Macon Reed: Eulogy for the Dyke Bar
PROGRAM
Macon Reed: Eulogy for the Dyke Bar
17 February – 4 March 2023
NAS Cafe
Monday to Saturday
Installation open: 9am–5pm Monday – Friday
Bar open: 5–10pm Tuesday – Friday
Free admission
Image: UNSW Galleries/the artist.
The National Art School, UNSW Galleries and Sydney WorldPride present Eulogy for the Dyke Bar, an installation by American artist Macon Reed with accompanying programs and events.
The installation is a sculptural environment in the style of bygone lesbian bars, a functioning bar and a community space for performances, conversations, and socialising. It is created using ephemeral materials and features archival material of now-defunct lesbian nights, parties and bars in Sydney and America. It reclaims the term ‘dyke’ in its most expansive sense and recognises that gender and identities are complex and fluid. The ‘bar’ is open to anyone who has identified with the term or an experience of feminine-spectrum queerness in the past or present (or perhaps future) and/or feels an affiliation or ally-ship with dyke culture.
Macon Reed’s Eulogy for the Dyke Bar is presented by the National Art School with UNSW Galleries in association with Sydney WorldPride.
“Eulogy for the Dyke Bar was made to honour these places and draw attention to the fact that many are now gone. It also makes us think more about what kinds of alternative community spaces might be available and what makes them vibrant. It’s about thinking of our community beyond the dance floor and the progressive work we want to do beyond our intimate relationships. Creating spaces for collective coming together, organising politically, sharing experiences, jumping into histories, and meeting our elders seems like the necessary work that’s going to get us somewhere else, somewhere better.” Macon Reed, 2021
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PROGRAM
Eulogy for the Dyke Bar: Program Launch
5–10pm Friday 17 February 2023
Club Chrome Takeover
6–9pm Monday 20 February 2023
BlaQ Takeover
6–9pm Tuesday 21 February 2023
CAMP Women’s Night
6–8pm Wednesday 22 February 2023
Cruising at the Dyke Bar
5–10pm Thursday 23 February 2023
Queerly Divine Cosmos: Astrology & Tarot Readings
6–7.30pm Friday 24 February 2023
Dykes On Mics Karaoke
7.30–10pm Friday 24 February 2023
Panel: DIY Dykes & Queer Futures
6–8pm Wednesday 1 March 2023
Radiant: Poetry & Open Mic Night
6–8pm Thursday 2 March 2023
Dyke Decadence: Finissage Party
5–10pm Friday 3 March 2023
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Watch Isabel Farrington’s short documentary on the work’s presentation in New York City.
Join us for the closing party for The Neighbour at the Gate – `Afterglow`, headlined by Miss Kannina, and featuring performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy and DJ Court Jester. This free, 18+ concert will be a night to remember!
Thursday 16 October 2025
4.30pm – 10pm
Cell Block Theatre
RSVP at the link in bio.
The Neighbour at the Gate has been made possible with the generous support of the NSW Government through its Blockbusters Funding initiative.
Sep 15
Karatsu ceramicist Yukiko Tsuchiya (@tsuchiyayukiko) and curator Kathryn Hunyor (@artspeople_au) delivered two very special workshops in the teaching studios of the Ceramics Department at the National Art School (NAS), in an exciting collaboration between The Japan Foundation (@jpfsydney), Sydney, the NAS Ceramics Department and the National Art School.
Peek inside the wheel-throwing and hand-coiling masterclasses that took place.
Sep 14
If you are visiting Sydney Contemporary art fair today, keep an eye out for the many artworks on display by our extraordinary alumni. These are just a handful to spot. 1. Kirtika Kain at Roslyn Oxley9 2. Catherine O’Donnell at Dominik Mersch Gallery 3. Oliver Abbott at Dominik Mersch Gallery 4. Eliza Gosse at Edwina Corlette Gallery 5. Mirra Whale at Mitchell Fine Art 6. Erin Murphy at Velvet Lobster.
Sep 14
NAS Fellow Guido Maestri (@_guido_maestri) opens his solo exhibition, `Buoy,` at Ames Yavuz. Inspired by the landscapes of Pittwater and Ku-ring-gai National Park, the show marks a new evolution in the artist`s work. The exhibition continues until September 27.
Congratulations to NAS Alumna Johanna Ng (@johanna__ng) for winning the 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize for her work, `a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd`.
The 2025 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is made possible by the Australian Photographic Society (@austphotosoc) in partnership with the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (@muswellbrookartscentre), and with the support of Bengalla Mining Company, MACH Energy, Malabar Resources and AGL.
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1) Guido Maestri, `Whole sound`, 2025, oil on linen, 152 x 183 cm, courtesy of the artist and Ames Yavuz (@amesyavuz).
2) Johanna Ng, ‘a woman wearing a choker is walking in a crowd’ 2024, inkjet print on cotton rag, inkjet print on clear film, 59.4 x 80.5cm, courtesy of the artist and MCPP
Sep 12
Sydney Contemporary is now open!
We’re thrilled to welcome you to Booth J12, where we are showcasing the work of nine emerging artists and alumni, including Jake Bartley @_trizm__, Christian Bonett @christian_bonett_art, Harrison Chao @w4r.h4mm3r, Lewis Doherty @lewisstepsandrew, Isabella Kennedy @isa.kennedy, Rachel Mackay @rachelmackay.art, Megan McKenzie @megan_mckenzie_, Johanna Ng @johanna__ng, and Taylor Steel @taylor__steel.
Sydney Contemporary is on until Sunday 14 September 2025 at Carriageworks — we look forward to seeing you there!
Sep 11
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Open Day last Saturday! Don’t forget: applications for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) round close on Friday 3 October.
We have more in-person and online info sessions coming up. Sign up via link in bio to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees or receive one-on-one feedback on your portfolio from a member of the NAS Academic Team.
Image credit: Nicole Anderson (@nicoleandersonphotography)
Sep 9
