PLAYBOUR

image: courtsey of the artist

10 - 26 February

Current Artist in Residence, Haruka Sawa, transforms the Police Station into a playground-like structure with her exhibition Playbour. Designed around pulleys, buckets, ropes and ladders, Playbour, reminds us of oppression, structure and responsibility masked in humour and playfulness. Sawa’s drawings and sculpture, displayed in the Gallery, are a direct response to the installation, however the emphasis is shifted to the tension between ‘free’ lines and ‘controlled’ lines.

Please join us for the opening of PLAYBOUR

6PM FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY

AIR - HARUKA SAWA

image: Conduit, mixed media, 2009

1 - 13 FEBRUARY

Having completed her Bachelor of Photography with Honours at the Griffith University in Brisbane, current Artist in Residence, HARUKA SAWA, will be creating a playground-like structure in the cells.

The playground, however, will not be slides and climbing apparatus, but labour based games designed around pulleys, buckets, ropes and ladders. The installation simultaneously reminds us of oppression, structure and responsibility. However, the inclusion of chance, humour and playfulness also remind us of liberation from these constraints.

Please join us for the opening of 'PLAYBOUR'

6PM FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY

AIR - NIKKI GEMMELL

Our current Artist Writer in Residence, acclaimed Author NIKKI GEMMELL, is known best  for her international bestsellers, THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE, SHIVER, THE BOOK OF RAPTURE and most recently WITH MY BODY. Nikki has complete a BA in Communication and a MA in Writing at UTS. Having lived in London for the past decade, Nikki recently decided to return to Sydney to live with her young family.

Please join us for an in conversation hosted by Helen Hopcroft

WEDNESDAY 5:30PM 25 JANUARY

I WAS HERE

Image Self Portrait as a Ball, Tom Polo, mixed media on paper, 2009

25 NOVEMBER - 11 DECEMBER

This exhibition clebrates the enormous contribution made to the Lock Up CUltural Centre by the Artist in Residence Program. In the past five years, over 65 creative practitioners: artists, dancers, musicials, writers, poets and architects have resided in the AIR residence and responded to the unique environment of The Lock Up. They have contributed greatly to the enrichment of the Newcastle arts community, through exhibitions, lectures, workshops and performances.

Please join us for the opening

FRIDAY 6PM 25 NOVEMBER

AIR - TOM POLO

Image We Are Lucky To Know Each Other, 2010

25 NOVEMBER - 16 DECEMBER

Currently undertaking his Masters in Fine Arts at the College of Fine Arts, Sydney, Artist in Resident, Tom Polo, addresses the notion of 'winning' through self-deprecation in his performances, paintings and installations. His use of humour and text based artworks has seen him become one of The Sydney Morning Herald's the(sydney)magazine's 'People to Watch in 2011'.

During his stay at The Lock Up, Polo will be creating a continuous and changing portrait of Newcastle conversations and scenary on the walls of the John Paynter Gallery.

Please join us for the opening of 'I Was Here', featuring Tom Polo

6PM FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER