This Friday night from 6pm Loop Space and Totoro's Tea House are ringing in the new year with the opening of their first exhibitions.
Loop Space - 109 Hunter St Mall
Spystation NC1074 by Nicola Morton 4 – 28 February 2010.
An installation and workshop series investigating the act of surveillance – featuring monitors broadcasting images and videos collected from myth makers around the world, live video chats with informants, weather balloons floating in the air, missions hidden in stuffed toys, and workshops for visual, audio or linguistic spying.
Spystation NC1074 is exhibitive, interactive and interventive. It uncovers secret worlds, knowledge, thoughts and power for the community. But most of all it is a fun happening that everyone can be a part of.
Installation & Performances: Feb 4 – Feb 19 | Workshops: Feb 20 - Feb 25 | Workshop Exhibition: Feb 26 – Feb 28
To register your interest in the Spystation workshops, email info@loopoz.com or come along to the opening at Loop Space.
Totoro's Tea House - Shop 1, 111 Hunter St Mall
"Aloha! Tiki! Luau!" a Hawaiin theme - think summer, the beach, under-the-sea, hula, vacation, clambake, coconuts, cliche!!
While the beachside holiday vibe is still strong in the city this month, its the busiest time of year for some of the Renew Newcastle projects. This week ArtHive, Loop Space and Totoro's are installing their first exhibitions for 2010 and Emerald Arts has a full banquet of classes on offer for the summer break. See the 2010_holiday_classes program here.
FREE CLASS - For Young people aged 12-25 Emerald Arts has partnered with The Loft Youth Venue to offer FREE art classes this school holidays, as part of the Loft's school holiday activity program.
For bookings for the FREE class on Thursday 14 January contact The Loft 4974 2092
The Renew Newcastle projects are winding up for a little break over Christmas and New Year, so this is your last week to catch their latest exhibitions, with new shows opening in the New Year.
Arthive – Upstairs, 111 Hunter St Mall (entrance off Morgan St) -
Secret Santa – works on postcards by many many local artists. In the spirit of Christmas all works donated and will be swapped. Exhibition last day Sunday 20 Dec. Open Weds – Sun 12-5pm
Loop Space- 109 Hunter St Mall -
Play 109 is an interactive sound, video and graffiti installation involving a floor-to-ceiling 16 channel stringed instrument and live visual feed from Hunter St Mall, which you can play. By Damian Castaldi & Solange Kershaw (sodacake) in collaboration with Neil Jenkins and the Amerg Collective. Exhibition last day Thursday 24 Dec. Open Weds, Thurs this week 12-5pm
Totoro’s Tea House – 111 Hunter St Mall
Totoro Brothers' Travelling Circus: The Greatest Show on Earth! – circus-themed works by Rebecca Murphy, Neil Tomkins, Jessica Klingelfuss, Trine Deans, David Hamption, Grant Hunter, Licky the Cream, and Licky the (Fox) (collaboration), as well as clothing, all for sale. Exhibition last day Wednesday 20 Jan. Open Wednesday, Thursday this week 10am – 5pm
Totoro's Travelling Circus Tea House
First exhibitions for 2010
Loop Space - 109 Hunter St Mall
4 – 28 February 2010. Spystation NC1074 by Nicola Morton
An installation and workshop series investigating the act of surveillance – featuring monitors broadcasting images and videos collected from myth makers around the world, live video chats with informants, weather balloons floating in the air, missions hidden in stuffed toys, and workshops for visual, audio or linguistic spying.
Spystation NC1074 is exhibitive, interactive and interventive. It uncovers secret worlds, knowledge, thoughts and power for the community. But most of all it is a fun happening that everyone can be a part of.
Totoro's Tea House - Shop 1, 111 Hunter St Mall
Current exhibition, "Totoro Brothers' Travelling Circus: The Greatest Show on Earth!" will stay up until 20 January 2010.
22 Jan - 28 Feb 2010. "Aloha tiki luau!" will have a Hawaiin theme (think summer, the beach, under-the-sea, hula, vacation, clambake, coconuts, cliche!!). Totoro's are seeking artists for the show, so if anyone is interested in submitting art they should contact us at: totoro.teahouse@gmail.com
We have received lots of positive feedback and excitement about the Red Lantern Night Market held last Friday night. Don't miss the market over the next 2 Fridays - 11th and 18th.
