INVURT

If you’ve been reading us for a while, you would know that we are, at the core of it, pretty massive geeks. So when Supanova, the years largest festival of “pop culture expo” comes around, well, there’s no doubt that we’ll be there.

Covering every base from tv and movies, to toys and comics, scifi and fantasy and everything in between, Supanova is the epitome of creative culture. Just seeing all of the cosplayers and various suited and costumed people showed to us just how much the creative realm is permeating our society, more so than it was even a few years ago. These days, geek is cool, and being creative is even cooler. Supanova is, really just that – a massive celebration of creativity.

The first thing we noticed when we arrived, were the massive lines into the expo – we attended last year, and the crowd this year was definitely larger. The traders had been moved into one of the large exhibition halls, and even that was pretty damn crowded!

So. Many. Toys. And. Cool. Shit.

Again, one of the best parts of the day was checking out everyone dressed up for the event. You just know, that as soon as Supanova is finished, that a lot of the cosplayers are going to be heading home to start work on next years outfit immediately – you can see that much effort in their work.

We went and checked out the last  bit of Edward James Olmos, and then the finals for the cosplay competiton. The Samurai Pizza cats vs the French Revolution. Strangely enough (not really, they had great costumes), the French revolution won and went through to the finals.

We finished the day off by catching Summer Glau (aka Fireflys River Tam aka Sarah Connor Chronicles Terminator) doing her talk – ahh. Fan crush to see Summer Glau in person sated. What a girl.

We met these nice ladies when we went to get supplies from the supermarket – they were pretty curious as to what was going on with all these people dressed up. We gave them some stickers and told them to keep calm and carry on!

Supanova keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. It’s an inspiring day out, and there is so much to see and do – if you want a day that is a little out of the ordinary than your usual fare, this is the place to be. For us, the best part of the day really was watching how much creativity was on display – even if your bag doesn’t run to the scifi or fantasy realms, you should at least experience something like this once in your lifetime. We’re looking forward to next years saga!

Melbourne was just the first show in the run of events, so if you’re in Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth, the Supanova events are coming up, so don’t miss out!

ArtBoy presents the debut exhibition of Melbourne artist and Illustrator BRUYN. This guy’s been doing some pretty cool things since we last saw his stuff at the Artboy vs Fanboy Exhibition!

BRUYN’s work comes from a background in illustration in the toy industry, an influence which is obvious in his work. It’s cute, yet kinda badass, funky work – most of which seems to have already sold before the opening of the show! We’re a fan of his crazy creations, characters and worlds of a darker existence. In this show it looks like he’s experimented with not only board and canvas but also skate decks, always interesting!

"In an attempt to seize control of Hub City once and for all, Rabbit has raised a cloned army of rabbits and is erasing all who oppose him. As always, it falls upon Bear and his band of brothers to quash this latest insurrection.

But now a new threat is emerging!

For within the inky depths of a nearby forest, a Sacred Acorn Tree has become contaminated, spawning an army of ferocious zombie squirrels!As brain-hungry rodents infest the city, Rabbit and Bear must put aside differences and unite to combat this new undead enemy!"

Whaaaaat! Here’s a small preview of the show …

Looking really cool, love it! We’ll see you there!

Hot on the heels of our previous article on the Cullen Open House day, here’s the full run down on events at this years Carbon Festival – got your tickets yet?

We were are Carbon last year (check here for last years wrap up of the event) and we have no hesitation in saying that you need to get to this grand event from the team behind one of the best culture mags we know, Acclaim. While we there last year, we brought you a live blog from the event for those that were unable to attend, and we’ll be doing the same this year. Hopefully we’ll also be doing a few interviews as well, and providing as much coverage and photos of the shebang as we can manage.

Anyways, here’s the break down – there is a shitload happening – all of this info is via the Carbon Festival website and the Carbon Festival facebook page, so you might just want to head over there for everything – this is just a summary.

“Australia’s premier contemporary, creative-culture event, Carbon is back! Now in its second year, Carbon celebrates and explores style, design and street culture via a series of forums and side-shows.
The main forum event, which takes place at the BMW Edge Theatre at Federation Square, has seen us scour the globe for some of the most unique and authentic voices and minds in contemporary creative-culture. The forums are the defining element of Carbon. More than just the transfer of knowledge, this series of talks also offers a platform for discussion and audience participation. Add to this a range of exciting side-events and exhibitions and you have a festival of creativity and thought that is not to be missed.”

