Established in 2016, the $12,000 invitation-only BMCAA is awarded annually to a contemporary artist who demonstrates a commitment to brave, innovative and transitional practice that contests the boundaries of contemporary art in new ways.
2018 Judges, Max Delaney and Natalie King decided to award the commission to Danae Valenza’s proposal, for its site-responsiveness, poetry and gravitas conflating the performative with the acoustic and sculptural.
Danae Valenza is a Melbourne-based artist for whom music and collaboration is a major part of her art making. Valenza holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (First Class Honours) from Monash University and has exhibited extensively within Australia and overseas.
The BMCAA Exhibition will launch on Thursday 2 August and will be open from Friday 3 - Saturday 11 August 2018.
To RSVP to attend the BMCAA Opening Night, email kristy@balletlab.com.
The BalletLab McMahon Contemporary Art Award is made possible through the generous support of Dr Marcus McMahon. Phillip Adams BalletLab is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. Many thanks to our BMCAA event partners La Luna Bistro, Splitrock Tiro and Yal Yal Estate.
OPENING NIGHT
Thursday 2 August, 2018, 6pm-8pm
Temperance Hall, 199 Napier South Melbourne, 3205
EXHIBITION OPEN
3 - 11 August, 2018
12pm-5pm Thursday-Saturday
Temperance Hall, 199 Napier South Melbourne, 3205
The BalletLab McMahon Contemporary Art Award (BMCAA) provides a valuable opportunity for one outstanding Victorian artist to progress their practice through the creation of a new work inspired by and exhibited at the magnificent new home of Phillip Adams BalletLab, Temperance Hall, generously supported by Dr Marcus McMahon. Established in 2017, the award marks the establishment of PABL at this significant historic site. The BMCAA contributes to a program of ambitious and dynamic multi-disciplinary arts events honouring our organisation's mission to be the leading interdisciplinary space for contemporary arts practice, where the body is central.