If you had wandered down to the Mall last Friday after 4pm you would have seen the Mall changed in character, as around 60 stallholders tucked into booths under the whalebones and set up colourful marquees. There was music, drumming, Livesites provided street performers and hula-hooping children overtook the street.
In recognition of how popular the market was, the Newcastle City Council car park on King/Thorn/Laing St will be open on those market days until 10.30pm - with FREE parking if you arrive after 4pm and leave after 7pm.
What's on Fri 11 Dec
Adding to the festivities in the Mall area this week is Loaded an all ages gig at The Loft Youth Venue. Its their end of year show, filling 3 rooms with hardcore - punk - metal - rock - alternative - hip hop - dance - acoustic - blues n roots.
LINE-UP INCLUDES - Missouri Breaks (Melb) - The Vaine (Syd) - There Goes the City - At War with Gods (Melb) - Alice Vs. Everything - Code Red DJ’s - Ange Murphy - Joshwa Leigh - Elisa Kate - Soul Purpose - Laird & Lomas - + MANY MORE!
From 5.30pm-10pm @ The Loft 7a Wolfe St.
And Momentum Project, a collaborative design installation, is staying open an extra week - it will be open every day with an official last night on Friday.
From 6.00 - 9.00pm Upstairs in Market Square.
More Photos Red Lantern Night Market - Fri 4 Dec
Ciao Meow and their bellydancers
Totoro's Travelling Tea House Circus.
Mark from Vox Cyclops had a stall.
David and Trine from The Hive Studios had a stall.
Nick from Upcycling had a stall at the Market, with Erin.
Comrade Damian took Marni on the rickshaw.
L!vesites sculpture installation was illuminated.
See the Newcastle Herald coverage of the Red Lantern Night Market.
With so many spaces popping up, we've prepared a printable map of the Renew Newcastle projects so you can navigate your own walking tour.
We won't be printing copies of the map, but you can find it in the front window of every Renew Newcastle space - so look out for the distinctive marker as you walk by. Or, if you prefer, you can download the map and print it.
MAP v3 DEC 09 IS OUT NOW!!
The Map v3 directs you to 20 properties which have been cleaned up and activated by local artists and creatives, in and around the Hunter St Mall area (between Perkins St and Newcomen St) and extending up Hunter St near Union St.
Since the last map (v2 Aug 09 jpg) several Renew Newcastle projects have moved out to make way for commercial tenancy's in the Hunter St Mall area.
Keep checking back - as we launch more projects and properties we will update the map to include their details.
On the First Friday of the month in December (Friday 4th) the Renew Newcastle art and creative projects will host a collection of special events in the early evening 5 – 8pm. It’s a chance to meet the artists and see them at work, as well as experience the inner city in a different way after dark. You're invited to explore!
New Projects
Momentum Project is a collaborative visual project which is growing daily, developed by Design students from University of Newcastle and TAFE. Drop in anytime to see how it is developing, or join them for their Closing Party 5pm-8pm, Suite 40, 1st Floor Market Square (Up the escalator & follow the signs).
Red Lantern Night Market is a visual feast and festive playground for emerging artists showcasing their wares – perfect for unique and handmade Christmas gift shopping. From 4pm-9pm, each Friday night in December (4th, 11th, 18th ) the Whalebones in the East end of the Hunter St Mall will come alive with Market Stalls, Food and Live entertainment. From the people who brought you the Olive Tree Markets at the Junction.
Makespace moved out of their Renew Newcastle shopfront last month but we have found them a new Renew Newcastle home! Join them for their Opening Night Party in a new shop, 5pm-8pm at 19 Wolfe St (just off the Hunter St Mall, opposite David Jones)
The Hive Studios has three new artists sharing a studio space - David Hampton, Trine Deans and Rebecca Holmes. To celebrate their arrival, they are having a stall at the Red Lantern Night Market - Bec will selling paintings, while Trine and David have turned their hands to badge and brooch making. David has been drawing boats, trains and time machines, covering the results in shellac (water and hug proofing them) and attaching pins to the back. Trine has been hand-printing silk-screens of famous artists she has drawn onto plywood. Meet the artists, buy their work - until 9pm, in the Red Lantern Night Market stall area.
