Wednesday 27 January 2010

Brisbane Art Exhibitions: Marina Abramovic's "Art Must Be Beautiful" at IMA, Brunswick St, Valley, Jan 30



From January 30 to 27 March 2010, the Institute of Modern Art will be displaying Marina Abramovic's 1975 video perfomance piece "Art Must Be Beautiful". The IMA's notes on the piece tell us:

Serbian artist Marina Abramovic has been called the grandmother of performance art. Her works have often involved pain and endurance. In Art Must Be Beautiful, her iconic 1975 performance-for-video, she agressively combs and brushes her long hair, teasing it up, while repeating 'art must be beautiful, artist must be beautiful'. Her voice and expression betray her pain. In watching the video, one senses that the camera has taken the place of a mirror. Abramovic's simple act is open to interpretation. It has been seen as exemplifying a feminist critique of expectations on women to be beautiful, and yet it is compelling viewing precisely because the artist is so beautiful. The work can be read as masochistic, but also as ascetic—with the artist entering a trance-like state, 'freeing body and soul from the restrictions imposed by culture and from the fear of physical pain and death'.

There's a long interview here at Bombsite magazine with Abramovic, shorter interviews here and here, and photos of some more of Abramovic's work at the Sean Kelly gallery website.

The Institute of Modern Art is in the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Art at 420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, on the corner of Berwick St - click here for a Google Map. The IMA is open from 11am to 5pm from Tuesday to Saturday. The best way to get there by public transport is to catch a 199 or 196 bus from the Cultural Centre bus station, or the 196 from stop 25 or 199 from stop 26 on Adelaide St in the City, right near Anzac Square - click here for a Google Map showing those bus stops. You can click here to use the Translink journey planner to find bus timetables.





Monday 25 January 2010

Brisbane Art: "Identity & Emotion" at Circle Gallery, Jan 29 - Feb 3





Circle Gallery is hosting an exhibition called "Identity & Emotion", opening this Friday, January 29th at 6pm. Circle Gallery is upstairs at 274 Montague Rd, West End - click here for a Google Map.



Why are you wearing that stupid man suit? by Genevieve Robey

The exhibition features the work of local artists Genevieve Robey, Sally Ryhanen, Elzunia Rejmer, Jeremy Saxon Oxley, Isabelle Falconer, Graeme Gough, Mia Manson and Richard Taourei.

Here are examples of work from some of the artists:

Sally Ryhanen:



finding my identity - this one will do for today



driven by success - click here to see this artwork on RedBubble


You can browse Sally Ryhanen's art at her RedBubble page and buy copies of it from there.

Mia Manson:





Infidelity:




No Rose Tint:




Elzunia Rejmer's scuplture Lix Tetrax's Fury:




(See more work at the bottom of the article)

The exhibition opening is at 6pm on Friday January 29th, where there will be drinks and nibbles and violinist Christine Dunaway will be playing. If you're on Facebook, there's a FB event here, and you can join the Friends of Circle Gallery group here. You can also sign up for the Circle Gallery mailing list here. Circle Gallery hires out their space to artists to hold their own exhibitions and doesn't charge commission - for more info on hiring Circle Gallery click here.

The exhibition will then be open daily up and until Wednesday February 3rd. The best way to get to Circle Gallery by public transport is to catch the 199 bus from the Cultural Centre bus station to the bus stop near the corner of Vulture St and Hardgrave Rd in West End, and walk a couple of hundred metres to the gallery - click here for the Google Map and click here to find out bus timetables using Translink's public transport journey planner.

Works by Genevieve Robey:



She didn't know if that was her heart breaking or her bra's underwire sticking in



Shattered by Pain



Hiding in the Shadows

Friday 22 January 2010

Brisbane Anime - Brisbane Anime Society screening Sat Jan 23rd @basanime

The Brisbane Anime Society is having a screening this Saturday January 23 at QUT Gardens Point campus. The screening starts at 4pm and goes to 8pm, and it costs $3 - only $2 if you're a member of the BAS; you can sign up as a member at the screening for $10. The screening is in D Block - see below for a link to a Google Map showing how to get there.

