News
Loop Space. Digital media & sound art gallery. 109 Hunter St. February 2009 – November 2010. Photo by Carli Hyland.
Renew Newcastle is currently inviting Expressions of Interest for arts and creative projects to take place in shopfronts and commercial spaces in the Newcastle city centre.
We are currently working to access new properties to be made available for the initiative, and we need to know what projects are around in the creative community at this time.
If you have an idea for a creative enterprise to take place in a shopfront; or are a creative professional seeking office workspace; or a visual artist seeking studio space, we are interested in hearing from you.
We have had an open Expressions of Interest database for the past 6 months, which has worked well to enable people to propose their idea to us at any time. But we also know there are people sitting on their ideas until we open up the application process and invite them to propose their project to us. So, now is your time!
Deadline: Expressions of Interest received by 31 March 2011 will be considered for the next properties that become available.
Submit your Expression of Interest using the online form on the Propose a Project page of this website. Please read all of the information on that page before you submit your form to us.
We don’t have the resources to meet with applicants to discuss your proposal before you submit it, but if necessary we do work with projects later to reframe their proposals to better fit within the initiative. Its not an application writing competition, just get your ideas down and we can ask you more questions or clarify details later.
We look forward to receiving your application and thanks for sharing your ideas to Renew Newcastle!
The next First Friday of the month has Renew Newcastle teaming up with a great local public art initiative Street Art Walking, which wants to celebrates the city with some large scale street art.
Morgan St mural in progress
Alex Ball and Ben Foster have collaborated to create two huge permanent public artworks of epic scale in Morgan Street, off Hunter Street Mall. Alex has a larger-than-life approach to aerosol and his colourful characters are living proof! Ben Foster shows us his cutting design skills producing over metre-long, three layered, stencils for our amazement.
On Friday 4 March 2011 we are hosting a party for the artists in the Renew HQ, while Renew Newcastle projects just around the corner – Before It Began, Odditorium and Makspace – stay open late to help with the festivities.
Street Art Walking Launch. Come to the Renew HQ to check out the amazingly bright end result and celebrate with the artists, enjoy some live music whilst you mingle with like-minded folk. Its also the official launch of the Street Art Walking project, so you can find out how to get involved in more of their public art projects across the city. @ Renew HQ, 3 Morgan St (just off the Mall near One Penny Black cafe), 6-9pm. RSVP on facebook
Odditorium Vintage & Portrait Parlour launch an exhibition of Art by Matt Krempin of Strangers with Candy, who will play on the night. Summer Vintage Sale continues. New skull jewellery instore by DeerFallow. New Tshirts instore by Soda Ono. Paintings, Prints & Photography for sale by house artists: David Hampton, Benjamin Fraser & Kristian Glynn. Plus, new additions to the Dead Room. @ Odditorium, Basement, 14 Thorn St. 6-9pm RSVP on facebook
Before it Began is going under the knife. Because they will be a different size when they emerge their old clothes wont fit so they’re going to have a HUGE SALE!!! There will also be loads of give aways!
SALE / LIVE MUSIC / DJ‘S / BOOZE / MODELS / ETC / ETC.
@ Before It Began, 14 Thorn St. 6-9pm RSVP on facebook
Makespace are staying open late with bubbles & cake to welcome 2 new makers to the store: Chloe O'Reilly and Jo Dyer. Chloe O'Reilly designs children’s & women’s clothing using mainly recycled & reclaimed fabric. Jo Dyer is a well loved local artist who likes to draw and dabble in all sorts of arty activities. @ Makespace, Shop 2, 111 Hunter St Mall. 5-8pm. LIKE on facebook
More about Street Art Walking
Street Art Walking (SAW) is a place-making project creating (temporary and permanent) public art spaces, initiated by local arts organiser Simone Sheridan. SAW aims to enhance the current aesthetics of the city by creating positive art solutions to public spaces. SAW wants the city to come alive with artworks, dispersed throughout the streets, creating a public art walk for all to enjoy, locals and tourists. Our main goal is to bring back a sense of pride within our streets, while showcasing artistic talent.
