Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Migrating within the Slit

Migrating Within - Angela Femia, Helen Sturgess, Elke Wohlfarht
Serious Play - Bonita Bub, Ben Terakes, Melody Williams
spat + loogie - futuresearch

Exhibition open: Wednesday February 21 to Saturday March 10, 2007

Opening night drinks: Wednesday February 21, 2007 6-8pm

Firstdraft opening hours: Wednesday - Saturday 12-6pm

...

Migrating Within - Angela Femia, Helen Sturgess, Elke Wohlfarht

An exhibition of immersive installation works by three female sculptors, characterised by a use of diffuse light to evoke the ephemeral rather than the concrete, questions rather than answers.

As Helen Sturgess's Objects migrate through the gallery in real space and time they interact with the other works, linking Elke Wohlfahrt's observation of 'mutedness' with Angela Femia's reflection on memory and the home.

In an attempt to put into order the ephemeral territory of memory, Angela Femia's Memory Cupboard utilises the symbolism inherent in the cupboard and the house. Found and constructed objects are juxtaposed in an endeavour to navigate towards a better understanding of memory.

Utilising the whole gallery space yet essentially 'unlocated' within it, Helen Sturgess's Migratory Objects are translucent forms that hover and sway, migrating slowly, influenced by the movements of passers by. As adults we tether ourselves to the ground, weighing ourselves down with possessions and responsibilities. To be lighter than air, to fly or to float, is an eternal dream.

Elke Wohlfahrt's heightened sensitivity as one who has migrated led to Muted Suburb, an observation of the 'mutedness' that has evolved in contemporary western society. Glass and dust unite to present and re-present the video footage, resulting in a disorientating account of suburban life.


Serious Play -
Bonita Bub, Ben Terakes, Melody Williams

Serious Play features artists that employ a playful approach to a broad range of materials whether it is the body in the case of Ben Terakes’ performances and drawings, industrial materials in Bonita Bub’s objects or the ‘mock-up’ construction of Melody William’s props.

The works commonly use humour and game playing in order to deliver messages concerning awkward and slippery territory such as ideas of masculinity, outsider status and anti-authoritarian sentiment. They generally preference unpolished aesthetics over pristine surfaces, are concerned with emotions and have a strong foundation in drawing. Ben Terakes devises performances and watercolours that explore the inability to define masculinity within a post-feminist framework. Whilst Terakes uses his body or watercolours as his medium Bonita Bub prefers to construct ambiguous organic shapes from industrial materials such as cardboard, transparent plastic and furniture foam. Melody Williams makes tools and props for undefined actions stemming from her playful urges and interest in the escapist potential of theatre and film.


spat+loogie - futuresearch

futuresearch is Lo-fi DIY virtual reality based on google image search and the unknown. Magic eyes, 3D and the Internet collide- almost as good as the motion picture ‘The Net’.

futuresearch is art to hang in the office.

futuresearch is….. A google image search of words pertaining to the future, mashed up into 3D lenticular prints. Then connecting with these image-makers from all over the net and the world, to explain the phenomenon of google and the future.

Custom made magic eyes circa 1991, for the new millennium – cross your eyes and step away for best effect.

Home made video goggles taking you on lo-fi faux virtual-reality tour of the INTERNET.

New media art for those who appreciate glitter and gold. The future, as predicted in 1989, is finally here.

Futuresearch is also pictures of computers.

spat+loogie are a Sydney based collaborative duo whose practise dips into the forms of installation, video, new media and performance. Their largest work to date is new!shop, a life-sized interactive supermarket which toured through festivals last year.

_____________________________________________________________________


For media enquiries contact
mail@firstdraftgallery.com


Attached:
Migrating Within, Press Image, 2007.
Bonita Bub, Stop Sulking Edward I, 2005.
Ben Terakes, Chief of the Cherokee (Performance Documentation), 2006.
Melody Williams, Workbench
, 2005.
spat+loogie, Mystery, 2007.

Firstdraft
116-118 Chalmers St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
t: +61 (0)2 9698 3665 e: mail@firstdraftgallery.com
http: //www.firstdraftgallery.com
Firstdraft opening hours: Wednesday-Saturday 12-6pm


Firstdraft is supported by NSW Ministry for the Arts and the Australian
Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and
advisory body.

Firstdraft is supported by DPM and Bristol.

Firstdraft is a non-profit gallery run on a voluntary basis by a group of
practising artists. It is one of the longest running and most successful
artist-run initiatives in Australia. Firstdraft asserts the importance of
contemporary art production, dissemination and discussion in society,
providing a stimulating exhibition space that is professional and accessible
for a diverse range of artistic practices and projects.

hi tea ladies,

next thursday we have the exhibition opening & launch of slit magazine's 11th issue, 'the 't' show'. opens 6-8pm thursday 22 february, continues friday 23rd to sunday 25th february 12-5pm.

featuring tom fairweather by jamie dunbar , sex intents by cat o nine tails, mr t by lasy penelope, plus works by wife and aunties, sam king, textaqueen, zanny begg, zoo and more.

lots of sexy photographs from slit associates as part of mardi gras, not just for viewing, they'll be for sale too...

for more information visit www.slitmag.org

see you there

pete




Sherman Galleries’ Directors
warmly invite you to attend the opening of

VOICELESS: I FEEL THEREFORE I AM

on Thursday, 22 February 2007 5.30-8.30 pm

to be opened at 7pm by Mr Peter Garrett MP, AM
Shadow Minister for Climate Change,
Environment, Heritage and the Arts

in the presence of Hugo Weaving and Abbie Cornish

Exhibition dates: 23 February - 10 March 2007

for more details about this exhibition, please visit our
website: http://www.shermangalleries.com.au/


SHERMAN GALLERIES
16-20 Goodhope Street
Paddington NSW 2021
tel: 02 9331 1112
fax: 02 9331 1051
email: info@shermangalleries.com.au
website: http://www.shermangalleries.com.au

Gallery hours: Tuesday-Friday 10-6 pm Saturday 11-6 pm

Neighbourhood parking near the gallery is limited
taxis are a thoughtful alternative


Voiceless: I feel therefore I am has been generously supported by
Voiceless, the fund for animals and Ondine & Brian Sherman AM. With thanks
to Otto Ristorante and Macro Wholefoods Market for their additional
support; and to Art & Australia, Pig in the House (Organic Wine), Dinosaur
Designs and Dr Charles Green for their kind assistance.


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thankyou Mayhem for explaining/ posting about the Migrating within work ~ we saw this show on opening night but didn't quite get it ~ guessed but weren't sure and forgot to ask someone. We loved the interactive nature of some of the works (e.g. Melody Williams and the Future search room) although had trouble getting our big head into the future search dvd viewer thingy. Cool though.