L!vesites Illuminated Sculptures are being made in a series of FREE workshops on Saturdays in November, under the direction of sculptor Ken O’Reagan. Join the artist and workshop participants for a grand illumination at 7.30pm, Shop 45 Hunter St Mall (opposite Sportsgirl)
If you would like to take your own walking tour of the new Renew Newcastle projects, you can download the new map here - or look for it in the window of any of the Renew Newcastle shopfronts.
New Exhibitions
Loop Space new exhibition opening night - Play 109 is an interactive sound, video and graffiti installation involving a floor-to-ceiling 16 channel stringed instrument and live visual feed from Hunter St Mall, which you can play. By Damian Castaldi & Solange Kershaw (sodacake) in collaboration with Neil Jenkins and the Amerg Collective. From 5pm, 109 Hunter St Mall
Totoro’s Tea House invite you to join their Circus with a new exhibition and live “acrobatic” entertainment performance. O, and Tea! Until 8pm, Shop 1, 111 Hunter St Mall
Arthive new exhibition sneak preview – Secret Santa involves a lucky-dip of small works by local artists, friends and makers. In the spirit of Christmas no money will change hands. With live experimental music collaboration. Until 8pm, Upstairs, 111 Hunter St (entrance off Morgan St)
Special Offers
Bird in the Hand Zine Shop will be hosting its first Letter Writing Club – all invited for tea and biscuits and a chance to take some old-fashioned letter writing time. At 6pm , 101a King St
Mad Hatter Millinery are hosting a demonstration to Make Your Own Fascinator – even if you aren’t a ‘hat person’ or aren’t going to the races you’ll have a perfect festive outfit for all the Christmas parties coming up! Workshop from 5.30pm - 6.30pm at Shop 18-19 Market Square Terrace Level
Shannon Hartigan Images & Framing will have a 20% Off everything Christmas Sale between 5pm-8pm at Shop 21 Market Square Terrace Level
Emerald Arts will hold a workshop on making your own watercolour dyed wrapping paper as well as a Pass the Parcel lucky dip. From 6.30pm, Shop 2 196 Hunter St Mall
Ciao Meow Gallery are staying open late for unique Christmas gift shopping, showing off some of their new ranges for summer: hand made Chrissie cards; elegant light cotton kaftans; and a range of mens t-shirts and photographs by Matt Streatfield. And, at 6pm they've organised The Dance Of Life women to gift a beautiful bellydance performance. Until 9pm, Shop 2, 111 Hunter St Mall.
Vox Cyclops is an independent record store and gallery 515 Hunter St. They are making a special guest appearance in the Mall area especially for the Market and First Friday - so if you are curious about what they do but have never made it up to Newcastle West to visit the shop, here's your chance. Until 9pm, in the Red Lantern Night Market stall area.
Special News
Alex from Surfhouse Photography moved out of her Renew Newcastle shopfront in October, but has now taken a commercial lease and is opening up a new shop just down the road. Congratulations Alex! Join Alex for her Opening Party from 5.30pm in her new premises at 61 Hunter St (btwn Bolton & Watt Sts, opposite The Lock-Up)
Partners
Our friends at L!vesites will be on location with some street performers to spice up the evening and offer up early Christmas presents in the unveiling of a light and sound installation near Wolfe St.
There'll be so much festive cheer, you won't know what to do with yourself!
We are so happy to find out that one of the recent Renew Newcastle projects - Surfhouse Photography - has a new shop opening at 61 Hunter St in December.
Surfhouse Photography shopfront in Hunter St Mall
From April to October this year the Surfhouse Photography shop in the Hunter St Mall was an oasis of photographs, prints and vintage surfboards all dedicated to the love of surfing and beach culture. The shop was conceived and managed by 21 year old photographer Alex Thompson.
