and off the bike. N.B. Booking required, go to:http://www.sydneydesign.com.au/2011/talks/culturecycle-tour-where-cycling-meets-design-culture. A fee will be charged to cover Museum Entries, Lunch and Workshop