JANIS

“Alaska Projects is situated in the Kings Cross car park so a lot of the artists are responding to the grunge factor,” says the curator of upcoming all-female exhibition JANIS, Kelly Doley.

“Expect magic-eye protest banner paintings from me, soft sexual sculpture from Sarah Contos, trash sculpture from Marian Tubbs, spoken word installation art from Zoe Robertson, a performance in the back of Justene Williams’ ute and an endurance action involving ex-crims from Hannah Furmage.”

As the title no doubt suggests, JANIS is shaping up to be a no-holds-barred exploration of female expression.

“One of the main aims of JANIS is to contribute to new ways of thinking and talking about female artistic output,” Doley continues. Inspired by the all-female gallery LEVEL in Brisbane, Doley, a member of the all-female collaboration Brown Council, decided it was time to take action.

“I felt it was important to have an all-female gallery in Sydney. I decided to get the ball rolling and start doing all-female pilot projects in the form of exhibitions, talks and publications. The show at Alaska is the first in a series I have planned for 2013.”

The show’s namesake seems an almost inevitable reference for its curator, who admires singer Janis Joplin for more than her hard-drinking persona.

“For me she was a strong woman who was not afraid to speak her mind. She was loud, brash and bold. That is why I named the project after her, because strategically, women need to not be afraid to take up space and be bold, in whatever way that means to them.”

Accompanying the show will be a specially-tailored beer – female brewed of course – a dark ale from microbrewery Beer Creative also inspired by Joplin. I for one look forward to raising a glass – to strong women, great art, and, of course, to rock and roll.

Feb 6-24, Alaska Projects, Level 2, Kings Cross Carpark, Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay, free, home.alaskaprojects.com