INVURT

It was a sad moment last week when I got the invite from the At Large crew about their closing down event this coming weekend. I knew it was on its way, but it was still lamentable when I got the invitation to their very last event – and I’m even sadder still that I can’t attend due to being in Perth for the weekend!

It’ll be hard to imagine Northcote without At Large Gallery – and I can’t help but say a few words about the people, shows, and the crew there. Please excuse me whilst I take a rare moment to talk on a personal level – and, in case you don’t want to read my shit, just jump down to the bottom of the post for all the info on the actual event!

I attended the opening of At Large (I’m pretty sure it was the first article I posted on this blog, actually), and I even had a piece in that very first show – I believe that was the first show in Melbourne that I had put a piece in since I’d moved here. I’d met the crew through a mutual friend pretty much as soon as I had first arrived in the ‘burn – two people whose own art I immediately loved, and who had, no, made, time for someone who was still fresh eyed and full for questions about Melbourne and its art.

As it happened, I also put some work into a few other group shows there, and, I had two of my own there also. The biggest moment, for me, was holding my first solo show, Inhabited Times, at the gallery – which was amazing and had an amazing turn out. I pretty much did the show because of the guys there, they inspired me – after years of drawing in books and never showing anyone the stuff I’d been doing, they made me so comfortable and were so encouraging that I couldn’t not – they helped me take my art out of my own private little world  – and since then, I haven’t looked back.

Invurt and the crew at At Large also put on the group show there, Cardbordia with a bunch of other great artists, it was so much fun covering the walls in Cardboard and making an instillation styled show – what a blast.

So, to say that the place has a special place in my heart is an understatement. At Large, the crew themselves and their many helpers, as well as the people I met through the gallery and its shows,  and those I became friends with along the way, were one of the inspirations behind my starting this whole website – if you’re a fan of Invurt, then there’s a part of thanks that should be directed to the At Large crew for what you see today.

Beyond myself, there is absolutely no questions as to what these guys did for the Melbourne art, and upcoming and established artists. You need to only look at the list of exhibitions they’ve held over the past three years to get an inkling as to the kinds of artists they helped promote and support, the shows that they worked on and the events that they also held. With names like Heesco, Adi, Simz, Mupz, Jak Rapmund, Nicole Tattersall, Mishap, Rachee Renee, Sketch City and so many more … take all those great shows, and combine them with a whole range of events, battles, workshops, live art, great tunes, good beer, great people – well.

So, in their own words …

"After three ears in Northcote, At Large are closing its doors at 208 High St!!

We have always run At Large as we felt fit, and through this unconventional practice have met some truly amazing Artists, DJs, Emcees, and some of the most chilled beautiful down to earth people here, (some of who are now our family.) We have run countless gigs, openings, exhibitions and festival days, and it has been a great hub for Artists and all sorts. The ride has been amazing and unforgettable, but for now we just need a break, and a new chapter to focus on our lives and our own art.

Mishap and Dopio will be back in 2012 curating and participating in battles and exhibitions, burning walls and getting drunk in your backyard. We would love to thank every single person who made the last few years what it was by buying a can of paint, sharing a beer or spliff, or coming to a show. We are humbled by the amount of support we’ve gotten from our big Melbourne fam, customers and regulars. It has been an absolute pleasure.

Please contact us through the At Large email or website for future projects, jobs, and the usual from now on ‘cos we won’t have a shop for too much longer but we are STILL AT LARGE."

Before they close their doors, however, there is the aforementioned closing party – and, as usual with the way these guys roll, it’ll be a fkn great night – art battle, and merchandise and art up for grabs at awesome prices!

"We are closed to pack up shop generally from now until the 26th so come hang out for the last time @ At Large on Sunday 27th Nov 2011, watch Getn Jigy, Twos and Glyphics battle it out, sink a few beers and check out the huge instore sale.

