Melbourne Fringe produced ten events for the 2004 Festival.
sheltershelter was a collaboration between Melbourne Fringe, Melbourne architect Sean Godsell, The Artful Dodgers Studio Gateway Program and the Brotherhood of St Laurence. shelter encouraged discussion and debate by responding artistically to issues surrounding home and homelessness which culminated in a large-scale public art exhibition combining visual art, design, digital media, film and photography in an unmistakable installation on the forecourt of the National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Road. shelter involved young people at risk of homelessness, and communities experiencing social isolation in the outer suburbs.
As part of the shelter project, Melbourne Fringe held two forums at NGV International based on themes of home and homelessness and the collaborative process undertaken to produce Shelter.
s u r f a c e
Surface was a fully interactive, living, breathing, street art experience and public exhibition. In one vast space Melbourne's most vibrant urban and regional site-specific artists and designers came together to well and truly scratch the s u r f a c e of interactive graffiti culture. Sixteen prominent underground Melbourne street artists and designers and arts students from Goulburn Ovens TAFE transformed 24 huge doors of Shed 14 in the Docklands. Young people from diverse social and geographical backgrounds shared their interpretation and reflection of their environment, experiences and existence through the ‘language' of graffiti.
electroVision@Fringe
electroVision@Fringe was five days of audiovisual immersion in the best emerging and established electronica and multimedia from around Australia.
In addition, the ‘Get off the Couch' CD was produced in partnership with the Department of Human Services as part of electroVision@Fringe. It presents some of Australia's edgiest electronica artists responding musically, lyrically, conceptually and emotionally to the key message ‘marijuana can do more harm than you think'. For your free copy contact info@melbournefringe.com.au
Fringe Furniture
Furniture presents a fresh angle and new direction on conventional design. An icon event of the Festival, Fringe Furniture is the vehicle for the presentation of one-off furniture designs and celebrated its 20th year in 2004.
Spontaneous Construction
In 2004, Fringe Furniture designers were at your service to create a masterpiece from discarded, unwanted materials in need of love and affection. The audience could hand pick desirable recycled materials from a junk pile and sit back as funky Fringe Furniture artists transformed their chosen goods into a sculptured piece of furniture.
Fringe Inventions
Fringe Inventions was exhibited for the fourth year in the Chapel off Chapel Gallery Space. Fringe Inventions was a celebration of ingenuity, eccentricity and artistry as it pushed the boundaries converging disciplines into bigger, better and more outlandish outcomes. The exhibition displayed and promoted new and innovative inventions generated by a wide demographic from primary, secondary and tertiary students to enthusiastic adult inventors and it provided the opportunity for the inventors to connect with the public, industry and government. The theme was ‘Sustain' and all entrants were eligible to win fantastic prizes.
SOLD
SOLD was a hoax auction that involved selling five iconic Melbourne landmarks. Led by comedian auctioneers, a team of comedy improvisers and Five Angry Men, the auctions took place across the Melbourne CBD in a canon of activity during the peak lunch hour. Various scenarios were developed to compliment each location while responding to current social issues, including affordability of housing, with humour and tongue-in-cheek wit. SOLD engaged with public space as art, celebrating Melbourne as a dynamic arts precinct, whilst bringing a high profile focus on and recognition to the historic and significant landmark buildings.
Fringe Academy
The Kids Workshops was a hands on creative workshop program that provided access to the arts for children with activities that were sophisticated, challenging, inspired questions and dialogue, independent thought and imagination.
Fringe Academy Master classes consisted of a broad range of arts professionals who presented one-off Master Classes, talks and presentations for emerging and established practicing artists and arts practitioners to create a unique and exclusive opportunity for professional development and skills exchange while establishing links within the professional industry.
OUTrageous OUTbursts of OUTdoor
Federation Square played host to an eclectic mix of roving performers, DJ Bingo, electronica, and the visual stylings of Façade, a visual installation on the exterior of the SBS building. Coliseum brought local comedians and downright craziness head to head to battle it out to win audience favour and the coveted trophy!
shop til you drop
Over three Sundays at the Queen Victoria Market, 30 participants (10 per Sunday) each received $100 of ‘Fringe Fashion Money' and a ‘Fashion Market Map'. Armed with their cash and map, the participants had one hour to find their most creative ‘outfit'. Stylists and costume designers also participated to show how the professionals shop! At the end of their sixty minute shopping spree, participants were invited to parade their finds and the audience voted finalists for each day. The hunt culminated in a final show down of outfits where audiences, judges and participants gathered on the last Sunday of the Festival to watch the grand finale of the Festival of Fashion Competition.
