Sydney

The organization of celestial coincidences by Jason Mamarella. (Brooklyn, NYC)

March 25, 2013 ,

The final viewing of the organization of celestial coincidences by Jason Mamarella is Saturday, March 30, 2013, from 7 to 10 pm. A small number of limited edition books are still available ( jmamarella.com ) . with Special Guests : Dint Wooer Krsna, Street Grapes, & Jos-L. Peru Ana Ana Peru will be screening movies in the theater. at 17 Frost Street Gallery, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. L train to Lorimer. More info at 17frost.com

the organization of celestial coincidences ends.

Read more

Anno Domini Presents: KLONE “The Moment (when the world stopped turning)” (San Jose, CA)

January 31, 2013 ,

A collection of glimpses from our world, snapshot like documentation of possible/impossible moments. Each of those moments is represented through a visual vocabulary, loaded with symbolism that is derived from various experiences from not so far away childhood and through not so clear adulthood. This is visual documentation of life , no matter where you’re from, which part of the globe and which side of the ocean. The dreams we have, the days we live, the politics, the unnecessary battles, the necessary struggles, the poor and the rich, the tired and the restless. There’s place for everybody and place for no one. This is daydreaming of what could be and what won’t ever return. The chase that never ends.

http://www.facebook.com/events/202346556570762/

Read more

Ambush Gallery Present; “Rinse & Repeat” A Group Exhibition. (Sydney, Australia)

November 28, 2012 , , , , , ,

Rinse & Repeat

For centuries, art has marched alongside history, and history alongside art. Each movement, from the painstakingly detailed oils of the Renaissance to the tongue-in-cheek boldness of 1960s Pop Art, has marked and been marked by the great heights and most regrettable lows of its cultural and temporal context.
Having bubbled below the surface, in tunnels, on train lines and under the ominous cloak of midnight hours, the persistent and controversial street art and graffiti subculture has burst into the foreground of popular attention and established itself, however unexpectedly, as the defining art movement of our time.
Characterised by conflict, enigma and the burgeoning curiosity of growing audiences, it is undeniable that this movement belongs in the same echelon as other controversial, yet ultimately significant and culturally reflective art movements of centuries past.
Rinse and Repeat seeks to articulate this sentiment by showcasing the work of twelve Australian established and emerging street and graffiti artists as they find inspiration in history’s master works and reinterpret them from the perspective of today’s most prevalent and exciting art form.
Comprising the work of Adnate (AWOL Crew), Bridge Stehli, Cam Wall, Carl Steffan, Deams (AWOL Crew), Fintan Magee, Guido van Helten, Phibs, Shannon Crees,  Slicer (AWOL Crew) , Team and Teazer, Rinse and Repeat articulates the evolution of a movement that, in its irrepressibility, has rendered it the defining art form of contemporary culture.
Proudly supported by aMBUSH, ABSOLUT, The Apple Thief, Doss Blockos and premium paint brand Molotow, Rinse and Repeat launches at aMBUSH Gallery on Thursday 6 December from 6-10pm. The exhibition continues until Sunday 9 December 12-14pm.
What: Rinse & Repeat
Where: aMBUSH Gallery, 4a James Street, Waterloo (Sydney)
When: Thursday 6 December
Time: 6pm-10pm
Cost: Free Public Event
Read more

Ambush Gallery Presents: “Living in a Glass House” A Group Exhibition. (Sydney, Australia)

October 2, 2012 , , , , , ,

Living in a Glass House

What: Living in a Glass House
Where: Glasshouse, 150 Pitt Street Mall (Cnr of King St), Sydney – Exhibition spans across 3 levels
When: 3 October to 2 November 2012 (during centre hours)
They say that those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, but what about those on the outside looking in? Living in a Glass House, the latest free public art initiative of aMBUSH Gallery, shows that a better policy is that no one should throw stones, regardless of their accommodation, and simply look under them instead. You never know what you might find.
Presented by Sydney’s GLASSHOUSE and aMBUSH Gallery, Living in a Glass House comprises the work of fifty contemporary street, graffiti and urban artists from almost all the major cities in Australia. Located across the three levels of the GLASSHOUSE, the pop-up exhibition brings the most prominent figures in Australian art together in an ambitious and dynamic display of home-grown talent.
Produced and curated by aMBUSH Gallery, Living in a Glass House will exhibit new and original works by Brisbane artists Benjamin Reeve and Gimiks Born; Adnate, Itch, Lucy Lucy and Slicer, four of Melbourne’s indomitable AWOL crew; Gary Seaman from Adelaide; and Sydney’s own Brett Chan, Jodee Knowles, Deb, Bei Bad Girl, Bridge Stehli, Jumbo, Ben Brown and Ears, plus 36 more artists, hailing from across the nation.
On Wednesday October 3, to mark the launch of this exciting new project, Deb and Bei Bad Girl will bring their bombshell attitudes and signature femininity to GLASSHOUSE with a live painting display from 11am to 2pm.
All works from Living in a Glass House will be for sale, and aMBUSH Gallery will release an online catalogue on October 3 that audiences can browse and from which purchases can be made. The catalogue will be available at www.livinginaglasshouse.com and 100% of sales go to the artists themselves.
Dedicated to the uncovering and dazzling display of new and exciting artists and their works, aMBUSH Gallery and GLASSHOUSE are proud to present Living in a Glass House, a vibrant addition to Sydney’s burgeoning public art space and a testament to the talent beholden by Australia’s shores.
Read more

