Anthony Cahill : There was a Story once Forgotten

Anthony Cahill & Pollyxenia Joannou : Red Herring IV

Dia de Los Muertos: Red Girl in Mexico - Sarah Gibson at UPspace

Opening 30th October - exhibition continues 31st October—1st November 2015

In 2013 Sarah undertook an artist residency in Oaxaca, Mexico to immerse herself in Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations when the living welcome the dead with feasts, vigils and parades, with private and collective acts of remembering.

What is it like when death is very alive in the cultural imagination? The sheer size and quirky vibrancy of the giant papier-mâché skeletons and puppets created by Mexican artists inspired this series of drawings.

 Working with oil pastel Sarah explores the colours and liveliness of a Mexican approach to death. She uses her character ‘Red Girl’ to play with her own anxieties about death, in particular her fear of unlived life.  “ I am interested in the permeability between the living and the dead and between life and death. I am curious about how we bring awareness of death into life.”

Detail, Spider Mother, 2015

Self Portrait, Oaxaca, 2014

Dia de Los Muertos: Red Girl in Mexico is at UPspace, UPstudios Gallery until 1st November. Hut 14, Addison Rd, Marrickville. See map below

Insight out of sight art competition

Graham Byrne is a finalist in a competition to paint 1 of 8 traffic signal boxes , some of which can be seen, already painted, in the Leichhardt, Balmain areas. His box is outside the Royal Hotel in Norton St, cnr Carlisle St, and will be done in the next couple of weeks. Originally , the design was about Callan Park, being close to there, the moons referrring to psychiatric patients, and the dogs to the now wonderful space for them and people. It is odd enough to fit anywhere.