Why would ya wanna shut this party down?

There is a new set of mind-blowing photos up from the Wormwood (by Octopus Pi) just gone (APRIL 7) which are testament to the uniqueness, beauty and experimentation present at the monthly event.

The photo above is something new Alex and I are experimenting with using analogue practise and manipulating it using digital video editing and effects.

Check out the photos- if you've been you get it, if you haven't then surely you feel you may have missed out?

Dreaming about the next one...

APRIL Wormwood

Inside liquid light projections beam odd shapes and twisted dyes drowning out all static white surfaces. 

Psychedelic music is given colour, each act evoking a different ambience. 

Yonic Transformation projections are bowed to like goddesses of shape, light and colour. 

Inner anguish, drips in illusory manifestations- the walls ooze emotion. 

Visual and Sound become Sensory dreamscapes.

Jamming with the space, the hand that will perhaps rescind its supportive base.

So again, Wormwood (held monthly at UTS bar The Loft) is threatened with expulsion and so again we must fight to continue to deliver amazing musical acts and performances and experiment with new ways of getting people to come together to share an experience. Wormwood has always been about stimulating the mind to allow it to open up and liberate it of its fetters. It is in no way a regular underground music gig with predictability and the shackles of tradition.

Curator Kimberley Galceran has always tried to bring together visual, sound and abstract elements that respect the audience's desire to have their senses and emotions catered to and inspired- not just their basic passive desire to see a good band or act. It is about collaboration- how can separate entities or groups merge their diverse works together in one space to accomplish a myriad of interpretative perceptions and experiences for the people in that space? It is an ongoing experiment, it needs more time to flourish and evolve.

But this is Sydney. And in Sydney, you have to fight for any opportunity to do something different and exciting.

Join the group, and  look upon the Octopus Pi blog (even just for its tripped out design) to keep up to date and receive the call for help if there needs be.

Also read this interview with Ms Galceran by Dripping Acid Airwaves which concludes where I'd like to conclude:


Remember what the white rabbit said – Feed your head!

SmartARTS Youth Festival

All Photos: Vornstar from Opening Night @ Pine St Studios.

SmartARTS Youth Festival: Catching the dreams of the youth, helping them discover their inner artist and unleashing a canvas of inspiration which motivate to reach for the stars!

CLOSING NIGHT will be on Fri 15th April from 6pm @ the very fine Red Rattler in Marrickville. The Divine Knights, MC UN-1 and Alice Spacedoll will accompany Punk Monk Propaganda taking spirited attendees on a journey of unfettered sensory experience.

All ages plus free food!! More info here.

state of the art

Kluster - State of the art from dcameron on Vimeo.

I'm a little behind on blogging. Here's an event we provided a light show for to fundraise independent arts online mag Kluster. Held at the awesome little warehouse space- Hellen Rose Schauersberger Laboratorium and packed to the brim.


The multifaceted event featured live, interactive art created by Punk Monk Propaganda (Alex, Clare, Kate, Vic), Thomas Jackson, Mia Taninaka, Helen Mycroft and Brent Smith, tunes provided by Sydney DJ’s, Cara Stricker and Urby and a live performance by Border Thieves. State of the Art was all about the creative and the current. The emerging and the established. The future.

ears and eyes

Sister Jane and Punk Monk Propaganda, endeavouring to make music gigs that caress more than just the ears. When asked by Alternative Media Group, who Sister Jane are, drummer Joe Driver's thorough response was: 

We veer wildly between sultry smoking-room soundtrack blues… and something more closely resembling a tripping social science teacher on a freewheeling fun ride at one of those accident-waiting-to-happen fun parks that only opens during school holidays. Ton of Fun in Forster/Tuncurry springs to mind. 

They're our favourite band to jam with because their psychedelic vibe is a perfect marriage with the re-invention of the 60's and 70's liquid light show; their music simply deserves it. 

