Archive for May, 2009

Creative Sydney 2009: Creative Catalysts

Posted in Awards, News on May 27th, 2009
creativecatalysts

A Creative Catalysts list - honouring and exposing 100 inspirational and innovative Sydneysiders who have made a unique contribution to the city’s creative culture, has been launched in conjunction with the Creative Sydney festival.

“The Creative Catalysts list shows that Sydney is a city full of amazing stories of inspiring creativity. It’s not about Sydney’s most influential people or the people with the best arts jobs or the people in the biggest institutions. It’s about people who have taken the initiative to make a creative Sydney. Some of them are well known and obvious, others have simply inspired others in their field or changed the way Sydney does things or sees itself. By highlighting their stories we celebrate their creativity and hope to inspire others to see their city as a place they too can shape and change” says Creative Sydney team member Marcus Westbury.

The Creative Catalysts for 2009 were selected from a list of over 700 people, and includes many COFA graduates and staff, who are listed below.

Andrew Frost, The Art Life - Creating a focal point for discussion about visual arts in Australia

Eddie Sharp, as part of the team who brings us Imperial Panda Festival - Giving Sydney’s theatre scene the closest thing to a fringe festival

Elke Kramer - Inspiring new designers and makers through her own distinctive aesthetic

Emma Price as part of the Kingpins - Performance artists with entertainment values

Liane Rossler, Dinosaur Designs, greenUps - A creative original, from her work with Dinosaur Designs to her commitment to sustainability

Penelope Benton, The Red Rattler - Leading the pack in the small bar movement and creating a new space for performance in Sydney

Trent Jansen, industrial designer - The future of industrial design with a conscience

Creative Sydeny is part of Vivid Sydney, a festival of music, light and ideas. For more information and a full list of Creative Sydney Creative Catalysts please visit: http://creativesydney.com.au/sydneys-creative-catalysts/

COFA Talks: Artists and Dealers

Posted in COFA Talks, Events, Public Lecture on May 27th, 2009

Mellissa Collins, Stella downer and Stuart Purves

Mellissa Collins, Stella downer and Stuart Purves

Do artists really need dealers? Ever wondered what an art dealer actually does? Three of Sydney’s prominent commercial art dealers discuss the sometimes fraught relationship between the people who make art and the people who sell it. Speakers: Melissa Collins, Stella Downer and Stuart Purves

Melissa Collins
Melissa Collins recently left her position as director of Hogarth Galleries, which specialises in Indigenous art, to pursue further postgraduate research in Aboriginal art. Prior to her five years at Hogarth she was gallery director of Blaxland Galleries.

Stella Downer
Stella Downer is a well respected art dealer, consultant and valuer. She has worked with leading contemporary galleries for over 25 years. Downer was the manager of the well known Roslyn Oxley 9 gallery, Macquarie Galleries and Australian Galleries before opening her own gallery, Stella Downer Fine Art, in 2001.

Stuart Purves
Stuart Purves, director of Australian Galleries in both Sydney and Melbourne, continues to strengthen and diversify the thriving enterprise started in 1956 by his parents Anne and Tam. From the beginning, Australian Galleries developed a reputation for representing prominent Australian artists and since joining the business in 1966, Purves has continued this tradition.

When: Tuesday 2 June 2009, 6:30pm
Where: COFA, Main Lecture Theatre (EG02)

FREE

For details on how to get to COFA and to navigate yourself around the campus, please visit: www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/about/location/

Creative Sydney

Posted in Events, Exhibition on May 27th, 2009

When: Thu, 11 Jun, ‘09
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks

creative-sydney

Creative Sydney is a fifteen day festival celebrating the Sydney’s creative talents. In its inaugural year, Creative Sydney features a series of talks and events at the Museum of Contemporary Art and a special event at The Roxy in Parramatta.

On Thursday the 11 June, at 8pm, the Museum of Contemporary Art will host Lo- Fi and Loving It: New dogs, Old Tricks, an event where radical thinkers breathe new life into old mediums in a celebration of lo- fi art, music and performance. Presented in asscociation with Das Superpaper. Atists include Cofa gaduate Kate Mitchell, as part of the duo Greedy Hen and COFA graduates the Brown Council.

