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FROM THE SOCIAL CONTROL CENTRE
THIS WEEK IN CANBERRA 12.7.09 THUSRDAY NIGHT CCAS Manuka JULY 16 @ 6 PM Sprinkle and Shine Tiffany Cole, Jessica Herrington, Shellaine Godbold and Belinda Toll CONTINUES SUNDAY JULY 26 THURSDAY NIGHT AT M16 Artspace Summoning the rain Sara Freeman and Peter Jordan (Main space) Homage to Matthew Flinders Glenda Jones(Foyer space) Continues until July 26 FRIDAY NIGHT AT STRATHNAIRN HOMESTEAD GALLERY JULY 17 Speaking with objects Emerging Artists Exhibition Diane Libke, Gosia Pilat and Rachel Freeman Saturday 18 July - Sunday 2 August TWO MORE INTERESTING EXHIBITION TITLES FOR TOURISTS 9.7.09 With or With Drought You Nicola Chatham’s latest exhibition uses photography, writing and oil painting to investigate ideas relating to landscape, travel and intimacy. Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland, Queensland on 21 June and continues until 2 August 2009.
T'was a rip roaring opening on Friday evening for shows by local heroes Geoff Farquhar Still and Alex Asch and a welcome visitor from Far North Queensand, Daniel Wallwork. In fact we haven't had such a rollicking good time in ages! That is in spite of Terminus, Geoff's sobering installation that explores modern excess while reflecting upon what appears to be mankind’s crazy “joy ride” on the road to extinction. But Terminus isn't without its humour (if you can't laugh at extinction what can you laugh at?!) And neither is Dan's Road Kings which takes an in depth look at trucking culture with its glitzy, sexy, decor/accoutrements. And in the Cube Alex takes a wry view of the GFC with his End of 2008 a series of paintings based on comments he heard at the end of last year on a radio show where callers talked back about the burning issues of the day like poverty, unemployment, bail outs and of course stimulus packages. Not exactly a laugh a minute, but three quality shows with tongue in cheek action. Don't miss this one. At CCAS Gorman House until August 15.
BREATHs OF FRESH AIR (BRISBANE) 8.7.09 If it seems like the paparrazzi have been stalking Hiromi Tango from Melbourne to Brisbane there is an element of truth. That's what paparazzi do! This time Hiromi has used a caravan (and quite a nice one thanks no doubt to the Brisbane Airport Authority's generous support of emerging artists). This incredible installation is again the result of some intense public participation in which Hiromi engaes much of her audience before the work even gets into the gallery. There are also quite interesting works by Aaron Burton, Sarah Byrne and Tim Kerr whose nervous kitten must have pleased many a vulnerable bird. While at the IMA don't miss Peter Robinson's Polymer Monoliths in which you will see some very large chunks of polystyrene. But I don't want to spoil it by being overly descriptive. At the IMA in Brisbane until 22 August.
WORLDS A STAGE 3.7.09
FIRST MICHAEL JACKSON SIGHTING IN CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA !
FEVER PITCH 3.7.09
STUMPED (AND LOVING IT) 2.7.09 Naturally we are always very proud of the ccas studio residents. Goes without saying. But couldn't be prouder of Adam Veikkanen whose exhibition Stumped was opened by the lovely Patsy Payne last night at ANCA as part of the ANU Art School's Emerging Artists Support Scheme. Adam is an artist whose ideas are quite simply mind boggling and one has to wonder ... Whether its a bison executed in finger prints, Japanese style paper sandwiches, a crocheted sun ball, a ball of staples on a stick or parallel line biro drawings in which the spent cartridges are used to make sad looking clocks, every single work takes the breath away. Adam's extra dry, sometimes dark, sense of humor and his extraordinary ability to communicate conceptual "gags" in material form is rare indeed. And further, by its very nature, the work generated an up beat atmosphere at the opening. Everyone who braved the freezing conditions seemed to be really glad that they made the effort. This is a brilliant show that should be compulsory viewing for everyone. Where are the art police when we need them ! Adam will be in residence at CCAS for the rest of the year and can't wait to see what he comes up with next. Get Stumped at ANCA Australian National Capital Artists until 12 July.
