Saturday, December 30, 2006

Graniph t-shirts at Via Alley, Darlinghurst

Via Alley Graniph

Via Alley

First came across Graniph t-shirts in Tokyo last year. They commission designers from Japan and around the world to create t-shirt designs. Love the designs.

Via Alley in Darlinghurst, Sydney are selling Graniph t-shirts for a limited time - till 31/3/07. You can go to their store, which has lots of other cool goodies like bags, toys, magazines etc, or buy the t-shirts online.

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

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Bobby Flynn, Abby Dobson, Paul Mac at the Vanguard

Bobby Flynn Wednesday 20 December 2006, 9-11pm
Abby Dobson and special guests Saturday 23 December 2006, 9-11pm
Abby Dobson and Paul Mac Sunday 24 December 2006, 9-11pm
Tim Freedman Thursday 28 December 2006, 9-11.30pm

Artists/performances not be missed!

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

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Making Public Art - 30 Nov

The topic for this month's dfactory event at the Powerhouse Museum is 'Making Public Art'.

“The power of public art to divide or unite a community could be one reason why our town planners tend to shy away from it. Nell Schofield chats to David Handley, Director of Sydney’s Sculpture by the Sea, Jane Irwin, landscape designer and Sally Gray, curator, cultural broker and artist about the challenges of creating inspiring public art.”

6pm – 6.30pm: Drinks and music in the Café with DJ Luke Snarl
6.30 – 7.15pm Making Public Art talk
7.15 – 8.30pm: Drinks and more music by DJ Luke Snarl

Where: Powerhouse Museum, Courtyard Café – enter via Macarthur Street

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

Young Blood Designers Market - 9 Dec

The Young Blood Designers Market is on again at the Powerhouse Museum.

”Following its outstanding success during Sydney Design 06, Young Blood: Designers Market returns in December to showcase Australia’s best and brightest designers and bring joy to your Christmas shopping.” Items to be sold range from fashion to furniture, jewellery, graphic, landscape and lighting products.

Where: Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street Ultimo
When: Friday 8 December, 6.00-9.00pm, Saturday 9 December, 8.00am-5.00pm

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

Watch blog

Cool watch blog site called 'the watchismo times'. Features vintage and contemporary watches. Watches are also sold on the site.

W: http://watchismo.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Pecha Kucha Volume 02 - Nov 30



"It is time for Pecha Kucha Volume 02

6:30 Thursday 30th November
Commercial Travellers Association - Under the mushroom on Martin Place

The first Pecha Kucha was the radness, so we hope to see you all again for a second helping. If you would like to present something, email marcus@gravestmor.com

A summary of the first Pecha Kucha night may be found here:
http://www.gravestmor.com/wp/archives/2006/10/09/pecha-kucha-sydney-volume-01/"

Smart works: design and the handmade - Sydney

Exhibition: 30 March – August 2007
Symposium: 30 March – 1 April 2007

"A symposium, exhibition and publication exploring the values of the handmade in the context of worldwide changes in design, manufacture and cultural identity. Smart works showcases the work of 40 Australian and New Zealand makers who design for their own production and develop local and international working relationships with industry."

The exhibition features designers' works including:
Caravana, Cathy Braid & Kirsten Ainsworth: NSW/Pakistan
Fashion, working with women’s groups in Pakistan

Aurelio Costarella: WA
Fashion, handmade from vintage fabrics

Paul Davis/Jacqueline Clayton: NSW
Ceramic tableware, one-off to production

Benjamin Edols & Kathy Elliott:NSW
Glass, one-off and production

Jon Goulder: NSW/WA
Furniture, ply and upholstered, Australia and China

Höglund Glass: Ola Höglund & Marie Simberg-Höglund: NZ/Qld
Glass, one-off and production; local employment

Akira Isogawa: NSW
Fashion, collaboration for handmade costumes for Sydney Dance Company

Jill Kinnear: Qld
Textiles, digital prints from baggage X-rays

and many others... At the Powerhouse Museum, Ultimo, Sydney

W: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/smartworks/index.asp

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Savings calculators - Money ninemsn site

W: http://money.ninemsn.com.au/saving-and-spending/tools/

Stefan Sagmeister: Can design touch someone's heart?

Another interesting article in Communication Arts November 2006 Design Annual issue titled: 'Design=Heart? Stefan Sagmeister asks design students: Can design touch someone’s heart?' Article by Carolyn McCarron Sienicki. The article is worth reading!

Stefan's course is broken down into three assignments:

1. Touch the heart of an individual.
2. Touch the heart of a community.
3. Touch the heart of humanity.

"With an audience, the wider you reach, the harder it is to answer the question. That’s why Stefan starts small and expands, illustrating how the language of communication changes and becomes less personal and therefore less genuine. “I talk to my girlfriend Anni differently than I talk to Rolling Stones fans,” he says. “The wider the audience, the more difficult it is to design for them. If your audience is everybody—from 6-year-olds to 60-year-olds, from iron workers to university professors—it becomes very difficult.” ...

To prevent students from focusing on appearances, they are not allowed to stop with the concept and a comp. They must find a way to produce and distribute their solution in the real world. Students are required to build a feedback mechanism into the project so they are able to see if people were touched by their designs. A project is successful when the audience is touched, and that determines a student’s grade. Stefan once told me that the best ideas sketched in his notebook over the years are worth nothing in comparison with the ideas he has executed and that still exist today..."

W: http://www.commarts.com/ca/coldesign/carM_329.html

50 Essential Bookmarks - Commarts Nov 06 issue

Communication Arts' Design Annual 47, November 2006 issue features an article titled: 50 Essential Bookmarks. Categories covered are: Design Community, Design Commentary, Advertising, Branding/ Account Planning, Typography, User Experience, Industrial Design, Photography/ Stock, Technology, Culture, Business and Resources.

W: http://www.commarts.com/ca/resources/res_links.html

Sydney Weblogger Meetup Sydney - Nov 23

"Who should come? Anyone interested in the local blogosphere (bloggers, blog readers, web devs, designers, newbies, non-techheads etc).

Why should people come? It's a great opportunity to meet other local bloggers, find out what's going on and do some harmless blog promotion if it takes your fancy. It's really just a great excuse to have a quiet one on a Thurs night.

When: Thursday, Nov 23, 2006, 7:00 PM
Where: Paddy Maguires Pub, George St (Cnr Hay St) Sydney 2000 (02) 9212 2111

W: http://blog.meetup.com/371/?a=cn1_cn1&gj=ej2a

Monday, November 20, 2006

Dieting will only make you fatter

"Long-term weight loss is more about lifestyle changes, and if you deny yourself food, you ultimately overeat..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/diet/dieting-will-only-make-you-fatter/2006/11/15/1163266601020.html

Missy Confidential - website listing sales

"Sale Guide is devoted to you, our fashion and lifestyle loving friends - so you'll never miss a sale. We are committed to giving you the scoop on the hottest fashion, sample-sale, warehouse clearance, health and beauty bargains in your city..." You can sign up for their free enewsletter too.

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

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Newtown Festival - Sun 12th Nov



The Newtown Festival is a fundraising event for the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. It was totally packed out! It was a humid, but slightly overcast day which was good. There was heaps of food stalls, music on various stages, and some tshirt and other merchandise type stalls. It was so busy that it was difficult to stop at these stalls and browse. The crowds of people just push you along. It was more of an event to just be there, grab some food and drink and just sit on the grass, soak up a bit of sun, listen to some music and just lay about and catch up with some friends.

W: http://www.newtowncentre.org/festival/

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Cafe Giulia - Chippendale





Cafe Giulia is one of my favourite places to go for lunch. The food's great and really refreshing, the staff are relaxed and cool, the atmosphere is just really casual and relaxed, and the prices are great too.

92 Abercrombie St Chippendale 2008, (02) 9698 4424.

Ducklings - Darling Harbour



Was walking towards Chinatown to get some lunch last Monday and saw these really cute ducklings. The mother duck (I'm assuming) jumped up, climbed up a small step and initially the ducklings couldn't do it. So they moved along where it was less steep and they kept trying and eventually one got over to join the mother, then the others kept trying and eventually they all made it. Hooray! It was so cool.

Sydney Aquarium - Darling Harbour

Sydney aquarium

Went to Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour recently. Haven't been for years. It's pretty cool! You can see sharks swimming above and around you as you walk through parts of the tank. It's all 'covered' with glass. No need for diving underwater in a metal cage to see all this or anything. Lots of other cool sea-life to see as well from seahorses to platypus etc... Definitely worth a visit. $27.50 for adults.

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

Emergent exhibition - UWS students 29-30 Nov

UWS Emergent exhibition

"Emergent is an exhibition featuring the work of graduating students from the Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) degree at the Universtiy of Western Sydney. It showcases the result of four years' hard work and celebrates our achievements, growth, rise and emergence from fledgling students to professional creatives."

Opening: Wed 29th Nov 5-9pm, Continuing: Thurs 30th Nov 9am-2pm

W: http://www.cdm.uws.edu.au/bdes06/main.html

Monday, November 13, 2006

Peter Davidson lecture at UTS - 15 Nov

Peter Davidson

"The challenges facing a contemporary architectural firm will be presented at a public lecture at the UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, at 6pm Wednesday 15 November.

