The successful opening of the Holding Space exhibition at the Katoomba Falls Kiosk last Saturday started the countdown to the end of the Kiosk’s temporary role as a contemporary artist studio, performance and exhibition space, with the final day of the show on January 27.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Modern Art Projects Blue Mountains (MAPBM) and Toolo, Blue Mountains Tool Library, combined in June to launch the arts initiative at the Kiosk, which overlooks Katoomba Falls.
Blue Mountains City Council has supported the project through a short-term lease of the building at a reduced rate.
The Kiosk 3x6 Project, which has been supported by Create NSW funding, has involved a series of three curatorial residencies over the last four months of the Kiosk’s lease. Each six-week residency has been led by an artist-curator working intensively with five other artists to develop complex multi-layered exhibitions which turn the Kiosk from studios to exhibition spaces.
Over 60 people attended the opening which involved performances by all six participating artists – Danica Knezevic, the show’s curator, Frank Davey, Fiona Davies, Tom Isaacs, Tess Rapa and Ebony Secombe. Their work relates to the themes of care-giving, concern for the other, relational space of access and participation.
“Holding Space is an exhibition of performance art, video, sound and installation that considers the negotiation of self when faced with the responsibility for another,” Ms Kenzevic said.
Ms Knezevic strongly endorsed the Kiosk 3x6 Project and in particular the mentoring it provided for the three artist-curators.
“It has been an immense benefit to my artistic practice and PhD research,” Ms Kenzevic said.
“Being mentored by professional curators with passion and wisdom, Lizzy Marshall, Sabrina Roesner and Tony Bond, has been one of the most successful aspects of this project”.
Participating artist Fiona Davies (who was also recently elected as MAPBM President) praised the way in which each of the 3x6 Project residencies had developed sophisticated but radically different exhibitions.
“The commitment of everyone involved has been extraordinary, with each exhibition dealing with complex themes and issues and responding to the Kiosk site in very different ways,” Ms Davies said.
“We are also very grateful for funding we received from Create NSW and for Council’s support through the provision of the Kiosk, without which this project would not have been possible.”
Ms Davies said that the exhibition’s last day would be a positive one.
“The final day of Holding Space will also be a celebration of the Kiosk’s short but productive role as an artist studio and exhibition space, with performances and artist talks from 11am until 5pm.
“We will then document the success of the Kiosk 3x6 Project as a model which has the potential to bring life to a variety of temporary unused spaces in the Blue Mountains and elsewhere,” Ms Davies said.
The Kiosk is located at 102B Cliff Drive Katoomba. The Holding Space exhibition runs until Saturday, January 27, and is open from 11am to 5pm daily. Performance times can be found at the Kiosk website https://thekiosk.org.au/.