Winner, 2019 NT Media Awards, Best Magazine or Lift Out
SEPTEMBER
20 20
DIFF DONE DIFFERENT
WHEN THE TIDES TURN
ARAFURA PEARL
DIFF 2020: Take One
NT Writers Festival
A Festival of Women
MUSIC
•
PERFORMING ARTS
•
VISUAL ARTS
•
BOOKS & FILM
•
FOOD & DRINK
•
COMMUNITY
Yo u r fre e what ’s o n g u i d e TO TH E TO P E N D
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5 AUG 25 SEP
PRESENTED BY SALON ART PROJECTS HOSTED BY CDU ART GALLERY Charles Darwin University Building Orange 12 Casuarina Campus email artgallery@cdu.edu.au www.cdu.edu.au/artgallery OPENING HOURS Wed to Fri 10am – 4pm FIND US ON
salonartprojects.com.au
Kids' Classics:
Hoedown Bring your boots for a fun hoedown with DSO ensembles
SAT 5 SEPT 9.30AM + 11AM LUDMILLA SAT 12 SEPT 11AM BATCHELOR
$5-$25 More info & tix:
dso.org.au
2
IMPORTANT MESSAGE Events listed in this edition of Off The Leash are subject to change. The situation around COVID-19 is evolving and information provided within this publication is correct – to the best of our knowledge – at time of print.
INSIDE
OFFTHELEASH.NET.AU E: editor@offtheleash.net.au T: 08 8941 7413 offtheleashmag
@OTLmag
#OTLmag
GPO BOX 2325, Darwin NT 0801
We recommend you refer to individual event websites and social media accounts for the most up-to-date information.
ell, we’ve made it to September. Anyone else feel like we’re in the best place in the world right now? Back in March when the pandemic took hold, it looked like we might be in for six long months of tough lockdowns, which would only see us emerging this month. But boy, have we been lucky to get out and about and soak up amazing events and culture this Dry – something that didn't look likely for a while there. Last month, we enjoyed the first major arts festival in the country, and it’s not lost on us how fortunate we’ve been.
F R OM T H E
Dragonfly Craft Fair is back! Spend a delightful Sunday admiring handmade creations from over 60 local makers in the iconic seaside setting of Darwin Waterfront. No one will blame you if you pop by one of the Waterfront’s eateries for cocktails and nibbles after a big day of supporting our creatives…
r o t i d E
Our luck continues in September with Darwin International Film Festival (DIFF), the country’s first physical international film festival to roll out in 2020. I take my hat off to the DIFF team – their unwavering efforts and ability to remain optimistic during uncertain times means there’s a wonderful film festival for us to enjoy this month. Over 10 glorious nights at Deckchair Cinema, the fruits of their labour are projected on the big screen, as DIFF looks back on the last decade of film festivals with DIFF 2020: Take One. Paired with local talents and flavours, the DIFF team has curated a festival for the senses – check out the main feature for the full exciting program.
This month, we can also enjoy the inaugural Arafura Pearl: A Festival of Women. Postponed from May, it showcases the talents and skills of Top End ladies in a fun and varied celebration. And get ready to don your sequins and dancing shoes, as Pride Festival descends on D-Town with all the colours of the rainbow!
I’m especially excited about this one… Local favourites The Neo have teamed up with Darwin Divine Dancers and Solid State Circus to present Off The Rails Cabaret, a variety show that promises a fun night of entertainment and mischief in one of the Top End’s favourite live performance venues, Darwin Railway Club. And if you’re just keen to absorb the Top End’s wonderful creative community, there’s a swag of art exhibitions and music gigs to check out.
BOOKS & FILM | 4 AROUND TOWn | 8 FEsTIVALS | 9 Youth | 13 Performing ARTS | 14 Visual Arts | 15 Music | 18 calendaR | PULL-OUT
Dragonfly Craft Fair | 8
Off The Rails Cabaret | 14
Go out and enjoy. It’s not every day you happen to be in the place everyone else wishes they could be.
If arts and crafts are your jam, you’re in for a treat -
ON THE COUCH WITH CONNIE B | 18 OTL is proudly supported by Tierney White Managing Editor and Development Manager
Anna Dowd Writer
Sarah Novinetz Graphic Designer
Off The Leash Inc. acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Distributed to remote Indigenous communities with the assistance of
#o tlmag Use our hashtag for a chance to see your pics here @matthewvanroden's Botanicals, snapped by @noonamahkid
Gorgeous views from Government House
Cheers to @darwinfestival
@elisederwin snaps the action of DF20 Homegrown
The Final Front Ear at @brownsmartdarwin
Cover proudly sponsored by Darwin International Film Festival
DIFF Director Blandine catching a read Tropical wedding cake by @c_bella_m at @deckchaircinema's free book swap
Cover image: Loving Vincent Screening at DIFF 2020: Take One Fri 25 Sep
Deli treats and fresh blooms at @parapfinefoods
WINNER 2019 NT MEDIA AWARDS Best Magazine or Lift Out
Blissing out at Katherine Hot Springs Although Although all care is taken to ensure information Off The Leash correct, it is subject to change. We recommend checking offtheleash.net.au updates. all care is taken to ensureininformation in is Off The Leash is correct, it is subject to change. We recommend checking for offtheleash.net.au for updates.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Off The Leash relies on advertising revenue to underpin printing costs each month. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, printing a hard copy edition of OTL will be assessed on a month-bymonth basis for the remainder of 2020. September 2020
3
FEATURE
DIFF 2020: Take One WHEN
FRI 18 – SUN 27 SEP
AT
DECKCHAIR CINEMA
COST
$9-$22
INFO
diff.net.au
On The Road
DIFF By Tierney White
Since 2010, Darwin International Film Festival (DIFF) has given film lovers and makers the chance to connect on common ground over several flick-filled days each September. Throw a global pandemic in the mix, and the possibility of running an international film festival would seem all but lost. This year, hindsight is 20/20, as DIFF looks back on the last decade of film festivals with DIFF 2020: Take One.
