Culture Guide September 18 – 24: Genext Primavera Edition, Afterglow + QueerScreen Film Fest

September 18th 2017
Monday 18th September

Pink Nostalgia

‘Pink Nostalgia’ is a series of paintings by Marc Dempsey. Time is explored through layering, painting and then painting over again in reflection of an urban environment changing over time. This passing nature of time and the way things decay is explored through hand-made cardboard mementos. CDs, DVDs and 7” records: technological relics of previous generations. These mementos represent Dempsey’s nostalgia for their tangible quality that is being lost as they become made obsolete by digital technologies. 

WHAT: Art Exhibition
WHEN: 10am-6pm (until 25th September)
WHERE: Gaffa Gallery, Sydney
HOW MUCH: Free, more info

Tuesday 19th September

Cleansed

“In a nameless institution six disparate outcasts have their lives and bodies observed, dissected and obliterated by the eyes of the everpresent Tinker – perhaps a friend, perhaps a doctor, perhaps neither.” For the first time in over a decade the most shocking and controversial play by one of the world’s most shocking and controversial playwrights comes to the Sydney stage. Sarah Kane’s Cleansed pushes every element of theatre to its excruciating limits.

WHAT: Theatre Production
WHEN: 8pm (nightly sessions until Saturday 23rd September)
WHERE: Pact Theatre, Erskineville
HOW MUCH: $28-$33, more info

Please Explain: Fear of small numbers and the geography of anger

Join 4A for the first event in 4A’s new series Please Explain that invite presenters to rethink, recharge and reimagine contemporary issues through the arts and academia. This first panel, brings together artists with academics and curators to discuss Arjun Appadurai’s essay on the Geography of Anger, artistic practice and academic work. Appadurai raises questions about the darker side of globalisation and multiculturalism.
WHAT: Talk Series
WHEN: 6-8pm
WHERE: 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney
HOW MUCH: Free RSVP, more info
Wednesday 20th September

QueerScreen Film Festival

Queer Screen Film Fest is back and serving up 20 of the hottest LGBTIQ films from around the world. View full program here. For every​ ​ticket​ ​sold to Queer Screen Film Fest in Sydney,​ ​Queer​ ​Screen​ ​will​ ​donate​ ​one​ ​dollar​ ​to​ ​The​ ​Equality​ ​Campaign.

WHAT: Film Festival
WHEN: Varying screening times, more info
WHERE: Event Cinemas George Street, Sydney
HOW MUCH:$17-$19, more info

The Big Anxiety

The Big Anxiety Festival challenges artists, scientists and communities to question and re-imagine the state of mental health in the 21st century. The launch will include an array of exhibits, including Group Therapy: mental distress in a digital age (exhibition in Galleries), Parragirls Past, Present (3D immersive cinema), Snoösphere (sensory environment in Galleries), The Harmonic Oscillator (installation), amongst many more.

WHAT: Art festival
WHEN: 6-9pm
WHERE: UNSW Art and Design, Paddington
HOW MUCH: Free RSVP, more info

Painting Etc. Joe Wilson

Painting Etc. is a solo exhibition of new work that follows on directly from Joe’s studio led research. This series employs the aesthetics of packaging, storage and transport in order to consider the conceptual contribution of site, or placement within a site, to any artwork.

WHAT: Gallery Opening Night
WHEN: 6-8pm Exhibition tuns till the 8th of October
WHERE: STACKS Projects, 191 Victoria Street
HOW MUCH: Free, more info here.

Thursday 21st September

Homeless Among The Gumtrees

Join Anthony Lister and NandaHobbs Contemporary for the opening of “Homeless Among the Gum Trees” Lister puts a kaleidoscope to the eyes of the world, confusing the reference points on the norms of society. He questions—in the spirit of 70’s punk—why we should just accept what is laid out for us by society’s hierarchy.

