The Geelong Gallery is hosting an intimate evening with RONE and local creatives in celebration of Victorian Youth Week.
As if Geelong wasn’t pretty enough already, a bunch of talented street artists and local creatives have been channelling their energy into making it even prettier with their creative masterpieces and street art installations. From the Geelong Powerhouse Building, through to the CBD and out to Geelong West, the town is covered in glorious street art that makes us swoon.
One Geelong-born street artist that needs no introduction is Rone (the artistic alias of Tyrone Wright), acclaimed for his major transformations of abandoned spaces worldwide. Returning home this year, the gallery is currently hosting his first survey exhibition, showcasing his work over the past two decades, from early stencils and street art, to the major installations that have transformed abandoned spaces such as Empire, and The Omega Project.
As part of the exhibition, Rone has even transformed the rooms of Geelong Gallery in response to the history and architecture of the building itself, featuring an aloof-looking mural of a woman plus a haunting soundtrack by composer Nick Batterham. It’s truly stunning and worth a look if you haven’t already.
In celebration of all the art we’re blessed with in Geelong, the Geelong Gallery is hosting a very special event to coincide with Victorian Youth Week.
Each April, Victorian Youth Week celebrates young people (aged 12-25) over the course of one week, giving our youth a chance to express their ideas and views, and act on issues that affect their lives. Promoted by fun and engaging events, the week aims to celebrate the positive contributions young people make to their communities.
Held on Thursday, April 15 at 5pm, guests are invited to take part in an intimate tour and conversation with RONE and local street artists and creatives, Laura Alice and Joshua Maxwell de Hoog. The artists will cover everything from the controversies, challenges and successes behind some of the dynamic street art installations in our region, drawing from an endless list of their own lived experiences.
Alongside Rone, Geelong artist-musician-photographer-barista-business owner, Joshua Maxwell de Hoog will offer a wealth of knowledge to the event. Known for championing other local creative artists and encouraging off-kilter forms of self-expression through his business Analogue Academy, Josh has been bringing his unique art style to the people of Geelong over the years.
You can read our interview with Josh here, where he explains his dedication to cultivating arts culture in Geelong.
Another local artist who will be brining her experience to the table is the talented and equally passionate artist Laura Alice. Known for her magical, folk inspired artworks and her various paste ups around town, Laura has been hiding things in the laneways, cafes, and side-streets of Geelong for the past few years. Just recently, Laura has opened The Hue and Cry Collective, a brand-new cutting-edge gallery in the heart of Geelong that strives to bring pioneering, emerging and high-quality art to the city. As both curator and co-owner, Laura has worked to champion artists who emphasis alternative processes and possess a unique style, displaying artists with an unusual range of techniques, from paint to paste-ups, and stickers to installations.
You can read our previous chat with Laura here.
With three of the most talented artists at the helm, this event will both intrigue and inspire.
And the best news of all, while the event is celebrating youth week, you actually don’t need to be classified as a ‘youth’ to attend. So anyone over 25 that has a keen interest in street art and the Geelong landscape, this is an event for you.
You can find out more about the event and book your free tickets here.
