INVURT

This Friday “The Retrospect X A/D Exhibition is going to be the place to unwind.

After…the Analogue / Digital X Afterparty will kick off at Elsewhere Bar, Surfers Paradise. Don’t miss your chance to see A/D speaker Angus Gruzman AKA Gus Da Hood Rat do what he does best and that’s get the party started! Known world wide for his amazing mash-ups sets and cut and paste techniques.”

Most importantly though for art lovers, James Reka of Everfresh Studios will be painting live in the cigarette lounge.

“This visual treat is bound to be the ultimate final touch on what will be an amazing event.”

For more details on the Retrospect X and A/D Exhibition and Conference check out our recent article. Nice way to kick off the weekend, we would say!

“Expanding the visual arts audience through discovery and discussion.”

Who: ‘Southern Gallery Express’ Bus Tour, ‘Goodnight Wanganui’ by Richard Lewer, Spencer Harrington aka Random: The Colour of Originality, Be Tender by Reuben Paterson, Emma Thomsen: Nonlinear Complications and many more.
What: Art Week Auckland
Where: Big Little City, Devonport, Auckland South/West, Karangahape Road, Newmarket, Parnell, Ponsonby
When: 13th – 23rd October 2011

Coming up next month at Melbournes No Vacancy gallery, is the featured launch of BLOKK – Melbourne artist, designer and illustrator who, in a previous incarnation, was known as Ian Blokkeerus. Invurt have had a close eye on this old chesnut for a while now, as he’s been working on this new body of work for over three years. Coming back onto the scene after an eight year hiatus doing bar design in some our most loved Melbourne venues, we can’t wait to see what he’s been up to. Fraud, the curator of the show, has tied in the launch in with Norman Collins, the creator of Sailor Jerry’s 100th anniversary.

If you fancy flash, you’ll fancy this.

“Hailing from Melbourne, BLOKK is a popular culture artist who crosses boundaries between fine art, graffiti, graphic design and illustration. He now presents a new body of work to the world for the first time in nearly a decade with a solo show at No Vacancy.

His new collection takes inspiration from 1940′s flash tattoo culture and is a homage to the works of Norman Collins who’s legacy is now in it’s 100th year.

An artist who thumbs his nose at convention, BLOKK’s dense and skilfully created pieces also find a home outside of the gallery amongst Melbournes maze of art scarred alleyways.

When one views his creations his past working as a sign writer becomes obvious, such is the elegance and confidence of the marks he makes. Pre-digital in thought, creation and output BLOKK brings the best of the past into the now.”

Who: BLOKK
What: BLOKK solo show (1940′s inspired flash tattoo pin-up girls. HAWT!)
Where: No Vacancy, QV, Melbourne.
When: Opening Night Thursday 14th July @ 6pm, running till Sunday 24th July.

RSVP and check out the facebook event page for the opening night

I like drawing. I like drawing quite a lot actually. So much so that I managed to make it through five years of Architecture school without learning a CAD program. Perhaps not entirely smart, but significantly more enjoyable. So when I was handed a flyer for a show entirely focused on drawing, I immediately got excited.

In response to the resurgence of drawing and illustration over the past few years, Paradise Hills present ‘Hand Drawn Boom’. Featuring some current big names supporting some of the more emerging talents across Australia, alongside some rather incredible international acts. Opening night has live music from Yama Boy and Electric Sea Spider amongst others, as well as live drawing, led by Hamishi and some of the crew from Trails. Its going to be awesome – there is even a boom box to prove it.

What: Hand Drawn Boom group show 
Who: Acorn, Drew Funk, Hamishi,  Justin Lee Williams, Eugene Plotnikov, Darcey Bella Arnold, Stephanie May Ether, Georgina Cue,Zoy Xoy, Hamishi, Mark Threadgold, Krishnamurti Suparka, Pei Pei He, Natalie Sun.
Where: Paradise Hills, 1-9 Doonside Street, Richmond, Melbourne, VIC  When: Show opens Friday July First 6-9pm, and runs until July 23rd 

For more information, check out the website for Paradise Hills.

If you weren’t able to make it to Tim Andrew’s show ‘Big Deal’ first time round, this Friday may just be your lucky day. A re-launch of the original show is going to be held at a pop-up location in Sydney at The Rock, and, if the reviews from the original show are anything to go by, then this is definitely worth checking out.

Tim’s style is seriously bold, intense, and perhaps even a little creepy – which is exactly why I like it. The show features his striking two dimensional work alongside some sculptural pieces, and of course his immediately recognisable colour palette.

Who: Tim Andrews
What: Big Deal pop-up show 
Where: Pop-Up Gaffa, 85 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW
When: Show opens Friday June 17th 6.30-8.30pm and runs until July 17th.