SAW is supported by The Octapod Association and Renew Newcastle. This project has stemmed from a visual arts project called ‘walkARTbout’ developed as part of 2010 This Is Not Art Festival. The success of the project has resulted in securing a number of public art sites on a permanent basis.
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For more about SAW contact: Simone Sheridan streetartwalking@gmail.com
Odditorium Vintage & Portrait Parlour launch an exhibition of Art by Matt Krempin of Strangers with Candy, who will play on the opening night. Summer Vintage Sale continues. New skull jewellery instore by DeerFallow. New Tshirts instore by Soda Ono. Paintings, Prints & Photography for sale by house artists: David Hampton, Benjamin Fraser & Kristian Glynn. Have a peek at the latest additions to Naomi Saunders' Dead Room. RSVP on facebook
Before it Began is going under the knife. Because they will be a different size when they emerge their old clothes wont fit so they’re going to have a HUGE SALE!!! There will also be loads of give aways!
SALE / LIVE MUSIC / DJ‘S / BOOZE / MODELS / ETC / ETC. @ Before It Began, 14 Thorn St. Friday 4 March. 6-9pm.
RSVP on facebook
Makespace are staying open late with bubbles & cake to welcome 2 new makers to the store: Chloe O'Reilly and Jo Dyer. Chloe O'Reilly designs children’s & women’s clothing using mainly recycled & reclaimed fabric. Her beautiful whimsical work can be found all over Australia, Japan & Singapore & has appeared in numerous magazines. Jo Dyer is a well loved local artist who likes to draw and dabble in all sorts of arty activities. @ Makespace, Shop 2, 111 Hunter St Mall. Friday 4 March, 5-8pm. LIKE on facebook
String of Sirens is Rebecca Noel Holmes‘ final body of work for her Bachelor of Fine Art degree, her large scale portrait paintings are a “homage to the inspirational women of Newcastle”. @Watt Space,Univeristy House, cnr King & Auckland St Newcastle.
Exhibition: 9 – 27 March. Gallery hours: Wed – Sun, 12-6pm.Opening Night: Thursday 10 March, 6.30pm, feat. music by Zoe K. RSVP on facebook
Railway Mania is Renew Newcastle studio artist David Hampton’s final body of work to complete his university degree. David says of his exhibition of detailed & delightful prints of ye olde ships and trains: “If you like trains, ships and trains there will be much to excite you. If you don’t like trains, ships and trains but you like me come and celebrate my finishing of honours. If you don’t like trains, ships and trains or me come along anyway and make fun of me.” @ Watt Space, University House, cnr King & Auckland St Newcastle. Exhibition:Until 6 March. Gallery hours: Wed – Sun, 12-6pm. RSVP on facebook
Renew Newcastle presents Newcastle Morning Photos exhibition at Nobbys Head Signal Master’s Cottage. The NSW Government through Land and Property Management Authority have opened up Nobbys Headland for a series of public Open Days. The exhibition runs 11, 12 & 13 March, 10am-4pm. Numbers on site are limited, so you must book a free ticket via Ticketek (02) 4929 1977. More information on tickets here.
It was become golden features new works by Vox Cyclops' Artist in Residence Jarrod Skene. Vox Cyclops is not just an independent record store stocking seriously unique music, its a studio space, meeting space and hub for one of Newcastle’s underground music scenes. Come and meet the artists at the launch of this new exhibition. Opening night: Saturday 12 March, 7pm – 10pm. @Vox Cyclops, 515 Hunter St. RSVP on facebook
Alternate Woodland Critter Evolution Fanfiction. In the battle between juvenile badger and mutant Arachnowl all bets are off – the badger is walking upright and fighting back. Come and see the bloody result. A group exhibition curated by Logan Knight, featuring Logan Knight; Rose Turner; Sarah Mould; Jessica Louttit; Sarah Dunn; Ry Wilkin; Grant Hunter; Alex Masterson. Exhibition: 18-26 March. Opening night: Friday 18 March, 7pm. @ ARThive, Upstairs, 111 Hunter St (entry off Morgan St). RSVP on facebook
Young & Baroque Artist Market at ARThive is presenting a Woodland Theme market, with stallholders asked to present works to the theme. Get lost in a forest of paper craft woodland critters.