"Having completed a year long research project on clouds and their demeanour, I have shifted, not to far, to the topic of light, refraction and eyesight. This body of work carries associations to clouds, mainly personal ambivalence, stipulation and a quandary of speculation mostly associated to sight. I have displayed a fake sandwich to relate to, as it seems to display a lot of points associated my work. Not only as a visual layer of taste but also as an object that sums up the manner in which my work is installed." Adam Veikkanen artist's statement Stumped at ANCA THAT WAS ZEN 27.6.09 Let it be noted that the train wrecked opening paparazzi were invigorated by Julian Day's Ceremony. 5 synthesizers in an installation, each in its own way of historical significance, and 5 "performers" under Julian's direction sent an appreciative audience into a trance-like state in the ACOUSTIC MIRACLE that is the ccas MAINspace. If it seems like the performance program so far largely involves people lying on the gallery floor for long periods of time then it happened all over again for Ceremony in which the thoroughly chilled prostrate audience only moved occasionally to lift their beers. Appearing seemingly from nowhere Brisbane based Luke Janniste turned up in Canberra - half shaved - to participate in the performance. Luke also put together a great installation of turntables in he Cube spinning some vinyl pan pipe oddities. All up the second in a series of out there performance works for 2009 was extremely memorable. Keep an eye on Julian - and Luke - you haven't heard the last of them.
ICE QUEEN 26.6.09 Notwithstanding the conceptual complexities of Lily Hibberd’s First Love; (Ice, Time and Desire) + (Love, Consumerism and Desire) = an exhibition of paradoxical warmth, transparent beauty and alluring accessibility. First Love - is one sexy show and again, Lily demonstrates beyond a shadow that media wise there is nothing she cannot do. GRANTPIRIE Gallery put on a fantastic opening with the perfect hosts Toni Bailey, Tony Stephens and Annabelle catering to everyone’s (largely alcolholic) whims with grace and enthusiasm. Lily looked particularly glamorous in dress that's impossible to describe because the language of haute couture is mysterious indeed. Lots of Canberra ex-pats were in attendance : Belle Charter and Dan Boyd, Greg Hodge, Karena Keys, Adam, and the opening paparazzi. There was also a solid sample of contemporary art glitterarti with Mark Shorter, Michael Zavros, Nell and Carla Cescon … who were in fine form. But before we get completely carried away don’t miss the coolest show in Sydney at the GRANTPIRRIE until 25 July. And remember the indomitable Lily will be at ccas late August! Can't wait ...
QUOTE OF THE WEEK 24.06.09 "Don't come here looking for high class fun!". Yolande comments on Canberra's dubious self image as a civilised city and society. DAWN OF MR.JAMES 22.06.09 CCAS Manuka was going off on Friday night for the opening and book launch of Alex James' The Twilight of Mr Kemp. With ye olde fashioned large format camera Alex has photographed spots with stories in the ACT And surrounding districts including the Snowys. Alex’s broody images are spectacular and make for a very nice book indeed. With interesting essays including one by Martyn Jolly, this book is an excellent example of an enterprising artist talking the bull by the horns and getting the work out there! The book was launched by the fabulous Gordon Bull, Head of ANU Art School, who said it was the best bargains you’ll get all year. It is only $60 but let it be said that ccas staff think it should be less, like, $59.99... just like the real shops. Seriously though you can buy the book from the CCAS Gorman House book store and, for the term of the exhibition, at the Manuka gallery until Sunday 28 June.
THINGS AND ARROWS ! 5.6.09
VANITY PRESS 5.6.09
JOINING THE DOTS 22.5.09
ACROSS WORDS 21.5.09
GIVE US YOUR ... 19.5.09 ... bad titles please. Inspired by the title of the current exhibition at New York's New Museum, Younger Than Jesus, the first edition of The Generational, (hmm which part is worse?) Yolande David and Serge are starting a collection. This clanger raised a few eyebrows in US high cultural circles and caused Culture Grrl Lee Rosenbaum to comment "Please change this title while there's still time! While you're at it, consider changing the exhibition concept as well". But at CCAS we are not as mean as her. Canberra has recently seen Misty Moderns (Australian Tonalism) aka Fuzzy Wuzzy Colours for the kids program, from the Art Gallery of South Australia where someone was clearly having an off day. But MM was was a great show and indupitably misty. At the Art Gallery of New South Wales right now you can see Korean Dreams paintings and screens of the Joseon Dynasty The Lee U-Fan Collection from the Musée Guimet, Paris. Surely something must have been lost in translation. If readers have any unfortunate exhibition titles please send them to info@ccas.com.au where they will be treasured. "SPEED FREAKS" 21st C FUTURISTS 15.5.09 Perhaps it was because Peter didn't want to be photographed or the fabulous Pinot Gris from Mount Majura Vineyard: but the paparazzi were having a particularly slow night on Friday but managed to get this very special pic of Tim Plaisted and Hugh Withycombe in which the flash didn't work (dont they look great/ so young, so unblemished!) Anyway take our word for it - it was a lovely opening with many people from the anu art school in attendance. Peter Maloney has fans aplenty and it's easy to see why when you look at his incredibly dramatic works that reflect seismic shifts in art, psychology and the land. And then there is his own pithy description, "I think of myself as that spider on amphetamines in those 1960s psychodrug experiments that observed the capacity for spiders on various drugs to effectively spin their webs". Nice one Pete! In the cube there is a beautiful work by Tim Plaistead that concerns the horse his grand father rode as a messenger during the Gallipoli campaign. In Careful Messenger Tim has used game software to capture the spirit of the magnificent beast in all its speedy glory.
