ART can’t change the world but artists can ask questions, so that individuals and organisations in a position to affect change can do so.
That’s is a sentiment portrayed by photographer Lynn Smith in “A Beautiful Anxiety,” to be opened by Magda Keaney in the Huw Davies Gallery, Manuka Arts Centre at 6pm on Friday August 12. All welcome. Using long exposures at night, Smith captures the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, London, Paris and Berlin, devoid of people, using a medium format film camera. The show runs until September 4.
Events:
INDIAN Independence Day celebrations that include cultural programs and a fun program will be at Theo Notaras Multicultural centre, 180 London Circuit Civic this Saturday, August 13, 5 pm for a 5.30 pm sharp start. Entry by voluntary gold coin donation.
FISHER-based mother-daughter business Alt Yarn, run by Lee Scott and Stephanie Hamilton, resulted from the difficulty in finding wool and yarn produced in an ethical and local way. They’ll have work on show at the 2016 Craft and Quilt Fair, Exhibition Park, Mitchell, August 11-14.
THE CRAFT & QUILT Fair invites everyone to Shop, Learn, Make and Be Inspire. The event offers a stunning range of exhibitions, displays, hands-on activities, guest artists, free demonstrations, workshops and more for you to get crafty!
“REVEAL” is the fourth in a series of six blockbuster emerging arts showcases to be run in Canberra by 30+ RAW: natural born artists in 2016 and this showcase is packed wall to wall with the city’s best emerging creatives spanning genres such as fashion, music, visual and performing arts, and photography. Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, from 6.20pm, Friday, August 12, // Doors open at 6:30pm, bookings to RAWartists.org/canberra/reveal or $25 on the door.
Talk:
THE MERRY Muse’s launch of “The Loaded Doggerel” poetry book by John Walker by will be at the Canberra Irish Club, 6 Parkinson St, Weston, 4pm to 7pm this Sunday August 14. Meals available. (Echo Books – available online as paperback for $24.95 or downloaded as an e-book for $9.95 from echobooks.com.au/loaded-doggerel).
Arts business:
THE countdown is on! Australians have two weeks to nominate their favourite songs, radio programs, etc. for this year’s Sounds of Australia – our nation’s ultimate selection of historically, culturally and artistically important sound recordings. Nominations can be made via: Twitter: @NFSAonline #SoundsOfAustralia Facebook: facebook.com/nfsaa Email: registry@nfsa.gov.au or web: bit.ly/nominateSoA by Friday, August 19.
BELCONNEN Arts Centre is looking for a Marketing Manager for 12 months from late September. 0.8 full time equivalent with annual salary $44,800 plus superannuation. Download the ‘how to apply package’ from belconnenartscentre.com.au
STUDIO 16 at M16 is a 24 sqm space available from September 1. The current monthly rent is $274 (excluding GST) and the dimensions are approx 6 x 4m with a ceiling height of 3.3m. If you’re an artist looking for a great studio then M16 is looking forward to receiving an application from you. To download an application visit m16artspace.com.au.
