Art Month Sydney 2014

Art Month Sydney is always an exciting time for families to get around and explore art around the city with exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences. Gallery doors are thrown open with over 200 exhibitions and events in March allowing for many adventures to be had.

Here's a few to get you started:

Art Play at the MCA - Hang out with Hiromi Tango's beautiful interactive artwork Dance (2012)
For teens - Skate Deck Painting Workshop with artist Phil James
Your mind is exactly at that line -  Bright and bold Sol Lewitt
Express Yourself - Selected artworks by 2013 HSC Visual Arts students
Discover Sydney's art neighbourhoods by bike

Art Month Sydney 2014
artmonthsydney.com.au

re:make project

I am working on a new project with Vanessa Berry. We have been rescuing discarded art works from the streets in our neighbourhoods. We will matching 12 found art pieces with 12 emerging and established Sydney artists to give them a new life. The new artworks will be sold at an exhibition in early 2014 with funds raised to be used to develop an art workshop program at East Sydney High School.

You can find more about our project here: re:make and follow us on twitter and facebook.
You can also sign up to receive re:make updates and exhibition details

We will revealing our found artworks and artists very soon!

Arts Rocket Friday Finds

Visiting from Tokyo to play dress up - Photograph copyright Louise Hawson

Some fun finds this week -  Enjoy!

• New Conversations with Dumbo Feather for teens
• Explore Tokyo with Shoot Tokyo and Hello Sandwich
• or travel around the world at the Museum of Sydney with photographer Louise Hawson
• or discover some amazing places over at The Cool Hunter
• The GOMA in Queensland have the best online games for kids
• Super cool design workshops at Sydney Design 
• Inspire your kids with Amag - The architecture magazine for children 
• My children are reading Mary Shelly - Frankenstein (15),  R.J. Palacio - Wonder (11) and Emma Cameron - View from the 32nd Floor (9)

Arts Rocket Friday Finds

image via http://www.ryojiikeda.com

• This installation looks unreal!!!!!!! Japanese audio-visual artist Ryoji Ikeda  at Carriageworks from the 7 June until 1 July.  Very excited about this one.
• Under 13, got big ideas - this your chance to take over Time Out Sydney and become Australia's youngest editor. 
• Love the $20 tickets at  Sydney Theatre Company - Suncorp Twenties. Family/youth performances coming up - Storm Boy, Romeo and Juliet and Laser Beak Man.
• Instagram fun.
• My Story - My Content - film competition open to students - "Why do I love movies" 

My Monster Art - Artist: Jet

Over the weekend my son was invited to an art exhibition of a friend from school.  Jet is only nine years old but already  has an extremely distinctive style.  The exhibition was held in his home and friends and family gathered to support Jets new adventure in the art world.  When Jet is not too busy playing sport or downloading music you will find him home with a pen in his hand.

To view Jets gallery of work visit http://mymonsterart.tumblr.com/archive
Any enquiries contact info@artsrocket.org

Performance, Art, Animation + Design in July School Holidays

Image: Cynthia Sciberras

School Holidays are fast approaching... What do you have planned? Here is a quick overview of some great ideas in Sydney for all ages to explore.

PERFORMANCE

Aleksander and the Robot Maid | 1- 9 July | Seymour

Part of the new Reginald season, this Australian play written by Caleb Lewis looks like fun for all ages. An original steam - punk adventure where childhood curiosity and friendship prevail.

Age group: 8 to 108 years

Boat | 4- 16 July | Darlinghurst Theatre

Terrapin Theatre brings this piece about mariners Jof and Nic and their captivating journey on the high seas to the stage.

Age group: 5 to 12 years

Emily Eyefinger | 11- 16 July | Seymour Centre

Based on Duncan Ball series, Emily Eyefinger is the story of an adventurous heroine, Emily, who born with an extraordinary gift, an eye on the end of her finger.

Age Group: 5- 10 years

Hairspray | Until 7 August | Lyric Theatre

Based on the John Waters film, "Hairspray" looks like a great option if you have kids that love to sing and dance. Introduce them to the world of musicals.

ART, ANIMATION AND DESIGN

Look at me: What do you see? | 4 - 15 July | Art Gallery of NSW

The kids can explore the new contemporary galleries at the Art Gallery of NSW with the stress free "Look at me: What do you see?" Interactive character tour.

