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Australia's Culture and Recreation Portal Newsletter - Monthly roundup
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April observes Easter and ANZAC Day as well as the spiritual contemplation of country. The phrases 'savage approach' and 'tender effect', 'twisted realities' and 'totemic Creation beings' seem apt to describe the experience of ANZAC Day, as well as Easter and the retreat to national parks and bushwalking which occurs at this time.
George Foxhill's 'Self Portraits' exhibition of paintings in Canberra (until 8 April) combine a 'savage approach and a tender effect'. Foxhill's portraits describe an emotional and psychological state rather than the surface topography of the human face. Surface topography is also a defining feature of national parks with which bushwalkers are familiar. The Six Foot Track Trail Walk from the Jenolan Caves to Katoomba twists and turns its way through the valley and over the range (22 - 24 April). From either end, there's a long climb out of the valley, demanding plenty of spirit.
Bush animals are the subject of Harry Tjutjuna's paintings of 'kangaroo men' and 'mouse women', 'totemic Creation beings' of his country, showing in Darwin (23 March - 21 April). Landscapes and nature are the focus of the 'ANZANG Nature and Landscape Photographer of the Year' in Adelaide (27 March - 29 April). The remarkable flora and fauna are also presented to inspire contemplation of country.
The twisted realities of 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Being John Malkovich' are explored in digital media art and videos in 'Experimenta Vanishing Point', Ipswich, Queensland (31 March - 13 May). Miniature worlds and photographs come to life in a contorted fusion of sound and vision. In a fusion of poetry, music and art, the 'Tenterfield Oracles of the Bush' (12 - 15 April), brings forth friendly competition in written and spoken performance poetry.
Emerging designers have a chance to fire up their spirit and get enthusiastic at the 'Young Blood Designer's Market' in Sydney (20 - 21 April). The market showcases original designs in furniture, fashion, graphics, lighting and landscape and gives young designers a launching pad into their careers.
The new website of Warlukurlangu Artists' Aboriginal Association, based on their eponymous Warlpiri name meaning 'belonging to fire', represents a new showcase for their artworks. The website showcases collectible works that reflect the colourful acrylic paintings and prints of artists both young and old. The bush meets the sea at the Fairbridge Festival at Pinjarra, Western Australia (13 - 15 April), where 'Oceans and Islands' sets the scene for a celebration of traditional world music to get you twisting and shaking to the rhythms. One big jam session will pitch instruments together 'en masse' and fire up dancers in a flurry of sound, light and movement resolving a 'savage approach and a tender effect'.
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Check out our new and revised Australian Stories:
ANZAC: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/anzac/
Easter: http://www.culture.gov.au/articles/easter/
National parks: http://www.culture.gov.au./articles/nationalparks/
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Featured Site
George Foxhill: Self Portraits - Canberra
25 November 2006 - 8 April 2007
http://www.portrait.gov.au/exhibit/foxhill/index.html
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Snippets from our regularly updated News pages
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/
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Design and Architecture
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/design.htm
Young Blood Designers Market - Sydney
20 - 21 April
Following its outstanding success in 2006, Young Blood: Designers Market returns in 2007 to showcase Australia's best and brightest designers and create a unique shopping experience. The Powerhouse Museum will come alive with over 50 stalls selling a range of new and original designs, including furniture, lighting, home wares, accessories and fashion. Powerhouse Museum.
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/youngblood/
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/home.php
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Digital Media and Film
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/digitalmedia.htm
Experimenta Vanishing Point - Ipswich, Queensland
31 March - 13 May
Experimenta Vanishing Point is an extraordinary exhibition of media art and videos inspired by the twisted realities of Alice in Wonderland and Being John Malkovich. The exhibition features miniature worlds and photographs that come to life. This is an exhibition of artworks you can touch and play with: art like you've never experienced before. Ipswich Art Gallery.
http://www.experimenta.org/vanishingpoint/ipswich.htm
http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/
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Festivals and Conferences
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/festivalsandconferences.htm
Australian Gospel Music Festival (AGMF) - Toowoomba, Queensland
6 - 8 April
AGMF is a massive festival held over the Easter weekend in the city of Toowoomba, Queensland. The Festival will have a record number of international and home-grown artists. Headline artists include James Morrison, Blindside, Michelle Tumes and The Lads. The AGMF caters for everyone - youth, kids and families. Various venues.