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here’s no doubt about it, March was a strange time for everyone. The world as we knew it was cast into a state of uncertainty, as we tried to navigate circumstances they say only happens once every 100 years. Under this cloud of uncertainty, DIFF Festival Director Blandine Ruffo was tasked with trying to predict what the 2020 DIFF might look like, six months down the track. “Like everyone else, we spent two months preparing for different scenarios. We had no idea in March where we would be in September – the government predicted six months of potential lockdowns, and September was right at the end of that. The only thing we did know was that we didn’t know! So it was really tricky,” Ruffo says. “We were also mindful that once we had more information, we wouldn’t have much time to pull it together. We are just so excited to be able to have DIFF, which is presented over two programs – DIFF 2020: Take One runs this month and DIFF 2020: Take Two is scheduled for May next year.” From 18-27 September, one film from each DIFF since 2010 is showcased on the Deckchair Cinema screen, films that were meticulously selected by the DIFF committee from international film festivals past, such as Cannes and Sundance. “We decided to pick 10 films from our 10 previous programs of DIFF. It just wasn’t possible to curate a whole selection of new movies in time, especially with the postponement of other international film festivals that our program is developed from.”
done different DIFF 2020: Take One also heartily supports the local creative scene, with live performances from support acts each night prior to screenings. Tables from the deck area are relocated to the lawn in front of the big screen, making way for the deck space to come alive with intimate, laidback performances from local artists. “We have the space to support live performance, and we have a responsibility to share our space as much as possible,” Ruffo says. “Local performers combined with flavours from local caterers and international film means this is a festival for the senses. It’s a wonderful way to experience the Deckchair Cinema.” DIFF caters to two main audiences – film enthusiasts that relish the opportunity to see cinematic gems on the big screen, and members of the local film industry. Through a series of events and initiatives, including the Capricornia Film Awards and the NT Screen Summit, DIFF provides the Territory film industry with development and networking opportunities, as well as the chance to receive recognition where there once was a gap. DIFF 2020: Take Two is where you can expect to find this part of the program next year. In the meantime, Ruffo encourages you to soak up DIFF 2020: Take One, celebrating the epitome of life in the Top End. “The live performances roll out during sunset against the best freaking backdrop you could ask for. Live entertainment, fantastic film and local flavours in an iconic Top End setting – what more could we ask for?”
DIFF 2020: TAKE ONE FRI 18 Sat 19
Exit Through the Gift Shop (DIFF 2010) A faux documentary based on one of the world’s most infamous street artists, Banksy. WHEN SUNSET EATS EXTRA
6PM GATES | 8PM FILM KUYA JAMES X EMCILLE FLAVOURS OF DAMASCUS OPENING NIGHT – DARWIN STREET ART FESTIVAL ART
The Illusionist (DIFF 2011) This French film follows the journey of passé magician who’s path crosses with a young girl at the start of her life’s journey. WHEN 6PM GATES | 7.30PM FILM SUNSET SERINA PECH EATS SUMATRA CAFÉ On The Road (DIFF 2012) Sal and Dean embark on a personal quest for freedom, engulfing them in a search of the unknown. WHEN
Sun 20 BBQ SESSIONS #1 Mon 21
TUE 22
Mystery Road (DIFF 2013) Indigenous cowboy detective Jay Swan is alienated by a white-dominated police force and his own community, as he returns to his outback hometown to solve the murder of a teenage girl.
Still Our Country Reflections on Culture
The Wolfpack
(DIFF 2014)
WHEN 5.30PM GATES | 8PM FILM SUNSET DAVE GARNHAM &
WHEN 6PM GATES | 8PM FILM SUNSET ERIC AVERY EATS YOGI’S WAY
Confined in an apartment from a New York housing project, the Angulo brothers learn everything they know about the world through films, and spend their time reenacting their favorite movies with intricate homemade costumes.
THE REASONS TO LIVE, STEVIE JEAN, DANIELLE ANDREWS & AMY HETHERINGTON FOLDBACK MAG BBQ
EATS
THU 24
FRI 25
Jimmy Shu’s Taste of the Territory Enjoy three screenings from this eight-part series, taking you on a culinary journey through the multicultural melting pot of Australia’s Northern Territory.
Junction 48
The Kneeling Devil Levin A. Diatschenko’s quirky silent movie is a surreal apocalyptic romance, backed by an electronic soundtrack by Mats Unden.
Q&A WITH JIMMU SHU AND NAINA SEN
(DIFF 2016)
Two Palestinian hip-hop artists use their music to fight against both the external oppression of Israeli society and the internal repression of their own crime-ridden, conservative community.
