Sunday, July 31, 2016

Black with a Hint of Pink - In the Gallery Friday Night..

Shiny copper heritage plumbing; synthetic leaks, indecipherable colour transparencies floating in space. For a while it was hard for me to decide if I was at the art show or if I was dreaming I was back at the architectural heritage shop again. But then there was the fashion, some a little a little dream like (some like the building yard too) I wasn't dreaming after all - ‪#‎MarianTubbs‬ ‪#‎contemporarymonsters‬ ‪#‎minervasydney‬ Black never goes out of style does it, but this eye make-up, a beautiful and creative part of the night.
Black and white outfit, pink eye make-up. Street fashion Sydney
Street fashion Sydney, Blue bomber jacket, black tee and pants.

#‎MarianTubbs‬ ‪#‎contemporarymonsters‬ ‪#‎minervasydney‬
Art crowd, #‎MarianTubbs‬ ‪#‎contemporarymonsters‬ ‪#‎minervasydney‬ Street fashion Sydney
Black jeans, denim jacket - Street fashion Sydney
#‎MarianTubbs‬ #PokemonGo ‪#‎contemporarymonsters‬ ‪#‎minervasydney‬ Street fashion Sydney
#‎MarianTubbs‬ ‪#‎contemporarymonsters‬ ‪#‎minervasydney‬ Street fashion Sydney

Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Friday, July 29, 2016

Art, The Art of Pokemon, & Fairies at the Bottom of the Garden..

Unless you have been living under a rock without crystal-set-WiFi; you will have certainly noticed that there is a new kid in town. Or maybe 151 strange cartoony kids, or maybe just smart phone wielding kids running through your garden. If you are wondering what it is? It's called Pokemon Go; and it has apparently uprooted couch potatoes, reunited parents with their formerly sullen, phone-communication-only children - all the better to travel to new places safely to hunt Pokemon with - and burnt goodness knows how many thousands, hundreds of thousands of kilos of human fat, off the face of the earth already!!

Apart from Pokemon Go being much more friendly than playing chess online (but that's another story) seeing these Pokemon pop up all over the place including art shows... Reminds me of the  Cottingley Fairies that famously duped Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famed author of Sherlock Homes into believing there really were Fairies at the bottom of the garden - maybe he just needed a Galaxy 7 or iPhone 6 to prove to the world they were real. Not fake or imagined at all.. I for one am more than happy for a return to simpler times with the aid of 'smart' technology.. If it helps unchain me from behind the computer. Now if you can scroll past the next 4 'proofs' that Pokemon's really exist and are amongst us, there is a round up of some superb art shows - painting and photography - and then a little more banter about the positive side of Pokemon Go. Go on, keep scrolling, you might be surprised! Art & Gallery links below!
A Pokemon Doduo crashes and art opening at Folonomo Gallery in Surry Hills, Sydney.
A Pokemon Doduo crashes an Art Opening at Folonomo Gallery.
A Pokemon Pidgey crashes and art opening at KUDOS Gallery.
A Pokemon Pidgey crashes and art opening at KUDOS Gallery.
A Squirtle prepares for Pokemon battle outside the 'Pokestop' at Gallery 9  in Darlinghurst.
A Squirtle prepares for Pokemon battle near the 'Pokestop' at Gallery 9 Darlinghurst.
The ubiquitous Pokemon Zubat hangs out at Canvas Bar for a casual art opening and a few Drinks in the Sydney CBD.
The ubiquitous Pokemon Zubat hangs out at Canvas Bar for a casual art opening in the Sydney CBD.
Getting back to the art - Two weeks ago I attended a Friday night opening of Scott Gardiner's 'Disappear Here' at Palmer Art Projects. It is still on and is a curious blend of seascape abstraction and geometric rendering. Scott explores the nature and power of the ocean combining his art with his love of being in the ocean (the floor was already painted..). Nature was also vividly on show in Sarah Ducker's mandala like photographic observations of alpine flora in the New Zealand Alps. Both artists drawing their own visual meta of landscape.

