Call For Proposals

OF LIGHT Artist Tom Macphail is curating a show at ATVP Gallery. It aims to deal with the immigrant experience. If your art practice involves themes made explicit in the flyer below, send in your applications before 2nd June for your chance to be involved in something that will directly address current political issues.

Smart ARTS > Introduction to Stencil Art

Video: Vanessa Low / YOLK Collective | Music: Oh Hark by Lisa Mitchell

A little video of yesterday's Introduction to Stencil Art workshop. 

Big thank you to Chriss Tamm (Konsumterra) for teaching us how to stencil!

More info: pinestreet.com.au/smartarts

Smart ARTS > Introduction to Fashion Drawing Workshop

Last night one of us YOLK folk were invited to check out the Introduction to Fashion Drawing Workshop, run by Peter Dwyer,* as part of the Smart ARTS mini-fest.

Sitting around a long mass of desks at Pine Street's Darlinghurst studio, the students and I were instantly mesmerised by Peter Dwyer's confidence, charisma and instant likability. Having 20-something years in the fashion illustration business, we all knew that this guy was not only someone who knew what he was talking about, but lived it.

He set out a three point aim for the evening:
1 - To create a garment that is fluid and not static
2 - To represent such ideas with very simple lines
3 - To incorporate our own aesthetic

After receiving a mountain of photocopied handouts illustrating models, Peter went through and explained what each pose would be good for and why - "This one could be all about the 'swoosh' of a skirt; the dress dragging from behind; the emotion of the garment; the sexually aggressive woman..." His very detailed and expressive way of describing clothes and the characteristics of the fashion figures was highly enjoyable.

He constantly dropped information that is probably general knowledge in the fashion world, but was very interesting to us in the enthusiast or curious categories. Facts such as the fashion figure is often drawn 9.5 heads tall and the average person is only 8 heads tall (that's why models are actually aliens as they are the fashion figures proportions), also that the fashion illustrator needs to not only know how to draw the super human figure, but what the garment would look like on an ordinary person, so that a production sketch can be passed to a pattern maker in realistic proportions.

Then something scary happened... I had planned to just sit into the class and watch, listen and learn... however Peter asked me to join in. As a theorist and a writer, drawing was a daunting prospect. After watching Peter show us how to approach the figures, by tracing their forms but with the inclusion of garments, we were set the challenge to create our own. In his words, the class was full of natural drawers... and it was! There was a lot of creativity and flair swirling through everybody's HB pencils.

Some people opted for a street-ware look, others for a more traditional look and some illustrated an interest in an Asian, edgy aesthetic. Peter decided we were ready to incorporate gouache into our drawings. He demonstrated how, with just a bit of shading on one side of the body, and a lot of white space, life and colour can be breathed into the figures.

Mine turned out very alien looking, however the general standard was very impressive. I asked the class what lead them to the workshop and this is what they had to say:

"I just wanted to do something new... for a change!"

- Isabelle

"I am a student from architecture. I relate buildings to clothes for people... they are both protection and shelter..."

- Gloria

"I was volunteering for Smart ARTS and I'm also studying drawing and I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn a new style..."

- Melinda

"I'm into art and a friend saw this workshop on the Youth Week website. It was easy to get here after class as I go to Sydney Uni..."

- Joanna

"I always draw fashion doodles and wanted to learn the techniques. I really wanted to learn the art to fashion..."

- Danni

"I'm interested in the drawing of the body in fashion and the fashion aspect of drawing. I really wanted to know the proportions..."

- Dasha

"I was interested in being a fashion illustrator and wanted to learn a bit of structure."

- Crystal

*Peter Dwyer is a lecturer at Sydney's Whitehouse School of Fashion, and is an expert in fashion drawing and design.

Vintage Prints + Calico = Coolness.

There sure is no lack of creativity, coolness and colour to the SMART ARTS festival. The latest thing we have to report on is the free workshops... yes, you saw it correctly, FREE!

This fine Thursday the Yolk Collective folk will be heading along to the RETRO PRINT BONANZA! Using the simple ingredients of calico, ink and stencils, the workshop will teach us how to make a trendy tote bag or wall hanging to take home in our hot little hands.

