Celebrating the breadth of artistic practice and critical perspectives emerging from South Australia’s art communities, ‘If the future is to be worth anything: 2020 South Australian Artist Survey’ presents projects unravelling new and local perspectives on the way culture is formed and what makes art, art. Presented in partnership with the South Australian Living Artists Festival, this major exhibition outcome for ACE Open supports ten South Australian artists and collectives: Aida Azin, Carly Dodd, Emmaline Zanelli, fine print, Kate Bohunnis, Matt Huppatz, Sandra Saunders, Sundari Carmody, Tutti Arts and Yusuf Hayat, to present ambitious new commissions. The common theme for the featured artists is an engagement with a world beyond art, with importance placed on productive experimentation, the re-imagining of self, and structures and creative tactics for strength, vulnerability and survival. On display at ACE Open from 12 September to 12 December.
Emmaline Zanelli in studio, 2020. Photograph: Sam Roberts
The exhibition is complemented by a public program including two artist-led workshops, and an artist talk series titled West End Art Talks presented in collaboration with JamFactory and Samstag Museum; offering all audiences – from curious gallery-goers through to practicing artists – an opportunity to learn a range of creative techniques through hands-on, practical classes.
Peta Kruger, Used (series), 2019-20, needlepoint found plastics on twist canvas, 58.5 x 74cm. Photograph: Sam Roberts
Workshop: Sew your own latex wall hanging with Kate Bohunnis
Saturday 10 October 2020, from 11.30am to 3.30pm.
Costs apply.
Workshop: Weaving with natural fibres with Carly Tarkari Dodd (Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna/Narungga)
Saturday 14 November 2020, from 11.30am to 3.30pm.
Costs apply.
West End Art Talks
Saturday 21 November, from 2pm to 5pm.
2pm – Kirsten Coelho at Samstag
3pm – Survey artists at ACE Open
4pm – Tom Moore & Peta Kruger at JamFactory
Hear from some of South Australia’s most celebrated contemporary artists in this series of free artist talks held at ACE Open, JamFactory and Samstag Museum of Art to coincide with exhibitions of new work by each artist/organisation. Attendees will walk between venues – a short stroll – as a group.
