WELCOME TO
THAT SACK OF AIR
INFO
1ST SOLO SHOW
DATE
7-13 DECEMBER 2024
LOCATION
HONEY BONES GALLERY, BRUNSWICK
I want to…
-
THAT SACK OF AIR explores the intricacies, sayings and silliness of Australian rules football. So much of what happens in and around the game comes instinctually and the language is learnt from a young age. These bodies of work delve into my relationship and understanding of the game which has followed me and often anchored me through life.
I love the game and the people who make it. From a young age, I always felt like my identity was split between the sporty and arty worlds. Two worlds which are often placed far apart, but for me the venn diagram is a single circle.
There is no one way to play or create. Football requires creativity and art requires play.
I wrestle to make sense of all that football generates - in hope of creating a new perspective for those who peer curiously into the footy world, as well as those who live and breathe it. -
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved sport and art. Growing up I would spend hours outside, in the front, side and backyards - diving for marks and weaving the ball between the trees. I was enthralled by the pursuit of growing my skills and learning to predict which way this ridiculously shaped ball would bounce. When I was inside, I would get my craft box out and sprawl my paper and beads across the lounge room floor. I’d spent hours furiously creating anything - a ring, a card, a little scrapbook, a miniature couch - whatever!
These two activities, both arty and sporty, have always made me feel happy.
It can feel as though sport and art are always placed at opposite ends of the spectrum. You’re either a sporty jock or a perceptive artiste. Those two worlds aren’t often seen to mingle, to dance together. But what if they did? And what if we recognised that they are so similar in many ways. The creativity and passion that sport evokes feels familiar to how art connects with people.
Football is a form of expression and art is a form of movement.
This body of work explores how I feel when I’m playing, how it has shaped me as a person, AFLW land and also the pure nonsense of it all.
-
For everyone. For arty people who have perhaps never seen an entrance into the world of footy. For footballers - at every age and level, for the community that surrounds footy, the diehards, the curious, the people who have always seen footy as a little silly - it is!
-
Darcy Vescio is a Melbourne based, Wangaratta born footballer and creative. Much of their life has been spent chasing a sack of air around the backyard, dribbling kicks through the trees and hurling their body into the mess.
Growing up in the country Victorian town of Markwood, football created a deep sense of belonging.
Outside of sport, Vescio spent their time creating. From paper craft to beading, scrapbooking and sculpting, they are at their happiest when generating something with their hands
Vescio plays AFLW at Carlton FC where they started as an inaugural player in 2017. They have worked at the Club as a graphic designer during that time, as well as freelancing and collaborating with other creatives.
THAT SACK OF AIR is Vescio’s first foray into the art world.
WATCH
Sit back and let Darcy take you on a tour of That Sack Of Air as guests arrive for the opening night.
Source: Carlton Media <3
THANKS FOR BEING HERE. HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW!
-DARCY
INTRODUCTION
THAT SACK OF AIR explores the intricacies, sayings and silliness of Australian rules football.
So much of what happens in and around the game comes instinctually and the language is learnt from a young age. These bodies of work delve into my relationship and understanding of the game which has followed me and often anchored me through life.
I love the game and the people who make it. From a young age, I always felt like my identity was split between the sporty and arty worlds. Two worlds which are often placed far apart, but for me the venn diagram is a single circle.
There is no one way to play or create. Football requires creativity and art requires play.
I wrestle to make sense of all that football generates - in hope of creating a new perspective for those who peer curiously into the footy world, as well as those who live and breathe it.
LAST TOUCH
Acrylic on canvas
50 x 75 cm
An AFLW exclusive.
Is it a good rule? No.
Do I secretly love seeing umpires slay the move? Yes.
Is that a good enough reason to keep it in the game? Maybe.
$1200 +GST
SOLD
WAIT FOR MY SIGNAL
Acrylic on canvas
41 x 122 cm
One of the great elements of our game is the theatre the umpires provide. I genuinely love the suspense generated from a ‘holding the ball’ all, or a ‘deliberate out of bounds’ under arm swing.
I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that the goal umpires no longer come to the middle of the goal line to signal a goal. The walk up to the line to do a double finger salute was one of my favourites.
When you’re standing on the mark and the ball carrier is searching for an option, it can feel like you’re waiting at a set of lights, each second that passes edges you closer to that green signal.
$1,100 +GST
Acrylic yarn
118cm x 75cm
The best teams share the ball. Impossible to defend a team that's zinging the ball around. True football fulfilment can only be touched with team footy. If you care about success, share the leather.
$1300 +GST
SOLD
SHARING IS CARING
SIGNS YOU MAY BE A FOOTBALLER
Acrylic on plywood
60cm x 86cm
An assortment of signs illustrating the rules of the game. Some are said explicitly, some are taught, some are felt.
I often think about how confusing the game is for people who don't yet know the rules. It wouldn't be easy to pick them up from watching, nothing makes sense. Such a silly game. I hope this piece can act almost like a 'cheat sheet' for those new to the game.
