Peinture feminine. This technique fills the Chrissie Cotter Gallery with questions. Questions about gender are raised by artists Kirsten Drewes and Elizabeth Rankin. Their exhibition, Uncanny, uses this technique. It creates an uncanny space within the Chrissie Cotter Gallery.
The Chrissie Cotter Gallery is an Inner West Council facility. It sits in Camperdown Park precinct. The gallery is only four kilometers from Sydney’s center. It is a free gallery space. Emerging and established artists can use it. Curators, cultural workers, and community organizations can also use it.
The works are spaced out in absurdity. This creates confusion. It translates metaphorically. It represents the crime scene of Linda Agostini’s historical murder in Melbourne. Rankin examined this case in her doctoral research. The dull strokes aim to bring the memory of those murdered to life. The paintings remind us of the male gaze women are subjected to every day.
Rankin’s works draw upon theories of intersectional feminism. This gives agency to women affected by assaults and violent crimes. The artworks have an air of stirring. They possess the haunting voice of the murdered.
Drewes’ sculptures are spooky and surrealistic. She ties in concepts of Freudian psychoanalysis. She also uses contemporary soft sculptures. The sculptures are oddly humorous and eerie.
The Chrissie Cotter Gallery offers exhibition terms. Each term lasts approximately three weeks. Applicants must be over 18. They must have the skills to deliver their exhibition. Exhibitions can be solo or group shows. Inner West Council promotes each new exhibition on its website.
The Chrissie Cotter Gallery has a small kitchen. Accessible toilet facilities are available. A built-in projector is present. Hanging and lighting systems exist. Electrical outlets are installed. Plinths are provided. Approximately 17 square meters of hanging space is available. The ceiling height is 3.1 meters. Parquetry flooring is throughout the gallery.
The gallery opening is held on the first Wednesday evening of the exhibition. It runs from 6pm to 8pm. Following the opening, the gallery is open Thursday to Sunday. The hours are between 11am and 4pm.
The Chrissie Cotter Gallery is tucked away in a residential area. Camperdown Commons complex is on one side of the building. Tennis courts are on the other.
Remember that the Chrissie Cotter Gallery is a space for innovation. It is a place for community engagement. It is a place where art meets life in the Inner West.