News and Past events
Backstage Music Showcase Imposto
“The program IMPOSTO, especially created for Backstage Music, thematically connects seven uniquely designed works navigating pre-determined and naturally existing axes investigating vertical and horizontal shifts in aural dimensions. Inspired by images selected from a monotonic picture book, The Wanderer by Peter van den Ende (Pushkin Press), a sonic trajectory organically unfolds. This guided musical journey explores and features concepts and resultant qualities of sympathetic resonance performed by virtuosic artisans investigating further reaches of their creative facilities.”
Angel Grindr: Pallindrome
Open Chant - Introduction to The Velvet Deep
Anon: Ave Maris Stella
Laura Vaughan : The Velvet Deep
Richie Bell: Perimedusae
Satsuki Odamura: 間 Hazama (Between)
Audrey Ormella: Ice Giant
Jane Sheldon: Aurora: ode to Vayu
Kaija Saariaho: From the Grammar of Dreams
Tadao Sawai: Yureru Aki (Wind)
LEFT BANK “Making Space for Culture” Incubation Program
Woodburn was recently a participant in Left Bank’s Making Space for Culture Incubation Program 2024 which sees a diverse group of property developers and creative and cultural organisations, representing many of the country’s leaders in their respective fields. Over six months, a series of group workshops, networking events, one-on-one mentoring sessions, and homework tasks give the participants the knowledge, tools, and relationships to implement new and strategic approaches to delivering affordable and long-term creative spaces.
We shared our experience and learnings over a series of sessions including a tour of our studios and a pitch to the group.
Special thanks to: Georgia Stone for producing these slides
Cope St Closing
After 2 action packed years, our 2nd building at Cope st Waterloo will be wrapping up at the end of February.
While things have been thriving in the space, the owners have decided to move on their plans to turn this into their fashion house HQ. Even though we had hopes that we might squeeze some more time out of it, we were prepared to make the most of the minimum term. Such is the nature of the beast for affordable warehouse buildings in Sydney.
This space has been such a great opportunity for us. In the time we’ve had it we’ve provided 33 artists, makers, producers and designers studios to work in. The event space has hosted 70 creative activations in the form of exhibitions, photo/film shoots, showcases, launches, workshops, fashion shows, screenings, panel talks, set and sculptural builds. It has also shown us not only our own potential but the potential of Sydney creatives when given the space to explore.
We are actively on the hunt for more spaces to grow into and looking for new opportunities for building leases or partnerships. We have also started working together with other spaces to create more creative spaces in Sydney but more to come on that..
The original site at Redfern will be ongoing but this is the last chance to use this amazing space in Waterloo. We invite anyone with creative ideas in the coming weeks to help send Cope st out with a bang!
Sydney Collage Society - Christmas Card Collage Workshop
We are super excited to host Sydney Collage Society’s Christmas Card Collage Workshop next month at our super central location in Redfern, Sydney on Saturday the 9th of December 2-5pm! 💪🏼
Led by SCS founder @kubism_ you'll have three hours to design your cards, sort images, create stunning layouts, and glue them down 🤩✂️
All materials are provided, with over 200 books on nature, architecture, photography, sport, and science, as well as plenty of fashion and vintage magazines sourced by the SCS 📚
Book your tickets through the link in our Bio ☝🏼 thanks to the legends at @classbento 🎟️
Palava Xmas Show
On the 9th December! there’ll be exhibited works and market stalls from over 50 local female identifying and non-binary creatives, with a portion of profits being donated to @actionaidpalestine 🇵🇸
ARTCLUB SESSION 02- Wabi Sabi (The Perfect Imperfect)
Artclub is a meet-up for creatives of all forms, who have come together with a general appreciation of expression found through various art mediums. The aim of these meet-ups is to encourage artists to express their practice openly through briefing and collaborative conversation.
If you have any questions contact us hello@artclubatourhouse.com or DM us on Instagram @artclubatourhouse .