Peter Davidson, co-founder of LAB Architectural Studio, will present a year of challenges through the ideas and development of some of the studio's work in 2006 in the lecture, entitled Verisimilitude: ACTUAL SIZE

"In our contemporary and emergent world, there is often the necessity and the willingness to suspend disbelief at the type of challenges asked of us as architects," Mr Davidson said.

Verisimilitude: ACTUAL SIZE will present projects varying immensely in scale, from the domestic toilet pan design through individual buildings and building clusters, to the economic and land use organization of an entire new urban centre for 150,000 people, intended to be constructed over the next four years.

Mr Davidson's presentation will also include competition winning designs for projects in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, China and Australia, and the master plan for a new sustainable city in Jiangsu Province, China.

Peter Davidson, together with his partner Donald Bates, founded LAB Architectural Studio, most known for Melbourne's contemporary civic heart, Federation Square, a project that received state, national and international design awards. He is a visiting professor at MIT in the US and an adjunct professor at UTS.

Verisimilitude: ACTUAL SIZE: 6pm, Wednesday 15 November 2006, Lecture Theatre 322, Peter Johnson Building (Building 6) Courtyard Area, UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture & Building, 702-793 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney."

W: http://www.dab.uts.edu.au/newsevents/news_detail.html?ItemId=4741&ItemDa

Magazine on a bottle

Modern Media Concepts "developed iLove, the first magazine to appear on a bottle of water and opened the beverage industry to the concept of On Product Publishing™." It won the Melbourne company the Best Label and the Best Overall Concept at the 2006 Water World Design Awards.

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

Monster skatepark - Homebush, Sydney

"Monster is the only international standard indoor outdoor ramp set up in Australia with an indoor street course and outdoor vert and mini ramps as well as a skate shop and Xbox Entertainment Lounge. Designed and built by riders for riders, Monster caters for the needs of riders of all skill levels and riding tastes...

A waiver must be completed as a condition of entry. Visit the Download Waiver page for more information."

Opening Times: 10am until 10pm, 7 days

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

Sunday, November 12, 2006

10th Japanese Film Festival - 29 Nov - 8 Dec

The Japanese Film Festival will be held at the George St cinemas in Sydney. Also showing in other States. For a list of the films to be shown and other info, go to the links below.

W: http://10thjff.jpf-sydney.org and
http://www.if.com.au/events/2006/11/10.html#item14312

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Tropfest Roughcut 2006 - 11 November

"Hosted by Sony, the event will offer you a range of industry-renowned speakers, the chance to hear from a previous Tropfest winner, and hands-on time with the latest filmmaking equipment.

Master class sessions include:
* Cinematography
* The Tropfest experience from a previous winner
* Editing
* Sound
* Script development
* Panel Q&A session"

There are only 400 places and out of the people who register to attend, 400 people will be chosen randomly to attend this free filmmaking workshop.

W: http://www.sony.com.au/objects/Other/Roughcut2006/roughcutreg2006.htm

Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 seminar - 6 Nov in Sydney

Attend the Free Adobe seminar in cities in Australia and New Zealand in October and November.

"To get in the right headspace for cracking great ideas, you need to stay up-to-date with the latest tools for expressing them.

To learn about all the new tips and tricks for the NEW enhanced Acrobat® 8 Professional with easier file sharing, InDesign®, Illustrator®, Dreamweaver®, Photoshop®, After Effects®, Premiere Pro®, and more from Adobe experts, register now for the FREE Adobe Creative Suite 2.3 Seminar."

To register and for more info go to: http://www.adobe.com/au/roadshow

Cool the globe - online petition

"Sunrise is actively fighting global warming with its campaign to COOL THE GLOBE.

We've shown how solar energy can help - with the sun able to force energy back into the electricity grid.

But our Federal Government has already slashed solar electricity rebates and is planning to phase them out completely by the middle of next year.

SIGN our on-line petition now to stop it from happening."

28,776 signatures so far.

W: http://sunrisefamily.com.au/current/petition/index.php

Thursday, October 5, 2006

Pecha Kucha night

Went to the Pecha Kucha event last Thursday night. It was held at the Commercial Travellers Association Bar, Martin Place. The atmosphere was very supportive, community spirited. The presentations kicked off around 7.30pm. Heard 11 speakers. They'd present 20 slides and there was an autoplay where each slide was up on the screen for 20 seconds. A diverse range of presenters were represented: from animation to architecture to landscape design to design publishing. Speakers included: MIke Horne - Turf Design, Kasia Wydrowski, Ove Arup, Kevin Finn of Open Manifesto. It was a fun night! Looking forward to the next one.

W: http://www.pecha-kucha.org/sydney

Portable Film Festival - until 22 October



"The Portable Film Festival is an international festival of short films just for portable devices. Sony PSPs, iPod videos, 3G phones, laptop screens, you name it. Films compete through an open vote by punters who review, argue and score the films online. And it’s all free. Sign up now to download and vote or submit your film for screening."

W: http://www.portablefilmfestival.com/

Supanova - pop culture expo 27-29 October

"Whether its Star Wars, Harry Potter, DragonBall Z, Spider-Man, Lord of the Rings, Pokemon, Transformers, Star Trek, Superman, or any other number of imaginary universes, Supanova Pop Culture Expo is the place to check these all out, and to meet many of the stars who act in, or produce, the things we love."

Where: Exhibition Hall 2, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney

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

State of Design Victoria 2006 - 4-14 October

"Commencing on 4 October, 2006, the State of Design is a dynamic program of design events, exhibitions, workshops, conferences and seminars showcasing the design of the times. At the heart of the State of Design are the Premier's Design Awards 2006, recognising and rewarding innovation and achievement across all disciplines of Victorian design...

The State of Design 2006 is dedicated to promoting a better and broader understanding of design; its contribution to the economy, as a professional service to local and international manufacturing, education and tourism, retail, communications and entertainment whilst enhancing Victoria's cultural identity..."

W: http://www.stateofdesign.com.au
Events calendar: http://www.stateofdesign.com.au/events_calendar_keydates.php

Walking - a life and death issue - 19 October

"This free public seminar by the Australian Institute of Urban Studies (NSW) will look at the concepts of 'walkability' and 'liveability'.

Planning and environment experts will be joined by speakers from City of Sydney and the state government in a discussion on whether our love of cars is killing our cities. Or are we seeing a 'tipping point' towards more active transport and liveable/walkable communities evidenced by belated awareness of 'peak oil' issues, a return by some to central city living, a disernable reversal of the decline in public transport patronage and an acknowledgement of the public health crisis of obesity?

The discussion will be preceded by a showing of the recently released documentary film 'Contested Streets - Breaking New York City Gridlock' which compares New York traffic past and present with approaches in Copenhagen, Paris and London."

Where: Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay, Sydney
When: 19 October 2006 3-7pm (Doors Open 2:30pm)

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=16158

Fernside Skate Competition - 22 October

"An annual skateboarding competition at the new Waterloo Oval Skate Park. Young pro-am skaters compete for cash prizes and sponsor products, with break-dancers, DJ's and emcee's adding to the energy of this highly contested competition.

SOUTH SYDNEY YOUTH SERVICES is calling for sponsored and non-sponsored skaters to register for the 2006 FERNSIDE SKATE COMP held on Sunday October 22nd at Sydney's newest skate park - the Waterloo Oval Skate Park, Elizabeth St Waterloo."

The Fernside Skate Competition is park of the City of Sydney's Danks Street Festival, held on the same day at Danks Street Waterloo.

Where: Waterloo Skate Park, Cnr McEvoy and Elizabeth Streets
When: 22 October 2006 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Doors Open 9:00 AM)

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=15929

Sydney Food and Wine Fair - 28 October

"More than 100 of Sydney's leading restaurants, cafes and winemakers will whip up their signature dishes, heavenly desserts and open their finest wines to raise money for the AIDS Trust of Australia."

Where: Hyde Park bounded by College, Elizabeth, Liverpool Streets
Sydney Food & Wine Fair 2006, 28 October 2006 12- 5pm.

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=16099

Walking the Street - King St art exhibition 7-22 Oct

Walking the Street (WTS) has been an annual event since 1991 and art works are displayed in the shop front windows along the south end of King St, Newtown, Sydney. "WTS aims both to raise the profile of emerging artists and community art groups and to involve the broader community in a celebration of the artistic endeavours and cultural diversity of the Inner West."

W: http://www.ar.com.au/~iwcs/WTS.html

Possible Worlds - Sydney's Canadian Film Festival - 30 Nov-6 Dec



"Taking place November 30th - December 6th 2006 in Sydney, the first annual Possible Worlds Film Festival will run a week of Canadian film premieres, talks, Q&A's, workshops & parties.

Welcoming prestigious Canadian filmmakers to Sydney, the Festival provides a rare chance for Australians to watch the best new Canadian films and meet the artists.

The recently renovated Chauvel Cinema in Paddington hosts the event, with a selection of films going on to tour across Australia.

Why Canada? Find out when we unleash the best new features, docs and shorts made north of Hollywood. Discover a cinema both familiar and refreshingly different! Highlights include the Australian premiere of acclaimed Quebec drama "Familia" (Best Canadian First Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival).

Documentary highlights include graffiti travelogue "Next: A Primer on Urban Painting", Douglas Coupland's exploration of cultural identity "Souvenir of Canada", and Ron Mann's "Tales of the Rat Fink", a colourful portrait of counter-culture icon Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth.