Sunday 20 March, 10am-4pm @ ARThive. Upstairs, 111 Hunter St (off Morgan St). RSVP on facebook
Enrico Aditjondro from social justice website EngageMedia invites Novocastrians to come along and watch thought provoking short documentaries, share stories on video activism and open licensing in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, and discuss collaboration in making videos as tools for change. Due to international flight delays, this event (previously advertised for Monday 7 March) will now take place on Thursday 10th March, 7.00pm – 9.00pm @ Renew Newcastle HQ, 3 Morgan St (off Hunter St Mall) Newcastle. This event is supported by Kanuguba.
Cherry Pickers by Christopher May
We have received so many excited enquiries about the Newcastle Morning Photos exhibition and public access Open Days to Nobbys, so we know this adventure is going to be popular with locals and tourists alike.
NSW Govemment Land and Property Managent Authority (LPMA) are managing the Public Access Open Days on 25-27 February 2011 and 11-13 March 2011, with the assistance of L!vesites and SES Volunteers.
As visitor numbers to the site at any one time must be limited for safety reasons, LPMA have established a ticketing system. This was announced by Minister for the Hunter and Member for Newcastle, Jodi McKay, on Friday 18 February. The tickets are FREE.
LPMA has provided this guide to visiting Nobbys:
NUMBERS ON SITE LIMITED
::Entry will be restricted to a maximum of 125 visitors at any one time.
::Visitor sessions will be for 30 minutes duration between the opening hours of 10am to 4pm.
::Bring your ticket to the Gate in time for your session. The Gate is located approximately 550m from Nobbys Beach Carpark, along Macquarie Pier. It is a further 250m uphill to the lighthouse site.
HOW TO GET TICKETS
The tickets are FREE, and we strongly suggest you pre-order your ticket. Tickets are available from:
::the Ticketek outlet at 375 Hunter St Newcastle
::by phoning Ticketek outlet Newcastle (02) 4929 1977
::a mobile Ticketek outlet at Nobbys Beach car park during each Open Day
COME PREPARED
::It is a 10-15 minute walk (550m) from the bollard at Nobby’s Carpark along Macquarie Pier to the Gate, then it is a further 5 minutes uphill (250m) to the site. So allow yourself enough time to take it easy!
::Your ticket is for timed entry beyond the Gate – arrive on time so you get your full 30 minutes up at the site.
::Please be patient with our volunteers while waiting.
::The site is by its nature isloated and prone to wind, so come prepared: walking shoes, comfortable cool clothes, hat & other sun protection, perhaps a light jacket against the wind.
::There are no toilets up at the lighthouse, the nearest amenities are at Nobbys Surf Life Saving Club.
::Parking at Nobbys Beach is limited, so leave the car at home. Travel by public transport to Newcastle Station, then walk along the foreshore to Nobbys Beach (approx 10mins)
To provide Feedback to LPMA about your Open Day visit, go to their Feedback Form.
Have a look at this map to help get to the site:
View Nobby's Head Signal Station & Lighthouse in a larger map
The Newcastle Morning Photos exhibition has been finalised, and will feature 51 images of Newcastle by 36 local contributors. Congratulations, and thank you to the more than 100 contributors to the flickr photo pool – you can see all of the submissions here.
newcastlemorningphotos contribution: Cherry Pickers by Christopher May
You can see the exhibition as part of the upcoming Open Days to Nobbys Lighthouse: 25-27 February 2011 and 11-13 March 2011, 10am – 4pm each day.
For safety reasons visitor numbers on site are limited – entry will be restricted to a maximum of 125 visitors at any one time.
There is a Ticket system in place.
