August 5, 2011

GREEN BANS ART WALK CELEBRATING THE LEAGACY OF GREEN BANS – 40 YEARS ON

Green Bans Art Walk is a collaborative project from BigFagPress and The Cross Art Projects. Presented by Performance Space, Green Bans Art Walk is comprised of two exhibitions, a self-guided walk and a series of public guided walks. These multi-venue walking tours will depart from Firstdraft Depot, Woolloomooloo and The Cross Art Projects, Kings Cross where
the related exhibitions will be open from 6–27 August 2011.

Approaching the 40th anniversary of the first Green Bans actions in Sydney, Green Bans Art Walk revives the excitement and struggle that was a part of 1970s Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross. Decades have passed since Victoria Street and Woolloomooloo were saved from demolition for large-scale building boom projects. Over four intense years
building workers withdrew their labour for social and environmental reasons, resulting in over 40 ‘bans’.

Under Jack Mundey’s leadership (as secretary from 1970–73) the Builders’ Labourers Federation made social and environmental advocacy part of its industrial role and Mundey’s term 'Green Ban' became internationally known. Local residents worked with building workers, unionists, wharfies, artists and architects to change the rules that now regulate urban planning and include community participation.

Green Bans Art Walk is a social history and artistic collaboration with the local community that celebrates the legacy of the five-year battle for ‘The Loo’ and the intense three-year-long 'sit-in' battle for Victoria Street. Many protesters were jailed, many reluctantly moved away and the struggle was believed to have killed Mick Fowler, the last Victoria Street squatter and it is widely speculated to have been a contributing factor in the murder of Juanita Nielsen, publisher of local newspaper Now.

Green Bans Art Walk is a project that opens up discussion between the public and the movement’s many individual activists, historians and agencies, and sheds light on a crucial part of Sydney’s history for a new generation of residents.

The project is part of Performance Space’s WALK, a season of walks, promenades, marches and strolls in and around Sydney taking place throughout 2011. It has been supported by The Firstdraft Depot and has received a cultural grant from the City of Sydney.

Artists: Louise Anderson, Pat Armstrong, Michelle Blakeney, Diego Bonetto, Josie Cavallero and Anne Kay, Alan Davies, Mini Graff, Margel Hinder, Jo Holder, Lucas Ihlein, Fiona MacDonald, Marion Marrison, Mickie Quick and Joe Szabo.

BOOKING INFORMATION:

WHERE The Firstdraft Depot Project Space 13 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo
The Cross Art Projects 8 Llankelly Lane, Kings Cross

WHEN Guided Walks departing from:
The Cross Art Projects
Sat & Sun 6 & 7 Aug, 2.30pm
Sat 13 & 20 Aug, 2.30pm

The Firstdraft Depot Space
Sat 6 Aug, 12 noon

Exhibitions 6–27 Aug, 11–6, Thu–Sat

TICKETS Green Ban Arts Walk exhibitions and tours are FREE.
To book into a guided tour, please go to performancespace.com.au
or call (02) 8571 9101

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