The COFA Blog

Opening at Gaffa gallery is an exhibition of ‘silent’ photographic works by Tanya Baker, Craig Bender, Fiona Lowry and Pete Volich.

“Unveiling silence without interrupting it is a unique experience. History, experience, knowledge and fantasy all impact upon our notions of silence and cause reverberations that alter the space upon which we not only reflect but inhabit. What we see is not merely what is presented in front of us, it is our reflection and the image that we see. The image strikes us first and then it is revealed through our reflections. A silence with mutterings, a practice with history, this is civilisation in all its mystery. Here silent habitats confront us with a litter of refuse. Life’s little remnants, tainted and infused, highlighting scenes that now appear disengaged from their own history. What we see and reveal is up to us and here Fiona Lowry, Craig Bender, Tanya Baker and Pete Volich provide us with the opportunity to reframe our sense of place.”
- Adrian Davies

What: I Have Forgotten More Than You Know- Photographic exhibition
When: Opening Night Thurs 27th August 2009, Exhibition Runs from 28th August to Tue 8th September 2009
Where: Gaffa Gallery, Level 1, 7 Randle Street, Surry Hill

In this exhibition eight contemporary photomedia artists explore the exquisite strangeness of the Australian landscape. Many of these images have been created in and around Australian lakes - Lake Eyre, Lake George or the man-made lakes resulting from the damming of Tasmania’s rivers. But on another level, The Lake also serves as a metaphor for places that are at once seductive and dangerous, on whose mirrored surfaces our dark desires are reflected back at us. Exquisitely strange, the landscapes depicted in this exhibition speak as much about our own desires as the places they depict. The artists and curator of The Lake discuss their work and the broader ideas that unite them in this exhibition.
Artists include: Narelle Autio, Jane Burton, Rebecca Dagnall, Murray Fredericks, Alexander James, David Mackenzie and Craig Bender, David McDowell, Troy Ruffels and Martin Walch.

What: The Lake
When: Friday 28 August to Saturday 10 October
Where: Gallery 1&2, Australian Centre for Photography

What: The Lake artist floor talk
When: 1pm Saturday 29 August
Where: ACP, 275 Oxford Street Paddington
Free Admission

Aboriginal Art and Politics examines the complexities of the indigenous art scene, and a range of other issues facing indigenous artists in contemporary society, from two different perspectives. Djon Mundine, whose his Father is Bundjalang and Mother is Ngaku, speaks from within the indigenous community, while John von Strurmer discusses the topics as a white Australian.

Djon Mundine is a curator and art historian, originally from the Northern Rivers area of NSW. 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. Previous positions have included: Senior Curator, Gallery of Aboriginal Australia, National Museum of Australia, Senior Curator of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Programs, MCA, and Art Adviser for the Ramingining Community of Central Arnhem Land.

John von Sturmer is an anthropologist with a particular interest in Aboriginal art. Fieldwork in the western Cape York Peninsula formed the basis of his PhD research. In 1970 he was appointed the first lecturer in Aboriginal Studies at the University of Queensland, in association with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra. In the 1970s, he was active in the promotion of Aboriginal dance and ceremonial life. In more recent years, he has been involved in negotiating the nexus between government, big business and traditional owner groups.

The Ladies of Bigotbri Concerned Women’s Association (aka Tess Allas and Lina Kastoumis) are a tongue in cheek comedy duo who raise serious issues by taking the mickey in the guise of their alter egos Mrs Beryl Myers and Mrs Coral Henderson. Allas has a Bachelor of Creative Arts and a Masters in Curatorship and Modern Art. She currently works at COFA where she researchs and write biographies for the Storylines Project which are published on the Dictionary of Australian Artists Online. Kastoumis has worked extensively with emerging artists as an instructor, deviser and director at companies such as Shopfront, Sidetrack and Powerhouse Youth Theatre. She is currently Artistic Associate at Urban Theatre Projects.

When: Tuesday 25 August, 6:00pm
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/

When: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19, gates open at 10 am
Where: COFA UNSW

The COFA SPRING FAIR 2009 is just around the corner. On Saturday 19 September 2009 COFA will once again open its doors to the public to celebrate art, design and multi media in a multitude of activities in a carnival atmosphere.

The COFA SPRING FAIR is the perfect opportunity for the community and curious prospective students to visit our campus, located on the corner of Oxford St and Greens Road in Paddington.

This year the program promises even bigger and brighter events, markets, and entertainment including:

• FINE ART AND DESIGN MARKETS: COFA’s annual Fine Art and Design Market is bigger and better than ever! This year COFA hosts, not one but two, vibrant marketplaces. Current students and recent graduates take over the campus to show off their talent and sell their wares. Check out an amazing range of affordable, genuine handmade artworks and clever gifts including original paintings, prints, photography, jewellery, unique greeting cards, screen printed T-shirts and fashion accessories.

• EXHIBITIONS: including Art and the Environment - Studies in the Field at COFAspace, The Tim Olsen Drawing Prize at Kudos Gallery, REAL Emergency at the Ivan Dougherty Gallery and student works on display throughout the campus.