Possible Worlds is also a unique chance to catch the best shorts from Toronto's Worldwide Short Film Festival, talks, filmmaker Q&A's, parties and our mad Kino Kabaret workshop."

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=16053

Possible Worlds website: http://www.possibleworlds.net.au/

The Festivalists blog (The Festivalists are a Sydney-based non-profit organisation dedicated to the production of film festivals and touring programs. This is our mission in life. This is our blog. Welcome to the family!) : http://www.thefestivalists.com/blog.htm

Walk to work day - 6 October



"Walk to Work Day is an event to promote regular walking and physical activity. It is an annual, national event in which the community can become involved in a healthy and environmentally friendly activity.

The aims of Walk to Work Day are:
To promote regular walking as a healthy activity (better physical, mental & social health)
To reduce the reliance on the private motor vehicle (reduce car-dependency)
To promote and improve the use of public transport (less traffic)
To improve air quality by reducing unnecessary vehicle emissions (reduce global warming)

How to participate:
You can be a Walking Class Hero on Friday 6 October 2006 by simply walking all or part of the way to work. Use public transport and get off the bus, train, tram or ferry a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way. Or take a half-hour walk at lunch-time. And where possible, walk up stairs. But, PLEASE, leave the car at home. If you have to drive, leave the car at least a kilometre or two from your destination and walk the remaining distance."

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=16156 or

Walk to Work Day website: http://www.walk.com.au

Danks St Waterloo Festival - 22 October



"Danks Street, Waterloo, has rapidly become one of the city’s most exciting precincts. Full of art galleries, cafes and restaurants, it’s groovy, accessible and fun. Come down on Sunday 22 October, to celebrate the second Danks Street Festival and take part in all the festivities. Check out exhibitions at some of Sydney’s most prestigious galleries. Or, find yourself a bargain at the Festival Artists’ Market, where local artists could well be selling the masterpieces of the future.

Live music from Martini Club, Waiting for Guiness, The Donovans and Johnny G and the E Types will have you up and dancing. Or chill out to DJs Stevie G and Lady Tre..."

Community buses will be running from 10:30am to 4:15pm every 15 minutes from Redfern station and other stops within the Redfern Waterloo area. For more information visit www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/whatson.

Danks Street, Waterloo, Sunday 22 October, 11am–4pm

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/artandabout/ExhibitionsEvents/DankStreet.asp

Primavera 2006 - 13 Sep-19 Nov

Primavera 2006: Exhibition by young Australian artists
13 September - 19 November 2006

"Now in its 15th year, Primavera is the MCA’s annual exhibition of work by young Australian artists. This popular series was inaugurated in 1992 by Dr Edward and Mrs Cynthia Jackson, in memory of their talented daughter Belinda. It has since come to play a significant role in profiling emerging artists from across the country, bringing their work to the attention of a broader public.

Primavera 2006 will be curated by Aaron Seeto, former curator of Gallery 4A, Asia-Australia Arts Centre, Sydney, who is also a practising artist..."

W: http://www.mca.com.au/default.asp?page_id=10&content_id=1941

Melbourne Design Market - 3 December

"Each year during the Melbourne Design Festival in July, a popular one day design market takes place. Due to popular demand, a second design market will take place on 3 December, 2006.

The market features emerging and established designers, design retailers, businesses and design institutions. Products for sale range from jewellery to graphic art products, homewares to fashion, and much more...

To be held again at Federation Square under cover car park, the experience will be complete with fine foods and coffee for all to enjoy, plus the wonderful products and ambience that have made this event such a popular success."

Sunday 3 December 2006, 10am - 5pm
Federation Square, Under Cover Car Park (Enter via Riverside Walk or Russell Street, Melbourne)

W: http://www.nationaldesigncentre.com/index.php?c=170

Sketches of Frank Gehry

Sketches of Frank Gehry

Have read a bit about the 'Sketches of Frank Gehry' film. Definitely want to check it out. Sounds really interesting.

"Director Sydney Pollack has made his first feature length documentary on the acclaimed architect, Frank O. Gehry.

The two men have been friends for many years, and Pollack completed the film over a period of five years, starting in 2000.

Frank Gehry loves to sketch; it is the beginning of his architectural process. And it is his love of the sketch that gave Pollack his first clues to the style of this documentary film. Beginning with Gehry’s own original sketches for each major project, the film explores Gehry’s process of turning these abstract drawings, first into tangible, three-dimensional models, often made simply of cardboard and scotch tape, then into finished buildings of titanium and glass, concrete and steel, wood and stone.

To capture the sketch quality in the documentary, Pollack uses a combination of film and Mini DV (digital video) as his media. Spending countless hours in Gehry’s studio, on building sites, and in his home, this unobtrusive and quiet shooting style has captured, for the first time, the essence of Gehry’s unique architectural process, and his shy and elusive personality..."

Hopscotch Films: http://www.hopscotchfilms.com.au

W: http://www.sonyclassics.com/sketchesoffrankgehry/

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Big-Picture Innovation - 10 October

The next NSW KM Forum talk is on Tuesday 10th October

Stimulating Innovation amongst Multiple Stakeholders in Society - Alastair Rylatt, Director, Alastair Rylatt Consulting & Dr Suzanne Benn, Senior Lecturer, UTS

WHAT: Learn how leading organisations stimulates greater commitment to knowledge and innovation amongst their stakeholders in society. Enhance your reputation and skill in knowledge management by discovering about the latest research and thinking in this field.

Topics to be discussed:
* Emerging challenges in knowledge management and innovation
* Latest thinking on stimulating commitment and engagement
* Innovative ways to engage stakeholders in society
* Latest research and case studies
* Open Forum

WHO: Alastair is director of Alastair Rylatt Consulting and one of Australia's leading thinkers and facilitators in modern business management. His clients have included Australian Institute of Management, Kelloggs, NSW Department of Housing, NSW Treasury , Qatar Telecom, Parramatta City Council, and Roche Products. Alastair has written four books, the latest of which is "Wining The Knowledge Game". Dr Suzanne Benn is a biochemist and social scientist with research interests in multiple stakeholder collaboration for sustainability, the integration of human and environmental corporate sustainability and sustainability in business education. She is the co-author of "Organisational Change for Corporate Sustainability".

WHEN: 5.30 for 6pm Tuesday 10th October
WHERE: Standards Australia, 286 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
HOW MUCH: Free!

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by e-mail to: nswkmforum@gmail.com

W: http://www.nsw-km-forum.org.au
(Event not posted on their website yet. Info from email newsletter)

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Tom Dixon talk at the Powerhouse museum - 18 October

You can now book tickets for UK designer Tom Dixon's talk at the Powerhouse museum! It's on Wednesday 18 Oct 2006, 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo.

W: http://livemusic.moshtix.com.au/record.asp?lEventID=9931&caller=moshtix&

Popcorn Taxi: Fast Food Nation + Q&A with director Richard Linklater

The Truth is Hard to Swallow - Fast Food Nation + Q+A on-stage with director Richard Linklater.

Thursday, October 5th, 2006 - 7:30pm

"Popcorn Taxi presents a preview screening of FAST FOOD NATION, a no-holds-barred, dramatic exploration of the fast food industry that ultimately reveals the dark side of the 'All American Meal.' The screening will be followed by an exclusive on-stage conversation and audience Q&A session with the film's director Richard Linklater (SLACKER, DAZED AND CONFUSED, BEFORE SUNRISE).

Inspired by author Eric Schlosser's New York Times best-seller of the same name, FAST FOOD NATION examines the health issues and social consequences of America's love affair with fast food. The plot centres around Mickey's, the most popular fast-food chain in America, and 'The Big One', their the top-selling burger that put them on the map. When the higher-ups at Mickey's corporate offices learn that the frozen meat patties used to make the wildly popular burger have somehow been tainted with contaminated meat, they send marketing executive Don Henderson on an urgent mission to find out why. It's not long before he begins to realize just how dangerous convenience can become when it leads to blissfully ignorant complacency. The film features an all-star cast that includes Greg Kinnear, Ethan Hawke, Kris Kristofferson, Patricia Arquette, and Luis Guzman.

Self-taught writer-director Richard Linklater was among the first and most successful talents to emerge during the American independent film renaissance of the 1990s. Typically setting each of his movies during one 24-hour period, Linklater's work explored what he dubbed "the youth rebellion continuum," focusing in fine detail on generational rites and mores with rare compassion and understanding. Linklater's breakthrough film was SLACKER (1991). Made for just $23,000 the film is an insightful, virtually plotless look at 1990s youth culture that became a favourite on the festival circuit, with the term "slacker" becoming a much-overused catch-all tag employed to affix a name and identity to America's disaffected youth culture. Linklater's other films to date include DAZED AND CONFUSED (1993), BEFORE SUNRISE (1995), WAKING LIFE (2001), THE SCHOOL OF ROCK (2003), BEFORE SUNSET (2004) and the soon to be released A SCANNER DARKLY (2006).

Popcorn Taxi would like to thank DENDY FILMS for their support in making this program possible. FAST FOOD NATION is released in cinemas nationally on October 26th. For more information on the film or to view the trailer, check out the official web site.

Seating is very limited - book early to avoid disappointment!

