Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Communication Arts - Interactive Annual Issue

38 winning projects were selected by the judges assembled by Communication Arts magazine. The entries included web sites, kiosks, cd-rom projects PDA's. The weblink below lists the winning projects with comments and links to the projects or websites.

Further detail can be found in the September/October 2005 Interactive Annual Issue of Communication Arts magazine.

W: http://www.commarts.com/ca/interactive/cai05/

Bar Italia - Leichhardt



Fusilli Vesuvio and Pasta Carbonara featured

Bar Italia is a very popular, casual hangout place. You first find a table inside or in the nice courtyard at the back, and then you queue up to order one of their yummy pastas and then a few minutes later, your order is brought to you. It's also got good hot chocolates, iced chocolates and a gelato counter with lots of really yummy flavours. It's one of those places that always seems full of people at all times of the day. It's also very good value. The pasta dishes are around $9.50.

Leichhardt is easy to get to as well by bus. It's located in the inner west and is about 15 minutes drive from the CBD. It is the Italian quarters of Sydney. There are cinemas, bookshops, Italian grocers, gelato shops, cafes and lots of restaurants along Norton St.

Address: 169 Norton St, Leichhardt. P: 02 9560 9981

Documentary: Ghibli - The Miyazaki Temple - tonight on SBS TV 10-11pm

"The documentary presents Japanese animated cinema through a journey into the universe of director Hayao Miyazaki and his Ghibli studio. Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's greatest animation directors.

The entertaining plots, compelling characters and breathtaking animation in his films have earned him international renown from critics as well as both national and international recognition.

Clips from Miyazaki's latest films, Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away and The Grave of the Fireflies, shows what has influenced Japanese animation over the years and what differentiates it from Western animation.

Through interviews with fellow Ghibli filmmaker Isao Takahata, Ghibli President Toshio Suzuki and French comic artist Jean 'Moebius' Giraud, we get to know the man who delivered some of the most inspiring visuals and incomparable landscapes and characters ever seen in animation. (From France, in Japanese and French, with English subtitles)"

Blurb source: http://www.ebroadcast.com.au

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Cafe de Macau - Eastwood




Went to Eastwood yesterday. Saw a new cafe had opened and there were people queuing up to get a table. So we thought we'd try it out. The name of the cafe is: Cafe de Macau - New Generation Eatery.

The meals were v.good value. The servings were large, and the food was fresh. It was kind of a fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Portugese, and Australian. An example is the beef stew with tomato and spaghetti. It tasted a bit like Napolitana sauce but it also had a some Asian sauce taste in it as well. So it tasted a bit Italian and a bit Chinese which was interesting and a bit different.

They had just baked some Portugese custard tarts so they brought them around the tables so we tried two of those too. It was really nice. Mains were around the $8.90 to about $13.90 mark approximately.

Tried a pineapple float drink and that was pretty nice too. It had pineapple pieces with pineapple juice at the bottom, ice in the middle then a scoop of ice-cream at the top. The interior was contemporary with plasma screens on the walls showing Hong Kong TV (I think).

Address: 1 Trelawney St, Eastwood, NSW 2122. Ph: 02 9858 1366.

The nearest train station is Eastwood station. There are a lot of Chinese restaurants and great value noodle and congee type restaurants there, Chinese bakeries, Chinese groceries, Chinese BBQ shops selling Peking ducks, soy sauce chicken, and more in Eastwood.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

d factory: Japanese fashion - 29 Sep



"d factory IS A FREE MONTHLY EVENT

6pm – 6.30pm
Drinks and music in the Café with DJ

6.30 – 7.15pm - Japanese fashion
S!X fashion label founders and designers Denise Sprynskyj and Peter Boyd from RMIT join Powerhouse curator Louise Mitchell to pay tribute to the Museum’s latest exhibition The cutting edge: fashion from Japan and discuss the far-reaching influence of Japanese fashion and textile design. Also featured is hot young Japanese designer Masahiro Nakagawa from 20471120 fashion label and Tokyo Recycle Project fame.

Hosted by SBS presenter and devotee of Japanese design Lee Lin Chin.

7.15 - 8.30pm
More music by DJ Nick Wishart
+ a presentation of recent student design projects from the Whitehouse Institute of Design, Sydney."

