Concrete Playground

Biennale, Schmiennale. Okay, fine, I don't really mean that, but while famous people are putting on big shows at buildings with landmark status and getting schoolbusloads of guests of the "I also saw the Archibald" variety, it's awesome that little tiny galleries continue bringing you plastic cups of wine and laser-printed price lists. Happening in and around artist-run initiatives (the by-and-for alternative to museums and commercial galleries) in Chippendale, Waterloo and Surry Hills, safARI is a kind of off-Broadway component to May's visual arts schedule. MOP Projects, Firstdraft, Locksmith Project Space, Serial Space and FBi Radio are hosting, and 14 artists are showing.

The month-long festival features parties, talks and guided walks as a way into what Sydney artists are doing now, and the event as a whole is an exploratory contribution to the atmosphere of a city being curated. As a first-time (ad)venture, and one that is based on new works that have been hunted down rather than evolved according to a theme, safARI is a suit with many pockets. Forget stranger danger and take the sweets it offers you.

Image: Platform by Rolande Souliere.