WHEN 6PM GATES | 8PM FILM SUNSET KAOTIC EATS DEE BEE CATERING
WHEN SUNSET EATS EXTRA
6PM GATES | 7.30PM FILM SEPTENTRIŌNĒS FLAVOURS OF DAMASCUS LIVE SCORE: MATS UNDEN
Loving Vincent (DIFF 2017) The world’s first fully painted film about, Vincent van Gogh. WHEN
9PM
SAT 26
SUN 27 BBQ SESSIONS #2
Ramen Shop
Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky A fresh, funny and provocative look at the Cook legend from a First Nations’ perspective, featuring music from some of Australia’s most revered Indigenous artists and the talents of poet and performer, Steven Oliver.
(DIFF 2018)
A young Ramen chef leaves his hometown in Japan to embark on a culinary journey to Singapore to find out the truth about his past.
WHEN 6PM GATES | 7.30PM FILM SUNSET JOCELYN TRIBE EATS SUMATRA CAFÉ Monos (DIFF 2019) A rebel group of teenage commandos find themselves in an unexpected battle of survival. WHEN
FREE
WHEN 6PM GATES | 8PM FILM SUNSET LENA KELLIE EATS SPICE GARDEN
9.30PM
WED 23
WHEN 6PM GATES | 8PM FILM SUNSET ALICE COTTON EATS HANUMAN EXTRA PRE-SHORT AND POST
This piece of experiential cinema was produced as part of cross-platform suite of projects, with a focus on the lives of Yolngu people in Ramingining in Arnhem Land.
(DIFF 2015)
WHEN SUNSET
5.30PM GATES | 8PM FILM EAST JOURNEY, RACHELRACHEL, DANIELLE ANDREWS & AMY HETHERINGTON EATS FOLDBACK MAG BBQ EXTRA POST - SCREENING Q&A
9.30PM
Mad Gnome Film Club
DIFF has teamed up with satellite venue Mad Snake Café to present Mad Cuts: Australians on the Edge – a 40-year retrospective of Australian characters, real and fictional, pushed to the edge of societal madness and despair.
Stuff
AT MAD SNAKE CAFÉ, AIR RAID ARCADE INFO facebook.com/ madgnomefilmclub
Mad Max 2 WHEN MON 21 SEP | 5.30PM
Death in Brunswick WHEN
TUE 22 SEP | 5.30PM
Chopper
Animal Kingdom
WHEN THU 24 SEP | 5.30PM
WHEN FRI 25 SEP | 5.30PM
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& By Anna Dowd
xploring ideas of change and adaptation through rich conversations and story, the 2020 NT Writers Festival (NTWF) promises four days of timely reflection and fun next month. Held in the magical surrounds of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, NTWF brings together the Territory’s best writers, playwrights, performers and thinkers in a range of panels, readings and workshops.
Gunamidirra garawa birditj
WheN the tides turn NT Writers Festival
Artistic Director Fiona Dorrell says when they started exploring this year’s theme Gunamidirra garawa birditj (When the tides turn), they expected to talk about transformation. “We could never have predicted, however, just how sweeping the shifts of this year would be.” While changes were necessary, the relevance of the theme only deepened, and relying on local
talent, the program stayed strong. “The amount of incredible people we have here working in interesting fields, and representing so much diversity, grappling everyday with complex cross-cultural spaces, environmental and other issues,” says Dorrell. “I’m just endlessly amazed.” This year, a Larrakia translation appears alongside the English language theme thanks to Elder Bilawarra Lee – a fitting reflection of the perspectives and new publications from First Nations people represented in the program. “We are lucky to have an amazing group of women from Yirrkala who’ve written an amazing book called Song Spirals,” says Dorrell. “It’s a remarkable book in that it really does change the way you look at country, and also, it’s been picked up by a major publisher. In
Q&A
the past, our publishers haven’t really reflected the diversity of communities but I think this signals a shift.” For Dorrell, writers’ festivals are an opportunity to celebrate the culture of a place and bring people together to do that. “This festival is for anyone who loves to go see films, or music or performance, and there’s a whole range of art forms being celebrated here,” she says. “Down at the Gardens, we’re going to have food and drinks, hopefully creating a really celebratory feeling. We think it’s important in a year that’s been so challenging for many.”
NT Writers Festival
WHEN THU 1 – SUN 4 OCT INFO ntwriters.com.au
facebook.com/ ntwritersfestival
with author Barry Jonsberg
A Song Only I Can Hear LOCAL WRITER BARRY JONSBERG recently took out the Best Children’s/YA book for A Song Only I Can Hear in the 2020 Chief Minister’s Book Awards. His tale about first love is also a double best seller domestically and has received terrific reviews in Germany, Italy and the USA. We caught up with him for a chat.
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Congratulations on your award! What did winning the award mean to you? Thank you! This book has [so far] done really well, both here in Australia and abroad… It is amazing to be recognised in the place you call home, especially since so many local people helped me with the research for the book
and kindly read early drafts and made suggestions. I am thrilled to be recognised in the Territory and am very grateful for the honour of winning again the Best Children’s/ YA book in 2020. Tell us about your book! Rob is passionately in love with the new girl at school, Destry Camberwick, but he is painfully shy and finds it difficult to make an impression. Apparently a book about first love, A Song Only I Can Hear is also about being comfortable in your own skin and identity. It also [I hope] turns readers’ expectations upside down and provides a twist that challenges our assumptions. I hope it makes readers laugh and cry … at the same time.
