… a great little video by Nick Coppins.

Last year, Nick and his company, Telectran/Aqualux, fitted and provided a fantastic neutral-light, low wattage LED system for the Big Fag’s printroom. It’s transformed the way we work – we can see into every corner and the colour of our prints is “true” (rather than greenish with the fluoro lights).

In exchange, we worked on making some prints with Nick just before Christmas. Pictures soon!

Green Bans Art Walk from Cross Art Projects on Vimeo.

GBAW

[Vernon Ah Kee's offset lithograph printed on the Big Fag, 2011]

Big Fag Press has recently begun printing some limited edition prints for artists working with 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. So far, we’ve printed with Jason Wing, and Vernon Ah Kee. You can read about our experience with Jason here.

Over at the 4A website, you can go ahead and order a copy of these prints for yourself!

Diego Bonetto, one of the directors of the Big Fag Press, has won the 2011 Marrickville Contemporary Art Prize!

Diego’s prizewinning work was an installation comprising one of his famous weed terrariums, alongside a print he produced in 2010 on the Big Fag:

[Diego Bonetto, Terrarium Audit, 2010, in collaboration with Lucas Ihlein]

[Diego Bonetto, Weed Terrarium, 2010]

The print was produced in collaboration with Lucas Ihlein, as part of Lucas’ Environmental Audit project. Both the print, and the Terrarium were produced as part of the exhibition In the Balance: Art for a Changing World at the MCA.

This year, the MCAP was shared between Diego and Georgie Pollard. Congratulations to you both!!

We will be screening Pat Fiske’s excellent Rocking The Foundations with an introduction from Pat herself, and a freshly-produced film documenting the project that the fantastic Justin Hewitson has been filming for us over the past few weekends.

Hope to see you there!

The captions are also compiled by him. Thanks so much Lionel, for the photos and for all your hard work helping out with the project!

Michael Davies, discusses his ‘Map Of Fitzroy Ward’ 1971, and the social implications of & the genesis of the map project. Pre digital endless hours of hand drawn map and Letraset text. Great work with powerful impact on local knowledge of developer land purchases!

Local resident Phillip Boulton (right) drawing our attention to some often overlooked details and stories of Woolloomooloo talking with Lucas Ihlein of Big Fag Press (left).

architect of the community housing at Nellie Stewart Square-Michael Dysart, Nellie Stewart Square is affectionately referred to as ‘The Posh’ by the locals, due to it’s gorgeous environment and safe haven for kids to play, totally away from the streets in the heart of The Loo. The gorgeous stone in the walls was reclaimed from the area itself. Despite interest from Harry M miller to buy two of the houses for premium dollar upon completion- all went to people on the list for community housing and some re-settlement of previously dislocated ex locals.

Key Project member and local Woolloomooloo resident- Stacey Miers (in the green bans t-shirt) discusses some of the history of the housing around Sir Dennis Winston Place.

Artist Christopher Dean discusses the sculpture ‘Aphrodite’ by Margel Hinder, in the park at Sir Dennis Winston Place.

Big Fag Press artist- Mickie Quick discusses the local history of resident/ artist actions in the hood.

Artist Ian Milliss (active community member and artist around the time of the demolition rebuilding of Victoria St), discusses the great local character Mick Fowler (last resident to stay in Victoria St among considerable ongoing violence from developers)near his memorial plaque at the Butler stairs.

Artist Ian Milliss shows an old image of the house where Mick Fowler lived as we stand in front of it at 115 Victoria St, Kings Cross.

The walking group arrives at The Cross Arts Projects

Project initiator and curator Jo Holder- director of The Cross Arts Projects discusses the awesome history of Green Bans and the genesis of the project to celebrate 40 years of Green bans. artwork on wall behind, original watercolours by Fiona MacDonald referencing historical material.

Living legend Jack Mundey (BLF secretary who oversaw 50 Green Bans during his time as secretary including Victoria St and Woolloomooloo.) “ecology has to become part of all planning…and all political thinking”

Peter McClelland President of the CFMEU (current incarnation of the BLF) still taking action to save urban areas for the people.

City of Sydney Councillor Marcelle Hoff and resident Stacey Miers at The Cross Arts Projects launch

Weekend at Firstdraft. Cat and Fran dish out snags at the Launch of Green Bans Art Walk at Firstdraft Depot Project Space

Welcome to Firstdraft Depot!

