A LIVE MUSIC & ART ACTIVATION SERIES

 

[ WORK BY RESIDENT ARTIST] : // JOHN KAYE

  • Smoke & Steel is an activation series bringing art and live music to unique, heritage and natural spaces. Our intention is simply to use under-loved spaces and create unique experiences. Taking places at warehouses, surf clubs, factories, forests & beyond, these events develop new opportunities for artists and audiences alike. Each volume of Smoke & Steel also touches on a unique theme in visual arts.

  • Smoke & Steel is developed by Holy Pavlova. For all event enquiries, please contact bookings@holypavlova.com

  • We acknowledge and respect the Traditional Custodians of Dharawal Country, we recognise and appreciate their deep connection to this land, waters and the broader community.

EVENTS

Vol 11 - ANDRAS // BRIA // ZACH WILLIAMS // LOAF

For Volume 11 we make our first return trip to a venue. Back to one of our most exciting spaces, FIGHTWORKS Muay Thai & Boxing Gym. This time we’ve traded punk for dance, flying in producers and DJ’s from all corners of this beautiful red country.

Touching on themes of global, funk and 90’s dance, the industrial warehouse gym will fill with fog and shuffling feet long into the night.

Vol 10 - WAR BABY // RAINBOW RIDERS // EXPENSIVE MUSIC BAND // SLEEPY JOY

Volume 10 brings us to Thirroul Railway Hall, a beautiful 1920's building protected from demolition by passionate railway workers some 50 years later. This volume also shines light on homegrown art and sounds, featuring a lineup of artists that have called Wollongong home.

The event will be kicking off by a screening of HOME IS IN YOUR BODY; a short film by Tad Souden and Simon Lee

Vol 09 — KOBIE DEE // RADICAL SON // "ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE" EXHIBITON

Volume 09 presents a lineup of talented First Nations visual and performing artists! Honoured to have Kobie Dee and Radical Son on stage for this edition, hosted by 130 Art Studios, a gallery style warehouse in the heart of the CBD.

Curated by Biripi woman Alyssa May, 'Always Was, Always Will Be' is an art exhibition focussing on the works and stories of FIRST NATIONS ARTISTS featuring pieces from David Cragg, Machelle Duncan, Anger/Woven In Threads and Melle Smith-Haimona.

Vol 08 — 30/70 // WEST WIND // MORNING MOOD // NIGHTSET

Volume 08 brings us to She Designs, the industrial home of a boutique wedding stylist. For one night only the space becomes home to an eclectic range of house-jazz and downtempo music featuring the heavily respected 30/70.

Adding to the experience is a unique warehouse exhibition from EMERGING ARTISTS April Bertacco, D'arcy Lawrence, Chloe Smith, Clare O'Toole, Matthew Grayson & Zahra Johnston.

Vol 07 — Block Party feat. HAIKU HANDS // THE REGIME // THUNDER FOX // BOOM CHILD + HEAPS MORE

Smoke & Steel is back with our biggest edition yet. Taking place in an empty lot and in collaboration with Wonderwalls Festival …we're stoked to present a two-day block party celebrating STREET ART, funk, soul, hip-hop & dance.

The event is taking place in an empty lot on Wentworth Street nestled between two buildings, where a highly curated team of street artists will be making the walls come to life all weekend Expect all the extras ~ live art, food trucks & DJ's

Vol 06 — MICKEY KOJACK // HELLCAT SPEEDRACER // LATE NIGHT THERAPY // CHAMPION THE BOY

Volume 06 brings us to The Heart, a collaborative creative space & floristry hub. At the centre of this event is a SOLO EXHIBTION by local Wollongong artist Harry Phillips.

For what seems to be the tail end of a long and busy year, Harry Phillips aims to highlight the emotional and physical fatigue of one's social battery. Titled ‘The End’, referencing a humble standstill of creativity and art. “A constant juggle of acting and normality. Time to breathe.”

Vol 05 — THESE NEW SOUTH WALES // SCABZ // MILD WEST // DRIFT

Volume 05 brings us to Fightworks. A Muay Thai and Boxing gym hidden in the backstreets of Wollongong’s industrial quarter. This edition presents a harder, faster sound in harmony with a unique setting of a martial arts warehouse.

As always, we’re very proud to present this months art installation, produced by emerging LIGHT ARTIST Antony Youssef. You’ll need to step into the ring to see exactly what we’ve got in store…

VOL 04 — ELIZA & THE DELUSIONALS // SALARYMEN // JULIA WHY? + HEAPS MORE

Aug 20th, 2022

Volume 04 brings us to The Wombarra Bowling Club. A regional classic nestled in the escarpment with ocean views. This edition presents an eight artist lineup featuring some of Australia’s best female vocalists.

Providing a harmoniously themed exhibition of DIGITAL ART that touches on natural spaces. Resident artists Keezy & Tegan Page project their unique works behind live acts during their set.

Vol 03 — COUSIN TONY’S BRAND NEW FIREBIRD // TUPPAWARE PARTY // CIRCADIA // SONNY GRIN

June 25th, 2022

Volume 03 brings us to Project Contemporary Artspace. A renown warehouse style gallery in the heart of Wollongong. Our third instalment focuses on the work of indie and contemporary musicians.

At the forefront of these events is bringing talented visual artists into the spotlight. We're proud to present Hidden Harvest's ART OF FOOD WASTE curated by powerhouses Maree Thomson & Xanthe Barker.

Vol 02 — LAXYWAX (LIVE) // SAMPOLOGY // BRIA // R.ICO

May 14th, 2022

Vol. 02 brings us to the Teel Studios warehouse. A building with industrial bones and home to some of Wollongong's finest creative output. This edition puts a spotlight on original producers and electronic artists.

Presented harmoniously with the live music is an EMERGING FEMALES exhibition featuring the works of Clare O'Toole, Erin Mison, Georgia Carter, Rochelle McNamara, Scarr & Poppy Houghton.

Vol 01 — SURF TRASH // NIGHT DIVER // COLOUR BOX // NUT BUTTER

Mar 19th, 2022

Volume 01 brings us to Port Kembla SLSC, a yellow beach-front building with classic coastal grit. For our launch event, the live music centres on emerging and experimental artists from NSW.

Introducing the art series is a PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY exhibition lovingly curated by Acacia Reynolds, featuring the works of Daniel Lavin, Jye Talbot, Nick Perritt, Michael Conlon & Will Chittick.