Sicilian residency

Gabriella Mangano and Silvana Mangano, Monument for Air, 2011 Courtesy the artists and Anna Schwartz Gallery

New video works by Melbourne-based artist duo Gabriella Mangano and Silvana Mangano have been unveiled at Anna Schwartz Gallery. The duo first began creating the work during a three-month residency in Sicily, where they used their car as a travelling studio. "We consciously sourced abandoned historical sites as a premise to begin filming and were interested in how the body assimilates and reacts to heavy histories," said Gabriella and Silvana Mangano.

Shapes for Open Spaces is the fifth solo exhibition for the artists and continues until 22 December 2011.

Outpost Project launches on Cockatoo Island

The launch party for Outpost Project: Art from the Streets attracted more than 1000 revellers last night to Sydney's Cockatoo Island. Visitors explored the Turbine Hall and surrounding pavilions taking in key exhibitions and art projects including Paste Modernism, Next T, Foundations and Kid Zoom's highlight work featuring a full-scale reproduction of his childhood home.

Shaun Gladwell's return to Sydney...

Shaun Gladwell 'I also live at one infinite loop' 2011

New video works, photographs and sculptures by Shaun Gladwell were unveiled at Anna Schwartz Gallery last night as part of the artist's first Australian commercial exhibition in five years.  

Works presented in 'Riding with Death: Redux' include a limited edition skateboard designed by Damien Hirst (from which Gladwell has erased his signature dot imagery); a video work of renowned Australian traceur Ali Kadhim performing dangerous street acrobatics; and a video filmed inside a military jet fighter.

Gladwell created the works in his London studio, on the streets of Sydney's CBD and in Afghanistan during his time as an official Australian war artist. The exhibition runs until 10 December 2011. (Image courtesy the artist and Anna Schwartz Gallery Melbourne and Sydney.)

Sydney Architecture Festival launch

The fifth annual Sydney Architecture Festival launched last night at Customs House, unveiling a bespoke lighting installation suspended from the ceiling of the building's foyer. Created by ARUP the installation features a tangled web of ropes and umbrella structures lit from within and will be installed until 30 October 2011.

JohnandPeter Canteen at Carriageworks

The inimitable John and Peter have raised the bar again with their new venture JohnandPeter Canteen. Located in the vaulted industrial foyer of Carriageworks in Sydney's Eveleigh, the Canteen offers delights such as polenta with tomato ripple and broad bean, mint and ricotta salad for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday. Savour a few of their dishes from the opening party images here. Run don't walk. 

Art underground...

The basement of Kings Cross car park may seem an unlikely location for Sydney's newest artist run initiative (ARI), but don't let that keep you away.  Alaska Project's first exhibition 'Lorem Ipsem', curated by Sebastian Goldspink, features work by 11 emerging local artists. It includes this standout work by Bernadette Jones created from hundreds of miniature gold safety pins.

German modernism celebrated during Sydney Architecture Festival

The work of master German architect Bruno Taut will be celebrated in an exhibition at the Goethe Institut, presented as part of the fifth annual Sydney Architecture Festival, running from 20 - 30 October 2011.

Renowned as one of the most eminent architects of German Modernism, the exhibition encompasses Taut's UNESCO heritage listed residential settlements in Berlin, created in the early twentieth century.