Art, Craft and Other Stuff

1.1 Overview of topic: why is the topic important, pull out key points              

1.2 Research methods:  research, direct interaction with exhibitions, artists, why these artists were chosen?                                                                                   

1.3 Outline of paper: what you discovered, what we learn or don't learn from it.                      2.1 Parramatta Artists Studios: Mission and History                                                2.2 The Career of Past Director Michael Dagostino                                                 2.3 The Career of Current Director Sophia Kouyoumdjian                                          3.2 Artists as Advocators:  David Capra                                         4.1 Analysis of selected exhibitions  (1/2 Done)                                                    

4.2 Different types of exhibition provide varying opportunities                              

Now before I get started on the writing I want to note that there is no error here... For some time now I have been working on writing my paper, or rather ruminating on writing my paper and from the very beginning Jodie Whalen/Franco has been one of the artists I am interested in writing about because I think that what she does is really interesting and worth consideration. However as my paper has began to take shape the way that I have been writing about artists has changed and one thing that has come through to me in this is the importance of politics and  continue to find myself drawn to the work of Linda Brescia. Not just her work but her life (which she explores and exposes through her work) and her powerful and empowering attitude.

Not really usable for the paper but contextualises by choice of Linda Brescia over Jodie Whalen/Franco at this stage in my writing.

Who: Linda Brescia is an artist and mother of three children, unlike a lot of the other artists who have had residencies within the Parramatta Artists Studios Brescia has come to a career as an artist later in life, nevertheless her works have been included in numerous exhibitions, as well as in private and public collections. Brescia’s work has been known to examine ideas around family, gender roles, responsibility, rebellion and politics, which she explores through painting, textiles, performance and photography.

What: Brescia often vocalises her support for the Parramatta Artists Studios through speaking publicly about the benefits of having a studio space to work in, the professional opportunities it offers but beyond this the studios allow her (and other artists) time and space outside of the pressures and responsibilities of every day life. During event Movers and Makers, which was hosted by Parramatta Artists Studios spoke to one of the other studio artists about the possibility of a residency being offered to that person via Fairfield City Museum and Gallery, through this conversation it becomes clear that Brescia has a genuine desire to see her community benefiting from the creative/cultural exchange that occurs when artists are engaged with studio residencies. This more private conversation was very fitting at this time, as the Movers and Makers event was centred around providing artists with information and access to different kinds of opportunities across a range of institutions such as Blacktown Arts Centre, A4 Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, UTS, Bundanon Trust, as well as tips on public art or residency applications.

What can be seen coming out of this is that there are multiple connections being formed at any given time within the Parramatta Artists Studios and that they reach out beyond the boundaries of the institution. These connections forge a series of professional networks which are mutually beneficial and have the power to create tangible results through the development of exhibitions, assistance with grant applications, formal and informal introductions, and sharing advice and information.

Artists advocate for the Parramatta Artist Studios might also advocate for similar affiliated institutions and other related causes. Linda Bescia was among a number of the Parramatta Artists Studios artists who participated in the protest action that recent took place in Hyde Park. The protest responding to the movement by Bill Shorten to cut funding to Australia Council in favour of funding the new National Program for Excellence in the Arts, which will come under his influence within the arts ministry. This is seen as a power grabbing exercise by Shorten that will come at the cost of funding projects that would benefit experimental, independent and emerging artists, as well as, smaller more organic/grassroots institutions. This is something that the Parramatta Artists Studios is directly affected by.

More work on my very rough draft towards developing my research paper will be writing on more depth about other artists mentioned in follow up posts:

WHAT AND WHY

In order to gain a deeper level of understanding about how artists such as David Capra, Liam Benson and Jodie Whalen/Franco act as advocates and brand advocates there needs to be some consideration of the five W questions: Who, What, When, Why and hoW?

Liam Benson

Born in Westmead hospital, Liam Benson graduated from the University of Western Sydney in the year 2002 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, where he met fellow artist Naomi Oliver, with whom he formed the performance art duo Motel Sisters. Liam Benson is best known for his work around challenging cultural and gender-based stereotypes, which he has explored through photography, performance, video and textiles based artworks.

Benson advocates for Western Sydney through his artistic practice that references slogans, imagery and pop culture which are at the crux of culture in Western Sydney. During the panel discussion held at Artereal Gallery on the 18th of April Liz Chang queries Benson’s use of the hoodie in his video performance work ‘Fortitudine’. Benson responded by talking about hoodies as being culturally significant to Western Sydney, that there is a popular perception around hoodies as being associated with crime, and as a way of hiding ones identity but that his own personal relationship to the hoodie is one of comfort. If the hoodie is a cultural symbol representing Western Sydney, then Benson speaks of the comfort found in a place that has been misconceived as a site for criminal activity.

