You, Yew, Ewe, U

It seems to be all systems go at Octapod at the moment – we’re recruiting new staff and volunteers, PODspace are opening a new exhibition this Thursday and we’re gearing up again for the This Is Not Art Festival.

TWO, TOO, TO, 2
A new exhibition at PODspace Gallery.

This week the second exhibition for 2012 starts on Wednesday at 12noon!!  The exhibition is by PODspace volunteer and Newcastle based artist Ahn WELLS and fellow Newcastle based artist Peter SPEIGHT and opens this Thursday night from 6pm.

This exhibition sees both artists pushing their individual art practices into new directions.  For SPEIGHT this will be the first time he exhibits his drawings within a white gallery space.  While WELLS is exploring ideas beyond her signature pattern and abstract based works on paper.

All artworks are for sale and you can view other examples of their work on their respective blogs.
http://peterspeight.blogspot.com/
http://makingahnwells.blogspot.com/

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Title: Two, Too, To, 2
Exhibition dates: Wed 22 Feb – Sat 10 Mar 2012
Opening night: Thursday 23 Feb 6-8pm at 401 Hunter St, Newcastle
Gallery hours: Wed – Sat 12-5pm
Contact: ahn.wells@gmail.com for further information about this exhibition.
KEEP UP TO DATE with all things PODspace by visiting:
http://podspacegallery.blogspot.com/

Twotooto2 Exhibition at PODSpace Gallery

Don’t Be Sheepish

PODSpace wants artists to be out and proud about their art. So they’re encouraging you to add yourself to culturehunter.org by selecting one culturehunter member each month to promote on their webpage and social media.

Culturehunter.org is another Octapod project. So, just like the way that Yew trees reach out their branches until they bend to the ground and put down roots, forming a circle of trees around the original trunk, Octapod is encircled by a cluster of its own mutually supportive offspring.

Update on the Arts from Culturehunter.org

Culturehunter.org exists as a promotion and networking tool for all things arts related in the Hunter. It is free to join and use and is created with the arts in mind – for the benefit of artists and art-lovers alike.

Upgrade
The site has newly installed features that allow you to link to an artist whose posts interest you so that their new posts will be easy to find when you next log in. Go to www.culturehunter.org to try it.

Unmissable Posts
Here is a selection of some current posts from culturehunter.org

Urgent appeal
Terry Leahy will be presenting a preview of the film he is involved in making about the Chikukwa Permaculture Project at the next Permaculture Hunter Monthly Meeting on Wed. March 7th.
http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/fundraising-inspiring-film

Chikukwa Permaculture Project

Upply today!
Tourism businesses across Australia can apply for grants of up to $100,000 to develop and refresh their products.
http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/tourism-grants-available

inUndation
Join contributors to the Maitland Hunter River Oral History project as they compare and contrast their memories of the floods in our town. Thursday 23rd, 6-8pm. That’s Tomorrow!!
http://culturehunter.org/whatson/look-whos-talking-memory-or-myth

Maitland in Flood

Unity of Mind, Body and Spirit
Bodhi Festival invites you to join us for a special weekend of music, yoga, and healing. No matter who you are,… where you come from, or what path you tread, we say welcome.
http://culturehunter.org/whatson/bodhi-festival-weekend-music-yoga-and-healing-newcastle-nsw

Us, Come Fly With

“Come ‘Fly with us!”
Join artists Helen Hopcroft, Karen Robinson Smith and Tallulah Cunningham at Fig Tree Community Garden this Sunday for a morning of painting butterflies on the Croatian Club wall.

Last year, supported by an Octapod Seedpod grant, Fig Tree kicked off a series of free art workshops culminating in the painting of a butterfly mural on the Club wall, adjacent to the Garden. This year we’re back to paint more butterflies and everyone, young and old, is most welcome.

Painting the Butterfly Mural

Where: Fig Tree Community Garden
What: a free community art workshop
When: 10am-midday Sunday 26th February
Why: because it’s fun!

Is This The Position for You?

THIS IS NOT ART FESTIVAL: ARTIST/PRODUCER WANTED
This is Not Art is seeking an artist/producer or collective to conceive and facilitate an ambitious and visible project which will activate Newcastle’s public spaces and engage the community.

