Over the past few weeks, we’ve been reading the happenings over at the Pastemoderism #3 Facebook group, and watching as artist after artist has posted pieces of work that are going to go up on the walls … the diversity, talent and sheer volume of work that is going into this event is on par with some of the greatest feats of artistic display that we have seen, and it is sure to be one of the centre pieces of the entire Outpost Project.

But, we’re getting ahead of ourselves – for those of you that don’t already know, you’re probably wondering what Pastemodernism #3 is?

“Paste Modernism is the largest celebration of the medium of ‘paste-ups’ in Australia, and is now presented again for the 3rd time at Outpost Project on Cockatoo Island. Throughout its inception it has found residence in staples of the Sydney art scene, starting initially with the artist run residence Hibernia House in a guerilla exhibition, and finally graduating to the heritage walls of Cockatoo Island. Every available inch of over 300 square meters of wall space will be covered with the pasted artworks of over 100 local and international artists.

The ‘Paste-Up’ is an ever-expanding and innovative form of street art, that involves an artist making their work onto varying sizes of paper and then applying it to walls and surfaces within their urban environment using wheat-paste or wallpaper glue. Whether as black and white multiplied photocopies, colourful hand painted murals or thought provoking text pieces, the ‘Paste-Up’ is an immediate and bold contemporary art-form.

The medium explores not only aesthetic values, but is often politically and socially motivated – which allows experimentation both by accomplished artists as well as people with little or no artistic training. Â With all other street art genres, a hierarchy is in place based usually on the skill and years of training and practice of each artist (aerosol-can control/complexity of a stencil etc). Most ‘Paste-Up’ artists also have years of experience, creating intricate and well-planned artworks – however anybody right now, could find a photograph or jpeg that resonates with them, take it to a digital printer and with relatively little expense, print it out in wallpaper width paper sheets and put it up on the streets.”

Curator Ben Frost, who we think at this point is somewhat of a pasteup champion, and his amazing team of helpers, have put so much work into organising and getting this show happening that its not funny – collating, cutting, pasting, pasting… and pasting … and the proof is in the evidence of how it has turned out. Photo sets can be found up on the PM website, as well as over at 1337s Flickr, Blomtrogs Flickr and Komsumterras Flickr as well – but  as amazing as all these photos are, that they don’t hold a candle to the exhibition in person.

You can check out the entire history of Pastemodernism at the website, where you can also find the whole story behind the event itself. If you’re on the island over the next few weeks, there’s no way you’ll miss this.

Who: (ready for this?) …Ben Eine, Pure Evil, Copyright, Dan Baldwin, Jeremyville, Nathan James, Ben Frost, Anthony Lister, Psalm, Mega, Heesco, Drab, Vexta, Esjay, Bei Badgirl, STABS, Jumbo, Zap, Kid Zoom, Chris Cunningham, Mats?!, James Dodd, Shannon Crees, Smc[3], HA HA, Benois, Urban Cake Lady, Ken Taylor, Bridge Stehli, Rone, Numskull, Yok, Miss KK, Cloud Commission, 1337, Wolves & Owls, Birdhat, Golden Silver, Asio, Skallywag, Rosie Apps, Ape Seven, 7U?, Dr.X, Vars One, Megalo, AM, Dstruct, Flutter Lyon, The Mong, Hazzy Bee, Akisiew, Baby Geurilla, Jess Higgins, Mr. Sweet, Ghstie, Olive 47, Trystan Bates, Boots, Donovan Christie, Tad, No Frills Art, Abyss .607, Th@anks, Mister Edwards, Fukt, JHammos, Donnie Danger, PigeonBoy, Crisis, Mr Skel, Braddock, Skel, Teem, Jason Mamarella, Emya, Bennett, Damion Silver, Mr. Sweet, Wounded Children, John Forno, Bjorn Vanderborght, Mod77, Barek, Benjamin Reeve, Lostrack, Brett Chan, Asha Rowe, Emily hasselhoof, Clag Bandits, YMT, Kirbee Lawler, Thomas Thorby-Lister, th-INK, Resan, The Dirt, KonsumTerra, Vinzenz Reinecke, Lukasz Karluk, Swerfk, Andros, Houl, Rebecca Murphy, Tez, Scott Franks, IniqueInique, Qwux, S-701a, Felix, Fintan Magee, Donii Paul, OKO, Tomahawk, West, Lady Bna-Nas, Kirst Ohh, Ms. Brown, Bunkwaa, Sam Evans, Bathcat, Lauren Vassallo, SeaweiD, Graham Wilson, Stylo, Tim Andrew, Aisha, Fletch, Blomtrog, Ox, Kaff-eine, Cliff Weiderman, Mis Adda, Nathalia Azuero, Joel Lambeth, Donovan Christie, Flx, Ankles, Xcopy, Ruffo, Keeey Pace, Sancho, Mike Francis, Mica Still, Simon Lovelace, Chris Petro, Phi, Toggles, Ali3n, Sebastion Toast, Dboe, Jessica Lahoud, Shida, Bijoux, Lazarus 0.1, Saffaa, Hamishi, Phoenix, Zen, Baako, Neil Collyer, Terrible Horrible, RJ, Nick Simpson, Klara, Murfy James, Mimi, I & The Others, E.G.H.A.D, David Whirlpool, Rod Bunter, Bhats, Claire Kurzmann, Michele Guidarini, Dean Sunshine, Codel, Mk Chilby, Alison Alder, Crux Godsend, Ishi, Jyiro, Seth Tarrant, Keiron McMaster, Oliver Heath, Jodee Knowles, Mama Gunns, Naomi Lou Lou, Brad Robson, Mr French, Fezwitch, Ben Foster, Jeremy Austin, Eamonn Doran, Tdub, Zoe Weber, Nina Gibbes, Ghostess, Ruskidd, Tom Lukacs, Urban Monk, Jason Ditch, Dilute, CDH, Kara Nikkel, Newcastle Productions, Umpel, Phaux, Cooper Lawler, Facter, The Havoc Plan, Awol Monk, Jacquie Manning, areaRED, edgarR, Diamondxdaggers, Sevens, Anto Christ, Badger, Timbo400, Nick Boerma, Isabella Smith, Kieran Mangan, and, believe it or not, many more …
What: Pastemoderism #3 – Pasteup exhibition
Where: Outpost Project, Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour, NSW
When: Friday 5th November til Sunday 11th December

Check out the awesome Pastemodernism website – which has a whole bunch of interviews, history, and info as well as the Facebook event page, and, of course, the Outpost Project website for more info.