Green Hill Publishing, Australia, 2021
This is a wonderfully funny, wonderfully clever social-political satire that takes a swipe, albeit not a vicious one, at almost every aspect of contemporary life.
Former diplomat Peter Rodgers aimed to write a book with a laugh on every page, and he has succeeded. There is a serious intent and much research in this work, but the humour is what the reader carries away, demonstrating that a skilled hand has directed it.
Day and evening classes, from 3 February 2021
Folk Dance Canberra Hall
114 Maitland Street, Hackett ACT 2602
www.folkdancecanberra.org.au
With music from countries around the world, you can enjoy the travel currently not possible in real life by attending a class at Folk Dance Canberra. Classes are suitable for all ages and all levels of dance experience.
Folk Dance Canberra is a welcoming community providing physical and social well-being through world dance. No partner necessary (socially distanced Covid safe dancing).
Image: Advanced class with participants from 16 to over 70, courtesy Folk Dance Canberra:
Suki & Hugh Gallery 38A Gibraltar Street Bungendore, NSW
Saturday 13 February – Sunday 21 March 2021
Opening on 13 February 2021, 10am – 4pm
Observe is Sydney artist Jane Gerrish’s third solo show. In it she transports us to the glamourous Côte d’Azur of the 1920s and beyond, revealing captivating detail of the master Henri Matisse in his studios.
Continue Reading“Jane Gerrish – Observe”
Submissions welcome until 8 February 2021
The FlashWrite Project invites story submissions of a maximum of 1500 words that encapsulate local life experiences.
Stories related to the 2021 Gunning Arts Festival theme Rejuvenation are especially welcome. Submissions can be lodged electronically or in hardcopy.
Full details on the project and how to submit stories can be found on the Gunning Arts Festival website: https://www.gunningartsfestival.com/activities/flashwrite-project/ .
A selection of the stories is being published online in the lead up to the 2021 Gunning Arts Festival and some will be selected to be performed and published in a booklet to be printed as part of the Festival.
The first FlashWrite stories are available for reading at website: https://www.gunningartsfestival.com/activities/flashwrite-stories/.
Gunning is a small rural town an hour north of Canberra and GAF hopes readers enjoy these short story insights into life in the region.
The FlashWrite project is sponsored by BJCE Australia’s Biala and Gullen Range Wind Farms and supported by an Upper Lachlan Cultural Funding Program grant.
The Upper Lachlan Cultural Funding Program is funded by the Upper Lachlan Shire Council.
Hachette, Australia, 2020
The Charleston Scandal is Pamela Hart’s 37th book, an absorbing and highly readable historical fiction that dives into the issue of class and privilege in British society in the 1920s, particularly in the royal and sub-royal echelons. It is also a delightful glimpse into the life of the theatre at that time.
Quirky Kid, Australia, 2020
Siblings is a story told from two points of view and the book itself reflects this. Read from one end, the book is in the voice of the sister, while from the other end it is in the voice of the brother. The stories meet in the middle with the same dilemma.
X Gallery Bungendore until 8 February 2021
32 Gibraltar Street, Bungendore, NSW
Open Friday to Monday or by appointment, phone 6238 0550
It is clear that the 2019-20 bushfires were a deeply etched experience for both artists, who are residents of Braidwood, and yet there is a spare restraint in their work.
From 5pm Friday 18 December to Monday 21 December 2020
Free event
Book at Eventbrite
Produced and presented by Liz Lea and the Australian Talented Youth Project, supported by the Office for Disability Inclusion and Participation and Ausdance ACT’s Small Grants Fund (in turn supported by the ACT Government), the I Dance Festival will showcase excellence in dance films curated and created by artists with disability across the ACT, Australia and the world.
The festival is hosted by Hanna Cormick, Matt Shilcock and Liz Lea for the 2020 International Day of People with Disability.
Film artists include Katrina Mcpherson, Simon Fildes & Marc Brew, Fayen D’Evie & Hillary Goidell, Sue Jo Wright, Imago Theatre & Hanna Cormick, Restless Dance Theatre, Josh Twee & Matt Shilcock, Joshua Campton and Riana Head-Toussaint.