WHEN: Thursday 29 September 2005, 6.00pm – 8.30pm
WHERE: Powerhouse Museum, Courtyard Café – enter via Macarthur Street

W: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/dfactory/

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Scratch Night #4 Emergence 11-12 Oct

"Our popular series of new experimental projects returns with an even more interactive twist. Not only do you get to have coffee and conversation with the cast and crew after the show, but – strap yourselves in – this time you get to call the shots during it!

Emergence is a daring new work in interactive audio-visual theatre where you must choose how the story unfolds over four screens.

The Synarcade collective – a group of fearless new multimedia artists – will take you into an immersive world of film, VJamming, theatre, electrojazz and giant puppets. And no two shows will be the same!

In traditional film, the director controls the narrative and the audience takes a back seat. But what happens if these roles are reversed? How would you react if you were suddenly in control of the narrative? What decisions would you make? How would you interact with the work and the other audience members?

Emergence asks these questions, you answer them!

We encourage you to attend more than one show to experience how the different narratives unfold.

SEASON
Tuesday 11 to Wednesday 12 October at 8.30pm
Wednesday 12 October at 6.30pm and 8.30pm

PRICES
All tickets $15

Special offers apply when puchasing tickets for more than one Scratch night performance. Contact the Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 or email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com for more details.

+ Booking fees may apply"

Presenter: The Studio at Sydney Opera House
Venue: The Studio

W: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/sections/whats_on/boxoffice/event_details.asp?EventID=1546&sm=1&ss=2

Mark Latham interview transcript

Andrew Denton interviewed Mark Latham on Enough Rope. The transcript of the that show which screened on 19/9/05 is now on the ABC website. Interesting read.

W: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1463685.htm

Monday, September 19, 2005

Marrickville Festival 2005




It was a great turnout at the Marrickville Festival. Got there after 1pm. There were three stages of entertainment, lots of food stalls like Turkish Gozleme, Danish pancakes, freshly made profiteroles, fairy floss, as well as some other trinkety stalls, community stalls, as well as the usual Asian food, electrical, clothing, fabric, fruit shops that are always there.

Have uploaded more 25 photos over at Flickr.

W: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaosgeneration/sets/973320/

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Slidenight is back! Flores Prats: Adapting Spaces



"The projects of Barcelona firm Flores Prats have evolved through an operative drawing methodology adapted from the office of Enric Miralles. Less about representation, it is a technique that enables the project to emerge through a process of over-drawing in plan. It is initiated as a mapping of the groundplane, whereby all the conditions of the context are ascribed the same importance. Adapted by Flores Prats, this methodology is reflected in their approach to architecture and design teaching, here they will discuss their work and ideas through a number of built and conceptual projects.

Tuesday 27 September – [Hurry! tickets very limited].
The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney
7–9pm | General $10 Conc/Members $7* (includes a complimentary drink) |
Cash bar available too | Bookings essential T 02 8239 2211 | Nights at the Mint always sell out...

A collaboration between UNSW and the Historic Houses Trust and Slidenight.

FOOTNOTE – EXTRA!
*After the Flores Prats talk, grab a drink and check out the architectural exhibition BETWEEN ORGANISED LEISURE & PLAY. The exhibition consisting of the students drawings and models will be on display in the corridors of The Mint. Guided by local architects Eva Prats, Adolf Soccato with Sydney architects Rachel Neeson and Mariam Gusheh, thirty two architecture students from UNSW studied four sites in Barcelona; urban scars within a largely intact historical fabric and asked – how must the ‘contemporary’ be shaped by the condition of the medieval? Students were invited to mentally inhabit the old city constructing an imaginative meander through the existing fabric via tracings of historical maps. The site was read as a fragment of the broader urban context, generating forms in response to considerations of urban connectivity, street edge conditions and relationship to adjacent buildings and scale."

W: http://www.sydneyarchitecture.org/slidepages/opening.html

End of Harris St, Pyrmont


View of the water

There's a couple of restauarants at the end of Harris St, Pyrmont. There's quite a few places to eat along Harris St towards the water end. There's the Sugar Room at the water's edge. There's Hennessy's On Harris which is a comfy, casual cafe with an outdoor area, a Thai and Japanese restaurant next to that, and further up, there are other pubs, Nitan Wokstation - good Thai food!, a flower shop, Simon Johnson's fine foods, and a French patesserie, and moving even further up Harris St, there's Concrete and the fishmarkets nearby.

