Saturday, November 28, 2009

He’s My Blonde-Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy

Chanting the chorus of the #55 top surf tune of all time, Nell's meditating surf life saver has magically managed to manifest the singer herself. Little Pattie OAM and recent inductee into the Hall of Fame has graciously agreed to open Wax On next Friday (Dec 4) at 6pm. She will also perform her famous hit for us wax heads before handing the reigns over to Jay Katz on the decks who promises to spin cheesy surf tunes late into the summer night.
Nell's amazing work will be on display and if you bring a magnifying glass you can marvel at the immaculate conception that is her vision of Aussie surf culture. Tracing the beaches of the east and west coasts down his arms you'll find stories of surfers who have been taken by sharks or just immortalised through their extraordinary aquatic actions. There are even some names of people who have done nothing more than enjoy themselves on a few waves. Who knows, maybe you're in there somewhere?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Abstract Expressionist Punk

Gold Coast surfing artist Reinhardt Dammn rides again, this time in Hobart with his band Honey Pump (http://www.criteriongallery.com.au). Alongside debauched record covers and posters are photos of urinals in Fortitude Valley - are they surf boards behind the waterfall?
With no formal training this young kamakaze blade is swathing a path to Wax On. The casting couch is open. Screen test, anyone?

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Glazed Ladies

Taking up the challenge of addressing the history of women's surfing in Australia, Gerry Wedd has come up with this amazing vase featuring Isabel Letham - the first chick to pick up a stick back in December 1914. Plucked from the crowd by none other than the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, Isabel took to the waves at Sydney's Freshwater Beach and was "hooked for life". But the Manly Surf Club refused to give her membership because of her sex. We've come a long way, baby!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

SURFING THE CLIMATE CHAOS









Jo Cuzzi calls herself variously "an undisciplined, multidisciplinary artist, a diorama drama queen, stencil slag, persistent painter, pornographic photographer, fake filmmaker, eclectic electronic experimentalist and incidental installation artist".

Lately she has been developing a couple of kooky characters called Horis and Doris who find themselves in all sorts of peculiar scenarios including bobbing about in tea-cups in shark infested waters made from recycled Sydney Ferries tickets. their adventures are like a collision between Reverse Garbage and Where The Wild Things Are.

For Wax On she's increased her usual pizza box diorama dimensions to almost life-size with an installation that sees her hapless duo surfing waves of Whale Sanctuary posters in front of a burning city made of big capitalist dollar bills. Horis is holding an incendiary match but the work also hints at the climate chaos that our developed lifestyles have ignited. When that tsunami rolls in, kids, you better get those boards out!