$1,100 +GST
THE BIG BOOT
This is just a big, glorious boot.
Heading into season 2024, I had been experiencing ankle trouble since rolling it in 2022. Things weren't resolving, so we went and got a consult with Australian Ballet physiotherapist, Sue Mayes. She immediately noticed that I was clawing my toes when I was doing almost everything. This simply means you're not really using your feet properly. I also got my foot sized at a shoe shop and it turned out I was wearing shoes that were too small - probably didn't help with the clawing.
Yes, I was 30 years young when I was told that I was wearing the wrong sized shoe. Apparently your toes shouldn't be clawing? I was embarrassed and empowered. Life was about to get better.
This big boot symbolises me heading into a football season wearing the right sized boot. You're never too old to realise how silly you have been.
Big booties forever.
Acrylic yarn
173 x 77cm
$1900 +GST
SOLD
BANANA KICK
Acrylic on canvas
50 x 70cm
There are many different types of kicks in our great game. One of the most exciting kicks is the check-side, also known as a 'banana.' When kicked right, the trajectory is that of a banana, curving it's way into the goal face (hopefully).
$1200 +GST
SOLD
CANTEEN DREAM TEAM
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 20 cm each
$250 +GST
ALL SOLD
The real heroes of football are those who never step foot onto the field. They have never even touched a ball - unless tragedy strikes through an unruly shank. I speak of course about the canteen selection. It doesn’t have to be wide, but it needs to have a few staples in there. This collection contains the foods that were most memorable to me. I cast my mind back to my days at the Whorouly Football and Netball club where I played junior footy, netball and ran the boundary. In early high school, after my netball game finished, I’d fuel up for boundary duties by slamming down a hotdog and a sausage roll.
My dad loves to recount the amount of times the ruck from the opposition team would creep in when he saw it was a girl throwing the ball in. The Whorouly ruck would hang back as he knew I was going to give that toss everything I had.
Home ground advantage.
HANDY SAYINGS
When in football circles, people may say things that mean one thing in here and something else out there. It can be a little confusing but it makes perfect sense. This series explores six football sayings through a literal lens. I’ve always loved working with my hands, they are my tools. This series is a tribute to just how handy those hands are.
PUT PEPPER ON IT
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 × 50.5cm
When a kick is powerful. Another term heard using this condiment is 'peppering the goals.' This can be said when a team is having many shots but missing more often than not.
$900 +GST
TAKE A HANGER
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 × 50.5cm
When a player marks the ball whilst hanging in the air on top of another player's back or shoulders.
$900 +GST
SOLD
CHERRY PICKER
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 × 50.5cm
Describes a player who ends up scoring a goal usually from the ball spilling out the back or it landing in their lap. This term is used as an insult and insinuates that they did not earn the goal.
$900 +GST
DAISY CUTTER
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 × 50.5cm
A low, penetrative kick, which would take the heads off the daisies should you happen to be in a field.
$900 +GST
SOLD
THREAD THE NEEDLE
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 × 50.5cm
A kick which is precise, often used to describe a goal from a tight angle.
$900 +GST
SOLD
SELLING CANDY
Acrylic on canvas
40.5 × 50.5cm
When a player tricks their opposition into thinking they are about to do something, causing the opposition to move in anticipation, only to dodge around them instead.
$900 +GST
Acrylic on canvas
75 x 50cm
Markwood is also my hometown, situated outside the town of Wangaratta. It's a small but mighty place - the population is 230 people (as of 2021 census).
Growing up, footy was everything. This piece is inspired by the wonder and awe experienced playing in the front, back and side yards. Hours were spent studying the mysterious ways of the ball, learning how to take a diving mark and weaving the ball in between the trees. I wanted to create a world where everything was footy, bringing to life how I felt growing up with a ball in my hand. The possibilities in Markwood were only limited by your imagination.
NOT FOR SALE
MARKWOOD
BROWNLOW
Acrylic yarn
80cm x 109cm
Something that I love about football is that the best and fairest medal is tiny. I also love that the umpires/ decisions are ridiculed weekly but the league B&F medallists are revered for life. We are funny people.
I wanted to create something that is big, soft and fluffy - not at all what that tiny, solid, beautiful medal is.
“You go alright” felt like the right phrase.
$1,900 +GST
COACH’S
SPRAY
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 40cm
Something that seems to have evolved in sport is the coach's spray. From what I've experiences, coaches these days are a lot less likely to punch a hole in the wall at half time if their team is trailing.
Wait, you're telling me that yelling and demeaning someone doesn't always elicit a positive response? No way!
My personal response to getting yelled at is a mini shutdown. I'm working on it.
An effective spray for me is the 'we're better than this' vibe with an uplifting undertone. I need to feel belief in the depths of the message.
If any of my current or former coaches are looking at this piece - of course I'm not talking about you!
I'm talking about another coach.
$800 +GST
SOLD
Thank you to Emily, my family, friends and teammates for supporting me throughout this venture.
Photography by Jack Gruber and Jackie O’Sullivan, video by Bek Vilardo.