Creative Sydney involves artists, practitioners and experts from the full range of Sydney’s creative sectors including music, design, architecture, gaming, photography, performance, writing, radio, film, TV, media arts, advertising and visual arts. The festival opens on Wednesday 27 May and runs till the 15 June 2009. For a full listing of events and more information on Creative Sydney please visit: http://creativesydney.com.au/

What: Lo- Fi and Loving It: New dogs, Old Tricks

When: Thursday 11 June, 8pm to 9pm

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks, Sydney

Presented as part of the Creative Sydney Festival, Wednesday 27 May till the 15 June 2009.

Hidden: A Rockwood Sculpture Walk

Posted in Events, Exhibition on May 27th, 2009

When: Wed, 20 May, ‘09 - Sun, 12 Jul, ‘09
Where: Rookwood cemetery site

Marilyn Schneider, Grass Tree (Richea Pandanifolia), foam and cement

Marilyn Schneider, Grass Tree (Richea Pandanifolia), foam and cement, 2009

Hidden: A Rookwood Sculpture Walk exhibits the work of 16 artists responding to the Rookwood cemetery site, one of the largest cemeteries in the Southern Hemisphere.  The project also aims to establish Western Sydney as a cultural precinct, by inviting artists to respond to the site using new and engaging forms of communication.

Inspired by living plants, COFA graduate and exhibition concept artist Marilyn Schneider, continues to explore her fascination with “fake nature” and natural disasters and has installed grass trees made from foam.

“This is a very important project as it allows artists to investigate what Rookwood means to them and gives artists the opportunity to place their work within a deeper and more meaningful context.  It also gives the public the opportunity to explore with them” says COFA graduate David Capra, the project’s curator.

Selected Artists: Priscilla Bourne, Josie Cavallaro, John Clegg, Fiona Davies / Patricia Prociv, Rosie Deacon, L.A.M., Matt Rochford / Jacqueline Olivetti, Josef John, Leahlani Johnson, Ian Marr, Joao Melo, Fatima Naseer, Marilyn Schneider, Ana Wojak

What: Hidden: A Rookwood Sculpture Walk
When: Open from sunset to sunrise, Wednesday 20 May to Sunday 12 July 2009.
Where: Starting at Reflections at Rookwood Cafe (near Strathfield gates) and continuing South across Memorial Avenue, for more information please visit: http://www.rookwoodcemetery.com.au

Incubate Issue Three, 2009

Posted in 2009 Venice Biennale, Incubate, News on May 20th, 2009

Incubate issue #3, 2009

Incubate issue #3, 2009

Incubate issue # 3 has hit the shelves. This issue of Incubate has devoted 16 pages to the Australian artists, curator and students participating in the Venice event.
This year in June, five Australian artists, a curator, five postgraduate students and four undergraduate students will head to Venice to participate in the oldest and one of the most significant visual arts events in the world – the Venice Biennale.
For Australia, this is an important achievement. But for one institution, to which each of these people can be connected, the achievement is even greater. Never in the history of Australia’s involvement in major international art biennales has one educational institution been so represented.
The 53rd Venice Biennale is COFA’s time to shine.
Incubate issue 3 also features articles about COFA students, staff and graduates exploring a range of issues and creative activity as well as an amazing graduate showcase of images.

INCUBATE can be picked up at various points at the Paddington campus, Object Gallery, Art Gallery of New South Wales or simply request your free copy by emailing your name, address, city and postcode to marketing@cofa.unsw.edu.au. Alternatively you can subscribe to the iTunes U Incubate podcast and automatically have each issue of the magazine downloaded. For more information on iTunes U click here, to be directed to the iTunes U site click here.