POPCORN TAXI
THIS FILM IS YET TO BE CLASSIFIED:
ENTRY: 18+ ONLY

Time : 7:30 pm
Date: Thursday, October 5th
Where: Greater Union Bondi Junction
Address: Level 6, 500 Oxford Street, Westfield Bondi Junction
Entry: $20/$17

To buy tickets: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=POPCORNTAXI&organ_val=22564&schedule=list

Event info: http://www.popcorntaxi.com.au/Events.asp?Event_ID=478

Good Food Month 2006

The SMH Good Food Month is on again in October! Events include outdoor food markets like the night noodle markets at Hyde Park, the Sydney food and wine fair, lunches at top restaurants, desserts at top hotels and more.

W: http://www.gfm.smh.com.au/

Healthy lunch snacks? Mars offers better diet

Article in SMH: "Children would be better off sitting down to a big fry-up for breakfast than eating some commercially produced muesli bars, so loaded are they with fats and sugars.

A test found seven were so laden with kilojoules that a Mars Bar presented a healthier breakfast alternative..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/healthy-lunch-snacks-mars-offers-better-diet/2006/09/25/1159036472167.html

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Communication Arts - Interactive Annual 12 winners

The Communication Arts Interactive Annual is now out in hard copy and the 34 winning websites are featured online as well. Winners include: Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects website (http://www.kpf.com) and Fernando and Humberto Campana's website (http://www.campanas.com.br).

W: http://www.commarts.com/ca/interactive/cai06/

Earthdance, Sydney Park 19 September

Earthdance

Went to the Earthdance event at Sydney Park last Sunday.

Earthdance was started by Australian Chris Dekker in 1996. "Today, Earthdance is a global movement which unites socially and environmentally conscious people in more than 50 countries around the world in a celebration of peace and community. Each year the event raises a significant amount of money for charities, the work of which supports the achievement of Earthdance objectives."

W: http://www.earthdance.org.au/

dfactory talk - Inspired Buildings - 28 September

"Is that a bubble or a building? Nell Schofield talks to three experts who are using powerful computing and incredible engineering to make the impossible possible in architecture."

When: Thursday 28 September, 6.00pm – 8.30pm. Talk starts at 6.30pm.
Where: Powerhouse Museum, Courtyard Café – enter via Macarthur Street

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

Pecha Kucha Sydney - 28 September

DARCH will present the Sydney leg of the Tokyo based Pecha Kucha.

Vol.02 will be held on Thursday 28th September 2006 - at The Commercial Travellers Association Bar, basement of the MLC mushroom at Martin Place, starting at 7pm.

"Pecha Kucha is an open forum of ideas, a slidenight for architects, designers, students, anyone with something creative to share. To keep things snappy, each presenter is given 20 seconds to present 20 slides."

forwarded email says to rsvp to: darch@raia.com.au by tuseday 19.09.06

W: http://www.pecha-kucha.org/sydney

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Sustainable House Day - 9 + 10 September

"This ANZSES community event enable you to visit sustainable houses in Autralia and New Zealand! (Saturday and Sunday in some areas, check House Locations for details)

Ticket prices: Family; $30, Single; $20, Concession family; $15 Concession single; $10, ANZSES members; free - join on the day!

Sustainable House Day tickets are available in all the open houses that you visit. Your ticket gives entrance to all the houses during the all week end - no need to book in advance.

Be inspired by some of Australia's and New Zealand's most beautiful homes when they open to visitors on Sustainable House Day. All homes feature passive solar design and some also have active solar features."

W: http://www.solarhouseday.com/

Good Food Guide Awards

The 2007 Good Food Guide Awards have been announced. You can see who got one, two and three chefs hats.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/good-living/2007-winners/2006/09/04/1157222070830.html

Daryl Hannah's vlogs



Daryl Hannah has produced 16 weekly video blog episodes on green topics, available for viewing at her website. These include: bio diesel, vegan junkfood, green building, hemp, bike culture, and beeswax.

I read an article on her living a green lifestyle titled 'The Power of Green' in the Australian Financial Review 19-20/8/06 issue.

I like the idea of how she's just gone out there and produced these videos and then put them online for people to watch. It's simple and effective. No need for mega budgets etc.

W: http://www.dhlovelife.com/

COFA Spring Fair - 9 September



COFA (College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales) is the college's annual celebration of art, design and multi media.

Events and activities include:
+ Digital Media and Animation screenings: 10:00am – 3:30pm
+ Fine Art & Design Market: 10:00am -3:30pm
+ Sculpture Garden: 10:00 - 3;30pm
+ Interactive Drawing Wall: 11:00am –1:00pm
+ Cicada Press Printmaking Demo: 10:30am – 11:30pm

Where: corner of Oxford St & Greens Rd in Paddington, 10am - 3.30pm for most things.

W: http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/newsevents/events/event_0002.html

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Tom Dixon talk - 18 October

Tom Dixon

"Hear Tom Dixon speak about his work at his only public appearance when he's in town to present the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award. Tickets on sale soon - stay tuned for further details and subscribe to Design e-news from the Powerhouse for updates." 18th October, 6.30pm.

News from Sydney Design 06 News - enewsletter from 28/8/06

W: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com

Tom Dixon's website: http://www.tomdixon.net

Momoyo Kaijima of Atelier Bow-Wow talk - 31 Aug



"Tokyo-based husband and wife duo Atelier Bow-Wow – Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Momoyo Kaijima – continue to challenge the concept of traditional Japanese architecture with their quirky, space-friendly designs. Coining the term ‘pet architecture’ to define their practice, they are well known for creating small structures that fit into previously overlooked spaces.

This special event coincides with Object Gallery’s Window exhibition of Atelier
Bow-Wow’s manga pod, on show until 5 November. As part of Rapt! 20 Contemporary Artists from Japan, a project organised by the Japan Foundation as part of the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange 2006, Object Gallery presents Atelier Bow-Wow for the first time in Australia.

Momoyo Kaijima will be speaking on Atelier Bow-Wow’s unique vision for domestic living.

Momoyo Kaijima, Atelier Bow-Wow
Keith Burrows Theatre, University of New South Wales
Thursday 31 August, 6.00pm
Free admission

Object Gallery Window
manga pod: Atelier Bow-Wow
2 September – 5 November

W: http://www.architecture.com.au/i-cms_file?page=5428/AtelierBowWowUNSW.pdf

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Sakura Japanese restaurant

The Departed movie



Infernal Affairs was on SBS on last Saturday night so I watched it again. It's a great HK movie starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau.

Martin Scorsese is directing the Hollywood version of it starring Matt Damon and Leonardo di Caprio. It will be titled The Departed. The storyline is set differently but the theme is pretty much the same.

"The Departed is set in South Boston, where the state police force is waging war on organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Billy is quickly gaining Costello’s confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit.

Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the gangsters and the police that there is a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy — and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself."

Hopefully, those who watch the Hollywood version will want to watch Infernal Affairs as well, if they haven't seen it already. It's a great film.

W: http://thedeparted.warnerbros.com/

Australian release date for the movie according to Dark Horizons is 6th October: http://www.darkhorizons.com/releasedates.php

Infernal Affairs: http://www.infernalaffairs.com/ and http://www.miramax.com/infernalaffairs/

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Paddington markets and Woollahra

Went to the Paddington markets last Saturday. Lots of clothing, soft furnishing, jewellery, handbag, art, craft and food stalls. Lots of hand-sewn and hand-printed items for sale. I liked the stall that sold Chinese stone stamps. He would carve out your name in Chinese for $10. You also buy the Chinese words for happiness, wealth, health, longevity etc. Sweet Little Treats was there. They were selling their cute softies, fabric buttons and bags. The markets are a great place to visit.

We then walked around Woollahra a bit just up the road from Paddington. Walked along Moncur St and a few other side streets. Lots of cafes, fine food delis, art galleries, clothing and furniture and design stores.

Had lunch at Caffe Quattro Passi at 8 Elizabeth St, Paddington. It was nice casual Italian food. Very good value too. We tried the pumpkin, roasted vegetable turkish bread and the arancini with salad. The hot chocolate was really nice and the chocolate milkshake came in the large metal cup they use to make it in. That's very rare these days. Usually cafes serve milkshakes in a small glass. All for $23. They had a outdoor covered courtyard area as well.

Visited the RG Madden design store, Jones the Grocer - bought some yummy white chocolate rocky road and pistachio and cranberry nougat to have later, and they also have a walk-in cheese room!, and a few other stores.

RG Madden: http://www.rgmadden.com.au
Jones the Grocer: http://www.jonesthegrocer.com
Simon Johnson: http://www.simonjohnson.com.au/

Sydney Open 2006 - 5th November



"The Historic Houses Trust is once again proud to present your city when Sydney open returns for 2006. You are invited to view inside over 50 buildings, most of which you may have only admired from the outside..."

There are also the Focus tours program which "provides more in-depth access to private and fragile properties. In most instances architects or owners lead these exclusive tours."

Properties that are 'open' include: Deutsche Bank Place, St Margaret's Urban Village, JPW Studio, Bates Smart Studio, FJMT Studio, Hassell, Australia Square, The Bond and many others.

W: http://www.hht.net.au/whats_on/sydneyopen

Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Ultimo



Photo taken 12/8/06 on the day I visited the Young Blood Designers Market.

The City of Sydney council is building a new aquatic centre in Ultimo. It will be named after Ian Thorpe.