Visitor sessions for the open days will be for 30 minutes duration between the opening hours of 10am to 4pm.
Please read further to find out how to get a ticket.
Renew Newcastle is pleased to announce a new location in our repertoire of re-opened shop fronts, studios and galleries; an iconic site that will see Renew Newcastle expand from the streets to the entrance of the harbour itself.
Photograph of Nobby’s Head Signal Station by Winsome Bonham via Lighthouses of Australia Inc website
The Signal Master’s Cottage is one of three accommodation buildings at the site of Nobbys Head Lighthouse. The cottages have been vacant since 2001, when the last of the Signal Tower live-in caretakers moved out. The Lighthouse site sits as a welcome handshake at the entrance to Newcastle harbour, but has been admired only from afar; Nobby’s Head Lighthouse site has never been open to the public despite being a key tourism landmark and postcard location.
While the future long term activity of the site is being considered, public access via a series of Open Days has been made a priority. In co-operation with the NSW Government through the Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA), Renew Newcastle is excited to participate in these public visits to the site with a series of temporary projects.
We plan to resuscitate the Signal Master’s Cottage with its first use in ten years: a photographic exhibition of Newcastle moments, captured by Novocastrians.
We are inviting photograph submissions for an exhibition of Newcastle Morning Photos: the waking moments of this city, the morning routines of its inhabitants, surprise moments captured as the senses stretch awake.
Newcastle Morning Photos began as a collaborative project by everyday local people and this exhibition will see a selection of photographs grace the walls of the Signal Master’s Cottage as many Novocastrians come together to explore the landmark for the very first time.
Submit your photos to the Newcastle Morning Photos Flickr pool by 5pm Monday 14 February to have your work considered for the exhibition. See our previous news item for more on Newcastle Morning Photos and information on how to submit your image.
LPMA is opening up the Nobby’s Head site for public Open Days on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th February and Friday 11th, Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th of March, 10am – 4pm. The Newcastle Morning Photos exhibition will be open for public viewing on those days.
HOW TO GET TICKETS
To book tickets for access to the NObbys Open Days please contact Ticketek directly. The tickets are FREE, and we strongly suggest you pre-order your ticket. Tickets are available from:
::the Ticketek outlet at 375 Hunter St Newcastle
::by phoning Ticketek outlet Newcastle (02) 4929 1977
::a mobile Ticketek outlet at Nobbys Beach car park during each Open Day
More information on tickets is here.
Time Pour by Elizabeth Nagy
A collection of drawings & other works on paper exploring “how frustrating it can be at times, and how relaxing it can also be, to be the type of artist that loses track of time while they’re involved in their creative practice. When you get in ‘the zone’, where exactly do you go? The departure can be like disappearing into a big silver, warpy puddle in your bedroom wall.”
Elizabeth Nagy says of her craft: “I love to draw. I went to the SCA and learned how to play around with different kinds of paper and mark making. I love maps and anything 2D which doffs its hat to the 3D. I love messing with surface and picture plane armed with just paper, pencils, pen and printed samples. I like to do drawings of everyday things and also you can expect a lot of reference to natural history in my show.” LIKE on Facebook
Exhibition Opens: Fri 4 Feb, 6-9pm
Exhibition Period: Weds 2 – Sat 12 Feb.
@ Arthive Upstairs, 111 Hunter St. (entry from Morgan St).
Gallery Open: Weds-Sat 12-5pm
Celebrity Story by DAG ART
DAg ARt is a collective that formed as an investigation into street art. The group started with stencils and moved on to small-scale collaged stickers made from images and text cut primarily from magazines. Since the formation of DAg ARt, thousands of stickers have been made with the majority being put on display on the streets of Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Hong Kong.
The Celebrity Story exhibition will include a wall of small collage stickers (up to 1000). DAg ARt specialises in juxtapositions and common themes of the works include celebrity, the media, body image, Brad Pitt, body builders, Heath Ledger, bad puns, one liners and people as they are represented in magazines.
