Cult ure A NIGHT WITH BRIAN
The Life of Brian is one of the funniest of the Monty Python collection. They deliver a scathing, anarchic satire of both religion and Hollywood’s depiction of all things biblical in this, their second film, originally released in 1979. Set in 33AD Judea, where the exasperated Romans are trying to impose order, it is a time of chaos and change with no shortage of messiahs and followers willing to believe in them. At its centre is Brian Cohen, born in Bethlehem in the stable next door, who by a series of absurd circumstances is caught up in the new religion and reluctantly mistaken for the promised messiah, providing ample opportunity for the entire Monty Python ensemble (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) to shine in multiple roles as they question everyone and everything from ex-lepers to Pontius Pilate, the art of haggling, revolutionaries, crazy prophets, religious fanaticism, Roman centurions, and crucifixion, forever changing our biblical view. But remember – he’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy! Palace Byron Bay is screening this classic satirical masterpiece on Thursday 18 April at 7pm. A perfect pre-Easter treat! Tickets $15–20 available at the cinema or online at www.palacecinemas.com.au.
LUMINOUS AT THE LONE GOAT Luminous at the Lone Goat Gallery celebrates the study of light by artist Colleen DaRosa. Her works in encaustic, plexiglas, and with paper offer a palpable experience of light at play. She is particularly concerned with the impact of what she identifies as slow light on an object… the way natural ambient light is constantly changing its effect on a work. DaRosa’s paintings highlight the translucence and lustrous quality of encaustic medium. Her plexiglas sculptures exhibit radiant surfaces, glowing spaces, and flashing edges. At night, these works operate as glowing objects of dynamic colour when lit by LED lights. In her relief paper sculptures DaRosa seeks to amplify the presence of ambient light in pools of colour. Her show opens on Friday 26 April at Lone Goat Gallery and runs through until 15 May.
ARCHIBALD COMES TO LISMORE! PRESTIGIOUS AND CONTROVERSIAL, THE ARCHIBALD PRIZE IS AUSTRALIA’S FOREMOST PORTRAITURE PRIZE. AWARDED TO THE BEST PAINTING OF A NOTABLE AUSTRALIAN, THE ARCHIBALD PRIZE IS A WHO’S WHO OF AUSTRALIAN CULTURE, FROM POLITICIANS TO CELEBRITIES AND FROM SPORTING HEROES TO ARTISTS.IN A COUP FOR THE REGION, LISMORE REGIONAL GALLERY WILL HOST THE 2018 ARCHIBALD PRIZE, THE FARTHEST NORTH IN AUSTRALIA THE NATIONAL TOURING SHOW WILL BE EXHIBITED. Finalists in the 2018 Archibald Prize, including the winning portrait Selfportrait after George Lambert by Yvette Coppersmith, will be on display at Lismore Regional Gallery from Wednesday 18 April till 16 June. Yvette Coppersmith will be in Lismore to open the exhibition at a ticketed Gala Event on Wednesday. BRETT ADLINGTON, THE DIRECTOR OF THE LISMORE REGIONAL GALLERY, SPOKE WITH THE ECHO. Q: What is the process for being one of the regional centres that shows the travelling Archibald exhibiton? A: It’s obviously a competition to host the Archibald Prize – so generally there is an annual regional gallery director wrestling match – and this year I won! The other way it works is that the Art Gallery of NSW, who host and tour the Archibald Prize, essentially share it around the regions to venues that have the capacity to show it. Geographical spread is considered, as is the amount of time between venues.
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We’re next scheduled to have it in 2025; I would imagine other Northern Rivers galleries may be having it in some of the intervening years. Q: How many regional centres in NSW is it shown in? A: This tour the exhibition is being shown in three regional centres (Tamworth, Orange, and Lismore), and at Geelong Gallery in Victoria. Generally there has always been at least one Victorian venue. Q: Is it the complete exhibition including the Packing Room Prize or just a selection? A: Yes, the entire show will be on display here – more than 50 portraits. Q: Why do you think the Archibald Prize has such prominence in our art scene and what is the public appeal? A: I think a key reason that the Archibald Prize has such prominence is the number of high-profile faces and what constitutes a ‘portrait’. Australia also tends to be known internationally for its love of art prizes.
– as when you look at other countries there does not seem to be the plethora of prizes that we have. Perhaps it’s our, and the media’s, obsession with sport that has turned it into the one guaranteed news event of the year for the arts. It’s no surprise then that the Art Gallery of NSW delights in using the ‘the face that stops a nation’ tagline. Then there is also our increasing obsession with celebrity that keeps the Prize current. Q: What is the key to a good portrait, do you think? A: A good portrait stops you in your tracks – and offers you information about who the sitter is. But more than that, I think a good portrait displays the ‘spirit’ of the subject. This doesn’t have to be a good likeness, but gives you a sense of what drives the person being painted. Q: What is your pick of The Archibald Prize exhibition? A: I think Yvette Coppersmith’s self-portrait was a very worthy winner, but I also love
Joanna Braithwaite’s portrait of art collector and philanthropist Patrick Corrigan. Not only does Braithwaite capture a wonderful likeness of Pat, she paints him standing in front of 14 other paintings of the subject. It is a multi-layered work that manages to capture a range of impressions of Pat over a period of time. Q: Will the Gallery be offering guided tours? A: Yes, we will be offering guided tours at set times, and for larger groups tours can be booked. Additionally, with the support of the Quota Clubs of Lismore and Alstonville, we will be starting a monthly program of Auslan-led tours by native Auslan speaker Sigrid McDonald for the deaf community. All details can be found on our website www.lismoregallery.org. Opening Wednesday 17 April with a ticketed event at 5.20pm – $62/67 – book on lismoregallery.org or come see the show at the Gallery Tuesday–Sunday 10am–4pm. Thursdays till 6pm.
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