From Farm Punk to Plinth
From the 5th to the 31st of October 2016
local sculptor Franco Girardi
presents
"From Farm Punk to Plinth".
For the duration of this solo show,
the Serpentine's
Gallery 2 will showcase
a fascinating selection of
costumes, 'weapons'
installations and lots more.
Together with
graphic designer and illustrator
Dougal Binns's solo exhibition
"Take Shape",
an opening night celebration
will take place on Friday
14th October 2016, from 6pm.
All welcome.
Franco Girardi sheep shear artworks @ Nimbin Spring Arts Festival 2014
Image: Nimbin GoodTimes
"My art is storytelling with rust!
Sheep shears make up
about eighty percent of my work,
it's my trademark.
I cable tie or wire my works together
so it's forever changing,
it keeps my growing fan base curious.
I see my art as window dressing.
My subject matter is
life, love, yin yang,dark and light."
- Franco Girardi,
September 2016
'Helmet and Sword'
1st October 2016: As Franco Girardi began to mount his solo show at the Serpentine, fellow artist Dougal Binns
dropped in to give a helping hand, discuss their individual approaches to art, and plan a combined opening celebration.
Constructed in situ: Over the next few days Franco Girardi's exhibition comes together beautifully.
The Artworks
'Self portrait'
assembly
'Rust'
Sheep shear assembly
'Self-portrait'
sheep-shears-assembly
'Bug Series'
sheep shear assembly
'Mask'
'Costume Series'
sheep shear assembly
'Costume and Headdress'
Costume by Franco
Headdress by Emma
'Mask'
'Costume'
'Mask'
'Costume Series'
assembly
'Compound Bow'
'Sword'
'Franco in costume'
print, card/envelope
'Christ Air'
assembly
'Flower Show'
assembly
'Golden Years #1'
sheep shear assembly
'Golden Years #2'
sheep shear assembly
'Ned'
assembly
'Gubba Hunting'
assembly
'Chopped'
assembly
'Cow Skull'
sheep shear assembly
'Prepping Series
- Parties For Everyone'
sheep shear assembly
'Skateboard Series'
assembly
sheep shear assembly
sheep shear assembly
assembly
assembly
assembly
'The Journey up Creek With Paddle'
assembly
'Sunburst'
sheep shear assembly
sheep shear assembly
assembly
The opening celebration
An energetic start to a very successful event: with the artists and helpers
presenting our local art-lovers with a fantastic 'feast' for multiple senses.
Why cut a symbolic ribbon when you have freshly-baked cake?
Franco and Dougal do the honours.
Musical entertainment by squeeze-box player Donato Rosella, clarinetist Rodney Sharpe and vocalist Wera Teves.
Official opening and welcome speeches are given by Nimbin identity Michael Balderstone (above right), who told of
Franco's creative input with the original Nimbin Museum, Dougal (below right), Franco (below left) and a gallery rep.
Time for the very enthusiastic crowd to appreciate the artworks and the ambience.
The Lismore Echo's Journalist-in-charge,
Sophie Moeller captures a picture of Circus
for the paper's Out & About page.
Above (L to R): Franco Girardi, Nicole Raward
(whose portraits of Franco were part of the show), Lismore Regional Gallery director
Brett Adlington and Dougal Binns talk art.
Mixed media 'Portraits of Franco Girardi' series by Nicole Raward
Rodney Sharpe points out the weathering
on the Serpentine sign he created to
artist Leigh Arnold and another show goer.
Lucky last: coming straight from work to the opening celebration,
the gallery's final visitors for the evening inspired a Franco demonstration.
Franco Girardi's "From Farm Punk to Plinth" @ the Serpentine Community Gallery - October 2016