Age Group: 3 and over

Stop Motion! Workshop | 11 - 13 July | PACT

Work with experienced animator Lucinda Clutterbuck to learn and develop animation skills using pixilation and stop motion photography with digital camera, and a combination of digital and traditional image making.

Age group: 13- 15 years

Architectural Science for Kids | 5-7 and 12-14 July | Powerhouse Museum

Architecture is a practical application of design and engineering. In this hands on workshop children will create architectural structures.

Age Group: 8 - 12 years

+ DISCOVER

Underbelly Arts - The Lab | 3-12 July | Cockatoo Island

Visit Cockatoo Island for a free daily tour to watch the Underbelly artists at work and learn about their projects they create, build experiment, workshop, write and rehearse a diverse program of work.

Japan - Kingdom of Characters | Review

image: Isaac Leung / Japan Foundation Sydney

I think that every kid in their lifetime has fallen in love with a Japanese character. My eldest son was given a set power rangers as a gift from Japan ten years ago. When he walked into the Kingdom of Characters exhibition the oversized Ultraman was what first grabbed his attention. My daughter was drawn to the Hello Kitty room display and my youngest son grabbed my camera to start taking photos of everything.

The exhibition traces the history of Japanese Characters throughout the years and their impact on Japanese society through large storyboards covering each century.

If you are already in the city with the kids it is worth popping in. Take your camera as the kids will love getting their photos taken with the oversized characters. If you have teenagers that are into Anime - there are free screenings and talks that accompany the exhibition. The Japan Foundation Gallery is situated in the Chifley Plaza - next to the food court.

The only disappointment was that my friend Anapanman was not present!

The exhibition runs from the 8th April until the 28 May 2011.

Japan Gallery Level 1 Chifley Plaza

For gallery hours and more details visit http://www.jpf.org.au/jpfevents/11-kingdom/index.html

Tim Burton - The Exhibition | Melbourne | ACMI

After a season at the MOMA New York, The Tim Burton exhibition has arrived in Australia.  My daughter and I headed to Melbourne to check it out. Even before you step through the doors of the exhibition you know you are in for a treat with the displays that surround the entrance at the ACMI.


Inside, the  Exhibition is full of wonders that have filled the mind of Tim Burton since his school years, "Surviving Burbank" to his latest film "Alice in Wonderland." There is so much to see and take in including illustrations, figures, costumes, and rarely seen short films.


The Burtonarum will delight all ages, a carnival tent buried deep in the forest which feature glowing Burtonesque creatures and little peep holes. You will glow as well.


If you are taking young children, take the kids exhibition trail  which sides steps Sleepy Hollow and other films that they may find too scary.


We both loved the exhibition and found it very inspiring.
It is not too be missed!


Dates: Thursday 24 June - Sunday 10 October 2010
Open daily 10am-6pm. Special late night Thursdays until 10pm
Venue: ACMI Federation Square - Melbourne


For Kids and Families
Kids Exhibition Trail (recommended  for 5 - 10 years)
The trail provides a safe navigation path through the exhibition, bypassing works suited to an older audience. The trail is explored by following a Burtonesque 'monster' character and features activities along the way. The trail ends at the with the kids activity space.


Through the looking Glass
Using the magic of green screen technology and our state-of-the-art studio, you'll have a rare opportunity to journey down the rabbit hole to a magical and mysterious world and immerse yourself in the actual sets from Alice in Wonderland!


Make a movie Burton a-go-go!
In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn how to write, direct, act in and edit a short film inspired by the gothic imagination of Tim Burton.


Burton Sunday workshops
Wander through Wonderland, create a foley soundtrack, discover your inner ghoul in a make-up workshop or direct your own stop-motion animation.


For more information http://www.acmi.net.au/timburton.aspx

Take your time - BUT hurry up before it closes

CLOSING ON SUNDAY 11th APRIL - OLAFUR ELIASSON

This weekend grab the kids and head down the MCA to catch the wonderful exhibition from Olafur Eliasson - Take your time.

Suitable for kids of all ages this exhibition explores light, shapes and colour in an interactive environment. When we first walked in the kids rushed to the large communal table filled with small pieces of white lego and constructions that had been built by creators before them. Every room within the museum captures the imagination.

This is not to be missed!

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About the Exhibition

The MCA presents the must-see contemporary art event of the year, Take your time: Olafur Eliasson. Gathering works from major collections worldwide, it spans Eliasson’s diverse career from 1993 to the present, including installations, sculpture and photography. It is the first large-scale exhibition of works by this Danish-Icelandic artist to be presented in Australia.