While Benson lives within the Sutherland Shire he has long been associated with Western Sydney, through his studies at the University of Western Sydney and also through earlier opportunities to exhibit within regional galleries such as Blacktown Arts Centre. Coming from a more suburban background forms a common understanding of the challenges and joys of a Western Sydney lifestyle, traveling further and working harder but also having strong family ties and a shared sense of humour, these are ideas that Benson has made use of in his work but also discussed on multiple occasions during public talks and also when liaising with media professionals.

Benson further advocates for the Parramatta Artists studios through his continued participation within programs coming out of the studios, as a past artist. Currently represented by Artereal Gallery it is possible that Benson also had a part in fostering the connection between Parramatta Artists Studios and Artereal Gallery, which allowed for the development of the Façade exhibition.

ACTIVISM VS ADVOCACY AND BRAND ADVOCACY:

As I write this heading, I almost slip and write the word ‘activists’. This causes me to pause for a moment to consider the distinction between advocate and activist as well as the popularity of the phrase “artists as activists” and why it is important to also consider the advocate. An activist is someone who is actively engaged in working towards some form of political, social or cultural change. This may be in the form of attending protest marches, signing petitions, sharing information, participating in demonstrations and various other political activities. What differentiates an advocate from an activist, is that while an activist might participate in political activities with some level of anonymity, an advocate is someone who chooses to publicly vocalise and or demonstrate their support for a particular cause, product or service, which may or may not be politically, socially or culturally significant. Within a more economic, sales or marketing context an advocate might be described more accurately as a ‘brand advocate’

In this instance artists David Capra, Liam Benson and Jodie Whalen/Franco might be seen both ‘brand advocates’ and advocates in a more general, social, cultural, political sense. This is because the artists are speaking up for various causes, such as when Capra was suggesting moving the Art Gallery of New Sotuh Wales to Penrith. however they also act as ‘brand advocates’ as they assist in increasing product knowledge and improving the perception around various institution such as the Parramatta Artists Studios, as well as select councils within Western Sydney, and Western Sydney itself.

This is an entry I am writing in an intentionally draft form in order to assist myself in piecing together some serious academic writing - so its not all in order and some sentences won’t make sense of may trail off into nothingness:

I have grown up in Western Sydney and recall that even at the age of about 11 or 12 I have had strong reactions towards the development of creative spaces in my area. Although it had occurred several years prior to my birth, on my first visit to Penrith Regional Gallery and Lewers Bequest I found myself disappointed by the decision not to develop a brand new art gallery independent of the collection and site donated by the Lewers family. In my teens I was one of the many locals who protested the demolition of the Old Q Theatre, which closed in 2005 to be reopened within the newly refurbished Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. It seemed that regardless of what happened, any investment in the arts came at a price.

10 years later and it’s still relevant.

As Parramatta grows and various proposals for redevelopment are released concerns have arisen around the loss of creative spaces which have been available to artists through the Pop-Up Parramatta initiative. Old buildings are set to be knocked down, dug up and replaced with new shiny structures, and various proposals come forwards around the uses of historic sites such as the Old Kings School, which is currently being considered for as the site of a new primary school.

Western Sydney Arts and Cultural Lobby group spokesman David Capra advocates for a regional arts centre to be part of the plans made around the redevelopment of Parramatta.

Artists and cultural leaders have been developing and advocating for the arts in Western Sydney for decades, through the formation of organisations such as the Information and Cultural Exchange and C3West. Since the late 90s several arts centres such Blacktown Arts Centre, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery,  as to Western Sydney.

When was the most recent regional gallery opened in Western Sydney? When we look at the major opportunities proposed for the development of arts and culture in Western Sydney and Parramatta in particular why is it that so many of them are talking about moving existing institutions to the west? Rather than building something fresh and new and genuinely reflective of Western Sydney and what it has to offer, and considering the diversity of those living in Western Sydney, we should be creating an institution that is unique, internationally competitive and attractive. We don’t want the Powerhouse, the 2nd half of the Art gallery of New South Wales or National Art School to be reluctantly located or relocated here. Too long we have been stagnated by the idea of Australia’s coastal paradise, the idea that every thing of value must be accessed through Sydney Harbour. We need to make a real cultural investment in the arts, outside of this. 

David Capra, Liam Benson and Jodie Whalen/FrancoDavid