Carbon Festival Pre & Side Events

Lots of side events happening as a part of Carbon, here’s a small rundown!

Cullen Open House (featuring Mural by Faith47 – Saturday 21st April-12pm – 10pm  @ Cullen Hotel, 164 Commercial Rd, Prahran, Victoria. Check here for more details.

The Ricky Powell World Famous Slide Show – Wednesday 25th April – 8pm @ 1000 £ BEND (cinema) – 361 Little Lonsdale St. Melbourne.

Opening of Faith47 & DALeast Exhibition – Thursday 26th April-
6pm-9pm: @ RTIST Gallery, 29 St Edmonds Rd. Prahran, Victoria. (We’ll have more on this event soon)

Sneaker Freaker Swapmeet – Sunday 29th April

“Its that time of year again where sneakerheads, collectors, label whores, bike geeks, hoarders and street wear fashionistas gather to buy, sell, trade and give away mounds of stuff. Last year’s event attracted around 50 sellers and more or less 7000 people who came throughout the afternoon to see what all the fuss was about. We’re not sure what to expect this year, but rest assured it will be bigger and better. It always is!

If you’re into sneakers, bikes, toys, street wear, vintage gear and or bits ad bobs that are gonna be cooler than what you find at your local weekend flea market, then make sure you come and check this out. We guarantee you will be sorry if you miss it.”

Check out Sneaker Freaker website and the facebook event page, and the Carbon website for more details on this event.

Carbon Festival Launch Party

“The crew behind the Carbon Festival are pleased to announce the lineup for Carbon’s official launch party, a musical intro to the discussion forums and art shows that define the Carbon event.

Having developed a lineup that represents the evolutionary spirit of the visual aspects of Carbon, the following acts have been confirmed to kick things off for this year’s Carbon Launch: Headlining the party is a showcase performance by indie label Fool’s Gold outta NYC and includes eclectic sets by a favourite amongst local partygoers, Nick Catchdubs (Fool’s Gold co-founder and multi-genre party DJ), plus relative newcomer and literal one-man-band Party Supplies whose handmade MPC symphonies and heartfelt stage presence blend hip-hop energy with anthemic indie hooks. Party Supplies will be joining the lineup hot off the back of his collaborative release with Action Bronson ‘Blue Chips’ (download link below).

Party rocker, Mixtape DJ, founder of DJ collective ’5^th Platoon’ and former tour DJ for Jay-Z, are but a few of the titles attached to DJ Neil Armstrong, another New Yorker that we’re excited to welcome to the Carbon Launch lineup.

And from local waters, Auckland, New Zealand DJ collective The ARC will share the earlier hours of the party with local producer/DJ duo Dublin Aunts, favourites amongst Hype Machine enthusiasts for their approach to electronic funk and nu-disco.

Tickets for the Carbon Launch can be purchased from Moshtix at a discounted rate in conjunction with a 2 Day Forum Pass. Alternatively, a limited number of tickets will be available on the door for $30 (pending availability).

For further ticket information visit http://www.weareallcarbon.com/tickets/”

Carbon Festival Day 1 Forums

For a full run down on everything happening on Day 1 of the Carbon Festival, click here.

Saturday 28th April
11am- 1pm: Forum A @ BMW Edge, Federation Square
2pm-4pm: Forum B @ BMW Edge, Federation Square
4pm-7pm: Chaz Bojorques Exhibition Opening @ NGV Studio
Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square

Forums on this day feature speakers Nic Fensom, Eugene Kan, Joy Yoon, Faith47, DALeast, Jasper Wong & Chaz Bojorquez.

Carbon Festival Day 2 Forums

For a full run down on everything happening on Day 2 of the Carbon Festival, click here.

Sunday 29th April
12pm- Evening: Sneaker Freaker Swap Meet @ The Atrium, Federation Square
11am- 1pm: Forum C @ BMW Edge, Federation Square
2pm-4pm: Forum D @ BMW Edge, Federation Square
5pm-7pm: Live Paint session @ NGV Studio, Federation Square

Forums on this day feature speakers Mega, Dust La Rock, Huw Bennett, Ricky Powell, 13th Witness and Yimmy Yayo.

So, that’s Carbon – so much fukn awesome. Really, if you haven’t got your ticket yet, now’s the time – we cannot recommend this event highly enough for anyone interested in creative culture!

We’ll be updating this event article regularly with as much up to date information as possible, as it comes – don’t forget also to check the Carbon Festival website and the Carbon facebook event page for updates.