This Saturday's screening is of the movie Kiddy Grade - Ignition, which is apparently a movie version of the first quarter of the original Kiddy Grade anime.



Also showing this Saturday are episodes 1-4 of "11eyes"



You can follow the Brisbane Anime Society on Twitter, or join their Facebook group here.

The best way to get to QUT is to catch a City Cat to the QUT Gardens Point ferry terminal, then walk along Alice St, turn right past Parliament House then turn right when you get into the QUT grounds - click here for a Google Map. The other way is to catch a bus to Adelaide St in the City and walk down George St till you get to Parliament House and turn right to get to D block - you can also see that route on the Google Map. If you want to look up City Cat or bus timetables, click here to use the Translink journey planner.

Brisbane Film Making: West End Film Festival is looking for movies

The West End Film Festival is looking for Australian short films to show at the Festival on Sunday March 28th 2010 at the Rumpus Room in Russel St, West End. Films need to be submitted by Friday February 12th 2010. They say they're looking for all genres and they encourage you to enter if it's your first time making a film, and they also actively encourage "Aboriginal, queer, political, punk, experimental, and creative filmmakers".

You can download the entry form here (pdf file). I had a quick look at the terms and conditions and they seem OK (of course, I'm not a lawyer) - you don't give up your rights to your film, the festival just gets the right to use your film to promote the festival. You can also follow the West End Film Festival on Twitter, or become a fan of the Festival on Facebook.

Brisbane Art: BEAF (Brisbane Emerging Art Festival) tonight at White Canvas gallery, Fortitude Valley



Tonight, Saturday January 23rd, Vegas Spray is presenting BEAF, the Brisbane Emerging Art Festival. The festival is at White Canvas gallery, 26 Church St, Fortitude Valley from 6pm - 11pm - click here for a Google Map.

Artists include:

Jasmin Coleman:



Jasmine Coleman's "System"

Haruka Sawa

Reilly Smethurst

Tammy Law



Photo by Tammy Law published in Blueprint UK.

Nicola Morton

James Beattie

Warren Handley

Rachael Bartram

Drea Merkin

Peter Wilson

Ellen Stapleton


Ellen Stapleton's "The World Inside" - buy a copy of it on Redbubble

Clarissa Bones



"Silence" by Clarissa Bones in the "Paintings" gallery on her website.

Joshua Rufford

Lucinda Wolber

Fiona Kennedy-Altoft

Laura Bailey

Carly Kotynski

Benjamin Reeve



Benjamin Reeve's Kitty-chan, from the "Fragments" gallery on his website.

Andrew Cain

Brendan Gore

Elise Terranova (or follow her here on Twitter)



Site design by Elise Terranva for 2high Festival 2009 at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Photo taken by Yuki Nanako.

Zoe Porter



From the Cosmology album on Zoe Porter's Facebook page

Michelle Van Eps

Amanda Heelan


Anna McMahon

The best way to get to White Canvas gallery by public transport is to catch a 300, 306 or 322 bus from Stop 23 in Adelaide St in the city, and get off at Stop 6 on Wickham St in the Valley, right near the Valley swimming pool. Keep walking 50 metres or so in the same direction that the bus was going and turn left into Church St - the gallery is at number 26, on the left hand side. Click here for a Google Map showing the bus stops.

Or, you can catch a train to Brunswick St station in the Valley, walk along Brunswick St to Wickham St, then turn left and walk about 500m up Wickham St till you get to Church St - click here to see a Google Map showing the station and Church St. If you need to look up bus or train timetables, click here to use Translink's journey planner.




Thursday 21 January 2010

Brisbane Music: Vid: Anna Weatherup launching her new album "After the Storm" last night @annaweatherup

Last night I went to the Troubadour in the Valley Mall to see Anna Weatherup launch her new album "After the Storm". This vid shows her performing her song "Ova U" as part of her encore last night:




You can buy a physical CD of the new album from Anna Weatherup's online store, or if you prefer to buy online "After The Storm" is also available on iTunes. You can also find more of Anna Weatherup's music at her myspace site, and at her Unearthed page.

