MonthJune 2019

The Scandinavian Film Festival

Palace Electric Cinema Canberra
10 to 31 July 2019
Films from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland.

The 2019 festival opens around Australia with HAPPY ENDING from actress-turned-director Hella Joof (2015 Scandi FF smash hit All Inclusive).

Top Danish actors Birthe Neumann (five Robert Awards from the Danish Film Academy, two Bodils from the Danish Film Critics) and Kurt Ravn (two Bodils) head up the cast, which also includes Mette Munk Plum (Borgen), Tammi Øst (The Killing) and Scandi FF 2017 festival guest Charlotte Sieling (The Man, Borgen, Homeland).

List to Barbie’s interview with Emma Vestrheim from the Scandinavian Film Festival
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Fireside at Terroux – events with local authors for readers

Saturday 31 August from 3pm – Nigel Featherstone – Bodies of Men

Launching an artist and writer residency venue at Terroux, a rural property near Hall, Barbara Bailkie and Peter Fletcher invite you to three fireside events over winter.

This is a ticketed events which include an activity for those who wish to join in and then a writer presentation followed by warming winter refreshments.

All welcome.

Full details and booking URL can be found at https://terroux.com.au/

July exhibitions at Tuggeranong Arts Centre

Caren Florance and Tim Brook  – Line Work
Mimi Fairall, Lizzie Hall, Rowan Kane, Eadie Newman and Bernie Slater – Bona Fide
Thursday 4 July 6pm  till 27 July 2019

Line Work, by Canberra based academic and print and text artist, Caren Florance, builds on her research into online trolling. The exhibition uses new and old systems of communication to explore ways to subvert and convert the hurt we carry after encountering verbal attacks. 

Barbie speaks with Caren Florance
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Gail Nichols – Viewpoint

A solo exhibition at Suki and Hugh Gallery, Gibraltar Street Bungendore NSW
29 June to 11 August 2019

Gail Nichols takes her inspiration from the natural world, finding compositions in nature and interpreting them into wall hangings made with traditional rug hooking techniques – she describes her work as painting and sculpting with fabric.

The opening reception is 29 June 2019 at 3pm and all are welcome.

Information at http://www.sukihugh.com.au/exhibitions.html

Erica Bauermeister – The Scent Keeper

St Martin’s Press, NY 2019

The Scent Keeper is the fourth novel of Seattle based writer Erica Bauermeister. I first met her writing with The School of Essential Ingredients, her first novel, deservedly a best seller. This fourth is equally endowed with the capacity to move and hold us, to powerfully evoke a sense of place.

Barbie speaks with Erica Bauermeister about The Scent Keeper
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A Doll’s House, Part 2

By Lucas Hnath, directed by Caroline Stacey
The Street Theatre, Canberra City
Until Sunday 23 June 2019

This critically-acclaimed piece by New York playwright Lucas Hnath has been described as a ‘sequel of sorts’ to Henrik Ibsen’s 19th century classic.

A confident and independent Nora (played by Rachel Berger) returns 15 years after leaving her husband, Torvald (PJ Williams), and three children. Back in her former house, Nora engages in conversation with Torvald, nanny and housekeeper Anne-Marie (played by Camilla Blunden) and daughter Emmy (Lily Constantine).

Richard talks to Camilla Blunden about the play and her career
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Leah Brideson – Country Illuminated

Belconnen Community Gallery, Swanson Court Belconnen as part of the ‘RESPECT’ series
2 July to 19 July 2019, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Opening celebration Wednesday July 3, 5:30-7:30pm

This exhibition of paintings in celebration of NAIDOC Week explores seasonal change, encompassing light, mood, texture, movement and colour across the landscape, with the deep sense of connection to country.

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Nigel Featherstone and Pete Lyon – The Final Hours Album

All proceeds from the sale of the five songs in this album via Bandcamp will go to an Australian art I prison program.

The music can be bought by download at https://lyonfeatherstone.bandcamp.com/releases

The Final Hours by Lyon & Featherstone is a response in song to the art of Myuran Sukumaran, who was executed on 29 April 2015 by the Indonesian Government after being found guilty of drug smuggling as part of the ‘Bali 9’.

Listen to Barbie’s interview with Nigel Featherstone
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Katherine Kovacic – Painting in the Shadows

Echo Publishing, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK, 2019

This is the second of Katherine Kovacic’s Alex Clayton art mysteries. Like its predecessorThe Portrait of Molly Dean, it is a wonderfully engaging read, a story that whips along at a suitably brisk pace and is  filled with personalities from the Melbourne art world.

Barbie speaks with Katherine Kovacic
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Transformation – A meditation on form and feelings

Paintings by Felicia (Floss) Fletcher
Belconnen Community Gallery as part of the RESPECT series
Swanson Court Belconnen
18 to 28 June 2019 Mon-Fri 9am -5pm

The purpose of this exhibition is  to share health through consciousness of perception.

Felicia (Floss) Fletcher is an Aboriginal artist from central western Queensland who moved to Canberra for work 26 years ago. She began painting 12 years ago as she found it the best way to study, and express feelings. She continues to paint for her own healing and to keep a record of her own experiences.

Info at https://www.bcsact.com.au

Image credit:  Connected by Felicia Fletcher

Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival

MURDER SHE WROTE – a celebration of women writers of crime fiction past and present.
Cygnet, Huon Valley, Tasmania
31 October to 5 November 2019

The announcement of another new and fabulous writers festival and under the direction of erstwhile Canberra author LJM Owen is great news. The festival boasts have ‘a panellist line-up to die for and a four day program jam-packed with incisive panels, grave workshops and deadly festivities.’ Clearly a sense of humour is also involved.

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Fibre Basket Makers of the ACT – From Plant to Basket

Australian National Botanic Gardens Information Centre Gallery
12  to 30 June 2019 with opening reception 15 June at 2pm

This exhibition showcases the skills of the Fibre Makers of the ACT using Australian native plants. The exhibitors are:  Trish Flynn, Katherine Culross, Deborah Faeyrglenn, Janet Meaney, Leonie Lucey, Jenny Cooper, Ann McMahon, Adrienne Nicholson, Gabrielle Powell, Christiane Keller, Brenda Lander and Julia Ware.

Listen to Barbie’s interview with fibre basket makers
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