This is from A Shrill Chuckle Of Irrepressible Delight, for Sydney Fringe Festival in September, at The Annandale Hotel. This is Sister Jane's hit Outer Suburbs of the Soul. Man, I get this in my head A LOT! Sorry the sounds not great; wasn't shooting using fancy video equipment.

wormwood'd (2)

The October Wormwood has just passed and with it comes the sad news that there will probably only be 2 more. I guess Sydneysiders are accustomed to their favourite gigs and art events being shut down just as they're getting attached or further down the track when it has become an integrated part of their lives. Wormwood has given consistently rad psychedelic and garage music on a monthly basis since early this year and for free. Thrown in with live DJing (how nice it is to continue rocking out in between sets to craftily selected tunes), live doodling and portrait drawing, hair art (yeah you coulda gotten a cool X or something shaved in your hair last time- I got a triangle..) and we have tried our best to offer some delectable delights for the eyes with our liquid light projections. 

Anyyywayyy, this was my second go at liquid light and I feel I have earned my scouts badge. After some home tutorials from the wizard Alex, I am starting to really understand how it all works. My favourite technique is the galaxy technique with swishing blue-greens and bright bubbles. Alex and I projected form the sky onto the faerie tree whilst Kate wowed inside. We also brought with us a magical film with clips from the secret creek when we took a retreat a few weeks ago. Swaying tyre swings, gargling waterfalls and meditative reflections- next time we might treat you to the amazing frog sounds emitted from the film. 

So now you know, the rumour is only 2 more Wormwood:: absinthe and psychedelia extravaganza's to go. Come play.

a shrill chuckle

punk monk jamming sister jane @ a shrill chuckle of irrepressible delight (sydney fringe festival '10) 22/9/10.


sister jane on tunes. kate and alex on art projectors. clare on management/photos/video (to come).

Making Rainbows GREENER

I've been thinking a lot lately about sustainable art practice; how to still use all the pretty, interesting and workable materials out there but considering how to minimise (if not eliminate...which is difficult when not actually intending to make an ecologically themed artwork) the affect it has on the environment. I've managed to come to a lot of decisions in my personal life but haven't yet established my own rules and limits in terms of art. How can I justify the use and wastage of artworks?

The first practice I/we (the punk monk team) need to tackle is the Liquid Light Show. Liquid Light is the act of using oil, detergent/gel and coloured dyes (we currently use food dye) to make patterns that move and mutate in glass. These are put on top of overhead projectors and beamed onto spaces. Therefore, energy from electricity is needed, chemicals from the liquids which are bought and then disposed of afterwards, use of cleaning products (sprays and cloths) and large amounts of water for mixing and cleaning are used. Then there is the fact that, where we would usually walk/ride/skate to an event, with our overhead projectors and gear we must use someones vehicle to get to and from the venue.

The very easiest change can be applied to the cleaning up method. Alex and I attended a workshop a few months ago with The Watershed learning how to make our own environmentally safe cleaning products using basic and inexpensive ingredients like bicarb, vinegar, eucalyptus oil and pure soap and then using re-use spray bottles from ex- cleaning products packaging or from re-use centres like Reverse Garbage. Perhaps some microfibre cloths that do not get damaged by intensive use and dyes rather than using disposable chux/paper towel could be the next step here....

If anyone has any ideas/suggestions on what kind of dyes are of minimal effect and inexpensive or if anyone is some kind of solar power Whizz Kid and can help us work towards solar powered overheads...then WOW. The key word, inexpensive, is unfortunately important- we simply cannot afford to BUY our way into sustainability.

Baby steps.

Above is a video by a group The Joshua Light Show that we are inspired by in our liquid light experiments. We have been doing Liquid light projection art for art shows, music gigs and other events for about a year since our second Punk Monk hosted event called ALGAE RHYTHM. ALGAE RHYTHM 0.02: PSYCHOCHEMICAL curated by monks Alex and Kate which turned the then Punk Monk warehouse into an oozing rainbow cranium of melding patterns, forms and textures created by the old school overhead projectors and their wizard controllers. The night was full of mural painting, science experiments, psychedelic music and light play and we haven't looked back since.