WHAT: Art Exhibition
WHEN: 6-8pm (until 6th October)
WHERE: Nanda/Hobbs Contemporary, Sydney
HOW MUCH: Free RSVP, more info

We Are All Affected

Join academic and Walkley Award winning artist Safdar Ahmed in conversation with the exhibition artists, writers and curators for a topical discussion on the intersectionality between race, identity and anxiety. With the growing public debates about Australian Muslims this timely discussion explores a less known and culturally specific form of anxiety. This much anticipated and thought-provoking panel will be followed by an audience Q&A.

WHAT: Artist Talk
WHEN: 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, Smithfield
HOW MUCH: Free RSVP, more info

Diving for Pearls by Katherine Thomson

An Australian play set in Wollongong tackles the political decision of the late 80’s that planted the seeds of divide between the poor and the rich. Diving for Pearls by Katherine Thomson follows a couple trying to survive amid economic change within Australia. Barbara, who is determined to change her life, sets her sights on landing a new job at a resort, and her partner is forced to reinvent himself when the company who he works for is sold off. Coupled with the arrival of a child, this play tackles the real-life issues that everyday Australians experienced, and continue to experience to this day.

WHAT: Theatre

WHEN: 7pm, (showing until 28th of October)

WHERE: Griffin Theatre, Darlinghurst

HOW MUCH: $34-55. More info here.

Friday 22nd September

Eco Anxiety - Holding A Deep Breath

Eco-Anxiety presents contemporary Japanese and Australian artists and designers responding to the changing environment, to reflect the rising tide of shared (eco) anxiety, and ecological empathy, in the Anthropocene. The Australian landscape serves as a sounding board and metaphor of internalised anxiety in works by Ken and Julia Yonetani, and Hiromi Tango, channelling an empathic dialogue of breath between plants, humans, and landscape.

WHAT: Art Exhibition Opening Reception
WHEN: 6-8pm
WHERE: Japan Foundation, Sydney
HOW MUCH: Free, more info

Saturday 23rd September

Afterglow

Afterglow is an installation and performance work which explores an interest in movement patterns across choreography and painting. The project involves a diverse group of Physical Culture dancers and collaborators.  “The project uses colour, pattern, light, shape and dance to create an immersive, living ‘painting’ which audiences can visually and physically experience” curator Carrie Kibbler.

WHAT: Art Exhibition
WHEN: 10am-5pm (until September 24th)
WHERE: Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre
HOW MUCH: Free, more info

Siteworks 2017: The Birds and the Bees

Siteworks brings together scientists, artists and community voices to share knowledge and ideas. This year Siteworks looks at the Birds and the Bees. Live art and intriguing talks will bring to life real and imagined habitats, sonic interpretations, scientific research, showy costumes and erotic tales for one special day. Not just for adults, bring the kids along for family friendly cultural encounters and art workshops.

WHAT: Art Festival
WHEN: 12-11pm
WHERE: Bundanon Trust, Illaroo
HOW MUCH: $8-$10, more info

Sunday 24th September

Genext: Primavera

Genext is a festival-style event for young people aged 12-18 years, featuring live music, performances and unconventional experiences. You explore, discuss and make art alongside professional artists and hundreds of people from all over Sydney. Inspired by one of MCA’s latest exhibitions, ‘Primavera 2017: Young Australian Artists’, you are invited to embrace the freedom to experiment and take creative risks in an environment which is safe and supportive.

WHAT: Art + Music Party
WHEN: 6-9pm
WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks
HOW MUCH: Free RSVP, more info

Blak Markets

Aboriginal art, crafts, bushfoods and nearly 30 stalls selling a range of unique products and food by Aboriginal makers and food producers from around New South Wales and across Australis. “The Blak Markets is a great chance to buy locally made, one-of-a-kind gifts and products directly from the people who made them in the knowledge that 100 per cent of the profit goes to Aboriginal communities.”

WHAT: Market Day
WHEN: 10am-4pm
WHERE: Barangaroo Reserve, Barangaroo
HOW MUCH: Free, more info

Tune in to Arvos at 4:30pm every weekday for more Culture Guide.
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