Page 40 - Wednesday, July 31, 2019
The Arts National Gallery KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness Contemporary American artist KAWS, a.k.a Brian Donnelly is one of the most resonant artist of his generation. In an Australian first, KAWS: Companionship In the Age of Loneliness is a comprehensive survey of 25 years of KAWS's oeuvre, full of humour, hope and humanity, celebrating his ability to connect with broad audiences. The full range of KAWS's artistic output will be on display featuring more than 100 works including iconic paintings reappropriating pop-culture figures to his more recent large scale abstract works, and an impressive collection of his celebrated sculptural figures. KAWS’s latest paintings showcase his hallmark use of bold colours and bright lines, transgressing into new creative territory with his hybrid characters now dissolving into fragmented fields of colour. Accompanying the main exhibition, KLAWS: Playtime is a dedicated playful kids exhibition that KAWS has created, introducing promising young artists of today to his creative approach and artistic methods of integrating pop culture into his work. Exhibition opens September 2019 and continues until April 2020. National Gallery of Victoria 150 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Gertrude Street
■ The Gertrude Street Projection Festival is bigger and more beautiful than ever with hovering spirits, human canvasses and VR experiences. Throughout the much-loved festival 22 streetscape projections will switch on. Showcasing a mixture of new and established digital artists. Boundary-pushing Melbourne creatives Atong Atem and Salote Tawale will present pieces alongside Sydney-based Papua New Guinean artist Taloi Havini who will bring her acclaimed work Habitat to GSPF. The Festival closes August 3.
Bendigo Gallery Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion Known by his contemporaries as The Master, Cristobel Balenciaga was regarded ass one of the most revered fashion designers of the 20th century. Over 100 years after he opened his first fashion house in 1917 his work is honoured in the exhibition Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion, an exhibition organised by London's revered Victoria and Albert Museum and opening at Bendigo Art Gallery onAugust 17. PUBLICPROGRAMS Stephanie Wood will discuss the life and legacy of Balenciaga in a Curator's Talk at Bendigo Art Gallery on Saturday August 17 from 2pm. A new Thursday evening series, Behind Balenciaga, with an afternoon exhibition viewing, a glass of wine and an illustrated lecture, where guests will examine Balenciaga's legacy and broader context. This includes Professor Peter McNeill on Fashion and Post War Promises on Thursday September 26. A panel discussion on the rise and fall of department stores on Thursday, October 10. Hear Maggie Eckhardt on her first hand experiences modelling for Balenciaga on Paris in the 1960s on Thursday October 31. Highlights of this major international exhibition include garments crafted by Balenciaga from the 1950s and 1960s - arguably the most creative period of his career. The exhibition features examples of Balenciaga's revolutionary shapes - the tunic, sack, baby doll and shift dresses - all of which remain style staples today. Other highlights include ensembles made by Balenciaga for Hollywood actress Ava Gardner, dresses and hats belonging to socialite and 1950s fashion icon Gloria Guinness, and pieces worn by one of the world's wealthiest women, Mona von Bismarck, who commissioned everything from ball gowns to gardening shorts from the couturier. Exhibition opens August 17 and runs until November 10. Bendigo Art Gallery 42 View St, Bendigo - Peter Kemp
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Kevin’s Stand-Up Show
Observations Brandenburg
■ Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, under the guiding baton of its Artistic Director Paul Dyer, together with the Brandenburg Choir, will be continuing their year-long celebration for their 30th anniversary with yet another outstanding program to be presented July 24 - August 2 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. They will perform the complete set of Coronation Anthems and the wondrous Music for the Royal Fireworks by 18th century English based German composer extraordinaire George Frederic Handel. Music was always a pleasure in both capital and provincial towns during the Georgian era (1714 - 1830) in England and from monarchs to middling people, the era was to coin a 'period phrase', 'a great gaze’. The ABO will scale the heights with this concert, reaching dramatic heights no doubt, showcasing Handel's means of expression and techniques gleaned from German, Italian and French influences. Season: Melbourne August 3 and 4. Venue: Melbourne Recital Centre. - Peter Kemp