If this tickles your fancy and you would like to come along with us, here are the details...

Thursday 11th April, 6 - 9pm, Darlington Studio (132 Shepard St Darlington).

Peace, Love, and Calico. x

Strange Encounters at the Smart ARTS Launch Party

Thus far we have told you about some of the fun and fascinating aspects of the Smart ARTS Launch Party, but what we have yet to discuss is the freaky!

Wearing skeleton tights and a sinister expression is the Ringmaster, waving around a stick as she summons the crowd to take a look inside the Umbrella Theatre tent with her lyrical French accent. Slightly undead and slightly gypsy, the Ringmaster arouses curiosity, and the circular red tent becomes a beckoning place of intrigue.

Lining up to enter is suspenseful as noises from inside only escape as high pitched hums. As the group before us slowly exited, some with expressions of bemusement and others smiling, the Ringmaster opened the tent with her stick, airing out what she claimed to be "The smell of death."

One by one a group of nine of us were ushered into the tent, shoulder to shoulder, full of nerves and excitement. Quiet.

A spotlight reveals a small puppet of a man that has a potato-looking head and is tied up with ropes. We hear about his predicament. It seems to be a bit of an anti-smoking campaign full of first-time parent angst. Despite being a puppet show, the themes were mature, funny at times and just a little bit raunchy. The puppet spoke to us directly, picking out people to converse with during the monologue. At the end, as the puppet's doom is in question, all nine of us panicked and did not save the poor guy. We can't say that we are entirely sure if it would have been possible to save him either!

Also at the Launch Party was a roving performer in a disguising mask carrying around what looked like a skinned monkey doll. The performer enters your conversation, not with words, but by handing the doll to you. Then he watches you hold it, staring at you with an intense gaze through holes in the mask.

After feeling uneasy about the whole situation and wondering what your reaction is supposed to be, handing it back seems like the best option. Once back in his arms, he takes a hand covered in the same coating covering the doll, and strokes your face - taking this experience to a whole new weird place!

These unique experiences were anything but ordinary! Despit feeling all kinds of strange, they made the night that bit more memorable!

Smart ARTS Festival: HERE & NOW

As part of the Smart ARTS Youth Festival, Pine Street Creative Arts Centre is hosting ‘HERE & NOW’, an exhibition showcasing a variety of collaborative and interactive artworks by young people aged between 15-26.

Created in collaboration with a range of youth organisations and activist groups such as Twenty10, Australian Youth Climate Coalition, F-Collective and Bite Back, ‘HERE & NOW’ provides insight into issues affecting young people today such as climate change, gender equality, environmental issues, sexuality and technology in a dynamic and meaningful exhibition.

A centrepiece of the exhibition is ‘20-20 Vision’, a collection of 20x20cm artworks made by young artists aged 15-26. Responding to the theme of ‘HERE & NOW’, each artist provides insight into local and global issues affecting young people. Showcasing mediums such as photomedia, illustration, sculpture, collage and painting, 20-20 is a vibrant and diverse display of delightful works.
 

'20-20 Vision'

F-Collective presents a bold wall display called ‘Change is Brewing’, an installation made up of some 40 calico bags emblazoned with fluorescent images and slogans of female empowerment. These awesome bags were created during a series of workshops where young feminist activists learnt the technique of stencilling and fabric painting, and will be on sale for $10, with all proceeds being donated to supporting the collective’s causes and initiatives.

‘Jellyfish Blooms’ by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition presents a large colourful installation of suspended jellyfish sculptures to raise awareness of the increase of jellyfish due to climate change, while 'Identity' by Twenty10 in collaboration with Pine Street Creative Art Centre creates a banner exploring themes identity.

A key feature of the exhibition is its interactivity and audience members are invited to add their own quirky and fun contribution to works. On the opening night, audience members were encouraged to make their own badges, participate in a performance work by F-Collective and jot down a happy memory for the Bite Back’s work ‘Think Tank’. A friendly and communal space that showcases a range of dazzling works by young artists, we say 'HERE & NOW' is definitely worth checking out!

HERE & NOW is on display at Pine Street Creative Arts Centre from 5 - 24th April.