For more information on the show check out Tim’s website here

To celebrate the opening of their new gallery, Colour by Numbers are kicking things off with their show ‘Up Close’. If this ridiculous lineup of  artists is anything to go by, then this will be a gallery to keep your eye on.

In a rather unique approach, Colour by Numbers is a transitional gallery featuring pop-up events in both Sydney and Melbourne: “Aiming to support emerging and established artists from both Australia and overseas, Colour By Numbers Gallery will have fortnightly exhibitions, showcasing a range of artists spanning the genres of lowbrow, contemporary, street art, graffiti, illustration, photography, film and installation. Colour By Numbers Gallery is a new concept to Sydney and Melbourne, presenting regular pop-up exhibitions at different unique locations throughout Sydney and Melbourne cities and surrounding inner-city suburbs every two weeks.”

The artworks for the show have been donated by over 30 artists to support the opening of the gallery. The clever kids at Colour by Numbers will give you one of the donated artworks in exchange for a donation towards the gallery to help get the doors open.  With this many clever ideas, and this many fantastic artworks up for offer, we are really looking forward to see what else these guys have in store for us.

What: Up Close Exhibition 
Who: Bec Winnel, Ben Frost, Bennett, Chris Cunningham (Uk), Darren Henderson, Deb, Drewfunk, Drypnz (Nz), Drab, Ears, E.l.k., Georg Whelan, Haha, Heesco, Jack Douglas, Kaitlin Beckett, Ken Taylor, Keiron Mcmaster, Kinyobi Ishi, Kirbee Lawler, Jae Copp, Julia Rich, Makatron, Malicious, Mathieu Bernard Martin (Fr), Nate Holmes Trapnell, Nick Simpson, Numskull, Otis Chamberlain, Prizm, Rone, Ross Paxman, Sean Morris, Stabs, Steve Cross, Twoone + More To Come …
Where: Lo-Fi Collective, Floor 3/383 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, NSW When: One night only Thursday June 16th 6pm

For more info check out the Colour by Numbers website, or the Facebook event page

Perhaps one of the most inspiring things about the shows and works we get to see, is the motivation and drive behind each of the artists that starts it all. Getting out there and getting stuck in is something I have huge respect for, and this exhibition is another fantastic example of this.

Paper, Scissors, Rock is something a little different to the work we normally see and without question will have something for everyone. Organised by architects and designers, the show is open for submissions from whoever may be interested to get involved. “Its basically an opportunity to make and show. To experiment, draw, design, build, record and then exhibit. No client, no budget, no bullshit.” 

Work can be your own or a collaboration, for sale or not. Excellent.

This is a show with no airs or graces and no specific expectations other than an opportunity for creative people to get amongst and do something – anything in fact.

What: Paper, Scissors, Rock exhibition 
Who: A whole collection of artists ranging in mediums and even you if you like. 
Where: Eckersley’s Gallery, 97 Franklin Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000
When: Show opens Thursday 23rd June 6 till 9pm, and runs till the 30th of June

For more info, or to register your interest, contact the organisers here

If you haven’t got much planned tomorrow lunchtime, then get yourself down to K’ Road for one of my favourite combinations of good things – Live art and Charity.

To celebrate Amnesty Internationals 50th birthday and continue the campaign for human rights, St. Kevin’s Arcade plays host to some of New Zealand’s finest street artists getting involved in some live painting. Disruptiv and Cracked Ink will be creating pieces during the day to be auctioned off in the second part of this – an exhibition in Te Karanga Gallery on June 16th. Here they will join pieces from other kiwi favourites such as Drypnz, Seekayem and Oi you! amongst others to raise funds and awareness for the cause.

“Amnesty chose to use street art to celebrate our 50th birthday because street art commonly points out the flaws in society and often demands change for the better. Amnesty International has been fighting against injustice for half a century and much of our work stems from street protest.”

Get on down there to support a good cause and delight your eyes all at the same time. Glorious.

What: The Art of Freedom – Amnesty International 50th Anniversary 
Who: Cracked Ink, Disruptiv, Drypnz, Seekayem, Oi You! and more
Where: St Kevin’s Arcade, Karangahape Road, Auckland / Te Karanga Gallery, Level 1, 208 Karangahape Road, Auckland 
When: Live Art 11am-2pm Thursday 9th June at the arcade, Exhibition opens 6.30-10pm Thursday June 16th at the gallery.

Check out Amnesty International’s page for more details, or the facebook event page

Given the opportunity to paint your favourite comic hero or villain, its no surprise that a whole bunch of awesome artists got stuck in to producing work for ArtBoy Gallery’s new show Fanboy Vs Artboy: Comics.

FanBoy vs. ArtBoy brings together unknown, amateur and professional artists for a common goal in creating genre specific works all under the banner of FanArt and exhibiting these in an exciting and fun series of exhibitions.

