The Creative Studio Of Sean Young

On Wednesday night I was invited to attend the opening of a new studio space in East Brisbane. ' SYC Studios ' is what it's called and it's the home of Sean Young. The studio is meant to be a place for a multitude of uses, whether it be for a photo or film shoot with its 7mx8mx5m tall ceiling or renting office space. Sean is happy to share the space to foster any creative endeavours, including use of the venue to showcase performance art, which you can tell is one of his great loves. That's why the studio will be holding special nights to support the performers of Brisbane, but more about that later. I would also like to talk more about Sean Young's work on a later date because it is so amazing and vast I feel that It deserves its own post altogether.

So about the night. Well, even before we walked in we were greeted by a film crew who recorded us while we got to cut the ribbon with golden scissors. We were then handed a flute of champagne and given a choice of what flavoured gelato to put into it (best idea ever). The event was filled with food carried around by a stilt walker, speeches, a performance by an acrobat, and more of that fab gelato champagne.

On one Saturday of every other month, SYC Studios will play host to an event called 'Snapshot' which is an experimental performance night in where one performer curates and themes the evening and selects a number of other performers to create a short, relatively lo-fi, experimental work based on the theme. The first curator is the performer Leah Shelton (of Polytoxic and the Brides of Frank) and her theme is "death scenes / fatalities". It will be a multimedia event including visual artists responding to the theme of the night. 'Snapshot' will most likely be licensed (to be confirmed) and if you bring your own cup you will save $5 off the door, so it's $15 BYO cup or $20 without. All money raised gets divided among the artists so they can keep making the world a more entertaining place to be.

The night will finish off with some great music, dancing and mingling till around 2:00am.

Doors open 7:00pm
Shows start 8:30pm
Party finishes 2:00am

For any inquires about the space the details are:

SYC Studios
37 Manilla st, East Brisbane, Australia 4169
0401313974
info@sycstudios.com

On entering the front door your'e greeted with images of some of Sean Young’s work.

Some images of the studio, I love the 1950's rockabilly feel of the place.

An acrobat and other performers entertaining the crowd.




All photos are my own and taken by me.

The Diva's Wardrobe

IT'S FRIDAY YEAHHHHHHHH! Which means the weekend is upon us well almost and this
weekend holds a extra meaning to any lover of fashion in Brisbane. The Diva's wardrobe is the event that I'm talking about. It's a one-day only event on this Sunday from 12noon to 4pm. It's an event where you will have access to purchase items from Brisbane's fashion 'it' crowd's personal archives including items from their personal wardrobes, as well as samples from photoshoots and sale items from their shops.

Some of the Divas who will be selling their wares are:

Julie Sutherland - owner Jules & Roc
Lucia Arias-Martinez - stylist
Zina Sciacca - owner Red Cordial
Chaille Zahl - owner Vegas Agencies
Tracey Gillinder - blogger, Shoe Addict
Marnie Goss - owner Frockshop.com

I'll be there taking photos of the event and naturally do some shopping while I'm at it, so come and say hi if you see an Asian girl with a camera around her neck and a stack of clothes in her arms. See you there.

OK, so the details are:

WHEN? One Day Only, Sunday 27 March
WHERE? MIRRA, 86 Bridge Street, Fortitude Valley
TIME? 12pm - 4pm
COST? $10 presale $15on the door
TICKETS? STRICTLY LIMITED
ON SALE NOW at http://www.stickytickets.com.au/5360

'Michael Zavros' forever young

Michael Zavros must be one of Brisbane’s most celebrated artists right now, with exhibitions
around the world as well as commissions from companies like Hermes. If you haven’t heard of him then you should. His work ranges from amazing realist paintings and sculptures of horses, to his expressions of his love of luxury as well as the narcissism that comes with it.

Born in Brisbane in 1974 before growing up on the Gold Coast, Michael has said he drew everyday of his childhood, so it’s no wonder he graduated from Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 1996. Within ten years of graduating, Michael was winning International arts competitions, as well as doing residencies in Milan and Barcelona, on top of showings in Paris, Hong Kong New York - ‘OH MY’. Pretty amazing if you consider that most artists spend their whole careers trying to get just a glimpse of this kind of acknowledgment, let alone achieving it at the beginning of their career. Don’t get me wrong, Australia has also proudly embraced and bragged about this local boy made good. Michael’s works, on top of being owned by numerous private art collectors, are owned by numerous prestigious art galleries such as The
National Gallery Of Australia, Queensland Art Gallery, University Of Queensland Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and Tasmanian Museum and Gallery just in Australia alone.