I Dance has Auslan Interpretation, Captions and Audio Description.
The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre
Extended season until Saturday 19 December 2020
2020 has been a horror year for live theatre, but a rich vein for political satire – and what’s billed as the final Wharf Revue after a 20-year run does not disappoint.
Continue Reading“The Wharf Revue – Good Night and Good Luck”
The Australian Dance Awards were presented online on Tuesday 8 December, acknowledging achievements across 2018 and 2019 in 12 categories.
They celebrate the rich diversity and uniqueness of dance in Australia with national companies, performers and collaborating artists, dedicated studio, school and tertiary teachers, regional and remote artists, independents, youth and community dance groups.
Continue Reading“2020 Australian Dance Awards Winners”
The Kind Press, Australia, 2020
Pina Di Donato brings a lifetime of business and life learnings to her first book, a work that could loosely be described as a guide to living a satisfying, worthy and productive life.
Coming from an Italian background meant that Pina was framed by cultural traditions and expectations – ones that didn’t necessarily fit well with the person she was and is.
Bungendore Fine Art
5 December 2020 to 25 January 2021
Depicting birds from the inland to the coast, this exhibition celebrates the diversity of birdlife inhabiting and visiting South Eastern Australia. These recent works are watercolour, gouache and mixed media.
Lesley Wallington is a professional award-winning artist and tutor. Lesley is a keen bird watcher who volunteers for the South Coast Shorebird Recovery program. She currently paints in her home studio and conducts classes and workshops for Nature Art Lab in Canberra.
Palace Electric Canberra
From 3 December 2020
Rated PG, 92 mins
James Bowen was a busker and recovering addict when, in 2007, he rescued an abandoned and injured cat, nursing it back to health.
He and the cat, christened Bob, became inseparable, winning admirers as they performed and sold The Big Issue on the streets of London.
Continue Reading“A Gift from Bob / A Christmas Gift from Bob – film review”
Saturday 5 December, 10:00am – 4pm
DesignSpace gallery, L Block building, Reid Campus, Canberra Institute of Technology
In a highly challenging year for students and teachers across the world, it is a delight to see an exhibition of work by graduating art students at CIT Canberra.
The exhibition is testament to the dedication of both students and staff to the completion of bodies of work which express the individuality and talent of their makers.
At the VIP night on Thursday 3 December, Craft ACT awarded two Emerging Artist Support Scheme winners: Akka Ballenger (https://akkaballengerconstantin.com/) and Christine Little (@ChrisLittle_Art)
The NAVA award of two years’ membership went to Sally Black (http://www.thesallyblack.com/) – this award recognises a student’s preparation for professional practice.
You can also find things of interest on Instagram: #CITDiplomavisualart2020
Congratulations to all students and staff and best wishes to the graduates in their ongoing or new careers.
Alchemy Chorus brings together people living with dementia, their relative or close friend, volunteer musicians and singers for a morning of music-making, story-sharing, laughter and fun.
The choir normally meets from 10am to 12noon on Thursdays at the Hughes Community Centre but COVID restrictions have meant a temporary relocation to the park opposite. Under the shade of an oak, the group works on its extensive repertoire under the leadership of Brian Triglone.
Barbie spoke to Alchemy Choir organisers and participants
Alchemy Chorus was founded in 2016 and provides not only the benefits of music but also of social interaction for both carers and dementia sufferers. The socialising with people who understand their situation is cited by carers as a major plus for the group. A third of the group is made up of volunteers, allowing for smooth administration and the organisation of regular concert performances.
We enjoyed a morning with the choir and found it to be a welcoming and well organised group, coping magnificently with the difficulties of the time, enjoying a great range of familiar songs and a healthy dose of laughter. Some excellent voices are members of the choir and these people are often soloists in the concerts.
New members are always welcome. It is advised to contact the choir organisers before attending. Contact details are on the Alchemy Chorus website.
