Art is rubbish

An event in Redfern just a week ago, called the Redfern Biennale brought yet another dimension to living in this area of inner city Sydney.  

The entire premise for Redfern Biennale is very shiftazine in its philosophy. 

Shiftazine was very fortunate to be apart of this wonderful, innovative day which was the brain child of gallerist Damien Minton.

The following article from The Broadsheet summed up the event: 

A housing commission precinct is hardly the first place that springs to mind for a Biennale. But this

weekend there’s the chance to experience exactly that. The inaugural Redfern Biennale takes its

inspiration from the social media account of Damien Minton Gallery, which profiles the provoking 

and unintentional beauty in Redfern’s streets.

With a brief that casts its net far and wide, the aim for artists and other willing participants is to create

artworks in the housing commission area or to point out what’s already in situ. The day begins by

picking up a Biennale map at the gallery, which details the location of each of the works in the area,

and then head out on foot to find the compelling and baffling delights.

This Biennale is bound to contain a rich variety of artworks, found objects and unexpectedness. It’s a

location which is rarely associated with high aesthetic ambition, but with this “clusterfuck of

ephemeral artworks”, as described by Minton, you’re bound to see high art as well as more humble

splendors. From the Broad Sheet: By Celina Siriyos

Creative thinking never weighs you down

Once it could said that Redfern Street in inner Sydney was always a little on the thin side for a place to take a coffee 

and have a chat with friends or locals. And then a shift occurred in the hood.

An explosion of cafes, restaurants, and wonderful new stores full of beautiful pre loved things appeared.

The cafe COFFEE, TEA & ME opened in 2011, helped changed the sense of the hood for the good, better, best.

The first inventive cafe furniture of Coffe,Tea and Me, was a delight. 

Interesting people taking their coffees, sitting on the most charming pre loved, pre used objects that work very well _

An old wooden ironing board serves as a table for four, bicycle seats that have been placed on top of stools, 

kindergarten tables and chairs all offer you a place to sit and watch the hustle and bustle of the street. 

Now one can find small tables made of old bathroom scales anchored securely to metal legs. 

Yet another charming, witty idea.  

93B Redfern Street, Redfern Sydney.

www.coffeeteaandme.com.au t: 02 9008 7121

Vespa_2 cool 4 now

Downscaling one's lifestyle in all its aspects does not mean comprising one's cool factor.  
As a matter of fact, the more concerned we are with dear planet earth, the more attractive we are. 
Lose the 4 wheels, let alone the 4 wheel drive, get 2 wheels and rediscover your city.
La regina della strada!

Panelpop Art Gallery...A sweet surprise

Brunswick Street, Smith Street, Johnson Street, Gertrude Street are all in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia.  

It has quiet a few art galleries and Panelpop is one of them.

Nice people, with a lovely sense of style.  These following pages feature an exhibition that was shown during summer, 

(apologies to the artist as her name has completely slipped my mind, but the gallery would be able to tell you). 
Next time you find yourself in that neck of the woods, go say 'Hi'.  They will most likely say 'Hi' back.

117 Brunswick St Fitzroy VIC 3065 0419 596 743 panelpop.com

Fluoro in the morning, Fluoro in the evening, Fluoro at supper time

Of late there has been a steady emergence of fluoro coloured bags, shoes, nail polish, sunglasses peppering the city streets.  I like it.

Home spun

Australian fabric designer, Bruce Slorach, has created an engaging range of printed canvas which embraces the Australian flora without being naff or cliche.
You can find this wonderful fabric at Chee Soon & Fitzgerald, 173 Regent Street, Redfern.
The people there are so helpful and will ensure you find just what you need. P: 02 8399 1305

ChalkTalk_Someone we know?

IF YOU HAVE A PIECE OF CHALK AND THERE IS A TARMACED FOOTPATH NEARBY...

THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

CHALK DRAWINGS SHOULD NOT BE THE EXCLUSIVE DOMAIN OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD KIDS.  

ENTERTAIN YOURSELF, LET THAT HIDDEN ARTIST OUT,   

AND DRAW SOMETHING!

Just because...

Just love colour! Anywhere, anytime.

Wallism_Dissect & Putting it together

A collage of information and imagery placed carefully on a wall in Gertrude Street Melbourne 
was a perfect vehicle to help launch the new art journal Dissect.  
How clever to engage the wall like a page from the journal. 
It immediately let the viewer know what type of style and content the journal was aiming to deliver.

The Colours of Melbourne: No.1 Away from the sun

The sun does not reach into every corner of this city.  

There is a rich life hidden from the blazing sun that is as vital and integral to the city as its love of sport and all things outdoor. 

The laneways and arcades are such a calm surprise.

A love story_February's Wallism

The care and love that went into creating this piece of Wallism is evident.  
The level of artistic endeavour that now graces the urban wall space of our cities is of a constant wonderment to shiftazine. 
Thank you.

PonyFish_Down under

PonyFish is a truly unique bar which nestles under the Yarra Pedestrian Footbridge (connecting Southbank to Flinders Street station).  
A set of stairs, found at the road level, on the Southbank side, 
takes you down to this watery wonderland. As the City of Melbourne website descibes it “The vibe is eccentric, and the city perspective is very different”.

The tone of PonyFish’s character was completed by Moth Design, 
who converted the small and industrial space into an island of relaxation and fun, 
with the use of recycled timber, shipping palettes acting as seating, hessian sack covers and wooden planter boxes filled with hardy green plants.  
All of this sits overlooking, if not really, immersed in the Yarra River.

The tiny kitchen is open from early early to late into the night producing delicious food that hits the spot and suits the tastebuds, no matter the time of day or night.  
And the coffee, as with most places in Melbourne, is great.

Southgate Pedestrian Bridge/Southgate Avenue, Melbourne VIC 3006

Hours: Mon: 8am – 1am; Tue: 8am – 1am; Wed: 8am – 1am; Thu: 8am – 1am;   Fri: 8am – 1am; Sat: 8am – 1am; Sun: 10am – 1am