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Published: July 19th 2012
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Fantastic old machinery
Loved the wear on the paintwork Ok, this is the last of this weeks uploads and hope you're all not getting too fed up of the blogs but trying to share as much as possible with family and friends😊 It is a bit heavier than normal days out but hopefully still worth a read.
As the title suggests, Sydney holds this event every other year. This year its running from 27th June -16 September and is titled '
all our relations'. From one write up I saw, the works aim to 'directly address current local and global issues, such as migration, contamination, corruption and coercion' presented 'in a way related to our senses, rather than in the negative and critical way we have become accustomed to'.
100 artists are exhibiting overall with the event being spread over different venues: The Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW), the Museum of Contempoary Art, PIER 2/3, Cockatoo Island & Carriageworks.
Julian & I are members of the AGNSW, so I had seen about this and had planned to go. So when I had an invite from a lovely lady I have met here from Manly (who is equally interested in whacky art) to go to check out
Old Bubbler
Relic from the past the exhibition on Cockatoo Island, I didn't need much persuassion.
I caught the bus from home to Circular Quay where I met Margaret and from where we then caught the free ferry that has been laid on for the event to Cockatoo Island. There is no entrance fee either which just seems amazing.
Anyway, this is Sydney Harbours largest island and after being out of bounds for many years is now open to the public and a really interesting visit in itself and its history is worth a read:
In 1839, it was chosen as the site of a new penal establishment to counter overcrowding in Darlinghurst Gaol on Norfolk Island. Convicts were put to work building prison barracks, a military guardhouse and official residences. Between 1850-1870, the Fitzroy Dock and workshop were built by prisoners to service Royal Navy and other ships. From 1870-1880, prisoners were relocated to Darlinghurst Gaol and the island was used for an Industrial School for Girls and a reformatory. The ship, Vernon, was anchored nearby to train wayward and orphaned boys. Then between 1880-1900, shipbuilding and repair activities slowly expanded and Sutherland Dock was completed. The island reverted back to a
Old beams
Loads of examples of industrial past gaol from 1888-1908 due to overcrowding elsewhere. It became the Commonwealth Naval Dockyard in 1913 with Australia's first steel warship being built there going on to become the major shipbuilding and dockyard facility for the South West Pacific in World War 2 following the fall of Singapore. Between 1945-1992, additional buildings were constructed for shipbuilding and repair. T-Class & O-Class submarines were refitted and the Navy destroyers, Voyager, Vampire & HMAS Success built.
Sadly, the dockyard closed in 1992, machinery was sold off, and about 40 buildings and several wharves were demolished. Cockatoo Island lay dormant for a decade until the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust assumed control of the island and embarked on major restoration works and are continuing to actively rehabilitate the island.
You can now hire out accomodation there and can even do some 'glamping' in their completely set up static tents or bring your own gear for a cheaper alternative. There is a purpose built modern BBQ area there too.
As a result of all its history, the island is still awash with huge monstrous interesting pieces of machinery from its industrial past, most of which seemed to be built in the UK and
shipped across. The machinery and buildings all provided a great backdrop for the exhibition, with some being exhibited in the old tunnels.
I think all of the artwork were installations. In addition to this there was a lot of audio effects used so lots of deep base noises reverberating around the big industrial buildings and penal strongholds.
Many had sensors so were affected by the presence of the viewers. It really was a great place to view art WITH kids. Margaret just had me😊 My new FB profile picture is taken from my clear favourite. Philip Beesleys work from his 2011 Hylozoic series was fantastic. You felt like you were in some kind of strange wonderland. All the kids there really did love it. You wandered within the work which reacted to you as you gently brushed against the delicate hanging strands. The feather like parts shifted like sensitive plants and white lights slowly lit and dimmed. It was GREAT.
Really want to get to the other venues and watch out Sue, David & Elaine. You WILL be visiting these xxx
More photo's below😊
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