Hooray: Fred Negro to undertake an artist residency at St Kilda Town Hall
Fred Negro. Image: Carbie Warbie
As part of his residency, titled Hooray, members of the public can drop in and meet the I Spit on your Gravy frontman as he draws a largescale map of St Kilda that will highlight the storied pubs and venues that make up St Kilda’s Live Music Precinct.
The map will be digitised and uploaded to Council’s Live N Local website acting as a venue guide for the Precinct.
Fred, admired for his graphic skills, iconoclastic humour and social commentary, will exhibit a selection of works including posters, handbills and his infamous PUB strip cartoons during his residency.
The St Kilda’s Alright artist will also take part in a series of free events in Port Phillip. These include:
Fred shared his inspiration behind the name of his exhibition and upcoming residency.
“When the City of Port Phillip asked to draw all the venues in the Live Music Precinct, I screamed HOORAY! which has now become the title of the exhibition,” he said.
“I never wanted to be a renegade artist. I was just making a record of what was going on. I think that art can be hilarious and entertaining and irreverent and salty and earthy.”
Port Phillip Mayor Heather Cunsolo said she looked forward to welcoming Fred to St Kilda Town Hall.
“Fred was one of many artists who played a significant role in shaping St Kilda’s creative culture during the 1980s,” she said.
“Who better to tell the stories of our live music venues than a much-loved St Kilda identity who is synonymous with many of our historic pubs, bars and music venues.”
Fred’s Hooray residency comes as part of Council’s latest CSAS exhibition and its declaration of St Kilda as a Live Music Precinct.
The Precinct, the first of its kind in Victoria, reinforces St Kilda as a leader of live music locally and across the globe.
CSAS is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Fred will be onsite at CSAS from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday during his residency.
For media enquiries relating to Fred, please contact: frednegro1@gmail.com or 0407 138 040.