What was the inspiration behind it? I always write from one simple idea and never plan what is going to happen. I believe that the writer’s job, a bit like the reader’s job, is to carry on and find out what the characters are deciding is going to unfold. It’s sort of like a voyage of discovery. So I started from the very simple idea of first love and wrote to find out what Rob was going to find out. As it turned out, Rob surprised me – I really wasn’t expecting what he decided to tell me. I love it when that happens! Are you currently working on any more books? Tell us more! Always. I have finished two books
since Song – one is a horror story for young adults, though with a healthy dose of humour, and the other is a book called Catch Me If I Fall, which will be published in November. It’s about identical twins living sheltered lives who discover something one night that will turn their lives upside-down and threaten their very existence. If we were to take a look on your bookshelf, what kinds of books would we find there? All sorts. I really read anything that I can get my hands on. Stephen King once said that “to be a writer you need to do two things – write a lot and read a lot.” I do both. At the moment, I am re-visiting Robin Hobb’s amazing fantasy novels, but
I’ll read the ingredients list on a two-minute noodle pack if there’s nothing else to hand. Any Territory writers you’re enjoying at the moment? We’ve got tremendous writers in the NT – absolutely punching above our weight at the moment. But watch out especially for Sean Guy, the manager of The Bookshop in the Smith Street Mall. The second book of his Tower City series, Voodoo Games, is coming out soon and will be a fabulous read if the first in the series, Firebringer, is anything to go by.
WHEN barryjonsberg.com
FLICNICS INFO
Upcoming Events Dragonfly Craft Fair Sunday 13 September 2020 9am to 3pm | Free
palmerston.nt.gov.au
Wander around the array of stalls nestled among the lush Waterfront parklands. Enjoy live music, fresh open-air spaces and a wonderful selection of wares available for purchase by some of Darwin’s best local artisans and crafts people.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT... This month is your last chance to catch free outdoor flicks at City of Palmerston's FlicNics. Pack the picnic blanket and snacks, and make tracks to Goyder Square to enjoy two more screenings before the build up hits. Outdoor screenings under the stars during the Dry? Yes. Ploise.
Waterfront Beach Club Everyday in September 2020 | Free Soak up the sun, sea and sand with good food, day beds and drinks in resort style. Chilled lounge and house tunes will feature everyday from 10am. Indulge in some of Darwin’s tastiest street tacos, icy margaritas, crispy bao buns, summer poke bowls and sunny pina coladas, all from your sun lounge!
Splashfest Family Fun Day Sunday 20 September 2020 9am to 12noon | Free
Marley & Me - International Dog Day Event (Rescheduled) Happily married couple John and Jenny contemplate starting a family, but their lives are changed when they adopt an adorable and free-spirited labrador named Marley. Although he manages to turn his new home into chaos, Marley manages to teach them important life lessons. A fun flick for the whole fam.
The Kid Who Would Be King 12-year-old Alex and his friends fight an evil sorceress with the help of Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur, in a bid to save the world from her atrocities. The whole family can enjoy this modern-day twist on the Arthurian legend of the sword in the stone
WHEN SAT 5 SEP | 7PM
WHEN SAT 12 SEP | 7PM
Bring the kids for a morning jam-packed with free family fun including inflatable obstacle course, waterslides, circus entertainment, water safety demonstrations and appearances by Boof the Barra.
Aqua Fitness Every Sunday in the Wave Lagoon 8:30am to 9:15am Get water active with weekly aqua fitness classes. $12 for adults and $8 for children which includes all day entry to the Wave Lagoon.
waterfront.nt.gov.au
NORTHERN TERRITORY WRITERS’ CENTRE Take one
Take one
8941 2651 ntwriters.com.au executive@ntwriters.com.au Workshops | Monthly Events | Opportunities
On sale now diff.net.au
Free Live Music Event
SATURDAY
12 SEPT
Enjoy ten balmy September sunsets at the first Australian ‘in real life’ film festival of 2020!
Shanae & Estelle + Max Fredericks
20 LOCAL PERFORMERS 10 ‘BEST OF DIFF’ FEATURE FILMS 4 BIG-SCREEN PREMIERES OF NT PRODUCTIONS 4 FREE RETRO-CULT SCREENINGS
SANCTUARY LAKES 4-7PM family & pet friendly, BYO blanket
www.palmerston.nt.gov.au
PALMERSTONNT
7
LISTINGS
AROUND TOWN Three-Day Basic Bushcraft Survival Course
High Court challenge, and a celebration of ingenuity.
WHEN SUN 13 – TUE 15 SEP COST $580 | $290 CHILD U18
WHEN UNTIL FRI 25 SEP AT NT ARCHIVES CENTRE,
Four-Day Intermediate Bushcraft Survival Course WHEN WED 16 – SUN 20 SEP COST $680 | $340 CHILD U18 AT
WOORABINDA SCOUT CAMP, HOWARD SPRINGS INFO bushcraftsurvivalaustralia. com.au
Photo: Catherine Buckley
By Anna Dowd
DRAGONFLY CRAFT FAIR IF THIS YEAR’S Dragonfly Craft Fair is anything to go by, artisan inspiration is on the up. This month, the lawns of Darwin Waterfront come alive with creativity as over 60 local makers share their handmade ceramics, jewellery, homewares, paintings, prints, clothing, textiles and more. Tactile Arts’ General Manager Tessa Duke says it’s clear from store holder applications that 2020 has provided fertile ground for creative practice. “We’ve had a lot of new applications from people we’ve not worked with before. The conditions of this year seem to have given people time to get stuck into their creative process and try some new things as well.” From original leather accessories by Christine Spielman of Requiem Trend, to exquisite textile and fibre tapestries by Bianca Butler, Duke says the work of artisans in Top End is endlessly impressive. “It still blows my mind – Darwin is not a big place but the amount of people who are getting stuck into the creative scene and just really making some pretty extraordinary work is incredible.”