From light-filled environments to walk-in kaleidoscopes, Eliasson’s unique, experiential works explore the intersection between nature and science, and the boundary between the organic and the artificial.

Raised partly in Iceland, Eliasson has drawn his inspiration from that country’s landscape and spectacular weather. He recontextualises elements such as light, water, ice, fog, arctic moss and lava rock to create works that shift the viewer’s consciousness and sense of place.

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Adults $15 Children under 12 Free

MCA details

Exhibition Website

A Golden Ticket to meet Tim Burton

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is hosting acclaimed filmmaker and artist Tim Burton for the opening of an exhibition of his works in June and is seeking young Australians to be Tour Guides, which also includes the opportunity to meet the man himself.

ACMI’s ‘Tim Burton Tour Guide’ opportunity is open to under 18’s across Australia from today. Applications must come in the form of 3 minute videos.

Successful applicants will meet Tim Burton, be inducted by ACMI staff, hear from curators about how he created his art and films, and then take the public on a tour of the exhibition on at least one occasion.

Tim Burton opens on 24 June and will run until 10 October 2010 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne.

For more information, the application form and guidelines, please visit:

www.acmi.net.au/burton_tour_guide.htm

Bring it on - 2010

Toumani and Symmetric Orchestra (Youri Lenquette) Paris

Lots of exciting theatre, music, art and film for kids and their families in the New Year.

The Kids in the House program has another eclectic mix of Australian and International performances for all ages to enjoy...the usual baby proms, Little Big Shots and other highlights include Helena and the journey of the Hello...from Terrapin Puppet Theatre directed by the talented Frank Newman, Hansel and Gretel from Danish Theatre Company - Gruppe 38 (we caught their beautiful production of The Little Match Girl), Salt Bush ( A journey through Aboriginal Australia) and so much more...check out the program for full details.

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The Sydney Festival also has a great program in January...Music Alive: Zeeko, One Small Step by David Hastings, The Arrival inspired by Shaun Tans beautiful book and a big favourite amongst families... Circus Oz

Exhilarating performances within the festival include> Toumani Diabate , The Manganiyar Seduaction, Bale de Rue...

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Masterpieces from Paris Exhibition opens at the National Gallery of Australia and runs until April 2010.

Showcasing 112 Post Impressionist masterpieces from artists including Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Cezanne, Seruat and more, all from the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.

The gallery is also hosting a wide range of childrens activties to compliment the exhibition.

Check out the programs, see a few shows and enjoy what is going to be an exciting year.

Helena and the Journey of the Hello Highlights

Under Me Skin | Ivanhoe NSW

A collaboration between young people, multimedia artists and award winning Indigenous writer Gayle Kennedy is one of the outcomes of The Ivanhoe Chronicles, a two year multi-arts project by Outback Theatre for young People and Trax.

The 2009 presentation of Under Me Skin is just the first installment of the Ivanhoe Chronicles.   

The darkly comic tale of a boy who mysteriously disappears in a remote bush town, sparks a chain of events that even the children find incredible.

Saturday 22nd August

5:30pm exhibition | 6:30 performance | 7:30pm Post show discussion

The Old Servo 

Columbus Street 

Ivanhoe NSW

Tickets are free.

For more information contact Suzanne Hauser 0438 398 629

suzannehauser@outbcaktheatre.com

Blog: www.trax.org/outbackblog

Under the Crystal Sky | 15 May - 3 June | Sydney

Star Made Rainbow | 2008 

Sugar, pigments, origami, modeling compounds, plastic objects, artificial plants and flowers, beads, 

confectionery, straws, tables Dimensions variable (detail)

My daughter and I went the opening night of the exhibition Under the Crystal Sky created Pip & Pop (Nicole Andrijevic and Tanya Schultz).  As soon as we walked into the gallery we were hypnotized by the wonderful sugary formations that took over the whole room.  As we walked around we discovered little treats and wonders within the habitat. 

Under the Crystal Sky created by Pip & Pop, is a vibrant installation lavishly filled with dunes of coloured sugar, embellished with miniature objects and all things sweet, accompanied with a soundscape specifically designed by Big Ear.

