April 4, 2013 by No Frills Art
Yesterday while in Melbourne I popped into the Blender Studios to say hi and stayed around for Trails…a melbourne tradition and a fun night of drawing. Always a worthwhile session if your about when its on. It took place in the new Silent Army Storeroom a zine/small press outlet put together by Michael Fikaris. One of the warm ups we did to get people to be a bit looser and have fun was a surrealist drawing type of game of Chinese Whispers. Each artist had five minutes to do a drawing then would flash the drawing for five seconds to the person next to them to redraw within a minute, this repeated until all players had drawn a variation of all other artist’s artworks. Make sense? Well we found it complex too…especially after a few drinks!
Anyway below are the images (In sequence) based on my drawing of a skull made out of worms…
Above: My Drawing
Ha Ha
Unknown Artist
Shida
Blomtrog
Unknown Artist
Braddock
Unknown Artist
Unknown Artist
Not a bad way to get 81 drawings from 9 people in ten or fifteen minutes!
I also can’t leave the Blender without leaving my mark…
And finally the other bit of recent news is we have adopted a new little Birman kitten/cat from the animal shelter. She has been a fairly sick little one having an epileptic fit, issues walking as well as being fairly under nourished…but she is so cute, and has starting to settle in gained 500 gms in the last week alone showing a healthy appetite.
So say hi to Audrey…
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Posted in Artworks, News, Street Art | Tagged birman cat, blender studios, blomtrog, braddock, chinese whispers, comics, drawing, drawing session, HA HA, melbourne, melbourne street art, michael fikaris, no frills art, shida, shida art, silent army, sticker, storeroom, Street Art, surrealist games, trails | Leave a Comment »
March 2, 2013 by No Frills Art
I recently went and saw the amazing Herakut exhibition in Melbourne. Previously, I had only seen the work by the German duo online and was very excited to see their work in the flesh…and i wasn’t disappointed. The work was amazing with a blend of beautiful people and animal mask/spirits. They beautifully blend the urban art aesthetic with hyper-realism. Definitely two artists(Hera & Akut) well worth looking up if you haven’t come across them.
Below are a few shots from the Metro exhibition…
And below is also one of their street works in Union Lane in the Melbourne CBD, that they left as a small gift for the Melbourne punters as a part of their ‘Giant Storybook Project’. It looks awesome in the flesh!
As well as a few shots of their studio while they were in old Melbourne town for the Metro Show.
Also while i’m doing a little blog update, below are a few of my new works on found objects…
Preoccupied – 15x15cms – Mixed Media on Found object
Skeleton Scissors – 22×45 cms – Mixed Media on found object
The End is Near (Refuse Edition) – 10×15 cms – Mixed Media on found object
……………………………………………………..
As well as a little stencil that I have just done using a new technique i’m working with at the moment.
I’m slowly starting to settle into the new studio!
Until next time…Go check out Herakut and take it easy.
enjoy!
NF
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Posted in Artworks, Exhibition, News, Street Art | Tagged australia, australian street art, found object, glen smith, Herakut, Herakut melbourne, Herakut street art, melbourne, melbourne street art, Metro Gallery, native animals, no frills art, stencil, Street Art, urban art | 2 Comments »
February 11, 2013 by No Frills Art
This weekend I worked at Paper City zine fair at the town hall in Melbourne presented by Sticky Institute. The day saw over 100 tables all selling zines and small press books. It is kind of interesting to see so many people interested in such an alternate practice in one place at the one time. It was really cool to catch up with the regulars, see new audiences developing and starting their journey with zines. It is also always fun to sell and swap a few publications with the public and other stall holders.
Below are a few pix from the day. The first one is of the whole set up from the balcony looking down.
While this one is of my table including my new book ‘ Your conversation may be monitored for quality control‘ in the foreground.
In other news I undertook a workshop cutting stencils for a local community center a week or two back. It was a fun day with the kids all being good to work with…and demonstrating some promising skills towards becoming the next generation of artists. However, It was the first time my participants had all been under about 12 or 13…eek! This meant that I had to do all the cutting of the designs due to the liability side of things, so for me it was like a small scale stencil sweatshop! However, the kids all enjoyed it, and I think they always seem to enjoy the spray painting part of it the most anyway.
I am still settling into my studio. I have been wanting to take a bit of a break from making art after the solo exhibition at the end of last year, so i have applied myself to doing less creative and more manual constructive tasks of late. I have always wanted an old wooded plan file, however i could never justify the expense…so I decided to build one. Not exactly is building things out of wood my strong point…but i am pretty happy with the end result.
