26 August 2010

Desert melodies and Smokey Bops | OR: Australian bands to check out



Kimbra is a silky-sounding New Zealander who wins my heart with a cover of the magnificent Gotye's Hearts a Mess. Also she kind of looks like b+w fashion goddess Gail Sorronda. Kimbra's music video for 'Settle Down' depicts a Stepford Wife mini-me getting tired from her husband's wander. She then sets to prove she is the perfect housewife, but her hub seems rather busy perfecting Blue Steel. Unusual name you might think, but don't confuse her with another chick I googled called Kimbra from New York, who set up a Myspace just to tell the world she is more obsessed with Twilight than your friends are.

Kimbra: on the shelf as a jazzed up version of Camille, Bertie Blackman or an upbeat Katie Noonan.



The Black Ryder are a Sydney psychodelic-reverb duo spawned from the ashes of The Morning After Girls. They have collabed with the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Brian Jonestown Massacre (yep, they're still going). Their first album 'Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride' captures this distortionic desert-melody mood that make me want to chain-smoke tiny cigarettes, wear my hair down like a curtain,  draw in a room with one poorly-lit candle, and then go attend a funeral. These things I don't usually do (for starters mum always told me never to draw under poor lighting) - but it's cool when bands conjure up imaginary sides of you. The Black Ryder's standout song Let Go excellently complemented the recent promo-video by Sydney jewelery team Maniamania.

The Black Ryders: on the same shelf as School of Seven Bells, Trailer Trash Tracys and The Jesus and Mary Chain but with five more layers of reverb.

Two other fabolous Aussie bands I'm intently repeating on disc:

24 August 2010

Upcoming Gold Coast Workshops for Artists + Creatives!


So the Gold Coast City Council have some fantastic workshops coming up designed to assist local artists and artsworkers with developing and managing their careers, projects, practice etc. These workshops are brought to you by the City Council's Creative Juices program, with the next workshops held in partnership with YAQ, Flying Arts and Artworkers. And best of all they are free beans and open to any local creative who is interested! Book early to avoid lameness. Pics found on Google Image.




16 September 2010 , Thursday| 6-7pm 
JUMP Mentorship Info Session
 JUMP is a national mentorship program managed by Youth Arts Qld, and is open to artists aged 18-30, and in the first five years of their professional practice. JUMP crosses a range of artforms, community arts and theatre to Indigenous arts, music, visual arts, dance, literature, and interdisciplinary and hybrid art. Already the largest artist mentoring program nationally, the number of places available in JUMP for 2011 will increase to 50. Applications open 30 Aug and end 22 Oct. www.jumpmentoring.com.auYAQ will be delivering an Info session for Gold Coast artists, writers, performers and other creatives who are interested in applying 
for JUMP in 2011.Southport Library, Corner Garden and Lawson Streets, Southport.
RSVP by13 Sept to jump@yaq.org.au or 1800 467 882 or (07) 3252 5115.      

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24 September 2010,  Friday |  9am-4pm
Tapping the Money Tree - How to Get Funds and Resources for Your Projects
A popular interactive grant writing workshop that will show you where to start with your grant  application, where to look for  funding and help you understand the assessment process. Participants will have the opportunity to work with RADF, Australia Council, Arts QLD, State Development and other grants as workshop templates. The workshop is suitable for artists, artsworkers and creative businesses. Facilitator: Miriam Martin Consulting. 
Broadbeach Library, 61 Sunshine Boulevard, Mermaid Waters.
 BOOKINGS FULL.

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22 October 2010, Friday | 10am to 4pm


How to Plan and Implement an Arts Project
Arts projects, big or small, require good management and careful attention to detail to be successful. Having a good plan helps to take the uncertainty out of preparation and at least some of the pain out of delivery. This workshop introduces arts workers to the principles of effective project management and explains how a little method to the madness will help to produce a better result. Topics to be covered include project management principles, making a project plan and project evaluation. At the end of the session student will understand the importance of having a plan, be able to write up a project plan and know how to go about evaluating a successful event.
Facilitator: Stephen Clark at Flying Arts. 
Robina Community Centre Conference Room, 196 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina. 
RSVP by 19 Oct to cscdc@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or (07) 5581 7508.

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6 November 2010, Saturday |  9am-4pm
How to Put on an Exhibition in Alternate Spaces or Public Galleries
Getting into the commercial gallery system is not always easy or desired and so many artists develop their own opportunities either by targeting public galleries or finding their own spaces to show their work. This workshop covers both an individual and group approach to getting exhibitions in public galleries but also on how to source and set up other opportunities – from using existing set up gallery spaces, non gallery spaces such as cafes etc to setting something up in a new space from scratch either on an ongoing basis or as a one-off. The workshop covers all stages of the project from writing proposals, developing cohesive group themed shows, effective decision making and structure of roles for artist groups, to all the aesthetics and business elements needed for a successful exhibition.Facilitator: Kevin Wilson at Artworkers. 
19 KAREN, 19 Karen Avenue, Mermaid Beach Q 4218
RSVP by 3 November to cscdc@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or (07) 5581 7508.

To receive updates on Gold Coast events, call-outs and opportunities for artists and creatives swoop by here and subscribe! 

14 August 2010

TRIPLEBEAST

Pics: 4ZZZ | Paints: Ironlak
Location: 264 Barry Parade, Fortutide Valley Q

After a 6-month call out for artists to transform the front building of 4ZZZ's headquarters into a large-scale wall canvas, the alternative-music station found their winner in Sydney artist BEASTMAN - one of the most motivated, prolific young go-getters around. BM is founder and editor of online art bible [weARE theIMAGEmakers] and also works as a designer, photographer, curator and accomplished artist who exhibits regularly (most of the time back to back) around Australia. He curates the cult annual 12x12, and has featured in Semi-Permanent, Empty, Australian Creative and, well more mags that you can poke a shelf at. He'd put Erin Wasson to shame in the ultimate slasher stakes. The above images look dazzling right, but it's another level to see the newly painted facade in person. So next time you sheepishly walk out the Den at the Valley remember to look straight across the road, and marvel at the modern splash to this otherwise mono-bland brown street (aptly matching your brown paper bag of suspect items). 5pm traffic at Fortitude never looked this indigo!


I managed to catch Beastman's solo at Gorker in Melbourne, where the walls were a dark sea-blanket holding his usual insignia of blue/pink/green oblong-dotted Beast monsters. They complimented his wall works, floating fountains of exploding geometric breastcreatures up to no good (or maybe up to no bad?) If you missed this, and love second chances, check out Brad's show with Luke Taffee at Nine Lives opening 19 August at Brisbane. 


If you desire a hardcopy flip through of the practice, check out some of today's most exciting street artitst's works in the new publication Street/StudioThis book provides an intimate (precious at times) insight into the tricky identity of Aussie street art as seen through the eyes of the talented Melbournians who compiled it:  Alison Young, Miso, Ghostpatrol and Gorker's Timba SmithsI was stoked to check out some great street art in Melbourne couple of weeks back, will post adventure pics soon. For now,  chicken-on-sale-from-Woolies awaits my hungry tum....