WORK SHOPS TACTILE ARTS 19 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay 8981 6616 | tactilearts.org.au
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Duke says people get into making for a variety of reasons, and often it’s a kind of stress release for those working in high pressure industries, like ceramist and emergency department nurse Frances Tighe. “Frances came through one of the workshops at Tactile Arts and she’s a regular user of our studios. In her downtime, she’s been working on her craft and is now taking part in the fair selling really beautiful ceramic coffee mugs and other pieces.” Chatting with artisans and connecting with their stories is part of the experience, which this year involves a little extra strolling as stalls are spaced out for health purposes. “If you want to know more about the product and the person who made it, you’ve got the maker right there,” says Duke. “Having that connection with the person who crafted the work and knowing it was made locally with a lot of love absolutely makes it a unique experience.”
WHEN SUN 13 SEP | 9AM-3PM AT DARWIN WATERFRONT COST FREE INFO tactilearts.org.au
Darwin Pride Trivia Night Brush up your knowledge. Dust out that rusty brain. Take your fish oil. Do whatever it takes to bring your best to this fabulous, anything-but-trivial, Darwin Pride Trivia Night! Funds raised support the 2020 Darwin Pride Festival. WHEN WED 2 SEP | 6.30-9PM AT DARWIN TRAILER BOAT CLUB COST $100 GROUP OF 5 | $200
TABLE OF 10
INFO darwinpride.com.au
A Rad and Very Red Rangas Round Town Roguegaine Kicking off at Mindil Beach, this metrogaining event covers natural and urban environments, the course spanning from East Point Reserve through to the city, and out to Winnellie and Coconut Grove. Walk, run or ride in this fun day of movement – entry fees include BBQ dinner. WHEN SAT 5 SEP | 2-9PM AT MINDIL BEACH COST $55 | $20 CHILD INFO nt.rogaine.asn.au Yoga Bra Printing Workshop Come along to this fun and unique workshop to learn the simple art of bleach printing. Materials supplied. WHEN SUN 6 SEP | 10.30AM-12PM AT GINGER PINK, CAVENAGH ST COST $30 INFO facebook.com/
gingerpinkdarwin
Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses These multi-day courses are the perfect way to expand into the world of bushcraft and wilderness survival in a comprehensive and insightful way. Tickets include instruction from qualified instructors, all food and beverages, land use fees, insurance and your own pro bushcraft knife to keep. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn essential skills for survival in critical situations.
Mad Snake Vintage Toy, Game & Collectors’ Fair Keen to buy, trade or sell movies, toys, games and collectibles? Cue the Mad Snake Vintage Collectors’ Fair! This retro market is your one-stop-shop for all things VHS, beta, LaserDisc, film reels, posters, retro games, and modern and retro collectables. Bring on the nostalgia! WHEN SAT 12 SEP | 10AM-3PM AT MAD SNAKE CAFÉ COST FREE | $30 STALLHOLDERS INFO facebook.com/
madgnomefilmclub | facebook.com/madsnakecafe
Malak Marketplace Pop Up at the Botanic Gardens Enjoy delicious food from top food stalls and relax to the sounds of live music from talented local musicians. It’s the perfect way to spend a Friday eve – under the stars in Darwin’s most stunning tropical gardens! WHEN FRI 18 SEP | 5-9PM AT GEORGE BROWN
BOTANIC GARDENS
COST FREE INFO malakmarketplace.org.au
Sustainable House Day 2020 Tune in online as COOLmob presents the Top End’s version of Sustainable House Day. Enjoy virtual openings of homes in Darwin and check out features that make them cheaper to run and more comfortable to live in. WHEN SUN 20 SEP COST FREE INFO coolmob.org Behind The Wheel The development and demise of car manufacture in Australia is marked with this exhibition of images and records from the National Archives of Australia. Looking at past car makers and stories of exports, a
MILLNER COST FREE INFO naa.gov.au
Too Much Stuff Recycling Flea Market Reduce, reuse, repurpose, restyle, recycle and repair at this fun community flea market. WHEN SUN 27 SEP | 9AM-12PM AT ALAWA HALL COST FREE INFO facebook.com/
too-much-stuff
Malak Marketplace Come and enjoy a friendly, relaxed vibe at this much-loved farmer’s market. Tuck into a delicious feed as you enjoy the sounds of local performers and soak up the market atmosphere. WHEN EVERY SAT | 4-9PM AT CHAMBERS CRESCENT,
MALAK COST FREE INFO malakmarketplace.org.au
DARWIN WATERFRONT waterfront.nt.gov.au
Waterfront Beach Club Kick back on a sun lounge with a chilled bev and house beats any day of the week, and bask in the tropical atmosphere while indulging in some of Darwin’s tastiest food and drink offerings from Waterfront eateries. WHEN DAILY | SUN-THU, 10AM-8PM
FRI & SAT, 10AM-9PM
COST FREE
Yoga Asana Class Begin your weekend in Zen mode with this blissful hour of yoga. Om! WHEN EVERY SAT | 8-9AM COST FREE Aqua Fitness in the Wave Lagoon Take a splash each Sunday morning with an aqua fitness class in the Wave Lagoon at Darwin Waterfront. A dedicated instructor guides you through a body conditioning, pool-based aerobic program. WHEN EVERY SUN | 8.30-9.15AM COST $12 | $8 U15
Playing and Painting with Plants Join Darwin-based artist Aly de Groot for this fun and absorbing afternoon, and learn the science and magic behind extracting pigments from plants commonly found at home.
