The Annex

Participants from across Melbourne’s West respond to a project brief that is aligned with the 2022 Melbourne Fringe theme - Future Hindsight.

Mentored by Science Gallery Melbourne’s Head of Curatorial, Tilly Boleyn and Artist and Curatorial

Assistant Arie Glorie, artists draw reference from the SWARM exhibition, contributing a vital role in shifting our understanding of science, art and innovation and making this a program not to be missed.

Artists explore the idea of FORWARD MOTION and the concept of collectives and networks, which are at the heart of this program and align with SWARM’s statement to ‘reflect(s) on the pros and cons of collective behaviour, social movements, artificial intelligence and bio-communities’.

This program is a collaboration between Wyndham City and Hobsons Bay and will be presented as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival.   Outcomes include an exhibition in the Wyndham Cultural Centre, as well as large public art installations located at Laneway Gallery and Altona Civic Centre. 

Exhibiting Artists:

Simpson Myers, Matthew Simpson, Maria Nardo, Clive Gono, Hasina Chowdhury, Rukz One, Connor Ovenden-Shaw, Steven Partridge, Catherine Mackay, Melissa Lazaridis, Larissa Taylor, Madhubani Dutta, Carol Rowlands, Meredith Jones, David Murphy, Mesh, Xiang Li, Joe Ferlazzo, Christine Bulandus, LanPagliaro, Nandita Nadkarni and Elizabeth van Herwaarden

Image Credit: Moving Forward, Annette Wagner

Forward Motion exhibition dates were: Thursday 22 September – Saturday 15 October, Wyndham Cultural Centre 177 Watton St, Werribee

Annette Wagner’s Wunder Gym partnered with Wyndham City to present No Shit, a creative development program nurturing local creatives.  Program participants responded to Wyndham writer Fatima Measham’s essay No Shit.  During the program, participants were mentored by artist, writer and Deakin University’s Public Art Commission ‘Treatment’ co-curator Dr. Cameron Bishop.

Participant responses were then documented and curated into an art book which has been published and featured as part of NGV’s 2022 Melbourne Art Book Fair.   This process provided participants with vital links to showcase their work to the diverse and international audience the Melbourne Art Book Fair affords.  

The No Shit: A Visual Response publication was officially launched as part of Melbourne Design Week at a panel discussion event at Wyndham Cultural Centre.
Werribee is an old town with a fascinating Indigenous and colonial past, steeped in natural beauty, enhanced by an aspirational and diverse population, which has contributed in important ways to the state. But it lies obscured, an enigma to outsiders, if not an object of dismissal or scorn.

A lump of volcanic rock in the middle of nowhere. It is worth wondering why we are so eager to construct hierarchies of place, where certain suburbs are reduced to their worst features at the expense of the people who live there. Communities are, after all, inherently multidimensional.’
 

Like an Open Mic Night, but for spoken word

Words in The West is a night of live spoken word, visual performance and poetry, highlighting creators and writers in Melbourne's West. The nights are aimed at creative sharing, peer appreciation and public performance skill-building.

Each gathering will highlight invited presenters, and then the floor will be opened out to the talent who join us in this open-space setting.

Your host is the inimitable Connor Ovenden-Shaw, also Known As Foot, a non-binary queer artist based on Wadawurrung land in Melbourne's outer west. Working within textile, photography and performance, they are known for their unique and absurdist take of gender identity, sustainability and beauty standards.

Listen, speak, share, laugh, think. You’re invited to Words in The West.
    
https://www.instagram.com/theartistknownasfoot/   

Presented as part of Melbourne Fringe and in partnership with Hobsons Bay City Council, artists from Melbourne's West get In the swing and see their worlds from new perspectives

Wunder Gym is a practical art program to stretch and satisfy your creative curiosity. Emerging, established or simply curious creatives revel in the opportunity to extend their skills and practice culminating in a group exhibition.

Mentored by contemporary artist Elvis Richardson, artists from Melbourne’s Western regions draw inspiration from their local environment and communities as their playground. This prompt invites artists to be collectors, editors and curators using their local environment’s objects, recordings, sounds, images as their raw material and inspiration for an artwork. Exploring how their art practice changes the function of the chosen object.

In addition to the physical exhibition at The Annex in Werribee, large temporary public art installations will be located at Laneway Gallery at 44 Woods Street Laverton, and the Altona Civic Centre.

Welcome to the whimsical world of "I Will Figure It Out Later," an art exhibition that playfully pokes fun at the enigmatic nature of art while celebrating the importance of the creative process. This extraordinary showcase emerged from a fluid concept, and through this very process, has evolved into its captivating manifestation. Embracing the notion that the process itself is the ultimate art form, the exhibition artfully weaves this theme throughout its entirety. Highlighted by the remarkable works of Rukz One, Artstralis, Tommy Sea, and Luke Haillay, "I Will Figure It Out Later" invites you to celebrate the ever-changing nature of art, where the process is as beguiling as the final masterpiece itself.