THE Embassy of Spain in Canberra has decided to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Miguel Cervantes’s death with a project called “Money to read”, where $ 1,500 goes to an Australian citizen or permanent resident to read, silently, his great novel “Don Quixote” (in English) at the National Library during Oct-Nov this year. Entries close Thursday, September 22 at moneytoread.com
THE GRIFFYN Ensemble is running a 100-day fundraising campaign to help support musicians to travel to Canberra, purchase sheet music, and work with collaborators. All donations are tax-deductable. Donations can be made through the Australian Cultural Fund at australianculturalfund.org.au
Film:
CINE LATINO is a new national festival of Latin American cinema featuring films from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela, among the many arty inclusions are the opening night film “Neruda” and closing night music and dance film “Argentina” by Carlos Saura. Palace Electric Cinemas, to August 21, bookings to http://palacecinemas.com.au/
“THE MAKING of ‘Shine’,” Arc cinema, NFSA, 4pm, then “Shine” (105mins) screening + Q&A with Geoffrey Rush and filmmakers, Arc cinema, NFSA, August 13 6:30pm, all bookings to nfsa.gov.au Helfgott himself will be performing an arrangement of the “Rach 3” for two pianos, joined by pianist Rhodri Clarke. ”David Helfgott celebrates: in recital”, Arc Cinema, NFSA, 4:30pm, August 14, bookings to nfsa.gov.au
THE ANU Film Group, the largest ?lm society in Australia, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. For all membership information visit anufg.org.au
Dance:
THE MOVE UP Taster Day! Ausdance ACT Professional Learning for School Dance Teachers All experience levels welcome Swing with Canberra Swing Katz African with Kylee Sharp Bollywood with Krisha Jilson from Canberra School of Bollywood Hoop Beatz Hula with Susan Corbett Saturday 13th August, 1 – 5pm (Teacher identified hours) The Main Hall, Gorman Arts Centre Ainslie Avenue Braddon ACT 2612 register at files.ctctcdn.com 6247 9103
“FEEL THE MUSIC” is a year-long dance program specifically created for people with hearing impairment, happening at Belconnen Arts Centre on eight Fridays of each school term. It offers a wide range of dance styles, live music, social dance gigs, and some performance. Inquiries to philip.piggin@belconnenartscentre.com.au or SMS 0417 417 182.
IN “TANGO Fridays” you can practise and improve your Argentine Tango on Fridays 7-9 PM at “Nuestra Practica y mas”, Woden Seniors Club (Hall 2). Entry $5
Prizes and Awards:
THE National Portrait Gallery is calling for entries for the annual Digital Portraiture Award open until Friday, September 30. Now in its fifth year, the Award (which Opens on Dec 2) seeks to extend the traditional notion of portraiture to the digital realm and encourages creative thinking. Information on how to enter and examples of past finalists can be found at dpa.portrait.gov.au
AUSTRALIA’S biggest student film competition, “Screen It” is open to registrations from students and teachers. The 2016 theme has just been announced as ‘Mystery’, and the competition is free and now open to all Australian primary and secondary school students, all info at acmi.net.au Entries close: Monday, September 19 (5pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Theatre:
PLAYWRIGHT Alana Valentine has written a play on the subject of Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, largely based on the 20,000 or so letters held in the National Library of Australia and on her own interviews with Lindy. “Letters to Lindy,” at Canberra Playhouse, August 9-13, bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.
“SIMON’S Final Sound” is a knockabout adult comedy by prolific Aussie playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer about SIMON, an unemployed dreamer who proves the perfect example of “people who try and fail, try again, and fail better.” At The Q, August 11-13, booking to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.
CANBERRA Philharmonic, is warming up the winter cold with Cole Porter’s smash-hit musical, “Anything Goes,” This shipboard comedy is really just an excuse for songs like “De-Lovely,” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.” Erindale Theatre, August 11 – 27, bookings to philo.org.au or 6257 1950.
“SHORT+SWEET Canberra”, until August 20, Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre. ‘Top 20’ Weeks 1 and 2 – Tues-Fri 7.30pm, ‘Wildcards’ Saturday August 13, 2.30pm and 7.30pm, Gala Final Saturday August 20, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700 Program details at shortandsweet.org
JORDAN BEST’S provocative “Macbeth” for REP, starring Chris Zuber and Jenna Roberts as the murderous duo. As well, there’s original music by Tim Hansen. Theatre 3, Acton, to August 20, bookings to canberrarep.org.au or 6257 1950.
AMBITIOUS students from ANU Interhall Productions and the ANU School of Music are staging Sondheim’s dark, meatpie-filled musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” in a production directed by Gowrie Varma, with musical direction by Katrina Tang. ANU Arts Centre, to August 13, bookings to sweeneytodd.getqpay.com
“THE WIZ” is a musical full of soul and the Australian Defence Force Academy‘s Performing Arts Company will stage the lively African-American take on “The Wizard of Oz”, this week for three nights only. “The Wiz,” Adams Auditorium at ADFA, 7pm, August 11–13, Bookings to eventbrite.com.au.