And finally, I just received a copy of ‘Who is Ha Ha’ small press zine produced by Michael Fikaris of silent army in Melbourne. This is a compilation book that i was invited to take part in focusing on NZ/Aust. Artist Regan Tamanui. Below are a few pics of the book and my page on the right.
I think that is about it for now. Take it easy!
NF
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Posted in books, News | Tagged artists books, geelong, glen smith, HA HA, melbourne, michael fikaris, no frills art, REGAN TAMANUI, silent army, small press, sticky institute, zines | Leave a Comment »
December 29, 2012 by No Frills Art
Well I though a round up was in order as 2012 has been a big year. It started off with a few lows in terms of a broken arm, relationship issues and the major one being the death of my mother. But over the course of the year there has also been many positives as well. A new relationship has taken off and bloomed…looking promising for the future. My Dad and I have become closer after spending more time together since my mum’s passing and my arm seems to be all fixed allowing my artwork to step up a level with my solo show and artistic work habits in general.
On the Art front I sold over 18 pieces in my solo exhibition and another in the christmas show at Boom Gallery. So I am pretty happy with my progress on that front. I have just moved into a new studio down the road from the gallery where I show at, and I am just starting to settle in(see studio pic below!).
Speaking of artwork I also had a few pieces in the Munro Rooms closing exhibition. It was sad to see it close but this seems to be the pattern with Artist Run Spaces…but its a cycle so something else will rise up. At least the Mayan calendar was wrong and it was only the gallery finishing and not the end of the world!
I recently took part in my first Free Art Friday Geelong (Find it on facebook), where you are encouraged to place an artwork out somewhere in public on a friday for someone to find and keep(or destroy!) for free. I like the idea a lot, its kinda like street art without the risk! But more so it reminds you that art is about the process of making and sharing your work with others…not just selling artwork which people get too caught up in. For the record, I don’t hold it against people wanting to make a living with their art at all…but if your not at that point in your artistic career don’t let that be your only measure. That is all i’m saying! The artwork disappeared pretty quickly…but stay tuned for more in 2013.
Anyway I think that is enough for one sitting. So I hope you all had a merry christmas and ate too much with you family or loved ones. Have a fun and safe New Years and see you all in 2013!
enjoy!
NF
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Posted in Exhibition, Flashback, News, Street Art | Tagged 2012, artist, Boom gallery, end of time, free art friday, free art friday geelong, geelong art, glen smith, made in geelong, munro room, no frills art, studio | 1 Comment »
November 28, 2012 by No Frills Art
It seems like it was just yesterday that I put up all the work for my solo exhibition down at Boom Gallery…but as they say in the classics, all good things must come to an end! So if you haven’t seen the show yet you have till Saturday arvo to see it.
Anyway, moving forward I have a couple of new(probably still wet) artworks in the upcoming Boom Chrissy show. So if your around drop in for the opening and have a few quiet ones, enjoy the artwork on show by a wide range of artists from the greater Geelong region and celebrate christmas with the gallery.
enjoy!
NF
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Posted in Exhibition, News | Tagged 40x40, art, Boom gallery, chelsea gustafsson, christmas, exhibition, geelong, geelong art, glen smith, Jeff Raglus, Jiri Tibor Novak, no frills art, nofrillsart | Leave a Comment »
November 13, 2012 by No Frills Art
Well it has been a few days since opening night of ‘Only dead fish go with the flow‘. However I think I have needed a little time to recover…and regain energy before I got around to posting about the opening. The lead up to the exhibition went without hitch. Hanging the show went smoothly(Thanks Ren!), and we also got a little article in the local paper a few days before opening night which was great. Overall, everything seemed to travel nicely.
Opening night itself was amazing with over a hundred and fifty through the doors, although hectic with non stop conversations everyone seemed to have a fun night and the feedback on the show was all very positive. We managed to sell fourteen artworks which was great for both the gallery and myself. To my amusement we also managed to drink the galleries entire wine supply, which I hear was a first for them!
So thanks to everyone who came along for the opening and to those who have popped in to have a look at the show since it opened. And if you haven’t been through yet, the exhibition runs till Sat 1st Dec.(Further details on my previous post or at the Boom Gallery Website).
I have also got an interview about the exhibition and my practice in general over at: Artin’ Geelong. (Thanks Deirdre!) It’s a great read for anyone who wants to know a bit more about my work.
Below are a few shots of the works on show just prior to the opening. I didn’t get any crowd shot due to not having any free time at all once it started, but I’m sure others will have some. So I will have to chase them up at a later date.
