semi-permanent
You're probably thinking one of two things right now. Either “Who or what exactly is Semi-Permanent?” or “Oh, it’s those Semi-Permanent guys, I’ve heard of them.” For the sake of this events listing we are going to assume you are part of the former, mainly to cover our arse and to make sure you get a good understanding of what the event is, even if you have already heard of them.
So, what is Semi-Permanent? To put it simply Semi-Permanent is a design event. It consists of a conference and side events which include exhibitions, competitions, workshops and parties. It’s a week long celebration of all things design. Graphic Design, Film, Art, Illustration, Web Design, Photography, Visual Effects, Animation, Graffiti, Motion Graphics, Stop Motion; all these things and more. Semi-Permanent explores the diverse and exciting design world bringing together exceptionally talented artists and designers to speak at the event.
They've had some great speakers over the years; Christian Allzman, senior Art Director at George Lucas’s world renowned visual effects agency, Industrial Light & Magic, spoke of the work he had completed on big budget movies such as Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean; Pro-skater, photographer and artist Ed Templeton enthralled the crowd with his unique take on the art world and then skated off stage, rail sliding down the side stage walkway; Photographer Charlie White freaked the crowd out not only with his bizarre photos but also with the intensity and passion he conveyed during his presentation; Weta Digitals Christian Rivers spoke of his role, and gave some insider gossip, on the Academy Award winning Lord Of The Rings trilogy. The list goes on and on and on.
However, it’s not only their speakers that make the event special. It’s the atmosphere and spirit that the audience itself brings with them. Throughout the event, there is an amazing feeling of inspiration and energy. A sense of shared views and ideals. Of like-minded people who have much to learn and also knowledge to impart. It’s a casual atmosphere where new friends are made and new colleagues discovered. It’s this that sets Semi-Permanent apart from other more corporate conferences, a shared feeling that you belong to a community. That you're a creative individual, not just a commodity.
The event, however, is not just a conference. The side events give Semi-Permanent a festival-like atmosphere with a number of different events running throughout the city. These include exhibitions, parties and workshops. Examples of exhibitions run in the past include the highly popular Curvy exhibition which showcases artwork from female artists and designers from all over the world; an exhibition of work by renowned comic book artist Paul Pope; the SP Graffiti & Street Art exhibition that included such artists as Obey Giant and Banksy; and the Sketchel exhibition which included work from over 500 different artists. The exhibitions, along with opening, VIP and after parties, add extra depth to the overall event giving attendees a variety of activities to choose from.
Running all across the country, you're best to check out the Semi-Permanet website at www.semipermanent.com for more information. Semi-Permanent will be coming to Melbourne in October 2009. Keep your eyes on the website or here for more information.