Concerts and gigs:
IRELAND’S Carmel Conway and Alice Gildea are the headline singers in “Rising of the Goddess,” original musical production exploring ancient Irish mythology and culture and featuring over 20 dancers and musicians. At Belconnen Community Theatre, Friday and Saturday 12 and 13 August, 7pm, 26 Chandler Street, Belconnen. For tickets, phone 6264 0200, or visit eventbrite.com.au and search The Haunted Celts.
THE ‘Griffyn’ Ensemble has been working alongside working alongside scientists from the University of Canberra’s Institute for Applied Ecology to create “Sex and Dragons”, a multimedia journey into the sexual reproduction of bearded dragons with music, wildlife footage and interviews. CSIRO Discovery Centre, 7pm August 11 and 12, bookings to griffyn.iwannaticket.com.au
MANNHEIM Youth Symphony Orchestra joins from Germany joins Canberra Youth Orchestra in Llewellyn Hall at 7:30pm this Saturday, August 13, to perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6 “Pathétique”. Bookings to http://bit.ly/2b1U88a
ORIANA CHORALE and Luminescence Chamber Singers, will present “Lily of the Valley,” a concert of works by Purcell, Grieg, Durufle and Bruckner that were inspired by the biblical “Song of Solomon. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 5pm, Saturday, August 13, bookings to trybooking.com
“INCONTRO” is a newish (series of art and talks and the next up will be an afternoon of Italian classical vocal performances, wine and antipasto. Young soprano Daphne Maddock from the ANU School of Music will perform, accompanied by Paul Eldon. At Muse Café, East Hotel, 3pm August 14, bookings to trybooking.com
MELBOURNE Folk-roots and alt-country artist Sophie Klein will be at Smith’s Alternative 76 Alinga St, Civic with guest Jim Sharrock (Doctor Stovepipe) this Sat August 13. Her single ‘Under Water’ is the first track off her forthcoming record; produced by aria-nominated producer/engineer Kalju Tonuma after she raised $8K via crowdfunding on Pozible for the album production and received dollar for dollar MATCH funding from Creative Partnerships Australia. Inquiries to 0401 084 773.
JAMES Kenyon has had a great response to the first single The Motorbike Song from his forthcoming album ‘Imagine You Are Driving’ which is out in August. A song about grief and a road trip on a lonely motorbike, the song is haunting, beautiful and matched with this stunning film clip that uses breathtaking drone photography. He’ll will hit Canberra with a show at Smith’s Alternative Bookshop 76 Alinga St, Civic this Sunday August 14, inquiries to 0401 084 773.
DAVID Pereira and Edward Neeman join in a Chopin and Faure recital billed as “a lyrical, consoling and invigorating feast of sumptuous natural cello and grand piano”. It also features first performances of Pereira’s ‘Meditation’ and Leanne Bear’s ‘Auvergne’. At All Saints Anglican Church, 2-4pm, Sunday, August 14, Bookings to eventbrite.com.au – search for ‘David Pereira’ or tickets at the door.
SORREL Nation is a folk/pop singer/songwriter, has been song writing and performing since the age of 13, and at 15 recorded and released her first EP. She made a name for herself performing at live music venues across London, worked with Disney on the DVD release trailer for ‘Captain America – the winter soldier.’ She’s a familiar face around Canberra and will be seen at The Dock, Kingston, on August 12. Inquiries to 6239 6333.
“ADVENTURES in Pianoland” takes audiences on a heart-warming journey through the life and career of award-winning music legend Jan Preston. The Street Theatre, August 11- 14 bookings to thestreet.org.au or 6247 1223.
THE PHOENIX Pub in Civic has as follows: Friday Aug 12 9pm, the Lokness Monsters, Saturday Aug 13, 9pm, The Peeks, Moaning Lisa and Sally Jones.
