Mark Bailey - Pattern at Chrissie Cotter Gallery.

I happened across Mark Bailey's charming show 'Pattern' this afternoon. I was out looking for boots which I found and since I was virtually going right past, decided to see what show was up at Marrickville's Chrissie Cotter gallery. Its the first time I have seen Mark's work and as the title of the show suggests there is a lot of pattern and variation on themes. Mark was kind enough to let me grab this portrait of him with the installation artwork 'The  moon and my son'.  The show is not up for long so if you want to see it you will need to get down there from Wednesday or next weekend. you can find pictures of the works in the show on Mark's website here, http://www.markbailey.com.au/. I was particularly taken with the coloured square pattern on small wooden squares series and the maple tree series as well. On until Sunday the 21st of July.. And yes they are cardboard telescopes jutting into the portrait of Mark, telescopes and phases of the moon, beautiful!

The Chrissie Cotter Gallery is located in Pidcock Street, Camperdown.

Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 

Mark Bode at China Heights and a lot of Tattoos too..

Well if it's Friday night it's China Heights; and this Friday it's international Graffiti, Comic and Tattoo artist Mark Bode. Talking with some of the people in attendance it is pretty clear that he is a legend in his genre and it was all pretty bloody cool at that; just like the crowd. Of course each different artist that exhibits at China Heights brings with them a different style of crowd and that's what I love. Having just delivered a Sydney 'Street Snap' for next months Nylon Japan  in collaboration with street style colleague Xiaohan Shen  and having marched and stood still all over Sydney in the often slim hope of finding Street Style; its nice to go out  and see so much style as well as great art all in one place.

Nude, is the New Black!

I suppose it had to happen & I am not referring to garments in a skin tone style. Nudity it seems is everywhere in fashion right now. Not just the flash of a breast or of a pretty young quim as photographed for Vogue France by Mario Testino. We are talking about full nudity, whatever happened to the clothes! Over the past couple of days I have been perusing the editorial photo stories over on Fashionising & can you imagine my shock and horror to find full frontal female nudity! OK Helmut Newton probably got there first in a strictly fashion sense with shots like "The Unclothed and the Clothed" for Vogue France circa 1981 or; even earlier with "Laura dressed in a fox cape, Avenue George V, Paris, 1974".
I am not sure why they always put NSFW next to these stories but being a photographer and being quite frankly mildly dishlexic; I always think the story has something to do with NSW the Australian state I live in and always click to see what is going on. Of course being so socially minded and a touch touched, as the saying goes as you can well image I get to see an aweful lot of nudity every single day! It kind of reminds me of my first job where there was a pile of Playboy magazines in the lunch room, I mean that was at work... Not to mention the first photographer I ever worked for shot for both Playboy & Penthouse & that was work! Sure it was a dirty job but someone had to do it...
So as you can probably imagine I was quite overcome; in a William Burroughs and Brion Gysin, "Cut Up" kind of way, when I attended last night; the 'Qualia' show at Mils Gallery near Central Station in Surry Hills.
Not only was there a B&W nude floating in the galleries display window; but once inside there was all manner of phsyco-sexual imagery! But enough of my talk, here are the shots from last night.

Art Performance.

The Vulvic Knitting Nancy

The phallic Rorschach Blot, (there was also a wombic one).

My own attempt at a photographic Rorschach test outside!

J.G. Ballard would be proud; no?

Picture (from the show) by Ella Condon. There's a theme er I think...

I always have a soft spot for Houndstooth Tweed.

This shoe and tights como reminded me of one of the great loves of my life. Meagan; come on lets talk, its been forever!

Ernest Aaron photographed in front of his work. Strangely I Perceived no Psyco-Sexual nature to this work at all (it could just be me) and asked him how he got to be hung in this show? However I did invite him to my show at SNO. BIG PLUG

I am having a solo show of my SNO portraits at SNO on the 8-05-2010, thats next month! Its my second solo and will feature over 30 of my SNO portraits taken over the last 4+ years. The show is also part of the Head On Photography Festival.

Opening is 3 till 6 pm on the 8th, all welcome. See you there.

Sydney Non Objective Gallery
First Floor 175 Marrickville
Road Marrickville.

All I can say is the 90s porn of Terryworld is gone. Black is Back. And it's wearing such a fine thread, no-one can see it at all.


http://milsgallery.com/ Great show. on NOW!

Rachael Contemplates

Rachael Contemplates what needs to be done before end of term at National Art School. Photographed in her backyard in Marrickville. I keep telling her not to worry, shes got the work!

Rachael's work

Relax, its all good.

You can also check out her blog on my blog roll on the right.