Brisbane FREE play readings - Seven Deadly Gins, Powerhouse, 1pm Sat 5 Sep 2009

There's a free play reading of "Seven Deadly Gins" this Saturday, September 1 2009, at the Turbine Rehearsal Room at the Powerhouse Arts Centre, New Farm - click here for a Google Map.

The play is by Queensland playwright Yvette Walker - there's a newspaper article about her where she says writing saved her life if you click here. The reading has been developed by Leah Purcell. Actor Deborah Mailman will appear in the reading.

The play is set in the Brisbane suburb of Wynnum, twenty years after the murder of Magenta's mother after a night of storytelling gone wrong. Just before she's going to be married, Magenta calls together her old friends from that night to work out exactly what happened.

After the play there will be a question and answer session with the actors and the director. The notice for the play says to come early to make sure you get a seat.

Brisbane Photos: Bridge to Brisbane fun run

The Bridge to Brisbane fun run is held every year, starting at the Gateway Bridge and ending this year at the Ekka grounds in Fortitude Valley. This year's run was held on Sunday August 30, and there are over 900 photos on Flickr already. Here's a taste.




Beginning of the fun run, at the Gateway Bridge - photo by Jesse4870




A rather fancy looking tutu - photo by definatalie (who blogs here, and you should read her blog, because it's awesome)



Vader's Fist is everywhere! Photo by definatalie. (The Australian branch of the 501st Legion, the Galactic Empire costuming group, is here).

If you want to browse the more than 900 photos on Flickr, just click here.

Brisbane Book Launches: Amy Barker's Omega Park at Avid Reader, 6.30 pm Thu Sep 3

Brisbane author Amy Barker is having her new book, Omega Park, launched at Avid Reader bookshop, 193 Boundary St, West End, this Thursday, September 3 2009, at 6.30pm (be there at 6pm). Click here for a map showing where Avid Reader is.

Omega Park is about two boys, Dingo and Jacob, growing up in a housing commission estate near Queensland's Gold Coast, and trying to deal with the horrible life they have there.

The book will be launched by Chris Nyst, the former criminal lawyer who wrote "Gettin' Square", the crime/comedy film set on the Gold Coast. The YouTube clip below shows a scene from "Gettin' Square", featuring David Wenham.

The book launch is free but you have to book - you can call 07 3846 3422 or email books@avidreader.com.au to book. The launch starts at 6.30pm sharp, doors open at 6pm so if you're going, please be there around 6.

Brisbane Anime Society Screenings: Sunday Aug 30 and Saturday Sep 12

The Brisbane Anime Society continues its twice-monthly screenings of anime this Sunday, August 30 2009, and on Saturday September 12th 2009. Screenings are at B Block, Room B119, QUT Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane City (click here for a map).

This Sunday's epsidodes are:

Kurokami, episodes 10-12

K-On! episodes 5-8

and Ghost Hound episodes 10-12

It's $3 to get in, or $2 if you're a member - it costs $10 to join and you can sign up on the day. The screening starts at 12 midday this Sunday, and please be on time as the show starts right on time.

Brisbane Photos: Chapel at St Francis' Theological College, Bishopsbourne, Milton

These photos were taken by Flickr user greenplasticdave. They are of the chapel in St Francis' Theological College, an Anglican college at Milton Rd, Brisbane (click here for a Google Map).

The college is in the grounds of Bishopsbourne, which used to be the residence of the Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, until a new residence was dedicated in Hamilton in 1964. If you'd like to take some pictures you'll need to ask permission - just contact them via the website link above.

Brisbane Photos: "The Guardian" sculpture by Cezary Stulgis

I've always liked this sculpture, and flickr user grasshopper25 has taken a nice shot of it. It's by Brisbane sculptor Cezary Sturgis.

Brisbane Photo Exhibitions: Queensland Centre for Photography, South Brisbane

The Queensland Centre for Photography has just launched 6 exhibitions which will run until September 20. The QCP is on the corner of Cordelia St and Russell St, South Brisbane - click here for a Google Map.

The picture above is from one of the exhibitions that really caught my eye, the "London Postcode Project" by Gavin Browne. Browne took a disposable camera around London, limiting himself to 3 photos in any one London postcode. Browne says the aim was:

to simply capture an idea of what defined the city at that moment, through people and place - a London largely void of the stereotypical iconography associated with it. I was not concerned with taking the 'perfect' photograph....The resulting images build a unique photo essay on this amazing city.

I  love the idea of this - just by taking an interest in Brisbane photos, I've noticed how many photos are of the same old boring things - the Story Bridge, the Wheel of Brisbane, the Riverside Expressway and so on. It must be a lot worse in London which has so many more famous things to photograph.



This photo is from the "A little bit Bogan" exhibition by Jay Cronan. "Bogan" is an Australian word for a working-class person who typically likes cars and wear tight jeans and flanellette shirts - also called "westies" or "Bevans". A rough equivalent would be "greaser" or "white trash", or "chav" in the UK.

Cronan says:

Often a term used in derogatory manner by those who are of an elitist mentality, I set out to capture the endearing behaviours of Bogans in their natural environment. I have attempted to break down the viewer's own preconceived opinions of what a Bogan is, so they are able to learn to love and embrace their own inner Bogan qualities in the hope that they will occasionally be able to set it free.

Which is a bloody good idea. Far too many inner-city types automatically hate bogans. For instance, there's a ska-hispter song played on radio station 4zzz (to which I subscribe) now and again called "Nobody likes a bogan". Admittedly, some of them aren't people you'd want to hang around with - but how about finding out out who is good and who is a closed-minded bigot BEFORE you decide they're not worth your time and effort - otherwise, you might be acting like a closed-minded bigot, no?

On Saturday August 29 at 3pm, two of the artists will be talking about their exhibitions - Peter Annand will talk about "Air, Sand, Seawater", and Glen Henderson will discuss "Percept". The talks are free but because space is limited you'll need to email the QCP by Friday August 28 to let them know you're coming. The address is admin [at] qcp.org.au

The QCP is open from 11am-6pm Wed to Sat, and Sundays from 11am-3pm. It's closed on Monday and Tuesday, and entry is free.