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The WARDLOW Art Residence

WARDLOW Art Residence is a space which re-discovers that basic connection between artists and their art - in ways which aren't compromised by bureaucracy or the art industry.

WARDLOW adds value to the gallery convention. A place where artists can live in a progressive space - generating ideas, developing and exhibiting works. 3 local and international artists are selected from an open call to cheaply live in a Fitzroy warehouse and utilise their own free studio and gallery. WARDLOW hosts 4 shows a year in which the gallery and speak easy bar is open to the public.

 

ANYWAY,

29th Feb 2008, The Age newspaper front page: (a slow news day :- the controversy of Sam painting himself as a Nazi). But it's a scoop...Sam Leach's short listed Archibald prize self portrait was first exhibited at Wardlow on the 29th June '07. Congrats Sam. Very talented ...and he's a good man.

 

Next Residency:::::

Feb '08: WARDLOW is excited to announce the selection of local artist Ash Keating, Scott McPherson, English situationist John Borley and Canadian Derek Mehaffey (AKA: Troy Lovegates) for a 3 month live-in residency from March 1st.

News update!

Unfortunately for Wardlow, Melbourne, and Australia (and Troy), one Troy Lovegates' trip down under is on hold...the poor fella has a rather large dose of flight fear and subsequently missed two flights. Watch this space. If anyone works on a cargo ship please let us know.

 

Scott's recent works:

 

ANYWAY,

General Information about Wardlow:

I'm a curator and film maker who is interested in contemporary art, the artistic process, and its societal impetus. This great warehouse in Melbourne's most lively art precinct, is utilised as a hub of artistic development and exhibition of works achieved by the residents only. I manage the space and want to help support lateral thinking, dedicated, and progressive artists. WARDLOW Art Residence is a communal and creative space; to live, work and network into a healthy art community and beyond. Apart from the rare opportunity to show, maybe gain extended Melbourne exposure and sell their works in their exclusive gallery, Wardlow exists for artists to be a part of an energetic sharehouse that is conducive to the development of ideas, progressive works, and the occasional hearty household dinner.

What I do is a response to an interest in art works that draw attention to the elements of an exchange and communication between people, and the internal exchange - the dynamic relationship one has with oneself and how this affects ones artistic delivery. I feel that if we choose to continue the 'gallery convention' as a venue for art, then we need to add value to it. Turn it into a place where artists can live, ideas discussed, food and drink consumed, films watched; a social space. I am interested in a space which re-discovers that basic connection between artist and audience, in ways which aren't compromised by bureaucracy or the ‘art industry'. These artists tend to be more aware of a connection between what they are doing and the world around them too, as they are not buffered and couched within an artworld of internal references.

2008 will see an illegal billboard selling nothing but provocative ideas. A satirical flag project. A strong body of evocative works. And hopefully plenty of good thinkers.

Brodie Higgs

director/curator

 

"I am convinced that if you start by saying ‘I'm going to destroy everything, I'm going to be modern’, then you won't be modern. You can be modern, and must want to be so, because you must contribute something, but you can be modern only by humbly following your predecessors."
Jean Renoir ...MMMM... IS THE JURY OUT ON THIS????

 

 

Background:

Wardlow is a slightly different residency model to the norm. In a sunny and sizeable, free standing warehouse (2 minutes from the CBD), Wardlow invites 3 artists for a 6 or 3 month live-in or live-out residency. Wardlow is a unique space for the full time development, creation, and exhibition of residency works. The artist household includes a private bedroom, very large workshop space, and an exclusive gallery for any of the 3 artists in residence... and a bar. This creative hub allows Australian and international artists to reside in a energetic artist household, utilize a strong network of Melbourne artists and show works over the period of the artist's residency.

For artists in a 6 month residency, Wardlow hosts an installment 'open studio evening' every 2/3 months in the Wardlow studio/gallery and bar in order to introduce the Wardlow fellows to Melbourne friends and patrons. The public are subsequently able to observe the progression and style of each of the artists and their ideas over an extended period of time. The residency period will end with an exhibition, displaying works and projects accomplished by the artist(s) during his/her stay in Melbourne. For artists in a 3 month residency they will be part of a group show or solo show at the end of their residency period.

In some residencies, this idea is replaced with a solo one off resident show. It all depends. My god it all depends.

At present, the space is subsidised and costs would include $AU120 (approx $US90) per week (with free studio). I advise any cash poor artists (the so very few of you) to get their application in a.s.a.p as travel grants and rental discounts will be applicable for some artists.

 

Melbourne, Australia

For international artists, Melbourne is Australia's cultural capital with a vibrant arts community that exists as the underbelly of the city as a whole. Wardlow Art Residence is situated in the hub of the most dense of the art precincts (Fitzroy), existing as a network for Melbourne artists and the residents alike. I will not go into how good Melbournians are as a people, as that may be subjective.

 

Philosophy

Wardlow is keen on fostering strong individual movement and progression in the artists' works over their period in residency.

Wardlow is for artists who want to capitalise on the opportunity to create a strong body of works, explore their own individual artistic movement over the duration of their residency and those with a sense of exploratory personal and societal narratives. The gallery is exclusive to the residents (including collaborations). Wardlow is interested in self motivated and lateral thinking artists.

Artists in residence are asked to dedicate their minds, time and works to the residency ... a significant part of time spent at Wardlow is asked to be dedicated to creating works and developing impacting ideas.

Artists have artistic autonomy and all works completed at Wardlow are owned by the artist. Works chosen by artist and curator will be available for acquisition by patrons of Wardlow. The studio will be available for private appointments the week prior to open studio evenings and the final group show.

 

Gallery

All income generation in the Wardlow space is at a 35% commission.

Collaborations are always a possibility.

Apart from the primary residency program and the art creative space, special events and such initiatives as collaboration 'art saturdays' with other galleries could be organised in the adjacent park and Wardlow gallery: local and touring bands, drinks, food, and exhibition (collaboration) works inside.

(see APPLY tag for more info)

 

To hear an excerpt with me and Bruce Berryman from Triple R Radio's art program 'Sitelines' talking about the philosophy of Wardlow, click here.

 

 

 

News

Feb '08: The second group had their final show...with an opening night and rapturous closing party. It all helps but is no means the primary objective, but each of the artists sold their residential works. Yay.

 

Oct '07: The second group's 3 artists (Sylvia Jeffriess (Melbourne), Tess McNamara (Melbourne), and Masato Nagai (Japan) had their first Wardlow open studio on friday Oct 5. See 'Pictures' tab for pictures and Artists Tab for reference material.

Their final group show will be held in the end of Jan'08 (or maybe mid Feb depending if they get their act together! hehe).

 

July '07: Final show from last residency was on the 29th June 2007 - at the Wardlow Studio, Gallery and Bar...

:Katie has come to the end of her residency at Wardlow and she has been bloody fantastic. Her 6 month's work and final show is posted in the Artists section...it is a truly wonderful body of works. Well done Katie!

For Katie's final show, Wardlow was also pleased to announce a collaboration with Sam Leach and Hugh Davies. Here is some of Sam's most recent works:

 

Example of Katie's final show: Go to "Artists" tab to see full show.

 

Final Show sample painting from Sam Leach: ... (a tongue in cheek self portrait)

Here Sam placed these two miniature paintings in the magnifying glass set-up in the middle:

 

1st show sample drawing from Jackson: ...