The photo above is of Kate mixing colour at Know Your Mushrooms (Ron Mann) screening and party, an event for Possible Worlds Film Festival where we celebrated fungi, films and all forms of fun! Snapped by our good friend and brilliant photographer Susie Stavert.

(Don't forget to catch us on Wednesday @ The Annandale for a jam with psychedelic rockers Sister Jane)

A shrill Chuckle of Irrepressible Delight

Here are some shots (from here) of some liquid light projections we did with Sister Jane from a show last year at the now, closed Hopetoun Hotel (rest it's soul). Alex isn't drinking food dye and detergent here, but is creating bubbles in the design- just one technique in a practice of infinite possibilities. We'll be exploring some more on Wednesday, in what will be our third jam with Sister Jane.

In a recent interview with Alternative Media Group SJ drummer Joe Driver described us as a troupe of art-school freak-child light designers. This tickled us pink! Fellow vibe merchants Sister Jane are just what you need on a Wednesday night to shake that mid week stress out your hair. Their psychedelic jives inherit a sense of freedom that'll force your feet to groove- we'll provide the rainbow explosion happening in your head as projections around the room.

A Shrill Chuckle of Irrepressible Delight:

Wed @ The Annandale Hotel (support live music venues), opening at 7.30pm.

Join Brian Campeau, Fag Panic, Bud Petal and Sister Jane (+ Punk Monk projection art) with Jay Katz MCing and Djing.

A mere $10. Part of Sydney Fringe Fest.

Wormwood'd

Stepping aside from all this artRiot rioting, I'd like to reflect on a gig we did, not long back, called WORMWOOD. It's not just a gig, it's a bit of a project for us, a canvas for experimentation and getting to know some awesome musical, visual and creative artists and thinkers. Our first Wormwood, actually #3, had us with three old school projectors- one behind the bands, one highlighting the mysterious staircase and an "apprentice" projector outside under the sprinkles open for the audience to dip their toes in the magic.

This is great for Punk Monks Vic, Clare and Jay who unlike the very talented alchemists Kate and Alex are just beginning our relationship with the overhead projector. I can conclude that it is very very messy, something will always get broken and that surprisingly less dye = brighter colour! If you want an acid trip sans acid then spend a night mixing oil, detergent and food dye in glass containers on top of a brightly burning light box and shine it onto a wall somewhere.

Ongoing monthly, we'll play with how we may extend the projections using ideas of shadow, audience + other performers interaction and playing with different surfaces for blasting with colour. Perhaps we'll introduce some video. If you were there and you have some ideas/feedback- welcome. Otherwise join us for the next one.

The very exciting lineup includes:

BANDS

The Walk on By
Crab Smasher
Jusgo Mosh

DJs
Lucas George (Whipped Cream Chargers)
Simo Soo

LIVE PROJECTIONS
Punk Monk Propaganda

POETRY
Mersey Sound Collective

HAIR ART
Creon - have faith! get your head shaved/cut by Creon!

GREENTOOTH
Turn your bluetooth on! We'll be sending "Fortune Cookies" out on the night!

Join the Wormwood group and ATTEND the event on FB. And hey guys: ITS FREE. Just bring some change to buy some absinthe and get that nice dreamy buzz going- not that you won't have enough help from all the sensory stimulation on the night.

green liquid light faerie rings

Absinthe + Psychedelia ? Music + live art ? Your Jive? Ours too!

Absinthe is a magical spiritual beverage made of the flowers and leaves of anise, fennel and wormwood. It's highly alcoholic inducing sensory bliss which will heighten the kaleidoscopic stimulation already present for you at WORMWOOD.

Punk Monk are joining in Green Faerie Kimberley Galceran's vision of monthly interactive events based on collective collaboration and creative vibes. Hosted at The Loft, a liquid light projectionists wet dream (tall white walls for canvas), we'll be experimenting with some of our inky techniques and developing some ideas each month in this new playground.