ROZ TURNS UP THE 'EAT AT MANUKA 8.5.09 * CCAS Studio Residents Solo Exhibitions 2009 C’mon Eat me Lover, delves headfirst into the intimate world of artist and former CCAS resident Rosalind Lemoh. Expanding on her Blaze works the exhibition displays Roz’s fondness for juxtapositions, both aesthetic and conceptual, mixing the organic with the created, common with the macarbre and the sensual with the deviant. The main sculptural pieces consisted of sequined ribs, head and pelvis, which were placed on pedestals of fresh limes, while the red feature wall was decorated with roses and knives.The opening was a cracker with a full house turning up to view the exhibition and a tantalising spread including sushi (a well known aphrodisiac: raw fish fresh produce) and red wine that complemented the art brilliantly. (SERGE reporting from down town Manuka)
READING ROOM Its the morning of 6 May 2009 and a fascinating book called Exponential Future arrives in the mail from the University of British Columbia in far off Canada.
DAYS OF SWINE AND ROSES (PHOTOGRAPHY and MEDIA ARTS ANU) 30.4.09 With the impeccable timing one would expect from a skilled performance artist Janet Meaney opened her new work, Pig's Ear, just moments before the swine flu crisis hit 5/6 on the globalhysteriometer. With a pig's ear attached to her head Janet pushed a silk purse through the ANU building as if she was casting pearls before swine - her audience? I think you can see where this is going. "Who cares if you can't turn a pigs ear into silk purse" exclaims the iconoclastic Janet who is well known in the ACT for her provocative and imaginative performance work. But in her latest play upon many words and phrases Janet takes pigs where no swine have ere ventured, linguistics...
HELLS BELLS! MELBOURNE 28.4.09 The great thing about going to an opening at the Hell Gallery is that you don't need to go anywhere else for the remainder of the evening. Its a night on the town in itself! There's exhibitions, entertainments, sausages, beer, a chatty crowd and dancing. Last Friday night there was all of the above as ex-Canberra/Sydney luminary Elvis Richardson, artist and mastermind of Get Oak Firmness, introduced a hint of spice to Melbourne with "a performance and exhibition program exploring the expectations, power functions and romantic notions of the penis." The increasingly famous and very well hung Renny Kodgers sent everyone into a spin with his Stimulus Package (see more below) while Nat Thomas and Concertina Inserra (who have just been in the Can for the National Photographic Portrait Prize) bowried their guests into submission with LETS GET BOWRIED. Part performance, part exhibition, part photoshoot, part love-in, part piss-up Nat and Concertina covered every base - as is their want. If you are in Melbourne there is still more of this program to come with Claire Lambe at the Ocular Lab on Saturday 2 May..
