Visual Arts

RAW: Kelly Gertig’s Pop Art Exhibition

Kelly Gertig’s artworks literally pop out of the bland walls at The Caledonian in North Adelaide.

Sure the style is simple, but Kelly has created great examples of Pop Art. Using bold and bright colours as well as the the recurring motifs of her character ‘Redhead’ and nude silhouettes, this exhibition is where pop art meets art deco.

When talking about the ‘Redhead’, Kelly explains (at her opening) that she was inspired by images of women in the 1950s.

“I love all things vintage. I really wanted to portray that 1950s look with the ‘Redhead’.”

Scattered about the renovated Caledonian Hotel, it’s definitely worth seeing over a bevvy or two.

Kryztoff Rating: 4K

>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guidehttp://www.kryztoff.com/fringe

RAW: Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition @ Drill Room, Parade Grounds

This annual exhibition of the best works from Adelaide’s major tertiary arts schools is a rich mix of paintings, photographs, ceramics, video and more. Highlights include:

  • Astra Parker’s Cell Formation Sculpture – a large egg-shaped steel mosaic beautifully created and wonderfully lit playing to Parker’s interest in perceptions of what is whole and what is separate.
  • Michelle Jones’ Consumed paintings – facial photographs scrunched up in five panels playing to issues of the environment and painting’s relationship with photography
  • Jamie Z’s Space Junk – 10 photographic panels depicting everyday disgarded items as space junk – defamiliarising the ordinary most effectively
  • Sophia Bersee’s MAN – playing since BC – nine plaster man like figures that at first blush remind you of Chinese terracotta warriors but which in reality are much more child like in form.

The Helpmann Academy is an important part of the Adelaide arts scene and this exhibition highlights the quality of output from our arts schools and the importance of encouragement. A visit during Writers Week is recommended.

Kryztoff Rating  4.5K

>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our latest Fringe Guidehttp://www.kryztoff.com/fringe

Emma Hack’s Exotic & Native Mandala With Broadhurst Delights – Festival Theatre Foyer

Internationally recognised multi-media artist, Emma Hack, displays a full array of her works over recent years in a captivating exhibition. Using body art as the starting point, she has created three unique photographic styles, the Broadhurst wall paper approach – models camouflaged with flora and holding fauna – the Mandala designs and panoramic bodies in the outback where her muses are painted up to give great effect to the landscape.

With each of the interior wallpapers taking between 8 and 14 hours to work up, these images are testament to her patience, determination and vision. The desert photos come from a five day trip from the Gawler Ranges to Ceduna with both models and Cirkidz acrobats. One can only imagine the trepidation for these extras as they set off and the demands they would encounter from Hack and the elements.

These are great works often inpsiring complete amazement and creating a sense of respect for the effort involved. A must see.

Kryztoff Rating  5K

Frock On – Heron Kirkmoe – Miss Gladys

The front window of Miss Gladys in Rundle St is the setting for a mixed media presentation of dresses and accesories. Interesting moments exist with ‘Catch of the Day’ the most fascinating – a black dress covered in vintage newspaper clippings from the 1970s.

Kryztoff Rating   2.5K

Into The Fringe – Gary Cockburn – Cibo – Rundle St

Gary Cockburn’s images from the 2009 Fringe are worthy of not only a visit but a far greater presentation. From 15,000 photos, here are about 20 that capture all sorts of moments – rehearsals, the prop room, audience reactions, getting the lighting right, even an actual performance. The images are beautifully shot, capturing decisive moments in colour with wonderful use of light and emotion. With such a massive project set for himself the temptation must have been strong to just find something interesting, snap and move on to the next event. Not so for Cockburn, as these are carefully thought out across a range of venues and styles. One can only hope the Fringe itself will look to acquire many of these images as a faithful record of its 2009 festival and present widely. Enjoy the Cibo coffee while viewing.

Kryztoff Rating  5K

Ferris Wheels & Fairy Floss – Cassie Flanagan and John Willanski – Exeter Hotel

This 2 part exhibition is images of the travelling show ground – Cassie Flanagan’s colourful photos and John Willanski’s computer generated silhouettes and ink drawings. The former are dominated by images of a cowboy and fairy floss hat, the best of which is ‘Watching the Acrobats’. The latter are highlighted by white on black on white figures of ‘The Jester’, ‘the Acrobats’ and the ‘Trumpet Player’. Not the best.

Kryztoff Rating 2K

RAW: Sticks, Stones, Broken Bones @ La Cascadeur

This brilliant little show takes the simple methods of shadow puppetry and cleverly introduces a charming series of characters in deifferent situations using incredible techniques, coordination and creative and effective handmade props and puppets.

Montreal puppeteer Jeff is is jovial and bouncy, despite the small Monday evening crowd, and his sound effects and sporadic noises not only make him sound like a lunatic, but build up and add to the visual show. Before the smiling crowd moved on, we were left with the thoughts “never underestimate the importance of play”. A clever, fun show which turns something simple into something special.

Kryztoff Rating: 4.5K

>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guidehttp://www.kryztoff.com/fringe

RAW: Every Day Faces – Every Day Places – Naomi Clarke – Adelaide Railway Station

Naomi Clarke’s elongated canvasses that stretch across the great arrivals hall at the railway station are works of great interest. Captured on them are photographed faces, sometimes portraits, of people of all walks and ages, some we know, most of whom are otherwise just faces in the crowd. Their looks are sometimes intriguing, other times hugely engaging such as the young boy in a joyous moment.

Using the railway station hall as the place to display them is most apt, for there below these canvasses is the same eclectic mix of individuals milling around and going about their days, also enjoying moments of delight and introspection.

Works on this scale can run the risk of overdoing it or getting lost above the masses. Clarke has done well to get the balance right and achieve her goal as set out in the exhibition’s title. The pity is that they could not be hung closer to the southern stairs where the impact of them vis a vis the people below would have been greater. It seems some promotion of the railways people took precedence (– can you believe it).

Kryztoff Rating – 4K

>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guidehttp://www.kryztoff.com/fringe