Unless your name is Anya and you are a vengeance demon,  then you probably love bunnies (we’re seriously showing our geek right now, aren’t we?)- if not then you are in the minority, as bunnies are hell cute  … and, well, sorry, but they’re pretty tasty too!

The bunnies in “Make The Bunny Rad” are deliciously cool, but hardly edible, and you probably couldn’t cuddle them – but god damn would they look great on your shelf or mantelpiece. We’re huge fans of customised toys here at Invurt, and we just want to see more and more shows with them – which is why we love seeing this one from that awesome team-up of Rah Collective and Damp.

(Custom bunny by Alex Lehours – B&W)

“Twenty two artists from all over Australia were sent 7” vinyl bunnies to customize. now, these bunnies will be attached to our walls, so you can look at them, purchase them and love them forever! Vinyl is better than chocolate, or so we’ve been told.”

See, that’s what we’re talking about. The image above from Alex Lehours is just one of many previews we’ve sighted of just some of the bunnies in the exhibition, and they all look fkn amazing. Want!

If you’re in Sydney, head up the coast a little to Damp and check out this show!!

Who: Alex Lehours, Barek, Ben Brown, Helen Mycroft, Jacque Prior, Johnny Steiner, Josh Kid 9 Thorsen, Kate Mccarthy, Kinyobi, Kirst Ohh, Laura Chong, Lucinda Hayden, Luke Burcher, Matt Dampney, Noisy Kid, Ox, Qwux, Rebecca Murphy, Rob Buckley, Steph Tsimbourlas, Thom Bransdon, Yewot
What: Make The Bunny Rad custom toy exhibition
Where: Damp Store, Studio 4/31, Brighton St, Curl Curl, NSW
When: Show opens Friday 23rd March from 7pm til 11pm

Check out Rah Collective and Damp Store for more details on the show, as well as the facebook event page!

Artboy Gallery have done it again with their fifth Fanboy vs Artboy group show. Marc and the team threw down the gauntlet and challenged forty artists to come up with their own interpretations of famous fairytales and fables. The result: a diverse collection of contemporary and traditional art forms rediscovering cautionary tales with talking beasts, fantastical adventures of fairies, goblins and wizards. From a Little Red Riding Hood B-girl tagging the streets at night, eluding the Big Bad Wolf’s “authority figure” shadows in the distance to a mixed media triptych expressing the pre-fall foreboding in the Humpty Dumpty saga but wrapped in a hard metaphorical shell – Fanboy vs Artboy had it all.

At the end of the exhibition Artboy will choose one outstanding artist to exhibit more of their work in the gallery for a month – not too shabby. Also, the very lovely ladies from Curvy will also feature one of the participants on their website plus they will get a copy of the latest Curvy book. Radballs!

Fanboy vs Artboy: Fairytales and Fables runs until 25th of March. Check it.

Photos: Mick Rafferty (aka Drunk Monkeys)

We love the whimsicalness that is Fanboy vs Artboy, and this next show is whimsy and coolness in full flight. At the last Fanboy vs Artboy (Sci-fi), all visitors were asked to vote on what they wanted to see for the next show, with resounding approval for the theme of Fairytales & Fables!

"Passed down through the centuries from generation to generation, it would be hard to think of any story these days that hasn’t drawn inspiration from a fairytale or fable.

These classic tales and short stories sparked our imagination as children to dream of magical lands far, far away. But peeking behind the curtain of Enchanted Forests, Princes and Princesses, and ‘Happy Ever Afters’ lies sinister and twisted tales of murderous plots, poisonings, kidnappings and wickedly evil Stepmothers!

ArtBoy Gallery threw down the challenge for artists to create an original piece of fan art based on or inspired by their favourite fairytale or fable … over 40 amazing artists did not disappoint!"

These shows are just plain old fun -  if you haven’t been to one yet, this one would be a great place to start!

… oh, and on a parting note – vote #1 ROBOTS for the next installation! Okay? Okay! Hell yes, I hear you say!

Who: Artists include Matthew Dunn, Bruyn, Nicole Tattersall, Kaitlin Beckett, Ishi, RJW, Rachee Renee, Brett Willis, Mike Adey, A.i, Rebecca Murphy, Rival Revolution kids, Toni Dowd, Steph Hall, Lindsay Walker, Allain DeLeon, Tassj Brodie, (C)ALM and more.
What: Fanboy vs Artboy – Fairytales & Fables
Where: Artboy Gallery, 99 Greville St, Prahran
When: Show opens this Friday, 16th March from 6pm til 9pm and runs til 25th March.