This Oil on Board Painting is a self portrait call ' Narcissus' 2005

' Man' Oil on Canvas 210x167 cm painted in 2009

' Falling August' 2006, charcoal on paper, 123 x 86cm

Winning is Easy, Bronze sculpture, 2009

' Forever' Oil On Board, 18x28cm 2005

Oh, and I just have to put this picture of me with the man himself at the 2009 IMA Christmas Party. This was the first time I had met him (I've caught up with him several times since this night) and I'm really working hard on not acting like the giggly school girl who’s in too much in awe to say anything!

This is a fab mini documentary I found called 'The Good Son' that recorded his preparations for an exhibition of fine drawings to be shown on the Gold Coast.

Salita Matthews Charmhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I always love discovering new designers, especially ones that jump out at you and their designs seem to stay in your mind for weeks and ‘ Salita Matthews ’ is my newest label crush. Coming from a family of leather and silk artisans and manufacturers, it only seems natural that Salita went into the fashion industry. Embracing her Thai heritage, Salita spends half of the year in Bangkok sourcing materials and manufacturing with her team in Thailand. Started in 2007 ‘Salita Matthews’ is fast becoming the label to keep watching as more and more people discover this designer . She not only creates beautifully feminine dresses that are modern with a twist of retro, but also designs accessories to accompany her pieces which make a statement in their own right. The famed Tribune Boutique on James St, New Farm has hailed ‘Salita Matthews’ as their most successful local label, with her last Autumn/Winter collection a sell out. If these pictures are anything to go by, Salita will only go from strength to strength. She has also plans to launch a
children’s wear label next year, now how cute will that be.

Here is the young designer in her own creation, including belt, accompanied with a Scanlan & Theodore bag outside one of the stores she is stocked in CECYLIA

ID Couture Creation

Oo, just found this video for a local styling company 'ID couture' based in Brisbane with also an office in Melbourne. ID couture is headed by fashionistas around town ''Tanja Mrnjaus' the company can do anything from just having a privet chat t show you how to dress for your shape and colouring while still maintaining your personality for both men and women, to corporate styling , and retail styling which is basically fashion shows.

The Video itself was created by ruwan De Silva who also did the Video's for the fashion event 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' that I featured a few months ago. My favourite bit I have to say is the images of a model wearing a black chiffon dress in and seeing the movement of the fabric in slow motion.

Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones

I am so obsessed with the new Hats exhibition. It's at theQueensland Art Gallery and the area where the hats are shown is done up like a French boudoir with a milliners'workshop in the centre of one of the rooms.

I was there on the first day the exhibition opened to the public and just took my time
exploring all the creations. I have to admit that being a whore of all things in the media, I
did get a kick out of spotting the "celebrity" hats. It was especially a thrill to see the carved-out top hat that appeared in a Dior cosmetic ad campaign I loved when I was still in high school and the Darth Vader helmet, but I don't remember if it was the actual one from the movies or just a replica.

I went again on the VIP night to meet Stephen Jones and adored looking at all the different feathers, pompoms, flowers and playing cards made into all manner of head wear.

Not wanting to spoil the surprise, I haven't posted any photos of the exhibition itself
because I think you all should go see it yourselves... and also because some Security Guard was pouncing on anyone with a camera taking photos - something about copyright! But here are some photos I took of the VIP night. Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones
will be at the Queensland Art Gallery from the 27th of March to the 27th of June.

The man of the night; famed milliner Stephen Jones giving a speech to launch the event.

The Hats salon stocked with locally made hats.

Some of the fab people who attend the event.

This is a one of the Videos that is playing at the Exhibition of a hat been made in Stephen Jones studio in London.

Millinery in action: making a hat in the Stephen Jones workroom from Victoria and Albert Museum on Vimeo.

Enjoy.