Thursday Sept 2:

Edgar J Hooves artistic immortalisation of your experience through live portrait scribblings

Punk Monk Propaganda creating live ink-bath projections

The Bang Bang Twins as psychedelic green fairies

Charlotte - poetry / spoken word

Whipped Cream Chargers, Strangers & Pregnancy - music for the masses

DJs Jack Shit & Catinabox - even more music for the masses

Absinthe - as always!

in coming months: Meme Me, Mersey Sound Collective, The Walk on By, StupidKrap, Psychonanny and the Babyshakers, Piano is Drunk, Jusgo Mosh... and.... you??

Contact the organisers: filthypillow@gmail.com.

Hope for Hopetoun?

(Michael Prechtl, Hopetoun Hotel, Sept)

(Sister Jane by Fastlane/ Faster Louder, Hopetoun Hotel, Sept)

In September, Punk Monk was given free reign of the Hopetoun to splash mutating, dripping colour and pattern over bands Wade Jackson, Sister Jane and Hailer. As far as I am aware, this is the first live liquid light show to beam there paying homage to psychedelic forefathers such as The Joshua Light Show (still pumping out light shows 09) with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and other 60s/70s acts like Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead.

Punk Monk revived this with some old school overhead projectors back at ALGAE RHYTHM 0.02: PSYCHOCHEMICAL with the idea that it's important sometimes to feel like your on acid when you're not. Acid opens up your senses to let in more spine tingly textured, sweet tasting colour and light- why shouldn't we feel this sometimes anyway (without always having to take drugs- although don't get me wrong, they have their place)? There is stimulus everywhere, let's get some of it together to create events that allow you to take a nice trip into a beautiful wonderland. We're expanding this idea more and more, and I'm sure you can't escape how excited we were to be given the opportunity to take over The Factory for BORN IN THE DOORWAY last weekend. We're still buzzing and we have to thank venues for letting us get out our often messy supplies (dyes, cooking oil, paints, glue, detergent... ) and transforming their floors into playgrounds. We're relatively new in the game, but we grow up a little more each event we make our experiment- watch this space-----

(Shirley Chen, Born in the Doorway, Oct)

The reason I am lamenting this Hopetoun gig at the moment is in response to the recent closing of The Hopetoun Hotel. Will this gig, epic as it was, be the last I ever see at The Hopetoun? This the place my ears have rung out to my favourite bands, big and not so, where I have first experienced my now favs- this the place I fell in LOVE!? How can it be that one of my relationships can outlast The Hopetoun. Panic ensues...

I have now discovered The Harp in Tempe has been shut, hopefully temporarily and that The Annandale is possibly up for closure. There are many reasons/speculations for reasons ranging from noise complaints, financial difficulties, some kind of fuzzy code violations, management issues, council hassles etc etc etc but in the end what it seems to come down to is: Support.

These venues have supported our Sydney music scene for decades housing all genres and a range of events mainly by independent artists/groups which need as much support as they do. They provide. We need to provide right on back. I'm not sure what action needs to be taken from here. Perhaps we can revive the campaign that fbi so successfully boosted their community station with? Ideas?

Speaking of, the Red Rattler chicks have none less than mortgaged their lives and worked their asses off in between full time jobs elsewhere to open their space in Marrickville. In the spirit of cheaper rent for artists to house events in and a higher accessibility to these spaces, these incredibly cool women deserve a massive pat on the back. With venues threatened with closure, we can only hope others spring up to help fill the massive gap. Punk Monk have been involved at the Red Rattler for Kino Kabaret (#2 David Lynch) events and Canadian Film Festival nights (Know Your Mushrooms) and received so much willing support and friendly vibes from the red rattlers.

(redrattler.org)

(Victoria Waghorn, Know Your Mushrooms, Aug)

We'll be there on Friday night with The Lurkers who are all about anti-humourlessness activism are about to go to Copenhagen to prompt world leaders to "pull their fingers out and stop burning up our future by burning up coal". Should be fun so come Get Lurked.