Artdecypher believes that art and creativity have no blueprint. Art is transformative and is shaped by, and adapts to, the time and place of its creation. We aim to shine a creative light that reaches new locations and audiences by paving new paths that challenge the “norm”.

Learn more about Artdecypher and the artists via https://artdecypher.com/

Nuggets is an exhibition celebrating the third iteration of the long running public art project, Treatment which in 2023, ran from Spotswood, through Brooklyn, down to the Western Treatment Plant. Bringing objects and moments to life inside the gallery allows all those involved, alongside new audience, to re-imagine the social, material and technical connections this project has brought to the diverse communities of Melbourne’s West. At the same time if affords the curators an opportunity to pay tribute to key stakeholders Wyndham City and Melbourne Water and to celebrate the efforts of the production crew, volunteers and friends of the project. The curators and artists have delved into their back pockets, to find ephemera of various kinds (objects, films, photos etc..) in an attempt to do an almost impossible thing, capture the elemental experience of the project – its time, its people and its place.

Nuggets is presented by Curators David Cross and Cameron Bishop with artists Eugenia Lim, Linda Tegg, Rogue Academy, Robert Andrew, Edwina Stevens, Zanny Begg, Fiona Hilary, Peter Burke, Mick Douglas, Georgina Lewis, Anindita Banerjee, Connor Ovenden-Shaw, The Improvisors, Damien Laing, James Nguyen and Clive Gono.

In partnership with Public Art Commission and Deakin University with support from Melbourne Water, Scienceworks, Hobson Bay City Council and West Gate Neighbourhood Fund. 

Image Credit  - Courtesy of Public Art Commission

FEATURING CHLOE CHATTERTON, ANIE SKINNER & DON WHITE

Welcome to an immersive experience created by Fatima Measham, with visual and audio components that interact, and together complicate the narrative about our relationship with the local landscape.

Sanctuary is an artistic response to the early history of Serendip, a beloved institution for many families in the area. It is an invitation to consider the light and shadow of our interactions with nature, and the idea of malleable stories.

The experience includes digital illustrations by Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Chloe Chatterton, as well as an audio loop featuring nature soundscapes, a spoken piece by Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Anie Skinner, and clips from interviews with former Serendip manager, Don White.

Ayelet Brooks
The Little Things

A butterfly, a bug, a dandelion, a thread, a yoyo.

Focusing attention on the little things in life provides a sense of grounding, calmness and living in the moment. Immersing in a process, moving with the flow, feeling the texture, applying colours, and touching material has a therapeutic effect. In this work, the hand is the repeating motif of all eight works. It symbolises the power we have to create or to destroy, to cradle or to harm.
https://www.facebook.com/MugiaCups/
https://www.instagram.com/mugiacups/

Each stroke, each feather, each thought
Qing Zhang

The inspiration for this exhibition comes from the beautiful nature, especially the land of Australia where artist Qing Zhang has lived for ten years. Also, Eastern and Western paintings, such as traditional Chinese bird and flower paintings and Japanese woodblock prints, have given a lot of inspiration for composition. Watercolour possesses a vitality and wisdom that continues to instruct and will always remain a mentor.

https://www.qingzhang.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/choosearts/

Enter the enchanting realm of "Self Xpress CIV," where art transcends boundaries to touch the soul. This exhibition is a tribute to resilience, growth, and the profound influence of creativity. Celebrate the accomplishments of 13 emerging Wyndham artists as they reveal their captivating creations. Through predominantly 2-dimensional works, each piece offers a glimpse into the artist's unique worldview. From vibrant acrylic strokes to intricate printmaking, the array of mediums is as diverse as the stories they convey. This showcase culminates a year of dedication, showcasing the transformative power of self-expression. Immerse yourself in "Self Xpress CIV" and witness the magic of creativity first-hand.

Thirteen artists in this vibrant collective bring diverse perspectives and a shared drive to evolve creatively. Meeting weekly from July 2023 to June 2024, they've fostered camaraderie and explored various mediums and techniques. Their journey, marked by experimentation and dedication, transcends the classroom, with countless hours invested at home. Each artwork in their exhibition reflects not only skill but also a profound voyage of self-discovery. Yet, it's their tight-knit bond and mutual encouragement that truly distinguish them. Through the highs and lows, they've forged lasting friendships, enhancing not just their art but their entire creative journey.

Image credit - Poached by Lisa North- Coombes as part of the exhibition

The RedWest Creatives Co-op’s mission is to strengthen the arts sector in Melbourne’s Western Regions.

RedWest works to secure a variety of opportunities such as pop-up exhibitions and performances, events for artists, and provide services to local artists for its members.

Primo 3 is a celebration of all things Deep West. It aims to be a pulse check of the local community arts scene. Work will span across multiple mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, video and textile works.  

For more information visit https://www.redwest.org/ or https://www.instagram.com/redwest_au/

Q Art Project is a youth led production achieved through the community of Q program and it’s supporters. This work would not have been possible without the long-term connections, change making, creativity and advocacy Q Program is built on, with partnerships such as Headspace Werribee.

