Upcoming exhibitions
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f i r s t d r a f t
116-118 Chalmers St.
Surry Hills NSW 2010
t: +61 (0)2 9698 3665

mail(at)firstdraftgallery.com
open hours:
Wednesday to Saturday
12-6pm

opens Wednesday 1 July, 6-8pm
exhibition continues to 18 July 2009

Artists Talks
Saturday 18 July, 4.30pm

 

22 July - 8 Aug

Stephanie Bray

Big Bad Wolf

Big Bad Wolf (The fable of the Dog and The Sheepskin) was inspired by Aesopic fables, in particular the fable of The Wolf Wearing the Sheepskin. In my work, a domestic dog on a sheepskin blanket has transposed the devious wolf in sheep’s clothing of the original fable. In the absence of an actual wolf the dog can be seen as a metaphor as it carries out the role of the wolf indirectly.


The original fable resonated with my personal feeling of hypocrisy; enjoying the comforts of an affluent western lifestyle while being aware of the poor conditions in which those who make many of our commodities work and live. However, due to the distance both geographically and socio-economically, the metaphor of the domestic dog seemed more fitting. The dog has no contact with sheep as living animals; its only contact is through the product, the sheepskin.


Through the work I also wanted to explore the relationship of the hand-made and artistic production to the broader context of capitalism and mass-production/consumption. I am trying to locate my own place of practice by creating a scene that brings together domesticity and industrial labour, the hand-made in dialogue with the mass-produced.

Sean O'Keeffe

In Loco Parentis

The term in loco parentis, Latin for "in the place of a parent", refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. The doctrine of in loco parentis is generally applied to educational institutions. Originally derived from British common law, it was applied as a broad provision allowing such institutions to act in the best interests of the students as they see fit.


In Loco Parentis features a performance by Sean O’Keeffe and his father Harry O’Keeffe a recently retired High School English teacher. Harry has been teaching for over fifty years in the public education system.

Harry teaches a lesson. His movements, actions, verbal and non-verbal cues have been honed by half a century of practice. It is a dance of learning and a dance of teaching. His slowed and deliberate movements are directed to the audience. He is teaching them. But he is also teaching Sean.
The audience are able to passively observe a moment of learning taking place. This significance of the moment is heightened when it is clear that Harry is Sean’s father and that teaching is the subject of the lesson. A father passes on a family tradition to his son.


On the opposite screen Sean attempts to mimic Harry’s ritualised performance. They are engaged in a dialogue. Sean’s movements are at times forced and awkward as he attempts to copy Harry’s natural and perfected delivery. The two screens facing each other create a space of learning and dialogue to which the audience is an incidental observer.
The final reversal comes with the realisation that Harry’s movements are being choreographed by Sean for the video. The son is now directing the father.


The concept principally deals with the ideas about learned, taught compelled and modelled behaviour.

Justy Phillips

Magnificent

Through observation and narrative, Magnificent reveals the missing links, raw undercurrents and subtle connections that exist beneath the surface of everyday life. Published four-monthly in Australia, this modern day novella presents an opportunity to reconsider contemporary social issues. Magnificent questions our relationship to people, identity and place by connecting extraordinary actions and everyday lives. With a screwed up identity – part magazine, part documentary, part novel, Magnificent presents a unique twist on the nineteenth-century novella – short tales of country life brought to, and orated in the city. True to historical form, each edition will turn around a single incident or significant issue.

Magnificent Issue 1: ‘Your weight I carry like a salty rock’ responds to the nature of loss on a small island. The content for this first issue was generated during several visits to King Island, including a 4-week residency at the King Island Cultural Centre in 2008.

 

Next
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12 Aug-15 Aug

FUNDRAISER

19 Aug-5 Sept

Ivan Muniz Reed- 'Names and Places'

9 Sept-26 Sept

Sophia Egarchos-'Rapismo'

BABABA International-'Get Clean'

Zoe Coombs Marr

30 Sept 17 Oct

Sarah Contos

Danielle Cleg-'In All Wholeness...'

Rachel Scott-'Tight n' Loose...'

21 Oct-7 Nov

Michael Pryor and Lauchlan Conn- 'Chronox'

Celeste Aldahn - 'Hardcore Folklore'

11 Nov- 28th Nov

Clare Lewis

2 Dec- 19 Dec

Ash Cooper-'Antinode'

Ion Pearce-'Relics'

Amira Hajar-'Holy'


20 Dec-10 Jan

CLOSED


13 Jan-30 Jan

Lauchlan Anthony and David Withers

Pia Van Gelder

David Sullivan-'Between the Flags'