"Housed in a distinctive wave-form building designed by Harry Seidler, the new centre will include: heated 50 metre pool, leisure pool with spa, hydrotherapy pool, sauna café, fitness centre. It is anticipated that the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre will open for the 2006-07 summer swim season."

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Residents/SwimmingPools/IanThorpeAquaticCentre.asp

Monday, August 21, 2006

Rapt! Japanese artists' exhibition - Sep to Nov



"Rapt! 20 contemporary artists from Japan is an ambitious program of exhibitions, residencies and public events showcasing contemporary Japanese art in Australia. Developed by the Japan Foundation in the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange, it is based on cross-cultural research and discussions by Japanese curators, Shihoko Iida, Fumihiko Sumitomo and Yukihiro Hirayoshi, and an Australian curatorial advisory group led by Philip Brophy, Max Delany, Stuart Koop and Kathryn Hunyor. Rapt! is remarkable in its scope and commitment, becoming the largest collaborative arts project ever undertaken in Australia, involving twenty organisations developing different facets of the one project.

Rapt! presents a significant rethinking of the character of contemporary Japanese art and culture. Rather than conform to traditional stereotypes of Japan, Rapt! highlights new modes of communication which have developed over the past decade in Japan to enable direct connections between individuals and the rest of the world. The work of various contemporary artists suggests a new Japanese identity is emerging based on the renegotiation of traditional practices and influences..."

W: http://rapt.jpf-sydney.org/

Synapse exhibition - 8-23 August



Creativity, imagination and a poetic mind-set

"Using himself as a tool, abstract Japanese calligraphy artist Masahiko Nakayama creates meditative black and grey-toned forms which express the world around him. Although an “advanced” calligrapher with strong technique, Nakayama’s approach to his work is completely unconventional. Rather than simply use the standard calligraphy brush he will often experiment by substituting “tools” from nature such as a tree branch or blade of grass, to form his characters. Because these tools don’t allow the use of traditional techniques, the forms are more simplistic and prone to chance. It is this element of chance and the deeper meanings found in nature, which highly interest Nakayama and provide the philosophy behind his work.

The theme of this exhibition is “connections”. It refers to the connection between our thoughts and feelings, between human beings and the universe and between one another. To communicate this connection Nakayama uses the ripples of water and rain as his metaphor. In addition to the hanging scrolls adorning the walls, the space will be filled with handcrafted Japanese umbrellas and white cylindrical shapes decorated with Nakayama’s abstract forms."

This exhibition is at The Japan Foundation, Level 1, Chifley Plaza, 2 Chifley Square, Sydney.

I went to the exhibition last Thursday. It was really interesting. I liked the layering of calligraphy with collage and the 'nature' theme in Masahiko Nakayama's work.

W: http://www.jpf.org.au/02_events/synapse/synapse.htm

Masahiko Nakayama's website: http://www.geocities.jp/studiomasart/web/entrance.html

In your face: contemporary graphic design 5 Aug - 5 Nov


Image: Steve Scott

"Intelligent, irreverent and witty, Australian graphic design is out there making its mark globally. For this major exhibition of contemporary Australian graphic design, sixteen unique case studies unravel the creative process as they are juxtaposed against works from the Powerhouse Museum’s 20th century Australian graphic design archive.

Featuring alternative and mainstream design for new media, motion graphic, animation, music-video and web design, as well as large-scale super graphic and billboard design, comic, poster, book, magazine and character toy design, and even tattoo art, the exhibition is a sweeping look at graphic design in action.

Designers in the spotlight are Fabio Ongarato Design, Vince Frost of Frost Design, Steve Scott, Soap Creative, Josh Roelink of Tatudharma, Chris O’Doherty (aka Reg Mombassa), Carby Tuckwell, Voice, 3 Deep Design, Nathan Jurevicius, Boccalatte, Deuce Design, Qube Konstrukt, Crumpler, kwp! Advertising and Streetwize Communications."

You can also read some of these designers' profiles online.

W: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/exhibitions/inyourface.asp

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Workshopped exhibition - till August 19

Workshopped exhibition

Images: TL - Nicholas Karlovasitis' 'Loose Change' chair, TR- Eric Siu's 'Twist Chair', and B- Zoe MacDonell's 'A Chair Less Ordinary'.

The Workshopped exhibition features 28 designers' work from around Australia. This year's brief was Finding Function in the Form.

"In a world where function is often lost to form, WORKSHOPPED 06 asks designers to consider design which has both function and form. Including the elements of: purpose, utility, quality, durability, comfort, and desirability.

WORKSHOPPED 06 looks for design that considers the issues relating to production, whether limited or mass production and irrespective of production method. And most importantly design that might be desired, taken home and lived with!"

Designers' work featured are: Adam Goodrum, Amy Cunningham, Arnold + Lane, Craig Harris, Danny Cheung, David Knott, David Moses, Dennis Abalos, Donald Holt, Donald Corey, Eric Siu, Frag Woodall, Gary Galego, Henry Wilson, Ilan El, Jo Philippsohn, Jonathan Everett, Keith Melbourne, Lana Alsamir, Lauren Babula, Matthew Conway, Matthew Harding, Nicholas Karlovasitis, Niklavs Rubenis, Tasman Wallworth, Tim Foster, and Zoe MacDonell.

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

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Monday, August 14, 2006

UK pensioner is YouTube's new star

Peter, a pensioner from the UK, has posted 7 videos on YouTube. He has received "79,000 viewings and 6,500 subscribers, putting him at the top of the most-subscribed list on YouTube in the past week." His username is geriatric1927.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/grey-fever-hits-youtube/2006/08/14/1155407706104.html

Peter's videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=geriatric1927

The top 10 quirkiest hotels

"Across the world you can spend the night in a hotel made of ice, a castle that used to be a jail, or a resort with a huge indoor water park, indoor ice rink, indoor golf course and indoor roller-coaster."

Article in the SMH listing the Top 10 quirkiest hotels as nominated by TripAdvisor.com.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/hotels/the-top-10-quirkiest-hotels/2006/08/11/1154803070071.html

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/

Change what you eat to slim down

RealAge tip: "If you're trying to lose weight, for heaven's sake don't starve.

Instead, change what -- not how much -- you eat, so you walk away from a meal feeling full, not frustrated.. Instead of a wedge of berry pie, have a whole pint of juicy strawberries. In other words, cut calories and fat, not portions. It works, say scientists..."

W: http://www.realage.com/news_features/tip.aspx?v=1&cid=17053

Living ourselves to death

SMH article: "The closer science looks, the more links it finds between lifestyle and long-term ailments...

A wide-ranging national health study of Australian women published last year found the average young woman puts on five kilograms over seven years while she is in her 20s, typically before she has even started having babies. AusDiab 2, a large study of patterns of diabetes in the community, found women and men put on an average 14 kilograms between age 25 and 50..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/living-ourselves-to-death/2006/08/13/1155407675077.html

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Young Blood Designers Market

Sydney Design 2006

Went to the Young Blood Designers Market at the Powerhouse Museum this afternoon. It was a great event! There were over 60 stalls of young designers showing and selling their work.

Images: tl- Jess Lee of imoko; tr- Ann Lightfoot and Tracey Lamount of bird; 2l- Ro, Julse, and Ange Foong from High Tea with Mrs Woo; 2r: Tanya and Karen Kopac from red ruby; 3l: Ann Lightfoot and Tracey Lamount of bird; 3r: Rachel Bending from Bird Textiles; bl and middle: red ruby clothes; br: High Tea with Mrs Woo display.

Some designers that were featured included:

High Tea with Mrs Woo: made up of three sisters Rowena, Juliana and Angela. They're based in Newcastle. Their creations are really beautiful and have an Asian influence. Their website is great too. w: http://www.highteawithmrswoo.com.au

Jess Lee of imoko: tactile curiosities + clothing concepts. Jess' clothes are really creative pieces using a mix of different fabrics. e: tactile-curiosities@hotmail.com

red ruby who are made up of sisters Tanya and Karen Kopac: stencil cut designs, limited ed. silk screen prints on handmade clothing. Loved their designs. You can also find their clothing at the Glebe markets, Glebe Point Rd, on Saturdays. e: redrubypost@yahoo.com.au

bird who are made of Ann Lightfoot and Tracey Lamount: hand painted bags and t-shirts. w: http://www.birdhouse.com.au

Everythink: Dieu Tan is a photographer and makes really funky pieces of furniture and lighting. w: http://www.everythink.com.au

Naomi Bishops of Gaptoothgirl is a filmmaker and textile designer. She makes beautiful woollen scarves, ponchos, jewellery and more. Cool website too. w: http://www.gaptoothgirl.com

Bird Textile: Rachel Bending has just released a new clothing label called Bird. She's also behind the eco meets retro Slingfings label. w: http://www.birdtextile.com, http://www.slingfings.com.au

Pipwilly: lampshades, cushions, artwork. w: http://www.pipwilly.com

imok: cool, funky graphics on tshirts and accessories. w: http://www.imok.com.au

There are still lots more events as part of Sydney Design 2006 - 5th - 20th August.
W: http://www.sydneydesign.com.au

Sick cities

SMH website / feature on Sick cities. Some very interesting articles and video clips on modern life and the effect it's having on us.

"The way we live is killing us. We're crammed into cities working longer hours and busier lives, commuting more and exercising less, eating more takeaways and less fresh food.

