Safe Space

VENUE: 107 Redfern

Safe Space is a powerful new installation at 107 Redfern opening on 30 November, by emerging artist Shelley Watters. It explores the impact of gender-based violence in our community during 16 Days of Activism, (#16daysofactivism) a worldwide campaign to eliminate violence against women.

Supported by City of Sydney and 107 Projects, Safe Space's cocoon-like forms made of white bedsheets examine the physical, emotional, and psychological damage of violence and coercive control that is inflicted on survivors.

Safe Space will support the Redfern-based feminist, grassroots organisation the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC) by donating 50% of profits from sales of photographic prints and jewellery.

An artist talk and free two-hour gender-based violence bystander and ally community workshop will take place at 2pm on Sunday 10 December (Human Rights Day). Delivered by WAGEC, the workshop supports community understand the root causes and safely intervene.

Register now https://events.humanitix.com/safe-space-artist-talk-and-bystander-and-ally-workshop

Shelley Watters lives and creates in Marrickville (on unceded Gadigal and Wangal land). Her art practice probes themes of temporality, feminism, power, and community in global and personal contexts. Her work has been included in group shows at Articulate Project Space, George Paton Gallery, and the Women’s Library, Newtown. Earlier this year, she presented Surveillance, a body of work comprising photography, installation, and painting at Scratch Art Space, Marrickville. Watters has been practising since 2017 alongside part-time study, she will graduate from Sydney College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2024. She is an accomplished senior arts worker with 20 years’ experience in marketing and communications – most recently at the Sydney Opera House.