Blacktown's Teenagers Connect with the Arts
MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
BLACKTOWN'S TEENAGERS CONNECT WITH THE ARTS
Over 50 young people descended on Blacktown Arts Centre last Friday night to celebrate International Youth Day, transforming the normally quiet and contemplative gallery spaces into energetic zones of youthful expression.
The night, called generationext, connected young people with contemporary art in a free and exclusive after-hours event coordinated by the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Only 12 - 18 year olds were permitted access to the Arts Centre for a night of live hip hop performances, art competitions and krumping.
The night kicked off with a lively krumping performance by the notorious Darrio and the Eminent Fam in the gallery spaces.
This was followed by a performance by local Hip Hop legends Urban Prophetz who got the audience going with their tracks about living and hanging out in the western suburbs.
Then Latin Hip Hop crew Oz Locos returned to the stage by popular demand after their stellar performance at the Burbs Festival earlier this year in Blacktown.
Throughout the night, young people were also able to exclusively check out Blacktown Arts Centre's current exhibition 'Black(s)town' which features paintings and installation art by nine Aboriginal artists from Blacktown and Western Sydney. Artist Jason Wing was there on the night to give an insider's view to his artworks in the show. His street art inspired works were a hit with the young people.
A painting by well-known Blacktown artist Danny Eastwood, also featured in the exhibition, became the inspiration for a unique art competition on the night. The painting depicts an Aboriginal family at Blacktown train station, happy to have returned home after a long journey to far places.
The art competition encouraged young people to develop their own story in a drawing about one of the characters in the painting. The resultant drawings were colourful and thoughtful explorations on the meaning of family and home.
generationext is a youth program developed by the Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney. Usually held in their gallery spaces at the MCA's Circular Quay location, the generationext event at Blacktown Arts Centre was the first time it has been taken on the road to another destination.
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For further information please call 9839 6558
For artist interviews, enquiries and images contact Blacktown City Council on (02) 9839 6000.