one of those good times was when my boyfriend took me to see the temper trap at the Enmore Theatre (hehe I remember the days when I had to drag him along to gigs, and now he is the one buying the tickets and wanting me to come along!). well I must say, my expectations were semi low, however I was just BLOWN AWAY by the amazingness. best live band I have seen all year that is for sure!! hehe, the only one, but never mind that.
sadly, the album sort of doesn't do them justice (well it does, but you know what I mean). the lead singer, Dougy Mandagi, has such dynamic energy, and an amazing falsetto voice, you really do need to see them live. If you are going to the Big Day Out, make sure you see them. Or I will hit you.
Anyway, last night I made the trip to my favourite little gallery, with my favourite little art lover friend to see the BEASTMAN, NUMSKULL, PHIBS & YOK exhibition. Despite it being the extreme opposite to the last show held there, and the fact that I was probably totally out of place in a vintage frilly dress with a crowd full of sk8er dudes, it was still totally awesome.
Plus, in typical groupie style, we got to chat with one of the artists, Yok, and I am sure you will agree with me in saying that is work is insanely good. When I see people with such an extensive, comprehensive range of drawings and painting, I feel so lazy and inadequate. But also very inspired.
[awesome artworks by Yok]
+++
Less than one month ago the space was filled with fairytales...
and now, insane multi-colour awesomeness.
(with enough fumes to make you drunk, no alcohol required).
Was fun to remiss about our show too. I still can't believe the buzz is still buzzing.
Check out the awesome
lovely wonderful Once Upon recap/debrief
by the gorgeous
sweet amazing Angela.
Have your tissues handy.
Nawww.
friends and readers
not making excuses, but posting is likely to get limited this week.
because the Once Upon exhibition opens on Thursday
which seriously blows me away.
Angela and I have very sore fingers from all the framing
but gosh they look amazing.
make sure you come.
please.
p.s. how fantastic is this blog post from one of the lovely artists Jordan Clarke?
I am stressing about my outfit. All I know for sure is that I will be wearing a vintage handmade lace collar that was my great grandma's that my Nan gave me last week.
photo's by me.
Or maybe I should more kindly title it,
Dear Sydney,
In case you don't know, (which you probably don't because you are rather self focused), I am young emerging illustrator, who has been exploring the fabulous artist/creative scene and world for the past few years.
I must admit, for the first year or so, I stayed in my little shell and mainly explored all the artistic offerings online. I lived on websites like DeviantART and myspace, and interacted through commenting, forums and emailings.
I was just blown away by the talent out there in the online world. Both discovered and undiscovered in the "real world". Audrey Kawasaki was already killing it in this particular "scene" (By that I mean emerging contemporary I guess as opposed to snobbish gallery type stuff), but that is not to say what she was doing wasn't fricken amazing and just as valuable as the things on display in the AGNSW. But then there were 'undiscovered' talents like Caitlin Shearer who was just so screamingly popular online, yet most "gallery" types and probably you too Sydney, wouldn't have even heard of her (yet you are her home town!).
I was unbelievably inspired by these artist and others, more than I ever would have been at school or art college. These kinds of artist didn't even get a look in at school. If you didn't sell your work in ridiculously expensive galleries, or do things "extreme" like put yourself through plastic surgery to look like other famous artists or paintings (Orlan), you weren't considered art worth studying.
I remember the day I showed my art teacher DeviantART, what a laugh that was.
During these past few years since I have been DeviantARTing, blogging, myspacing and online networking, I have received such amazing feedback and opportunities. What I found interesting, was I was getting more feedback from the Melbourne kids than anyone from Sydney. Well, other states from Australia too, but pretty much nothing from Sydney. I 'found' and came into contact with artists such as Bec Winnel, Kelly Smith and Catherine Campbell, all were pretty much undiscovered, but starting to kick their way into this online world with their amazing talent. I own work from all of these ladies, another reason why this whole online thing is so great.
But yes Sydney, you still hadn't really done anything to show your support as far as I could see. Next, gallery 696 from Melbourne was keen to have my work in some of their group shows, and so I did that, and every single time I entered something my work sold. It was just so easy. And I felt so nurtured and cared for. Like people wanted to go to the shows and support the new talent. People actually gave a F*** about supporting their friends and peers.
Since, sadly, I haven't visited Melbourne yet (bring on OCTOBER!) I made a little promise to myself last year to get more involved in the real world art scene here in Sydney. Sure, I have been to the big galleries, but I hadn't really explored what else is on offer for us emerging ones.