15-60% off EVERYTHING including

• brand new Sourpuss range of kooky kitchen ware, beach towels, skull cushions, lamps and unique gift ware you won’t find anywhere else
• all tees and streetwear
• custom graffiti lamps made by Jest
• ALL ART AND PRINTS by various Artists
• ALL IRONLAK 6 PACKS A FURTHER 10% OFF SO $40 EACH SIXER

We will also be selling most shopfitting and furnishings so if you see anything you like or need make us an offer!!

Hope to see you all there and thanks again for your love!"

See what I mean? Going out in total style!

Anyways, the silver lining about the gallery closing is also personal – I can’t help but feel a little lightened at the news knowing that this now frees up two of my mates to come painting with us on the weekends (which is the only time I get to paint due to this whole full time work bullshit!). They’ve already both taught me a lot – about painting, about Melbourne, and about a whole bunch of amazing artists and creative individuals that they tirelessly supported – and I really can’t wait to hit some walls with them now that they aren’t stuck in the gallery.

J & B – thanks for the beers, thanks for the shows, thanks for the support and for all you did for the Melbourne street art culture with At Large Gallery, we’re looking forward to seeing what you guys get up to next year – now, lets fkn paint!

Who: The At Large crew and live art battles from Getn Jigy, Twos and Glyphics.
What: Live art, sales and awesome fun times.
Where: At Large Gallery, 208 High St, Northcote, VIC
When: Sunday 27th november, 1pm til 6pm – and then closed forever!

Check out the At Large Gallery website, and the facebook event page for more information.

Our friend Enix will be taking off to distant shores soon, but before he heads off to the wide world of madventureland, he’ll be having a last display of his recent work – his fourth solo show, Sa.yo.na.ra!

"This will be the final exhibition before en?x goes to swim in a larger pond in Europe. The 4th and last Australian exhibition for some time, yet one of the earliest of many to come. The works on show are created primarily with a mix of aerosol & acrylic. For the first time there will be some of the digital works on offer presented with options of numbered print framed or unframed. Prints of previous works will also be available."

…Hailing from the desolate wasteland of Perth Western Australia, a place of rare beauty (a.k.a heat and boredom) en?x rose from the ashes and moved to Melbourne in 2007.

After arriving he was reborn from his creative slumber to a new outlook of colour and vitality. This has been a rebirth.
Bringing influences from a plethora of different disciplines including 3D Modelling and Animation, Graphic Design and Mixed Media, Enix strives to stretch new styles constantly. Enix plans to cover the world in delicious colours that can be chewed on and savoured by those who have the hunger."

We have been big fans of Enix’s work for some time now, and we’re both happy to see this show, but sad to see him go – so get down to this to see an artist who is truly delving deep into the land of curiosity, it’ll be a little while before you get another chance!

Who: Enix
What: Sa.yo.na.ra. solo show
Where: At Large Gallery, 208 High Street, Northcote, VIC
When: Show opens Friday 26th August from 6pm til 9pm, and runs til 2nd September

Check out the At Large Gallery website and the facebook event page for more details on the show!

One of our favourites, Rachee Renee, teams up with Zsandor to bring you a joint exhibition at the most awesome At Large Gallery. The show will “explore a personal journey into the past, digging out cobwebs of forgotton life tales, and shedding them onto the canvas to make way for the new.”

This looks like a great duo show, from two highly talented artists, and we can’t wait to see what they’ve come up with!

“With both artists stemming from a street art background, this exhibition mixes street art and fine art elements using aerosol, acrylic, oil, markers and a host of other mixed media.”

Who: Rachee Renee & Zsandor
What: Let Go duo show
Where: At Large Gallery, 208 High Street, Northcote, VIC
When: Show opens Friday April 15th, 6pm til 9pm, and runs til April 29th

Check out the At Large website and the facebook event page for more info.

As a purveyor of the weird and wonderful, its always a special thrill when we discover an artist whose work has that particularly skewed edge to it. Personally, I’m completely open to all styles and types of art, darker illustrative work will always have a special place in my heart – and that probably harkens back to the massive amount of comics that I read throughout my youth.