Shaolin Soccer



Kung Fu Hustle was really fun to watch so thought I'd see what other films Stephen Chow had written. Found Shaolin Soccer at the local video shop. It was fun to watch too. The two films have a very similar cast. It must be good fun to be able to get your mates together for film projects.

W: http://miramax.com/shaolin_soccer/index.html

Bust is over so sit back, wait for the next boom

Article in the SMH about how the Sydney property has "bottomed out" and will be back on it's way up. A few industry people talk about the traditional boom-bust cycle.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bust-is-over-so-sit-back-wait-for-the-next-boom/2005/09/17/1126750168495.html

Chic new makeover plan for inner city

Article in the SMH about how the areas of Redfern, Waterloo, Darlington and Eveleigh will be "revitalised".

The four year plan will include: "$20 million on upgrades of the shopping areas along Redfern and Regents streets, scheduled for completion by late 2007.

The council's revamp will be supported by projects worth hundreds of millions being planned by the Redfern Waterloo Authority, the statutory body headed by Planning Minister Frank Sartor.

The recreation component of Ms Moore's plan involves an $11 million revamp of Prince Alfred Park, including a 50-metre swimming pool, a $500,000 upgrade of the skate park in Waterloo Park as well as $1 million upgrading three parks in the Eveleigh area and three in East Redfern..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/chic-new-makeover-plan-for-inner-city/2005/09/17/1126750168486.html

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Irish Film Festival 2005 - 23-25 Sep in Sydney

The Irish Film Festival will be screening at the Cinema Paris, The Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park, Sydney.

It will also be screening in Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton, Melbourne.

Sydney: http://www.hoyts.com.au/cinemaparis
Melbourne: http://www.cinemanova.com.au

Greek Film Festival 2005 - 8-25 Sep

The 13th Greek Film Festival of Sydney is on at the Palace cinema, Norton St, Leichhardt. The films will also be screening in Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide.

W: http://www.greekfilmfestival.com.au

Freedom Festival 05 - Sat 24 Sep

"A national music event to raise awareness of Amnesty International Australia's Stop Violence Against Women campaign featuring Ursula Rucker (Philadelphia, USA), Ben Mono (Munich, Ger) and Jah'licious (Auckland, NZ)."

The Civic Hotel, cnr Pitt & Goulburn Sts, Sydney
40 artists, 4 stages, 3 levels. 8pm-6am.

W: http://www.amnesty.org.au/freedom

The Malaya restaurant





It was a gorgeously warm, sunny day today so we headed down to King St Wharf. Had lunch at the Malaya. The food was nice.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Melbourne International Arts Festival 6-22 October

"Melbourne International Arts Festival is one of Australia's leading international arts festivals and has an outstanding reputation for presenting unique international and Australian events in the fields of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia, free and outdoor events over 17 days each October."

W: http://www.melbournefestival.com.au

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

ACP: Martin Parr Celebrity Lecture - 8 Oct

"ACP is proud to present the world-famous photographer, Martin Parr.

One of the most influential and innovative photographers of his generation, Marin Parr's witty, unblinking insights into contemporary life combine biting irony with a fondness for the people they record. A controversial member of the celebrated Magnum group, his photographs feature in newspapers and magazines throughout the world and his work has been exhibited in galleries in every continent. He has published 16 monographs, made numerous films for television and a video clip for the Pet Shop Boys. In 2004 he was artistic director of the Rencontres d'Arles, the longest running and most prestigious photographic festival in the world.

This is Martin Parr's only Sydney appearance. Seats are limited for this special guest lecture. Book your place early.

Please email your name and the number of seats (maximum 4 per person) you would like to reserve to the following address:

or call 9332 1455 ext 204

MARTIN PARR
Saturday 8 October 2005
Paddington & Woollahra RSL,
Oxford Street, Paddington
3.00pm FREE

W: http://www.acp.au.com/exhibitions/events.php#parr

Popcorn Taxi: The Magician + Q&A - tonight Wed 14 Sep

"Popcorn Taxi presents a sneak preview of this outstanding, critically acclaimed first feature from Melbourne filmmaker SCOTT RYAN.

