Back Out & About In Sydney

Rebecca Varidel
3rd Oct 2020

Encouraging news that we are out and about, with plenty of fun things to do in Sydney, while we stay COVID-safe.

Here's our five pick of art's on Sydney this month, to get you started.

1. inBLOOM Exhibit The Royal Botanic Gardens has over 20,000 plants on display, and one of the largest living green walls in the Southern Hemisphere. Curated by the horticultural team at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the display will heighten every sense as you wander through a breath-taking world of light and colour. Free daily 10am - 4pm.

2. Re-Claimed at The Clock Hotel from which human-kind creates, and the apparent chaos of nature. Thanks to Bombay Sapphire, the collaboration with Sydney artist Sam Whiteside and design-driven creative studio Babekuhl creates the the immersive audio-visual installation taking over the Surry Hills institution's courtyard will amplify each weekend. Kicking off with the launch on October 15, Sydney-based producer/composer Patrick Santamaria and Sam Whiteside will create immersive cinematic sound performances each Thursday night, bringing the Re-Claimed installation to life. The Clock will also host two gin cocktail masterclasses on Wednesday 28 October 28, and Wednesday 11 November.

3. The Surf Shack Show from Saturday 3 – Sunday 11 October at 4 Pacific Avenue, Werri Beach (90 minutes south of Sydney). The Surf Shack, a yellow fibro house built in 1947 has been a base residence for the surf community at Werri Beach since 2005, is owned by Gittoe’s neighbour and will be demolished soon. Before the demolition of the iconic style home made famous by the likes of artist Reg Mombassa, Gittoes and Rose were given the keys to stage an exhibition and performance series not to be missed. Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC) have partnered with renowned artists George Gittoes and Hellen Rose to present this very special Aussie installation, and will premiere Gittoes 'Augustus Tower' suite of paintings which he has described "as being about a time when the bad guys have won." The Surf Shack Show will also premier performances by Hellen Rose of her 'Haunted Burqa' piece over both weekends. The former surfer residents of the house will be in regular attendance as they farewell the house that has been a fun part of their lives and surf culture. Included in the exhibition will be documentation by Gittoes of some of their wildest surf parties and the very free lifestyles of his much-loved neighbours.

4. The Art Gallery of New South Wales presents Real Worlds from 24 October 2020 – 7 February 2021.

Supported by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, the fourth Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial free exhibition presents new work by eight contemporary Australian artists who create extraordinary new works in drawings of great complexity and invention. With drawing as the principal medium, the exhibited works evoke distinctive ways of seeing and making sense of the world. For some, it recreates a physical environment, grounded in a deep connection to place or country. For others, it is an invention that springs forth from history, memory and the imagination. Real Worlds features drawings by Martin Bell, Matt Coyle, Nathan Hawkes, Danie Mellor, Peter Mungkuri, Becc Ország, Jack Stahel and Helen Wright.

5.VAN GOGH ALIVE the experience is on now at the Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park. You don't need to be an art lover, this awesome multi-sensory experience is for everyone! And in actual fact this experience is very different from going to an art exhibition - bigger, bigger and bigger surrounded with IMAX screens, music, Van Gogh quotes and more. This wonderful digital experience will have you dancing with joy. We just love love love - it's huge fun!