Opening Speaker- Edmund campion- longtime local priest and secretary of Woolloomooloo Resident Action Group Secretary at time of Green Bans is introduced by Big Fag Artist Lucas Ihlein.

Project artist Marian Hardman (nee Marrison) discusses the photographs she took to document Green Bans back in the mid 70′s- on show at Firstdraft Depot project space and some of the inspiring locals she documented. also mentioned how some things gain significance over time and how powerful it was to be given the opportunity to revisit the project.

Opening Speaker- Edmund campion- longtime local priest and secretary of Woolloomooloo Resident Action Group Secretary at time of Green Bans, shares great stories of the formation of the Woolloomooloo Resident Action Group and the building of momentum, struggle and support for Green Bans.

Great man- Jim Owens of the BLF gave a heart rending speech listing all the men and women who gave so much of themselves in harsh dangerous circumstances to make Green Bans happen, he recalled strong figures and quiet powerful committed men and women who worked tirelessly to protect their local environment for future generations- the rich legacy left for us who can enjoy these spaces now, many of whom have sadly died over the years. Cheers to everyone involved. The impacts of all the hard work makes this a much more liveable city!

Mick Fowler’s home at 115 Victoria Street,The Little Green Book. The Facts on Green Bans’, Victoria St Residents’ Action Group, 1973.

Hi all,

a busy time is ahead of us, with the Green Bans Art Walk coming up and filling the month of August with things to do in Wooloomooloo.

The eventful month is part of several publicity platforms and will be cross promoted accordingly, so I thought to clear up the confusion already arising by giving a easy-to-understand schedule of what is going to happen during August at the Big Fag Press headquarters and associates.

Below is the schedule for the Green Ban Art Walk(s), part of the WALK program organised and supported by Performance Space, see here for bookings:

Guided Walks

Departing from Firstdraft Depot

SAT  6 AUG, 12 noon

13 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo

Departing from The Cross Art Projects

SAT & SUN 6-7 AUG, 2.30pm

SAT 13 & 20 AUG, 2.30pm

Llankelly Lane, Kings Cross

Places are limited, so bookings are essential.

RSVP at performancespace.com.au

Maps for self-guided walks are available at both venues.

Exhibition hours 6-27 AUG, THUR-SAT, 11am-6pm
again, bookings for the walking tours are via Performance Space’s website.

ON TOP OF THAT WE WILL ALSO OFFER

GUIDED TOURS OF THE PRESS AS PART OF SYDNEY DESIGN 11

They will happen on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 at 1 pm, at 13 Riley St, W’loo, they are FREE and will last approximately 1 hour.

You will be shown the F.A.G. 104 offset press used by the resident artist Fiona MacDonald to create the beautiful prints on display, and we will talk about the process and the story of a salvaged printing press OLD IS NEW AGAIN.

in print..

Thanks to:

The Cross Art Projects Firstdraft Depot

Performance Space Awesome Foundation

Sydney Design 2011 City of Sydney

For more on the Green Bans history, see this site by Sarah Barns.

Big Fag Press is well underway with its Green Bans Art Walks project in Woolloomooloo.

It’s a collaboration with The Cross Arts Projects in Kings Cross, artist Fiona McDonald, and a number of Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross residents.

Here’s a page which gives more info on the project, which has been generously supported by Performance Space, First Draft Depot, The Awesome Foundation, and the City of Sydney.

For more on the Green Bans history, see this great site by Sarah Barns.

PRINTED MATTER
Exhibition opens 7th June, 6 – 8pm. Continues till 25th June

BIG FAG PRESS
BLOOD & THUNDER PUBLISHING CONCERN
THE RIZZERIA

‘Printed Matter’ explores some of the dynamic printing collectives that operate in Sydney. Co-existing in their own unique realm, each individual collective offer a fresh take on printed output – the result being a tactile mark on paper whose character flourishes through the unpredictable nature of the machine in operation.

As far as mass produced media is concerned, the collectives diverge from their digital counterparts, through a certain je ne sais quoi that is too often undermined through digital printing processes. Designs are scrutinised to work harmoniously with the method of production, colours are picked by eye from a limited palette and stocks are often painstakingly hand fed. These elements come together to create a unique print that through its idiosyncrasies is truly human.