Following on from the success of round One: Videogames, the next Comics round of shows is sure to provide a whole host of visual delights, crazy characters, and super epic battles on canvas between heroes and villains.

Who: Bruyn, Matthew Dunn, Nicole Tattersall, Mike Adey, Allain De Leon, Brett Willis, Heesco, Jennie Rosenbaum, Nick Abdilla, ADi, Ishi, Fletcher Andersen, Ex-Robot, Rickie Swain, Beanz, Ed Bechervaise, Ralph Rosa, Satta van Daal and many more…
What: Fanboy Vs Artboy: Comics
Where: Artboy Gallery,99 Greville Street, Prahran, Melbourne 
When: Starts Friday 10th June 6-9pm and runs till the 13th June

For more info, check out the facebook page and the Artboy Gallery website.

So we missed getting this up in time for its opening yesterday, but for the inner kid inside you that fondly reminisces about long days on the mat building all sorts of crazy, we reckon its still worth a mention.

Lego Artist Nathan Sawaya brings a whole new level of cool to our favourite building block with his exhibition of large scale Lego sculptures in Federation Square. In addition to works like the ones below, are pieces in the spirit of Melbourne including the Eureka Tower and Queen Victoria Market. The show also includes programs and activities for any Lego crazed kids, as well as Australia’s largest Lego store. Awesome.

Who: Nathan Sawaya
What: The Art of the Brick – Large scale Lego sculptures
Where: Federation Square, Melbourne
When: Starts 2nd June, Open Daily 10am – 5pm/Friday 10am – 9pm

For more info on tickets head here

After little bits of teasing rumour over the past month or so, the guys from the Melbourne street art crew Everfresh have released the news of their impending visit to the NGV.

This is going to be amazing – it will give everyone a crazily cool insight into the working practices of the Everfresh crew, as they temporarily relocate from their Collingwood studio to the NGV studio in the heart of Melbourne. Everfresh are at the top of their game, and if you’ve ever been curious as to how they do what they do (and you shamefully haven’t read their book yet!), well, now’s your chance to find out more.

“EVERFRESH STUDIO are moving into the NGV STUDIO next week.
Artist from Everfresh will be there for about a month, so feel free to drop in and say hi.  At the end of our residency we are going to have a bit of an event to show case works made during our time there.”

Who: Phibs, Rone, Reka, Meggs, Sync, Makatron, Wonderlust, Prizm, The Tooth & Special Guests!ironlak, ngv,
What: Everfresh at the NGV studio
Where: NGV STudio – Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC
When: Starting Monday 6th June and running until the 8th of July, when they will have a show of the work they’ve produced whilst in the studio.

Check out the Everfresh website for more details on this awesome event!

We love webzine, ezines, blogs, journals, essays and of course, print – so whenever we see a new one pop up somewhere, or discover an old one that we somehow missed, we want to shout it out all over and tell as many people as possible about it. All of these things help document the words and images of the various movements we love individually and societally; and we’re all about spreading the meme.

Six Years Later looks to blends so many elements that we love – engaging art from up and coming and established artists, issues, and near-futurist gazes at a world just around the corner. Wonderfully so, they’re also having a launch, including an exhibition, of their first issue at 1000 Pound Bend in Melbourne!

Seriously, we love this shit.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here. The much anticipated Launch Party of this little magazine. The lovely folks at 1000 Pound Bend have kindly decided to host our not so little opening night, so make sure you head down on Friday the 15th of April. You’ll be given the red carpet treatment and embraced by the luscious beats of DJ Dom Cazeaux. Doors open 6.30 with the party going into the wee hours of 10pm.

Come down, have a drink, look at some delicious art and maybe buy a mag.. or two.

If you’re unable to make it to the festivities of opening night, you’ll still get a chance to be one of the cool kids and check out the freshest art Melbourne has to offer that weekend. The exhibition runs til Sunday arvo, so pencil it in!

We’re also very proud to be hosting The Hungry Workshop’s Queenslake exhibition. Featuring work from a range of Queensland’s leading designers and illustrators both past and present, Queenslake is an exhibition of letterpress prints to raise money for the relief effort, with all profits donated to The Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. The prints will be sold for $50 each, in numbered runs of 50. Get something for your donation dollars (other than a hangover).”

Who: A whole bunch of Six Years Later crew and artists featured in Issue #1 with the Queenslake letterpress print fundraising exhibition.
What: Six Years Later Magazine launch party
Where: 1000 Pound Bend, 361 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne, VIC
When: Launch is on Friday 15th April, from 7pm til 10pm. The exhibition will run until the 18th of April.

Check out the Six Years Later website for more details on the launch, the mag, submitting your own work or just sending them some love!