Published on 13 September 2019
Expect the unexpected
Next month you may discover something different, intriguing or interesting around Port Noarlunga – something very unexpected.
And if you do, it’s likely to be part of the Series of Unexpected Events (SUE) festival — a temporary arts and performance initiative by the City of Onkaparinga.
Over three Sundays in October, 20 local, national and international artists will take part in creating a series of site-based and participatory art works around the foreshore area of Port Noarlunga.
Works and events will be suitable for all ages and include performances, sculptures, visual art, virtual reality and a large-scale sand drawing.
The premise of the event is to bring something out of the ordinary to the everyday routines of people.
SUE curator Paul Gazzola – also a local resident of the City of Onkaparinga – said he’s excited to deliver this year’s program which features many different styles of art.
“SUE is a chance opportunity for the local public to engage with an innovative art event in ways that are very different from the usual activity of life,” Paul said.
“SUE is about enabling people to experience and be part of art without seeking it; it’s a chance to show the different forms arts takes and where it can take place, especially to people who may not necessarily be involved in the arts.”
The finer details of the festival — like what artworks and performances will be happening and when — is all somewhat of a mystery and part of the ‘unexpected’ nature of SUE.
SUE will run on Sunday 6, 13 and 20 of October at the Port Noarlunga foreshore near the jetty from noon until 4pm.
Two free workshops open to local artists and individuals will also be held on how to create site-based art, performance and placemaking projects in public spaces.
The workshops will be led by artists Ella Ziegler (Germany) and Paul Gazzola (Australia) whose individual practices aim to re-imagine public spaces as places of community engagement and playful artistic expression (details below).
City of Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson said the City of Onkaparinga said the SUE festival reflects the region’s thriving arts scene, bringing art to people in everyday spaces.
“We’re proud to offer a range of arts experience across our region which celebrate, engage and challenge our diverse community,” Mayor Thompson said.
“SUE is an interesting concept in that you don’t know what art or performances are being delivered or when; the art finds you.
“It adds something unexpected and random into your day, injecting a sense of fun and wonder and creating moments of curiosity, fascination, celebration and discussion which is what art is about.”
SUE is funded by the City of Onkaparinga with further support from the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe, OSCA – Open Space Contemporary Arts, and the Australian Dance Theatre.
For more information about SUE visit onkaparingacity.com/events and for details on each of the artists and their projects visit open-space.org.au
Workshops
Mundane Poetry
Two-day workshop with Ella Ziegler
4 and 5 October, 10am–4pm,
Port Noarlunga Arts Centre, 22 Gawler St, Port Noarlunga
Bookings are essential as places are limited. To book and for more information contact Paul Gazzola on 0403 959 716 or email paulg@open-space.org.au
Through the installation of signs, flags and marked zones in public spaces, Mundane Poetry brings to attention the poetic and multi-layered phenomena that surround us in everyday life. Its aim is to bring into focus what we sometimes ignore and overlook in our daily routines. Ella Ziegler uses a wide range of artistic methods to highlight and question the importance of individual participation in public space through context-based actions and performances.
Situation-based outcomes
Two-day workshop with Paul Gazzola
9 and 10 October, 10am–4pm
Port Noarlunga Arts Centre, 22 Gawler St, Port Noarlunga SA 5167
Bookings are essential as places are limited. To book and for more information contact Paul Gazzola on 0403 959 716 or email paulg@open-space.org.au
Situations explores the potential of the local and the everyday as dynamic spaces of artistic engagement. Participants will be invited to consider, develop and conceive new ideas and outcomes using selected sites in Port Noarlunga. Paul Gazzola has been creating projects in Australia and internationally for over 20 years. His works explore the local and the everyday to create dynamic spaces of audience participation.