Q Art Project responds to rainbow youth identifying the power in being seen and visible, with little representation in the western region to connect with. Q Art project brings the creative works together of rainbow youth to share voice, story, pride, strength and experience. Q program young producers approached the work with three aims:
 

• To be a welcoming space of creative submissions for rainbow youth through art in as many forms as possible; including drawings, paintings, digital art, poetry, short stories, comic make up and clothing
• To achieve a powerful, diverse and intersectional collection of art forms created by and for Queer youth 12-25 across all identities, faith, and abilities
• To be able to share the beauty, power and rich identify of being who we are in our loved communities.

We wanted full representation to show the diversity within the rainbow. This is our second collection, we hope there will be many more.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Image credit - Alexavier Taiga Tchingal’s Eye Looking at gender and sexuality as an Indigenous person from the Jardwadjali nation. Named after the emu from the Gariwerd (Grampians) creation story.

Have you ever imagined creating your own piece of wearable art?

Welcome to The Scrapatorium. It’s a friendly, drop-in maker space, equipped with sewing and other textile construction tools. Your host Connor Ovenden-Shaw and fellow visiting creatives are resident in the space, ready to encourage your creativity.

Drop in to The Annex any time over the two-week period and create your single piece of wearable art. All materials and tools that you’ll need are provided. Be inspired and create intuitively.

The Scrapatorium is a program centred around an exploration of waste, creativity and self-confidence. It’s free to participate or observe and no bookings are required.

The Scapatorium is a hosted by Connor Ovenden-Shaw, Also Known as Foot, a non-binary queer artist based on Wadawurrung land in Melbourne’s outer west. Working within textile, photography and performance they are known for their unique and absurdist take of gender identity, sustainability and beauty standards. The Scrapatorium is an extended version of their 2022 Wyndham City Artist Residency.

connorovendenshaw.com    
https://www.instagram.com/theartistknownasfoot/    

Playing with traditional Chinese motifs and recycled materials, the artist creates a range of textile installations and sculptures that invite the audience to journey through their own story of assimilation.

After becoming an Australian citizen and by consequence, losing her Chinese citizenship, multidisciplinary artist MeiMei 莓莓 Hodgkinson started to critically reflect on her adolescent years when she endeavoured to fit into the mainstream Western society. As MeiMei flipped through her old Chinese passport with enormous red “CANCEL” stamps, she re-evaluated all the unconscious sacrifices that have been made in order to receive validation as a first generation immigrant in 21st century Australia.

Playing with traditional Chinese motifs and recycled materials, the artist creates a range of textile installations and sculptures that invite the audience to journey through their own story of assimilation.

It expresses wonder and appreciation for the capacity of the human brain.

The SYNAPTICA exhibition reminds us to appreciate our current understanding of the human brain and to have admiration for the ongoing science and research that continues in such a fascinating frontier.

Melissa’s first solo installation is an exploration of how human brain neuroplasticity is the master of seeking connection.

Three groups of artists curate three exhibitions in the one space.

Artist as Curator exhibition is the outcome of the latest Wunder Gym program exploring concepts of place and community within Wyndham. Artists are grouped together optimising their practices to curate and consider concepts. The concepts are geographical, community togetherness to individual places around a shared dining table expressed through mixed media.

The Wunder Gym program was designed to support and build confident artists as curators and producers. Participants were encouraged to consider, find, engage and activate new public spaces through group exhibitions or as collectives, re-imagining creativity in Wyndham.

Come and support our West based artists as they take the next steps in their artistic practice and careers.

Artists as Curators include Jonabelle Cogan, LaDY MoHaWK, Mei Mei 莓莓 Hodgkinson, Zoe Jones, Kate Robinson, Rashmi Patel, Teeny Fletcher, Christina Darras, Amal Laala, Jenny Rutsch, Rachel Morley, Ana Hanson, Jasmeet Kaur Sahi and Damien Laing.

Parking at the Wyndham Cultural Centre is limited due to LIT festival.

An evening of conscious R&B, hip-hop, and poetry produced by Nomad222 and hosted by spoken work poet Akwal Magek.

This event is presented by Western Edge as part of the inaugural "Open Stage" program, supported by VicHealth's "Future Reset" initiative.

Featuring captivating performances by Nomad222, V!NA, HOPE, and more, Open Stage: Muses invites you to explore the emotions behind the art. Discover your muse and unpack why you create what you do as we explore the emotional core of artistry.

Don't miss this unique celebration of conscious creativity, come along, and connect with the heart of your artistic expression.

Photo credit: Gianna Rizzo

Five local creatives – Hellotomato, Teeny Fletcher, Amal Laala and Tommy Sea x Rukz One will use their varying skills and interests to explore public art sensibilities in an inside space.  

The community is invited in to explore and participate in the creation and evolution of the work.   

As part of the project, the creatives have been offered a mentorship with Tom Groves from Backwoods Gallery in Collingwood.