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.
Buy tickets to join us for an unforgettable evening as we support the timeless treasures of the National Art School, our artists.
National Treasures is a glittering gala where the rare brilliance of our most esteemed artists shines brighter than a diamond.
Bid in silent and live auctions featuring extraordinary works by NAS Fellows and alumni and compete for once-in-a-lifetime experiences that money (almost!) can’t buy. Then dance into the night as our iconic Cell Block Theatre is taken over with live music, DJs, artist activations, immersive projections, gourmet food, and flowing beverages.
NAS Gala | National Treasures
Art Auction and Cocktail Party
Friday 21 November, 6.00pm – 11.30pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School
Purchase tickets at the link in bio.
Sep 7
Join us for Open Day this Saturday!
Today is your last chance to register to secure your spot (link in bio). Visit our Eventbrite page to download the Open Day program brochure and plan your day.
Sep 4
The National Art School is seeking an outstanding and experienced arts educator to join us as Head of Learning and Teaching.
The successful candidate will provide academic leadership including working closely with the Heads of academic departments and programs to lead the development and implementation of learning and teaching activities of higher education programs. This includes the development and delivery of curricula, the management of departmental staff and the development of learning and teaching resources.
The Head of Learning and Teaching is expected to provide artistic and scholarly leadership through professional example and will have a track record of original and innovative contributions to the advancement of scholarship, research and teaching within their respective field.
To learn more about the position and to apply, visit nas.edu.au.
Sep 3
Congratulations to NAS Alumni Ali Tahayori (@alitahayori) for being named the recipient of the 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging). and to Sophie Cape (@sophiecapeartist) for winning the 2025 Hadley`s Art Prize.
With a history spanning over 120 years, the 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship remains one of the most significant springboards for the next generation of artists in NSW. The 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship exhibition is on now at Artspace (@artspacesydney).
Established by Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart in 2017, the Hadley’s Art Prize (@hadleysartprize) is one of Australia’s most lucrative art awards that celebrates landscape art. The collection of winning artworks are displayed at Hadley’s Orient Hotel.
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1) Ali Tahayori, `Union and Separation`, 2025. Installation view, 2025 NSW Visual Arts Fellowship (Emerging), Artspace, Sydney, 2025. Photo: Hamish McIntosh
2) Sophie Cape, `Thunder shifts the shivering sands`, 2024, rust, charcoal, soil, pigment and binder on canvas, 148cm x 160cm. Photo: Jessica King
Sep 2
Visit the National Art School this Saturday to peek inside the iconic sandstone walls of our campus.
See what life is like for our students by dropping into open studios across the campus, participting in studio demonstration, chatting to our academic staff in one-on-one consultation sessions and taking a gruided tour around the campus.
Make sure to RSVP in advance to secure your spot and receive a free tote bag - limited stock available! (Link in bio)
Sep 1
The National Art School is excited to present the next wave of Australia’s artistic talent at Sydney Contemporary 2025.
Located at Booth J12, we will be showcasing the work of nine emerging artists who have recently graduated from either our Master of Fine Art Program or our Bachelor of Fine Art Program. Highlighting the breadth and diversity of the National Art School’s program—renowned for its studio-based learning and practice-driven teaching—the NAS booth will feature outstanding work by emerging artists, 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.
Learn more about our artists at the link in bio.
11 – 14 September, Carriageworks. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Jake Bartley, ‘Im at the Root of All Evil’, 2025, oil on canvas, 195 x 157.5 cm; Christian Bonett, ‘The G(A)Y team van’, 2024, glazed earthenware, 48 x 23 x 20 cm; Harison Chao, ‘Spectacular Optical’, 2024, oil on canvas, 110 x 95 cm; Lewis Doherty, ‘Carriage/Study for a Pattern’, 2025, bronze, casting remnants. 30 x 23.1 x 17 cm, unique; Isabella Kennedy, ‘swaddle/shroud’, 2024, inkjet print on Epson matte, 44 x 29.5 cm, edition of 3; Rachel Mackay, ‘Chimera 7’, 2025, oil on canvas, 91.4 x 61 cm; Megan McKenzie, ‘Float’, 2024, raku, stoneware and textured glazes, 70 x 30 x 30 cm (ceramics pieces only, height for suspension is variable); Johanna Ng, ‘a man holding a camera walks with a woman in front of an advertisement for carte bradesco’, 2024, from the series ‘Every Asian in Sex and the City’, inkjet print on clear film, inkjet print on cotton rag, 80.5 x 59.4 cm; Taylor Steel, ‘gathering dust’, 2024, polycarbonate, epoxy resin, toner, acetate, enamel, aluminium composite panel and stainless steel, aluminium frame, 31 x 25.5 cm; all images courtesy and © the artists
Aug 30