Shot for just $3000, The Magician is not only a rivetting, original and funny take on the criminal underword it's also a test-case for what is possible when a strong script, innovation and digital technology collide. Join the filmmakers for this special Popcorn Taxi as it explores the behind the scenes story of how a 'little student piece' was able to not only attract A-list production talent but also major support from a significant distributor and financing from the AFC and FFC.

THE MAGICIAN
'When Melbourne hitman Ray Shoesmith discovers that his nextdoor neighbour is a film student, he commissions him to document his life - and more specifically, his job, which essentially involves, er, killing people. But Ray is no mere thug. Rather, he's a thinker, not to mention something of a motormouth, forever quizzing his victims about arcane points of trivia, or debating issues of questionable import. Is AFL legend Wayne Carey morally bankrupt? Was Clint Eastwood really in The Dirty Dozen? Darkly comic, and almost certainly destined for cult status, this no-budget mockumentary (think Man Bites Dog meets Dogme) boasts an hilarious script and a showstopping central performance from actor-writer-director Ryan.'
- The Edinburgh International Film Festival

After the screening join Writer/Director/Producer/Actor SCOTT RYAN and Producers MICHELE BENNETT live on-stage and NASH EDGERTON (via phone from Europe) for an interview and audience Q&A."

Wednesday, September, 14th, 2005 - 7:30pm

W: http://www.popcorntaxi.com.au/Events.asp?Event_ID=412

Margo Kingston's Web Diary's new location

Margo Kingston used to write a blog for the SMH. She left the SMH as she wanted to operate the blog in a different way to the Fairfax way. This is a link to the transcript of an interview Media Report's Richard Aedy did with Margo Kingston about her decision to go it alone and her vision for the blog.

W: http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/09/margo_kingston_.html

High-class kitchens are no place for steak and three veg

"ASK any architect or interior designer and they'll tell you that the finer a kitchen's joinery, the more expensive the benchtop and the pricier the European appliances, the less likely the kitchen is going to be used...

High KUR (kitchen use ratio) kitchens typically see little or no activity during the working week, because breakfast is a cuppa and a pastry on the way to work, lunch is in the office and dinner is at a restaurant, run-of-the-mill takeaway, or a reheated "homecooked" prepacked gourmet meal from the local deli..."

W: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16546884%255E25658,00.html

Dirty power plants making millions out of green scheme

"NSW taxpayers are being charged millions of dollars by a State Government scheme that aims to cut greenhouse gases but has done little other than provide windfall gains for some of Australia's dirtiest power stations..."

SMH article: http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/09/13/1126377316854.html

Murdoch has fresh go at mastering the web

Article in the SMH about Rupert Murdoch strategising how to make money on the web.

"It is of little surprise that Murdoch is approaching the internet with new-found urgency. Advertising dollars are rapidly migrating online. Jupiter Research recently forecast the online advertising market would reach $US18.9 billion by 2010, compared with $US9.3 billion at the end of 2004, at the expense of traditional media. The adoption of broadband means that consumer habits are fast changing, especially among the young...

Now, the News boss has spoken of his intent to build a network that will "redefine the portal". In an April speech to American newspaper editors he said: "We have to refashion what our web presence is. It can't just be what it too often is today: a bland re-purposing of our print content. The challenge for us is to create an internet presence compelling enough for users to make us their home page."

He went on to pursue two themes - the provision of deeply local and personalised news and the creation of "virtual communities" linking coverage to blogs and opening up sites to feedback..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/mastering-the-web/2005/09/12/1126377256724.html

Monday, September 12, 2005

Bondi Junction Westfields



It's easy to live in Sydney and just hang out in your usual 'spots' and go to your usual few cafes, cinemas, bookshops etc. In the suburbs you usually have a Westfields or other major shopping centre where you can get your groceries, watch a movie, buy a book, and get something to eat. And in places like Glebe and Newtown, you can still go to Broadway or head into the CBD, or walk along King St and do the same things, but hopefully see some more alternative, ethnic and orignal things as well.

So I thought I may start venturing out a bit more every now and then to see 'more' of Sydney.

