JAMMING WITH STRANGERS BLOG
Jamming with Strangers - an enticing exploration into the power of music and community presented by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
By: Lorena Biasotti (Western Sydney University)
Jamming with Strangers at Casula Powerhouse. Image by Chantel Bann.
Jamming with Strangers is a summer exhibition that highlights music communities, honouring the sacred space music holds between people and places. Presented by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, it is a bold and daring collection of works by established and emerging Australian artists who, through their artistic practice, address the overall theme of what it means to feel connected with others through music.
Displaying a range of mediums and disciplines, the sense of community and commitment to artistic practice is strong throughout, with works ranging from ambient orchestral sounds designed to immerse the viewer, and subtle, but impactful, visuals depicting a Zouglou dance originating from the Ivory Coast, created by artist Kevin Diallo.
Curator Luke Letourneau explains that the intention behind the exhibition was not just to explore themes of music and community, but to hold a space for the “community of people connecting through music that is happening here in Liverpool, in Western Sydney. One of the great things about being a venue like this in Casula is that we often are a space in the community to activate it into events.”
From left: My Le Thi and Azo Bell, Gukoongboom, 2021.
Troy-Anthony Baylis, "Tell Them Their Dreaming (series)," 2019 - 2020.
Courtesy of the artists. Photography by Chantel Bann.
The exhibition holds true to this intention, showcasing a broad range of artists from varying levels of practice and a diverse set of mediums. One of the first works you see when entering the space, ‘Gukoongboom,’ is a towering sculptural piece that also doubles as a fully-functioning, tuned instrument. The piece was created by My Le Thi and Azo Bell, who worked together to produce a design that is both an homage to Thi’s Vietnamese heritage, and to the power of creating music with others.
‘Stage’ and ‘Green Room’, a series of works directed by Julian Day and Luke Jaaniste, feature strangers creating ambient music together. This work, filmed by Hospital Hill and edited by Day, resulted from ‘Super Critical Mass’, a radical orchestra project that Day co-created with Janet McKay in 2007.
The videos are dispersed across various areas of the galleries, so when outside noise is at a minimum, it feels like the building is filled with music. The works were developed through a series of workshops with local residents at Casula Powerhouse between 2012 and 2019. It’s a testament to Casula Powerhouse’s impact in nurturing and building up the next generation of Australian artists.
Exhibition view, Jamming with Strangers.
Upper Turbine Gallery, co-curated by Jamaica Moana and Xander Khoury
Courtesy of the artists. Photography by Chantel Bann.
In the Upper Turbine Gallery, a collection co-curated by Xander Khoury and Jamaica Moana shines brightly throughout the halls, marked by vivid colour and dynamic textures. The series is a collection of various costumes designed for and by the Western Sydney ballroom community, and there are some truly inventive works to be found. Including: a Snapchat-inspired costume in the shape of its most popular ‘dog face’ filter, a bright green and gold superhero-esque piece complete with a green cape, intricate gold and silver butterfly wings held together by a heart, and a futuristic silver one-piece that looks straight out of an Austin Powers film.
The dynamism doesn’t stop there, with a section dedicated to musical memorabilia and original artwork by renowned music fans and artists Carla & Lisa Wherby, an exceptionally detailed illustrative piece by Blu Jay, a striking three-channel visual installation by Fetu Taku & Billy Keohavong in collaboration with Jason Winston, and a series of silk photographic works by Gillian Kayrooz which pays homage to the moments leading up to attending a music event.
You will also find works by Gamilaroi artist Kerry Toomey, who created a series of intricately sculpted female torsos dedicated to her love of country and of country music, as well as a thoughtfully designed series of works by Joshua Taliani honouring the ballroom community. For photography fans, there are a series of original film photographs by Western Sydney artist Ladstreet, whose work aims to depict under-represented sub-cultures in Australia, such as the hardcore music scene.
Kevin Diallo, Ode to Zouglou, 2021.
Courtesy of the artist. Photography by Chantel Bann.
There are also several video installations in the exhibition, such as Tina Havelock Stevens’ ’Beta Shockers’, which meditates on the phenomenon of stage fright, and ‘Outside is the Inside’, a documentary-style piece documenting the crowds outside Enmore Theatre when rock legends The Rolling Stones took to the stage there in 2003.
A dream-like multi-media installation helmed by Justine Youssef and Leila El-Rayes also features characters from various Western Sydney music scenes. The compelling visuals in all these works make for a well-spent afternoon in the museum, perhaps followed by lunch at Bellbird Dining and Bar. There are many more artists featured in the exhibition, each as distinct and thoughtful as the next.
The exhibition will also hold talks, public events for children, dinners, and performances. Western Sydney Music Futures, an event aimed at facilitating information between aspiring and established musicians in the community, will take place on 5 February and feature a half-day of panel discussions and hands-on workshops led by industry leaders.
Another event, Dinner Music, will feature an evening of food, art, and performance for a truly immersive night out. The event will take place on 26 February. Tickets for both events can be purchased on the Casula Powerhouse website.
Exhibition view, Jamming with Strangers.
Photography by Chantel Bann.
Jamming with Strangers features works by Carla & Lisa Wherby, Blu Jay, David McDiarmid, Fetu Taku & Billy Keohavong, Gillian Kayrooz, Jamaica Moana, Joanne Saad, Joshua Taliani, Julian Day, Kerry Toomey, Kevin Diallo, Ladstreet, Leila el Rayes & Justine Youssef, Māhia aka Kaos, My Le Thi & Azo Bell, Tina Havelock Stevens, Troy-Anthony Baylis and Xander Khoury.
This exhibition runs until 27 February 2022 and entry is free.