Ambush Gallery Presents: “Open Street Art” An Outdoor Group Exhibition (Sydeney, Australia)

September 20, 2012 , , , , , , ,

 

OPEN Turns The Art Gallery Inside Out

In an initiative that transcends the white walls of the conventional gallery space and redefines Sydney’s relationship with art, OPEN is Darling Quarter’s newest public art space, set to launch in association with Art & About 2012 on Friday 21st September.

Presented by Darling Quarter and curated and produced by aMBUSH Gallery, OPEN will surprise and enchant the passersby of Darling Quarter’s Civic Connector with large-scale and vibrant public art exhibitions.

The precinct’s debut exhibition, launching on Friday 21st September and continuing until the 26th October, is OPEN STREET ART, which features internationally renowned Australian artists Anthony Lister (Bris/NY), Beastman (Syd), Shannon Crees (Syd) and Hiroyasu Tsuri/
TWOONE (Melb). Illuminated at night, OPEN STREET ART will be visible 24 hours a day.

Singular in style and leaders in their field, the artists have created a site-specific and culturally reflective body of four works each, sixteen in total, which will hang throughout the exhibition’s duration on purpose built cubes down the length of the Civic Connector.

OPEN STREET ART explores the changing relationship between street artists, their work and their audiences, as the art form continues to grow as the most significant art movement of the last ten years.

Darling Quarter’s Abigail Campion says, “OPEN STREET ART gives visitors a chance to explore the fastest growing and most dynamic art movement in the world and the Australian artists who are leading it. We have some of the most brilliant artists here in Australia and
initiatives like OPEN are a chance to celebrate and support this. Through initiatives like Luminous, Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre,
the Night Owls Film Festival and now OPEN, Darling Quarter is gearing up to become a premier cultural hub in the city, supporting the arts,
partnering with cultural organisations such as aMBUSH Gallery and engaging with the community.”

Bill Dimas and John Wiltshire of aMBUSH Gallery attest to the broader significance of OPEN, saying, “OPEN demonstrates how successful
partnerships between business and the arts can benefit the whole community and the city’s cultural landscape, by providing an open,
direct and inclusive arts communication.”

While each of the artists’ work is a reaction to the space, their approaches are as diverse as their styles. One of the world’s Top
50 Most Collectable Artists, Anthony Lister says of his method, “I approached this painting like I was being attacked by an angry bull.
It’s best to deal with an angry bull head-on and with conviction. It’s worst to run and be hit and have to deal with the horns then.”

Beastman, 2010 Sydney Music, Arts & Culture (SMACS) best artist winner, whose iconic creatures grace walls around the globe, explains
that his OPEN STREET ART work “is a representation of the four material elements of nature: wind, water, fire and earth.”

The only Australian artist to show in Banksy’s Cans Festival 2 2008, Shannon Crees’ work is both bold and feminine, and she seeks to
engage her OPEN STREET ART audience by designing her work “as a seamless, unending plane… every surface an extension of the last and
a precursor to the next.”

Hailing from Japan and based now in Melbourne, Hiroyasu Tsuri, who also works under the name TWOONE, has created a series that is
“an exploration of the concept of a psychological portrait.” His work depicts people not as they look, but as they feel and act, by employing
animals as metaphors for the human condition.

In conjunction with the launch of OPEN STREET ART, Darling Quarter’s biggest tenant, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, is
hosting a fundraising barbecue in support of prostate cancer research on Friday 21st September. The barbecue is open to the public, and
will be a great opportunity for Sydney to collectively welcome and celebrate OPEN as Darling Quarter’s newest cultural initiative.

The future of OPEN holds an exciting and diverse program of exhibitions. The pop-up shows will explore a dynamic range of
disciplines, from drawing and painting to photography, embellishing Sydney with beauty and reminding the city of the talent Australia
boasts from its own shores.

The OPEN STREET ART exhibition is presented by the recently developed 5 Green Star rated Darling Quarter precinct, and is produced and curated by award winning Sydney gallery aMBUSH. It is an Associated Event of Art & About Sydney 2012, produced by City
of Sydney.

