Qtopia – Ward 17 South
PROGRAM
Qtopia – Ward 17 South
17 February – 18 March 2023
Building 11
Monday to Saturday
11am – 5pm
Free admission
Image credit: Bunny Hop – Easter egg donations from The Bookshop Darlinghurst and the opening night of OBLIVION at Zoom, delivered by Queen Bunny and helpers to Terry Morris at St Vincents, 1994 (c) MazzImages
Qtopia Sydney and NAS are proud to announce a partnership to realise a restaging of St Vincent’s Hospital’s Ward 17 South.
The installation will be curated to coincide with Sydney WorldPride 2023 at NAS’ Darlinghurst campus, featuring historical and archival objects, imagery, video, and audio to tell some of the stories of this significant period within Australia’s history.
“Between 1984 and 2007, the first dedicated HIV/Aids unit in Australia – Ward 17 – was a haven for those people who were infected with HIV/ AIDS, people who were very sick, who were dying and who were challenged with a situation that until most recently, no one had ever envisaged,” said David Polson, Chairman of Qtopia Sydney.
“The installation will tell a story of the very space that cared for so many, steeped in hope, love and sadly death. It was a place of deep humanity where patients, the medical fraternity and the community were centred,” Mr Polson continued.
“The role of government, Queer community groups and the incredible Doctors, nurses, and ancillary staff, along with the extraordinary Sisters of Charity, will be recalled and honoured.
“This space will serve as a reminder of the journey and obstacles the Queer community has both faced and overcome in recent decades, particularly with its proximity to St Vincent’s where I, among many, was treated for HIV/AIDS.
NAS Director and CEO Steven Alderton said, “We are thrilled to be in position to support Qtopia Sydney in their incredibly important endeavour.
“NAS’ commitment to our students includes fostering creative thinking processes across multiple disciplines, and we emphasise the role of a curious and empathetic mind within critical contemporary practice.
“We think this aligns beautifully not only with the goals and objectives of Sydney WorldPride 2023, but with the overarching vision of Qtopia Sydney and we are excited to be a part of their journey,” he said.
Last Thursday, MFA Drawings opened their new exhibition `Dialogues` at the Library Stairwell gallery.
The Library Stairwell Gallery is a dedicated space in the Library for NAS student exhibitions. BFA 2, BFA 3 and MFA students are eligible to apply to have a show in the Gallery. Follow @nas_library for forthcoming exhibition opening details.
The exhibition features works by @beth___any_s, James Grose, Talia Knedo, @ange_bateman_art, @lennylarkin, @vickichristinapotter, @luna.gui_, @gittebackhausenart, @marramarra__, @omimccurdie, @eri_dali, Ellen McCalmont, Sailor Kenard, @ng_malla and @nikita.lelu.
Jun 2
In June, we celebrate World Pride Month. Like many other culturally significant times, it’s a month that’s meaningful to our community and the Oxford precinct we are part of.
In 2015, NAS alum Todd Fuller (@fuller_todd) sent members of the public black and white drawings depicting two men engaged in a passionate kiss. The participants were encouraged to respond to the image by colouring in the figures, with the resulting images compiled by Fuller into a mixed media video animation.
Fuller gifted this work to the National Art School Collection, a collection that performs a major role within the National Art School as both a teaching resource and a historical record. Visit our website to find out more about the works in our collection.
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Todd Fuller, ‘The Unite Project - 3rd generation ‘, 2015, mixed media animation, colour and sound, 13.35 mins loop; image courtesy the artist and National Art School © Todd Fuller. From the National Art School Collection - Gift of Todd Fuller.
Jun 1
Last Thursday, we celebrated Maryanne Coutts, Lynda Draper and Amanda Woollard (in absentia) as this year`s recipients of the Award for Distinguished Service.
We share a heartfelt thank you to Maryanne, Lynda, and Amanda for their contribution to our School and students.
May 30
We`re excited to share that NAS Photomedia sessional Dr Jack Ball (@jack__ball_) is the winner of the $100,000 Ramsay Art Prize 2025, the nation’s most generous prize for Australian artists under forty.
Jack`s award winning work `Heavy Grit` is on display in the Ramsay Art Prize 2025 exhibition which opens tomorrow, Saturday 31 May
Jack Ball with `Heavy Grit` in Ramsay Art Prize 2025, Art Gallery of South Australia, (@agsa.adelaide) Adelaide; photo: Saul Steed
May 30
Thank you to outgoing Chair Susan Rothwell AM & welcome to incoming Chair Jeff Weeden. The National Art School would like to express its deepest gratitude to Susan Rothwell AM, whose term as Chair of the NAS Board concludes on 31 May 2025.
At the same time, we are pleased to announce and warmly welcome Jeff Weeden as the incoming Chair of the NAS Board, effective 1 June 2025.
Jeff has served as a Director on the NAS Board since 2019 and currently chairs the Finance and Audit Committee, a position he has held since 2023. For the full announcement, click the link in the bio.
May 29
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) starts today! As part of our NAS NRW program, we invite you to a special screening of the documentary `Kindred` (2023) in our Cell Block Theatre. The directors Gillian Moody and Adrian Russell Wills will be joining us for the screening.
`There`s the black world, and then there`s the white world. I felt walking in each of them was complicated enough. To bring those together would just make it even harder.` (Kindred: Trailer)
`Kindred` is a deeply personal feature-length documentary that delves into the emotional landscape of family, love, and loss through the eyes of two close friends.`
Limited capacity - click the link in bio to reserve your seats.
May 27