The first I saw of Heescos work was last year, during the Sweet Streets @ BSG exhibition. There, he had a collection of light-boxes, scratched out dry-point style from a layer of black acrylic, as well as other drawings that were just as elaborately detailed and strange. What fascinated me most in his work, was the expressive nature of the displayed characters, his work catapulted emotion out of the various old, wizened, mutated and other slightly off-kilter entities.

Couple all of that talent and imaginative artwork with a genuine, friendly and enthusiastic personality, Heesco embodies some of the best virtues of the new wave of multicultural, experimental and genre defying artists that are emerging within Australia today. For our first interview for 2011, we wanted something special, and Heescos detailed and unique story of his artistic journey between his native Mongolia to Australia (and all the paths between) certainly fit the bill – and we’re totally wrapped to have the chance to share it.

So, read on for the unique, and at times emotive and thought provoking story behind the man, and enter the deliciously wicked, familiar, and every so slightly warped world of his imagination …

(more…)

Hi all – just a few photos from my own crappy camera and some more awesome ones that the guys at At Large took of my opening last Friday night of my first solo show, Inhabited Times – a pretty full on evening that floored me, so many amazing people and so many wonderful words about my work. I put a lot of effort into it, and I’m still overwhelmed by all the positive feedback I received.

Massive thankyou to everyone that helped me get it all organised, the guys at At Large gallery, and those all who were able to make it down to support me (on the night and over the weekend), with what turned into an epic evening that left me speechless and humbled.

Lots more photos on the At Large website, and I’ll also be putting a whole bunch of photos of all the pieces up on my blog after the show – I think the count was around 44 pieces at the end of it, not including some hand made toys and some amazing custom dresses.

To those that weren’t able to make the opening (it was a busy night all round, I even missed the EF book launch, and Worldcon!), the show will run until September 16th at the At Large Gallery (208 High Street, Northcote) and I’d love it if could make it down for a look and let me know what you think – they are open 11-6pm Wednesday to Saturday, and 12-6pm on Sundays (I’ll also be in the gallery Sunday afternoon if you wanna stop by and say hi).

Again, sorry for the lack of updates and the slightly more personal addition of this post! Blog will now go back to post-opening, post-creative crazytown, regular programming .. some great interviews coming up, so stay tuned!

At Large Gallery continue their run of great shows, and next up is the duo-show from Melbourne artists ADi and Craig Poore.

“In their upcoming show “Beautiful Strange’, artists Craig Poore and ADiexamine the beautiful as strange and the strange as beautiful. Our thoughts of the visual world are blurred by our perceptions. ‘Beautiful Strange’ invites us to challenge these ideas.

Through his emotive and engaging oil paintings, Craig Poore captures the startling ‘beauty’ found within the female form.The narrative is alluring, dreamy and at times melancholic. Clown fish appear from the tangled trestles of an underwater goddess, the heart’s despair from a girl’s deep and longing stare.

In contrast, ADi invents opposing ideas of beauty with his imaginative and hypnotic illustrative style. He embraces the uniquely ‘strange’ by creating a world enchanted by mystery. The imagery is unexpected, intriguing and symbolic and the technique executed with exacting precision.”

Both artists produce strikingly beautiful work in defined, recognisable styles – and its great to see them teaming up to present a juxtaposed show that manages to adhere to a cohesive, beautifully strange theme.

Check the At Large website for more information, as well as Adi’s website and blog.

Who: Craig Poore & ADi
What: Beautiful Strange – Duo show
Where: At Large Gallery, 208 High Street, Northcote
When: Opens Friday 6th August, 6pm – 9pm. Show runs until August 19th.

With Corrosive Thoughts closing up this Thursday (Go see it while its still up – great show), the At Large crew will then be hastily setting up their second huge group exhibition this Friday.

