“Art & About” trots into Erskineville

22 August 2008

Erskineville village is being transformed into a haven of horse activity for Art & About 2008.

"Produced by the City of Sydney, Art & About is already Sydney's biggest public art festival," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.

"This new project will see public spaces, shopfronts, streets and buildings in Erskineville come alive with a public art project linking Erskineville's colourful history and personal stories to the wonderful village community precinct that it is today."

Created by local artist Annie Kennedy, "The Stables" will celebrate, honour and remember the rich history of horses in the Erskineville area.  Not so long ago, Erskineville was alive with working horses making deliveries of milk and bread, selling clothes, rabbits, wood and other household items. Some residents kept horses, while Clydesdale horses for Penfolds stationers were housed in stables in Union Street when the area was first settled as a working farm.

"The Stables will act as a counterbalance to our modern lifestyle and remember a way of life that used to exist here in Erskineville," said Annie.

"I want to break into consciousness, giving people another perspective by raising questions about what has been in this area before and what might be here after."

Annie Kennedy's The Stables includes:

Clay Horse Exhibition in Erskineville Road Shopfronts: 11 - 26 October
· Between 19 and 20 August, every house in Erskineville will be delivered a block of clay with instructions on how to make a small model horse.
· Residents will have two weeks to make a small model horse.
· Free Community Workshop: on Saturday 30^th August, 10am - 2pm, Annie Kennedy will host a Community Workshop on Erskineville Road to help members of the public craft their horse.
· Thousands of clay horses will be collected, fired and displayed in shop windows on Erskineville Road, 11 - 26 October 2008.
· Children attending Erskineville Public School, St Mary's Primary School, SDN childcare & Lady Gowrie childcare centres will create drawings to be exhibited along Erskineville Road.

The Stable Installation: 12 - 26 October, 11am - 7pm
· Located on Erskineville Road, an installation called The Stable will feature video interviews with local residents, projections and memorabilia referencing the horses and stables in Erskineville.
· The Stable will be open to the public 7 days a week, 12 October - 26 October, 11am - 7pm.

Procession of Horses: 18 October, 3pm - 5pm
· A procession of horses will meander through Erskineville's back lanes.
· The procession marks both the return and the loss of horses from the area.   

Free Public Celebration: Saturday 11 October, 6pm to 11pm.  The entire community is encouraged to attend this free celebration with:
· Giant horse projections viewed from Erskineville Road.
· Opening of The Stable installation.
· Live horses, horse and cart rides. 

Other Art & About 2008 attractions include:

· Sydney Life: 4 - 26 October: Twenty - two humorous, moving and vibrant artworks by Australia's top photographers presented in a wonderful outdoor gallery in Hyde Park North. A record 830 images were submitted to Sydney Life this year, with the winning photographer to collect a $10,000 prize consisting of $5,000 cash plus a $5,000 investment in the AMP Capital Sustainable Share Fund.

· The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Month Night Noodle Markets each weekday night from October 13 to 24 in Hyde Park North.

· Open Gallery Retrospective: 7 - 26 October: Eighteen of the finest Open Gallery artworks from the last 6 years will be shown on 850 banners throughout the City of Sydney

· By George! 4October - late January 2009: By George! promotes local Sydney artists producing high quality artworks to encourage people to rediscover and celebrate the City's laneways and forgotten spaces.By George! is part of the City's Laneways Strategy to revitalise and breathe new life into the City Centre and provide intimate places to rest and relax amongst the hustle and bustle of life in Sydney.

· Art & About on Oxford Street
-          Love TV @ Taylor Square: 9 - 19 October: A mock TV station in Taylor Square featuring interviews, history and personal stories relating to Oxford Street and surrounds.
-          Works by Darlinghurst artist Gareth Ernst in the heritage toilets, Taylor Square North.
-          "Rock on Oxford" - a podcast tour of the rock and roll history of Oxford Street and surrounds.
-          The Oxford Art Factory art and entertainment program.
-          "Parade" Historical Walking Tour on Oxford Street, hosted by a City historian.
-          Designing Our City: An investigation of Sydney's Urban Future presented by Object Gallery in partnership with UTS. Explores questions of technology, public space, art and technology in response to the City's 2030 Strategy.

· Danks Street Festival Sunday 26 October, 11am - 4pm: An all-day street festival including live music, a local artists' market, roving entertainers, gourmet food stalls and fresh produce in one of Sydney's most exciting food and art hubs - Danks Street, Waterloo.

Art & About runs from October 4 - November 2
and is produced by the City of Sydney
For more information visit www.artandabout.com.au

Art & About is proudly sponsored by Major Sponsor AMP Capital Investors and Media Partner The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Month. The Sydney Life People's Choice Award is sponsored by FUJIFILM Australia.

Media Contact: Leanne Lincoln (02) 9265 9910 or llincoln@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Related Resources

 
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