Already famous as one of Australia’s premier music festivals, Splendour in the Grass also plays host to an innovative program that showcases some of the best arts and crafts practitioners from Australia and around the world. Verandah Magazine’s Georgina Bible reports…
If you have ever had the desire to ‘face–off’ with Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage then Splendour in the Grass 2015 offers the chance. A giant inflatable cage fitted out with a giant inflatable meme of Nicholas Cage’s head has been created by Barcelona-based art collective Hungry Castle as part of the Splendour Arts program. The built-to-bounce Nicholas Cage In A Cage sculpture is just one of a line-up of paintings, performance installations and mini-universes created by some of the world’s most innovative artists as part of the annual festival.
“Splendour in the Grass is all about contemporary culture, art plays an important role in reflecting that,” says Craig Walsh, Curator of Splendour Arts. “It’s another layer of experience which contributes to the many layers which define Splendour. Art integrated into the site provides a completely different experience to the one gained from the music, we want to provide multiple experiences.”
This year’s Arts program sees the return of the Tent of Miracles – back this year as You C*nt Stop The Music with Andy Forbes and James Dabrowski. Expect a fusion of teenage 50s, flower power 60s, 70s rock n disco and fluro 80s hits. Bennett Miller will also make a return to Splendour this year with the live art installation Anabaptister, featuring a community of people living within the festival grounds along with a series of special guests giving one off performances. This will run alongside artist Tom Borgas’ outdoor installation/performance piece Post Digital Ruins – a work that considers the limits of the virtual world.
Painter and installation artist Sam Songailo will be at Splendour with ‘Program’ – acrylic on board.
Tanya Schultz who works as Pip & Pop will create a sculptural landscape Treasure Mountain – using a range of materials including sugar, glitter, sweets, plastic flowers and crystals. Two artists working with acrylic will feature at Splendour this year, including Sam Songailo and Reko Rennie. Songailo is a painter and installation artist working across a range of media and will exhibit a large scale acrylic on board installation titled Program. Rennie will take over the iconic entrance tunnel to Splendour in The Grass using it as his canvas to create Flash. The 2015 commission will consist of large-scale flash symbols along the entire tunnel with a mixture of colours and backgrounds.
“We commission new work by the most interesting artists working in a festival context,” Walsh says. “These works are highly considered and they respond to the festival, the punters and aim to surprise on many levels.”
Freeform body art at Splendour Crafts.
Splendour In The Grass 2015 – Splendour Arts line-up
Bennett Miller – ANABAPTISTER (Live art installation)
Hungry Castle – NICOLAS CAGE IN A CAGE (Inflatable Sculpture)
Andy Forbes & James Dabrowski – YOU C*NT STOP THE MUSIC (Tent of Miracles, Performance)
Tom Borgas – POST DIGITAL RUINS (Outdoor installation/performance)
Pip & Pop – TREASURE MOUNTAIN (Sculptural landscapes)
Sam Songailo – PROGRAM 1 (Acrylic on Board)
Reko Rennie – FLASH (Acrylic paint, paste up)
Splendour in the Craft is also back this year – the Crafts tent was jam-packed for the entire festival last year with an array of workshops that are set to make a return in 2015. The full Splendour in the Crafts line-up is listed below.
Splendour In The Grass 2015 – Splendour Crafts line-up
Thursday 23 July
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Pimp Your Festival Get Up: Bedazzle your tent, onesie, sleeping bag, phone covers – let your craftiest dreams come true.
Friday 24 July
11:00am – 12:30pm
Spotlight Session: Community Quilt workshop “I will always”
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Smash those Bad Dreams: Dream Catchers with Meet Make Create & Regular Wildcat
4:00pm – 5:30pm
The People’s Republic Of You: Pennant and Flag making with Kityia Palaskas
6.00pm – 6.30pm
No Lights No Lycra (Brisbane Chapter)
Saturday 25 July
11:00am – 12:30pm
Spotlight session: Piñata making with Kitiya Palaskas
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Charms for the Charming – Charm Bracelets with Each to Own
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Ojo De Dias (God’s Eye) with Beci Orpin
6.00pm – 6.30pm
No Lights No Lycra (Brisbane Chapter)
Beard embellishment with Splendour crafts.
Sunday 26 July
11:00am – 12:30pm
Spotlight Session: Totes, Totes! Yes free tote bag making with Art Park & Kitiya Palaskas
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Cool As Fuck Brooches with Beci Orpin
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Swamp your Sunnies & pimp your gumboots (free sunnies provided!) with Fancy Free + a band
6.00pm – 6.30pm
No Lights No Lycra (Brisbane Chapter)
Splendour in the Grass
Friday, 24th July – Sunday, 26th July 2015 – SOLD OUT
North Byron Parklands
126 Tweed Valley Way, Wooyung Tweed
Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au