WOOD MAN 28.4.09 Still in Melbourne - For those who had managed to avoid serious hangovers from the Get Oak Firmness opening there was a life drawing session with Renny Kodgers at the Ocular Lab on Saturday arvo. Absolute Master of multi-layered satire, he of the magnificent schlong, Mr. Kodgers set about showing the class a thing or two with some creative poses. Yes Mr.K puts sexy back into life drawing. Although the class was notable for its high degree of competence, unfortunately their model was unimpressed by the students efforts and after some old fashioned sexual harrassment and unconstructive personal criticism he stormed out ... yelling abuse at both class and audience. And the piece de resistance - an eye popping road side parting flash that will leave an indelible mark on the minds of people driving by for many years to come.
abstrA.C.T 24.4.09 Canberra seems to have a penchant for abstraction and we will be talking a lot more about this over the next couple of years. In the mean time Fiona Little's Primary Colours provides a few clues as to why this is the case. Fiona is one of the shining new stars stars in the the celebration of form, colour and line, and this is evident in her exhibition of elegant paintings currently showing at CCAS Manuka. Be prepared to max the credit card because to paraphrase a fast food outlet "resistance will be useless. But hurry, the show ends 3 May.
TOILET HUMOUR UPSTAGE OUTRAGE 23.4.09 It's an official outrage. Allan Sko the General Manager of BMA magazine has upstaged CCAS (and everyone else except perhaps for Cole Bennetts' possum with ANZAC biscuit?) with this engagingly routine masterpiece for the Gorman House Arts Centre's Annual Report. GOOD GRIEF ... The bar has been raised and CCAS notes that a considerably greater effort will be needed to steal the limelight from Mr. Sko in future. This is war BMA!
SO YOUNG, SO TALENTED, SO GONE 22.4.09
MOUNT MAJURA VINEYARD'S DIVINE WINE - 2008 PINOT GRIS NEW CHAIR ELECTED AT UPBEAT AGM 17.4.09 EASTER MESSAGE
SQUIRRELS ONE DAY BUNNIES THE NEXT 14.4.09 Not quite good friday, and there is one exhibition outstanding. Its Amy Nguyen, the third of the residents solos at Manuka. If I were a Squirrel.... and other Stories draws upon childhood memories and experiences via paintings of squirrels (plus other fauna) and spooky light boxes with insects. The moments before easter timing may not have been perfect for Amy but the opening was delightful with lots of friendly people and excellent food and wine! * CCAS Studio Residents Solo Exhibitions 2009
BOOMERS 9.4.09 Its official, Canberra is experiencing an art "BOOM" the likes of which hasn't been seen in a few years. Its an explosion of activity that has tested even the opening paparazzi. Three openings last night: Spectrum of new paintings at the ANU Art School foyer gallery , Desert Devils Graham Eadie and Frank Tirion at Australian National Capital Artists (ANCA) and some objets de glass by Canberra Glassworks' brand new creative director Clare Belfrage at Canberra Glassworks, had everyone on opening over drive... again. Thank God its Good Friday!+
FINAL PHOENIX 1.4.09
BIG BANG 28.3.09 CCAS is very much back in business for 2009 after Min Mae’s tableau (hard act to follow) and then last night’s opening that went off with a bang. It was a big bang in fact, thanks to Dionisia Sala Hammer’s 2009 a * C Odyssey, in which she imagines the geological moments during which the earth was formed. There is a great b-grade sci-fi feel about these dazzling works and not just because of the exhibition title. But are they abstract paintings or landscapes? Now there’s a question … Mat de Moiser appears to have made a significant impression during his first artistic outing in Canberra. His sculptures made from deconstructed Ikea furniture with their constructivist/cubist sense of spatial perfection have had the locals asking “who is this guy!”. If there is such a thing a good damage its to be found in Mat’s Damaged Goods and how good is it to see people emerging from the cube with that dishevelled look of just having been seduced … okay that is a slight exaggeration but, seriously, these are works you can fall in love with. Then, like halos floating in the (main)space Alex Gillespie and Somaya Langely have transformed their ostensibly humble content (collars) into objects of major social and technological significance. Each collar is connected to a specific person through text that emanates from within connected to a sound component based on interviews with the collar’s original owners. Yes, it was another cracker of a night with at least one person flat on the verandah. Not that we encourage that sort of embarrassing behaviour.