Exhibition Opens: Fri 18 Feb, 7pm
Exhibition Period: Weds 16 – Sat 26 Feb.
@ Arthive Upstairs, 111 Hunter St. (entry from Morgan St).
Gallery Open: Weds-Sat 12-5pm
Libero by Gav Vitullo
First Solo exhibition.
LIKE on facebook.
Exhibition Opens: Fri 4 Feb, 6-9pm
Exhibition Period: Fri 4 Feb – Wed 2 Mar.
@Before It Began. Upstairs, 14 Thorn St. Shop Open: Tues-Sat 11-5pm
A Force of Nature by Su Walker & Mark St Clair
Combining Su’s abstracts and Mark’s fine art nudes with a nature theme.
LIKE on facebook.
Exhibition Opens: Fri 4 Feb, 7pm Exhibition Period: Fri 4 – Sat 26 Feb
@ Gallery Raw. 202 King St. Gallery Open: Thurs – Sat, 10-4pm
GET INVOLVED in 2011
::Deadline 5 Feb.The Roost Creative is seeking submissions from local graphic designers, illustrators, photographers and others working in the digital realm for Showcase #1, an exhibition showcasing fresh and exciting work, hatched in Newcastle.
Fourteen submitted works will be selected for an exhibition to coincide with the launch of The Roost at 6pm on 10 February.
Submit your work by 5 Feb to info@theroostcreative.com.au. They’re looking for work that can be reproduced in large format (a PDF at 300dpi). If your work is selected, it will be printed in A0 format ($20 printing fee) and works will be hung in The Roost gallery space.
::Deadline 14 Feb. Submit works to Newcastle Morning Photos Flickr group – a daily photographic record of Newcastle in the morning. Images by the people, for the people. Anyone can sign up and submit photos. Submit by 14 Feb to have your shot considered for exhibition in a special Renew Newcastle show (details TBA). More Information
::Deadline 21 Feb. Stallholders apply for Young & Baroque Artist Market 2011 at ARThive. Woodland setting theme! Email subjecthive@gmail.com for details.
::Submissions Open Now. Exhibit your works at ARThive artist run space for emerging artists, Gallery Raw photographic gallery, Before It Began fashion/art/studio or Odditorium Vintage & Portrait Parlour. Contact these spaces directly to apply for a show.
Newcastle Morning Photos are images taken by everyday Novocastrians of everyday Newcastle. Individually they represent one person’s unique Newcastle moment. Together they encapsulate the diversity and idiosyncratic nature of living in this one-of-a-kind city.
The group was originally formed on Twitter under the hashtag #newcastlemorningphoto in August 2010 by ABC1233 Newcastle radio’s Afternoon announcer Carol Duncan after seeing other Twitter users tag photos of their own home towns.
A group was set up a short time later on Flickr by The Novocastrian Files editor Siobhan Curran as a way of permanently capturing many of the photos that were streaming through.
Join an ever-growing collaborative project that reveals Newcastle in the light of the locals. Flickr is a free online photo sharing site and anyone can sign up and submit photos.
For instructions on how to set up an account and begin submitting your photos, go here. Simply take a photo, upload it to Flickr and add it to the newcastlemorningphoto group. It’s really that simple.
Photos submitted by 5pm on 14 February will have a shot at consideration for inclusion in a special Renew Newcastle exhibition (details TBA).
Come along to the launch of The Roost Creative at 6pm on Thursday 10 February at 426 King St.
This latest Renew project is a collaborative design, print, production & exhibition space. It’s a place to share ideas, networks and equipment amongst a friendly design community.
Join us at 6pm for the first session of DesignSpeaks, The Roost’s program of monthly talks. Kent Woodcock of Kent Woodcock Creative Solutions will talk about what it means to collaborate on creative projects.
At 6.30pm it’s time to get to know the roosters. Check out the space and find out how you can be involved.
We’ll also be opening The Roost Showcase #1, an exhibition of fresh and exciting design, hatched in Newcastle. And music by Emma Davison.
