Adventures in Parramatta: Art Month

As part of my Adventures in Parramatta series, I am exploring what my home has to offer. As soon as I read that there was an Art Month event in Parramatta, I booked it and took along my mum, to show her a few of the things that I have discovered over the past few months; and to discover new ventures.

Before we headed to the Art Month event, we took in the Dreamers Market at Riverside Theatre Parramatta. Dreamers Markets is a quarterly markets containing homemade products by artists, designers and crafters. Whilst not all of it appealed to me, there were a few stalls with great products.

March is Art Month, a festival of contemporary art in Sydney, in which participants are invited to ".....try new art experiences, visit Sydney's varied art spaces and explore art conundrums.” This year, there were a few Art Month events that were centered around Parramatta. The one that I attended was focused on the Pop Up Parramatta spaces, an event called From Create to Space - a Parramatta Tour. 

Pop Up Parramatta is about "....injecting creative enterprise and infrastructure into unused building and spaces in Parramatta, by activating vacant commercial and retail spaces, promoting Parramatta and the wider Western Sydney region and connecting, building and supporting creative enterprise."

Starting at my unofficial home away from home - Short Sweet Bakery - we headed off down the street to Darcy Lane and Three Ropes Cafe. Within Darcy Lane were the first of the herb ladders by Simon Cook, who was also showing his VORSPRUNGARTEN [parramatta_grass_reverb] 

“As an artist initiated installation this once lifeless Alley is gradually transformed into an immersive habitat experience. Simon integrates conceptual forms and biological processes, inviting viewer involvement each month as plants grow over the exhibition season, through into Summer, with night illumination.”

Next stop along Darcy Street was a favourite shop of mine, Prospectors Store.

“The meaning of the word “prospect” is essentially to have a view or an outlook to be looking forward with anticipation and expectation. To be a “prospector” is to be the person in charge of searching for hidden gold and treasures whatever form they take.

The Prospector Store wants you to have a prospect and to be the prospector. We want you to find the hidden gold within our collection.”

Here, the curator and artist Geraldine explained the concept for her shop and display whilst everyone oohed and aahed over the collection of curios and artesian creations available for sale within. I have bought a few things already from Prospectors Store, and today was not going to be any different. I inherited a beautiful matte blue vase from my Grandma and the perfect companion piece was sitting on the shelf, waiting for me to snap it up.

Next we wondered around the corner, past the library, across Macquarie Street to the Pop Up Artists Studios (located at 68 Macquarie Street is an old commercial building, previously vacant, now full of artists studios.) This was my first visit to the Artists Studios and it was fascinating listening to all of the artists speak about their work and see a sample of what they do. What was interesting to learn was the collaborative spirit that they all felt working within a studio space that allowed them see and hear from other artists.

Next stop was the Connection Arcade and the location of three Pop Up Parramatta stores/spaces. The Connection Arcade is a fairly run down arcade in the shadow of Westfields, in a not particularly savory part of Parramatta. In spite of this, it is the home to an amazing range of Pop Up Stores (and an awesome bakery….).

First was The Infinite Everything.

The Infinite Everything is a conceptual, dynamic shop and gallery space – a context for ideas and meaningful creations, stocking ethically and locally handmade clothing, art, accessories, as well as a friendly space for meaningful, refreshing encounters with creativity and good vibes. Featuring ongoing installations, workshops, and events based on sustainable and creative practices, as well as the only quality, hand-picked vintage available in Parramatta.

It was great to see the way in which they had up-cycled items into art and useful items.

Next was Ruth Fattal Designs.

On my daily walks through the Connection Arcade, I always slow down to look in Ruth’s windows as she always has the most amazing dresses hanging in her window displays. Ruth is a young designer, who with the help of Pop Up Parramatta was able to open her own boutique and design and make her dresses.

I missed her last collection launch/runway show (due to a strata meeting in which no one turned up) so was glad to finally see her collection on the racks.

Lastly was Kate McCoy.

This is another “slow down to see the pretty things” shop within Connection Arcade. Kate is a jewellery designer, who makes beautiful pieces. And on entering the shop I was glad to see that her rings that I have been eyeing off for a few weeks can be re-sized and customised for those of us without delicate lady fingers. Kate has had a few of her items recently included in the fashion editorial within the Good Weekend lift-out of the Sydney Morning Herald.

After the tour finished, we had a lovely picnic in the Church Street Mall Park in front of St John’s Cathedral, with food by – you guessed it – Short Sweet Bakery.

Before leaving Parramatta, we stopped in at the City of Parramatta Art Society gallery and shop. I have been eyeing off a watercolour for awhile and whilst it is currently out of my price range, I did pick up a  smaller watercolour to fill the gap.

The tour was a great showcase of Pop Up Parramatta and its artists and designers. The tour guide Jess Scully was entertaining and knowledgeable on the artists and art in general. If you are interested in Art, there are many more events available to the end of March.