Thought I'd visit the Westfields in Bondi Junction as I'd heard that it was quite 'exclusive' and had attracted a number of brand name retailers into the centre.

The food court was pretty nice looking. It featured dark wood panelling and had views to the Harbour Bridge. It had the feel of the interior of an expensive restaurant. The food was displayed beautifully.

They also have a number of high end fashion, food and design retailers. Pepe's Paperie had some nice wrapping paper and cards available. Plenty had some nice kitchenware things. Other shops like Alannah Hill (women's fashion), kikki.K (stationery), T2 (teas) and heaps of other brand names can also be found there.

Many of these shops can be found along Oxford St, Paddington or the CBD anyway, but I guess if I were a tourist, it's a convenient place to visit, to shop for local and international labels and other goods all in the one place. Also a good place to go if you're looking for a label prezzie.

W: http://www.westfield.com/bondijunction/

The Idler - Issue 35



Saw a copy of 'the Idler' Issue 35 titled 'War on Work' at the 'Better Read Than Dead' bookshop in Newtown. I heard Tom Hodgkinson being interviewed on TV in Stockholm and then had a look at his website.

The Idler magazine comes in the form of a paperback book and is beautifully illustrated and designed. The articles in it are fun and thoughtful to read also.

Haven't finished the reading the 224 pages yet, but there's a really cool article titled: 'Seven Steps to the Idle Life' by Dan Kieran.

Step One: Give up ever wanting to be rich
Step Two: Rid yourself of debt
Step Three: Don't buy useless crap you don't need
Step Four: Ditch your pension
Step Five: Work part-time
Step Six: Do that thing you've always dreamt of doing
Step Seven: Take the test

Wish the article was on their website as it's a really good read. The article is mainly about the getting of wisdom, being happy by doing what you love doing, rather than spending too many hours in a job you hate and then buying lots of things you don't need in order to feel better.

Similar ideas in the book titled: 'Your Money or Your Life' by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.

The Idler website: http://www.idler.co.uk
The Better Read Than Dead bookshop is at 265 King St, Newtown: http://www.betterread.com.au

Primavera 2005: Exhibition of Young Australian Artists 7 Sep- 13 Nov

"Offering a truly national vision of contemporary art this year, Primavera 2005 includes a very diverse range of artistic styles and backgrounds - and of course signals a new wave of young artists to watch out for. For the first time ever, Primavera – the MCA’s annual exhibition of work by artists 35 and under – will this year include artists from remote areas of Australia alongside those from urban centres.

And in keeping with the scope of this year’s show, it is also the first Primavera to tour across Australia including NSW, Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Over the last two years the focus has moved from new media to everyday materials and this year features painting, a medium with a long tradition yet endless powers of renewal. Under the direction of guest curator Felicity Fenner Primavera 2005 connects with the well-established genre of painting landscape, which is questioned and re-interpreted by a young generation of artists in response to current political and environmental concerns. Primavera has been a feature of the MCA program since its inception in 1992.

Artists included are: Monika Behrens (NSW), Madeleine Kelly (QLD), Fiona Lowry (NSW), Danie Mellor (ACT), Tom Mùller (WA), Yukultji Napangati (WA/NT), Michelle Ussher (VIC), Pedro Wonaeamirri (NT), Jemima Wyman (QLD).

Primavera, was founded through the generous benefaction of Dr Edward and Mrs Cynthia Jackson, and the Jackson family, in memory of their late daughter Belinda."

W: http://www.mca.com.au/default.asp?page_id=10&content_id=1471

Redfern-Waterloo Tour of Beauty: 24 Sep + 15 Oct



SquatSpace invites you on the REDFERN-WATERLOO TOUR OF BEAUTY

WHEN: Saturday September 24 2005, 1pm and Saturday October 15 2005, 1pm

WHERE: The bus departs from Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Paddington, and will make a loop of key sites in the Redfern/Waterloo area, returning you to the gallery afterwards.
The tour will take just over two hours.
Meet at College of Fine Arts, UNSW, by 1pm on the day:
Corner of Oxford St and Greens Rd, Paddington.

COST: FREE!

