Tag Archives: SKAC

St Kilda Arts Alive Sept. 2018

Supported by Creative Victoria the St Kilda Arts Community launched their third art crawl this September with a special event at St Kilda’s iconic Palais Theatre.

MC Tony Bolton and comedien Nikki Osborne hosted the fun filled evening with Bernadene Voss the Mayor of the City of Port Phillip as keynote speaker.

The Mayor was joined by Cr Ogy Simic and Cr Marcus Pearl in celebrating and endorsing the official launch of St Kilda Arts Alive Sept 2018 Art Crawl.

The view of the St Kilda art scene over the weekend was more intimate than in previous art crawls with most of the activities happening within the established art galleries, where art enthusiasts met and engaged with the artists and their art through organized walking tours.

Currently with 23 empty shops, the sunset side of Fitzroy Street was light on in participation. However Tolarno Restaurant hosted a beautiful exhibition by national treasure Mirka Mora, St Luja, an extraordinary Pop-Up Poetry event presented by Grid Art Space titled Tribute to Women featuring five amazing poets and musicians in Marian Webb, Rowena Molloy, Belle Phoenix, Lisa Wood and Annemarie Bowman. The Pelican featured an outstanding photographic exhibition by St Kilda based visual artist Alan Cotton as well as kicking off their Jazz afternoons on Sundays. The Paris end of Fitzroy Street had Textured Life by Kate Drinnan open the doors to the public along with the Alex Theatre featuring among other artists sculptor Adrian Spur and theatrical productions over the weekend.

The  Novotel curated a very impressive exhibition with artist in residence Justine Kuran,

A stage was erected in Acland Street Mall showcasing entertainment over the weekend. Planetary Healing Artists presented a multi cultural celebration for the International Day of Peace on Friday. On Saturday night the arts community commandeered the stage where Carol Ann Gill’s Pantomime Productions presented a teaser from The Frog Prince. On Sunday various spoken word along with local and visiting performing artists graced the stage throughout the day.

The Acland Street precinct had special events at Memo Music Hall, Made in Earth, Empower, Toot, Art Yarramunua, Readings, Abby Road, Comedy at Big Mouth and an exhibition by Salik Silverstein at Leroys.

Barkly Street, St Kilda Road and Carlisle Streets precincts shined bright this crawl with 106art, the Storehouse, 4Diverse, Body Gallery, Space2b, Maureen Williams, Ilanel and Design Studio going all out to put on top exhibitions.

The Post Pop-Up Gallery situated upstairs presented by Grid Art Space featured the works of seven local artists in Dino Damiani, Robert Scholten, Rainbow Clarke, Salik Silverstein, Salvatori Lolicato, Calthestoner and Remen Blake Hambly.

As Policy values the positive influence of art and culture as a fertile way to energize St Kilda, State and local government’s are keen to support the creative endeavors of organizations like the St Kilda Arts Community, a non-for profit managed by a small and dedicated team of volunteers.

Text & images by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com

ART LABYRINTH – Pick My Project – We Need Your Vote!

Think Attenborough, think Truman, think science lab, peep show, theatre, movie studio.
Constructed in the studio space of the Alex Theatre, spectators follow a labyrinthine passageway past enclosed artist spaces where, through peepholes, they can anonymously observe artists engaged in a studio environment. Showcasing highly specialist art forms, chosen St. Kilda Artists will offer a rare and intimate view into their sacred creative space.
A painter, performance artist, a letterpress printmaker, sculptor, an installation artist, a photographer, a ceramicist. The darkened labyrinth passageway will be covered but the studios not. The spectacle will be documented using multimedia from every conceivable angle.

GAS (Grid Art Space) is the dynamic collaboration of St Kilda based artist in residence, master printmaker and sculptor Adrian Spurr and media producer / publicist Kerrie Pacholli.

GAS champions artistic achievement that enriches the St Kilda community and welcomes the creative endeavours of film makers, visual artist, performing artists and art enthusiasts across the City of Port Phillip.

Over the last year GAS has successfully produced, curated and promoted several dynamic pop up art galleries showcasing the works of 18 St Kilda artists as part of the St Kilda Art Crawl incentive hosted by the St Kilda Arts Community Inc.

We are now bidding for your voting support for our next collaborative project ART LABYRINTH to be held at the  Alex Theatre in St Kilda in January 2019 as part of the Pick My Project, a Victorian first community grants initiative.