Burrinja Gallery ● Catherine Holder, Fraser Mitchell and Isabella Octigan in Kevin Peterson’s Stand-up Show. Photo: Julia Kaddatz. ■ A man with anxiety- we a name for himself as a true and Anxi-tee added further to know that because that word is and talented theatre maker. the challenges facing KP in his emblazed on his T shirt. But this seems beyond him quest for personal recognition Whilst billed as part back- as he struggles from the very while understanding the true stage comedy it is more of a first moment. meaning of life. melodrama. Doubts that turn to anxiety, There were elements of a MUST, Monash University anxiety that turns into stress and workshop style script with this Student’s Theatre ,is a breed- emotional instability. production, and maybe more ing ground for many up and He continually questions continuity and articulation coming artists in theatre, both himself, dreaming and creat- would give it a heightened coon stage and back stage and ing scenarios that are hard to medic experience, which apthis performance was no ex- achieve. He is challenged by peared lacking. ception. an ensemble of four. Fraser Mitchell carried the Fraser Mitchell, a past Of those, Daniel Hurst in the script as it was well, however graduate of MUST, as the char- dual roles of Sam and Ben acter Kevin Peterson, per- Shaprio stands out, almost his continual brushing back of his hair, and talking down to the forms this production, written stealing the limelight. by Max Paton, another past Supporting ensemble mem- floor did not help in engaging MUST graduate, being sup- bers Catherine Holder as Lily the audience. Kevin Peterson’s Stand-up ported by other past graduates and Havana and Isabella and a range of others within Octigan as Tina and Hel both Show was presented at The fringe theatre. combined well to further frus- Butterfly Club. – Review by Kevin Peterson wants to trate KP. write a play, he wants to make Stuart Anderson as Leon Graeme McCoubrie
Heavenly harmonies ■ The power of truth as a theatrical tool has never been more evident than in Modern Maori Quartet – Two Worlds where truth will set you free – provided you can handle it. This quirky, truth-telling theatrical musical performance is full of surprises – some funny, others heartbreaking. The narrative revolves around four men in limbo, trapped between two worlds, challenged by a celestial being to understand and recognise their truth (unresolved issues) through story-telling, in order to be set free - ascend into heaven or return to Earth as in one case. The stories are deeply personal and poignant. They include tragic tales of love – a singer unable to reveal his love dies broken-hearted, and a WWII soldier harbouring a secret love for a fellow solider –unable until this moment to admit. Another reveals the harm and devastating impact cultural shaming and discrimination can have on ancestral connection and identity, and the fourth succumbs to the pressure and expectation to succeed. Compelling narrative aside, the real highlight
is the music and heavenly (pardon the pun) harmonies. Billed as a Maori showband, Modern Maori Quartet (MMQ) features Blake ‘Rutene’ Spooner, Matariki Whatarau, Francis Kora and Matutaera Ngaropo – also Music Dramaturg/Director. From their unique and humorous crooning, think Rat Pack on steroids, to their modern Maori tunes, their fusion of western and Aotearoa culture is masterful. Vocals are pitch perfect and blend to magical tones. The haka, so uniquely Maori, was a particular highlight but even the more gentle performance moves were equally mesmerising and so distinctively Maori. P eppered with cleverly crafted humour, MMQ-Two Worlds is a rollercoaster of emotion and an absolute musical delight. MMQ performed as part of theArts Centre’s Big World, Up Close series featuring contemporary performance works from First Nations Peoples from around the globe, being presented until September 1. - Review by Beth Klein
The Upwey Archies: Bringing together the creative oices and vision of the community, this project is a celebration of the people of Upwey. Inspired by the Archibald Prize and Not the Archies, the Upwey Archies is a community portrait project. This is your chance to create an original artwork celebrating someone special to you or to the hills and be in the running for six awards with mystery prizes like theatre tickets and meals in Upwey. How it works: ■ Head to Burrinja between August 9 - 17 to pay registration fee, collect a canvas and registration form. Burrinja is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am 0 2pm. ■ Create a portrait of a person that is important to you on the canvas provided. ■ Complete your Artwork Description online by following the link to your confirmation of registration email. ■ Complete the information on the back of your canvas. ■ Drop off your finished and dry artwork at Burrinja between September25 and October ■ 5. Burrinja will not accept wet or damp artwork. ■ Attend the launch and award presentation ceremony 11am Saturday October 12 at the Upwey Village Green (near the playground). ■ Bring your friends and family to Upwey to see your artwork on display from October 12 to November 12. ■ Collect your artwork from Burrinja between November 15 - 23. No responsibility will be taken for works not collected by this date. The Upwey Archies is an exhibition of portraits featured in windows of Upwey Traders until November 12. For more information email Toni at cd@burrinja.org. au or phone Burrinja on 9754 8723. Burrinja Gallery 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey - Peter Kemp
Arts in Maroondah Out of Viewfinder - Public Assembly Out of Viewfinder is a playful way of scooping out how we see the many things we are yet to notice. Context is everything. It informs our perspective and frames our reading of the world. Optics allow us to focus our observations in order to examine and contemplate. For six weeks in August and September, Artspace will be the site of production and a survey of reconfigured viewing devices, inviting us all to creatively engage with our environment. Exhibition opens Thursday August 1 and closes Sunday September 15. Ringwood Town Square 179 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood - Peter Kemp