The Thousands

So it’s that time of year again. Kmart is decked out in green and red, more cops, drink specials at Dan Murphy’s, mall overpopulation… yes that’s right, it’s graduate show time!

So, what is a grad show? It’s when all of your friends who have been at art/design/architecture school for three years or longer (constantly annoying you to BUY THEIR ART and populate their openings) get together to host an official collective graduating exhibition with wine and cheer to boot.

Adelaide College of the Arts starts this year’s run with its show I Was Here on Wednesday night. Then UniSA swings into gear with 6 shows for 13 courses, spanning all styles of fixed gear bicycle and unkempt facial hair, starting in late November. Finally, Adelaide Central holds its grad show on December 17 in Norwood.

In all seriousness, these shows are a wonderful way to celebrate our city’s up and coming artists and to see what we’re in for – the best of these kids will become the core of the local (and hopefully national and international) industry in the next few years. Attend to drink the free wine and support your graduating friends, but eat as many of the snacks as you can fit into your mouth – because they are generally gone before the wine and are needed to sustain you throughout the night.