Alex vacated her Renew Newcastle shopfront in October after the property owner secured a commercial tenant for the property. We were sad to see Surfhouse Photography moved on as it was such a great example of how a local artists might take advantage of some cheap space. But it is a real success to have attracted commercial retailers back into the Mall.
Since moving out of her shop Alex used the time off to complete a full time business development training course and now has further support for her business from the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).
Even better, Alex has now secured a permanent shopfront with a commercial lease. The property owner is reported to have taken a chance on Alex due to her track record under the Renew Newcastle initiative - Congratulations Alex.
Located at 61 Hunter St Newcastle (between Bolton and Watt Streets, opposite The Lock-Up), the new Surfhouse Photography shop is a little closer to Newcastle Beach, which suits Alex perfectly!
The Grand opening is on Friday 4 December 2009 - join the Surfhouse crew for celebratory drinks and music from 5.30pm.
Show your support for this young local artist in her new venture by stopping into her new shop to say hello (and pick up some souvenirs of Newcastle surf culture while you are there!).
Next Friday night Renew Newcastle will continue its series of twilight events in the City – First Friday. On the First Friday of the month in November (Friday 6th) the Renew Newcastle art and creative projects will host a collection of special events in the early evening 5 – 8pm. Come along and cruise the Mall!
Gnobly Gnome by Marnie Vaughan @ Arthive "Magic Mushroom..."
This month on Friday 06 November there will be 11 free simultaneous events taking place, including gallery exhibition openings from 6pm: "SynCity" - a history of sampling and remix culture since the early 1980’s - screenings at Loop Space sound and digital media gallery; a comic photographic exhibition “Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places” at Gallery Raw – Newcastle House of Photography; a dreamy preview of ARThive’s site specific installation “Magic Mushroom Mould Mountain Made Mysteriously Of Milked Moose”; and a playful "Art Party" (including pass the parcel) at Emerald Arts.
Lives!tes have commissioned some frightful escorts to make sure you fully embrace the twilight experience - keep your back to the wall lest the Grim Reaper want to make friends ...
All of the Renew Newcastle shopfronts will be open for trading at the same time for special late night shopping. Up on the terrace in Market Square Art Brasil’s artisan jeweller will show more sculpture and works made using sterling silver, Mad Hatter Millinery ladies will take you through their Melbourne Cup fashion on the field highlights, Shannon Hartigan landscape photographic prints show off amazing Newcastle and Kerrie’s all lycra and sequins at the Run Amok Dance Clothing studio.
You could wander up and explore Susy Pow’s Bird in the Hand Zine shop, come for a spot of early Christmas shopping at Ciao Meow - jam packed with local handmade fashion, jewellery & homewares. And then if you need a little sit down, the Tea Party at Totoro’s Teahouse offers vegan treats and specialty teas, while you ponder their gallery walls.
This month Renew Newcastle says goodbye to some wonderful enterprises which have livened up the Hunter St Mall area – as the commercial tenants are moving back in. Some of these projects will open up new shops: lookout for Alex from Surfhouse Photography, Floyd from Biami Mara, the makespace ladies, and Mark and the gang from Gallery Raw in new spaces over the coming months. And we’ll keep you updated on what Nick from Upcycling and Penny from Silk House Art Projects get up to in new incarnations in the new year.
So far Renew Newcastle has placed 41 projects into 26 empty shops and offices across the CBD. Come along to see how Newcastle’s creative community is making city revitalization their business, and enjoy the city in a new way at twilight on the First Friday of the month.
Do you know anyone who actually owns empty properties in the Newcastle CBD? Do you know anyone who works in real estate in Newcastle? Do you know anyone who can help Renew Newcastle expand and give life to even more of the city?
After bringing some much needed new life to the Hunter Street Mall, Renew Newcastle is now setting its sights on fixing up other parts of the CBD. This week Renew Newcastle has written a letter and sent this brochure to 600 CBD property owners seeking new properties, new partners and new parts of the city to revitalise.
But we're not sure they read their mail, so we need every person in the city who believes in Renew Newcastle to put in a good word for us!
Since Renew Newcastle's first projects opened in a half empty Hunter Street Mall in February we've created nearly 40 local galleries, studios, design stores, craft outlets, creative enterprises and a tea house in nearly 30 empty spaces.