For more information about Open Street Art visit
www.darlingquarter.com or
www.ambushgallery.com

Open Street Art is an Associated Event of Art & About Sydney 2012
www.artandabout.com.au

Read more

Ambush Gallery Presents: Project 5 Volume 4 (Sydney, Australia)

March 1, 2012 , , , , , , ,

Project 5

STREET ART ROCKS SYDNEY’S HISTORIC PRECINCT

Project Five – Volume Four

Award winning urban arts initviative, Project Five, gets a fresh look for its forth volume as organisers, aMBUSH Gallery an- nounce new presenting partners, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Au- thority (SHFA). Leading Street Artists Vexta, HAHA, E.L.K.. and Reka bring their art to life in the cobblestone streets of The Rocks Square, The Rocks across three days in March (opening night March 9 – 6-9pm, then continues 10 and 11 March – 12- 3pm) in collaboration with aMBUSH Gallery – who will auction the groundbreaking works on Thursday 22 March (6-9pm). All proceeds go to charitable arts and media organization Informa- tion and Cultural Exchange (ICE).

This time around, Project Five (March 1-25) is set to be bigger than ever with the launch of a new full month format that in- cludes a Retrospective Art Exhibition and Artists Talks. All events will be hosted within Sydney’s beautiful historic hub, The Rocks.

The wonderfully diverse collection of artists lured to Sydney
by Project Five offer a seriously formidable, watchable and col- lectable live group show. Project Five Volume Four welcomes the queen of street art Vexta; finalist in the 2011 Metro Gallery Art Award, E.L.K.. (Luke Cornish); in high demand, abstract sur- realist painter, REKA (James Reka); and HAHA (Regan Tamanui)

whose 10 year history of exhibiting adds punch to the line up.

Watch the artists as they draw, spray, paint and create to the sounds of the Future Classic Deejay’s who’ll be pumping beats live on the turntables for the Live Art Event.

aMBUSH Gallery’s Bill Dimas says, “Project Five is a great weekend to come and check out what street art is all about, and if you already know, then a chance to catch some of the Aussie artists leading the charge. Across three huge days we’re going to have some of Australia’s finest street artists bringing the vibrant colours and life of art to the beautiful, scenic and historically rich space The Rocks have to offer. With cranking tunes it will definitely be a weekend not to miss.”

Michael Cohen, SHFA’s Creative Producer says “The Foreshore Authority is delighted to be jumping on board with Project Five for its fourth outing and to bring it to The Rocks.

“There is a real momentum gathering around street art glob- ally and it’s getting a hold in Sydney. There is also a cultural surge happening in The Rocks at the moment, with a lot of SHFA creative initiatives, such as The Rocks Pop-Up. So it’s a natural marriage and we’re excited to support ICE and team up with the other partners.”

Project Five kicks off with the Retrospective Art Exhibition (1-25 March) giving new audiences the chance to take a look at past Project Five artists and their works, all on display at a pop up gallery at 47 George Street, The Rocks.

Audiences will get the chance to get up close and personal with the artists and their brand new works at the Artists Talks, a new addition to Project Five’s program. Jess Scully, Creative Director of Creative Sydney, part of the Vivid Sydney Festival, will lead the way as the four street artists talk through their new works and their style on Monday 12 March at 11:00 am at 47 George Street.

Project Five finishes off with the Auction Event on Thursday 22 March (6-9 pm at the foyer of Cleland Bond) led by Anne Phil- lips, head of art at Bay East Auctions.

You’ll have to wait and see what Vexta, E.L.K., James Reka and HAHA bring to the table. 100% of the proceeds will go to ICE, a charity helping disadvantaged kids in western Sydney access creative media and arts programs.

Project Five has raised over $40,000 for ICE over the previous three volumes and last year was the National Winner at the AbaF Awards winning the Australia Council Young and Emerg- ing Artists Award.

Lisa Torrance, Executive Director of ICE says “ICE’s involve- ment in Project Five has enabled us to engender some fresh creative aspirations within the communities we work with
by exposing emerging artists to new ways of expressing them- selves through street art.

“Couple this with the fact that Project Five injects vital funds into our projects and the recognition we received through an AbaF Award last year simply fuels our passion to keep building on the possibilities this wonderful initiative presents.”

Significant growth in Australia’s own street art movement both at home and abroad are further evidence of the rise of urban art. This year, Vexta, E.L.K., James Reka and HAHA are at the fore- front of the movement, and present an appealing investment opportunity for those with an eye for talent.

The Project is made possible by aMBUSH Gallery who have been exhibiting cutting edge street art for many years, and have significantly contributed to supporting new and emerg- ing local artists across Australia, and now The Rocks, who are using their resources to support Project Five as part of their investment in community and charity, and to engage visitors with something unexpected and fresh.

