Make sure you take yourself down to the Rocks sometime between now and November 14 to explore the
Rocks Pop-Up Project.
The project makes use of four vacant heritage buildings along George Street in the Rocks. These empty spaces are filled with galleries, studios and stores that are there for a short six months only.
No. 47 George St
At number 47, a warehouse that once housed a bottling plant for brandy and gin and later was a Westpac branch, you'll find the works of NSW fashion designers, jewellery makers and artists including the impressive paintings of a young teenaged artist. This pop-up gallery allows visitors to take a look behind the scenes at artworks and unique pieces being made on site. No artists were working on site the day I visited, but scattered around the place was various materials and hot glue guns waiting for the artist to return. The building itself is used as a canvas, the internal walls enhanced by visual and audio projections.
You'll also find a pop-up cafe here, should you want to stop for some lunch or coffee. Decorated with pumpkins and wooden crates, the cafe emits a cosy Autumn vibe making it seem like the perfect place to come in from the cold. The food is also catered to the colder weather with sticky date pudding and shepherd's pie on the menu.
No. 77 George St (Basement)
Further up George Street, or should I say beneath it, is a basement taken over by the The Red Room Company. It is transformed into a poetry clubhouse where live events and exhibitions take place including poetry readings and unplugged live music. This pop-up venue is the perfect hang out for any budding writer.
No. 77 1/2 George St
Number 77-and-a-half George St is probably my favourite, and least expected, addition to the Rocks Pop-up project. I stepped inside what appeared to be a store housing trendy male clothing. On display was sleek casual-slash-business shirts, unique ties and various other handmade menswear. In a room at the back was Marco Marrone, a tailor, hunched over a needle and thread surrounded by fabric and ironing boards. He greeted us through the doorway with a smile and went back to his work.
What makes number 77-and-a-half even more interesting is the fact that 142 years ago it was occupied by a clothier.
No. 85 George St
Last but not least is number 85. Number 85 is a makeshift gallery and will feature exhibitions of young Australian artists over the six month period. Keep an eye out for any events that might feature here, such as opening nights and talks by the artists.