Anna Weatherup plays tonight, and also next Thursday January 28th at the Beach House Bar and Grill in the Myer Centre, Queen St Mall in Brisbane City. She's also playing at the Portside Wharf, in Hamilton after midday on Australia Day, Tuesday January 26.

The support acts were Hailey Calvert and Andrew Lowden


This vid shows Hailey Calvert performing her song "Chandelier" about six months ago:



And this vid shows Andrew Lowden playing with Anna Weatherup in a previous gig as she sings her song "Unconditional":

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Brisbane Art - Braidy Hughes' "the painted girl" opens at Inspire Gallery Bar Thu Jan 21 @braidyhughes



Brisbane artist Braidy Hughes is opening her exhibition "the painted girl" at Inspire Gallery Bar, 71 Vulture St West End, at 7pm this Thursday, January 21st. The exhibition runs until Wednesday January 27th.





If you're on Twitter you can follow Braidy Hughes here, and if you're on Facebook there's a FB event for the exhibition here. You can also buy cards, prints and more of Braidy Hughes' work at her RedBubble Gallery.





The Inspire Gallery Bar is at 71 Vulture St, West End - click here for a Google Map. The best way to get there by public transport is to catch a 199 bus from the Cultural Centre to stop 8 on Vulture St and walk about 50 metres to the bar. This Google Map shows the bus stops, and you can click here to use the Translink public transport journey planner.


Tuesday 19 January 2010

Brisbane Roller Derby for Men and Women - Brisbane City Rollers Fresh Meat day Sun Jan 24



On Sunday January 24th 2010, Brisbane City Rollers are holding a Fresh Meat day - a day for people (ages 18+ only, sorry) new to roller derby to come and try the sport out and see if they'd like to join a serious league. Brisbane City Rollers is unique in Queensland as they have a league for men and women - most roller derby leagues are women-only.



Brisbane City Rollers is Brisbane's newest Roller Derby League (the other two leagues are the Northern Brisbane Rollers and Sun State Roller Girls). Brisbane City Rollers train at Bundamba in Brisbane's western suburbs, on the outskirts of Ipswich.

The Fresh Meat day is from 4.45 pm - 6.45 pm, and it's $12 for the session. If you don't have skates or protective gear you can hire them for an extra $10. (You have to wear the protective gear to train).




If you're thinking of going, BCR has a heap of info on this page about what to expect at your Fresh Meat session. For more info you can also email brisbanecityrollers@gmail.com, or have a look at the Brisbane City Rollers fan page on Facebook. You can also RSVP on the Facebook event page for the Fresh Meat intake if you like using Facebook to keep track of what you're doing.

This video shows off what happened at the Fresh Meat session last September:



The Fresh Meat session is at the Bundamba Skateaway, 21 Agnes St, Bundamba, about a 200m walk from the Bundama train station - click here for a Google Map. If you need to find train timetables, click here to use Translink's public transport journey planner

(Oh, and apparently you say "Derby" to rhyme with "Herbie", not "Darby". This means you can make jokes like saying "Talk derby to me")

Monday 18 January 2010

Brisbane Impro: Prognosis: Death! returns for third season at Arts Theatre from Thu 21 Jan

Local improvised theatre/comedy group Impro Mafia are bringing their show "Prognosis:Death! Pandemic" to the Brisbane Arts Theatre from January 21. This is the third season of the Prognosis: Death! show.

The show is set at St Love Hospital, and each night's performance is based on suggestions from the audience. Impro Mafia says the show is

A cross between Grey’s Anatomy and The X-Files – with a dose of 1950s schlock horror and a good measure of fake blood


Apparently Season Two

saw St Love’s intrepid doctors & nurses battle Greek Sirens, ancient Aztec curses, drag queen aliens, voodoo puppets, phantoms and their own tumultuous love lives. What twists of fate will Season Three hold?