WHAT TO EXPECT
The session will explore a set theme, informing its history and contemporary interpretation. This is paired with activities and group discussion. You are encouraged to take notes or bring a personal drawing pad to write down your ideas. In your own time, you are invited to create an artwork based on the theme discussed. You will have an opportunity to bring this artwork to the next meeting and receive feedback from the group.
This workshop will be held at Woodburn Creative Artists Studios. There is parking on the surrounding streets or a 5 minute walk from Redfern station. What your ticket includes:
- Presentation and workshop on the set theme
- Drinks provided (no BYO)
- Artistic materials for the exercises (if you have your own preferred materials, please bring along)
- Brief to be sent to you after the event
If you were at our previous session on Time & Motion, you are invited to bring an artwork based on this brief to share with the group for feedback. WIP are also accepted.
United Make Sculptures by the Sea
Mond Qu ( @mondqu )and his team from United Make ( @unitedmake ) made something spectacular for the 25th year of Sculptures by the Sea, right here in our creative space. From Melbourne, to Waterloo, to Tamarama beach, this massive sculpture, assembled piece by piece, and transported module by module for installation, was a real process to witness. Just another example of how raw creative spaces like ours are perfect for large scale builds for ‘one off’ projects and pop-up installations.
Read more about the sculpture here:
Melbourne artist Mond Qu has brought his sculpture ‘Chasing the Sun’ to life using innovative AR technology at Sculpture by the Sea Bondi’s 25th exhibition. Comprising over 1,000 reflective light circles, the sculpture scatters sunlight, creating a dynamic display. Visitors can enhance their experience through a Snapchat AR lens, merging the sculpture with the environment as it tracks the sun’s movement. For those unable to attend, a global Snapchat AR lens developed with Mond Qu allows users worldwide to place the artwork in their own surroundings, creating an interactive connection with ‘Chasing the Sun’. On view at Tamarama beach till November 5th.
Ben Shelley's BEAST Show
Ben Shelley puts on his first runway show at Woodburn Creatives titled BEAST.
ART CLUB
Art Club came to Woodburn Creatives so awesome to meet some new members & get messy in the Redfern space🌟. Thanks so much to @fourpillarsgin was a perfect pairing with our painting.
Artclub is a space to tap into your inner child, unleash on a canvas, meet fellow creatives, make new friends & feel connection to our community 💚✨.
Kudos Emerging Awards
Woodburn Hosted 2023 Kudos Emerging Awards!
Kudos Emerging Awards winners:
Adrian Mok - Kudos Emerging Artist and Designer Award winner
Nic Narapiromkwan Foo - Kudos Emerging Writer Award winner
Kumiko Delaney - Kudos Emerging Artist Highly Commended Award winner
Harry Mae - People’s Choice Award winner
If you didn’t make it to the show you can view the finalists on kudosemergingawards.com
Thanks to: @batchbrewingcompany and @rider.beers
Photos by Alfonso Chavez-Lujan
Kudos Offsite - Light Alchemy
Photos from the opening of @kudos_arc 's offsite exhibition Light Alchemy. Open now until the 21st September.
"Light Alchemy hones in on light's connection to spirituality and enlightenment. The exhibition is a collection of contemporary interpretations and personal experiences of spirituality. Through a variety of mediums including optical illusions, virtual realities, and motion capture in play with the effervescent formal qualities of light."
Featuring:
Anika Campbell @anikacampbell.art
Cassia Glynn Bray @cassia.does.art
Felixe Rives @felixe_rives
Elijah El Kahale @elijahelkahale
Abi Montgomery @montgomery_abi
Andrew Dickerson @andrew_dicko
Performance by:
Aarushi Zarthoshtimanesh @aarushizart_1
Wallet Workshop
Nat Kaw hosted a wallet workshop at Woodburn Creatives with Work-shop Australia for the team at Coach Australia.
Studio Sale
This day in June we organised a studio sale day for studio creatives to sell works. We had ceramics works, paintings and other small pieces for sale with 8 stall holders. It was a great day for people to meet the artists and for art swaps.
The Sydney Flamenco Studio presents: The 3rd Edition of Tablao Lab
We are very excited to announce the second edition of TABLAO LAB on 9th DEC at 7.00 pm
We invite you to come and meet a new generation of dancers in Sydney, and support the growth of more flamenco artists in Australia!