http://www.agmf.com.au/
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History and Identity
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/museums.htm
ANZAC Day - National
25 April
On this day, the service of veterans is acknowledged in ceremonies held across the nation. In Canberra, the Australian War Memorial, in close cooperation with RSL ACT, hosts the Dawn Service and the National ANZAC Day Ceremony. ANZAC Day services will also be held in Sydney (The Cenotaph), Melbourne (Shrine of Remembrance), Brisbane (Shrine of Remembrance), Hobart (Hobart Cenotaph), Adelaide (State National War Memorial), Perth (State War Memorial Precinct) and Darwin (Darwin Cenotaph), as well as many other country towns.
http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/program.asp
http://www.awm.gov.au/
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Indigenous Arts
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/indigenousarts.htm
Harry Tjutjuna - Darwin
23 March - 21 April
Harry Tjutjuna started painting only in the last few months of 2005. Harry's country is near Mt Davies in the north-west corner of South Australia close to the Western Australia and Northern Territory borders and that is where he was born in the bush. Harry concentrates on a few important subjects in his paintings: kangaroo men and (marsupial) mouse women - two of the significant totemic Creation beings of his country; men thinking about (chasing) women; and women thinking about (and running away from) men. Tjutjuna also often paints the 'Kungkarangkalpa' (seven sisters) story, from a very male perspective. Raft Artspace.
http://www.raftartspace.com.au/HarryT_PeterQ06.html http://www.raftartspace.com.au/
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Language and Literature
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/languageandliterature.htm
Tenterfield Oracles of the Bush - Tenterfield, New South Wales
12 - 15 April
Tenterfield's Oracles of the Bush is a four-day cultural event encompassing live performance of Australian bush poetry, music and art. The Looming Legend Bush Poetry Competition is a significant and very popular component of Oracles of the Bush - offering cash prizes for both writing and performance of bush poetry. The senior sections are open to all non-professional poets while the written junior sections are restricted to residents of Tenterfield Shire. And there is now an open junior performance section. Various venues.
http://www.oraclesofthebush.com/
http://www.oraclesofthebush.com/newsadmin/announcements.asp
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Performance
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/performance.htm
Fairbridge Festival - Pinjarra, Western Australia
13 - 15 April
The Fairbridge Festival is an annual family-friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, celtic, a capella and world music in a traffic-free, self-contained bushland site. The theme will be 'Oceans and Islands', and the festival will feature the trans-oceanic musical currents which inspire Australian musicians. Fairbridge Village.
http://www.fairbridgefestival.com.au/index.htm
http://www.fairbridgefestival.com.au/location.htm
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Sport and Recreation
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/sportandrecreation.htm
Six Foot Track Trail Walk - Katoomba, New South Wales
22 - 24 April
The Six Foot Track walk is an historic bridle trail that was constructed from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves during the 1880s. It is 45 km from the Explorer's Tree at Katoomba to the Caves. It starts high on the main Blue Mountains ridge, descends to the Cox River valley, then climbs the Black Range before reaching the caves. Either way there's a long climb out of the valley - 700 m to 900 m depending on direction, so good fitness is required even though the track is well constructed. For more information email jemarshall@optusnet.com.au. Jenolan Caves.
http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/recreation/six_foot_track
http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/general.asp?tb=j_general
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Visual Arts and Crafts
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/visualarts.htm
ANZANG Nature and Landscape Photographer of the Year - Adelaide
27 March - 29 April
This is an exhibition of the winning and highly commended images from the ANZANG competition. The competition aims to raise awareness of the natural heritage and the importance of the conservation of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea. The images are the very best of nature or landscape subjects that have been photographed by amateurs and professionals. South Australian Museum.
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/page/default.asp?site=1&id=1479
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/
George Foxhill: Self portraits - Canberra
25 November 2006 - 8 April 2007
George Foxhill's portraits are more concerned with describing an emotional and psychological state than the surface topography of the human face. His ambition in his works is to understand himself, to depict the tensions of human existence as expressed in one life. National Portrait Gallery, Old Parliament House.
http://www.portrait.gov.au/exhibit/foxhill/index.html
http://www.portrait.gov.au/index.html
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Websites - new
http://www.culture.gov.au/news/websites.htm
Warlukurlangu Artists' Aboriginal Association
Warlukurlangu Artists' Aboriginal Association is one of Australia's premier Aboriginal art centres. Warlukurlangu means 'belonging to fire' in Walpiri, and is named after a Fire Dreaming west of Yuendumu. Owned and governed by its more than 600 members, Warlukurlangu art centre is famous for its colourful acrylic paintings and fine limited-edition prints. Established in 1985, Warlukurlangu Artists' Aboriginal Association has a well-regarded international profile.
http://www.warlu.com/
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