4D ARTEXPRESS: New Media Education Resource

Posted in Events, Exhibition, News on May 20th, 2009
Still from Myxomatosis (Film/Video) by Emily Minard, Kincoppal-Rose Bay

Still from Myxomatosis (Film/Video) by Emily Minard, Kincoppal-Rose Bay

The New Media Education Resource accompanying the ARTEXPRESS 4D exhibition at Wollongong City Art Gallery was produced by students and staff at UNSW, College of Fine Arts, School of Art History and Art Education. As part of COFA’s ongoing commitment to collaborative partnerships with key industry partners, six of the seven students who worked on the project are from Art and Design Education and were selected from the course The Art Museum and Education. They are: Jane Cleary, Jessica Haly, Sally Leaney, Amato Lo, Lisa Rumble and Elizabeth Thorpe. The final student, Alex Greene has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Time-Based Art major. Through teaching and exhibitions, COFA has had an ongoing engagement with ARTEXPRESS, especially with New Media. Thus it is appropriate that COFA’s School of Art History and Art Education as well as the School of Media Arts have contributed to this project that showcases recent work completed at the HSC level. Seven of the twenty-two HSC students whose work is showcased at Wollongong City Art Gallery, have been selected by the COFA team for inclusion in the Education Resource. The seven students are:

  • Jim Carlton – Oxford Falls Grammar School (Film/Video);
  • Jake Fraser Grousset – Northern Beaches Secondary College, Manly Campus (Digital Animation);
  • Indigo Hanlee – Sydney Girls High School (Collection of Works);
  • Emily Minard – Kincoppal, Rose Bay (Film/Video);
  • Bhenjamin Radburn – Moruya High School (Documented Forms);
  • Luis Tapia – Cecil Hills High School (Sculpture);
  • Jack Temple – Sydney Secondary College, Blackwattle Bay Campus (Documented Forms).

These digital artworks showcase innovative applications of New Media, including film/movies, digital animations, split-screen animation, film with accompanying sculptures, drawings or objects and stop motion animation.

The Education Resource is comprised of the following components:

  • Introductory Essay by Professor Ross Harley, Head, School of Media Arts, COFA, UNSW with Dr. Gay McDonald, Senior Lecturer, School of Art History & Art Education, COFA, UNSW and Kim Snepvangers, Head, School of Art History & Art Education, COFA, UNSW.
  • Copyright – 4D Issues by Elizabeth Thorpe (COFA Student).
  • Profile of each of the seven HSC Students’ artworks which includes: HSC Student Statement; a section devoted to each student’s work written by a COFA student; a transcript of a short questionnaire completed by the HSC student to clarify their work practice and a short glossary.

WHAT: ARTEXPRESS 4D
WHEN: 8 May to 2 August 2009.
WHERE: Wollongong City Art Gallery

COFA Talks: Biennale Futures

Posted in COFA Talks, Events, Public Lecture on May 20th, 2009

Photo of David Elliott by Wilk

Photo of David Elliott by Wilk

Since 1973, the Biennale of Sydney has been a momentous event in the contemporary art calendar. The next BoS will be held in 2010. Biennale Futures is a chance to discuss directions and visions. The distinguished panel consists of David Elliott, the artistic director of the 2010 Biennale; Nick Waterlow, the only Artistic Director to be asked back more than once, and Luca Belgiorno-Nettis, current BoS Chairman.

David Elliott
David Elliott is the Artistic Director of the 17th Biennale of Sydney. Elliot is a UK-born curator currently based in London, Berlin and Istanbul. He has worked as the director of the Museum of Modern Art in Oxford, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm and the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. He was the founding director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo.

Luca Belgiorno-Nettis
Luca Belgiorno-Nettis is currently Joint Managing Director of Transfield Holdings, Chairman of the Biennale of Sydney, Director of Transfield Services and the Chairman of the Arts Advisory Committees at UTS and UWS. He has a special interest in urban infrastructure and its related politics. In 2009, he was awarded an AM for his work in arts and the community generally.

Nick Waterlow OAM
Nick Waterlow OAM is director of COFA’s Ivan Dougherty Gallery and a senior lecturer in the College’s School of Art History and Theory. He was director of the Biennale of Sydney in 1979, 1986 and 1988, and chaired the International Selection Panel for the 2000 BoS. Waterlow was director of the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council from 1980 to 1983, and has curated many exhibitions in Australia and internationally.