FOILED: SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE 27.3.09 If Anna Madeleine is not the hardest working artist in town she is certainly the most versatile, and when it comes to adventurous, hard to beat. Seems like Uncharted her recent photoaccess show was scarcely down before the next solo effort, Plastic Surgery went up at ccas Manuka. Phew ! And furthermore its completely different. Anna suprised everyone at the end of last year with her Idiot Box at ccas where she used actual TV white noise as the canvas for a texta drawing, then she produced a series of drawings on maps and now its a brilliant series of photographic collages/drawings on tin foil. Taking areas such as fashion, wrestling and graffitti (life's pleasures in other words) Anna has come up with a very stylish exhibition that is also a tad tawdry ... without being abject .... love it! ccas manuka until 5 April. * CCAS Studio Residents Solo Exhibitions 2009
TOUCH ME GERTRUDE STEIN 27.3.09 Not one but two superlative (and a bit weird shows) opened last night at Craft ACT, cosmetic by Tiffany Parbs and Touch Me Gertrude Stein by the ever popular Jay Kochel who also has the best exhibition titles in the Southern Hemisphere.(his last being I wish I was David Bowie) Unfortunately the opening paparazzi and ccas gang couldn't stay long because they had to make a dash for Anna Madeleine's exhibition (above) at the Manuka Gallery. Check it out Jay and Tiffany before or on Sat2 May.
THE GRATER DEBATE 27.3.09 Working in the arts, sometimes it seems that nobody cares. (... whimper ...) Its not that the audience doesn't have views, its just that many people are reluctant to reveal what they are. Enter Jorian Gardner, straight shootin' journo for Canberra's City News. CCAS was curiously delighted to read his comments re Min Mae's "I die". Under the title "Dead loss of the naked corpses" (City News March 26 - April 1)Jorian calls it "... Dull, cold and self-indulgent". Hey, someone had an opinion but to paraphrase Jorian himself "that's about it" ! Debate really is great but unfortunately journo's rarely seem to back up their arguments or have anything particularly useful to offer. For something really interesting have a look at "I died" 26/3 at matespace Culturazi. This is an exquiste piece of writing from the point of view one of the exqusite corpses. Obviously its not criticism but it is a fascinating story that opens new avenues for interpreting the work and its bloody funny. DEAD SET 21.3.09 CCAS was bursting at the seams for the latest of Min Mae's legendary tableaux vivants last night and this time the focus was death. Min cranked up the legend factor with 14 muses on the gallery floor clad only in toe tags. 12 writers wrote poignant eulogies for 12 of the dead - for those that can't add - leaving two uncknowledged lives. It was for the most part a sombre affair with stark lighting and in a distant corner of the mainspace, a lone cellist. Min provides the atmosphere with minimal means and economical performance. The audience, armed with words particpate as much or as little as they please. But all good funerals end in a wake and let me tell you that this bunch of 'mourning' actors, writers, artists and friends can really put it away. But to be fair, after lying motionless on the floor for two hours a bottle of red is the least one can expect. Or in other words the resurrections were spectacular .... if a little on the side of temporary !
25 GRAND PORTRAIT 20.3.09 There was widespread enthusiasm for the winning work at last night’s opening of the National Portrait Gallery’s, National Photographic Portrait Prize. As visiting Melbourne artist Nat Thomas graciously noted, if she and her collaborator Concertina Inserra couldn’t leave Canberra with the 25 big ones, this was indeed a deserving alternative. Cormac and Callum by Ingvar Kenne is one of those awkward compositions that works. An image of two boys in speedos standing beside a foam filled pool, one in flippers his face covered in suds – its slightly surreal, certainly incongruous, vaguely amusing and yet quite ordinary. Children in speedos? Well yes it did raise a few eyebrows in the current climate of conservatism and paranoia but mercifully there’s no budgies in this essentially family portrait that confidently asserts its place in the chronicle of creative practice. As is often the case with competitions, the exhibition in toto has its ups and downs and although there are some breathtakingly pedestrian finalists (nature of the beast) there is certainly enough of interest to make a visit worthwhile. The NPG should be gearing up for some big crowds over the next few weeks. Continues until 17 May 09.