Exhibitions:
CANBERRA Glassworks at 11 Wentworth Avenue Kingston have the Glassworks Glass & Science Night, 6.30 to 8.30pm August 12, 2016 Entry: Free. As well, there’s the “THE HINDMARSH Prize”, in which 18 shortlisted works are on display into September, along with the winning work Surge 19 by Masahiro Asaka.
“MIKE Parr: Foreign-Looking” is the first exhibition to bring together works in all media across Parr’s voraciously experimental practice from 1970 to the present. This installation of performance, film, sculpture and photography provokes a challenging yet mesmerising experience. National Gallery of Australia, Aug 12 to Nov 6.
QUEANBEYAN Art Society has the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council’s ‘100 Works show’. At Queanbeyan Art Society Gallery, 6 Trinculo Place, under the under the bridge on the Queanbeyan Riverbank at 6 Trinculo Place.
“Interchange” is now back at Bilk Gallery from a visit to ATTA Gallery in Bangkok and includes an outstanding breadth of work from Marian Hosking, Carlier Makigawa, Helen Aitken-Kuhnen and Johannes Kuhnen, Kath Inglis, Mark Vaarwerk, Melissa Cameron, Sean O’Connell, Simon Cottrell, Mio Kuhnen and Larah Nott.
PARISA Applegarth is a photographer who focuses on cultures and tribes around the world. Her latest exhibition concerns the Sami reindeer-herders in the Arctic Circle of Scandinavia. Until Sept 4 in in the Village Centre. Details at nationalarboretum.act.gov.au
“TRIANGULATION” is a collaborative practice?led research project in which Julie Brooke and Susan Buret reference and respond to each other’s practice. Both are painters who are fascinated by grids and patterning. At ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson, 12pm-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday, to Sunday August 21.
GAIL (daughter of Eddie) Mabo from Townsville will be exhibiting under the title “Zogo Zogo Teter Mek” (Sacred Footprints) at 8 Townshend St Phillip, to August 15.
GALLERY@BCS has “The Book of Waiting”, an introspective exhibition by 2015 graduate of the ANU School of Art, Catherine Freeman, as part of its ongoing contribution to the Emerging Artists Support Scheme. Until Aug 26 at Belconnen Community Service Swanson Ct, Belconnen, Mon – Fri 9am-5pm.EMERGING artist Susie Dureau presents scenes that are more than literal depictions of the landscape. “Wild Histories” opens at Suki & Hugh Gallery, 38A Gibraltar Street on August 6 from 3pm – 5pm (all welcome) and runs to Sept 26.
“A CLASS Act” see work by 30 of Michael Winters’ students in the ANU Centre of Continuing Education’s visual arts access program classes conducted at the “off campus” venue , Strathnairn Arts Centre, Stockdill Drive Holt, where the show runs to August 14, Thursdays to Sundays 10am to 4pm.
BUNGENDORE Wood Works Gallery is showcasing the work of nine current and past artist/printmakers, Lyn Burns, George Gittoes, Pamela Griffith, Greg Hansell, Bettina McMahon, Gina Monaco, Trevor Riach, Wendy Sharpe and Glenn Smith in a series of limited edition prints produced in the physically small, yet massively influential and culturally dynamic Griffith Studio and Graphics Workshop between 1990 and 2016. Also they have “Ten Tables”, Woodwork by Ian Higgs, Design by Malcolm Stewart, Metalwork by Dean Bell Octagon ArtSpace. All on show until September 1.
DANIEL Bonson, G.W. Bot, David Buckland, Soren Dahlgaard, Jacky Green, Annika Harding, Timothy James Johnson and Andrew Styan are featured artists in “2°”, curated by Alexander Boynes, an exhibition that investigates climate change, its effect on the present, and the struggle to avoid environmental disaster by limiting rising global temperature to two degrees. The exhibition continues until August 20 at Canberra Contemporary Art Space Gorman Arts Centre 55 Ainslie Avenue Braddon.
THE PASTEL Explorers group presents its inaugural public exhibition of 50 works. The 11 artist are quick to note that among the many artists who used pastels were Leonardo and Degas. “Pastels: Passion for Colour”, Old School House Gallery, Sweet Copper Cafe, Ginninderra Village, to August 28 Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.