Where:

Retrospective Art Exhibition,

47 George Street (March 1-25, 2012)

Live Art Events The Rocks Square

(opening night Friday March 9 6-9PM – Saturday March 10 & Sunday March 11 12-3PM)

Artist Talks 47 George Street

(Monday March 12 11AM- 12pm)

Auction – invitation only

(Thursday March 22– 6-9 PM)

Free public event www.project5.com.au

aMBUSH Gallery – www.ambushgallery.com

Based in Waterloo Sydney, aMBUSH seeks to educate and en- gage new audiences with creative exhibitions and art projects. Presenting original works created by Australia’s established and emerging street and contemporary artists, aMBUSH live up to their name by surprising or ‘ambushing’ their audiences with innovative, experimental and non-traditional shows and art proj- ects, both in and out of the gallery. These carefully developed collaborations provide artists with a powerful commercial plat- form to reach a broad audience that includes buyers, investors, creative associations, corporations, media and the wider com- munity.

In October 2011, aMBUSH Gallery were awarded the nation- al Australia Council Young and Emerging Artists Award at the 2011 Australia Business Arts Foundation Awards in Perth for excellence in developing partnerships between corporations, artists and the wider community. In January 2012, the FBi Ra- dio SMACS awards named Outpost Project as Best Art Event for 2011, awarding the joint partnership of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and aMBUSH Gallery.

Project Five – www.project5.com.au

Project Five is a community arts initiative aimed at supporting the arts through pop-up live art, music and auction events. Proj- ect Five commissions four Australian contemporary street artists to produce four large-scale artworks at a three day live art event, which artworks are then auctioned to raise money for charity.

To date, Project Five has raised over $40,000.00 for its nomi- nated charity Information and Cultural Exchange (I.C.E.) and has featured some of Australia’s best creative talent such as An- thony Lister, Kid Zoom and Ben Frost. In 2011, Project Five was the National Winner at the AbaF Awards winning the Australia Council Young and Emerging Artists Award. Now in its Fourth Volume and with a new format to include an Art Exhibition and Artist Talks, Project Five is presented by aMBUSH Gallery and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority at Sydney’s iconic and his- toric venue The Rocks. Also produced and curated by aMBUSH, Project Five is supported by Bay East Auctions and Information and Cultural Exchange.

Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) – www.ice.org.au/about/intro

ICE is a charitable community, arts and technology organisa- tion working at the frontier of digital arts to foster community creativity and empowerment in Australia’s most culturally diverse region- Western Sydney. We amplify artists’ and com- munity voices to build resilience, autonomy and infrastructure, and to enhance quality of life. ICE’s main activity is to develop programs that engage communities and cultural leaders us- ing creative practices and digital media.These programs are targeted to communities with specific needs, and focus on creative solutions to the challenges and issues they face. We are particularly known for our work in engaging, drawing out and supporting platforms that support the cultural expression and stories of culturally diverse and disadvantaged communi- ties. ICE’s programs build capacity and connections, provide

learning and participation pathways, and enable communities and artists to create and share their expressions, stories and experiences in platforms that provide them with a conduit to the world.

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) – http://www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/

The Rocks is fast becoming one of Sydney’s most creative hubs. As part of Art Month NSW, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is proud to co-present the award-winning arts initia- tive, Project 5.Held over 25 days in March, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and Ambush gallery invite the public, and the broader arts industry, to The Rocks to experience the Project Five retrospective Art Exhibition, artist talks, a live

art event and artwork charity auction. All funds raised will go to the Information & Cultural Exchange (ICE), a supporter of emerging creative artists in greater Western Sydney.

The Rocks has long been home to artists and designers. Today the heritage surrounds of indoor and outdoor spaces continues to provide an innovative backdrop to profile and celebrate Aus- tralia’s most recognisable and contemporary street artists; as well as to educate new audiences through stories of Australian artists and their positive contribution to our community.

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority owns and manages some of the State’s most significant assets, including Sydney’s heritage and cultural precincts at The Rocks and Darling Har- bour. With more than $1.2 billion in assets, and around 215 employees, the Foreshore Authority manages significant com- mercial and retail leases, provides security, cleaning, building maintenance and other facility management services, cares for the public domain and around 140 heritage items.

The Authority also operates tourism and marketing services and holds significant events in The Rocks and Darling Harbour each year. Between them, the precincts attract around 39 mil- lion visitors annually.

Read more
Images of the Week 11.27.11

Images of the Week 11.27.11

November 27, 2011 , , , , , ,

Here in New York  everybody is still out kickin around the streets because the weather is warm and to welcome the oceanic flood of tourists who are here to see the big parade, the Rockettes, The Book of Mormon, and to buy fake Louis Vuitton bags on Canal Street. After Thanksgiving, it’s a tradition that we get mobbed by shoppers from all over the place, and it’s a tradition to complain about slow moving wide people in sweatpants slowing us down, even though secretly we’re happy to see cousin Bruce and Aunt Ida again. Also, if you slow down a little, you might even see some new Street Art and appreciate it.