CAOs IN PERTH 19.3.09 You may have heard on the news about a weekend of violence on the streets of Perth : well it wasn't us! CAOs (Contemporary Arts Organizations of Australia) went West for its first 09 meeting which was hosted by PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Art). Director, Amy Barrett-Lennard and Curator, Melissa Keys went all out to facilitate two days of smooth meetings while not neglecting the important social and developmental aspects of these occasions. Amy is the new chair replacing Artspace’s Blair French who as stepped down after three years of exceptional service. With much on its agenda for 09 CAOs members also took time out to experience some of Perth’s impressive cultural institutions. The tour began with a visit to the University Of Western Australia Art Gallery where there is a comprehensive exhibition of work by Imants Tillers curated by Director, John Barrett-Lennard. This was followed by a fascinating session with Oron Catts (who once grew and ear and I don't mean on himself) at SymbioticA, an artistic laboratory dedicated to the research, learning and critique of life sciences, also at the Uni of WA. It was a bit like being in Frankenstein's lair although to be fair Oron is not especially scary. Then it was off to the thriving Fremantle Arts Centre where fab 2, Director, Jim Cathcart and Curator Jasmin Stephens conducted a tour taking in Jasmin’s brilliant exhibition of current WA work entitled Yellow Vest Syndrome. Go to http://www.fac.org.au/exhibitions.php for extra info about this interesting title. Its very droll. And finally it was Of Art & Music at the Curtin Uni Gallery which includes a spectacular sound inatalltion by the perennially popular Canadian artist Janet Cardiff, The Forty Part Motet (2001). Getting to Perth might be a bit of a trek but thanks to Amy and Melissa well worth the effort!
SERGE SPLURGE (WITH SIMON)14.3.09
SHIT WRECK 12.3.09 Owen Lewis kicked off the (eagerly awaited) season of CCAS 2008 Studio Residents solo shows at the Manuka gallery last night. And he did the program proud with a cracker of a show that demonstrates his adept hand with almost many media. Sometimes Owen appears to be a bit of an outsider artist as he always hits his mark with breathtaking accuracy and an ingenuous approach. But there's nothing naive about his innovative use of materials - as Owen shows equal mastery with very cool 3D paper objects, drawing, pain ting and photography. He's no slouch when it comes to the witty title either. Shit Wreck explores the idea that us Aussies are actually marooned on a big island, the nature of which we still haven't managed to get a grip on. Go Owen! And everyone else go to the show which continues at Manuka until Sunday 22 March. *CCAS Studio Residents Solo Exhibitions 2009
M16 FIRES THREE NEW ROUNDS 6.3.09 Seems like M16 has become a second home for the CCAS crew as it pumps out the shows with scarcely a breath between openings. Weren't we there just yesterday? The number 1 is an anathema for this hi-energy team of 2 as last night M16 openend 3 new exhibitions - that's if you count the backspace gallery and 1 certainly does. Firstly there is Friday on my wall with a bunch of local faves like James Lieutenant, Rosie Allen, Linzie Ellis, Shakira Longmore and Sarah Hyland. Then in the foyer gallery is another exhibition called Space, Flesh with Claire Elliott, Laine Stwart, Natalie Mather and Michelle Grimston. But wait there's more ... abstract video works by Taree Mackenzie. Will M16 be able to keep up this exhausting schedule? how long before the next show? will they ever run out of artists? These and many more questions will be answered because we cover the waterfront - as well as Fyshwick.
SHANGHAI DYNAMO Binghui Huangfu (Deputy Director, Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art) and NT legend Steve Eland (Director, 24Hr Art Darwin) made an all too brief visit to Canberra last weekend. But in two days they really packed it in, talking to lots and lots of artists before having a look at Roger Ballen's exhibition at the National Library, the new National Portrait Gallery and Degas at the National Gallery. At the end of the two days we were all tired but happy as Binghui and Steve gave us southern territorians the opportunity to focus on ourselves for a time. Believe it or not this never really happens in Canberra and hey ,... we liked what we saw. Thanks to the Australia Council for assisting Binghui's passage and to both her and Steve for bringing so much critical vitality to the ACT. No apologies for the gush!
OHs EIGHT AND NINE / MANUKA LIFT OFF 27.2.09 CCAS Manuka was packed to the beams (no rafters in this part of town) for the opening of Elena Papanikolakis' exhibition Oh eight/oh nine. Working with curator Annika Harding, the CCAS intern 08, Elena’s show looked like selling out soon after the doors had opened. Well ... I was seeing red dots and there’s still two weeks to go! Describing the internship as "one of the best experiences ever, professionally and socially" *** Annika notes that " Elena's 2008 work was influenced by sound rather than visual sources ...." and that the brush strokes that dominate her work have themsleves become the content. Elena's palpable delight in the very concept of paint and brush, however, might be finding a new directions as at the end of the line up are several new works based on her family's photographs. The blending of both figurative and abstract elements of her practice is an exciting development for this promising young artist. And just before you think the social pages have become too seriously concerned with art I have to say that people will be talking about the chicken and cashew club sandwiches for a long time to come.