When: Tuesday 26 May, 6:30pm
Where: COFA, Main Lecture Theatre (EG02)

FREE

For details on how to get to COFA and to navigate yourself around the campus, please visit: www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/about/location/

COFA graduate donates an artwork to the Heart Foundation auction

Posted in Events on May 11th, 2009

Red Dress by Del Kathryn Barton on ebay

Red Dress by Del Kathryn Barton on ebay

To celebrate the Heart Foundation’s Go Red for Women Day, Australian artists have donated artworks centred around the themes of Heart, Red Dress or Red. COFA graduate and artist, Del Kathryn Barton, has created a watercolour based on the theme of Red Dress. Each artwork, as well as the designer dresses donated in conjuction with the artworks – will be sold for charity. Dresses will be sold on a first-come, first-sold basis from May 4, while artworks will be auctioned online from May 4 to May 14, 2009.

All works and dresses will be exhibited at Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, 16-20 Goodhope St, Paddington, Sydney from May 5-9, 11am - 3pm.

For more information or to bid in the online auction, please visit: http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/marie-claire/7762/red-dress/

Exhibition: Tara Marynowsky

Posted in Events, Exhibition on May 11th, 2009

Tara Marynowsky at Chalk Horse Gallery invite

Tara Marynowsky at Chalk Horse Gallery invite

COFA graduate and artists, Tara Marynowsky, will exhibit her new works at Chalk Horse gallery. Marynowsky will exhibit alongside two other artists, and will display her delictae yet malovolent watercolours. Previously Marynowsky was included in the recent 2008 Helen Lempiere travelling art scholarship finalist exhibtion at Artspace.

What: Tara Marynowsky
When: Exhibition runs from 14 May to 6 June 2009
Where: Chalk Horse gallery, 94 Cooper Street Surry Hills

COFA Talks: The Survival of Aboriginal Art

Posted in COFA Talks, Events, Public Lecture on May 11th, 2009

Martha Mcdonald Napaltjarri, Water Dreaming (detail), acrylic on canvas, 40.5 x 61cm. Courtesy the artist and Papunya Tjupi Arts.

Martha Mcdonald Napaltjarri, Water Dreaming (detail), acrylic on canvas, 40.5 x 61cm. Courtesy the artist and Papunya Tjupi Arts.

When: Tue, 12 May, ‘09
Where: College of Fine Arts, cnr Oxford Street and Greens Road, lecture theatre: EGO2, 6:30 pm.

While the making of Aboriginal art predates modern definitions of art, in recent years Aboriginal artists have adapted their visual culture to suit the contemporary art market. In this they have been spectacularly successful. In the panel discussion The Survival of Aboriginal Art, both indigenous and non indigenous artists and curators explore the best ways of ensuring the continuity and the integrity of Aboriginal culture.

Djon Mundine
Originally from the Northern Rivers of NSW - his father is Bundjalang and his mother Ngaku - Djon Mundine is a curator and art historian. He is currently Indigenous Curator, Contemporary Art at Campbelltown Arts Centre. Mundine is well known as the concept curator of the permanent Aboriginal Memorial installation at the National Gallery of Australia and was awarded an OAM in 1993.

Vivien Johnson
Proffessor Vivien Johnson’s ongoing advocacy for contemporary Aboriginal art and Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights has helped to revolutionise the Australian artistic landscape. She recently published, Lives of the Papunya Tula Artists (IAD Press, Alice Springs, 2008) Her curatorial credits include the Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri retrospective and Papunya Painting: Out of the Desert. Johnson is currently a Global Professor at UNSW.

Kelli Ryan
Kelli Ryan is a practising artist. In 1995, Ryan received an OAM for showing leadership to the youth of Australia. In 2007, she became CEO / Director of Boolarng Nangamai Aboriginal Corporation where she works towards empowering the Aboriginal community. Ryan has travelled extensively into remote Aboriginal communities and established links with regional art bodies including Arts NSW, Regional Arts NSW and Arts Law.

When: Tuesday 12 May, 6:30pm
Where: COFA, Main Lecture Theatre (EG02)

FREE

For details on how to get to COFA and to navigate yourself around the campus, please visit: www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/about/location/