Pick My Project is a Victorian-first community grants initiative, with at least $1 million in funding available in each metro and regional area.

Now It’s time to vote! Pick your three favourite project ideas in your local community and help make them a reality.

WE NEED YOUR VOTE!

Voting ends 17 September 2018

click here: PICK MY PROJECT

Creativity, art, power & politics

by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com

St Kilda Identities Serge Thomann, Johnny Iodine & Henry Greener image by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com
St Kilda Identities Serge Thomann, Johnny Iodine & Henry Greener at the Vineyard during the inaugural SKAC launch image by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com

Back in mid August 2017 I joined the ranks of the community minded, consisting mainly of a small group of residents.

Over a number of years these individuals had watched their beloved St Kilda in parts, become a barren wasteland. Business in pockets throughout St Kilda had taken a nose drive. Large numbers of the artistic community that had once elevated St Kilda as the artistic epicenter of Melbourne had fled to Brunswick.

Inspired by the strategies of local businesses in other withering cities around the world this group set about igniting creative spirit into the city they loved. The non-for-profit charity The St Kilda Art Crawl was born.

I came on board quite late in the piece, by invitation from one of the founders; it was about 4 weeks before the date of the September art crawl. My first impression was this creative movement has legs. I noted the commitment of the organizers and decided to jump on board boots and all as a volunteer.

My job was to assist with online publicity. The second thing I noted was that the galleries, local businesses and established artists although expressing interest in this event were dragging their heals to officially commit. The main difference between this St Kilda art event and other cities around the world were individuals who were not local property or business owners were organizing this. The pressure was on.

I was way out of touch with the St Kilda art scene and only knew of a couple of galleries that had decided not to participate at that time.

Local artist Marko Maglaic was among the first to commit his time, talents and name on the dotted line in curating a collective pop up exhibition in Christ Church in Acland Street.

A chance meeting with local artist Salvatori Lolicato at 95 Acland Street Café lead me to produce a filmed and written interview with another Shakespeare Grove Artists Studios artist Adrian Spurr and then I was in the business of publicizing local artists in reference to the September 2017 St Kilda Art Crawl.

Two weeks to the crawl date we met Freddie Warschauer owner of a big chunk of real estate on the sunset side of Fitzroy Street. We asked him about the potential of using his window spaces for art and straight up he was keen as punch to put his time, resources and properties to work for a successful Fitzroy Street art crawl contribution.

Property owners Jenny Li and Rob Semple also decided to contribute and gave us the keys to 33 Fitzroy Street and we proceeded to produce what eventually turned out to be two pop up gallery’s showcasing the works of 18 artists over two crawls.

The St Kilda Live Music and St Kilda Comedy Club became proactive and the Espy opened their doors for the first time in years to support them and the crawl with local council deciding to give some money to make this happen.

The seeds of enthusiasm and positive creativity took flight among the arts community.

May 2018 saw the second St Kilda Art Crawl come to life with over 32 galleries including five pop ups stretching from Fitzroy Street, Barkly Street, St Kilda Road and Carlisle Street. With a 60% increase in community participation the event is considered a success by the organizers.

I asked Serge Thomann Photographer and Deputy Mayor of the CoPP between 2012 – 2016 his perspective about art in St Kilda.

How do you feel power, politics and money can assist the St Kilda Arts Community?

It is not known by many that Local Government is the government body that spend the most money on culture and art, from running libraries (Port Phillip has got 5), providing spaces (Gasworks, Linden, Multicultural Arts Victoria, Save the ABC, Carlisle Streets The Gallery, Shakespeare Grove Artists Studios, etc) to supporting local organisations (Red Stitch, Theatreworks, Rawcus, Phillip Adams Ballet Lab, MAV, Brightspace, The Torch, just to name a few) and individuals through various grants. There are also staff members who help artists and companies and mentor them. Obviously, the funds provided by a Council can make a big difference in the cultural landscape of a city. St Kilda has been an art hub for decades and we need to keep some of the creative juices flowing through our village. I believe artists are much better in running art programs – but they need to be funded, e.g. the importance of a Council. After due diligence, of course.

 How do you feel the St Kilda Arts Community can further give voice and make room for artists, art and creative pursuits?

