INVURT

You would think that the boys from aMBUSH Gallery would have their hands full with the ongoing Outpost Project, but no – these guys just keep powering on, and the next show up at aMBUSH Gallery sees a bunch of our favourites smashing it down in Sydney with an awesome group show, Surface Tension.

"Australia’s new wave of street art is already here. Following on from their curatorial hit Outpost Project at Cockatoo Island, aMBUSH proudly presents Surface Tension, featuring artists E.L.K. (Luke Cornish,
VIC), Heesco (VIC), Shida (QLD), Slurpree Slug (NSW), Sofles (VIC) and Sprinkles (NSW).

The artists will paint and transform the gallery walls, integrating the space itself into their body of works. Hailing from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, the stellar emergent line-up represents the next epoch, the next movement. Come and see where it all starts.

The opening will take place on Friday 25 November from 6-9pm at aMBUSH Gallery, 4A James Street Waterloo. Join us for complimentary drinks provided by Absolut and future leaning beats and Hip-hop
between provided by Zwelli.

On the billing will be Brisbane born, cut-back king, Sofles, recently returned from the San Francisco all-Australian show ‘Young and Free’ – himself one of the country’s finest graffiti exports. Also from Brisbane,
Shida’s vicious extra dimensional figures will grin across the concrete backdrop.

Moving further down south, representing Sydney will be Sprinkles, co-founder of Half-Star clothing, with his hyper-cartoon skulls stalking the back of your thoughts. Marking his exclusive gallery appearance is the mysterious street thrasher, Slurpee Slug, with his raw psychedelia a cross between whizz fizz characters and acid. From the Melbourne camp, and representing Blender studios we have Heesco and E.L.K.

Heesco, the current Sydney Secret Wars champion, has a talent in creating anguished faces and loose figures caught in motion.
E.L.K. (Luke Cornish) is widely regarded as a National stencil treasure, able to bring photorealistic portrayals in muted tones through painstaking execution of layering, deconstructing and reconstructing his works with his own flair. E.L.K. was the winner of the 2010 Australian Stencil Art Prize, and made the cover of Monthly Art Magazine, April 2011.

The exhibition will also run alongside an online catalogue with works for sale from Saturday 26 November and runs until 4 December, allowing interstate buyers to remotely buy works. Information regarding this will be available on the aMBUSH website from the opening night."

Damn. We love aMBUSH more and more every day – and you should too!

Who: E.L.K., Heesco, Shida, Slurpee Slug, Sofles, Sprinkles
What: Surface Tension group show
Where: aMBUSH Gallery, 4a James St, Waterloo, Sydney, NSW
When: Show opens Friday 25th November, and runs til Tuesday 29th November.

Check out the aMBUSH gallery website and the facebook event page for more info on the show.

No, its October. Honest. Really. Look, it is if I say it is .. but, anyways. We were supposed to get this up late last month, but with so much in between we had a massive backlog. This, however, is the last of it and we’re all caught up (actually, “catch up” seems like such a relative word …) – and what better way to catch up than with the first Top 10 selection from that rad Melbourne street art blogger, Arty Graffarti!

We’re happy to have him on board with our Top 10s – its turning into a mad little battle between these guys, we love seeing what’s coming next … click the images for full size!

Check out the Arty Graffarti blog for more snaps and flicks from the ‘burn.

Theres nothing like sitting down and watching a great doco – we here at Invurt live by them, and we frequently watch through our collection on a regular basis. The problem is, is that they really are quite infrequent, it takes a lot of work and a hell of a lot of filming and editing to produce any form of doco, and decent street art docos are no different. Yet still we crave more!

With the release of the Writers Bench, a documentary focusing on the history of Melbourne graffiti and street art, our craving may be sated (for a little while) – and we’re looking forward to getting down to ACMI to check it out.

"Writers Bench takes the audience on a first-hand journey through the historical timeline of graffiti and street art culture in Melbourne, exploring some of the revered artists who have helped to shape Melbourne’s cultural identity.

Meet the legends of the graffiti and street art scene, as Writers Bench guides you through the events that created the culture as we see it today. Hear stories of growing up with the movement, why each artist got involved and what influenced their style. From its raw beginnings as political and radical slogans plastered on walls throughout the suburbs, to the colourful burst of murals splashed along urban train lines, to the rise of street art as an inner city tourist attraction, Writers Bench traces the evolution of this vital artistic movement.

Filmmaker Oriel Guthrie continues her investigation into Melbourne subcultures following on from her 2004 featurette, Skip Hop (2004), which screened at ACMI earlier this year."

We featured the preview for Writers Bench in our Thursday Transmissions the other week, so head there to check it out. As it starts this weekend and only goes for three weeks, if you want to check it out as well, you’d best go and buy a ticket right now.