RSVP to info@theroostcreative.com.au by 3 February.
To find out more, look for theroostcreative on facebook, or email info@theroostcreative.com.au
Call for submissions – The Roost Showcase #1
Calling all creatives! Show us what you can do. The Roost Creative is seeking submissions from local graphic designers, illustrators, photographers and others working in the digital realm for Showcase #1, an exhibition showcasing fresh and exciting work, hatched in Newcastle.
Fourteen submitted works will be selected for an exhibition to coincide with the launch of The Roost at 6pm on 10 February.
Submit your work by 5 February to info@theroostcreative.com.au. We’re looking for work that can be reproduced in large format (a PDF at 300dpi). If your work is selected, we will print it in A0 format and works will be hung in The Roost gallery space. A printing fee of $20 will apply for each work chosen for exhibition.
Submit works by 5 February to info@theroostcreative.com.au.
Pink Narcissus. Erotic Prayers and Paintings by Rose Turner. “Each work has become a hedonistic delight with a primary focus on the human body. Pink Narcissus will feature romantic colours, Rococo decoration, mythic themes, hardcore nudity and a sprinkling of catholic guilt for good measure.” See more about this event on Facebook Opening Night Fri 3 Dec, 7pm. Exhibition period until Sun 18 Dec. ARThive, Upstairs, 111 Hunter St (entry off morgan St).
ARThive are currently seeking proposals for their 2011 exhibition program. Offering “an inexpensive gallery solution to untrained artists, hobbyists, doodlers, curators, out-of-towners, first timers, experimenters, performers, film-makers, photographers, comic bookers, musicians, and those trying to get that first foot-in-the-door of the Newcastle art scene”. More information at subjecthive.blogspot.com
The Red Lantern Night Market offers up a cornucopia of quality arts products, clothes, food, jewellery, homewares, with several Renew artists on show. You’ll find landscape photography from Shannon Hartigan Images, handmade jewellery by Art Brasil, handmade art wearables by Makespace, prints of antique ships & giant squid by David Hampton and guerilla fashion by Before It Began . Sat 27 Nov & Sat 13 Dec, 4-9pm. Hunter St Mall & lanes.
Painter Rebecca Holmes has busy in the studio, finishing some amazing large scale realist portraits for her Fine Art degree, as well as organising the 3rd year/graduate show at Watt Space, the student gallery of the University of Newcastle. The Looking Forward Opening Night: Thur 25 Nov, 6pm. Exhibition period: Weds 24 Nov – Sun 12 Dec. Auckland St. Explore the online catalogue which profiles these graduating students www.lookingforwardexhibition.com
In Newcastle Wext, Vox Cyclops have a new show from Phoebe Macdonald “Rufus Trilby’s Sleeping on the steppes & other tales”. The paintings are narrative works referencing ‘OSTERN’ – a genre of central asian westerns – and the portraits and other work from Phoebe’s sketch books are in ink and oils.
Open until 8pm on Fri 3 Dec. Otherwise, Tues-Sat 11-5pm. 515 Hunter St, Newcastle West.
Make Space will be celebrating this coming First Friday of the month with a quadruple whammy of celebratory stuff – general christmassy cheers and beers and nibbles; toasting the new space and all who venture therein; welcoming our newest member Amorelita Clayton and her beautiful ceramic wares (pictured); and loving Gillian Bencke’s exhibition of unique hand stitched critters. Open 5-7pm on Fri 3 Dec, otherwise Tues-Sat 10-3pm. Shop 2/111 Hunter St Mall (next to One Penny Black).
Galactic Encounters: Astrophotography by Eddie and Bernie Bernard. Keen amateur astronomers since childhood, identical twins Bernie & Eddie Bernard have focused on astrophotography for many years. Particularly since the recent construction of their own observatory in the Dungog area, Bernie and Eddie have concentrated on photographing distant galaxies. This is the first time that any of their stunning photographs have been exhibited. More. Open 7pm, Fri 3 Dec. At Gallery Raw, 202 King St.