As St Kilda is getting more gentrified, it is always more difficult for artists to find a voice and a space in our village. Artists have always had to fight for survival. And some artists are good, and some not so good. Or should I say popular or not so popular. St Kilda still has got great artists living here – painters (Peter Booth, Andrew Taylor, Lewis Miller, Ann Middleton, Alan Mittleman, Chris Beaumont, just to name a few), film makers and actors, fashion designers, sculptors, photographers, writers, comedians, etc… but most are a bit older and have been in St Kilda for many years. I agree, probably most of the young and up and coming artists live on the other side of the Yarra. There are several artists studios and spaces, but at the end, people should buy more art so more artists can live from their work. The St Kilda Arts Community does provide exposure for artists, creates a buzz around them. Being an artist can be a lonely world but SKAC brings them together and creates a family. This can only be encouraged. I am right behind it. Money can help, but it is not the only valuable ingredient for growth and prosperity.                                            

 

 

Live performance by Sophie Ruolle at 33 Fitzroy St. 23 – 24 Sept

As part of the inaugural St Kilda Art Crawl launch Punchinello pop up gallery is hosting some very exceptional artists. Do not miss performances by the beautiful and talented Sophie Ruolle.

Sophie Ruolle performing at 33 Fitzroy Street, 23 – 24 Sept

Sponsor of pationpics.com
Sponsor of pationpics.com

Martin Foley urging Victorians to get behind The St Kilda Art Crawl 2017

Martin Foley Minister for the Arts in the Daniel Andrews’  State Labor Government speaking about the enormous potential for the Port Phillip precinct assigned to The St Kilda Art Crawl to be launched on the 21, 22 & 23 of September 2017.

Martin Foley Minister for the Arts in the Daniel Andrews State Government with the driving creatives propelling St Kilda Art Crawl, Simon Barnett and Mick Pacholli
Martin Foley Minister for the Arts in the Daniel Andrews State Government with Simon Barnett, Mick Pacholli and Tim Barnett from the St Kilda Art Crawl..

 

SKAC is a non for profit community incentive spearheaded by passionate local St Kilda creatives who are determined to bring the artistic community along with it’s mojo back to St Kilda and the Port Phillip precinct.

Martin Foley Minister for the Arts in the Daniel Andrews State Government with the driving creatives propelling St Kilda Art Crawl, Simon Barnett and Mick Pacholli
Martin Foley Minister for the Arts in the Daniel Andrews State Government with Simon Barnett and Mick Pacholli; the driving force propelling The St Kilda Art Crawl.

 

 

 

film & post production by Simon and Tim Barnett Mynewsroom in association with pationpics.com Images by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com

ST KILDA ART CRAWL 21 – 23 Sept 2017

Born from universal art and culture. Inspired by California’s successful community strengthening Venice Art Crawl and fuelled by St Kilda’s passionate grass roots’ creatives.  The St Kilda Art Crawl has arrived.

Similar to St Kilda’s sister city of Venice Beach in California and like the Venice Art Crawl, St Kilda Art Crawl is a not for profit incentive for the people by the people.

It’s aim is to galvanise community spirit and co operation by proactively integrating the business world with the world of art and culture. The life blood of any great city.  This is a unified drive inviting St Kilda’s local artist, musicians, writers, poets and street artists to share and celebrate who they are with the world.

As well as combined effort and support from the local traders, artists will be supported by extensive media coverage through TV, Radio and online media.

The World is Your Oyster so get involved!

Last night Wilbur Wilde was MC at Acland Street’s Veludo Cafe host to the second Mixer for SKAC bringing together artists, enthusiasts and local traders in preparation for the next St Kilda Art Crawl on the 22 – 23 of September 2017 – a week before the grand final; and with a collaborative spirit SKAC and VAC will be streaming events via their mutual Facebook pages linking the sister cities in celebration.

Original SKAC member Mick Pacholli in Q & A
Original SKAC member Mick Pacholli in Q & A
Colonel Pietro Iodice chairman of SKAC in Q & A
Colonel Pietro Iodice chairman of SKAC in Q & A
Geoffrey Fry SKAC Creative Director in Q & A
Geoffrey Fry SKAC Creative Director in Q & A
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Enthusiastic brethren
Coin Talbot with partner Liz with Jean and Wilbur Wilde MC for the evening
Colin Talbot with partner Liz, friend  Jean and Wilbur Wilde MC for the evening

Film by MYnewsroom Tim & Simon Barnett & pationpics.com  Photographs and promo by Kerrie Pacholli