BOOKINGS: Seats are limited, so book early using the form on the website
W: http://squatspace.com/redfern, or email info@squatspace.com

Sunday, September 11, 2005

This is Not Art: Newcastle, NSW 29 Sep - 3 Oct

"This Is Not Art is a national festival of new media and arts held in Newcastle each year over the October long weekend. Since its humble beginnings in 1998, it has become one of the leading arts festivals in Australia dedicated to the work and ideas of communities not included in other major Australian arts festivals.

It is a convergence point for communities of creative people practicing and learning in a range of art and new media forms including writing, hip hop, digital arts, electronic music, design, environmentalism and student media. The program includes the festivals Electrofringe, the National Young Writers’ Festival, National Student Media Conference, Sound Summit and other projects.

Through the festival we look in on our world and rethink and imagine what it can be through the usage of technologies, humour, media and art.

Each year the festival brings together over 400 young writers, arts workers, activists, media makers, electronic and hip hop musicians, digital and sound artists and visual artists to participate in over 200 events. Artists come from Hunter Valley, across Australia and from overseas, to showcase their work, network and develop new skills and projects. Each year between 2 and 3 thousand people travel to Newcastle to attend the event, alongside tens of thousands of Novocastrians.

Festival activities include panels, hands on workshops, showcases, night time concerts, public art installations, exhibitions and online forums.

This year’s festival takes place from 29th September until 3rd October 2005.

Since its inception, the This Is Not Art festival, has been hosted by the Octapod Association."

W: http://www.thisisnotart.org

Friday, September 9, 2005

Neon Wall by Jeppe Hein: 21 Sep - 4 Dec 2005, AGNSW



A new contemporary art project by one of Denmark's most daring installation artists, Jeppe Hein.

"From the artist who destroyed the Johann Konig Gallery with a steel sphere hurtling uncontrollably around the exhibition space, to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is the latest International contemporary art exhibition Neonwall by Jeppe Hein.

Hein's installation is a wall of neon lights that switch off as the viewer approaches. One side of the wall is interactive. If you walk along the wall, the neon modules turn off - one after the other. As they turn on and off the light modules change from a live, healthy, humming luminescence to a dull, cloudy object but the moment the visitor leaves, all of the neon lights are restored again.

Hein's works contest the accepted conventions of viewing with their energy and playfully antagonistic dialogue between the artwork and the gallery audience. Other works, such as Bear the Consequences (2003), of a gas flame that expands as the gallery visitor gets closer, initially evoke fear and embarrassment but ultimately they fulfil Heins aim to directly engage the spectator with his work.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he attended the Royal Academy of Arts, Hein has exhibited extensively in Europe. In 2003 Hein exhibited his outdoor installation, Water Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. In the same year, Raimar Stange produced a monograph of his work, called Jeppe Hein: Take a walk in the Forest at Sunlight. This year Hein has a solo exhibition at Miami Beachs Moore Space and his work has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in both Los Angeles and Chicago. Hein is represented by the Johann Konig Gallery, Berlin, where his solo exhibition, Minimal Overload, was on show in May this year. Hein is also represented internationally by Union Gallery, London."

Details:
21 September - 4 December 2005
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Rd, The Domain, Sydney, Australia
Hours 10am to 5pm 7 days a week
Phone (02) 9225 1744 or

W: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au

Feastability- Sun 25th Sep

"On Sunday 25 September 2005, Newtown will host the annual Food and Wine Festival, Feastability, where you can select from a showcase of cuisines available in Newtown.

Now in its eleventh year, Feastability has developed into one of the most widely attended food and wine events in Sydney. You will be able to try African and Vietnamese, sample Korean and tapas, or taste modern Australian. You can tuck into baked goods and gourmet icecream or sip various red, white and sparkling wines.

Not only will you be able to taste local food, you will be entertained by local artists. This year, Feastability is working with the Local Showcase which features local acts every Thursday night at the @Newtown club. Local artists performing on the day include Itu, The Little Creatures, Katy Wren, Level One, Cellar Door, Paul the Waiter and Sascha Klave..."

When: 11am to 5pm on Sunday 25 September
Where: Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, 350 King Street, Newtown.

Public transport to Feastability is easily accessible: this includes bus routes 423, 426 and 428 while Newtown rail station is only 50 metres away.

Feastability is presented by Marrickville Council and Newtown South Main Street, and supported by @Newtown, Brown Brothers and the City of Sydney.