Check out the facebook event page as well as the Artboy Gallery website for more information.

Well, it was a pretty epic night, for an epic show. Stormtroopers, imperial officers, and one hell of a lot of amazing science fiction related artwork at the Artboy vs Fanboy: Science Fiction exhibition in Prahran.

Check out the opening photos below!

Tanja Jade, aka Misery, should be no stranger to those who are purveyors of all things illustrated, street and graff’d. Based out of New Zealand, she has, with a hell of a lot of diligent work, turned the fantastical world of her imagination into a mini empire of cool.

With painting, street art, fashion and toy design and so many more talents under her wing, Misery is a force of creative nature that is a perfect example of what an artist can accomplish with a heavy dose of determination and diversity.

For a nice primer, There is a whole heap of cool media, links to interviews and some great stuff in her shop over at her website, Miseryland.

We’ll be down at Backwoods for this opening for sure!

Who: Tanja Jade aka Misery
What: Momoka solo show
Where: Backwoods Gallery, 25 Easey Street, Collingwood, VIC
When: Show opens Friday 18th November, 6pm til 9pm and runs til 5th December

Check out Backwoods Gallery website as well as her website for more info on the show and the artist.

As a mad fan of urban vinyl and designer toys, there is nothing better than seeing a custom toy show (even if I can’t make it, I can’t wait to see the pics!) – and when you see one that has the backing of Kid Robot, there really isn’t much else to say! With Red Bull curating the event, and with a whole slew of amazing names both local and international, we’re hoping that they decide to expand this show out to the other states, pronto!

"We would like to extend a very warm welcome to you and your crew to attend the first ever Mo’Munny, Mo’ Problems event. Showcasing 35 of the best visual artists from Brisbane and around the world, this inaugural event will surely become a highlight event of the Kidrobot phenomenon currently sweeping the globe.

A team of quality lifestyle brands in Brisbane have come together to produce this event, which aims to put an international spotlight on the acclaimed Brisbane design community. Red Bull Curates has enlisted the help of Laced, Laruche Bar & Supperclub, Ironlak & Media Playground and the result is sure to create a stir amongst industry and media alike.

Mo’ Munny, Mo’ Problems is a Kidrobot Munny Design Show for which 18 inch, 7 inch and 4 inch Munnys have been sent around the world to be designed for sale during and directly after the event."

Get there this Thursday, and get yourself a one of a kind customised toys! Here’s a hint – they look awesome on a window sill …

Who: Dave White (UK), Frank Kozik (USA Kid Robot toy artist), Mega (France/Indonesia), Claudio Kirac, Sofles, Kalin Thompson, Benjamin Reeve, Keiron McMaster, Sonny & Biddy (WeBuyYourKids), Glen Manders (Bad Teeth Comics), Sam McKenzie (SamSamSamSam), KatieKate (Winner of Vinyl Countdown 1&2), Shane Johnson & Sean Condon (Media Playground), Loz (Seventh Circle Tattoo), Swamp Fiend (John C), Josh Thorsen (Kid9), Shaun Campbell (Squidtank), Joel Cameron aka. (DARKOYO), Jesse Bernard Paul Olsen, Julian Tognini (Tognini’s), Ben Johnston (Joseph Marks), Britta Gud and more!!
What: Mo’ Munny Mo’ Problems custom toy show
Where: Laruche, Bakery Lane, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When: Show opens Thursday 27th October 7pm til late

Check out Kid Robot, which we love, and the facebook event page for more info!

Next week, one of New Zealand’s finest and most pro-active exports, Mark Alsweiler, is launching yet another solo exhibition at Sydney’s China Heights Gallery. 

Reminiscent of the folk art that influences it, Mark’s unique style invites the viewer to explore the narratives behind the characters occupying his artworks, even if he himself, isn’t quite sure what those narratives might be.

By utilizing a range of quirky mediums [including carved wooden sculptures], the different pieces are able to examine a broad spectrum of cognitive emotion, in an effective and personable manner. 

The body of work displayed in this solo exhibition is highly accessible and truly humbling, a wonderful example of some incredible New Zealand talent.
 

Who: Mark Alsweiler
What: Sundial - solo show
Where: China Heights Gallery, Lvl 3, 16-28 Foster St,Surry Hills, Sydney
When: show opens 6pm Friday 29th July and runs until August 7th

for more info, go and check out Mark Alsweiler’s website and the China Heights Gallery website.