Alternative Media Group

30 DAYS & 30 NIGHTS AT FRASER STUDIOS

Author:

Kate Britton

Posted:

Monday, 28 May 2012

Since 2008, FraserStudios has been nestled amongst the cranes of Broadway, quietly housing artists, creatives, and the odd party. Sadly, however, as the adage goes, all good things must come to an end, and the FraserStudios is no exception. As it prepares to close its doors on June 30, we caught up with Julia Lenton, the editor of 1,386 days at FraserStudios, a book celebrating the heady days of the studios, to chat about the month’s festivities.

The Book “1,386 days at FraserStudios tries to tell the story of the FraserStudios project over the last three-and-a-half years – profiling some of our 200 residents and documenting the programs, exhibitions, events and fun that we’ve had in our amazing converted warehouse space in Chippendale since 2008. [...] We’re hoping that the book will inspire collaborations of a similar nature and convince organisations with other empty spaces that temporary arts activation is viable (and necessary).”

Remembering the Space “Working late in the space one night, I was feeling uninspired and a bit over it all. I found myself wandering upstairs into the empty visual arts studios and having an explore. One of the artists had set up a crazy forest installation in their studio, complete with a taxidermied fox, and it all seemed magical, like this was my own personal Narnia. It hit me then that the project was really very special and I was so lucky to be involved and to have the privilege of working with all of these fantastic artists.”

The Last 30 Days & Nights “30 days & 30 nights is a taste of all the different things that have gone on here; our final round of visual artists have contributed to an exhibition called Our House, our archival photographer Arunas Klupsas is exhibiting a selection of his work, we’ve got free drop-in classes like Bollywood and Jamaican Dancehall on next week for anybody to come and enjoy, some amazing performing artists are offering very affordable masterclasses, and we’ve got various performances and events from guys like Martin del Amo and Julie-Anne Long, Tin Shed, Tess de Quincey’s The Weather Exchange and so much more. Everything’s free or very cheap and we want everyone to come and help us go out with a bang!”

The End … “On Saturday June 30 we’re having a “backyard” BBQ from 2pm and everyone’s invited. White Knuckle Fever are playing and it’s our last chance to toast the space. [...] Queen Street Studio will still run Heffron Hall, a performing arts space in Darlinghurst, and is looking for other spaces to activate, so hopefully we’ll have exciting news to announce soon.”

Jun 1-Jun 30, FraserStudios, 10-14 Kensington St, Chippendale, prices vary (mostly free), queenstreetstudio.com

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