Here’s our weekly interview with the street, this week featuring Anthony Lister, Betten, CID, Dr. Za, Erik Berglin, Jaye Moon, Leidy, OverUnder, Phil, RWK, Sise, Veng, and Willow.

Betten (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Leidy (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Artist Unknown (photo © Jaime Rojo)

CID (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Dr. Za (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Overunder (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Erik Berglin (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Jaye Moon. “I write words in number codes so no one can understand.  This series is called ” Transparent Barriers”.  They look like address or phone numbers. but they are cursing words that people are not comfortable to say in public.  By writing them in numbers, I feel free to bring them out in public.  It’s about frustration about expressing inner feelings”. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Phil (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Sise (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Veng (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Our Lady of Guadalupe. Artist Unknown. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Willow (photo © Jaime Rojo)

New Yorker Spencer Elzey checked out Anthony Lister’s show “Bogan Paradise” while in Sydney recently. Here are a couple of images from the show:

Anthony Lister at Outpost (photo © Spencer Elzey)

See more photos by Spencer Elzey and read more about Sydney’s “OutPost Project” ReCap by clicking here

Anthony Lister at “Outpost” in Sydney (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Anthony Lister at Outpost (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Anthony Lister at Outpost (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Anthony Lister at Outpost (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Read more

Sydney’s “OutPost Project” ReCap

November 23, 2011 , , , , ,
Our sincere thanks to BSA reader and New Yorker Spencer Elzey, who took a trip to Sydney at the beginning of the month and had the opportunity to check out the Outpost Project Street Art festival. Here’s his report.

Overview and a warning. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Cockatoo Island is the Governor’s Island of Sydney. The ferry leaves Circular Quay, motors beside the shimmering tiles of the Sydney Opera House, sweeps underneath the arching Harbor Bridge and the tourist who pay $200 for a chance to climb the upper deck above. Twenty minutes later, a large “No Trespassing” sign begins to become in focus. We have arrived at the Outpost Project.

Anthony Lister. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

The island, who’s past includes an old Imperial prison and one of Australia’s largest shipyards, welcomes each street art enthusiast with a detailed information brochure. The inner cover contains a fairly easy to follow map of what lies ahead. Right away three large inflatables (imagine a small grounded hot air balloon) greet you adorned with Anthony Lister’s iconic caricatures. The info packet says it best when describing the images; the “superheroes are never indomitable conquerors or unequivocal villains.” Straddled by two of these is a large piece by Belgium artist, and frequent Brooklyn talent, ROA.

ROA. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Follow the art around the corner through a mural-lined alley between two buildings and some familiar styles present themselves including the stick-figure arms by Perth Street Artist Creepy.

Creepy and Daek. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

The second floor of one of these buildings is the current home to a large private collection of work by Banksy. The OI YOU! Collection had an interesting start, but where it currently stands is 22 pieces by Banksy. Intermixed are items by Faile, Swoon and others. The husband and wife team collecting behind OI YOU!, George Shaw and his wife Shannon Webster, sold both of their cars and re-directed a home improvement loan to feed their need for owning more street art.

Kid Zoom…and documentation of the destruction of three Holden Commodores. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Inside the main building, known as the Industrial Precinct, MOX (Mark Cawood) is hard at work. After over 120 hours of intricate stencil cutting, his diligence is well on its way toward a completed final product. At the end of the hall, behind the small traffic jam of mangled cars, is a life size recreation of the childhood home of Street Artist and fine artist Kid Zoom.

Kid Zoom. “Home” The artist recreate a scale reproduction of his childhood home from early adolescent memory… (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Located deeper within the hall of the Industrial Precinct are two other impressive arrays; NEXT by T-World and Pastemodernism 3. Both of these installations, while serious in their scope, were whimsical at heart. The NEXT collection, overseen by “Melbourne-born T-shirt messiah Eddie Zammit,” asks 20 artists to assemble over 1,500 T-shirts to display. Local shout-outs included Barcade in Williamsburg and Katz’s Deli on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Pastemodernism 3, now in it’s third year at OUTPOST, is the self-proclaimed “largest celebration of ‘paste-ups’ in Australia.” Over 100 artists had a part in this collaboration.

A view of the T Shirt installation. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Traversing the Artery, a limestone lined subterranean tunnel, one passes by a “rogue gallery of 30 hand picked Australian street artists” including HA HA, Ghostpatrol, Numskull, Dmote and Yok, just to name a few.

The Art Gallery in the Tunnel. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Upon exiting, you end up back at the beginning, next to the “No Trespassing” sign and amongst a collection by Will Coles. His concrete cast items, usually adorned with a word or two, are lifelike enough even the Seagulls seemed a bit confused.

