November 2024: Exhibition Spaces

By michgrauUncategorized

In here:

Open Studios is on this weekend!

This began last year in an organic way and returns this year. We love organic, creative action! Visit BAC member studios (and other artists) on Saturday or Sunday. Check out the details and map:


Informal Meetups (December)

We will do two informal meetups for members only this December. One is online (see below for Bassendean Arts’ WhatsApp Creative Challenge) and the other is in-person. As a result, the speakers’ circuit will be delayed until after xmas. Why? 1. Summer evenings at ArtsHouse are great so we can run a number of speaker circuits back-to-back and use the space better. 2. December can be a bit crazy for people and we want to connect members. The December in-person meetup will be for members only.

During the Perth Festival I took part in a neighbourhood walk in Mirrabooka. Current thinking is to do a similar “safari” some time on a weekend in Bassendean. This is a curated walk of short distances between spots where stupid and childish activities will take place.

via GIPHY

It is high and low culture to connect members. Can’t make it? Don’t have the mobility to walk? No worries there will be other informal catch ups next year. More to come.

Bassendean Arts’ WhatsApp Creative Challenge

This is a riff on an idea from a member… From December 1 to December 30 you will be included in a members-only WhatsApp group setting challenges and questions. It’s optional and you can opt out beforehand by emailing. At the end of December the group and all content will be deleted. This is a series of challenges, prompts and polls designed for you to connect with other members creatively. It’s not a place for whinges about council, to ask if anyone wants to adopt a lost chicken or complain about burn outs on Whitfield St! There’s no simple way to get permission so instead I’m asking you to email to opt out (above) beforehand or leave the group once you are added (if you are not interested). What happens in January? TBD – Part of the joy of life is because to get to the next island you need to lose sight of the shore.


Artist Spaces, Exhibition Spaces: the Importance of Scrappiness

Meeting with members this month has revealed a common theme. Members are asking about Artist and Exhibition Spaces. I’ve given this a lot of thought over the years and have noticed some patterns:

  1. Physical spaces in the town of Bassendean are contested and become the source of conflict between community groups. Sometimes this conflict is manufactured and promoted.
Vision from 2019 – not widely promoted because it would lead to conflict over shared spaces.
In 2019 I made videos each time I baked. It made me into a better film-maker and this early example was an exploration of film and ideas about spaces in Bassendean. https://youtu.be/Fc0tGc7n2rw
Used out of context this image will start fights.

2. The Arts awards were highly respected but have been missing in recent years. This means any replacement Arts awards will require “ramping up” over consecutive years.

3. Members identitifed the need for scrappy spaces (rather than clean, corporate spaces). The best creativity happens in scrappy places.

4. I am reminded of Casey Neistat who started to post daily vlogs on YouTube on March 26, 2015. On January 19, 2016, Neistat posted his 300th vlog. By July 2018, Neistat had released 936 vlogs and other films since the channel started on February 15, 2010. He was immensely successful. On April 5, 2018, Neistat announced a new project: 368 (named after the address of Neistat’s studio at the time, 368 Broadway, New York), a creative space for creators to collaborate. He attempted to move from daily, creative production with freedom and innovation to the more traditional format of group studio spaces. Arguably he gave up a form of freedom and creativity for an ideal based on the past. Likewise, the opportunity in Bassendean is also to create connection and physical presence without the burden of traditional buildings and spaces. In my opinion both should be tried out.

Why are we all talking about the Oval redevelopment and not about other shared, valuable spaces in Bassendean? I asked AI to insert artists into this space and AI had a poor understanding of artists, I apologise on behalf of AI for any hurt caused by this image. I recently asked the minister for housing to consider using this space for social housing. The firestation is set up with living quarters (but I think it would be better as an art space and cafe – preferably with fire (ceramics, baking, etc.)). Like many buildings in Bassendean other community groups have a history of use and perceived entitlement. I see this space a sidewalk gallery and exhibition at some point.

Vision in the Community

There is a black hole of leadership-with-vision within the community (and a lack of competence). As a result I will be advocating for members and community groups as part of a holistic vision for Town of Bassendean shared spaces and the inclusion and effectiveness of skilled community participants.

The Town of Bassendean has collected and holds significant funds for the percent for public art scheme. It’s time for this to be unlocked with vision and direction.

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