Art’s Alive

As we celebrate Art Month in Sydney this month the City Hub has decided to highlight some of the wonderful, yet perhaps lesser known, art galleries and creative spaces throughout our fine city. 

Whilst we all know the big boys in town, the Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia and the Art Gallery Of New South Wales, some of the most exciting, intriguing and experimental art is being showcased in the following venues.

THE SPACE Gallery

THE SPACE gallery is an ever-changing contemporary art gallery and private studio/workshop for artists located in Rosebery. The 11,000 square meters of revived warehouse space creates a destination where visitors and locals can experience the beauty of heritage mixed with contemporary design, food and style.

With a roster of almost 20 artists exhibiting and working out of THE SPACE there is an incredibly diverse range of artistic styles being produced. Examples of the range are the cartoon creations of Philip Aspden, the minimalistic approach of Baez Bonorat as he allows the simplicity of the interaction between colour and texture to create his works, the colourful works of Andrea Edwards which are inspired by nature, the acrylic/mixed media works of Jessika Steiner or finally the quirky, abstract geometric works of Sully. Visitors to the gallery are sure to find at least one piece which they will immediately fall in love with.

As part of Art Month, THE SPACE is hosting an exhibition entitled, ICONIC. This group show asks the artists – which includes Andrea Edwards, Baez Bonorat, Jessika Steiner and Sully – to showcase their works with an iconic flavour

61 Mentmore Ave, Rosebery. Info: www.thespacegallery.com.au

107 Projects

Unlike many other galleries, 107 Projects is raw, dirty and yet welcoming for artists of all levels.

Most art spaces are experiences through a lens of perfectionism in clinical, polished concrete, sterile spaces. However, at 107 they have cultivated a space which simply allows creative minds to thrive whilst encouraging communities to live creatively and advance the culture. The gallery proudly claims “our floors are un-polished” because they believe that art begins in dirty spaces.

Stepping into 107 is a bit like stepping inside the creative mind. Experiments happen and shit gets weird – but ultimately great work emerges from a rich, creative culture.

107 Redfern St, Redfern. Info: www.107.org.au

Artsite

Housed in a characteristically 1940s art deco warehouse in Sydney’s leafy suburb of Camperdown is Artsite Gallery – an independent Australian contemporary art gallery within the Camperdown arts precinct. Headed up by Director Madeleine Tuckfield-Carrano, the gallery has a strong focus on local emerging and mid-career artists. 

The curators at Artsite select pieces for each exhibition with extreme care and consideration. Each artist’s work is exhibited in two large dedicated exhibition spaces with precision and intent, each piece complementing the rest. Unlike larger and more commercial galleries, Madeleine and her team invest a huge amount of time and commitment into promotion and supporting their local artists. At their core, Artsite aim to foster and encourage the promotion and exhibition of Australian works.

165 Salisbury Rd, Camperdown. Info: www.artsite.com.au

Artereal Gallery

Housed in a restored 1890s heritage fire station building in Sydney’s Inner West, Artereal Gallery presents exciting new exhibitions, which are known to risqué as the explore the forefront of contemporary art in Sydney. 

Artereal is currently hosting Yioryios Papayioryiou’s exhibition of sculptures and paintings entitled, CHROMA/ΧΡΩΜΑ. The latest exhibition by Yioryios follows on from his two previous exhibitions at Artereal as he further develops his distinctive style, which is characterised by his organic architectural forms which are grounded in the framework and mentality of painting but realised in the form of sculpture. Traditionally working with aluminium and acrylic paints, Yioryios bends, folds, contorts and manipulates his materials culminating in the creation of works defined by a sense of energy and movement.

Where his previous works had been inspired by architecture Yioryios says his new works are instead turning their attention to the power of colour.

“Underlying my new works is a fascination with the symbiotic relationship between the use of colour & non-colour. My work is about identifying which one has a greater influence over its viewer. Even though my colours are limited, I believe the 1% of colour which I’ve used in my works triumphs over the black.”

747 Darling St, Rozelle. Info: www.artereal.com.au

PIERMARQ*

Located in the heart of the Paddington Art Precinct, Piermarq prides itself on representing an aesthetically and geographically diverse range of artists, both established and emerging. In representing both local and international talent their ultimate goal is to build a strong network of global artists, thereby providing them with a wide-spread platform from which to see and be seen.

Tonight Piermarq will open their next exhibition Transition by New York’s Doug Argue. Doug Argue’s paintings are often made with layers of radiant brushwork and scrims of crisp stencilled letters that envelop the entire canvas to suggest the passage of time, light, motion, and how the past informs the present. 

Looking further ahead Piermarq will be welcoming Vermont-based artist Terry Ekasala and Sydney artist Zara June Williams in a joint show called Pendulum, a name chosen because of its insinuation to the back and forth momentum which occurs in the studio between the two artists.

76 Paddington St, Paddington. Info: www.piermarq.com.au

Gaffa

Starting from humble beginnings as a small studio and gallery space in Surry Hills founded by Aidan Li and Kelly Robson, Gaffa is now a multi-level Creative Precinct located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD next to Town Hall Station.

Now in its 12th year Gaffa has grown into a larger entity that prides itself on providing a space to both established and emerging artists to foster their practices and exhibit their works. They remain committed to nurturing cross-platform collaboration, collectivity and cohesion within the contemporary arts community and to contribute to a wider conversation in the Sydney art scene.

282 Clarence St, Sydney. Info: www.gaffa.com.au

Harvey Galleries

Perhaps you knew Harvey Galleries by their former name, Trevor Victor Harvey Gallery. They have since changed their name to reflect their expansion across multiple locations as they continue to support and promote the next generation of Australian artists and collectors.

Originally located on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in Seaforth, Harvey Galleries now operate five locations across Australia and represents a stable of 35 diverse artists. Harvey Galleries believe that maintaining professional relationships with other commercial galleries and dealers is an excellent method of providing and assisting with raising opportunities for artists both within and outside their stable.

Harvey Galleries, QVB. Level 2, 33-35/455 George St, Sydney. Info: www.harveygalleries.com.au

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

Built in 1951 by the NSW Electricity Commission, the Casula Powerhouse (then known as the Liverpool Powerhouse), was one of a series of identical buildings erected to supplement electricity production during winter and power shortages. The Powerhouse was decommissioned in 1976 before later being reopened as an arts centre in 1995, closed in 2006 and ultimately reopened in 2008 with significantly improved facilities, which makes it one of the most compelling spaces in Sydney.

As we close out Art Month Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC) will be launching a new range of exhibitions from three different artists. Combined the exhibitions will explore power in all of its forms with a FREE launch day on March 30. Launching will be; Creator, a collection of boundary-pushing sculptures by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran; Penelope Cain’s provocative exploration of coal power in Interregnum; and Anatomies by Robert Hague.

Until May 12. 1 Powerhouse Road, Casula. Info: www.casulapowerhouse.com