The Festival Spirit Takes Over At Fortyfivedownstairs

This week at festival spirit takes over!
Queensland based artists Russell Craig and Jo D'Hage have brought two beautiful exhibitions to fortyfivedownstairs from Queensland, and the Carnival of Mysteries opens in the Theatre.
Gallery: Vestiges of Hope Unseen
Jo D'Hage
Until 9 October

In Vestiges of Hope Unseen, Jo D'Hage paints darkly imagined landscapes inhabited by her collection of ceramic swans and swallows, the ornaments of an earlier era, inhabit imagined landscapes - a silhouetted group of swans calmly watches a shooting volcano, gleaming swallows are temporarily grounded, another swoops above a fragment of classical sculpture.
Gallery: Objects of Navigation
Russell Craig
Until 9 October

In Objects of Navigation, Craig was originally inspired by Melanesian paddles used for propelling outrigger canoes through water. But the images are just a starting point, as Craig builds up surfaces of his charcoal drawings with complex variations of texture and tone.

Performance: Carnival of Mysteries
Finucane & Smith

We are preparing to be completely overwhelmed by the astonishing and joyful energy of Moira Finucane and Jackie Smith and crew, with their latest show Carnival of Mysteries, part of this year's Melbourne Festival.

The theatre has been transformed into a carnival of sideshows, through which the audience will wander, dipping into the varied delights on show. In the miniature circus "tent of miracles", each panel individually painted, you can see a different show every ten minutes. It will be unadulterated fun and entertainment, with 30 artists involved in creating an unforgettable event. Old favourites abound, new experiences await!

Season continues until October 30th. A warning, over half the performances are sold out, and there is very limited availability for remaining performances Do not delay!

Dates: 6 - 30 October 2010
Times: Various times, see perfomance schedule online (pdf)
Prices: Full $36.50/ Concession $26.50
Bookings: Book online here or give us a call on (03) 9662 9966

And more performance in the gallery upstairs - from October 12 42a comes to fortyfivedownstairs.

Gallery: 42a
Alison Currie
12 - 23 October

South Australian dancer/choreographer/ director Alison Currie brings 42a, a live performance installation about house and home.

Themes include memories attached to objects, personal relationships within this space, instructions found in the home, how individuals relate to the physical constructs of a house, as well as notions of home, where that is, and the possibility of creating this space within one's imagination.

42a is an installation in the large gallery with a series of free performances showing during gallery hours until October 23.
Call for entries: Victorian Indigenous Art Awards

We are happy to announce that fortyfivedownstairs has been commissioned by Arts Victoria as its venue partner to organise and present the important Victorian Indigenous Art Awards, now in its sixth year.

We are pleased to welcome Nicholas Boseley who is taking up the position of resident assistant curator for the awards.

Categories include the Deadly Art Award, sponsored by Arts Victoria, and the Koorie Heritage Trust Acquisition Award. Further awards will be announced prior to the awards ceremony in March 2011.

The shortlisted and award winning works will be exhibited in the fortyfivedownstairs gallery from 12 March to 2 April 2011.

For entry forms or further information, contact Nicholas Boseley at fortyfivedownstairs on 03 9662 9966 or email viaa@fortyfivedownstairs.com.

You can follow news of the 2011 VIAA through our blog: www.indigenousartawards.com.au and through Facebook.

Bookings for all fortyfivedownstairs shows: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com tel 9662 9966