Blank_Space - Recorded

I love the concept behind this show and sorry I missed out on making one...

Curated by Madeleine Preston and a job well done, simple but affective!!!

From cartoons, hair covered faces and definitely one Michael Jackson would have been proud off...a wide choice, but only on for a short time and a must to see...

30th January - 5th February 2010
www.blankspace.com.au

Charles Hewitt - Something Personal

This is one of the biggest group show's I've seen in a while with all the works complementing each other within the vastness of this gallery...

From Tamara Dean's moody prints, Ivan Goodacre's picturesque landscapes, Marcella Kaspar's misty Centennial Park studies, two interesting Penguin drawings by Leith Maguire and not to forget another brilliant work by the lovely Mary Shackman, out of 48 artists this show has something for everyone...

And a worthy cause in support of Project Australia...

28th January - 15th February 2010
www.charleshewitt.com.au
www.projectaustralia.org.au

James Dorahy Project Space - Colouring-in (material)

We always get a nice surprise when we first walk into this gallery, what can we expect, absolutely no idea...but we leave with a smile on our faces...

Check out the bread power cord, this piece takes the cake!!!

We're sure we've seen some of these pieces before, but it was a joy to see them again...

27th January - 21st February 2010
www.jamesdorahy.com.au

Gallery 9 - Simon Blau

Simon Blau, someone I have known since the late 80's and admired since...

His work has evolved through his persistence to re-educate his public in abstraction!!!

These works evoke a memory or a story which intertwines throughout this collection...

When I stand in front of one of these works, I feel a sense of almost certain and uncertain reality...I spoke to a few onlookers and some where unsure or just didn't understand, but that is the beauty of Simon Blau's paintings...These are intelligent paintings, paintings not to be dismissed, paintings with a beauty deep within, a soul for each...Paintings to be acquainted with and understood...

And it's also a wonderful change to go to a gallery and see a painting show with the paintings not all the same size, oblong, circles and just not square...A variety on reality...

Bravo Mr Blau

27th January - 13th February 2010
www.gallery9.com.au

MOP Projects

Cherine Fahd - Nicola Smith - Kenzie Larsen

MOP starts it's season with three good strong shows.

Loved Kenzie Larsen's "How to change yourself into an object" video.

Nicola Smith's "The Crowd Overwhelms Baptiste" is taken from the last scene of Les Enfants du paradis. She paints what is effectively the same painting over and again ... a tad scary for anyone with a phobia about mime artists. Apparently if you ask her nicely she will paint a version in acrylic in your home for free... If I had a wall I'd certainly be chatting ...

Fahd's 'Hiding' Self Portraits are a sweet twist on the idea of portraits. For 100 days she has taken a photo of herself, but used something on hand as a mask. They're delightfully twee domestic moments and after seeing 100 photos of the artist I still couldn't recognise her at the opening!

Well worth a look.

MOP Projects
21st January - 7th February
www.mop.org.au

Global Gallery - Sculpture 2010

Flights of fancy...

With quite a few shows on across the city, the heat played havoc with time and makeup...

I have been getting excited about seeing Lucy Vader's work for the first time and I was not disappointed...

And as our mission statement claims, we do play favourites...Lucy Vader scored well with landing the window with great affect...With her Architectural background showing through giving her an opportunity to playfully play with words and metal...

Jane Gillings three birds could have struck me down with a feather...gathering strength in new ways of recycling, bravo...

Although I did feel the whole of the show may have been slightly overhung, and at the same time there is something for everyone in the vastness of Global Gallery...

21st January - 14th February 2010
www.globalgallery.com.au

Tim Olsen Gallery - Sculpture 2010

Sculpture everywhere for the start of the year.

Camie Lyons was the absolute standout, her cast interlinking circles, some flocked in Yves Klien blue, casting shadows and framing small views ... Loved the big centrepiece ...

Dusting could be a nightmare, but at the same time it will give you time to be at one with the work...

A crowded show ... what with the plinths everywhere... but sensibly they put the drinks upstairs so it was still possible to view the work.

19th January - 7th February 2010
www.timolsengallery.com

King Street Gallery on William - Ceramics & Water

Bring on the new year...with some donnuts, a lizard and a purple knome...

The opening had a real buzz to it, but poor Jimmy has a summer flu and couldn't attend...

Two shows which melded nicely together, a collection of ceramics including some of our favourite's and Water - celebrating Australia Day...

Loved the work by young artist Teah McNeale, someone to watch out for...These shows have something for everyone...A must see...

12th January - 6th February 2010
www.kingstreetgallery.com.au

Wilson Street Gallery - Theresa Byrnes, 'Nest'

We'd never been to Wilson St Gallery before and what better reason than to catch up with Theresa, over from New York, and see some of her current work.

I must confess that I love Theresa's work... ten years ago I bought this painting, "Off the main road" and it is without a doubt one of my favourite ever things.

The inkworks in this show are delicate 'fractals', flowing organically ... it's a pin up show and they appear to float in the large whiteness of this space.

'Nest' has a performance as well, Thursday the 17th of January, 7.00pm. I've never seen Theresa perform and she hasn't performed in Australia for 22 years ... I've seen snippets of video and I can't wait.

What was the 5pm-7pm about? I'm sure that a lot of people just didn't get there after work fearing it would be over before they got there ...

6th January - 17th January 2010
www.wilsonstreetgallery.com.au

Chalk Horse - Christmas Show

Well the year is starting again with the first opening tonight, Theresa Byrnes... then I realised that I didn't put up the last post of 2009 ... so here it is ...

Chalkhorse is one of my new favourite spaces, it's a quiet achiever and by far the most layed back of the younger set. This show reinforces the level of quality of work that Chalkhorse shows ...

We're so going to pimp Chalkhorse this year ...

chalkhorse.com.au