This video made up of photos and music from Prognosis: Death! Relapse (Season Two) shows you more of what it was like:



The show runs for six nights - Thu 21, Fri 22, Sat 23, Thu 28, Fri 29 and Sat 30 of January, from 8pm each night. Tickets are $15 for adults or $10 concession, or you buy a season pass for all six shows for $50. You can buy tickets online if you click here. If you're on Facebook there's a FB event if you click here, and you can become a fan of Impro Mafia on FB here.

The Brisbane Arts Theatre is at 220 Petrie Terrace in Brisbane City - click here for a Google Map. The best way to get there by public transport is to catch a bus to the Normanby bus station, about 500m away. Click here to use Translink's journey planner to find bus routes and timetables.

Sunday 17 January 2010

Brisbane Books - Lifeline @Bookfest - huge second hand book sale - on now till January 24th

The Lifeline Bookfest opened yesterday at the Convention Centre in Merivale St, South Brisbane, and it runs till Sunday January 24th. It's an enormous second-hand book sale which happens twice a year and it's about the best way to get your hands on second-hand books in Brisbane.



This photo by flickr user Talisen gives you an idea of just how big the booksale is. The bookfest is on from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays and from 8.30am to 8pm on weekends. If you're on Twitter you can follow the Lifeline bookfest there, or you can friend them on Facebook.

The Bookfest is at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Merivale St, South Brisbane - click here for a Google Map. The best way to get there by public transport is to either catch a train to the South Brisbane station or a bus to the Cultural Centre busway station - the Google Map shows both these stations. You can also click here to use Translink's public transport journey planner to find bus and train timetables.


Wednesday 13 January 2010

Brisbane Art: Under The Bridge by *lefica on deviantART


under the bridge by *leficia on deviantART

Just wanted to share this watercolour I found on deviantART today - from the look of the buildings and trees I think it's under the Captain Cook bridge, looking north.

I found this while looking through the recent works uploaded to deviantART that are about Brisbane.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Creepy Brisbane Photos: Snake and Spider



Green Tree Snake by Flickr user wadjin



Female Northern Green Jumping Spider (Mosus Mormon) by Flickr user mj_stevo

I found both of these photos in the Brisbanites group on Flickr, a photo-sharing website. I think they're both really creepy, and I probably wouldn't have wanted to take these shots myself. (Yes I know they're probably harmless, that's not the point, is it now?)

Click on the links below each photo if you want to see more about the animals in them.

Monday 11 January 2010

Brisbane Rocky Horror: Movie and live floorshow at the Globe Theatre, Fri Jan 15

The cult musical movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show is coming to the Globe Theatre, at 220 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, on Friday January 15th at 7pm - click here for a Google Map.

The screening includes a live floorshow by the Cards 4 Sorrow troupe: here's some examples of their work at previous Rocky Horror shows at the Globe:






A big part of the fun at Rocky Horror screenings is the audience participation - a whole family of different audience responses to yell at the screen when certain things get said have grown up. If you visit this page you'll find a link to a script showing some of the things the audience yells (although every place has its own traditions). There's also more information here. And if you know all this and want more, you might be interested in this link, where you can download songs recorded of the original 1975 Broadway production.

It's a good idea to book tickets - if you turn up at the door there's a good chance all tickets will have sold out. You can book tickets here - they're $17.50 unreserved or $30 for reserved seats. This is definitely an 18+ event only. If you like using Facebook to keep track of what you're going to, there's a Facebook event here.

If you're getting to the Globe Theatre by public transport, you can catch a train to Fortitude Valley station, walk out from the station onto Brunswick St, turn right and the theatre is literally about 100 metres away. Or you can catch a 370, 375 or 379 bus from the bus stop on Adelaide St in the city near the corner of Ann St, and get off at stop 211 on Brunswick St. You have to cross Brunswick St and then keep walking the same way the bus was going - you'll be at the Globe Theatre after only 200m or so. All these stops are shown on the Google Map, and you can use Translink's journey planner to find bus and train timetables.

Sunday 10 January 2010

Brisbane History: Exhibition on leading early Brisbanite Thomas Welsby

The Royal Historical Society of Queensland has an exhibition about Thomas Welsby on this year. Welsby was a businesssman, Ministerialist politician and sportsman (both on the field and in committees). Welsby also was the first President of the Historical Society of Queensland (as it was then) and left his library to the Society when he died; the Society's own library is named after him.