• OPEN STUDIO TOURS: Interested in coming to COFA to start your creative career? Or just keen to see what COFA is all about? 
Let our friendly staff guide you through stunning student exhibitions and see art, design and media works being created as you watch. COFA staff and students will be on hand to chat about the many dynamic degree programs we offer. F Block, Ground Floor, 11am, 12pm, and 1pm.Special Post-Grad Tour
  Thinking of starting your second degree? This tour is specially tailored for potential post graduate students.
  F Block, Ground Floor, 2pm.

• ENTERTAINMENT AND EATS: 2SER DJs and DJs Mikey Inglis and Tyson Koh will spin invigorating tunes in the market areas.
  For the hungry and thirsty: coffee, cold drinks, cupcakes and savoury snacks will be available all day. At lunch time, grab a bite to eat from COFA’s Tuk Shop and relax to quirky, laid-back acoustic tunes by Tori and Callum.

• COURSE INFORMATION:  COFA offers a wide range of undergraduate and 
postgraduate degrees in art, design, media, art education, art administration and art history. Pop into the student centre to pick up a prospectus or to make an enquiry. Student Centre, B Block, Ground Floor.

When: SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19, gates open at 10 am
Where: COFA UNSW

Click here for details on location and a map of the campus
Entry via the Greens Rd entrance

Rug up winning rug Old and Funky by Ruby Pritchard

COFA student and designer, Ruby Pritchard, has won the Rug up project with her rug entitled Old and Funky, made for the Lace Study Centre, The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

The project Rug up showcases rug designs by leading contemporary and emerging artists and designers. It is the result of a collaboration between COFA, the company Designer Rugs and the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales (HHT). The exhibition emerged out of an industry-linked project for third-year students majoring in textiles as part of the Bachelor of Design program at the School of Design Studies, COFA.

From the 60 design concepts submitted by students, five were selected for production; being Sabina Adamski, Diya Dasgupta, Wendy Wan Yin Leung, Ruby Pritchard and Chloe Want.
‘Old and funky from the Hybrid lace range is a contemporary analysis of lace inspired by its traditional form as a soft white fabric constructed on a mesh backing. My aim is to provoke a sense of mystery and intrigue that generates an alluring presence, drawing people into a world of knowledge, the Lace Study Centre. I have created lace-like designs from contemporary motifs for shock value and to forge a connection between contemporary society and the traditional subject.’ - Ruby Pritchard.

Designer Rugs was established in 1986 and is committed to design excellence and the mentoring of student designers in Australia. The Rug up project is an opportunity for the company to gauge contemporary design ideas and to spot emerging talent among designers at the start of their careers.

The exhibtion ran from 10am–4pm, Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August 2009, at the Ballroom in Government House Sydney.

Live Futures 2020: A World of Convergence is a futures festival which is in it’s third year, with previous festivals covering the themes of A World Without Borders and A World with Possibility.  The festival looks to explore possible futures and technology with artist, scientists, climate experts, students, performers and anyone else interested in what the future may hold and how we can create a better future together.  This years festival, A World of Convergence, COFA and UNSW students are being asked to participate in an experimental collaboration project between practitioners, artists and designers from COFA and UNSW with scientists, technologists and researchers from Academia and Industry. The idea is for a collaboration to form in these pairings resulting in a creative work embodying the knowledge, skills and creativity of the collaborators.

The timeline of the collaboration will be over 6 - 8 weeks with resultant works being selected and curated into an exhibition held over Science Week (August 15 - 23, 2009) as part of Live Futures 2020: A World of Convergence festival. The event will run on 15 ^th August 2009 at the College of Fine Arts, Paddington Campus, corner of Oxford Street and Greens Road.

This year’s Live Futures 2020 symbol is C as in Convergence, Collision, Community, Collaboration, Collusion, Collection, Communication, Celebration …

Fore more information and list of events visit: http://livefutures2020.com/about/

“Hillside After Burning Off”, by Idris Murphy 2006/7, Acrylic and collage on board 91 x 90 cm, courtesy of King Street Gallery on William and Randi Linnegar.

The College Voice Volume 7 Issue 1 is now live and accessible from the ARC website http://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/Publication.aspx?id=5.

The College Voice is COFA’s online arts magazine and has been published online now for 7 years. Founded in 2002 by COFA graduate Séamus Byrne, it was originally called The Digital Biscuit. Now edited by Janis Lander, a COFA PhD candidate, it features fascinating interviews and articles generated by the COFA student community.
COFA students are invited to regard the magazine as an opportunity to express their feelings about the Arts. It is intended to be an online hub for the students of COFA, acting as a tool to investigate the wider Arts world whilst studying to become a part of that world.

The College Voice Volume 7 Issue 1 contains articles by Bronwyn Bailey-Charteris writing about COFA at the 53rd Venice Biennale; Juliana O’Dean reviewing I and Thou – A Retrospective of the Art of Idris Murphy; Janis Lander interviews Ian Howard on his life time body of work and how we/ it can make a difference; and Amanda Muscat interviews Sean Rafferty and Paul Greedy on the (The temporality of) perception.