Will Coles. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Will Coles. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

New Rock Crew. 1976 Classic School Bus. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

New Rock Crew. 1976 Classic School Bus. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

New Rock Crew. 1976 Classic School Bus. Anthony Lister balloon on the background. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Shannon Crees. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Phibs. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Mini Graff. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Max Berry. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

We couldn’t read the artist’s signature. Please let us know if you know who this artist is. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Hazzy Bee. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

HA HA on the left and Shida on the right. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Ears. (photo © Spencer Elzey)

Read more

Ambush Gallery Presents: “Surface Tension” A Group Art Exhibition. (Sydney, Australia)

November 15, 2011 , , , ,

Surface Tension

 

aMBUSH Gallery presents SURFACE TENSION

Australia’s new wave of street art is already here. Following on from their curatorial hit Outpost Project at Cockatoo Island, aMBUSH proudly presents Surface Tension, featuring artists E.L.K. (Luke Cornish, VIC), Heesco (VIC), Shida (QLD), Slurpree Slug (NSW), Sofles (VIC) and Sprinkles (NSW). The artists will paint and transform the gallery walls, integrating the space itself into their body of works. Hailing from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, the stellar emergent line-up represents the next epoch, the next movement. Come and see where it all starts.

The opening will take place on Friday 25 November from 6-9pm at aMBUSH Gallery, 4A James Street Waterloo. Join us for complimentary drinks provided by Absolut and future leaning beats and Hip-hop between provided by Zwelli.

On the billing will be Brisbane born, cut-back king, Sofles, recently returned from the San Francisco all-Australian show ‘Young and Free’ – himself one of the country’s finest graffiti exports. Also from Brisbane, Shida’s vicious extra dimensional figures will grin across the concrete backdrop. Moving further down south, representing Sydney will be Sprinkles, co-founder of Half-Star clothing, with his hyper-cartoon skulls stalking the back of your thoughts. Marking his exclusive gallery appearance is the mysterious street thrasher, Slurpee Slug, with his raw psychedelia a cross between whizz fizz characters and acid. From the Melbourne camp, and representing Blender studios we have Heesco and E.L.K. Heesco, the current Sydney Secret Wars champion, has a talent in creating anguished faces and loose figures caught in motion. E.L.K. (Luke Cornish) is widely regarded as a National stencil treasure, able to bring photorealistic portrayals in muted tones through painstaking execution of layering, deconstructing and reconstructing his works with his own flair. E.L.K. was the winner of the 2010 Australian Stencil Art Prize, and made the cover of Monthly Art Magazine, April 2011.

The exhibition will also run alongside an online catalogue with works for sale from Saturday 26 November and runs until 4 December, allowing interstate buyers to remotely buy works. Information regarding this will be available on the aMBUSH website from the opening night.

WHAT: SURFACE TENSION
WHERE: 4A James Street, Waterloo SYDNEY
WHEN: Opening event Friday 25 November, 2011, 6-9pm
Exhibition continues daily until Tuesday 29 November, 12-4pm
SUPPORTED BY: Absolut, Information & Cultural Exchange, Ironlak and Wiltshire & Dimas Management
FREE PUBLIC EVENT
Media enquiries: Please contact John Wiltshire, aMBUSH Gallery on mobile on
0433 015 780 or the gallery on 02 8399 0707 or email john@ambushgallery.com
For more information please visit www.ambushgallery.com

aMBUSH Gallery
4A James Street, Waterloo
Sydney NSW 2017 AUSTRALIA
P +61 2 8399 0707 | F +61 2 8399 0787
www.ambushgallery.com

Read more

Joseph Allen Shea and Marty Routdlege Curate: “Self Est” (Sydney, Australia)

November 8, 2011 , , , , , , ,

Self Est

 

Self Est. is a four day art event exploring contemporary art from alternative backgrounds. This first installment of Self Est. (short for Self Established) investigates the study of letterforms and pavement-based education. Self Est. presents art created outside the traditional academy that has infiltrated the institution. 

These art forms may be self-taught, intuitive or born from marginal activities such as commercial art, graffiti or skateboarding. Taking motivation from these auxiliary artistic pursuits these artists bring unconventional and unique twists to fine art and are being recognised by galleries and institutions.