BEAVER GALLERIES have two exhibitions, one by Alicia Mozqueira, a local emerging painter whose works reflect her intense interest in romanticism and in our individual interaction with the natural world. And one by Lucienne Rickard is a talented young artist from Hobart whose pencil work is marked by a sharp eye for detail, zealous imagination and a fastidious, almost obsessive, mode of execution. 81 Denison St, Deakin Tue to Fri 10am – 5pm & Sat and Sun 9am – 5pm until Aug 21.
“EASS 2016” features the work of five emerging ceramic artists, all recent graduates of the ANU School of Art: Sue Hewat, Mahala Hill, Alya Khan, Anna-Maree O’Neill and Eden Reni. At Watson Arts Centre, Aspinall Street, Watson, 10am – 4pm Thursday to Sunday, until August 21.
“CROSS PHASE: An Exploration of Materiality”, an exhibition that explores materiality in its rawest form, opens Friday, July 29, 6pm To 8pm at the Nishi Gallery, 17 Kendall Lane Canberra, and runs to August 14.
AARWUN Gallery Shop 11 Federation Square O Hanlon Place Nicholls, has many new works in the gallery, and they tell us, “More are arriving on a weekly basis…you will find the usual co-mingling of classical and contemporary works, and most things in between the two.”
“MÄRI Gutharra – Milingimbi Artists” features the work of four senior artists, as well as other artists, from Milingimbi, an island off the north coast of Arnhem Land some 400 kilometres to the east of Darwin. Using traditional ochres and white clay, its artists create paintings on bark and canvas, based on the body art applied during religious ceremonies that are still part of everyday life. Nancy Sever Gallery, 4/6 Kennedy St Kingston, Wed–Sun 11am-6pm until August 21.
oil on canvas
Canberra Museum and Gallery, purchased 199
“MICHAEL Taylor: A Survey 1963–2016” at Canberra Museum and Gallery, curated by Deborah Clark, runs until Oct 2 at the Canberra Museum and Gallery. Taylor is one of Australia’s best expressionist painters, who has been painting for six decades. Since 1971 Taylor has lived and worked in the Canberra region – in Bredbo, Michelago, and, since 1993, Cooma.
LORD Thomas Denman was Australia’s fifth Governor-General. He and his wife, the irrepressible Lady Gertrude Denman, resided in Australia from July 1911 to May 1914. A new exhibition examines the political, cultural and imperial interests of this power couple. “Peace, Love and War: the Denmans, Empire and Australia, 1910–1917”, Canberra Museum and Gallery, Civic Square, to Nov 13.
CANBERRA teacher and devout ‘Whovian’ Timothy Kirsopp is displaying his entire “Dr Who” collection—everything from Daleks and the Tardis to images the Doctors and their companions—an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of “Dr Who”-related memorabilia. “Bigger on the inside: Collecting Dr Who” at CMAG, Civic Square, until Nov 20.
“REPEAT ²” is an exhibition of hand screen printed textiles, bringing together established and emerging Canberra based artists working with print, pattern and design. At Megalo Print Studio + Gallery 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston, to August 20, Tuesday to Friday 9am – 5pm.
M16 Artspace’s community of studio artists come together in “Wall to Wall” in M16’s main gallery. Then in Gallery 2, is The Thursday Group’s show, “The Kitchen Garden”, curated by Jenny Manning, while in Gallery 3 is “Ecstatic Returns”, where Eadie Newman explores her drawing practice. All at M16 Artspace, Blaxland Cresc Griffith, to August 14.