They've brought unprecedented publicity, attraction, foot traffic and interest back to Newcastle. As we've always hoped, that is now translating into new commercial demand for the retail spaces around the mall which is limiting access to new spaces, closing down some others and relocating some of our existing projects.
Yet there are still more than a hundred vacant buildings in Newcastle!
That's why this week we've written to 600 other property owners, offering to clean out, fix up and put caretakers into their empty buildings. We want to draw their attention to our success to date and to the fact we've come up with some legally simple and tax friendly strategies that allow us to utilise spaces while they are empty.
Renew Newcastle is a win-win for property owners. We clean up their properties and make them active and presentable. They save on maintenance, on insurance, and our projects pick up all the outgoings. As the transformation of the mall demonstrates, commercial tenants are attracted to that. Of course the benefits go beyond the bottom line. It's also fantastic to be involved in nurturing creative enterprises and new and interesting activities in the city.
If you know anyone at all who might be able to help us with property can you put in a good word for us? Even better send them to this web site or get them to email us at property@renewnewcastle.org
The recent Hunter Valley Research Foundation Lecture given by Renew Newcastle founder Marcus Westbury has unexpectedly garnered a lot of media attention around the world for its analysis and response to the problem of dysfunctional commercial property markets.
An installation and workshop series investigating the act of surveillance – featuring monitors broadcasting images and videos collected from myth makers around the world, live video chats with informants, weather balloons floating in the air, missions hidden in stuffed toys, and workshops for visual, audio or linguistic spying.
"Aloha! Tiki! Luau!" a Hawaiin theme - think summer, the beach, under-the-sea, hula, vacation, clambake, coconuts, cliche!!
If you had wandered down to the Mall last Friday after 4pm you would have seen the Mall changed in character, as around 60 stallholders tucked into booths under the whalebones and set up colourful marquees. There was music, drumming, Livesites provided street performers and hula-hooping children overtook the street.
Momentum Project is a collaborative visual project which is growing daily, developed by Design students from University of Newcastle and TAFE. Drop in anytime to see how it is developing, or join them for their Closing Party 5pm-8pm, Suite 40, 1st Floor Market Square (Up the escalator & follow the signs).
Red Lantern Night Market is a visual feast and festive playground for emerging artists showcasing their wares – perfect for unique and handmade Christmas gift shopping. From 4pm-9pm, each Friday night in December (4th, 11th, 18th ) the Whalebones in the East end of the Hunter St Mall will come alive with Market Stalls, Food and Live entertainment. From the people who brought you the Olive Tree Markets at the Junction.
Makespace moved out of their Renew Newcastle shopfront last month but we have found them a new Renew Newcastle home! Join them for their Opening Night Party in a new shop, 5pm-8pm at 19 Wolfe St (just off the Hunter St Mall, opposite David Jones)
The Hive Studios has three new artists sharing a studio space - David Hampton, Trine Deans and Rebecca Holmes. To celebrate their arrival, they are having a stall at the Red Lantern Night Market - Bec will selling paintings, while Trine and David have turned their hands to badge and brooch making. David has been drawing boats, trains and time machines, covering the results in shellac (water and hug proofing them) and attaching pins to the back. Trine has been hand-printing silk-screens of famous artists she has drawn onto plywood. Meet the artists, buy their work - until 9pm, in the Red Lantern Night Market stall area.
L!vesites Illuminated Sculptures are being made in a series of FREE workshops on Saturdays in November, under the direction of sculptor Ken O’Reagan. Join the artist and workshop participants for a grand illumination at 7.30pm, Shop 45 Hunter St Mall (opposite Sportsgirl)
Bird in the Hand Zine Shop will be hosting its first Letter Writing Club – all invited for tea and biscuits and a chance to take some old-fashioned letter writing time. At 6pm , 101a King St
Alex from Surfhouse Photography moved out of her Renew Newcastle shopfront in October, but has now taken a commercial lease and is opening up a new shop just down the road. Congratulations Alex! Join Alex for her Opening Party from 5.30pm in her new premises at 61 Hunter St (btwn Bolton & Watt Sts, opposite The Lock-Up)
