Fan Factor

Fan Factor: Fan art workshop
Presented by James Dawes, Carolyn Hawkins, Dani Hakim and Arts Project Australia

Date: Friday 21 February 2025, 4:00-6:00pm

Venue: Arts Project Australia Open Studio, Booth K1, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 2A Clarendon Street, South Wharf 3006

Price: To attend this workshop, please purchase a ticket to Melbourne Art Fair here.
Materials provided

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP

You are invited to a listening and drawing party with Arts Project Australia (APA) artist and music lover James Dawes, staff artist Carolyn Hawkins, and APA staff alumni Dani Hakim. Render your favourite album cover with coloured pencils to the tune of a curated playlist by Dawes, whose artistic practise is famously known for lovingly depicting every strand of hair upon his favourite musicians’ heads.

Your hosts are the curators of Devoted To You, an exhibition about music fandom currently on at the APA Gallery, Collingwood Yards. The session will also feature a conversational curator talk and slideshow while drawing divas together.

Please note, this workshop takes place at the 2025 Melbourne Art Fair. To attend you will need to purchase a ticket to the fair here.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

James Dawes is an emerging artist whose practice spans drawing, printmaking, painting, and embroidery. His work frequently features his favourite bands and pop stars rendered confidently with fluid, continuous linework. The subjects often take on a windswept look, with every strand of hair standing on end. Dawes’ idiosyncratic depiction of detail results in repetitive patterns within sketchy, colourful and crowded compositions.
Dawes has worked at Arts Project Australia since 2011. He has exhibited in group exhibitions in Melbourne and his work is held in private collections in Australia.

ACCESSIBILITY

Accessible toilets, ramps and lifts are available throughout the venue. Companion cards are accepted.

A quiet space is available inside the venue, please see a Melbourne Art Fair staff member for directions.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is on the bank of the Yarra River in South Wharf. It is a short walk from Melbourne’s central business district and a 20-minute drive from Melbourne Airport.

Enter via Exhibition Door 1. The nearest MCEC entrance is on Clarendon Street.

CAR

There is paid underground parking available, however pre-booking is required to ensure you are guaranteed a spot*.

Book a spot at MCEC Wilson Parking here. The closest MCEC carpark doors are: 2, 3, 4, 5.

There is also secure car parking available close to MCEC. Nearby options include the South Wharf Retail, Siddeley St, Freeway and Montague Street car parks.

*Please note, Melbourne Art Fair and MCEC do not cover the cost of parking.

TRAM

The trams listed below stop opposite the Clarendon Street entrance of Melbourne Convention Centre:

• Route 96 – St Kilda to East Brunswick

• Route 109 – Port Melbourne to Box Hill

• Route 12 – Victoria Gardens to St Kilda

• Alternatively catch tram number 48 or 70 and get off at the Flinders Street stop. Then take a short walk towards the Yarra River, across the Seafarers Bridge. For further tram timetable information and trip planning, visit the Victorian Public Transport website.

TRAIN

Catch any train that goes to Southern Cross Station. Get off at Southern Cross Station and take tram number 96, 109 or 112 as above. For further train timetable information and trip planning, visit the Victorian Public Transport website.

BUS

The SkyBus transports visitors directly from Melbourne Airport to Southern Cross train station.

Bus route 238 operates to and from Southern Cross Station to Convention Place between the hours of 10.00am and 3.00pm, Monday to Friday. The coach pick up/drop off point is in ‘Bay 1’, Convention Centre Place (closest to DFO South Wharf). For further bus timetable information and trip planning, visit the Victorian Public Transport website.

RIDESHARE

There is a drop off point right for rideshare vehicles outside the Convention Centre entrance, opposite Pan Pacific.

If you require any additional information or would like to get in touch please email us at: [email protected]

Image: James Dawes, The Who (2021)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), 2a Clarendon Street, South Wharf, Australia