This is not all the work in the exhibition, as there is about fifty works on show. But it should give an overall impression of how the show looks and feels. I think the work goes really well at Boom Gallery as they have a cool industrial aesthetic throughout which seems to compliment my style.
Cheers,
NF
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Posted in Exhibition, News | Tagged art, art in geelong, Boom gallery, Boom gallery geelong, contemporary art, exhibition, geelong art, glen smith, glen smith artist, glen smith geelong, no frills art, only dead fish go with the flow, Street Art, urban art | Leave a Comment »
October 29, 2012 by No Frills Art
Hi there everyone,
Just a shout out for my upcoming solo exhibition in November at Boom Gallery in Geelong. The show is titled ‘Only dead fish go with the flow’, and will be a massive exhibition with about 50 works…my biggest show to date. So if your around on the 9th of November between 4:30 – 8 pm pop into the gallery for the opening…All are Welcome!
Alternatively, the show runs from 7th Nov – 1st Dec and is open Wed to Sat 9:30 – 4 pm.
I would love for you all to drop by and say hello at the opening or pop in while it’s on to enjoy the artworks(They also do a good coffee inhouse!).
Hope life is treating you well.
Enjoy!
Glen aka No Frills
Front of Exhibition Flyer
Exhibition Poster
Extract from the Press Release:
‘Only dead fish go with the flow’ is a new exhibition of paintings by Geelong based contemporary artist Glen Smith. Filling the entire space at Newtown’s Boom Gallery, this extensive solo exhibition investigates a range of issues as diverse as matters of the heart through to political and social commentaries. Heavily influenced by street art and its aesthetic, Smith’s paintings are urban and gritty street level snapshots of contemporary society. Through stencils, paste-ups as well as traditional painting techniques the artworks in the show are designed to make the viewer reconsider the state of the world and present new ways to look at issues in life. This is Smith’s first solo exhibition in over five years and has been a massive undertaking with over fifty artworks on show. Definitely one local art exhibition not to be missed this year…so be sure to mark it on your calendar.
Boom Gallery is Geelong’s newest Contemporary Artspace.
It can be found at Boom Gallery: 11 Rutland St Newtown, Geelong.
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Posted in Exhibition, News | Tagged Boom gallery, Boom gallery geelong, contemporary art, exhibition, geelong art, glen smith, melbourne street art, no frills art, nofrillsart, Street Art, urban art | 1 Comment »
October 14, 2012 by No Frills Art
Well today I enjoyed a sunny Sunday up at Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne. I had a print in the exhibition ‘Beautiful Soup’ coordinated by Rona Green which opened today at the St. Heliers Gallery onsite. The show got an excellent turn out and a bunch of work sold at the opening…including my print. woot!
If you haven’t been to Abbotsford Convent before it is well worth the visit with several cool little eateries, a few galleries, open artist’s studios and often there are markets, short courses and a range of other activities to do. The venue gets a really descent turn out of punters on a beautiful day like today so get there early.
Below are a couple of shots from today…
And below is my ‘Life is a Rodeo’ print in the foreground
And in other news my catalogues for my upcoming solo show ‘Only dead fish go with the flow‘ in November at Boom Gallery have just arrived back from the printers and look sweet (Below). I will give you more details about this exhibition a bit closer to time but keep Friday 9th of November free as that will be the opening night. It’s going to be huge!
I have also finished compiling the Altered State Assemblage book that I embarked on last year involving about 30 Australian Artists. I bound the edition last week over my holidays with the help of David Dellafiora. So those involved in this project keep your eyes peeled as they will start to be distributed soon. I won’t say any more than this as I will dedicate a post to this book when a get a few photographs done. But I can comfortably say the book looks amazing.
Hope life is treating you well.
Enjoy!
NF
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Posted in Exhibition, News, print | Tagged abbotsford convent, altered state, artists book., australian art, beautiful soup, geelong art, glen smith, life is a rodeo, no frills art, nofrillsart, only dead fish go with the flow, print, rona green, st heliers | 2 Comments »
September 18, 2012 by No Frills Art
I have a piece in the ‘Beautiful Soup‘ Exhibition put together by Rona Green coming up at St Heliers Street Gallery at Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne. The exhibition is an open theme show consisting of 56 Artists working in the printmaking medium.
The exhibition opens on Sunday 14th October at 2 – 4 pm
Feel free to come along, enjoy the art and have a drink with some of the artists.
