Arts

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.

The Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre will present a new exhibition titled In the Glow of Green by leading Australian glass artist Clare Belfrage from Friday 4  August 2023. Exclusive to the Tweed Regional Gallery, the exhibition is the outcome of Belfrage having undertaken a two-week residency at  the Gallery’s on-site studio, the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio.

A collaboration between renowned street artist Austin ‘Nitsua’ and Lawrence Public School students has produced a spectacular mural on the local water tower that tells the story of the magical eternal flow of the Clarence River winding its way through the valley to the ocean ... “Originally the ideas for the design came from the kids at the school and I incorporated their words into the finished design”: Austin ‘Nitsua’.

Held as part of the annual Laidley Spring Festival, Bee Happy Day is a free family-friendly event that showcases the magic of bees and the important role they play in our ecosystem ... One of the highlights of the morning will be a special theatrical performance called A Bee Story, featuring artists from Brisbane’s Cluster Arts.

“I was really interested in wood fired kilns so I needed space and wood - lots of it.   WA’s Great Southern region was the ideal place and I was drawn to the area’s beautiful landscape. I was, and still am,   inspired by it and I believe the energy of the landscape permeates through me and comes out in what I create”: Jonathon Hook.

Holly Throsby was a musician, singer, songwriter way before she was an author. She’d released five solo albums, toured extensively and been nominated for several ARIA awards before she shifted from writing song lyrics to writing story sentences ... Australian Rural and Regional News contributor, Serena Kirby spoke to Holly recently about her latest novel, Clarke, the writing process and asked about advice for would-be novelists.

In the 1980s, Iconic Australian synth-pop band Real Life earned widespread recognition and international success with their 1983 chart-topping synth-pop single 'Send Me an Angel'. And next Saturday 5 August, you have the chance to hear them perform live as part of the Goldfields Gothic Festival.

Narrandera film director Tim Hills and his crew of 47 are working hard to bring together their second lot of filming for ‘When the house is empty'... "We’ve got about eight to 12 weeks to really get the next winter shoot sorted out because its outside and you can’t fake it… it’s just better to still shoot in the real seasons": Narrandera film director Tim Hills.

With Year 12 students soon to begin their university applications, we thought we’d take a look at the success of one of Kerang’s former students, Glenn Thomas ... is a graphic designer in Melbourne, and he shared his graphic design journey with us, proving that kids from the country can chase and realise their dreams.