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Ceramics and landscapes at Strathnairn

Strathnairn Arts Centre
90 Stockdill Drive, Holt, ACT
Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm

Anita McIntyre  – Survey 1970 – 2022
Woolshed Gallery until 17 July 2022

Anita McIntyre’s ceramic practice has been inspired by the Australian landscape, extensive travel, family history and a love of clay. It has been expressed in several series of work: working with porcelain, stoneware, coloured clay, printing, reverse transfer, decals and slip casting.

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Canberra Men’s Choir – Open Night

Harmonie German Club
9 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah, ACT
Monday 11 July 2022

This non-audition choir welcomes all men who enjoy singing, regardless of their musical experience or ability. Newcomers are always welcome, and an Open Night on Monday 11 July will be an opportunity for interested men to get to know the choir and join up if they wish.

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Nigel Gray and Bethan Welby – Phyllis and Grace

Scallywag Press, London, UK, 2022

This gentle picture book, written by Nigel Gray and illustrated by Bethan Welby, subtly conveys messages of kindness, neighbourliness, friendship across generations, the importance of family and the blessing of an open-hearted and compassionate view of the world – as seen by this story’s child Grace.

Author Nigel Gray spoke to Barbie about Phyllis and Grace
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The Training Ground – Unravel

Erindale Theatre
7pm, Friday 22 and Saturday 23 July 2022

Unravel is a contemporary dance interpretation of the Shakespearean Romeo and Juliet story. It promises to be emotionally engaging, relevant in its themes to the current day and of a high standard both choreographically and in dance technique.

Barbie spoke to The Training Ground’s co-director, Bonnie Neate
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Lauren Chater – The Winter Dress

Simon & Schuster, Australia, 2022
Cover design Nada Backovic
Cover images Beata Banach/Trevillion Images

Lauren Chater’s third historical novel is as finely woven as the 17th century silk dress which inspired it.

Lauren Chater talks to Barbie about The Winter Dress
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National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature

Located at The Hub, University of Canberra

The NCACL’s mission is to collect, document and preserve Australian children’s books and literature. It aims to share the collection with all Australians through outreach activities. In order to reach national and international audiences, resources are available online.

Barbie visited the Centre to talk to Director Belle Alderman, Emeritus Professor of Children’s Literature at University of Canberra.
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Matthew Spencer – Black River

Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2022
Cover design by Luke Causby, Blue Cork
Cover photographs Luke Causby and Adobe Stock

Matthew Spencer’s debut novel has been aptly described by others more eminent than I in the following terms: ‘a meticulous thriller’ (Sarah Bailey), ‘sharply plotted and relentlessly paced’ (Michael Robotham) and ‘Black River hooked me and wouldn’t let me go (Tim Ayliffe).

Barbie speaks to Matthew Spence about Black River
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Michael Winters – My Greece

A survey exhibition of linocuts
Belconnen Arts Centre
8 July to 21 August 2022
Opening 6pm Friday 8 July 2022

The title of the exhibition, My Greece indicates how much of the artist’s creative life is entwined with Greece. It was the enthusiasm for Ancient Greece of Michael Winter’s History of Art lecturer at Art School which instilled in him the desire to visit Greece. His first visit was in 1965.

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Nell Pierce – A Place Near Eden

Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2022
Cover design by Christabella Designs
Cover photographs: Getty Images/Andersen Ross

A Place Near Eden, the winner of the 2022 Australian Vogel Literary Award, is a clever psychological thriller, a work exploring truth, perception and family relationships.

It’s a disturbing and thoroughly absorbing read. The author plays with the reader so that we not only distrust our own judgments but everyone else’s.

Barbie spoke to Nell Pierce about A Place Near Eden
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Ned Manning – Painting the Light

Broadcast Books, Australia, 2022
Cover design, artwork and internal design by Daniel New

This historical novel spans the period in Australian history from pre-World War 2 into the 1950s. It is inspired by the life of the author’s parents, drawing heavily on their experiences on the land and in wartime, and then in the political sphere of Labor politics.

Ned Manning talks to Barbie about Painting the Light
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Caroline Magerl – Piano Fingers

Walker Books, Australia, 2022
Text and illustrations by Caroline Magerl

I cannot for a moment pretend to be dispassionate about this book. I am utterly enchanted by it. And ‘enchanted’ is perhaps, an apt word for a book so very much in the realm of magical realism.

Caroline Magerl talks about Piano Fingers
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Mark Tedeschi AM QC – Missing, Presumed Dead

Simon and Schuster, Australia, 2022
Cover design by Luke Causby/Blue Cork
Cover photograph supplied

This book is an account of the kidnapping and murder of two Sydney women, Kerry Whelan and Dorothy Davis, the police investigation into their disappearance and the legal proceedings that led to the conviction of Bruce Burrell for both crimes.

Mark Tedeschi talks about Missing, Presumed Dead
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