Monday 30 June 2014

McEwan remaps the self

Remapping the Self is an exhibition by CAD Factory artist Sarah McEwan.

This new work explores the female voice and what influences have shaped internal dialogues.

The work seeks to open up a conversation with the audience to ask the question, who forms your internal voice and what is the underlying ideology behind it? Is it based in patriarchy or a drive to question the past and speak your own language? To remap yourself beyond social constructions that bind you.

Feminism has a force or intensity to disrupt all officially charted maps - it calls for the remapping of relationships.
Avital Ronell

Sarah McEwan’s work is the visual exploration of these questions with reference to the self and the way identity is formed.

A striking feature of these self portraits is the fact that each figure contains no face; the face has been cut out and replaced with black threads. By eliminating the feature that identifies you, the strategy interrupts the notions of beauty and being defined by your physical features. The external falls away and the internal thoughts are left exposed where the private becomes public. The works become portraits of interior landscapes.

The threads and repeated lines are the physical representation of internal thoughts and reference Jacques Derrida’s notion of the spaces in between written language; the gaps between letters, the silence between one thought to the next.

In each work the thoughts keep falling, representing that inner voice which ultimately manifests in to an external representation of who you are.

See Remapping the Self at the Griffith Regional Theatre during July and the Griffith Council Chambers during August.

Friday 13 June 2014

Collecting Griffith stories for art

Visiting story collector, Suzanne Nguyen, is inviting locals to have a chat about their connection to Griffith.

The shared stories will be part of an upcoming art exhibition held at Griffith Regional Art Gallery. How about sitting down with the young artist over coffee, tea or two and share your story?



“Instead of asking the generic ‘How are you?’ I like to ask people ‘What’s your story?’ and the responses are filled with surprising moments of everyday sadness, joy and adventures. But then again I do enjoy listening to people.” 



Suzanne is based in Sydney and has come to town to harness the hidden stories within the community.

For four years, Suzanne has developed an artistic practice that focuses on people and storytelling. She believes that stories have the ability to connect people from all walks of life.

The collection of stories plans to be showcased in a visual and interactive form.

“Everyone has a story to tell and in a diverse community like Griffith, there are all sorts of stories that need to be unearthed. My art practice is inspired by meeting new people, gathering their stories and visualise the found connections.”



Over the next two months and with the support of Griffith Regional Arts Gallery, Suzanne Nguyen plans to visit Griffith to collect stories.

For more details visit the Griffith Art Galley website.

For now, the artist encourages anyone and everyone to sit down with her over tea or coffee and have a good chat. 



Book a 45 minute session times during the following dates: 
June 27 – 30, 
July 11 – 13 and 
Aug 16 - 17

.

Contact and book a time with Suzanne Nguyen
 via email: StringStory@gmail.com

Friday 6 June 2014

Dance with Britney's dancers

Two dancers who worked with Britney Spears on her Piece Of Me tour will be in Griffith to share their skills and experience on Wednesday 9 July.

Classes are for juniors (12 years and under) and seniors (13 years and over), including three hour-long lessons, a Q&A industry session and a 'meet and greet' afterwards where students can get photos and autographs.

Tickets are $100 and further information can be found at www.sdsgriffith.com

Contact Shannon Maree Hart at SDS Griffith on www.facebook.com/sdsgriffith

A showcase of Griffith talent


First Friday Live is no stranger to innovative ideas! The founders of the live jazz scene in Griffith now bring you a barrage of Griffith's best talent, all in one night.

There is so much talent tucked away in Griffith, but so few outlets for it to be shown off. And that is precisely what FFL has set about to do. For the first Friday of June, the FFL organisers have pulled together the best that Griffith has to offer in jazzy, soulful and blues genres.

Well known names such as Lynda Medcalf, Cheryl Tucker, Brendan Catanzariti, as well as a number of young up-and- coming artists will feature in this packed line-up on Friday June 6th.

The concert will feature a variety of instruments such as saxophone, trumpet, guitar, keyboards, vocals and percussion. Actually, it's going to be a smorgasbord of delightful sounds and soulful grooves all night long.

Young talents Sam Hutchinson and Liam Corbett will treat the audience with his dynamic trumpeting of jazz standards, while veteran performer Brendan Catanzariti will soothe you with a number of classic Buble and blues tunes. Cheryl Tucker will belt out some soul classics, and Lynda Medcalf will bring the sax into the forefront. There will be a special grande finale featuring the full ensemble - the largest ever for FFL!

Invite your friends, book a table and enjoy a night of fabulous live music. We can’t wait to see you there!

Be part of the fun. Book a table for 7.30pm and enjoy a night of live music for the low, low cover charge of just $15 per person. This month's concert will be held at Bar One88, 188 Banna Avenue Griffith.

Follow First Friday Live on Facebook here

Hape Kiddle opens Bidgee Studio

Bidgee Studio is the public workspace of Griffith-based artist Hape Kiddle, open Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5pm and Saturday 11am to 4pm, as well as by appointment through Facebook. The studio is located at the corner of Bridge Road and Mackay Avenue.

After a successful exhibition at Griffith Regional Art Gallery last year, Kiddle wanted a venue for his handiwork. "I'm hoping to educate the market for jewellery.

"When you hold an object you have a different relationship than when you see it online."

Kiddle strives in his artwork to achieve an inherent beauty which seems to come naturally through presenting stories which encompass nature, dreamscapes and traditional Maori symbolism.

The symbol of a girl riding a carp, an image which came to him during the flooding of Yenda, featured in an exhibition responding to that event at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery earlier this year.

"Many artists in the region have exhibited here," says Kiddle of the history in local arts at the former Griffith Cottage Gallery site. He plans to host events, explaining "I want to facilitate connections through the local community. I've experienced the richness that comes from a healthy culture."

Kiddle cites the mentoring programs he's been involved with as informing this new venture. "There are people in my life who have supported me to become an artist. Hopefully I can offer something to grow local culture too."

There are plans for classes that will introduce jewellery making. He sees opportunities like helping couples make their own wedding rings.

"All people have ideas, you just have to learn how to execute them. Learning keeps the brain and the soul alive."