The exhibition features personal items of Welsby's such as letters, scrabooks, trophies he donated to sports clubs, journal articles he wrote, and a restored painting H Strongithearm-Wilkinson of his home in New Farm.

There's a special morning tea at the Royal Historical Society of Queensland at 10am on Tuesday January 11 to open the exhibition. Entry to the morning tea is by a gold coin donation, and if you plan to go please phone the Society on 3221 4198 so they can plan the catering properly. If you're not able to go to the morning tea, the exhibition is open from 10am to 4pm Tue-Fri until the end of 2010. The exhibition is in the museum at the RHSQ's Comissariat Store building at 115 William St Brisbane - click here for a Google Map. The best way to get there is to catch the free city loop bus from Ann St to the William St, almost directly opposite the Society's HQ - all the bus stops you'll need to know are on the Google Map, and you can use the Translink timetable finder to see times fo the free city loop bus.

Brisbane Auditions: Beenleigh Theatre Group auditions for Dusty The Musical

The Beenleigh Theatre Group is holding auditions for its production of Dusty the Musical. Auditions are on Sunday January 24th 2010, from 9.30am. You'll need to book to arrange a time for your audition - call Kiel on 0401 824 708 to do that. The auditions are at the Crete St Theatre, on the corner of Crete and Kent Sts in Beenleigh, just 250 metres from the Beenleigh train station - click here for a Google Map.

The musical needs 6 characters, back-up singers and a chorus. The requirements are pretty tight so have a good look at the info page about the auditions to work out what you'll need to do. And if you're looking for more info to help your audition go well, you might want to check out the Wikipedia article, or this YouTube vid of Tamsin Carroll singing "I Only Want To Be With You" in the original Australian production of the musical:

Saturday 9 January 2010

Brisbane Roller Derby - Northern Brisbane Rollers social skate Wed 13 Jan 7.30pm




One of Brisbane's three Roller Derby leagues, the Northern Brisbane Rollers, are having a social skating night on Wednesday January 13 2010. The skating night starts at 7.30pm and runs to 9.30pm, and it's on at Albany Creek Skateaway, upstairs at the Centro Albany shopping centre, 700 Albany Creek Rd, Albany Creek - click here for a Google Map.

It's $10 for adults and $5 for teenagers, and if you don't have skates you can hire them - the Skateaway website says it's $5 to hire skates and another $5 to hire safety gear.

If you're in the northern suburbs and wondering about roller derby this is a good way to meet some of the women involved and have a casual skate and a chat.

If you're on Facebook there's a FB event here, and you can become a Facebook fan of the Northern Brisbane Rollers here.

If you're coming from town, the best way to get there is to catch a 357 or 359 bus from stop 59 on Queen St, just before Creek St - click here for a Google Map. To find ways to get there from other parts of town, or to check out timetables, click here to use Translink's journey planner.

Friday 8 January 2010

Brisbane Photos - Pouring Rain by ~agoberg on DeviantART


Pouring Rain by ~agoberg on deviantART

I like to look at recent photos of Brisbane that have been uploaded to the DeviantART site. There's a great slideshow feature so you can sit back and watch the photos.

This one really stood out to me for some reason - it's called Pouring Rain by DeviantArt user ~agoberg. If you like it, you can buy a copy of it from the DeviantART site - remember that the prices on that page are in US dollars. Once you go to the "checkout" part of the site you can ask to see the price in Australian dollars.

Thursday 7 January 2010

Brisbane Auditions: Catch 22 at Brisbane Arts Theatre, Sun Jan 10




The Brisbane Arts Theatre is holding auditions on Sunday January 10 for a production of the play version of Joseph Heller's Catch-22, the famous satire set in a US Army Air Force bombing squadron based in Italy in World War 2.

There are 9 males and 10 females needed for the play. If you'd like to audition, call 3369 2344 to book a time - auditions will be between 12 midday and 4pm.