Anyone who was at the first opening group show know that this will be just another repeat of an awesome night, and those who didn’t, this is your chance to get down and check it out and be a part of the revelry. Its in conjunction with the Northern Exposure festival in Northcote, so there will be a bunch of other openings on the night, great chance to see a wide range of different stuff.

“In a similar fashion to our first opening show, the small gallery will be jampacked with affordable and awesome new works from local, interstate and international artists. Our biggest show yet with well over 20 artists, work will range from prints, paintings, illustrations, stencils, photographic, sculptural andaerosol pieces!! With the opening of other art shows along High St on the same night, Northern Exposure is a unique art feast for anyone who loves being immersed in art!”

Who: Adnate, Amy Eating Apples, Andy Mai Mai, Adi, Ben Aitken, Bradley Sheather, Dilly, Drab, Floh, Guz, Jest, Jak Rapmund, Jason Howe(Syd), KA’a(Paris), Lucy, Makatron, Milf, Mishap, Nicole Tattersall, Phillipa Crisp, Poise, Rachee Renee, Rena Littleson, Sear, Sparcs, Sim2, Tod Walker photography and heaps more!!!
What: Northern Exposure Group Show
Where: At Large Gallery, 208 High Street, Northcote
When: Opening Friday 18th June @ 6pm, show runs until 2nd July

Check out the At Large website for more info on this and other upcoming shows.

(more…)

Ever with the innovation, At Large gallery are presenting a new show in the form of SLAPSTICK. With a bit of a difference, art will be produced on the day, and placed on to panels, wherein afterwards people can win pieces of the panels created – great idea, and sounds like a lot of fun.

In the words of the At Large crew:

“Join us on a Saturday afternoon for a few hours of chilling and jamming!! BYO stencils and paint, pasties and brushes, markers, stickers. We are inviting everyone to come and cover panels inside our gallery for two hours between 2-4pm with whatever they want.

Basic materials like glue and brushes will be provided but pre-prep anything that can’t be done on the spot.

The Opening Reception will be that evening from 7-9pm. Drinks available and raffle run to win parts of the created wall.

This is a profit free event, intended as a culture jam for all interested so come down and support the growing wheat-paste, sticker, stencil revolution.. No throw ups or big spray pieces as we are a small space and do not have proper ventilation to allow for this, also we want to focus on other elements of street art for this particular show.

Entry to both the day jam and opening reception are FREE and all are welcome!!!”

When:  Saturday 20th March, Indoor Jam 2pm, Exhibition 7pm

Where: At Large Gallery, 208 High Street, Northcote

See the At Large Website for more details on this event!

There would be no stretch of the imagination involved if one was to suggest that Melbourne artist Makatron has been making waves in the past year with his exhibitions, murals and street art. As part of the Everfresh crew, who have a large array of colossal murals and more subtle pieces spread across both Burn City and the world, it can also be said that he, along with the rest of the crew, are at the top of their game.

As an individual artist, however, his work conveys a thoughtful, and at times chaotic, interpretation of personal interaction with both the environment and the people contained within it. His extensive travels, coupled with his unique personal experiences and his love of the grittier underside of urban art have all combined to present a unique, emboldened style that has garnered him a solid body of fans.

Invurt recently had opportunity to conduct an in-depth, thought provoking, and generally kick-ass interview with Makatron, wherein he explains his work and ethos, and where racing a courier bike through the streets of Sao Paulo fits in to it all …

(more…)

Also check out the facebook page for the event and the At Large website for more info.

The guys from At Large Gallery have another exhibition coming up this Friday the 19th of February in the form of 3rd Degree, A group show of new works by three of Melbourne’s upcoming artists: Sink, Ikin and Mupz.

Opening Reception from 8-10pm, and it will be sponsored by Holgate so get down early for a free brew and what’s sure to be an exciting art collaboration!

At Large is located at 208 High Street in Northcote.

Exhibition Runs Until the 4th March if you can’t make it to the opening,  theres some great shows being put on by this relatively new gallery, so go check it out.