And our modern lifestyle is taking its toll. This generation of children may die younger than their parents as a result of their weight gain. It's an urban disease being felt around the world. Our physical health is starting to degrade. The body, overfed and under-exercised, stacks on weight. The extra kilos unlock diabetes, kidney disease and cancers. Psychiatric illness is also on the increase as we struggle to be first in the rat race. Our chronic health epidemics, obesity in particular, have been widely noted.

This series looks at how our bad health is the logical result of a lifestyle we have collectively adopted. Work, food, suburbs - the fundamentals of our lives - are no longer in harmony with the human body and Now we're paying the price..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/multimedia/sickcities/main.html

Thursday, August 10, 2006

North Sydney Bus Shelter and Canopy Entrance competition

North Sydney Bus Shelter competition

"The Competition is an ideas generation process initiated to attract a number of architectural design concepts for the development of new bus shelters for Miller Street in North Sydney CBD and canopy entrance to the Greenwood Plaza/North Sydney Railway Station...

The competition intends to spark debate in the community about design, inspire creative thinking and encourage the concept of design to be viewed from different perspectives.

Design submissions were received from local, interstate and international entrants."

The winner was: Hannah Tribe and Marcus Trimble

W: http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/www/html/4242-winners-bus-shelter-and-canopy-competition.asp

Marcus Thimble's blog which has more information and images of the project:
http://www.gravestmor.com/wp/archives/category/projects/

Marcus Thimbe's main blog: http://www.gravestmor.com/wp/index.php

15th Biennale of Sydney - till 27 August

"The 15th Biennale of Sydney, organised under the conceptual framework ‘Zones of Contact’, will feature 85 artists and collaborations from 44 countries.

‘Zones of Contact’ is about the spaces people live in and move between. It explores the spatial dimensions of cities, settlements, territories, the land and home – places where people encounter one another and other cultures."

"The 2006 festival will be held at over 16 venues and sites throughout Sydney including the three principal venues; Pier 2/3 at Walsh Bay, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Museum of Contemporary Art."

W: http://www.bos2006.com/

Akira Isogawa designer rugs

Akira Isogawa

Designer Rugs commissioned Akira Isogawa to design a limited edition collection of rugs and the designs were launched in September last year. They're really cool looking rugs!

This year, Designer Rugs commissioned Dinosaur Designs to design some rugs.

W: http://www.designerrugs.com.au/rugs.php?id=8&type=1

Designer Rugs: http://www.desigerrugs.com.au

Sunday, August 6, 2006

Popcorn Taxi: Kevin Smith in conversation + Clerks II - 22 Aug

Kevin Smith

"Popcorn Taxi in association with Roadshow Films invites you to join legendary cult film Director Kevin Smith in conversation, following the Australian premiere screening of his latest film Clerks II.

One of the most unique voices to emerge during the American independent filmmaking renaissance of the 1990s, Kevin Smith burst onto the movie scene in 1994 with his low budget comedy Clerks, a hilariously scabrous look at American consumer culture, littered with pop culture references conveyed in coarse but snappy dialogue. Made for $27,000 dollars, collected from parents, credit-card advances, and the sale of Smith's beloved comic book collection, the film was launched at the Sundance Film Festival, and soon became a classic in the cinematic sub-genre of 'slacker' movies.

Smith followed up Clerks with Mall Rats (1995), Chasing Amy (1999), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) and Jersey Girl (2004), many of which feature actor Jason Mewes and Smith himself as the characters 'Jay' and 'Silent Bob', two idle stoners who pop up for added comic relief.

Clerks II checks back in on the lives of 'Dante' and 'Randal', the two convenience store slackers from the first film, who lose their jobs when a fire burns the strip mall to ashes. The buddies are forced to don uniforms and man the counters at Mooby's, a fast-food restaurant whose supremely irritating bovine mascot also appeared in Smith's Dogma. The film stars Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson and Rosario Dawson, with cameos by Jason Lee, Ben Affleck, Kevin Weisman, and the triumphant return of New Jersey’s inimitable duo Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith). You can read more about Kevin and the film below.

After the Australian premiere screening of Clerks II, Kevin Smith will take to the stage for an exclusive 90 min, uncensored, no-holds-barred, one-on-one conversation with the audience, about his career, his passions, his “boring-ass life” and everything in between.

Don't miss what will be your only chance to hear Kevin Smith speak in Sydney, and share with him his passion for making films. Tickets for this event will go on sale via Ticketmaster at 9am next Monday morning (August 7th). The full details on how to buy a ticket will be announced shortly!"

POPCORN TAXI
Clerks II + Kevin Smith Q&A
Rated: MA 15+

Time : 6:30 pm (for a 7pm start)
Date: Tuesday, August 22nd
Where: State Theatre
Address: 49 Market Street, Sydney.
Tickets: $35

To buy tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au
Or via calling Ticketmaster on ph 13 61 00
Or over the counter at one of the many Ticketmaster outlets.

W: http://www.popcorntaxi.com.au/Events.asp?Event_ID=471

Rhodes Phoenix restaurant - yum cha

Rhodes Phoenix Restaurant

Rhodes Phoenix Chinese Restaurant opened in the Rhodes shopping centre a few weeks ago. Went there for yum cha last week. The tables are spaciously laid out and the interior features a chocolate and rich red colour scheme. It looks very rich, dark and luxurious. It has a nice intimate, modern feel. The food's nice but the dishes could probably have been kept hotter if they wheeled the food around in the food warmer trolleys.

The Phoenix restaurants are also located in Skygardens in the city, Castle Hill and Manly.

Rhodes Phoenix: Level 5, Rhodes Shopping Centre, 1 Rider Boulevard, Rhodes.
Ph: 02 9739 6628 or 1300 883 892.

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

Thursday, August 3, 2006

Adobe Live! conference now up on the web

"Last week we held the inaugural Adobe Live! events in Sydney and Auckland. This is the first time this free two day conference has been staged outside Europe.

The event was hugely successful and we look forward to creating a similar event in 2007.

For all of you who were unable to make the actual event, videos of all of the presentations can now be accessed online in flash format via the following link:"

W: http://www.streamx.com.au/adobelive/2006/index.htm

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Matali Crasset talk: 17 August, Sydney

Matali Crasset

Matali Crasset: hospitality, generosity, technology

"Paris-based designer Matali Crasset will share her fascinating perspective on design at the Powerhouse Museum as she delivers the international keynote lecture for Sydney Design 06.

Matali Crasset is an award winning industrial designer with work stretching across a broad range of mediums including interiors, graphics, objects, furniture, wallpaper and electronic products.

Using bold graphic conventions, Matali’s designs are provocative, playful and fun. She explores notions of domestic and urban spaces while gently questioning and challenging the way we live our lives. Her highly philosophical approach to design encourages us to reconsider how we engage with our environment, subversion is at the heart of her practice.

“I’m interested in thinking about other possibilities. Not necessarily to change the world, that’s not my goal, but to present another alternative for living. That alternative might be more contemporary and it might reflect a greater awareness or fit more with what we have in our heads.” says Crasset.

After graduating from the École Nationale Supérieure de Création, Matali worked on design and architecture projects with Italian designer Denis Santachiaria in Milan. She then returned to Paris and was soon taken under the wing of design luminary Philippe Starck who she worked with for five years at Thomson Multimedia and then Tim Thom, Thomson’s design centre. In 1998 she set up her own design studio, a multidisciplinary practice with a mix of industrial, graphic and interior design.

Matali’s interior design projects range from the HI Hotel in Nice the Red Cell advertising agency in Paris, an apartment in Beijing and the renovation of an 18th century palazzo in the Italian city of Padua. Her work has been exhibited internationally in public museums such as the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Fond National d’Art Contemporain, the Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Francesco Capelo collection, Lisbon. Most recently her work was shown at the Milan Furniture Fair 2006 and she currently has a solo exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design in New York."

Thursday, 17 August 5.30pm for 6.30pm
Powerhouse Museum, Coles Theatre
500 Harris St. Ultimo
Cost: $35/30 members & concession (includes refreshments, museum entry and exhibition viewing).
Bookings essential (02) 9217 0222, moshtix.com.au

W: http://www.sydneydesign.com.au/sd06/?s=program&id=5

Lost Bears flickr group

Photos of lost bears.

W: http://flickr.com/groups/lostbears/pool/

TED Talks

"Each year, TED hosts some of the world's most fascinating people: Trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses. The talks they deliver have had had such a great impact, we thought they deserved a wider audience. So now - with our sponsor BMW and production partner WNYC/New York Public Radio we're sharing some of the most remarkable TED talks with the world at large. Each week, we'll release a new talk, in audio and video, to download or watch online..."

W: http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/

Fashion blogs

Article in the SMH on fashion blogs titled: 'Let slip the blogs of wore'.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/fashion/let-slip-the-blogs-of-wore/2006/07/26/1153816248787.html

Book review: Hello Laziness

Hello Laziness

Hello Laziness by Corinne Maier. Book review by Harvey Chan.

(Bonjour Paresse)
If you are someone who has corporate aspirations, really motivated and loyal do well for your firm, then this is not the book for you.

This international bestseller really took Europe by storm. Its a witty, intelligent, irreverent wake up call about whats going on under the covers in a big corporation. Its not even 'work smarter, not harder', more like 'Work harder at not working at all'!