The exhibition springs from Pip & Pop’s fascination with thekawaii (cute) aesthetics of Japanese pop culture that ranges from items you come across at the local bargain shop to intricately folded origami pieces, to disposable edible objects.

Meet Pip & Pop in person on Saturday 16 May for a chance to discover the creativity behind the imaginary paradise.

This is an exhibition not to be missed!!

Pip & Pop are one of the three selected finalists of the Japan Foundation, Sydney’s new artist program,Facetnate! Facetnate! is a grant program launched early 2008 to support emerging visual artist/s whose work is strongly influenced by Japan. 

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Dates: 15 May - 3 June 2009

Venue: Japan Foundation Gallery Chifley Plaza, Sydney

Gallery Hours Monday - Friday 11am- 4pm 

Meet the artists: Saturday 11am - 4pm

Admission: Free

More info 

Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years | MCA | NSW

Last school holidays when deciding what to do with the kids ( aged 10, 7 and 5), I lived by the following code:

1. It had to be fun and
2. It had to be free

At first we thought it may be impossible but we were delighted to find that when you digged deep enough treasures do appear.
One of those treasures was the Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Discover the work of internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama with this major exhibition that spans decades of her artistic practice.Working across different media and forms that include painting, collage, sculpture, installation and film, as well as performance and its documentation, Kusama creates works that reveal a fixation with repetition, pattern and accumulation.

Expect lots of dots!

Some parts of the exhibition were difficult to prevent my children from touching, as it was just too tempting. They loved the rooms that allowed them to be  enclosed (with a small group)in a room of dots and mirrors or starlights and water(it felt like we were in space) revealing amazing patterns.

If your kids want to learn more about Yayoi and have fun with dots, the Queensland Art Gallery have a fantastic online interactive experience where they can dot to their hearts content.
An education kit is available online to download for older kids.

This exhibition finishes on the 8th June so you don't have long to catch it.

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Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years
24 FEBRUARY - 8 JUNE 2009
Cost : Free
Location: MCA
140 George Street
The Rocks NSW 2000
Australia

Setting the Scene - VIC

The ACMI present a fun drop in workshop where kids can take on the role of production designer, building worlds for their characters and setting their own scenes, learning about the visual language of film.

Using cut out techniques for producing animation, kids will build props and backgrounds, then bring their characters to life in their very own world.

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Age Group: 5 - 13years

Dates: 6 April - 9th April 12-4pm

  14 April - 17 April 12 -4pm

Venue: Australian Center of Moving Image

Customer Service 03 8663 2200

MCA Art Family Day - Sunday Jan 18th

MCA Family Art Day Sunday 18th Jan,  10.30am - 2.30pm 

Explore the MCA's Summer exhibitions with this fun-filled event for all the family. Participate in hands-on art activities at Art Stations placed around the galleries, join in on family -friendly exhibition tours, hear storytelling and music, and win great prizes!

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Adult: $12 Student:$10 Child under 12: $8

MCA Members:$2.00 discount per head

Family Pass for up to 6 people $40

Bookings essential to MCA learning: 02 9245 2484 or education@mca.com.au

Visit www.mca.com.au for more information

Contemporary Australia: Optimism | QLD | 15 Nov - 22 Feb

The latest exhibition at the QLD Art Gallery encompasses many facets of contemporary Australian visual art and culture, the exhibition includes painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, video and video installation, cinema, animation, performance, music and comedy.

For ‘Contemporary Australia: Optimism’, the Children’s Art Centre presents interactive art works and projects created by a number of exhibiting artists especially for children and families. Spanning both levels of the Children’s Art Centre and beyond, the projects encourage children to explore and discover the fresh and imaginative ways that Australian artists consider their world.

Highlights include:
Thomas Meadowcroft Walk the car
A large-scale sound theatre introduces children to Thomas Meadowcroft’s experimental approach to music. Relating to his sound work Monaro Eden 2008 in the exhibition, children are invited to take a different car journey and create endless patterns and sequences of car sounds as they travel through the space.

Arlene Texta Queen Rides with the brides
Diners at the Galleries Cafe and Bistro can take part in a collaborative project featuring activities and imagery by the artist on tabletop sheets. With the artist’s medium of choice — the texta pen, children and families complete the pictures which make each tablecloth a unique collaboration.

