If you're in Sydney during the month of May, why not get crafty at some of these mostly free workshops at the Art Gallery of NSW.
The gallery presents Make it May, a month-long program featuring collaborative art-making projects between artists, their communities and gallery audiences, grounded by ideas of togetherness, creativity and reflection.
Each Wednesday night and weekend during May, the Art Gallery will present a wide array of workshops, experiences, talks and performances for all ages, including:
- Connect with the natural world through a series of animal-inspired painting and sculpture workshops brought to life by African storytelling with We Are Studios' Emmanuel Asante. Free, no bookings;
- Create and contribute a 'decorative rock' made with everyday objects and recycled craft supplies for artist Rosie Deacon's Rainbow Rock Mountain installation. Free, no bookings;
- Unlock the process of extracting pigments from herbs, hulls, leaves, weeds, flowers and more to incorporate nature's hues onto your own textile piece in a workshop with artist Gianna Hayes. Cost is $50, $45 concession, $0 member and $30 youth and you must book;
- Take part in Polyglot Theatre's immersive experience Ants where children can choose how they interact with big 'insects' and become part of their world. Free;
- Visit the What Does the Jukebox Dream Of? exhibition and take part in 'Past in progress with Azzam Mohammed and an art-making workshop inspired by Fiona Hall's Slash and burn (1997). Free;
- Join Archibald-winning artist Wendy Sharpe for an artist talk where she explores the magic of the creative process in conjunction with her exhibition Spellbound. Free, no bookings;
- Experience a new durational choreographic work performed by Murruwarri/Wiradjuri artist Tammi Gissell, made in response to Francis Bacon's 1976 renowned painting Study for self-portrait. Free, no bookings;
- Attend a family screening of the short film Mighty Maddy's Mission to the Future, a heartwarming tale of Maddy's brave battle against a rare type of paediatric cancer. Free and bookings required.
As if that's not enough, try your hand at the pickle and stuff workshop with Marian Abboud, the Seed of Hope Collective and friends.
Learn how to make yummy pickles using salt brine and vinegar and a selection of colourful, seasonal veggies, spice and herbs in this hands-on workshop on Saturday, May 18, at 1pm and 2.30pm. Free, no bookings.
Take a moment to slow down and become aware of your senses in this guided meditation class within the exhibition Making Worlds, alongside Ernesto Neto's installation Just like drops in time, nothing (2002).
Led by Sydasana Workplace Wellness, you'll be guided through a series of seated and moving meditation exercises for a slow and mindful art experience, exploring the sense of smell.
Art After Hours: Meditate is on Wednesdays April 24, May 22 and June 19 at 7pm. Free, no bookings.
Experience a new performance work by residents of Woolloomooloo, the gallery's neighbouring suburb in inner-city Sydney.
In Circular squares: walking on water, performers weave and circle through the Art Gallery of NSW north building, Naala Badu. Using contemporary, hip-hop and black dance styles, they explore both the joys and the challenges of inner-city life. Seeking connection from within the loneliness that can stem from high-density living, they look to forge relationships in the places we call home
It's on May 18 and 19 at 12.30pm. Free, no bookings.
Rhyme/Reclamation! is a celebration of poetry, dance and music.
Through rhyme, movement and song, we'll explore how we can reclaim our identities, our narratives, our ancient wisdom and our cultural practices, and how doing so binds us together in community and steeps us in joy.
This electric evening is curated and hosted by lawyer and writer Sara Mansour, co-founder and director of the Bankstown Poetry Slam, Australia's largest regular poetry slam.
The line-up features award-winning writer and poet Omar Musa, accompanied by dancers from Dance Makers Collective, alongside Bankstown Poetry Slam poets Sara Saleh, Aishah Ali, Ali Al Haj, Ying Chin, Daniel Mateo and Ifeoma Obiegbu.
It's on May 15 at 8pm. Free, no bookings.
- www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/programs/make-it-may
Therese Murray
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
