October Shows at Firstdraft

Overview

There is a rather abstruse but very distinct cultural 'thing' whereby at the opening of an art show one is, despite the drinking and chatting aspect, being some kind of extra-civilised above and beyond the being-at-a-bar-with-your-friends modality. But now Diana Smith (you may know her from Brown Council) has gone and ruined that a bit by creating a functioning Dart Game as an exhibition. She does, however, redeem herself by having the handpainted board reference hard-edge abstraction, so you the art thing comes somewhat back into effect.

Tega Brain goes real-world-referential in her exhibition, too, by bringing domesticity (laundry) and environmental awareness (water conservation) into play in Coin-Operated Wetland. Ever wanted to do your laundry in an art gallery but been too shy about relational aesthetics to ask? Here's your chance!

The third exhibition on show is Karla Dickens' Home is where the rabbits live. In her signature collage-based paintings and installation and video works made in collaboration with Nils Crompton, Dickens depicts the presence of rabbits and Rabbitohs in the Redfern of her childhood in a reflection on community and belonging and the ways in which spirituality can be approached.