Who: Too many Melbourne graff and street artists to mention ..
What: Writers Bench – The Evolution Of Melbourne Graffiti & Street Art Culture
Where: ACMI Cinemas, Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC
When: Sat 12 Nov 2011 – 4pm , Sat 19 Nov 2011 – 4pm, Sat 26 Nov 2011 – 4pm.

Check out the ACMI website for more info.

Cocoa Jackson studios in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick will be having an elevenses shindig this Friday, with eleven artists and eleven DJs.

If you haven’t heard of Cocoa Jackson just yet, you should have – this newly minted studio up Brunswick way is set to start moving and shaking into 2012, and its on our definite list of places to make sure we check out over the coming months.

“Cocoa Jackson Studios is a creative space in Brunswick, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria. We specialise in street art: street art workshops, tours, sales, exhibitions, repairs, walls and production. Yes. Repairs. If you’ve got a piece and it’s been tagged, we can sort it for you.

The studios are for working artists to use flexibly. Check out the photos on our wall or refer to Creative Spaces.

Cocoa Jackson Lane was named as a tribute to respected local identity, West Indian Fred James, who lived in Edward Street, Brunswick from 1930 to 1979.”

Definitely big things ahead, and it’s already happening – if you’re up north of the river way, head over to CJ this Friday night and see whats what with this grand new studio space.

Who: Heesco, E.L.K. and Junky Projects confirmed thus far ..
What: 11.11.11 group show – free event
Where: Cocoa Jackson Lane, Brunswick, VIC
When: Show opens 6:30pm (the vinyl fair was postponed) Friday 11th November, and runs til late.

Check out the Cocoa Jackson website, the Cocoa Jackson Facebook page and the facebook event page for more info.

UK artist Mysterious Al is visiting our shores for a little while, and whilst he’s here he’s been getting his paint on – obviously! We were stoked when we saw this event pop up tonight, looks like a pretty decent evening!

Having recently painted up the Spook Mag HQ, the pair are set to make their live-art-duo-debut this Friday night in South Yarra at the Spook/Shoreditch party

“The night will be sponsored by our Friends at Shoreditch, who have been giving away their fine suits over the last few weeks for us. Thanks bruvvas! And special guests for the night will be street artists Mysterious Al (UK) and Unwell Bunny (AUS) will be going one on one, Britain VS Australia style in an art-off sure to thrill! Of course we also have the usual mix of local music talent including Indian Summer DJS and the boys from Poncho will make a glorious return to the stage. This Friday kids!”

Oh yeah, some drinks, tunes, and mad art from Mysterious Al and Unwell Bunny all a stumble away from home (for me)? Can’t wait!

Who: Mysterious Al & Unwell Bunny + Indian Summer DJS, North East Party House and the Poncho TV lads.
What: Common People – Spook Mag & Shoredtich party.
Where: Oak Place, South Yarra, Victoria.
When: Friday 11th November, 8pm til late.

Check out Unwell Bunnys website, and Mysterious Al’s website for heaps of goodness!

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.

The Outpost Project opens tomorrow and amongst all the glitz and art glamour Urban Uprising rises.

Urban Uprising Gallery is hosting a pop up gallery at the festival featuring limited edition prints and works by Meggs, Deb, Justin Fueurring, Heesco Cut Collective, Vexta and the Concrete and Resin Sculptures by Will Coles (pictured below).

“Urban Uprising gallery has Australia’s largest selection of international and Australian street and outsider art. All items will  be on sale and prices are being kept especially LOW for the festival. As mentioned the SPECIAL editions are limited and wont last long.”

Just another integral site to see at the already pumped up festival.

Some of our Invurt cats and cholos have already hit Sydney so now its your turn.

Who: Meggs, Rone, Shannon Crees, Vexta, Deb, Marsha 2026, Laz, Justin Fueurring, Palmer, K-Guy, Heesco, STYLO, Will Coles, Cut Collective and more
What: Urban Uprising Pop Up Gallery
Where: Outpost Project – Cockatoo Island, Sydney
When: Friday 4th November – 10th December 2011

Check the Facebook Page and Website for more info, as well as our Outpost Project Rough Guide and our Outpost feed.

Yes you heard right. The Big Brand, The Can’t-Stop Can, The Unseen Man. Banksy!… and Swoon! Faile! David Choe and more!

“The Bad Artists Imitate, The Great Artists Steal” and Banksy surely steals…the stage, where ever he goes!

Now his work comes to Cockatoo Island for Outpost Project, along with many other fine fresh street artists, in the form of the “Oi You! Collection" (Co-Owned by George Shaw).

This will be the first time the Oi You! Collection has been outside of New Zealand. With twenty three pieces adorning the makeshift walls on the island  Banksy and a whole heap of other talented artists – Swoon, David Choe, Os Gemeos and more present highly original and rare pieces of artwork in this extraordinary collection.