Aluminium Etching Printmaking This one-day workshop with Tactile Arts’ resident artist, Anne McMaster, introduces you to basic etching techniques using aluminium and a salt/sulphate etching solution.
Sterling Silver Barrel Weave Chainmaille Bracelet Join Debra Senjuschenko and learn the basics of making chainmaille jewellery with modern materials and techniques.
WHEN SUN 6 SEP | 1-5PM COST $110 | $100 MEMB
WHEN SAT 26 SEP | 10AM-3PM COST $140 | $130 MEMB
WHEN SAT 26 SEP | 1-5PM COST $160 | $145 MEMB
FESTIVALS Alice Cotton
DARWIN
PRIDE 2020 Photo: Foldback Magazine
Darwin Pride 2020 Launch Event WHEN FRI 18 SEP | 6-8PM AT SMITH STREET SOCIAL COST FREE Darwin Pride Cabaret Night WHEN FRI 18 SEP | 8-10PM AT SMITH STREET SOCIAL COST $50 | $100 VIP PACKAGE
Arafura Pearl:
IT’S TIME TO get your feathers, sequins and dancing shoes ready – Darwin Pride Festival is here!
A Festival of Women TOP ENDERS HAVE waited patiently for this one. Originally planned for May, the inaugural Arafura Pearl: A Festival of Women is set to take place in the Brown’s Mart Courtyard this month, featuring an all-female program including musicians, comedians and guest speakers. We caught up with Arafura Festival Producer, Stage Manager and Performer, Tracey Bunn, for a chat. Tell us about Arafura Pearl Festival! It’s something that’s been brewing for a while in my mind. I’m a strong advocate for gender equality, particularly in the music industry, myself being a performer for over 30 years, and I’ve come across that inequality through my own touring and travels. I feel Darwin has an incredible field of amazing female talent and they haven’t had the opportunities that male performers might get. It’s not about being anti-male, but it is about the stats. You just have to look at any event poster – take the men off and see how many names are left. We’ve tried to get a good balance of age, genre, experience,
so there’s something for everyone. What are some of the opportunities for women? The festival is a celebration of women in Darwin – not just creatively, but in production roles. I want to be able to grow this festival to provide mentoring opportunities for women. We’ve had some really great support from Kelly Blumberg from Brown’s Mart Theatre and Teghan Hughes from Happy Yess, who have provided the venue and support. A top up on cash from Gender Equity for production costs has meant we can pay our female production team on par with what men are paid. Each production staff member is paired with a young woman for mentoring in that area. The festival was originally planned for May – how did you go with rescheduling? I contacted our major funder as soon as I knew we weren’t going to be able to go ahead with the festival given Brown’s Mart was closing. We were given the option to digitise the festival, but the main
project objectives wouldn’t be met, including creating substantial employment for women, providing mentorships for young women in hands-on production skills, and providing an event that would be accessible to the wider Darwin community – not everyone has access to a computer or sufficient internet for streaming. I got the go ahead to reschedule and booked a date in September with Brown’s Mart, hoping things would be okay by then. Luckily for us they still are – fingers crossed it stays that way!
Over three fun-filled days, you’re invited to celebrate the diversity, creativity and vibrancy of our LGBTQIA+ community. Celebrations kick off with a Welcome to Country, followed by a swag of musical and cabaret performances, dancing, a fancy food event and family fun for all.
Club Pride at Throb WHEN FRI 18 & SAT 19 SEP |
11PM ‘TIL LATE
AT THROB NIGHTCLUB COST $5-$10 | FREE MEMB Darwin Pride Community Rainbow Day WHEN SAT 19 SEP | 10AM-4PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST FREE
Don the colours of the rainbow and party with Pride!
Dine with Pride WHEN SAT 19 SEP | 10AM-4PM AT ADMIRALTY HOUSE COST $99 DINNER | $158 DINNER
INFO darwinpride.com.au
& DRINKS PACKAGE
How has COVID impacted Arafura Pearl 2.0? Unfortunately, we have had to cancel our stallholders to allow for more space for our audience, as numbers are limited due to social distancing. We will have a maximum capacity of 150 including artists and crew, so get there early!
WHEN SAT 19 SEP | 5PM-12AM AT BROWN’S MART COURTYARD COST FREE INFO facebook.com/womeninsong
You'll never know what you missed... enrol now! Sewing Cooking Language www.adultshortcourses.com Darwin Adult Short Courses
Health & Well-being Music Arts Phone: 0452 135 400 1 Nemarluk Drive, Ludmilla
SATURDAYS IN SEPTEMBER | MOVIES START:7PM 5
MARLEY AND ME
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THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING
International Dog Day Event, 6pm
(PG) (PG)
BYO picnic and blanket PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS MUST STILL BE MET
9
16 Wed
Tue
8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Waterfront Beach Club 13 Skate Nights 19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf
22 Mon
5 The Wolfpack 5 Death in Brunswick 8 Waterfront Beach Club 19 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 19 Jam Nights
28 8 Waterfront Beach Club
17 Thu
Wed
8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Waterfront Beach Club 13 Quiz for Dili 13 Geek Squad 14 Third Thursday: 8 Out of 10 Crocs 19 Big Community Sing!