Click the flyer above to enlarge it and for
further details or to see the other artists in the show
Above: Sneak preview of some of the works in the show compliments of Rona
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Posted in Exhibition, News | Tagged abbotsford convent, art, beautiful soup, glen smith, no frills art, printmaking, rona green, st heliers street gallery, victoria | Leave a Comment »
August 21, 2012 by No Frills Art
Recently at work I had to look into some resources for making jewellery for a colleague. It was intended to be quite user-friendly as it was to be for jewellery making classes for high school students. Below are what I came across while looking into it and what I produced when I decided to have a play with the materials.
I had never made jewellery before… so it was a bit of fun!
Materials: Silver Plated, Resin & Digital Prints
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Posted in News | Tagged artists, geelong, handmade, heart, jeweelery, no frills art, Street Art, test pattern, urban | 1 Comment »
August 15, 2012 by No Frills Art
Recently I put together an artists book/zine/small press exhibition in the cabinet at the West Geelong Library. The exhibit focuses on books made by artists in Victoria, and even more so within Geelong. All items have been drawn from the No Frills Art archive. It is a fairly eclectic collection…but well worth a look. So if you’re in the neighbourhood pop in!
Below are a few pix of the cabinet:
And a few close-ups of each shelf:
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Posted in books, Exhibition, News | Tagged artists books, Field Study, geelong, geelong west library, glen smith, no frills art, silent army, small press, sticky institute, zines | 6 Comments »
June 7, 2012 by No Frills Art
These little stencils of mine have started popping up around Melb. this week…
…and a couple of overview shots in situ.
I think the end is near for the old cathode rays also…
and below how the stencil translates into one of my new paintings on canvas.
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Posted in Artworks, Street Art | Tagged graffiti, hosier lane, melbourne, no frills, no frills art, stencil, Street Art, the end is near | Leave a Comment »
May 15, 2012 by No Frills Art
Here is a little shot(using my new toy…Fisheye lens!) of my work in situ at Boom Gallery as part of the Forest-s Exhibition put together by Tibor Novak. The opening was a full house…which was a surprise for a saturday arvo opening…but always a good thing! The show is on for a few weeks so if your in Newtown, pop in and have a browse as it is a pretty expansive show with a variety of artists and styles.
And below is a close up of my artwork in the show…
Fractals, Mixed Media on Canvas. 2012
And finally…a sneak peak at another one of the artworks for my exhibition in November at Boom Gallery…Enjoy! NF
Joey’s Song(Work in Progress), Mixed Media on Canvas, 2012.
…
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Posted in Artworks, Exhibition | Tagged artwork, Boom gallery, forest-s, fractals, geelong art, glen smith, Joey's Song, Mozart's Requiem, no frills art, painting, Street Art, urban art | Leave a Comment »
May 3, 2012 by No Frills Art
Recently I had the privilege of working with a group of boys from Afghanistan on a Stencil/Paste Up workshop. After getting past the initial stage of figuring out the level of language skills, which to my surprise was very high considering the boys had only been in the country for about six months, we spent two days focusing on urban art. Day one we created a series of tags, as names were a common denominator between myself and the participants. Then we created a series of poster designs using both English and Darhi/Pashto and undertook a paste up session on the community centre where we were working. On the second day we worked our way through creating stencils which we then applied to T-Shirts. I think this was the session that gained the most positive response…then again who doesn’t like to get their hands on spray cans?
The Cloverdale Community Centre went to the effort of ensuring some Middle Eastern food was available for the lunches, which was delicious. And in the ten or more years of undertaking public workshops this was the most polite group that I have ever worked with…
So a big thanks to all those who took part!
Above: Participants with the paste up Below: One of my paste ups at the centre
Above: Stencil in progress Below: One of the finished T-Shirts
In other news I have a piece of Art in the show opening below. It opens soon at Boom Gallery, so if your about get on down for the opening!
Enjoy!
NF
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Posted in Exhibition, News, Street Art | Tagged afghanistan, Boom gallery, cloverdale community centre, exhibition, forest-s, geelong, Jiri Tibor Novak, no frills art, paste ups, stencil workshop | Leave a Comment »
April 16, 2012 by No Frills Art
For part of earth hour last week a bunch of us got together with the Geelong Arts Alliance to work on the ‘Earth Hour Landing Strip’. Basically the strip was a candle powered faux landing strip using discarded cans with corporate images punctured into them and a tea light inside them. About sixty or seventy lanterns were made by those involved.
Top(l-r): Row of cans, Illuminati Mickey(No Frills)
Bottom(l-r): Grenade(Field Study), and
overview of the landing strip with trolley on the runway.
And below are a couple of new works for my show in November…Enjoy!
and one more…
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Posted in Artworks, News, Street Art | Tagged Cloverdale, earth hour, geelong art, glen smith, no frills art, urban art | Leave a Comment »
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