Since 2002 fortyfivedownstairs, a not-for-profit organisation, has offered an evocative urban space and a personalised service to an eclectic mix of artists for theatre, visual arts, forum, music and dance .
Communication, gesture and movement in this week's exhibitions
Small Gallery: Michael Pearce
Fluid
Until Saturday 16 April
Michael Pearce was able to travel to Hanoi with a purpose - an Asialink Residency that gave him that most precious thing for artists, time to focus on his art, as well as find stimulation in another, foreign environment. Michael's background in designing for contemporary dance shows clearly in these remarkable pastel and charcoal drawings where grace of gesture creates a flowing pattern of movement from one drawing to the next.
During his residency in Hanoi, the lack of a common language restricted communication, so the shared language became the offering and pouring of "many cups of green tea". He has also described the process of meeting with other artists and their non-verbal communication as "drawing dialogues" . Michael has set up the gallery with the works in intriguing sequences, another legacy of his theatre design background.
Large Gallery: Tony G Pentland
Consequences
Until Saturday 16 April
Tony Pentland's black and white graphite drawings Consequence involve transition from one small movement to another within the same drawing. There are images are drawn from life, and some from film footage, in which Pentland creates drawings of paused fractions of time. These finely observed drawings skilfully capture subtle changes of mood and expression
Play reading:Two by Two
By Dan Giovannoni
5pm Sunday 17 April
We're taking a short break from theatre production this month, but you're invited to a script development showing of Two by Two by highly regarded young playwright Dan Giovannoni. Entry is free.
Two by Two is a play about the food chain -who sits at the bottom, and who fights their way to the top. Dan was awarded the Malcolm Robertson Foundation script writing award for 2010.
Featuring Gary Abrahams, Angus Grant and Fiona Macleod, directed by Melanie Beddie.
The gallery will be open as usual on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 April, so you can see wonderful art and eat chocolate too!
Large Gallery: Sam Songailo
Overkill
Tuesday 19 - Saturday 30 April
Brilliant optical effects, dazzling colour - Op Art for the twentyfirst century from an artist new to Melbourne. Sam Songailo is treating the large gallery as a construction zone; as well as showing work on the walls he will be building a large, brilliantly coloured dome which it will be possible to climb through. Come and be thoroughly entertained!
Small Gallery: Megan Evans
TO Bee
Tuesday 19 - Saturday 30 April
Megan Evans uses photography, video and installation to look at the world of this amazing insect. We can promise visual delights - blown glass droplets filled with honey, video of the bee hugely enlarged, and then slowed down so that the viewer is not quite sure exactly what they're seeing. TO Bee is an installation that will stimulate more than the eye.
A treat coming up in May.
Theatre: Urban Display Suite
Michael Dalley and High Performance Company
Michael Dalley delighted us in 2010 with Intimate Apparel, an hilarious take on the search for the entertainment dollar. In May we welcome him back with Urban Display Suite a musical dissection of our national obsession with the property market, a musical expose of tasteless architecture, auction cliches and narcissism on public view.
Joining him in this musical open house are Gabrielle Quin, Lyall Brooks and Sharon Davis, with musical direction by John Thorn.
Season Tuesday 3 - Sunday 15 May
Dates: Preview Tue 3 May, opens Wed 4 May
Times: Tue - Sat 7:30pm, Sun 6pm
Tickets: Preview Full $20, Preview Conc $15, Full $28, Conc $23
Book online here or call 9662 9966
For the diary: Bookings are now available for upcoming seasons.
May - June The Haunting of Daniel Gartrell by Reg Cribb, with John Wood, Samuel Johnson and Marcella Wood, directed by Lucy Freeman.
June - August The Burlesque Hour Loves Melbourne a major Winter Warmer! Finucane & Smith's Burlesque Hour will warm many hearts.
