Art news

 

Are you an emerging or established designer, photographer, artist or all around creative soul? How would you like to flex your nimble fingers toward a good cause and be in the running to win $5000? Headcase is an art exhibition that aims to bring together Australia's brightest young art stars while raising awareness of Acquired Brain Injuries; a disability that affects over 73,000 people in Victoria alone. Organizers of this year's event are currently seeking submissions and with National exposure and a $5000 people's choice prize up for grabs you'd be silly not to put your talents to good use. The deadline for art submissions is July 15 so head to the website for entry information.

If you're aged between 12- 18 (or have a little brother/sister that is) then why not this weekend plan an evening trip to the MCA? Designed to connect teenagers with contemporary art and culture, 'generationext' events allow budding art connosuiers to explore Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art after hours. This Sunday, June 29 is a particularly good night to head down as the MCA is currently housing work from the spectacular 200 Sydney Biennale (not sure if you'll need parental consent to see the dead horse). Guests will also be entertained by local band The Thaw, performer Art Rush and urban dance legend Dario Phillips. Entry to the event will only cost you a smile so head down this Sunday from 5.30 pm.

Ah, roller skating. Anyone who knows me well knows I take any chance I can get to take a trip down memory lane. So when I think of roller skating, I think of A Night at the Roxbury soundtrack, change direction and extra large slurpies. Anyone who spent many a Thursday afternoon at the now deceased Skate Plus, Taren Point knows what I'm talking about. But Skate Plus got torn down years ago. The death of fun it seemed. But get ready to make like Olivia in Xanadu and rescue those old skates of yours from the downstairs cupboard, because PACT theatre at Erskineville is holding the greatest roller disco party since the 1990s!
Operating under the psuedonym The Rollergrooves, Melbourne performance artists Thai Snaith and Nerinda Reeders have taken up a residency at the PACT theatre. But they're not only reviving the world's greatest hobby of roller skating. Since trying to establish an international name for themselves for the past 5 years with performances in Mexico, San Fransisco, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Snaith and Reeders take inspiration from the long forgotten 19th Centry French concept of Tableau Vivant (living picture). Donned in matching red and white costumes, their performative installations often take place at public gatherings such as exhibitions, political protests and other festivals and rallies. Their work references themes of consumerism, feminism, symtery and and death through the situations they get themselves into.
Some might say that's plain absurb, but hey, who's ever been to a roller disco party at an art gallery before? I know where I want to tell people I spent my Saturday night.
Get your skate on kids this Saturday June 28th. For more info see http://www.pact.net.au/

Fifty Designer's Current Favourite Typefaces. 100% of the cover price goes to UNICEF's Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Children's Appeal. Contributors: 2x4 Adam Hayes Alan Dye (NB: Studio) Alexandre Bettler Angus Hyland (Pentagram) Antoine+Manuel Ben Freeman Ben Parker (MadeThought) Bibliothèque Cartlidge Levene Claire Warner (Browns) Domenic Lippa (Pentagram) Daniel Eatock Daniel Lock (NB: Studio) eBoy Eike König (HORT) Experimental Jetset Farrow Fernando Gutiérrez Fuel Hector Pottie (Third Eye Design) Henrik Kubel (A2/SW/HK) Hi-ReS! Hyperkit James Goggin (Practise) James Greenfield (BB/Saunders) Julian Morey (abc-xyz) Lionel Hatch (The Chase) Matt Simpson (Stereo) Michael C. Place (Build) Michael Johnson (Johnson Banks) Mogollon Nick Bell Paula Scher (Pentagram) Paulus M. Dreibholz Pixelgarten Ralf Metzger (North) Simon Earith (YES) Spin Stefan Sagmeister The Designers Republic Why Not Associates Wim Crouwel Zak Kyes Zamir Antonio (Eat Sleep Work/Play) Get yourself a copy

Exploring themes of resilience and survival, Sydney artist Benedict dos Remedios has turned to the humble cactus for inspiration in his forthcoming exhibition Last One Standing. Working with water-colours, spray paint and acrylic Benedict conjures up the stately and slightly off-limits physicality of the plants; contrasting the stoic cacti with subtle pop culture references and a lively use of repetition. With Benedict's last solo garnering a sell-out response, be sure not to miss Last One Standing when it opens at the Charles Hewitt gallery on Thursday, June 26.

A colour coded bookshelf arrangement is a decorative way to chase away grey Winter days. In-between sips of Russian Caravan tea one might fancy the opportunity to marry fuchsia book spines with crimson right through to the palest pink, tossing the Dewey system on its head to pantone effect. For more interesting ways with books visit http://www.weburbanist.com

Get out of work early because new Sydney Gallery Space, Palmer Projects, is tonight presenting Small Goods: a group show of some of Australia's finest young artists. Familiar and soon-to-be familiar names include Mark Drew, Ed Woodley, Ben Frost, Luke Du chateau, Joseph Allen, dl76, Numskull, Trent Whitehead, Stephanie Anderson, Darko, Love Ariel, Jas Salisbury and Mark Alsweiler. Head down to 2/238 Palmer st, Darlinghurst tonight from 6pm.