Exhibition – THURSDAY 17th

6 – 8pm

kind of – gallery

72 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst 

DMOTE, New York (USA) 

Dmote is known worldwide for his contributions to the outlawed art of graffiti. Using this education as a springboard Dmote honedhis skills in the commercial arts and is regarded by many for his graphic work for some of the worlds largest youth brands.These trades have honed his craft and given new inspiration for fine art painting where one can trace his lineage of knowledge through letterforms, subcultural iconography (skulls), street scenes (torn bill posters) and print media (pornography).

www.dmote.net   

HORFÉ, Paris (FR) 

Horfé (also spelt Horphée) has a potent history of Graffiti bombing from the streets and subways of paris and Europe. Horfé’s loose letterforms and unmistakeable hand-styles separate him from what is considered to be a conservative graffiti style.Horfé’s abstracted lettering often splurges and morphs creating organic scenes of fantasy, horror and death. Horfé’s maturing direction as an icon for parisian graffiti has pushed him into exhibiting works indoors with recent shows in Paris, London & Sweden.

www.topsafelondon.com  

ROID, London (UK) 

London born Graffiti writer Roid (Aste-roid) is currently one of the most watched graffiti writers in the world. Roid was an early adaptor quickly being noticed for his unique letter styling and typographic treatments. Under a previous alias Roid was recognized globally as a strong contributor to the European graffiti scene covering off all available aspects of the sport-like art form. After what seemed to be a hiatus into another dimension, Roid returned to shock the graffiti community with ground breaking techniques and retro inspired lettering concepts. Roid’s current style disregards traditional graffiti processes and explores geometry, space and the abstracted influence of electronic music.

Exhibition – FRIDAY 18th

6 – 8pm

GALLERY A.S.

55 Brisbane Street, Surry Hills 

BEN BARRETTO, Perth (AUS) 

Ben Barretto grew up filtering his creativity through his pursuits as a sponsored skateboarder while re-interpreting civic planning and structures. Although completing art school Barretto’s installations retain a motivation, intuitiveness and resourcefulness that comes from creating from what’s at hand, techniques acquired while riding upon four urethane wheels.

JEFF CANHAM, San Francisco (USA) 

Jeff Canham trained at New Bohemia Signs in San Francisco in the antiquated trade of hand sign painting. The handstyles and toxic paints used to render letters and icons deliver, now superseded by technology, give a result much more versatile and human than the majority of advertising we witness today. Canham transfers this apprenticeship to great effect in his fine art paintings on wood to advertise emotional and environmental informed concepts.

www.jeffcanham.com

Conversations – SATURDAY 19th

12 – 1.30pm 

Gallery A.S

55 Brisbane St, Surry Hills 

A discussion and Q and A with Self Est. artists and experts on unconventional sources for fine art.

Ben Barretto (AUS) – artist

Jeff Canham (USA) – artist

Fred Forsyth (UK) – director of Topsafe & Crack & Shine

Cameron Macauliffe (AUS) – public art expert

Painting, BBQ and Beers Finale – SATURDAY 19th

4 – 9pm 

Kippax & Lt Riley St, Surry Hills

In progress wall painting by Roid, Horfé, & Jeff Canham

elfest.com.au

Read more

“Outpost: Art From The Streets” Sydney’s Own Mega Street Art Festival

November 2, 2011 , , , , , , ,

The Outpost Project begins in two days on a former military outpost, Cockatoo Island, the largest island in Sydney Harbour in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This city really knows the value of the Street Art scene and celebrates the contributions of artists to the cultural wealth of the people who live there.

The entire island is basically porn for Street Artists, and right now about 150 are readying work their magic ways on the industrial spaces. Artists like ROA, Ethos, KidZoom, Anthony Lister, Everfresh Collective, Os Gemeos, Swoon, Faile, and Banksy are on the bill and a number of other projects will be taking place simultaneously, including a Pro/Am skateboarding exhibition, a region art gallery, DJs, artist battles, and pop-up bars.  The island becomes a canvas, and there is no admission. Um, are you coming?

Kid Zoom will be dominating the Turbine Shed with his project Kid Zoom: “Home”. Right now his home is split between Brooklyn and Perth, so he’s kind of a hometown boy. (photo © Jaime Rojo)


Another Brooklyn/Australia native, Anthony Lister will pepper the island with his signature characters  grinning larger than life transposed on enormous balloons. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

DMOTE will be involved in multiple projects but primarily on his own panel installation demonstrating new leaps and techniques he’s implementing in his ever-evolving style. (photo © Andrius Lippa)

Ben Frost is curating “Pastemodernism 3″ where every inch of surface area will be covered in wheatpasted posters from a slew of hand-picked artists. Probably the most populated exhibition of OUTPOST, “Pastemodernism 3” will include over 250 artists, both local and International. (photo © Andrius Lippa)

REKA. EVERFRESH STUDIO. The crew whose stellar lineup includes Phibs, Meggs, Rone, Reka, Sync, Prizm, Wonderlust, Stabs and Makatron will be tackling the East Apron Cliff Face with a tongue-in-cheek statement of the anti-graffiti rhetoric of yesteryear. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Street Artist Creepy: Project Ugly will sit gazing over the harbour displaying 20 panels from interstate street artists, including an onsite live painting on an industrial scale by Sydney figure Sprinkles and as well, Brisbane based Shida. Amongst the pre-created collection will be Above (San Francisco), Creepy and Daek (Last Chance Studios, Perth) and Drypnz (NZ). (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Yok. Artery, located in the Dog Leg Tunnel will greet patrons upon first landing – being a sample of the creative tone to come including Meggs, Haha, Rone, Yok and Drewfunk amongst other featured Outpost Artists. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Also included will be the Oi You! Collection featuring the largest private collection of Banksy’s, amongst works by David Choe and Herakut. As well, live painting by Sao Paulo artist Ethos and Belgian monotone muralist Roa.

