Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC) have partnered with renowned artists George Gittoes and Hellen Rose to present a very special Aussie installation, The Surf Shack Show from Saturday 3 – Sunday 11 October at 4 Pacific Avenue, Werri Beach.
The Surf Shack, a yellow fibro house built in 1947 has been a base residence for the surf community at Werri Beach since 2005, is owned by Gittoe’s neighbour and will be demolished soon. Before the demolition of the iconic style home made famous by the likes of artist Reg Mombassa, Gittoes and Rose were given the keys to stage an exhibition and performance series not to be missed.
The Surf Shack Show will premiere Gittoes’ ‘Augustus Tower’ suite of paintings which he has described “as being about a time when the bad guys have won.” The 28 paintings will travel to the US after Werri Beach to be shown in a derelict building in Englewood where Gittoes and Rose recently made their ground-breaking film White Light, available on ABC iView.
The Surf Shack Show will also premiere performances by Hellen Rose of her ‘Haunted Burqa’ piece over both weekends. The former surfer residents of the house will be in regular attendance as they farewell the house that has been a fun part of their lives and surf culture. Included in the exhibition will be documentation by Gittoes of some of their wildest surf parties and the very free lifestyles of his much-loved neighbours.
Tours of George and Hellen’s own home studios, next door, will be available by appointment and groups can come for tours during the weekdays if booked in advance.
Gittoes work has recently been included in the launch of CPAC’s online collection and his portrait of Julian Assange was recently featured in the exhibition Collection Spotlight – Online Collection. His work will also be featured in an exhibition in 2021 and is available to view now from the online collection at https://collection.
From 28 September – 15 November CPAC will be closed due to important work to their Koori Floor. The Surf Shack Show is just one piece of special off-site events CPAC will be hosting during the closure.
THE DETAILS
What: The Surf Shack Show
Where: 4 Pacific Avenue, Werri Beach.
When: Sat 3 – Sun 11 October, 2020
Cost: Free