•  The project is to presented during the 2012 This is Not Art Festival, held in Newcastle from September 27th – October 1st 2012.
•  The artist will work closely with the festival directors and the TiNA festival coordinator.
•  A history of working in public spaces and/or unusual venues is desirable.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a Volunteer position
HOW TO APPLY: Please send the following to admin@thisisnotart.org
1.    One page description of your project – This should be a detailed description detailing how you envisage the project will be executed.
2.    Current resume.
3.    Any relevant support materials which might include documentation or recordings of previous works.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Friday 16th March

It Never Rains But It Pours

Octapod as an organisation is just kind of rubbing its eyes and going “Mmm, 2012, eh?” but the staff are already busy with so much change. Two positions are changing, one is starting for the first time and more is afoot for the near future.

 

Another Position Available

It’s the season for starting new projects now, and one more position has become available: Artist/Producer for This Is Not Art Festival.

This is a volunteer position.

This is  Not Art is seeking an artist/producer or collective to conceive and facilitate an ambitious and visible project which will activate Newcastle’s public spaces and engage the community.

For information, see http://thisisnotart.org/2012/02/position-available-artist-producer/

Applications close Friday 16th March

 

Positions Still Open

Applications are still open for the paid positions of:

This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator

http://octapod.org/news/position-available-not-art-festival-coordinator

Applications close 5pm, Tuesday 21^st Feburary

and

Community Liaison Officer

http://octapod.org/news/position-available-community-liaison-officer

Applications close 5pm, Friday 17^th of February

 

Media Space Closed

The media space sometimes gets a bit wet in heavy rain and Christina discovered why in one of the recent storms: The whole gap between the main building and the media space fills up with water and it just flows in under the door.

So Christina and Mitch have started pulling up the carpet and the space is un-usable and closed until around the end of this month, when we hope to have rectified the problem and repaired the floor.

 

Arts News

Selected from www.culturehunter.org

 

The Optimism of Summers Past

It’s your last chance to see Lucy Barker’s exhibition “Lifestyles of the neither rich nor famous” at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, ending this Sunday 19^th of February.

See http://culturehunter.org/whatson/lucy-barker-lifestyles-neither-rich-nor-famous

 

Our World Unseen

This Friday 17^th is the opening of an exhibition of Conor Ashleigh’s photographic story-telling work at the Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library, Laman St.

See http://culturehunter.org/whatson/our-world-unseen

 

This Is Your Brief

Octapod has two new paid positions available! Applications are now being received.

Community Liaison Officer

A part-time position – 6 hours per week – producing media content such as a weekly blog, social media posts, and media releases as well as undertaking community liaison such as online surveys.

For a full position description, see http://octapod.org/news/position-available-community-liaison-officer. For more information, contact admin@octapod.org or call 4927 0470.

Applications close 5pm on Friday 17^th of Feburary.

This Is Not Art Festival Coordinator

A part-time contract position averaging from 24 up to 38 hours a week until 31 December 2012, or longer dependent on funding.

See the position descirption at http://octapod.org/news/position-available-not-art-festival-coordinator. For more information, contact admin@octapod.org or call 4927 0470.

Applications close 5pm Tuesday 21^st February.

Your Chance to Screen (and watch) Short Films

Capsule is Octapod’s monthly short films night. It launched in 2011 when participants shared pieces on the theme of “Mash-Ups and Tributes”, with some fantastic derivative works being screened.

This year we’re doing it again and you’re invited to be part of it!

Each month the night will have a different theme and a different presenter. If you’d like to choose a theme and bring some pieces to present, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us on capsule.screenings@gmail.com

Or when you come to Capsule to watch the films, if you have a piece to fit the theme, then bring it along!

Media Space at Octapod

We have a space dedicated to video editing and media production and we want to get it up and running again. We’re incubating a small collective to take charge of getting the space happening and we will conduct a tour of the space next month at the first Capsule night for the year.

If you’re interested in the possibilities and want to join the collective or find out more, contact us on admin@octapod.org or call 4927 0470.

Update from PODSpace Gallery

OPEN HOUSE opened on Thursday night, Una Rey gave an inspiring opening night speech and reminded local artists of their ” immense talent” and to remember to exhibit outside this town also.

We had a packed gallery, made some sales and Johnathan Carroll from the Newcastle Herald popped in and took some photos from the social pages (Monday edition 6 Feb 2012).

The exhibition runs til Saturday 18 Feb, 5pm.  The gallery is open Wed – Sat 12-5pm.

Please call: 0434 886 450, if you have any questions. And stay up to date with all things PODspace-related by visiting http://podspacegallery.blogspot.com.au/

We have started a new initiative and we are featuring a cultureunter.org artist each month on our blog.

