Barbie

Stephanie Parkyn – The Freedom of Birds

December 2, 2021December 2, 2021

Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2021
Cover design Lisa White

Stephanie Parkyn has chosen the failing years of the Napoleonic Empire as the period for this historical fiction, a sweeping tale of cultural theft, love and betrayal, abandonment and refuge.

The story follows the fortunes of storytellers Rémi and Pascal, whom we first meet as orphans working in the comedia dell’arte theatre of Gianni. They are soon joined by Saskia, a Russian travelling circus performer who had been kidnapped and mistreated by a mysterious religious Father.

Barbie spoke to Stephanie Parkyn about The Freedom of Birds

Angela Taylor – The Machinery Shed

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021

Self-published, Australia, 2021
Artwork by theillustrators.com.au

On one level this is a picture book made for country kids, especially those who live on working farms. It presents the day to day lives of such children in a way that mainstream picture books and other children’s literature do not, thus acknowledging and valuing their real world experiences.

Barbie talks to Angela Taylor about The Machinery Shed

Best Sellers – film review

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021

Palace Electric Cinema, Canberra
To 8 December 2021 as part of the British Film Festival
Comedy, 100 min
Reviewed by Barbie Robinson

I must be honest and say that I would happily watch Michael Caine in almost anything on screen – oh that voice!. This film was classic Caine in the role of crotchety, cantankerous alcoholic writer Harris Shaw, whose novel (decades before the start of the film) put the Stanbridge family publishing house on the map.

House Planet: A Discovery of Recovery – the Musical

December 1, 2021December 1, 2021

An original musical created by Mr Tim Enterprises
Tuggeranong Arts Centre
Friday 10 December at 7pm and Saturday 11 December at 2pm
90 minutes, Tickets $15

This original musical was devised by program participants (aged 7-13 years) with Tim & Nathalie Bevitt from Mr. Tim Enterprises.

It has provided an artistic platform for young people to express their concerns and find solutions, confirming the directors’ strong belief that young people have important things to say, whilst realising Tim and Nathalie’s passion for giving children a voice.

Tim and Nathalie Bevitt talk about the production

Exhibition on Screen – The Danish Collector, Delacroix to Gauguin

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

Palace Electric Cinema, Canberra, ACT
Friday 3 December 2021 at 1pm and Sunday 5 December at 1.30pm
Nationally from 2 December 2021

Directed by award-winning Australian-born filmmaker and artist, David Bickerstaff, this documentary showcases a treasure trove of Impressionist artworks, currently held at Denmark’s acclaimed Ordrupgaard museum.

Barbie spoke to executive producer Phil Grabsky about the latest Exhibition on Screen

The Stories we tell ourselves

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

Online and free
30 November to 2 December 2021

This event brings together a range of writers, publishers and academics from Britain and Australia to discuss equity and social justice and the stories we get to hear.

It will feature three thought-provoking panel discussions exploring power, representation and diversity in publishing in Australia and the UK, hosted by the Wheeler Centre, Spread the Word and the Melbourne City of Literature Office.

Author Cath Moore talks about The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Michael Burge – Tank Water

November 29, 2021November 29, 2021

Midnight Sun Publishing, Australia, 2021
Cover design Kim Lock

This is a fine crime fiction novel (it happens to be a debut), one that has clearly sat with its author and matured as would a cellared wine.

The plot of this story springs from rural gay hate crimes and hence it is destined to be classified as LGBTQIA+ literature, as well as crime fiction. I’ve spoken in other places about my issues regarding the boxing of works into evolving genre conventions and I raise the same concerns here.

Barbie spoke to Michael Burge about Tank Water

2021 BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival

November 28, 2021November 28, 2021

2-5 December 2021
State Library of NSW

BAD presents a program of nearly 40 different sessions, panels and special events. All sessions will also be available on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person. BAD will present sessions about fiction, true crime and social justice.

Barbie spoke to Bad Sydney’s Artistic Director, Catherine du Peloux Menagé

Samara Parish – How to Survive a Scandal

November 26, 2021November 26, 2021

Hachette Book Group, USA and Australia, 2021
Cover design Daniela Medina

This debut Regency romance by Samara Parish is also a good publishing story about someone who wrote, worked on despite discouragements and then hit paydirt with an American contract for a 3 book series. One can but revel in this.

Samara Parish talks to Barbie about How to Survive a Scandal

Scott Leggo: Australia – A Photographic Journey

November 23, 2021November 23, 2021

Scott Leggo PL, Australia, 2021
Book design Kristin Thomas

What better time to produce a coffee table option for travellers? This book is sumptuously full of photographs of magnificent Australian landscapes – it could be either a temptation to travel or a substitute for it in times of restricted movement like those pressed on us by COVID-19.

Scott Leggo takes Barbie on a tour of the book and gallery

Tania McCartney – Plume world explorer

November 22, 2021November 23, 2021

Hardie Grant Explore, Australia, 2021
Design Jo Hunt

Tania McCartney is both author and illustrator of this book, a story which delights in individuality, cultural diversity, travel, an adventuresome spirit, reading, sharing of experiences and the power of the image.

Tania McCartney tells Barbie about Plume world explorer

Jonathan Jones – untitled (transcriptions of country)

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021

In collaboration with women from the Information and Cultural Exchange and Adorned Collective
Palais de Tokyo in Paris, France
24 November 2021 to 20 February 2022
Artspace Sydney in 2022

The work explores colonial contact and theft, and draws on the collections gathered by the French expedition from 1800 to 1803, led by Captain Nicolas Baudin to what was then known as New Holland.

Yamane Fayed and Jonathan Jones talk about the exhibition

Belco Arts reopening events

November 19, 2021November 22, 2021

Late Night by the Lake
10am to 8pm 26 November 2021

Graeme Base exhibition until 6 February 2022
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm

118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, ACT

Other Worlds: Exploring the Universe of Graeme Base features original illustrations from the book, The Worst Band in the Universe, and is complemented by exhibitions from local artists byrd, Hanna Hoyne and Tom Buckland.

Barbie talks with Belco Arts’ Artistic Director Monika McInerney about the reopening

ZEST Dance for Wellbeing program

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021

Belconnen and Tuggeranong Arts Centres
Ongoing, 10 week terms, parallel to the ACT School Terms

ZEST classes are designed for adults who want to keep their body and brain active and healthy, regardless of their mobility, skill or age. This program is managed and conducted by Philip Piggin, Jan Ingall, Debora di Centa and Jacqui Simmonds.

Philip Piggin talks about the ZEST Dance for Wellbeing program

Berndt Sellheim – The Fatal Dance

November 16, 2021November 17, 2021

Harper Collins, Australia, 2021
Cover Design gray318

Huntington’s Disease is the driver of this story, an inherited condition the randomness of which is a metaphor for the equally unequal and unjust fall of events in human lives.

Berndt Sellheim talks to Barbie about The Fatal Dance