Corinne Maier is a part time economist for Electricite de France(EdF), her book sets about tearing away at the idealistic view of the machinations of a company, its management, and their loyalty to their people, and replacing it with a much darker, more cynical view of the motives behind corporate activities.

She starts rather gently, telling you flat out that corporations don't care about you. She touches on some lighter topics like the 'language of business' and how
to decode it, to warnings to individualists to get out while they can, identifying types of managers and fellow workers, then dives deeper and deeper in the subtleties of corporate culture like 'corporate strategy' or 'ethics'. Even the IT department doesn't escape her acid analysis - she has a whole section set aside for them.

But don't think that this book is whimsical and shallow. The author has reinforced her analysis with facts and figures to structure and defend her argued conclusions. And she doesn't just tell you how bad things are, she often provides (subversive) views about everything, and methods to avoid or fight them. She's not afraid of drawing inspiration from a range of eclectic sources to describe things, using quotes and analogies from the likes of other significant books in this anti-establishment genre, such as No Logo: No Space, No Choice, to Globalization and its
Discontents, to of course, The Dilbert Principle. The author is French, so there is an intriguing list of French material cited in the book.

In conclusion, The book reads like Harvard Business Review version of Dilbert, and is worth a look for an offbeat intelligent read, perhaps to be offered an alternative perspective on business, and perhaps to compare notes with what you have already learnt - just don't let your manager catch you reading it.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

What Kind of Genius Are You?

Article on Wired online. "A new theory suggests that creativity comes in two distinct types – quick and dramatic, or careful and quiet...

Galenson "has found is that genius – whether in art or architecture or even business – is not the sole province of 17-year-old Picassos and 22-year-old Andreessens. Instead, it comes in two very different forms, embodied by two very different types of people.

“Conceptual innovators,” as Galenson calls them, make bold, dramatic leaps in their disciplines. They do their breakthrough work when they are young. Think Edvard Munch, Herman Melville, and Orson Welles. They make the rest of us feel like also-rans. Then there’s a second character type, someone who’s just as significant but trudging by comparison. Galenson calls this group “experimental innovators.” Geniuses like Auguste Rodin, Mark Twain, and Alfred Hitchcock proceed by a lifetime of trial and error and thus do their important work much later in their careers. Galenson maintains that this duality – conceptualists are from Mars, experimentalists are from Venus – is the core of the creative process. And it applies to virtually every field of intellectual endeavor, from painters and poets to economists..."

W: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.07/genius.html

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Street-smart innovators - 27 July

"Business Review Weekly’s recent “Innovation” issue highlighted an important truth: “Successful innovators don’t need to be big, they just need to THINK big.”

This month LTC treats you to two highly successful, remarkable young innovators who did just that:

Anthony Bell, Bell Partners — BRW’s “No. 1 Most Productive Firm” and “10th Fastest-Growing Firm”. At just 35, this industry leader is a popular advisor to many of Australia’s highest-profile businesspeople and celebrities.

Bahar Etminan, Brandmakers – The press call her “The Cosmetic Queen.” A stand-out young entrepreneur, Bahar runs a leading cosmetic distribution company and has become a formidable force in the beauty industry.
Both are excellent presenters, with a wealth of experience to help you grow your business and career..."

W: http://www.lastthursdayclub.net/nextevent.asp

Comedian Russell Peters

Article in SMH: "Most Australians have never heard of Russell Peters, but if the Canadian-Indian comedian is worried by his low profile in the mainstream media, he isn't letting on. Without any advertising, Peters, who has built a cult following thanks to the video clips of his stand-up shows that circulate on the internet, has managed to sell out four shows at the Enmore Theatre. All the tickets went within four hours and he has hastily arranged a return visit in December. "I say that the people decide who the stars are these days - the media has nothing to do with it," he says..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/a-funny-way-to-get-a-cult/2006/07/10/1152383678516.html

Adobe Live 2006 - free 2 day conference

Adobe Live 2006 - Learn it. Live it. Love it.

Sydney 17&18 July | Auckland 20&21 July
"Featuring presentations by our Worldwide Evangelists:

Alan Rosenfeld (Creative Suite) | Greg Rewis (Studio 8) | Jason Levine (Production Studio)

..Creating breakthrough experiences with Creative Suite, Studio 8 and Production Studio. With Macromedia's software now part of the Adobe solution we know you have questions. Hear about technology workflows and developments that will help you differentiate your communications now and in the future..."

W: http://www.adobe.com/au/adobelive

Monday, July 3, 2006

Phillip Adams podcasts

"Admitted Luddite Phillip Adams has a new regard for technology since discovering his Radio National program Late Night Live consistently leads the ABC podcasting chart. The program is downloaded to computers or portable MP3 players 100,000 times a week..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/07/01/1151174437778.html

Sunday, July 2, 2006

Them's the Breaks

"Made to Break reveals the roots of our throwaway culture.."

W: http://www.grist.org/advice/books/2006/06/29/grossman/index.html

ICollect short films - Canberra and online

"From July 1 - 31, 2006 12 NOISE artists will have their fantastic short films on bizarre collections screened at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra...

Icollect is a dozen short films exploring artefacts, memories and objects."

W: http://www.noise.net/feature-display.asp?id=30

The World's Most Innovative Companies

"Their creativity goes beyond products to rewiring themselves... To discover which companies innovate best -- and why -- BusinessWeek joined with The Boston Consulting Group to produce our second annual ranking of the 25 most innovative companies. More than 1,000 senior managers responded to the global survey, making it our deepest management survey to date on this critical issue..."

Innovative companies include: Apple, Toyota and Virgin.

W: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_17/b3981401.htm

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Two views on trends in public and academic libraries

ArchNewsNow interviews two leading architects, Mark Schatz of Field Paoli and Ed Dean of Chong Partners, based in the States, on library design trends.

"Both architects talk about the renewed roles that all kinds of libraries have to play in our civic life..."

W: http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature194.htm

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Hurry up and slow down

"For most of us, fast, mass architecture is (broadly speaking) ugly, while slow, organically grown architecture looks picturesque or even beautiful. We loathe concrete jungle and new estate alike. We love Tuscan hill towns, Celtic fishing villages and untouched Kentish hamlets. But is it slowness that generates (what we see as) beauty? Or does our nostalgia for apparently slower times erupt as aesthetic experience?..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/elizabeth-farrelly/hurry-up-and-slow-down/2006/06/27/1151174197851.html

4 Entrepreneurs featured in SMH

Article in SMH titled 'Lone Wolves': "Samantha Leader talks to four up-and-comers who set up their own businesses - Eugene Tan (http://www.aquabumps.com), Katie Roberts (http://www.groper.com.au), Peter Crocker (http://www.petercrocker.com.au/), Juniper Sikora (http://www.juniper.au.com/).

Tired of bullying bosses, pointless projects and crowded commutes? Working for yourself could be the answer. Of the 1.25 million small businesses in Australia, nearly 75 per cent are operated by one person, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics..."

W: http://radar.smh.com.au/archives/2006/06/lone_wolves_1.html

Kilojoules, kilograms and killer diets

"There's nothing like going on a diet to make you realise the world's become a conspiracy to make us fat. It's certainly helped me understand why so many of us have a weight problem. We're presented with temptation wherever we look. Whether you're running a supermarket, a food store or a restaurant, it's only ordinary business sense to make your product as enticing as possible..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/ross-gittins/kilojoules-kilograms-and-killer-diets/2006/06/27/1151174197848.html

Monday, June 26, 2006

Article on cinematographer Dion Beebe

Article in the SMH on cinematographer Dion Beebe. His work includes: winning an Oscar for Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago, Collateral, and Miami Vice.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/how-did-that-oscar-get-there/2006/06/22/1150845292222.html

NSW KM Forum - Know Your Market - 4th July

"Know Your Market - Eloise Lindsay, Market Intelligence Manager, Zurich Financial Services Australia

What: How can organisations better understand the markets they work in & the competiton they face? How does cultural analysis interplay with technological and systems analysis to create a high-performance research service? In order to answer these questions, Eloise will draw on her experience creating a market intelligence service from scratch within a high-pressure financial services environment.

Who: Eloise currently works as Market Intelligence Data and Services (MIDAS Manager) with Zurich Financial Services Australia where has designed and rolled out a company research service platform and database. Previously, Eloise was employed as Knowledge Services Manager by Wolters Kluwer Asia Pacific where she created a company-wide research service and database where none existed previously within a very short time-frame by redeploying existing intranet and electronic document managements systems."

When: 12.30 - 1.30 Tuesday 4th July - PLEASE NOTE TIME!
Where: Standards Australia, 286 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
How Much?: Free!

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by e-mail to: nswkmforum@gmail.com

W: http://www.nsw-km-forum.org.au/wiki.pl?NextMeeting

Buffett to give $54b to charity

"Buffett, 75, pledged in an interview with Fortune to give away 85 per cent of his stock - worth more than $54 billion - in his Berkshire Hathaway investment firm, starting in July..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/buffett-to-give-54b-to-charity/2006/06/26/1151174098161.html

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Organic Expo 2006 21-23 July

Organic Expo

At Exhibition Hall 3, Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Friday 21st July 2006 2.00pm – 6.00pm (Trade Only)
Saturday 22nd July 2006 9.00am – 6.00pm
Sunday 23rd July 2006 10.00am – 5.00pm

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

You've got to find what you love - Steve Jobs

"This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005" to Stanford University graduates.