The auditions will be held at the theatre at 220 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane City - click here for a Google Map. The best way to get there by public transport is to catch a bus to the Normanby Bus Station on the Inner Northern busway - click here to find out bus timetables using Translink's public transport journey planner.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Brisbane Exhibitions: Call for performers, artists and musicians by 4C arts collective

The 4C arts collective is looking for performers, artists and musicians for their future Specs exhibition to be held between the 18th and 21st of February at the White Canvas Gallery in Fortitude Valley - click here for a Google Map.

The collective says their parties are "multi-art experiences that are interactive, participatory, beautifully chaotic and unlike anything else...something like a warehouse party thrown by Andy Warhol and the Dresden Dolls".

You need to get your applications in by January 11. If you're an artist you can email kate.palella@gmail.com, if you're a performer email genevieve.trace@hotmail.com and if you're a musician contact Tian on tianzhang26@gmail.com .

If you want more info there's a Facebook event if you click here.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Brisbane Photos: "Endless" - photo of a old-style brick sewer

Endless by Peter___V

I have absolutely no idea where this photo was taken, except the photographer (Flickr user Peter___V) says it's somewhere in (or rather, under) Brisbane. The photo is in the Brisbane urbex group on Flickr, which seems to be a group for people who like exploring usually unseen parts of the city.

Monday 4 January 2010

Brisbane Theatre - He Died With A Felafel In His Hand returns!



After a successful run in 2009, the play of Brisbane author John Birmningham's book He Died With A Falafel In His Hand, about the horrors and highs of share-house living, is returning to the Brisbane Arts Theatre for a short run this January. This YouTube vid made by the cast of last year's run shows you what you can expect - and just like the play, the video is NOT SAFE FOR KIDS OR WORK!



John Birmingham writes the blogs Blunt Instrument and The Geek at the Brisbane Times, his personal blog Cheeseburger Gothic is here, and his Twitter account is here.

The play is directed by Natalie Bochenski, whose blog is here. You can follow Natalie on Twitter here.

The play opened last Saturday, January 10, and will be on at 8pm on Wed 6th Jan - Sat 9th of Jan, and again from Wed 13th - Fri 15th. Tickets are $25 each or $20 concession, and you can book online here or call the Arts Theatre on 07 3369 2344. Arts Theatre members can go for only $15. The Brisbane Arts Theatre is at 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane City (click here for a Google Map). And stay tuned later this year when the Arts Theatre will present another John Birmingham book converted into a play, Felafel's sequel The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco.

Sunday 3 January 2010

Brisbane TV: Schlock Treatment presents Invasion of the Bee Girls, 9.30tonight on QCTV

Scholck Treatment, which features dodgy, trashy movies, has returned to QCTV (available on UHF channel 31 in the Brisbane area).

Tonight's terrible movie is at 9.30pm on QCTV, and it's called Invasion of the Bee Girls (that link has spoilers).

Here's the trailer:



Invasion of the Bee Girls will be repeated at 3am Monday, also on QCTV UHF-31.

Saturday 2 January 2010

Brisbane Photos: New Year's Eve Fireworks

Fire Flowers

The Best Shot


These are two of my favourite photos from Flickr of Brisbane's fireworks on New Year's Eve Both of these photos are by Flickr user EloCTre, and she's released them under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives licence, which means you can use the photos for any purpose (including commercial purposes) but you can't change the photos to use them in a new work.

You can click on either of the photos to go to their page on Flickr where you can find out more about the photo, or download it for your own use.

And if you'd like to see more photos of the Brisbane New Year's Eve fireworks, there's a slideshow below of more Flickr photos - if you can't see the slideshow, click here to browse the photos.


Brisbane YouTube: New Year fireworks videos

If you missed the fireworks on New Year's Eve on Thursday night, here's one of the best videos I found:



The video appears to have been taken from a high-rise building (a hotel, I guess) somewhere on North Quay. The language in the first minute or so seems to be Polish, but I have no idea what it says.

If you'd like to browse more New Year's Eve fireworks videos from Brisbane on YouTube, just click here.