LIKE
Young people: they are creative, energetic, flexible in their thinking, willing to explore the big issues, emotionally charged and (sometimes) fun. These are all characteristics of contemporary art, too – yet it often struggles to connect with young people. Like is a contemporary art exhibition designed specifically to bridge that gap. Like brings together world-class artworks from some of the most exciting contemporary artists working in Australia today. From a giant human-sized remote control carved out of Cherry wood to modified vintage porcelain figurines with overt political and environmental messages,the works are selected for immediate impact and appeal to audiences from 13 to 30 years of age – one of the most under-represented groups in contemporary art engagement.
Like inspires audiences with exposure to works of integrity and complexity, with subjects that appeal. Like invites audiences to engage actively and emotionally with works across a broad spectrum of media – from photography, video and installation to sculpture, drawing and painting. Without a prescribed over-arching theme to frame their responses, audience members are free to make their own associations between works, or they may simply ‘Like’ or ‘Unlike’ them.
Artists: Tony Albert, James and Eleanor Avery, Penny Byrne, Will French, Tony Garifalakis, Shaun Gladwell, Jason Greig, Soda_Jerk, Jess Johnson, Laith McGregor, Amanda Marburg, Wade Marynowsky, eX de Medici, Kate Rohde, Darren Sylvester, Judy Millar David M Thomas, Destiny Deacon and Annastasia Klose
Runs from 20 July - 28 August 2012
Curated by Toni Bailey
Officially launches on Friday 20 July 6pm - All Welcome
8 X 8
8x8 art students // 3 days = 1 AWESOME CHALLENGE
Eight art college students join forces with eight aspiring artists from South West Sydney high schools. Together, with Biennale of Sydney artists, they’re up for an adrenalin-filled creative challenge – to conceive, develop, install and open an exhibition of their own at Casula Powerhouse in just three days.
Drawing on local stories, shared experience, and connections between people and place, 8x8 is a project infused with the spirit of collaboration and inspired by the
theme of the 18th Biennale of Sydney: all our relations.
8x8 also includes a series of talks, performances and other happenings created by the young participants and presented at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre across six weeks of the Biennale from 20 July – 28 August 2012.
Local students: Alex Huynh, Ann Chung, Cynthia Iskander, Dzenita Semic, Elyzia Arreola, Grant Hackett, Helen Nguyen and Kelly-Ann Standley. These students were selected from Liverpool Girls High School, Liverpool Boys High School, Miller Technology High School, All Saints Catholic Senior College and James Meehan High School.
University students: Ben Stone-Herbert, Charlotte Richardson, Heather Darvey, Karena Keys, Liam Crowley, Lucy Be Phillips, Rhys Votano and Rosemarie Bilyk. The tertiary students were selected from Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University and the National Art School, Sydney.
Developed in collaboration with Biennale of Sydney, Casula Powerhouse and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
SENSE OF PLACE
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre is proud to host Sense of Place,
A dLux MediaArts exhibition toured by Museums and Galleries NSW
Sense of Place is a screening program of contemporary Australian video art, showcasing the work of eight artists united by their investigation of cultural identity and the evolving concept of ‘Australian-ness’.
Positioning the artists themselves as protagonists, characters or as self portraits, the works employ digital video not only as a documentary medium but as a tool to share stories, create and communicate histories with the wider community through the exploration of cultural propriety and social paradigms.
Featuring: Kate Murphy, Justin Shoulder, Sarah Goffman, John A Douglas, Brendan Lee, Laith McGregor, Darren Sylvester, and Liam Benson
Runs from
20 July 2012 to July 2013
For more info about the above exhibitions, what else is on offer, getting there and more visit the Casula Powerhouse website by clicking here.