Tony Albert Alien Nation Embassy
Tony Albert’s interest in aliens responds to both the alienation of Indigenous people within their own country and the ‘alien invasion’ of Australia by Europeans in 1788. Especially for kids, Tony Albert has created the Alien nation embassy and invites all earthlings to become honorary citizens — but not before passing the ‘citizenship test’! The multimedia installation features a population counter, video footage of the artist with the aliens, and electronic swipe cards for kids to access secret alien information.

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Contemporary Australia: Optimism
15 Nov 2008 - 22 Feb 2009
QLD Art Gallery

Sculpture by the Sea - Bondi Beach and beyond

Photography by Fiona Hueston

Today we headed out to the Sculpture by the Sea before the crowds hit it over the weekend.
Sculpture by the Sea is a wonderful way to spend time with your family....fresh air, exercise and interactive art.

Unfortunality not all of the Sculptures are interactive. I found it hard to keep up my 4 year old to keep him off the Sculptures that could not be touched ( even though they seemed to be tempting children to climb all over them). It does add an little element of stress to the day because their are adults there without children who feel they need to enforce the no touching rule by yelling or frowning. Not a very nice to experience art as a child.

On a positive note our family favourites:

The Bush Ranger: fantastic for kids to run in and out of the over sized helmet.
Ode to joy: This one is very hidden but is well worth looking for.
Underfoot: They loved pretending the creatures were real
Form of Scenery : Beware, kids love it but are not allowed to touch.
Humpback gunship: One of the most kid friendly sculptures. The kids climb into a metal whale and come out at the mouth.
New nomadic Home: I could not get my 4 year and 7 year old out of this piece. really wonderful>would love to have this in our back yard.
You want to do what??!! (Tow an iceberg from Antarctica) . Great interactive piece on the beach at Tamarama.

My favourite:
Bjorn Godwin:
if you need an extension of time to pay, press#

Check it all out and enjoy. We will go back to experience it all again.

For more information visit:
http://www.sculpturebythesea.com/

COFA Spring Fair - Workshops - Sept 20th

The College of Fine Arts are opening their doors for their annual Spring fair.
This is a great day out for the family - Lots of interesting and fun things to see and do.

Workshops for Children
Photoshop & t-shirt printing *5 - 12 years *material fee $15
Felting *5 - 10 years *material fee $ 10
Pupperty for children *5 - 10 years *material fee $10
Painting with light *8-12 years *material fee $20

There are also workshops for grown ups that range from pinhole photography to life drawing.
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For more information visit: COFA
September 20th 2008 * 10am until 4pm * cnr Oxford St + Greens Rd Paddington NSW
To book for a workshop and for further information, please contact Xueting via email. Children must be accompanied by an adult in the workshops.

Sydney Children's Festival | CarriageWorks 27 Sept - 11 Oct

Sydney Children’s Festival is Sydney’s first official arts-based Festival for kids. It’s spans all artforms with contemporary and indigenous dance workshops, puppetry, visual arts and cartooning workshops, photography competition for kids, art exhibitions by kids, and a range of free, interactive installations and activities around CarriageWorks, plus two massive weeks of performances, special events and talks by popular children’s authors.

The focus of the festival is all on the child as artist and audience – it focuses more on encouraging the child to participate, rather than simply entertaining. Many aspects of the festival also focus on shared experiences between parent and child.

Festival highlights include
MEET DINOSAURS At The Petting Zoo meet Erth’s awesome prehistoric creatures, from cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants. Ancient life-like dinosaurs are alive and mostly friendly (!) in this fun, educational and unique performance event that will delight children of all ages.

THE MEGAPHONE PROJECT
An installation of 24 megaphones...They are large, move, make a sound and a re very red, but they need you to make them come to life! Find out what happens to your voice when you lose it, and follow the sound trail of the big red megaphones as they migrate through the space.

WORKSHOPS
Hip Hop with Nick Power - Contemporary dance with Kate Champion - ATYP Documentary and Television reporting - Cartooning with Matt Ottley - Circus and Aerial skills - Visual arts workshops with Bess O'Malley from Pine St

COMPETITION
Calling all budding photo-journalists! The Festival are searching for the most talented up and coming snappers to win the chance to be an Official Festival Photographer… win a workshop with leading Australian photographer, Lisa Tomasetti, and your images exhibited at the festival.
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27 September - 11 October 10am - 4pm Mon - Sat
CarriageWorks 245 Wilson Street Eveleigh http://www.carriageworks.com.au/
To see a complete schedule of the festival visit the Official Festival Website.