Scott Gardiner 'Disappear Here' at Palmer Art Projects
Scott Gardiner 'Disappear Here' at Palmer Art Projects.
Funky winter knits, green red, flared denim overalls. Street Fashion Sydney by Kent Johnson.Mens style, winter coat, fedora ans cravat. Street Style Sydney by Kent Johnson.
Blue playsuit, pastel cardigan and 'emotional baggage' tote. Perfect for Pokemon hunting. Street Fashion Sydney.
Artist portrait at Off the Wall, Al Poulet at KUDOS Gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Off the Wall  by Al Poulet at KUDOS Gallery
Room view, Off the Wall  by Al Poulet at KUDOS Gallery.
Portrait of Sarah Ducker at Barometer Gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Sarah Ducker at Barometer Gallery.
'Fragile' by Sarah Ducker at Barometer Gallery.
Brett Hilder and female friends at the Habana Story book launch and pop-up photography show. Badger and Fox Gallery Surry Hills.
Brett Hilder and friends at the Habana Story book launch, Badger and Fox Gallery Surry Hills.
If you are fortunate enough to have seen or better yet, own a copy of Brett Hilder's Another Time, Past Created you will be aware of the beauty of both his photography and his prose. Always a man of the times Brett has side-stepped traditional publishing and is offering his new book only as a PDF at $10.00. Email him directly at  bretthilder@gmail.com The Cuba photographs are for sale too though not at quite that price point..
Vivienne Shui AKA vivialaViv and Ben Robertson at the 'Habana Story' book launch.
Brett Hilder and Ashley 'the' King. Badger and Fox gallery.
Gina at the Brett Hilder book launch, Badger and Fox Gallery.
Portrait of Kate Farquharson at KUDOS gallery for her exhibition Disintegration.
Portrait of Kate Farquharson at KUDOS gallery for her exhibition Disintegration.
Sensitivity for the subject, especially in portraiture should be a given and Kate has it in spades in this exhibition which examines a life lived and the effects and affects of ageing - by only photographing the space lived in and the objects therein. I was very moved by this series of photographs created over a four year period. On now at KUDOS Gallery.
Winter fashion, long cream coat, washed out jeans and fawn scarf - Street Fashion Sydney by Kent Johnson.
Men's hair - shaved sides for hard 'bangs' seen at KUDOS gallery. Street Fashion Sydney.
Anne Lynam speaking at her show 'Arcana' Barometer Gallery, Sydney.
Anne Lynam speaking at her show 'Arcana' Barometer Gallery, Sydney.
What to say about Anne Lynam's show 'Arcana' at Barometer Gallery.? I first meet Anne when she was showing at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery, Camperdown Sydney, 2004 and later at Point Light gallery. Forget the rapidity of modern photography. There's fashion, street photography, nudes somehow fitting together. Anne's works are unrushed, meticulously constructed images, the result of a disciplined eye and a creative and often witty mind. The work delivers a feeling of familiarity and is yet quite unique. And I usually feel like throwing in the towel after seeing one of Anne's shows.. Nothing has changed, the work just keeps on getting better. On until the 7th of August.
Portrait of Anne Lynam at her show 'Arcana' Barometer Gallery, Sydney.

So some wonderful painting, some stunning photography by four vastly different photographers. And that bloody game you already love or hate. I have picked it up in the interest of seeing what it's all about; if the CIA are reading Street Fashion Sydney they should already know what I am up to anyway. Other than doubling my daily walk and discharge of my phones battery. Pokemon Go (PG) is a boon for anyone that has painted a mural, made a public sculpture, or for buildings of, historic significance. Now not all artworks I have seen popping up as Poke Stops are credited but this one by Anthony Lister in Newtown that I came across today is. I presume the image was put up on google maps as a credited image at that GPS location. Something for (legal) Street Artists to think about. PG may not be the hot game forever, in fact its quite unlikely; I do think its the start of a form of everyday virtual reality, and something for all artists to have a look at, even if only with their kids or some friends; after all, Pandora never went back in the box, those Pokemon's are out for good too.

Pokemon Go Poke Stop credited art by Anthony Lister in Newtown.


https://palmerartprojects.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KUDOS/Off the Wall Al Poulet
http://www.barometer.net.au/ & http://sarahducker.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KUDOS/Kate Farquharson/
http://www.barometer.net.au/ & http://annelynam.com/

Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

About Art Last Night - 4 in a Row on William Street..

Not that I am counting.. but really, is there anywhere else with an art scene as vibrant as Sydney has? It is a real question as I am not art-scene world-wide savvy enough to answer it myself - though I do hear there is never enough time to see what Berlin has to offer - it seems to me to be the same here. Strobed listed 7 openings and there were two shows I attended that were not on that list.. Art last night saw the launch of a new ARI space ARO gallery with a group show at 51 William Street, the city end. Of course the gallery in a car park, Alaska (maybe named as such because its so cold in Winter) now has a space Alaska Projects on, you guessed it, on William Street too, 73-75 though it has been going for a while now. 16 (5 artists) curated by Bradley Vincent. You didn't need to guess where either gallery was. A visible phalanx of people out front of both spaces only about 50 meters apart looked like a human bar graph saying Art Here! Heading back towards the Cross King Street Gallery on William (at 177) was showing Jenny Sages wonderful sculptural paintings/drawings.. On the Memory of the Imagination. Then up and over the Potts Point side 220 Creative Space (its above the bookshop) was showing Still/Dynamic. And that is just last night, it's been a very busy week, more already seen and yet to come so stay tuned for more over the weekend.. Now enough of the words, it's art it's about looking, so here's the pictures about art last night.

