Arts

Felicity Howard. The reach of the Kangaroo Art Auction which closed on Monday 31 July as part of the Maldon Inc Maldon In Winter Festival, was far and wide ... The lovely June Kiff of Reservoir Melbourne was the highest bidder of ‘Goldie’ created by the Mount Alexander Girl Guides.

HotHouse Theatre in Wodonga has debuted their most exciting touring production to-date — a scorching new play called Unprecedented — serving as an urgent alarm for the bushfire season to come.

Top Camp’s Damian McAleer is taking part in the first ever Toowoomba Studio Art Trail, a celebration of local artists that will take place over the four weekends of September. In just five years, Damian has transformed from someone who hadn’t picked up a paint brush since his youth to someone running out of space in his house for all his paintings.

John Williams. Not Houdini, but another escapologist Ray Mondel performed a "thrilling feat" off the side of the gleaming 6-year-old Noske silo in October 1925. Before a gasping crowd of 200, Mondel, known as the "Manacled Miracle" was tightly secured into a straight-jacket with four large straps and hauled feet first up some 100 feet to the top of the silo.

The face is in deep contemplation, hands in a prayer gesture. Simon Dow describes this self-portrait as “silent”; and has named it ‘No Self’ ... shortlisted along with 19 other photographic portraits for the prestigious Martin Kantor Prize.

Opera Australia brought The Barber of Seville to the outback on Tuesday night, transforming the Civic Hall for a truly unforgettable experience ... The audience was captivated as Figaro, the matchmaker/ barber, tried every trick in the book to help Count Almaviva and Rosina in their romantic pursuits.

Narrandera's talented fashion designer Lillardia Briggs-Houston has been named fashion designer of the year at Australia’s fourth annual National Indigenous Fashion Awards. These awards recognise excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion and textile design.

Port Pirie Regional Council is thrilled to announce a captivating commemorative project that will breathe life into the military history of the region. South Australian artist Sam Brooks, renowned for his extensive portfolio of public art, has partnered with his assistant Mark Harding to create a stunning mural on the side of the last remaining WW2 Belmont Hangar at Port Pirie Aerodrome.

New Yorke Peninsula arts festival GROUNDED kicked off in emphatic style with an official opening and awards night at the Brentwood Community Hall on Friday, August 11. People packed into the hall to begin nine days of open exhibitions, workshops, performances and interactive activities across the peninsula.

Whyalla City Council has released a new book showcasing its historic art collection to the public in its entirety for the first time. ‘City of Whyalla Art Collection ... the history of Whyalla’s Art Collection starting from the 19th Century to the more recent pieces created in the 2020s.

Regional Arts Australia (RAA) and Culture Counts have released new research findings on cultural tourism … The RAA Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program 2021-2022 Research Project indicates that arts and cultural activity in regional and remote Australia creates significant economic impact and community connection.

Mr Smith to you by Kerry Taylor is described as a novel based on the true story of Australian jockey Bill Smith – a life lived in secret and that’s pretty right, but there’s so much more to it. Bill Smith was a well-known jockey in the bush area of Queensland for many years in the 1940s and ‘50s. Although nicknamed “Girlie”, he was always thought to be a man until an admission to hospital when aged in his late seventies revealed the truth: Bill Smith was a woman.

Creativity comes naturally to Cassie Goodwin, who with the support of Centrecare FNQ, has taken her craft to a new level, capturing the attention of local therapists, and creating a market for hand-sewn, bright, and characterful, weighted cats ... "One of Cassie’s long-term goals was to establish a small stall of her arts and crafts so in 2019 she began sewing classes to hone her skills": Centrecare FNQ’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager Nathan Lee.

The St Arnaud Raillery Hub Gallery is delighted to present an extraordinary art exhibition, “La Dolce Vita! ... Paintings from Florence”.   The exhibition features the mesmerizing works of Hannah Sutton, and “Painting and Printmaking with Light” by Castlemaine’s Malini Lewis.

Mon Repos owners Scott and Rebecca Rowlings have given locals an opportunity to learn a new trade through their courses. While Mrs Rowlings handles the background work, her husband runs the increasingly popular workshops.

A community consultation meeting will be held in Allora later this month to discuss the proposal for an art Mural. The Allora Advertiser has received this correspondence from Margaret Baaguly who has received funding for this mural creation.

Yes, you have read correctly. Gallery Central will be holding its first-ever Posh up a Picket Exhibition in September ... Who would have thought that perhaps in some dark attic in Nhill, Picket Painting Anonymous meetings are being held?

With a legendary lineup of Australian talent, featuring James Reyne, The Beautiful Girls, Kingswood, Dragon, Ash Grunwald, Sunny Coast Rude Boys  & more,  KickAss Festival  have announced the addition of another Australian mainstay, with iconic rock band  The Choirboys joining the lineup. With  3 x ARIA Top 30  charting albums between 1983-1991,  The Choirboys amassed a cult-like following of adoring fans, with 1987’s single ‘Run To Paradise’ a track reminisced by audiences of all ages, even today.

Remember the names, Esther Elder and Adria Cunningham. While each aspires to establish a theatre career, individually their goals and passions differ, and now, beneath the wings of JUTE Theatre Company, the two emerging theatre professionals are gaining valuable experience aboard the team of its latest production, Higher Faster Louder by Marilyn Marsh-Booth.

“SUB blends the body, sound, objects and lighting to imagine a future world where humans have burrowed underground to live. “It is an incredible work for incredible times, speculating on the future of a world transforming before our eyes.”

It wasn’t just the depth of sound from a full orchestra playing live. And it wasn’t only the richness of voice from the two soloists who were guests with the Victorian Concert Orchestra which performed at the Rex last Sunday. It was also about the story of music’s connection to each generation and the part it plays in shaping lives.

Gemma Purcell. Western Riverina Arts Artist of the Month Leila Constable, of Narrandera, has been drawing, making, painting and creating literally all her life, fitting her art in and around the demands of family, work and the general business of life. "Even as a tiny kid, I’d be somewhere with my pencils looking for the horizon line, adding in the trees, the sun. That was my go-to": Leila Constable.