Rebirth Complete

Guests were given the full rebirth treatment last night at Punk Monk Propaganda's BORN IN THE DOORWAY sensory art and music experience. The eclectic combination of diy craft (collective zine making, mixtape writing and throwie making, live painting), soundscape trances, psychedelic moving liquid light bouncing off all walls and melting onto bodies, a giant peacock (GLAMOUR COCK) that eats your rubbish and 4 sets of live music brought to you by Wade Jackson, Driftwood Drones, The Prayer Circle and Hailer, created an atmosphere of excitement, pleasure and refreshment.

Guest became artist as Punk Monk set off to re-write the bounds of the traditional music gig and revive the ethos of Warhol's own Factory- where individuals have a space to test their individual works (of any medium- music, art, installation..) and collaborate whilst partying on in a stimulating environment. We've been playing with this idea for a while: having smaller arts which happen during the night as a response to and with the input of audiences which together create the larger combined work- an interactive, inter-media and inter-sensory (we're making up our own terms now) social event.

Our monthly initiative ALGAE RHYTHM was catalyst to this attitude, where curated nights give anyone willing, a chance to showcase what they're into, what they want others to share with them and visa versa. BORN IN THE DOORWAY was a chance for us to combine live music (whereas we usually stick to film screenings as a focus) and to play in a larger venue with a bigger group of people to get involved or convert to the ways of the Punk Monk.

Success rained as to our surprise, a continuous stream of guests took up the activities and contributed to the collective works. Intimate groups sat in circles making their page to go in the zine and trustingly handing over their places of residence where they'd await the end product (a BORN IN THE DOORWAY super zine!) to be sent snail mail style. Sydney zine scene here we come- yes?!

Snail mail was again revived in the old tradition of mixtape writing with the lovely Tash, adapted to the burnt CD and to be dropped at random into unsuspecting mail boxes. Throwie- making with Michael was met with burning curiosity with small glowing lights ending up in a myriad of places from roofs, to pony tails, to glasses, piercings , glamour cock and anything metallic that could be found. Btw- Who wants to get a massive throwie posse together for a throw off guerrilla style?

Deo live painted scenes from around the shop in gorgeous spontaneous streaks and handed it over to any willing participants; groups huddled and painted together- sunsets, birds, faces in A1 glory were put aside to dry.

Liquid light by Alex and Kate and the VJing efforts of James added something that's been missing at gigs for a long time, not since bands like the Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Grateful Dead has a live show ever looked so deliciously colourful and felt so psychotropic.

Shell Child's audio soundscape on intimate headphones and being manipulated live for each individual was a multi-sensory adventure in a way not expected and relatively unexplored in an event environment. Whilst giggers rocked out to the bands, groups of two could be at the sound booth in their own cocoon of sound waves which vibrate through the body as you stare trance-like into a vortex.

Photography beautified the walls with Andy Stavert's work a special highlight- photos taken during the week from a bike ride around the area surrounding the Factory in a tribute to the best suburb in the inner west- Marrickville (I'm a little bias here).

All 4 bands put on smashing sets with Diftwood Drones and The Prayer Circle who I hadn't experienced live before, definite stand out acts. Look out for these guys.

A definite highlight of the night preceded headlining band Hailer, as the MC lifted the already sky rocketing mood of the room in a proposal to his now to- be wife. A tingly end to a tingly night.

Born in the Doorway was brought to you by (and with many thanks) Greg Winnifield, Bands Hailer, The Prayer Circle, Driftwood Drones and Wade Jackson, the Punk Monks: Kate, Alex, myself, Ky, Felix, Michael, Kaitlyn, Davey, Michelle, Dermot, Karina (did I forget anyone?) and artists James, Deo, Jay, Andy, Tash and Jo. Thanks to the Factory for having such an awesome contact for the night: Darren- a very patient and cool guy.

P.S Have photos, write-ups, comments of the night- e-mail me at clare@punk-monk.com, we'd love to see, know and geet your feedback!

Keep the spirit of the eco-sculpture GLAMOUR COCK alive, ( let's keep creating together.)