Sixth Sense is a new exhibition at NAS Gallery in which thirteen artists investigate the realms of the senses. The exhibition is on display free to the public at the National Art School in Darlinghurst, Sydney from Friday 19 August until Saturday 15 October 2016.

Guest-curated by Djon Mundine OAM, Sixth Sense presents work by cross-generational Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal artists who consider aspects of the spiritual and the senses through their respective approaches.  The artists are Daniel Boyd, Destiny Deacon and Virginia Fraser, Karla Dickens, Fiona Foley, Nicole Foreshew, Willurai Kirkbright, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Gabriella Mangano and Silvana Mangano, Archie Moore, Nasim Nasr and Skye Raabe.

The Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize, Australia’s pre-eminent national award for small sculpture presented by Woollahra Council, today announced 46 finalists for the 2016 Prize, selected from 614 entries.

Selected by the 2016 guest judges – CEO and Group Fairs Director of Art Fairs Australia Barry Keldoulis, Senior Curator at Macquarie University Art Gallery Rhonda Davis and Ambassador for the visual arts and cultural icon, Wendy Whiteley OAM – the finalist works showed innovation and diversity in their take on an original, freestanding sculpture measuring up to 80cm in any dimension.

The judges said: “The 2016 prize entries included a wide range of materials both new and traditional, adapted to contemporary aesthetics and interests.”

This year’s finalists include well-known artists such as Del Kathryn Barton, Louis Pratt, Rodney Pople, Craig Waddell and Joan Ross who will be exhibited alongside emerging artists.  Works spanned a range of materials including stone, ceramic, paper, thread, wire, metal, resin and electronic detritus. The works address political, social, personal and playful themes and showed a high standard.

Kaldor Public Art Projects today announced Bangarra Dance Theatre will develop a site-specific performance for Jonathan Jones’ barrangal dyara (skin and bones), the 32nd Kaldor Public Art Project being held in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden from 17 September until 3 October 2016. Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi artist Jonathan Jones and Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Stephen Page, will collaborate to present a performance reflecting on the loss of Sydney’s 19th century Garden Palace Building – along with countless Aboriginal cultural objects – to fire in 1882.

The performance will take place within the footprint of the original Garden Palace building along Macquarie Street in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, demarcated by a new major sculptural and sound installation created by Jones. The project connects with many Aboriginal communities and cultural practitioners, and Munaldjali/Nunukul man, Page will respond to the themes of the work, collaborating to shed light on Australian History.

This special collaboration with Bangarra Dance Theatre will be performed free of charge on the evening of the anniversary of the Garden Palace Fire, 22 September 2016. The performance will be part of the wider barrangal dyara (skin and bones) project program, presented free to the public from 17 September – 3 October 2016 in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden.

The project is Jones’ response to the immense loss felt throughout Australia due to the destruction of these culturally significant items. It represents an effort to commence a healing process and a celebration of the survival of the world’s oldest living culture despite this traumatic event.

This winter Casula Powerhouse Art Centre presents a landmark exhibition Refugees bringing together more than 65 works by 22 world-renowned artists – including Yoko Ono, Ai Wei Wei and Anish Kapoor – each of whom share a refugee background.  Presented free to the public from 29 July to 11 September 2016, Refugees will be the first time these important works by some of the world’s most well-known artists have been seen in Western Sydney.

Drawing upon the past 120 years of artistic practice, featuring modern and contemporary work that spans several continents and conflicts, Refugees and its associated public programs will offer a powerful contribution to this highly politicised subject matter. More than 65 works from major public and private collections across Australia will be presented together with new works commissioned for the exhibition by Australian artists Guo Jian and Ah Xian. Guo Jian’s commissioned work is a vast 10 metre long photographic collage inspired by a visit to his home village in China; whilst Ah Xian has created a performance work responding to his experience of seeking refuge, being performed on opening night.