23 5 Jimmy Shu’s Taste of the Territory 8 Waterfront Beach Club 19 Leaving Jackson The Johnny Cash and June Carter Show 19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf
See Music 19
DIFF 2020: TAKE ONE
18 Fri
Thu
5 Exit Through the Gift Shop 8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Malak Marketplace Pop Up at the Botanic Gardens 9 Darwin Pride Festival 15 Drift (opens) 16 DVA Exhibitions (opening) 17 Peck & Snap (opening) 17 Artists in the Park (opening) 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
24 5 Junction 48 5 Chopper 8 Waterfront Beach Club 13 Geek Squad 14 LOL Thursdays
Tue
See Festivals 9
9 Arafura Pearl: A Festival of Women
25
Fri
5 The Kneeling Devil 5 Loving Vincent 5 Animal Kingdom 8 Waterfront Beach Club 8 Behind The Wheel (last chance) 16 Salon des Refusés (last chance) 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
See Visual Arts 17
19 Sat
5 The Illusionist 5 On The Road 8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Malak Marketplace 8 Yoga Asana Class 9 Darwin Pride Festival 13 Street Heat Skate Comp 16 We Are Painting For Our Children (last chance) 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
See Performing Arts 14
Wed
17 Groundswell: Recent movements within art and territory (last chance)
30 19 Jam Nights
8 Waterfront Beach Club 13 Skate Nights 15 Homelands (Last chance)
29
8 Waterfront Beach Club 19 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals
20
Sun
5 Mystery Road
8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Waterfront Beach Club 8 Sustainable House Day 2020 8 Aqua Fitness 19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf 19 Sunday’s Live at the Lagoon
Sat
See Books & Film 5
Sun
5 Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky
27
14 Off The Rails Cabaret
8 Too Much Stuff Recycling Flea Market 8 Waterfront Beach Club 8 Aqua Fitness 17 Born to be Wild (last chance) 19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf 19 Sunday’s Live at the Lagoon 19 Last Sunday Jam
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5 Ramen Shop 5 Monos 8 Malak Marketplace 8 Yoga Asana Class 8 Aluminium Etching Printmaking 8 Sterling Silver Barrel Weave Chainmaille Bracelet 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
21
Mon
5 Still Our Country – Reflections on Culture 5 Mad Max 2 8 Waterfront Beach Club
See Feature 5
AROUND TOWn Books & fILM Performing Arts YOUTH Visual Arts Food & Drink Music FESTIVALS
offtheleash.net.au
Although all care is taken to ensure information in Off The Leash is correct, it is subject to change. Not all events can be listed on this calendar, so we recommend checking offtheleash.net.au for updates.
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Wed
Fri
8 Waterfront Beach Club 19 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 19 Jam Nights
Tue
8 Waterfront Beach Club 8 Darwin Pride Trivia Night 13 Skate Nights 19 Lunch on the Lawn 19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf
2
Calendar Tue
Mon
8 Waterfront Beach Club 19 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 19 Jam Nights
1 7 8 Waterfront Beach Club
See Visual Arts 17
11
17 Peck & Snap (opens)
8 Waterfront Beach Club 17 A Stick Developing Eyes... (opening) 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
3 Thu
8 Waterfront Beach Club 13 Geek Squad 14 First Thursday Comedy
See Books & Film 7
4 Fri
See Visual Arts 15
20
Sun 8 Dragonfly Craft Fair
8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Aqua Fitness 13 Sounds@Mindil Volume #3 16 Merrepen Arts 2020 (last chance) 19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf 19 Sunday’s Live at the Lagoon
13
20
7 The Kid Who Would Be King
Sat
SEP
8 Waterfront Beach Club 17 Groundswell: Recent movements within art and territory (opening) 18 On the Couch with Connie B 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
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8 Mad Snake Vintage Toy Game & Collectors’ Fair 8 Malak Marketplace 8 Yoga Asana Class 16 Kieren Karritpul: Works on Paper (last chance) 17 Born to be Wild (opens) 18 Kids’ Classics: Hoedown 19 Sanctuary Sessions 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
5
Sat
15 Homelands (opens)
7 Marley & Me 8 Waterfront Beach Club 8 A Rad and Very Red Rangas Round Town Roguegaine 8 Malak Marketplace 8 Yoga Asana Class 18 Kids’ Classics: Hoedown 19 Live Music at Hotel Darwin
See Visual Arts 17 See Around Town 8
6
Sun
19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf
Wed
8 Yoga Bra Printing Workshop 8 Aqua Fitness 8 Playing and Painting with Plants 19 Sunday’s Live at the Lagoon 19 First Sunday Blues
9
Mon
8 Waterfront Beach Club 14 Canned Comedy 19 Lunch on the Lawn 19 Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf
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8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Waterfront Beach Club
See Music 19
10
Thu
Tue
8 Waterfront Beach Club 13 Geek Squad
15
8 Multi-Day Bushcraft Survival Courses 8 Waterfront Beach Club 13 The Pinnacle Foundation Scholarships (last chance) 19 Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals 19 Jam Nights
A RT BAC K N T P R E S E N T S A S PA R K N T E X H I B I T I O N C U R AT E D BY C A R M E N A N S A L D O
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RECENT MOVEMENTS WITHIN ART AND TERRITORY
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Mention “Off The Leash” when booking by phone and receive $10 OFF per night offer valid Nov 2020 – Feb 2021
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SELLING
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PURCHASING
LEASING
Youth
Pro file
Darcy Baggley 22-YEAR-OLD DARCY BAGGLEY spends her days working as a library assistant. But on Saturday nights, she volunteers for LAUNCH Darwin’s Midnight Basketball program as Assistant Coach and referee. Talon Dobson
We asked her a few questions!