I found a few group shows that were keen to have me, so I went for it and put my work in, but gosh, didn't matter how good the work is in the show was, it needed people in order for it to be appreciated, let alone sold. No one in Sydney gives a shit about these kinds of shows that are for new emerging artists. So no one goes. While every little bit of exposure helps, it does get a bit disheartening when the only people who are looking at your work are your family, who can get front row seats of your work at home anyway.
So this year, Sydney, I said that I would try. And make that effort and go to these shows and support these artist, and go out of my comfort zone. Sure, I don't live close to all the action, and it costs me about $20 in tolls just to arrive in the city, and that doesn't even involve parking and petrol!, but I said I would still make the effort.
What I discovered, through my own observations, and from chatting to others, is that you are just too scared Sydney to take that risk. You don't have the ability to decide you like something for yourself. If someone hasn't already blogged about it, or had photos of the event in MX, or posted all over Facebook, you are just not into it. I mean heaven forbid if you take a risk and it turns out shit and you waste your precious time.
But what makes it worse is when you do finally decide to make an effort with something, (eg. Curvy) you have to make sure you make everyone else there feels unworthy. Because you are just the coolest kid around with your fashion and the way you walk and laugh and who you are friends with. And that is the way you would like it to stay.
And then you look at the fantastic artists like Caitlin, Bec, Kelly and Catherine who I mentioned before, who owe their success to not you, but the the love and support they get from the internet and everyone else all over the world.
So Sydney, you probably couldn't even give two shits about my ramblings. And hell, who am I to comment, because I am 'Sydney' too. I live here. I eat here. And I am probably just as bad as everyone else. I haven't even been to Melbourne, so I probably don't even have the right to comment.
It is just sad when you do "make the effort", and you realise that you get more support online from other states than you do your home town.
Get off your buts and start doing something for us kids. Hey, you might even find you enjoy yourself for a change?
Regards,
The Cynical Sydney Artist.
Disclaimer; And for those Sydney readers that are wonderfully supportive and loving and kind to me, you know who you are, and I thank you forever with all my heart. And I know you agree with me. So please don't take offense to this.
x
Click to Enlarge
Sorry readers of Ashlee's blog, I just had to post about it too! (OF COURSE!)
In less than a month's time, I will be having my first ever semi soloish art exhibition with the amazingly super talented Ashlee Maegan !!! (I think I am entitled the use of 3 exclamation marks for that statement!!! [and again] )
Basically I am super excited, but super franticly getting myself organised for the big event. If you haven't noticed the poster up there (!?), we are working towards a bit of a cosmic theme.
I love the idea of working towards something, especially with a theme, and especially when you have someone else working along with you. I mean, I do love the lonely world and life of the artist, but gosh I need that personal reinforcement. Pooling ideas and sharing thoughts, it is just so motivating.
So kids, its going to be good, and I expect all Sydney residents to be there.
On the Street......Oxford St., Sydney by The Sartorialist,
I know that a lot of people love the blog The Sartorialist, and I do too. I am not super obsessed with fashion, and I have never been that good (or brave) enough to try out the outfits that I admire in mags, or blogs or on people. But I really do still like to appreciate. And occasionally try.
I have a lot of blogs in my reader that I read daily and The Sartorialist is not one of them. I don't know why. Maybe I just don't have the time. Or maybe I will add it now.
A post from one of my regular reads The Design Files, mentioned that the The Sartorialist was in Sydney, and I was like "Oh sweet, I forgot about that blog, I am going to go check it out". And I was looking at all the photos I was secretly hoping I would see someone I would know, but sort of thought it would be highly unlikely. I mean I don't even live in the City.
And then I forgot that I went to CoFA, College of Fine Arts, where I literally used to feel "unworthy" around all the super super super great fashionies. I was always so jealous, but it also gave me a chance to try out things I probably would in front of my friends back in the 'burbs.
And then I also saw this photo and my heart did one of those little excitement flutters. I know this girl. YES!
Ok, well I don't know her in the way that she probably knows me back. But I know who she is. She was in my drawing and painting class. She was two studio spots down from me. I was (and am) insanely jealous of her amazing drawing and painting skills. Not only that, she had that amazing casual-I-just-threw-on-whatever-I-could-find-but-still-look-amazing fashion ability that I really really wish I had. And she works (or did) at one of my favourite vintage clothing shops on Oxford St. And she has amazing hair.
And if you (girl in the picture you) ever read this, I am sorry. I am not a stalker. I am just a way too excited fan, that felt super cool that you had your photo taken for the The Sartorialist.
P.s. This was the best I could do for images of her work; but this really is one of those cases where you have to see them in the flesh to see the real beauty.