February’s artist is Newcastle-based artists Nicole Chaffey.  Visit our blog to find a link to her culturehunter.org profile. If you’re interested in being a feature artist, make sure you have a profile on the http://culturehunter.org/ website. It’s free.

PODspace will choose an artist each month.  Let us know who you are, email us at: podspace@octapod.org

Welcome Back!

We say welcome back although, in fact, it’s Octapod that’s been away for the break and you’ve been still there, inhabiting your body in that characteristic way that flesh and blood living creatures have. And maybe you’ve been checking your inbox or the blog at hourly intervals to see if Octapod has risen again and will start pumping out those artsy tidbits that keep your soul alive.

Well here we are. We dusted off the office chairs on Monday 30^th and we opened for public access today the 1^st. We hope your Summer was fantastic and you’re embarking on a buzzing and fulfilling year. And Octapod is here to add a little bit more buzz and fulfilment to anyone’s year.

Opening Hours

Octapod is open for public access the same hours as before the New Year:

Wednesday to Friday, 12 – 5pm. PODSpace Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, 12 – 5pm.

PODspace reOPENs for 2012. 

The first exhibition for 2012 is a group exhibition called OPEN HOUSE.  It is our first Salon hang and we have enjoyed the challenge of placing all the works harmoniously on the gallery walls.  If anything this type of hanging style shows how the space can be used differently.

OPEN HOUSE will officially open on Thursday 2 Feb from 6pm with an introduction by the Newcastle Herald’s art critic Una Rey. Everyone is welcome to the openings, light refreshments are served and often the artists attend so you can chat to them during the night.

Exhibition dates: wed 1 – sat 18 feb 2012

Opening night: Thursday 2 Feb from 6pm

Gallery hours: wed – sat 12-5pm

blog: podspacegallery.blogspot.com

We hope to see you there!  Remember to sign our comments book and let us know your thoughts of this exhibition.

install of OPEN HOUSE, just a bit of tweaking to do before the exhibition commences

 

 

Paid Position – Applications close Friday 3^rd of February

Octapod has funding to employ a Business and Funding Development Coordinator, working 15 hours per week to build business relationships and source funds through a variety of means. The job description is available on the website at http://octapod.org/news/position-readvertised-business-and-funding-development-coordinator. Get your application in by 5pm this Friday, 3^rd of February.

Octapod Board member Citizen of the Year

Board member David Horkan has been named Newcastle Citizen of the Year for his years of contribution to the cultural life, principally in his work in support of the Regal Cinema and the campaign to reopen it. We’re glad to have David on the Octapod board and we congratulate him on his award.

 

Happy New Year

Octapod would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year !!

Octapod is closed for the holiday period and some of us have gone out to play. With tales of waterfalls and bubbly filtering back into the workplace the time for rest is coming to an end.

2012 brings exciting new opportunities, one of them being a new Octapod paid position.

BUSINESS AND FUNDING DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Part-time position. 15 hours per week. Develop and implement a funding plan for Octapod. Full details including Job Description on the Octapod website. Applications close 5pm Friday 20 January 2012: http://octapod.org/news/paid-position-funding-and-business-development-coordinator

Octapod and Podspace will reopen 1st Feburary 2012. In the meantime if you are strolling past 401 Hunter St, check out Emily Robert’s installation ‘no title’ in the window of PODspace during Jan 2012.

You can also view Emily’s work on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CarzasRSa6c&feature=youtube_gdata_player

We look forward to seeing you soon.

All is calm, all is bright

It’s our first Christmas in our shiny new location! The street frontage at 401 Hunter St is an exciting opportunity for meeting new friends passing by and PODspace has already made great use of the window in two exhibitions.

Ceremonial ribbon cutting

Octapod will close for more than month in the Summer. The holidays here start on Friday afternoon and the doors re-open with the first PODspace exhibition for 2012, on Wednesday 1st February. We hope you all have a wonderful New Year celebration and we look forward to all the exciting arts and media things we can do together next year.

Opportunities

There are two new opportunities for paid positions next year. One is a part-time position, Business and Funding Development Coordinator, for someone who’s keen to work on relationships with organisations that represent a possible source of funding for Octapod projects. The role is for 15 hours a week and applications close on 19th January. Details available from http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/paid-position-funding-and-business-development-coordinator

The other is a short-term contract of 40 hours and is to develop an accessibility strategy to encourage people from diverse backgrounds (people with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people from indigenous backgrounds) to get involved in our activities. We will send a callout about this position in January.