Fashion Forward: Rana Plaza 10 years on — is fashion safer for garment workers?
Join our discussion panel commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse, which killed 1,138 garment workers and injured another 2,500 — most of whom sewed clothes for some of the world’s biggest fashion brands.
In a collaboration between ActionAid, Baptist World Aid, Oxfam, and USYD Fashion Revolution, our panel of experts will break down where we are at now in ensuring safe workplace conditions for women garment workers and what else we can do to secure their rights.
Sam Hug presents: “Surrender” Soul Series
Join us for an unforgettable night with Sam Hug, the solo songwriter who has poured his heart and soul into every song he's written over the last few years. He's traveled through the darkness, peeling back the layers of his soul and working to heal the scars that held him back. But through it all, he never lost the light of his passion for music and his deep connection to the world around him.
Backstage Music: Threshold
Celebrating the stories, voices and practices of artists with Asian heritage living in Australia.
Sydney Worldpride presents: Leeroy Styrene, “Paradise Island”
We are thrilled to invite you to the limited-time exhibit of Leroy Styrene's "Paradise Island" collection. The series of paintings were initially inspired by the artist's favourite costume party, "Wonder Woman & her ex-lovers.”
*View Discretion Advised
Starving Artists - Summer Lunch
Woodburn Creatives presents a Mediterranean feast for this summer lunch edition of “Starving Artists”. In continuation with the theme of the event, we have another unique experience showcasing our local artists from our studios, plus food and drinks from local Sydney businesses. Menu created by Leila Khazma and Stella Roditis.
The Sydney Flamenco Studio presents: Tablao Lab
We are very excited to announce the second edition of TABLAO LAB on 9th DEC at 7.00 pm
TABLAO LAB was born in 2018 with the intention of giving our students the opportunity to fully engage in the choreographic creation of a dance, perform as a soloist and experience a real tablao environment with live music.
We invite you to come and meet a new generation of dancers in Sydney, and support the growth of more flamenco artists in Australia!
Backstage Music: Clarity Engine
Celebrating curiosity and the mind of the musical inventor with experimental installations, musical machines, performances and sonic experiences. Curated by Damian Barbeler this program will feature works from Climate Notes, an installation and performance project by Anna McMichael (violin) and Louise Devenish (percussion
Starving Artists
A unique experience and opportunity to connect with creatives and community while celebrating our local inner Sydney brands and creatives.
Jesswar - “Life’s Short, Live Big” Mixtape Drop
Pleased to host Jesswar for the release of their debut mixtape “Life’s Short, Live Big” accompanied by the stunning performances from the queer strip and pole collective, Club Chrome.
Backstage Music: EarthBound
As humans we are bound to each other and to the earth we live on. We make music to connect and to explore the complexities and contradictions of our existence. Through the medium of electroacoustic music the ‘EarthBound’ program asks us to delve deep into the complexity of our relationship with our environment amidst the growing catastrophe of climate change.
The program brings together female identifying composers and performers from far flung parts of the globe, South Korea to Armidale, Melbourne and Western Sydney. Works from Unsuk Chin, Ros Bandt, Donna Hewitt and Felicity Wilcox will be presented alongside a newly commissioned work created in collaboration between Veronique Serret and early career artist Emma Harlock.
Featuring Alana Blackburn on recorder, Veronique Serret on violin and Emma Harlock on bass guitar, the program includes Unsuk Chin's Double Bind? for violin and live electronics. This extraordinary work grapples with the tension between the physical and human-altered - a wildly imagined perspective on the musician as instrument and agent of change.
Bush x Woodburn
Earlier this month, we partnered with the legendary local restaurant, Bush to create a unique dining experience; celebrating local food, art and culture.
Lee’roy Styrene Debut Exhibition
Paul was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He graduated in Film studies at University of Glasgow and spent over 20 years working in fashion in London, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. He moved to Sydney in 2019.
The event consisted of welcome drinks, presentations, meets and greets from Paul.