Girls at Gaffa

Gaffa Gallery will host an all female round of exhibitions in July. Spread across four galleries, a diverse range of mixed-media artworks curated by four emerging artists and curators. Gaffa aims to bring together diverse practices for a cross-pollination of crowds. During this round of exhibitions, visitors can expect to see a wide range of artworks and ideas. Gaffa Gallery is comprised of four separate galleries housed in the first level of a heritage-listed 19th century police station in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. HEY GURL, a group exhibition curated by Gaffa’s gallery manager, Kimberley Peel, will be held in Gallery 1. Twenty national female-idenfitying artists respond to issues of gender equality and identity. The featured artists’ practices employ a variety of media. Jewellery, puppet-making and audiovisual installations are presented alongside more traditional methods of painting and photography. In Gallery 2, Helen Amanatiadis’ solo show ‘String Line’ will present a series of sculptural and intricate textile works that investigate various techniques for working with the humble technology of string. In this new body of work, Amanatiadis explores different types of string, from fluorescent builders line to soft baby's nylon, and considers the pivotal role that string has played in human evolution through technological invention. Shifting back towards a more direct interrogation of gender identity, Amy Elizabeth’s solo show in Gallery 3, ‘Pin Up Girl’ explores binary systems between femininity and masculinity. Her screen-printed illustrations respond to a resurgence of 1950s pin up culture in contemporary Australian society. From Canberra, emerging curator Kristina Neumann draws together six ACT jewellery and object artists whose work references architecture, the body and the spaces in between. The artists’ works use a broad range of media, including glass, wood, metal and clay. ‘We noticed that 75% of our 2016-17 exhibition program artists identify as female. I was first developing my own curatorial endeavour HEY GURL, and then I thought – why not extend this into Gaffa’s gallery program?’ – Kimberley Peel ‘Girls at Gaffa’ seeks to present a diversity of practices and show support for women in the arts. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gallery 1 HEY GURL Curated by Kimberley Peel HEY GURL is an exhibition that aims to open up a supportive space for emerging female artists. The artworks featured respond to contemporary media discussions relating to issues of gender equality and the complexities of gender identity. A national callout was published on social media for artists to participate. Peel then held informal chats to develop the ideas for the exhibition in collaboration with the artists. HEY GURL seeks to show the exhibiting female artists’ reflections on their lived experiences. 'In the spirit of support, we got together for coffees, phone calls and e-mails and had conversations relating to personal experiences and artistic practice.' - Kimberley Peel HEY GURL features 20 female artists whose practices employ a variety of media. Jewellery, puppet-making and audiovisual installations are presented alongside more traditional methods of painting and photography. The selected emerging artists bring unique perspectives across a diverse range of ages and life experiences. The opening night will see participating artists from around Australia together and meet each other, mostly for the first time. Curated by Kimberley Peel. Exhibiting artists: Ala Paredes, smalltime magic, Alice Fennessy, Anna Growden, Bridie Connell, Ella Judd, Freya Black, Gillian Kayrooz, Lorna MacRitchie, Luisa Hansal, Melanie Coutts, Mia Carey, Monica Renaud, Naomi Oliver, Paras Begetis, Rachel Honnery, Robin Clare, Valerie Schlosberg, Yasmin Nebenfuhr, Zara Collins ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gallery 2 String Line Helen Amanatiadis The exhibition “String Line” continues Helen Amanatiadis’ exploration of the primitive technology of string and its role in human techno-genesis, with both toxic and curative effect. Without the invention of string, humans could not have produced containers, clothes and carrying devices which facilitated transport, storage, housing, seafaring, fishing and various other complex inventions. These technologies, in turn, led to mining, land development, colonisation, industrialisation and even computing code, with equally destructive and constructive outcomes. In this new body of work, Amanatiadis investigates various techniques for working with string using various contemporary incarnations and in doing so considers its dual properties and even broader cosmic significance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gallery 3 Pin Up Girl Amy Elizabeth The old school pin up girl has a history that is riddled with dichotomy and contradiction. Femininity and masculinity, voyeurism and exhibitionism – these binary systems are part of what makes the hyper-femme pin up girl so interesting within the art gallery. Pin up culture of the 1950s is experiencing a forceful resurgence in contemporary Popular Culture, creating a potent dissonance of values and theories both within and outside of the feminist community. Through harnessing the pin up as a diaristic tool I tap into this dissonance many feel when comparing the aesthetic with the patriarchal principals which ran rife in society during the time of it’s dominance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gallery 4 BODY SPACE Rose-Mary Faulkner, Thomas O'hara, Morven Downie, Kristina Neumann, Ashly Kark & Nyx Mathews Curated by Kristina Neumann BODY SPACE draws together six artists from Canberra, whose work utilises a broad range of media including glass, wood, metal and clay. Referencing architecture, the body and the spaces in between, and embodied in small scale sculpture and wearable pieces, these six artists bring a diverse range of cultural and personal interests to bear on one of the most important issues facing our expanding population. The place of the body in a heavily built environment, and how these separate but interconnected spaces affect one another, is of interest to anyone living in a 21st century city. By experimenting with scale and wearability, these artists use material languages to approach the discussion, inviting the viewer to imagine themselves into the spaces and bodily scenarios these works create. Kristina Neumann hails from Canberra and is currently studying honours in Gold and Silversmithing at the ANU School of Art. She's recently had a successful solo show at Kin Gallery, is currently on a residency at Sturt Craft Centre and will be part of a ANU showcase, 'talking points' at Radiant Pavilion in Melbourne.