Marrickville Festival 2005 - 18 Sep

Marrickville Festival 2005 is on Sunday 18th September from 11am-5pm. It will be held between Illawarra and Victoria Rds. There will 3 stages offering entertainment throughout hte day, as well as food and market stalls.

W: http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/edrawer/Files/25113475/TRIM_TR_REC_747608.PDF

COFA Spring Fair including the Art Market - 10 Sep

The COFA Spring Fair is on this Saturday! The market is great as a number of emerging designers take a stall at this fair, so you get to see a lot of cool, interesting things.

W: http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/college/events/springfair/2005/about/

There are also a few free talks including:

TALK 1: Creative Integrity & Commercial Success – What’s the Formula? 1:30PM–2:15PM

"Creative individuals tend to be independent and unconventional. They are believed to possess skills such as original thought, flexibility and the ability to multi-task. The value of creative people to businesses has been a point of hot debate in recent years. How does creative thinking expand business potential? How can a creative person fulfill their own creative ambitions while also addressing the needs of a business or a market? Are there conflicts of interest? This seminar will explore the reality of dreaming-up and running successful creative enterprises.

The panel will be made up of representatives from Dinosaur Designs, Jeremyville and Design is Kinky.
Location: EGO2"

W: http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/college/events/springfair/2005/seminars/

Thursday, September 8, 2005

COFA Continuing Education 2005 Spring Program

Sydney College of Fine Arts is offering some short courses starting soon in areas like: bookbinding, jewellery design, fabric printing and more.

W: http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/college/shortcourses/

Thursday, September 1, 2005

Art ConneXions: 2 September - 1 October, Sydney


Image: Yee I-Lann The Chi'i-lin of Calauit 2005

"Shaun Gladwell (Australia), Martin Fengel (Germany), Albrecht Fuchs (Germany), Nicola Meitzner (Germany), Jay Yao (Philippines), Yee I-Lann (Malaysia)

Sensual, sinister, satirical: photomedia reflecting a range of creative connections with place made during residencies in Sydney, Manila and Kuala Lumpur by artists from Australia, Germany, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Art ConneXions is a Goethe-Institut project that connects German artists with practitioners from Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Sydney leg of the project was curated by the Australian Centre for Photography with the assistance of Sydney College of the Arts and Sherman Galleries."

When:
Tue - Sun: 11.00am - 6.00pm
Galleries One, Two and Foyer

There's also a FLOORTALK on Saturday 3 September 2005
ART CONNEXIONS
1.00pm FREE

"Sean Gladwell and Alasdair Foster discuss the opportunities and challenges of working on an international residency and the work produced during the Art ConneXions project. Initiated by the Goethe-Institut in Asia, the project involved residencies in Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Sydney for artists from Australia, German, Malaysia and the Philippines."

Image Credits:

European Masters Showcase - films


Image from Life is a Miracle film

A dynamic collection of new films from acclaimed contemporary European directors screening at a few selected cinemas for a limited time.

Films are:
Tickets by Ermanno Olmi, Abbas Kiarostami and Ken Loach (Italy/UK)
Grizzly Man by Werner Herzog (Germany/USA)
Life Is A Miracle by Emir Kusturica (Serbia and Montenegro/France)
The Five Obstructions by Lars Von Trier, Jørgen Leth (Denmark)
Time Of The Wolf by Michael Haneke (France/Austria)

Screening at:
Chauvel Cinema (www.chauvelcinema.com.au), Sydney. September 8 - 21
Schonell Theatre (www.schonell.com.au), Brisbane. September 29 - October 12
State Cinema (www.statecinema.com.au), Hobart. October 20 - November 2
Cinema Nova (www.cinemanova.com.au), Melbourne. November 10 - 23
Trak Cinemas (www.trakcinema.com.au), Adelaide. December 1 - 14

For more info on the films: http://www.madman.com.au/europeanmasters/

Kung Fu Hustle

Just saw the film: Kung Fu Hustle. It was a really great and funny in parts kung fu action movie! I'd definitely recommend it! You won't be falling asleep in this one! Stephen Chow is the writer, director, and actor for the film.

Interview with Stephen Chow in Time magazine: http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/heroes/steven_chow.html
Film website: http://www.sonypictures.net/movies/kungfuhustle/site/