VOGUE - Karl Lagerfeld Tee Shirt, ARO Gallery opening, Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
ARO Gallery opening night - street view - Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
ARO Gallery opening night.
ARO Gallery opening night Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
ARO Gallery opening night crowd - Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Street view at Alaska Projects - Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Street view at Alaska Projects
Art crowd at Alaska Projects - Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Winter womans style with colour. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
People and reflections at Alaska - Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Striped shirt afro and overalls. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
KSGOW street view. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Artist portrait of Jenny Sages at King Street Gallery on William. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Artist portrait of Jenny Sages at King Street Gallery on William.
Art works by Jenny Sages, king on William gallery. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Jenny Sages in conversation, King on William. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
Art crowd, 220 creative space. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
220 creative space. Street Fashion Sydney photographed by Kent Johnson.
https://www.facebook.com/arogallery/?fref=ts
http://home.alaskaprojects.com/
http://kingstreetgallery.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/220creativespace/

Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Six Shows, 6 Artists - LOTS of Winter Street Fashion - Sydney Style.

Has it been cold in Sydney? Hell yeah! Of course depending on your exact GPS location and perhaps depending on your Inner Warmth.. you may or may-not be feeling the cold. Of course in Sydney, a closed door to your storefront even on the coldest day is tantamount to confessing you are not there/closed, have gone outofbusiness.. so its all about an open door policy; so rug up or be one of those people who can wear sandals in all weather conditions (examples (plural) below). All these shows are on NOW but if you want to catch Julie Williams at Barometer gallery you need to go this Sunday as its part of the Art Here quick turnaround 7 shows 7 weeks thingamejig. So here's to staying warm in shops and galleries with open Winter doors, and here's your/my weeks art round-up along with the fashion too! There's 30 pictures, and although it's been suggested I make the whole picture thing look too easy and should show less.. practice helps - ink and paper!!! So Gutenberg - whatever - so here they are, I hope you enjoy and do check out the shows! Mouse over pictures for details, links below.
Plaid winter coat with Faux long fur collar - Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
All in black, leggings, dress leather jacket, long geometric scarf and Russian winter fur hat. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Red wool coat, scarf and gloves with wool cream colour felt cloche. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Artist portrait, Louise Whelan - Two Views: Landscapes of a Plastic Universe & The Agricultural Shows of Australia. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Louise Whelan - Two Views at Juniper Hall.
Kevin McKay, So Bondi at Brenda May Gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Kevin McKay, So Bondi at Brenda May Gallery.
Dion Horstmans, Heavy Metal at Brenda May gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Dion Horstmans, Heavy Metal at Brenda May Gallery.
Julie Williams THE TEARS at Barometer gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Julie Williams THE TEARS at Barometer gallery.
Peter Sharp 'The Shape I'm In' at Liverpool Street Gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Peter Sharp 'The Shape I'm In' at Liverpool Street Gallery.
Geoff Levitus A Foreigner’s Glimpse at Stanley Street Gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Geoff Levitus A Foreigner’s Glimpse at Stanley Street Gallery.
Opening speech, Julie Williams curated by Sandy Edwards THE TEARS at Barometer gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Wind swept salon styled hair. Opening speeches at Juniper Hall. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
On the wall, a view of Dion Horstmans, Heavy Metal at Brenda May gallery. Photographed by Kent Johnson for Street Fashion Sydney.
Art patrons view work. Kevin McKay, So Bondi at Brenda May GalleryStreet Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Classic English womans Punk Rock style - Leather jacket tartan pants SKA haircut. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Gentleman in brown winter trench, young girl in shiny yellow gold jacket jeans and long boots at Juniper Hall. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Him, walking boots with red laces. Her, jumper, red pants and open black leather sandals. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Duffle coat, geometric patterned pants in earth tones, accented by a woven leather bag and worn brown RM Williams boots. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Moshe from Head On photo-bombs a lady in a Pucci style blue dress and sort navy coat. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Genevieve Bernadette Craig furs and knee high socks at Liverpool Street Gallery. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Her, chunky black low cut boots leggings plaid black jacket and top, orange hair. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Black bags, him business lace up shoe, fun blue 'happy' socks. Her, unusual half sock open toe black bling sandals.. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Men's style, all cotton winter, G-Star cowboy shirt, denim jacket green hand knit scarf, sports cap. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Women's art student style, Jeans prints and hats - Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Heads down for winter style, coats on, guys war jeans, she wears a long crochet skirt. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Tango style, asymetric skirt, black lace stockings, leather jacket and animal print scarf at Juniper Hall, Marie Mansfield paintings in background. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Men's style. Dreadlocks, black jacket pants, hemp motif tee shirt. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Two stylish women view a catalogue at Liverpool Street Gallery. Black Jackets, Orange headscarf. at Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Red and black and white spots headscarf,Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.
Code Red! Red beret, and oversized bag, vintage 1930's navy jacket with red-line check, black leggings and boots at Juniper Hall. Louise Whelan photograph in background. Street Fashion Sydney - Photographed by Kent Johnson.

http://juniperhall.com.au/gallery/louise-whelan/
http://juniperhall.com.au/gallery/marie-mansfield/
http://www.brendamaygallery.com.au/
http://www.barometer.net.au/
http://www.liverpoolstgallery.com.au/
http://stanleystreetgallery.com.au/

Telling Stories in Pictures all over..
Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.
0433 796 863