HERSTORY Megalo Print Studio's Alison Alder photographed at the Bitumen River Gallery in 1981 ... and she still looks exactly the same! Mature social pages readers will be extremely impressed by the Salvation Jane poster in the background.
MOVING 23.2.09 At least one person fainted moments before Joseph Falsone introduced ABC news reader and author Virginia Haussegger at the opening of Move, the M16 studio tenants exhibition on Saturday afternoon. Joseph's undeniable charm and increasingly famous speeches can have this effect. Only very slightly daunted Virginia went on to talk about her personal interest in the arts, why people are bother to be artists in ever difficult circumstances, and the contribution they make. This is indeed one of the mysteries of life .... and Virginia, looking cool on a stifling afternoon ... was thorough in her explanation. It was the perfect opportunity to get a bit philosophical about (practicing) art in general as Move is a large and diverse exhibition that includes a comprehensive cross section of the ACT arts community. If variety is really the spice of life then Move is not to be missed. At M16 Art Space until 1 March.
HEROES HATCHED 18.2.09 Congratulations to CCAS studio resident Ben Forster who has been selected for Hatched, a prestigious and comprehensive exhibition of work by visual arts graduates from art schools across the land. For 18 years now, Hatched has been an eagerly awaited annual event and it is hosted by PICA Perth Institute of Contemporary Art (one of ccas's favourite sister orgs). Book your tickets for Perth now and save our ailing airlines while giving Ben the support he so richly deserves. HATCHED 09: National Graduate Show 17 April - 7 June 2009 ben pre - hatched CUBISM 17.2.09 Cube 3 is a portable gallery that made its debut last night in Union Court, Australian National University as part of the O week celebrations. This is a collaboration between independent emerging curator Jacquie Chlanda, CCAS and the ANUSA ANU students association. Originally Cube 3 was conceived as a way of showing work by ANU graduates and undergraduates to the incoming and already there student populace. On its first day Cube 3 immediately took hold as a place for people to hang out, as "guinea pigs" Jessica Herrington and Liang Xia Luscombe took the opportunity to exchange their works for various goods and services. A currency of clothes, biscuits, cheap jewelry developed as many visitors started art collections. In the evening at Teatro Vivaldi (great food and wine at reasonable prices), Jacquie, David Broker and Meg O'Connell, Social Officer of ANUSA, thanked everyone and said a few encouraging words. Then there was a lot of wine and fire twirlers but no reports that the two overlapped causing a terrible accident ... so far .... There are different artists using the cube everyday for O week - until Friday 20 Next stop for Cube 3 Corinbank.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE OPENING OF CUBE 3 17.2.09 Came across a bunch of cave people and colonial explorer types. Now look me in the eye and tell me Canberra is boring...
INTERESTING TIMES 13.2.09 During a week when its fair to say that many Australians will be feeling a bit over the ‘sunburnt country’ and its ‘terrible beauty’ the National Gallery ’s 25 anniversary touring exhibition Ocean to Outback: Australian Landscape Painting 1850-1950 comes home for a season at the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery. And WHAT a homecoming ... In the extraordinary context of fires that have left years of newspaper headlines and OTT descriptive cliches smoldering in their own deadly embers; an exhibition that might have been quite innocuous one week ago is seen in a chilling new light. Looking at the quixotic works of artists like Streeton, McCubbin and Roberts right now it is all too easy to see blackened stumps. But don't be put off, because if there was ever a time for some serious contemplation re the Aussie landscape, this is it. Although Ocean to Outback might leave many people wondering where and if European painting has ever really connected with the land … one must also ask if the visionaries, Boyd and Nolan, saw it coming? Fascinating veiwing in interesting times. Continues at CMAG until 17 May.
NEW COUNTRIES ... NEW IDEAS 11.2.09
QCP LOVE FEST or BEST EVER OPENING 11.2.09
KANGAROOVEY 6.2.09 At the Front CCAS member Stephen Harrison presents the myths and legends of the ancient race of the kangaroo men who are seen in all manner of 'compromising' situations. There's a bit of Yoda and a bit of Gandalf evident in some of these roos' taste for accessories and Stephen'sphotographs of their antics are spooky, bizarre and funny. He has made many kangaroo men and takes them on outings where they can participate in activities such as lurking in car parks or posing as roadkill. Roo men is one of the more out there shows in a while and an auspicious start to the year at the Front. Exhibition continues until 10 February.
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