AND IT WAS SUCH A BRIGHT MOON AS WELL
Pass~Port Store and Gallery, Darlinghurst2024
With Pops Bagnall, Pearl Smith and Clare Wigney
PASS-PORT Store and gallery, 04.07.2024
This is the second time that the four of us have shown together, we owe the whole thing to Jack Diaz, who approached Pops and Clare with the idea when they were working at the Stussy store, with Jack next-door at Passport. Madi was working just on the other side of Oxford Square at Carhartt, and Pearl was always around Darlinghurst on her bike, after art school or work, stopping by to visit or sit out the front and watch the waves of sleepy or teeming, unruly and dusty Oxford street roll on and open out and fade away again.
Out the front of the Darlinghurst shops always felt like a refuge, a dirty paved garden of friendship, standing in the doorways exchanging commentary on passers by, playing games or trying to get some sun. Jack felt like a flower amongst it all.
He was most enthusiastic about the four of us showing together. He talked about it for months and months before anything really came of it. He would joke about adding curator to his resume, or say that he was going to be an international art mogul- but in an equally as sincere way he would talk about wanting to make the passport gallery more subversive or abstract, and to have some diverse, exciting shows. He had a radiant, always dreaming mind.
Our first show at China Heights in February orbited simply around marrying our differing practices and tying the knots wherein we connect and move together within the works that we make. As a group of artists we are interested in showing work in a vulnerable and honest manner. The kind of vulnerability that jack possessed - rare, coupled with a genuine playfulness. These are the traits we strive for in our art making. Jack naturally and vehemently counteracted any shame in expression, he was non-discriminatory, soft and open.
Our mission for this show is to embrace community, in a space that has always been one where friends gather, to sit, talk, laugh and grieve. It feels appropriate and timely to utilise art making and exhibiting as a device for connecting and gathering. It feels just as appropriate to embrace and nurture the purity and passion involved in the original conception of the show- which was grounded in friendship, excitement and collective inspired imagination, which was Jack's.
Jack was an art mogul in his own right- always dressed like a 70's rock star, always playing good music behind the counter that flowed out onto the filthy front steps, where he would often be found eating a whopper or KFC. Pops affectionately nicknamed him Hungry Jack. Jack and Clare were often mistaken for one another, same hair and clothes, almost the same height. Many a time he was playing reciprocated pranks on Madi, and just as frequently pestering Pearl for beers. He will be remembered as the most excitable show-pony on Oxford square, always curious, always wondering, always excited and making everybody laugh, roll their eyes, then laugh again.
The night that jack passed away was the winter solstice, a full moon, and it was such a bright moon as well.
At this show, we invite everyone to get together and be together.