"I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories..."

It is a really great speech. Well worth reading, listening to, or watching!

Text version: http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

Audio version in mp3 and aac formats: http://www.wiredatom.com/jobs_stanford_speech/

Video version from the itunes music store for free(link from wiredatom.com). There are other lectures and speeches at this link also: https://deimos.apple.com/WebObjects/ITCSBrowse.woa/wa/Browse/StanfordPublic-1770144-1770146--1770159--13566653_25658415?i=1106939093

Saturday, June 24, 2006

ten[d]ancy - Artists & curators: in conversation - 9 July

"Curated by Sally Breen & Tania Doropoulos ten[d]ancy is part exhibition, part intervention. Eight contemporary local and international artists – Gary Carsley, Shaun Gladwell, Hannah Furmage and Jonathan Jones working individually, and Claire Healy, Sean Cordeiro, Martin Blum and Simone Fuchs working collectively – were invited to develop site-specific installations which engage critically with the history, architecture and colonial structures – both social and political – that inform the Macleay family home, ‘the finest house in the colony’.

The curators will engage in conversation with each of the artists, unpacking the diverse and often complex ideas and concepts that inform the installations commissioned for ten[d]ancy.

Elizabeth Bay House | Sunday 9 July | 2pm - 3.30pm | Free with museum entry | Bookings not required"

See also related ten[d]ancy events at the link below.

W: http://www.hht.net.au/museums/ebh/exhibitionswhats_on

1 painting every day - blog

Jeremiah Palecek from the Czech Republic completes 1 painting a day and you can purchase these.

"The 1 painting every day blog started on may 8th 2005. Here you will find a new oil painting which I have finished every day. For this painting blog I intend on creating imagery from digital mediums, although occasionally I do more classical imagery. All paintings are for sale, email the title and date of the painting you are interested in, and I ll let you know the price. Smaller paintings begin at 100 dollars US. I hope to inspire others to do a painting a day..."

W: http://jeremiahpalecek.blogspot.com/

The Voice of Pod

Interesting article on podcasts and vodcasts (video casts) in the SMH with a few interesting links listed. "Homemade audio and video shows are making a big impact on the internet as their audiences grow around the world..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/home-audio/the-voice-of-pod/2006/06/21/1150845243193.html

Friday, June 23, 2006

Young blood: designers market - 11-12 August

Young blood: designers market

"Part of Sydney Design 06, 10th International Design Festival, 5 – 20 August 2006

After the enormous success of last year’s inaugural Young Blood: Designers Market, this year’s event returns for an extended two days during Sydney Design 06.
The Powerhouse Museum’s Level 3 courtyard will once again be transformed into a veritable feast for the senses, with over 60 stalls, plus food, refreshments and entertainment. Young Blood showcases original design, from fashion to furniture, jewellery, graphic, product, landscape and lighting design, and gives visitors the opportunity to meet the makers and talk about their work. The inaugural markets in 2005 proved to be a great launch pad for many designers who benefited greatly from the exposure and sales.

Calling all designers interested in applying for a stall
Download the entry form and return your application to the Powerhouse Museum.
This is your chance to get noticed in a high profile festival environment.

Entry closing date: 7 July
Email enquiries to: youngblood@phm.gov.au"

W: http://www.sydneydesign.com.au/youngblood/

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Noise On Screen Ep 1 - June 27 and July 4

Noise On Screen

Meet six of Australia's most inspiring young artists.

NOISE on Screen Episode One
10pm this Tuesday night, June 27 on ABC TV

Featuring: Lang Leav, Dane Lovett, Anna Pogossova, Taz & Nick, Eugenia Lim & Neil Rabinowitz

Catch NOISE on Screen Episode Two next Tuesday, 10 pm, July 4, ABC TV
NOISE on Screen is a 2 part series on ABC TV profiling talented young artists.

W: http://www.abc.net.au/noise

Monday, June 19, 2006

Basix

Article in the SMH titled: 'Get the Basix right'. "The State Government is reviewing its guidelines for sustainable housing..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/property/get-the-basix-right/2006/06/07/1149359784264.html

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Desperate tenants in bidding wars

"Sydney's rental market has become so competitive that desperate house hunters are being forced to bid against each other to secure a lease. Critics say those with more money benefit and the auctions are not transparent...

- Last year median rents across Sydney increased by $20 a week.
- In January, vacancy rates fell to a five-year low of 1.7 per cent.
- Sydney's median rent in the March quarter was $300, up 3.4 per cent from the December quarter."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/desperate-tenants-in-bidding-wars/2006/06/16/1149964746442.html

Clearskin wines cheaper than water

Article in SMH titled: 'Cheers - at this price wine may as well be water'

"Water into wine? Why bother when in Sydney next week you can buy a bottle of 2003 chardonnay or a 2002 shiraz-cabernet for less than many leading brands of bottled water..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cheers--at-this-price-wine-may-as-well-be-water/2006/06/16/1149964746445.html

Bill Gates bids leisurely farewell

"WASHINGTON: Three decades after founding the most influential US technology company, Microsoft's chairman, Bill Gates, plans to step down from day-to-day work to focus his energy full time on the $US29 billion ($39 billion) foundation he started with his wife 12 years ago..."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/06/16/1149964736750.html

Architecture lecture: Stefan Korschildgen - 22 June



UTS: Leading Architect Lecture - by Stefan Korschildgen

"For the first time in Sydney, Stefan will present work from his Architecture and Design Practice Kalhoefer- Korschildgen, Cologne, Germany. His innovative practice pursues adaptable spatial environments and systems, promoting interpretive user functionality through flexible infrastructure. The work seeks to challenge the common frozen architectural outcome."

Free admission
Date: 22 June 2006
Time: 6-7.30pm
Location: University of Technology Sydney, Peter Johnson Building, Building 6,
Level 3, Room 322, 702 Harris Street Ultimo
Contact Steve Hatzellis phone: 9514 8782

W: http://www.dab.uts.edu.au/newsevents/event_detail.html?ItemId=3740&ItemDate=2006-06-22

Stefan Korschildgen Website: http://www.kalhoefer-korschildgen.de/

Friday, June 16, 2006

Snowyfest International Film Festival - 16-18 June

"Our purpose is to encourage and support the wide range of filmmaking talent in Australia (and particularly the capital region) and to encourage the sharing of new film ideas, styles and skills from overseas with the Australian community..."

W: http://www.snowyfest.com

Harry Seidler Tribute Exhibition - 29 June - 6 August

"The life and works of Australian architect and design icon Harry Seidler will be showcased at an exhibition presented by the City of Sydney and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

A tribute to the architect who died in March this year, the exhibition will be presented in Harry Seidler's distinct style. The multimedia exhibition will engage visitors in the vision and legacies of one of Australia's leading architects of the modern movement.

Held at Customs House, Circular Quay, from 29 June - 6 August, the exhibition will include films, wall panels, models and tributes from his admirers. It will reveal the many facets of Harry Seidler; mentor, father, artist, photographer, social commentator and activist.

The exhibition will highlight a range of seminal works such the Rose Seidler House, Blues Point Tower, and Australia Square. There will also be a tribute to international buildings including the Australian Embassy in Paris, the Hong Kong Club in Hong Kong, and Wohnpark Neue Donau in Vienna..."

What: Harry Seidler: A Tribute
Admission: Free
When: Thursday 29 June - Sunday 6 August 2006
Where: Customs House, Sydney, 1 Alfred Street, Circular Quay
Times: Weekdays - 8am - 7pm, Saturdays - 10am-4pm, Sundays - 12pm - 4pm

W: http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/html/2971-harry-seidler-tribute-exhibition.asp?orig=Home

Customs House: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/customshouse/whatsOn/soon.html

Craftfair - June 14-18 Sydney

The Sydney Craftfair is being held at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour. Other States' and New Zealand's dates are listed on the website.

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

Thursday, June 15, 2006

City Talk - What makes cities great? 20 June

"Two leading architecture and urban design experts will speak on the topic "What Makes Cities Great" at a free City Talk on 20 June 2006 at the City Recital Hall.

Director of Design and Culture at the City of Melbourne, Professor Robert Adams, and Chairman of Hassell, a successful design and planning practice, Ken Maher, will discuss the public domain in Sydney and Melbourne and explore examples of public space in other leading world cities.

The free City Talks presented by the City of Sydney and The Sydney Morning Herald, are designed to stimulate discussion on our urban environment.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP will introduce the speakers and media presenter Adam Spencer will MC the session.

Both speakers are leaders in the field of architecture and urban design:

- Professor Robert Adams has received over 65 state and national awards for excellence. He has over 30 years experience as a practising architect and urban designer. He will discuss how beautiful and sustainable cities develop and must be based on good urban design.

- Mr Ken Maher is also a Director of the Green Building Council of Australia and has received many international and national awards including the 2002 Sulman Medal for the redevelopment of Sydney's National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA). Mr Maher will discuss how design can make cities better places to live, work and play."

City Talks are free, however bookings are essential.

20 June 2006 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

City Recital Hall Box Office Tel: 8256 2222 or
http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=CITYRECITAL2&organ_val=21763&pid=5779932

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=13947