Banksy is going to participate, but how? (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ETHOS. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Herakut. (photo © Jaime Rojo)

ROA. (photo © Jaime Rojo)


From the press release:

“The crown jewel of Sydney harbour, Cockatoo Island, a former military outcrop and penal colony will be transformed this November. In conjunction with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, witness the island wide invasion as aMBUSH Gallery launches a curatorial take-over – transforming the industrial monument into a battlefield of street-art. The Outpost Project will be the Southern-hemisphere’s largest Street Art Festival to date, with a projected 90, 000 visitors over the course of 5 weeks. Amongst a myriad of forums, educational programs, aMBUSH will bring to the table the nexus of content featured on the island.”

For further information and a complete list of participating artists, events and schedule please visit the sites below:

http://outpost.cockatooisland.gov.au/

http://www.ambushgallery.com/

 

Read more

Gallery A.S. Presents: Anthony Lister “Bogan Paradise” (Sydney, Australia)

October 24, 2011 , , , , ,

Anthony Lister

Private reception

Friday  4th November  2011

6 – 9pm

As the launch event is limited capacity we will not be able to accommodate everyone.
If you would like to attend, it is essential to register interest at rsvp@gallery.as

Gallery A.S. at 779 George Street, (near railway square) Sydney

Exhibition continues by appointment only. Please contact galleryas@galleryas.com.au

Gallery A.S. presents an ambitious production with Brisbane-born artist Anthony Lister. Much farther reaching than your white walled gallery exhibition, Gallery A.S. has positioned Lister’s new happening in an exhausted sex shop in Sydney’s Chinatown.

Bogan Paradise challenges conceptions of the Australian identity – those attributes perceived as both positive and negative. Euphemisms amount in the Australian vernacular to champion the quintessential Australian larrikin – a character that most other cultures would bluntly disregard. It’s the ‘she’ll be right’ laid back attitude that we exonerate as while we consent to and discount irresponsible acts.

Lister investigates the underside of such a responsibility-free society. We witness several incarnations of the ‘victimless crime’, a ‘no worries’ attitude to a future too far off for retribution – pissing in public, Mum smoking a bong, swearing at the televised footy match, burn-outs on the oval, amoral Queensland cops, desecration of wildlife, motorcycle gangs, and other petty misdemeanors as well as a few more personal crimes such as the home-made tattoo in the garage, sun-burn, a terrible haircut, an unhealthy obsession with sports or celebrity magazines.

Social commentators have oft questioned the larrikin streak in Australian culture, and have theorised about its origins. Some say that larrikinism arose as a reaction to corrupt, authority during Australia’s days as a penal colony, or as a reaction to norms of propriety imposed by officials from Britain on the young country and such disdain for arbitrary authority a reaction to of the often conservative norms of bourgeois Australia. What cannot be argued is that the larrikin is an important part of our culture and has emerged repeatedly, informing Australian contemporary art, popular and youth culture and political debate.

Bogan Paradise will be held in the top 3 floors of a dilapidated heritage listed, discreet George St Building. The convergence of Lister’s vision with this early Sydney building and recently de-zoned sex shop presents a unique context for Anthony to amplify his themes of wayward Australiana. The space will exist as several involving environments as a rabbit-warren of surprising installed, performative and interactive rooms.

Anthony Lister is a trailblazer with an international following and a general disregard for borders. A prolific street artist and painter Lister has managed to marry the empathy and abjection of 20th Century figuration with the irreverence of the contemporary pavement culture. His work shows a genuine affection for the human body, and also a tender understanding of the ways in which the demented, destructive, playful and powerful collide and coalesce.

Anthony Lister was born and raised in Brisbane, a metropolitan center and capital of Queensland, Australia. In 2001, he earned his Bachelor in Fine Arts at Queensland College of Art, and in 2003, moved to New York to continue his education under the tutelage of distinguished abstract painter and New Zealand native Max Gimblett.

He has since shown in solo and group exhibitions all over the world in commercial and institutional galleries, art fairs and prizes alike. His work is held in many collections of high esteem including the National Gallery of Australia and the BHP collection.

Gallery A.S. is Joseph Allen Shea‘s site-specific exhibition project. It’s vision is to create marriage and/or discord between architecture and contemporary art to bring interest and vigour to Sydney’s art and cultural domain.

Read more

Featured Video | Martin Wong’s “Houston Street”

Recent Articles on BSA