THE NGA has “Diane Arbus: American portraits” | Open now until October 30. 36 of Arbus’ most iconic photographs are exhibited alongside a selection of photographs from the NGA collection. “Design and Nature,” glass and ceramics by Art Nouveau masters Louis Comfort Tiffany and Clément Massier and 80 objects from the NGA’s collection, is open now until March 2. And in the Contemporary Asian galleries is a new display focused on contemporary Chinese art has opened featuring provocative works by internationally renowned artists such as Ai Weiwei, Xu Zhen and Zhang Huan, open until November.
by Larry Clark
gelatin silver photograph
National Gallery of Australia
“TOUGH and Tender” presents raw and intimate photography from American and Australian artists from the 1960s to the present day. Photographs from internationally acclaimed artists Robert Mapplethorpe, Larry Clark, Nan Goldin, and Collier Schorr, and video performance by Chris Burden will form part of the exhibition, alongside contemporary Australian artists Rozalind Drummond and Warwick Baker. National Portrait Gallery, until Sunday October 16.
“FAITH Fashion Fusion: Muslim Women’s Style in Australia”, a discovery of emerging modest fashion trends and the work of a new generation of Muslim fashionistas – designers and entrepreneurs – making a mark on the local fashion industry. It’s a travelling exhibition developed by the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney. At the National Archives of Australia, Queen Victoria Terrace, daily until September 4.
BELCONNEN Arts Centre has “The Encyclopedia of Forgotten Things” from the University of Canberra Faculty of Arts and Design, exploring history, memory and the classification of things. Professor Angelina Russo will host three knit–ins associated with her installation, “In the Meantime,” and in “Encircle, using basketry and weaving, Ruby Berry creates sculptural works that use contrasting textures and organic forms to evoke feelings of comfort and protection. Out in the foyer, Sonja Karl’s “Rarities” focuses on the innate freedom of the birds while creating an awareness of rare birds within the ACT. All until August 14.
THE ANU Drill Hall Gallery has re-opened with “Streets of Papunya”, curated by Vivien Johnson. The show presents the new generation of painters from the legendary epicentre of Western Desert art and includes a wide selection of historical works drawn from the collections of ANU Anthropology and Archaeology and the College of Asia and the Pacific. Until August 14, Wednesday to Sunday 10–5pm.
THE National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature still has “Seeing Stories”, an exhibition of framed original artworks from the John Barrow collection. Forty works from the 135 in the collection cover the years from the 1980s through the early 2000s and provide a visual documentary of an important period in the history of Australian children’s literature. At University of Canberra Hub Exhibition Space (opposite Mizzuna Café) until August 26, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 10.30am-2.30pm Sundays 1pm-4.pm.
“AVARICE: auspice” is an amazing gold inflating/deflating installation by Jay Kochel, to be seen in Canberra Museum and Gallery’s outside Gallery 4 on Civic square, until Sept 18, viewable 24/7.
THE National Portrait Gallery has a focus exhibition of portraits by Arthur Boyd, titled “Mysterious eyes: Arthur Boyd portraits from 1945.” Gallery One, National Portrait Gallery, closes this weekend, August 14. Open 10am–5pm daily.
SHIMMERING silk scarves woven with steel wire to help you sculpt them to the body. Felt bags created from computer algorithms. Lego-like toys that teach children Japanese, created by linguists and industrial designers. Stained glass techniques combined with modern technology to create decorative tiles to generate electricity. ‘Embracing Innovation Volume 6’ is at CRAFTACT: Craft and Design Centre North building, Civic Square, until August 27, along with ‘Black Box: Life, walls and houses’, a solo exhibition by internationally renowned Canberra glass artist Judi Elliott. Free to the public.
THE OAKS Brasserie and Gallery presents “Birds & Blooms” an exhibition by two local artists, Debbie Paton and Caren Wilford, at Cottage 1, Weston Park, Yarralumla (behind the nursery) until Aug 26.
“REFLECTIONS”, works from Canberra Glassworks and the Parliament House Art Collection, features nine internationally renowned glass artists who have created works that respond to the art, architecture and landscape of Parliament House. In the Presiding Officers’ Exhibition Area, Australian Parliament until September 11. Participating artists include Annette Blair, Lisa Cahill, Mel Douglas, Hannah Gason, Jeremy Lepisto, Ruth Oliphant, Emilie Patteson, Kirstie Rea and Harriet Schwarzrock. Free.
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