A GUIDE TO FAMOUS (AND NOT SO FAMOUS) ART BY
FAMOUS SHARRON
GUIDE TO WA ART EDITION
hello dolls If you’re anything like me, the closest you’ve come to a painting is in the doctor’s waiting room and most of the art you own is made of pasta and stuck to the fridge door. This year I became the Face of WA. Because no-one else wanted the job. I love it, I’ve been going to all the Hollywood locations, Bunbury, Geraldton, Karratha. And now I’ve been given the inaugural honour of being Audience Ambassador for Freighting Ideas, a brand new ART ON THE MOVE and Art Gallery of WA touring program. As Ambassador I’ve been touring galleries all over WA. I’ve seen beautiful things, met wonderful people, and discovered incredible artists. And quite respectable public toilets. Really, if nothing else, go to a gallery for their restrooms, they are an absolute delight! So here’s my little guide for you on famous (and not so famous) art in WA.
xx Shazza
“WHAT IS ART ?” OH DOLLS, I HAVE NO IDEA.
I don’t have those qualifications: Asking me what art is would be like asking my twins what negative gearing is.
If they told you, they’d be making it up. Actually if I told you, I’d be making it up. It turns out ‘what is art’ is like asking ‘what is love?’ ...baby don’t hurt me, no more... Not everyone agrees on the answer. But you don’t need a PhD to know it, feel it, taste it, fake it or lose it... And everyone’s version is different.
“BAD ARTI GOOD ARTI
PABLO FAMOUS
ISTS COPY. ISTS STEAL.”
PICASSO S SHARRON
10 reasons why art is like cheese. 1.
IF IT’S AMAZING YOU’LL TELL SOMEONE ABOUT IT.
2.
IF IT’S TERRIBLE YOU’LL TELL SOMEONE ABOUT IT.
Have you tried soy cheese? It’s like eating sadness.
3. 4.
IF IT’S BORING YOU’LL FORGET ABOUT IT.
IT’S A WAY TO SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE.
Nothing like an assortment of it to bring people together. They Camembert to stay away.
5.
IT’S A WAY TO IGNORE PEOPLE.
Sorry can’t talk, eating cheese.
6.
CAN BE A SURPRISING CONVERSATION STARTER
“I just tried this on the weekend, have you heard of it…” “Look at this, have you ever smelt anything more wretched…?” “What is this stuck to the table… is it…?”
7.
IT CAN BE SURPRISINGLY EXPENSIVE
One piece is HOW MUCH?!
8.
EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION
People have very strong opinions on it. Whether they don’t care for it at all, can’t possibly go a day without it or hate it furiously.
9.
MAKES A GREAT GIFT
Package it nicely so they think it’s expensive. Then make a big deal about how you got it from a tiny exclusive dealer in Margaret River, a local artisan whose family business produced it using local ingredients and bits of their soul.
10.
IT DOESN’T EXPECT ANYTHING OF YOU
It doesn’t nag, yell, whinge or give you deadlines. It’s always there for you.
PUT YO INTO YOU
OURSELF UR SELFIE
OK , BUT WHY WOULD I ART ? AIR-CONDITIONING
The art needs controlled conditions to be preserved, and on a hot summer’s day, so do you. FREE STORAGE
Most galleries have free lockers or coat checks to store your bags. Shop, drop and enjoy some art along the way. INSTAGRAM HEAVEN
Good lighting. White walls for days. No studio hire required.
FREE CHEESE
Opening nights of exhibitions almost ALWAYS have something tasty on offer to eat or drink. Totes having my next birthday at one, free catering! YOU CAN BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN
Even pretend you speak French. Bonjour croissant! GREAT FOR DATES
Bypass the bar, push past the pub and cut the coffee. Do something different and make the most of any free cheese. No split billing required. GET SOME ME-TIME
Make that date with yourself. Treat yourself.