PODspace

PODspace gallery has had a huge year with a complete dismantling and rebuilding of its space and will take a break over Christmas and the New Year.  The gallery will open with another exciting group exhibition from local emerging artists at the beginning of February 2012.

PODspace Constellations Opening Night

OPEN HOUSE: group exhibition will be on exhibition from 1 – 17 Feb 2012.

The opening night will be Thursday 2 Feb from 6pm.

We hope to see you all then!

New Year’s Revolutions

You will notice, if you go to http://octapod.org, that the redeveloped site has gone live. It is up-to-date with what’s going on here and how things work now, and we think you’ll also find it easier to use and find information on. It also has info about the perks of becoming an Octapod member and how to sign up for 2012, it really is worth checking out.

Culturehunter.org is also close to completing its upgrade, with a relaunch planned for next year, highlighting the new networking features that will make it the most brill arts-focused free online directory in the Hunter Valley.

2012 also sees the fruition of our development workshops on focusing on business skills and networking opportunities. This is an idea that has come out of a lot of communication with Octapod users and members and is an exciting in the direction of one of Octapod’s major aims – artist development.

Octapod staff, board members and volunteers

All is calm, all is bright

Other Octapod initiatives will continue next year. This Is Not Art starts early, getting organised for the following Spring, and Capsule, the monthly short films night, will be back again in February.

And the nationally recognised Zine Library. It just sits there! But that’s a good thing, in a library, because when people come in to peruse it as they have done frequently, it’s always there to welcome them into its angular metal arms.

This Is Not Art 2011

So finally, all the staff and volunteers at Octapod would like to thank all for your kind support  and wish you a very merry Christmas!!!!

 

Constellations

PODspace Update

The FUNDRAISER exhibition has come down to make way for the next.  It has been an exciting and successful start to the new gallery.  We have had many compliments on the new space and positive feedback about the move to Hunter Street.

Art critic, Jill Stowell from the Newcastle Herald commented on PODspace  “in it’s new shop-front location, it is evident how important this gallery has become” on page 20 in H2 of Saturday’s paper 26 Nov.

Our next and final exhibition for 2011 will be:

CONSTELLATIONS

A drawing exhibition by graduating students from Ad Dip of Fine Arts from the Newcastle Art School, Hunter St TAFE.

Exhibition dates: 7 – 17 Dec 2011

Opening night: THURSDAY 8 Dec from 6-8pm

The team at PODspace hope to see you next Thursday night, 7 Dec for the opening of this exhibition.

Octapod Launch

The Octapod Launch last Friday 2^ndDecember was a success with a room full of smiling faces and beautiful music provided by Phoebe Daicos. MP Tim Owen attended and presented a NSW Government Community Awards to Alli Hammett for her community and volunteer work.  After the official business of speeches and ceremonial ribbon cutting, staff, board members and guests unwound and enjoyed themselves.

MP Tim Owen presenting award to Alli Hammett

Ceremonial ribbon cutting

A thank you from our Chairperson:

Thank you to everyone who contributed to make this event happen, in particular the staff at Octapod who do a brilliant job! Of course these events do not happen without the support of our volunteers who are always there to support our events & projects! So thank you! …. I feel a special mention needs to go to Mitch, one of the volunteers who served drinks all evening & made everyone feel welcome. Thank you! I wish to also thank all the guests who attended on the night and for making the event a success. It was great to see people enjoying the art and music, & networking across areas of business, arts, government and NGO’s.  My final thanks you go to MP Tim Owen who attended the launch on behalf of the NSW Minister for Art, Hon George Souis, and officially opened the new Octapod space. He also announced the government’s commitment to $125,000 in funding to Octapod for next year!

Regards, Alli Hammett, Chairperson Octapod Board

MP Tim Owen with Octapod Board and staff

Hunter Arts Access Network Meeting

The inaugural Hunter Arts Access Network meeting is happening at Maitland Art Gallery, Friday 10^th December, 11am- 1 pm. If you would like to rsvp all the details are available on culturehunter.org. http://culturehunter.org/notice-board/hunter-arts-access-network

Part-time Business and Funding Development Coordinator

Octapod will soon be advertising for a part-time Business and Funding Development Coordinator, so keep your eyes and ears peeled. Watch this space!!