What an exhibition it’ll be too – so many names and so much experience and differing styles, it should be interesting to see it all up together. With mediums ranging from photography and film to stencil, paste-ups and graffiti, this exhibition is a plentiful bounty.

What is painted is external, what is inspired is internal, what is worn is the package it all comes in, you are what you paint, and you are what you wear. The threads that adorn graffiti artists, skaters and street artists today are as well documented as they themselves are, and in turn emulate as much freshness and style as the art they create.

A world first at Outpost Project, curated by Eddie Zammit and presented by T-world and aMBUSH Gallery, comes this monumental T-shirt graphics exhibition – the likes of which have never been seen in Australiasia.

“Within the steep steel structure and brick-walled confines of the "Heavy Machine Shop" lies NEXT, nestled in a core of cotton.”

Over twenty local and international artists and designers from all corners of the market will be interpreting their envisioned future of T-shirt graphics, by creating original and one-off T-shirt art. This plus a display of over 1,500 T-shirts from the dopest brands around town flauntin their style? Holy …

“Throughout its evolution, street art has taken on many forms and mediums. However, it is arguably street fashion in which it finds its most natural progression from the static streets into walking works of art. NEXT is an excision and examination into the heart and soul of one of the most influential and vibrant subcultures – T-shirt culture.

With the impressive credentials of being founder, owner and editor of the world’s only T-shirt journal, Eddie Zammit, reflecting his devout passion for the T-shirt medium (for the record, he owns 2,300 plus T-shirts personally…), the exhibition is in capable hands. This is the physical culmination of the subculture he loves. "Let’s not dismiss street wear as a T-shirt category, let’s explore its evolution," Zammit says. This exhibition is at once a retrospective and gaze to the future: a time capsule, of sorts, for the humble T-shirt and its marriage to Street Art.”

If you are a dude or dudette who love them some sweet street duds then this is for you – and it looks incredible.

Dress tight and get down!

Who: Ambush Gallery and T-world
What: NEXT -  T-shirts exhibition
Where: Outpost Project – Cockatoo Island, Sydney
When: 4th November – 11th December

Also check Outpost Website for more details, as well as T-world and aMBUSH Gallery.

Art Series Hotels, one of the sponsors of the Outpost Project  along side the National Gallery of Australia, will be hosting a series of topical forums consisting of panel discussions on the many varying issues facing Street Art today.

Check out Listers website here.

Buckle up all – we’ll be taking a small hiatus next Thursday from our Thursday Transmissions, but, never fear – we’ll have something even better for you; live blogging, photos, video and much more goodness all from the wonderful Cockatoo Island in Sydney.

For today though, check out some of the goodness that is in video land this week …

This new documentary about Melbourne Street Art will be showing at ACMI over the next few weeks. The documentary focuses on one of the pivotal cities amongst the Australian graffiti and street art scenes, and traverses its scene over twenty one years – it looks amazing, and we can’t wait to check it out

This video from Peter Drew and Ronnie Chin that we had sent to us is damn cool – outlaws pasted up across Adelaide …

Sofles and Vans The Omega hit up Boardshop not so long ago, checkit!

Brisbane Heat? No worries!

Ahh… yeah, its been quite this week, we tried! Hope you enjoyed these ones though, and see you in Sydney next week …

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!

You knew it was coming, you’ve seen bits and pieces of his work popping up in Metro every so often and it was only a matter of time – and now, finally, we’ll get to see his show next week.

We consider D*FACE is being one of those street artists who is at the top of their game, and still soaring. Taking his cross-referenced pop iconography and spinning it 180degrees to the skewed side, his work is honed and refined to a cultural digging point. We’re huge fans here, and we hope that this visit by him next week brings engenders even more interest amongst us humble antipodeans for his work, big or small.

"Metro Gallery is excited to present D*Face’s first solo exhibition with the Gallery. The London street artist, known for his fluorescent prints, dark portraits, and interpretations of popular culture, has presented numerous sell-out exhibitions around the globe. D*Face’s 2011 exhibition at Metro Gallery will bring the artist’s bright, bold and comical style to Melbourne. While the artist is most commonly recognised for his collaboration with pop singer Christina Aguilera on her ‘Bionic’ album cover, amongst street art-enthusiasts, D*Face represents the avant-garde of street art, pushing boundaries in and outside of the gallery."

We also heard rumour that some of the work in the show will feature collaborations with the amazing UK artist Mysterious Al – so it all sounds absolutely mad to us, and we can’t wait.

Who: D*FACE
What: D*FACE solo show
Where: Metro Gallery, 1214 High St, Armadale, VIC
When: Show opens Wednesday 2nd November, 6:30pm til 9pm and runs until the 13th November.

Check out the Metro Gallery website and the D*FACE page on facebook for more info.

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!