POSE EVERY WATC
E LIKE YONE’S CHING
Ok , BUT HOW WOULD I ART ? GO TO ANYTHING
Google ‘art gallery opening’ and your location. Find something near you. See what’s coming up. Put it in your calendar. INVITE A FRIEND
Use the gallery as your meeting place. If they’re late you have air con, great restrooms and art to keep you company. MAKE A FRIEND
Galleries are just full of friends you haven’t met yet. DITCH A FRIEND
Who needs friends. NOTICE WHAT’S AROUND YOU
Walk a different way to work, and play spotto with art on your way. Walls, sculptures, buskers, bus stops.
Hashtag #artinwa If you don’t know what a hashtag is, ask a ten year old.
1. OPEN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA 2. FIND THE ‘SEARCH BAR’ 3. TYPE #ARTINWA 4. HIT ‘ENTER’ 5.
WHAT YOU LOVE
6. SCROLL 7. FOLLOW WHAT YOU LIKE 8. RINSE AND REPEAT*
* When you type a hashtag into your search bar it will also suggest ‘other hashtags you might like’ and you can do this with them too.
art
Pop ^ Quiz 1. WHEN I THINK OF ART I THINK
(a) It’s inspiration (b) It’s frustration (c) It’s not my thing 2. EVERYTHING IMPORTANT IS IN MY
(a) Head (b) Wallet (c) Phone 3. I MOST OFTEN READ
(a) Books (b) Social Media Comments (c) Road Signs 4. I’M MOST LIKELY TO GO TO A
(a) Gallery Opening Night (b) Movie Opening Night (c) Rug Store Closing Day
MOSTLY A’S
Dolls, if you don’t have your own art blog, you should. Enjoy your own home collection, travel the state. Take some B’s and C’s (see below) along for the ride.
MOSTLY B’S
Surprise! You’re a bit arty! You ‘curate’ your world with the music you listen to, the movies you watch, the videos you share … you know what you like and what you don’t like. Find some local versions of the things above and see if there’s anything new to love. Take some C’s (see below). along for the ride.
MOSTLY C’S
You’d be the first to say you’re not ‘creative’ and you don’t know what you think of it all. But someone’s already paid for it, so why not sample a bit of it from time to time. Hitch a ride with some A’s and B’s they’ll know some good places to start.
MOSTLY D’S
Yes, this bit is made up. Like this whole entire quiz, dolls. Don’t let me define you. You do you.
BE THE FA WANT TO THE W
AME YOU O SEE IN WORLD
about the author FAMOUS SHARRON IS VERY FAMOUS FOR NOTHING AT ALL.
She lives in Perth with her husband Darren and four kids Shardonnay, Bradd, Pitt and Sirri. She tours regionally to make #artinwa more famous, as Audience Ambassador for Freighting Ideas and the Face of WA. She loves chatting to fans, and avoiding the dishes… Find her on the socials - search Famous Sharron (Two R’s, one of them’s silent) Instagram /famoussharron Facebook /famoussharron Twitter /famoussharron famoussharron.com Famous Sharron, ART ON THE MOVE and the Art Gallery of Western Australia would like to acknowledge that Australia’s First People are the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to the Elders both past, present and future for their unique contribution to the cultural life of communities across Australia.
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
A guide to famous (and not so famous) art by Famous Sharron is an ART ON THE MOVE and Art Gallery of Western Australia touring program project developed as part of Freighting Ideas. #FREIGHTINGIDEAS
Freighting Ideas challenges traditional exhibition touring by making artists, audiences, questions and creativity central to engagement with galleries. The model values the development of genuine relationships, meaningful encounters, community connections and the contribution of many diverse voices. The ultimate aim is for audiences to become content creators playing a significant role in broader public conversations about creativity and the arts. It poses the questions: What is art? Who makes it? and Who is it for? FOLLOW US ON
Facebook /artonthemove.art /artgallerywa Instagram @artonthe_move @artgallerywa freightingideas.com.au
This project has been made possible through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost managed by the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries, supported by Royalties for Regions and delivered in partnership by ART ON THE MOVE and the Art Gallery of Western Australia. The Act-Belong-Commit Learning Program is sponsored by Healthway promoting the Act-Belong-Commit Message.