STREET HEAT HIT THE DECK for an afternoon of fast-paced shredding, creativity and excitement, at the Street Heat multiple discipline skate comp. Street Heat includes junior and open divisions for scooter, freestyle BMX, quads and skateboards, and allows a range of skills to compete. We had a chat with some of the shredders involved!
TALON DOBSON: BMX How long have you been rolling? I’ve been racing and riding freestyle BMX since the age of three, which puts me at 20 years on the bike. Favourite trick? It would have to be a 360 – the feeling of spinning around mid-air and coming out of it going the way you want is amazing.
What got you into the sport? My dad! He used to race BMX when he was younger and took me to one of Jingili BMX Club’s come-and-try days. I haven’t stopped riding since. Favourite thing about comp afternoons? Seeing all the local talent on all different types of wheels. I’ve tried in the past to roller skate and skateboard, and I just can’t get the hang of it. What some of these kids are doing is just crazy to watch!
David Ninan fundraising because it all ties in together with one of my favourite activities, which is to volunteer as much as I can.
QUIZ FOR DILI is an annual fundraising event hosted by City of Darwin’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) to raise much-needed funds for the Action for Change Foundation, a youth training centre in Timor Leste. We caught up with 25-year-old YAC member David Ninan for a chat. Tell us about your involvement in Quiz for Dili? This is my first year getting involved with Quiz for Dili but I’m excited to see how it turns out! We’ve had a lot of great sponsors and the funds raised will have an amazing impact on youth people in Timor-Leste. Is charity work and fundraising something you’re passionate about? I absolutely love charity work and
What drew you to being involved in the Youth Advisory Committee? It’s the chance to get involved in a group that empowers youth voices in the community. Being a member has also allowed me to find out what’s happening locally and expand my interests through meeting people from all walks of life.
AMI GREENLAND: SKATEBOARD How long have you been rolling? I’ve been skateboarding since March last year, so about a year and a half. Favourite trick? My favourite trick is the kick-flip – when I can do one! What got you into the sport? I got into skateboarding because I thought it looked fun. Favourite thing about comp afternoons? Watching other people’s cool tricks. Street Heat Skate Comp WHEN SAT 19 SEP | 3-6.30PM AT JINGILI WATER GARDENS
SKATE PARK
COST FREE INFO launchdarwin.com.au
Youth
Pro file
love for the law and finance to prevent corruption in Australia. What’s a perfect weekend in D-Town for you? The perfect weekend for me in Darwin is a nice sunny Saturday that I can spend at the beach with the people important to me, and a rainy Sunday that I can just curl up on the divan on my verandah with a good novel.
Any other projects you’re passionate about? I’m passionate about educating young people in financial literacy, as I strongly believe that it’s the key to building stability for our future. I’d also like to help improve people’s understanding of how the law and government works so they can feel more involved in current affairs and decision-making.
Sell it to us! Why shouldn’t we miss Quiz for Dili? It's an amazing annual event run by young people in Darwin to support young people in our sister city, Dili. It’s a great event with lots of support from the community, and has been running for quite a while with many returning each year to take part, which I think is a testament to how excellent it is. It sounds to me like a great place to meet new people and have some competitive fun!
Career-wise, what do you hope to do in future? I would love to be the Secretary-General of the United Nations someday, or possibly combine my
Quiz for Dili WHEN THU 17 SEP | 6.30PM AT DARWIN TRAILER BOAT CLUB COST $20 | $160 TABLE 10 INFO launchdarwin.com.au
What is Midnight Basketball? It’s a night time basketball competition where young people from Darwin and surrounding regional communities can meet up, have a great time playing sport and get to know each other and catch up with their teams. Tell us about your involvement with the program? The last competition was my first time being involved with the program and meeting the kids. All of the volunteers and kids were so fun and made me feel very welcome. What made you want to volunteer your Saturday nights? After hearing about the program, it seemed like a great opportunity to be more engaged with young people in Darwin and learn more about events and programs available for youth through LAUNCH. Why do you think Midnight Basketball is such a hit? I think the kids really like getting to catch up with their friends all together as well as meet some new people. They seem to like getting the chance to be a bit competitive, but at the same time not taking themselves too seriously and just have a good time all ‘round. Any other projects you’re passionate about? Right now, I’m really passionate about the projects I’m involved in at the library. I love getting to work on services targeting kids and youth like STEAM, Tech and Storytime programs. What do you want to be when you grow up? I’ll be happy if I’m helping people. I’d like to contribute to educating kids and youth, and hopefully tie in my passion for science.
INFO launchdarwin.com.au
LISTINGS
YOUTH
Skate Nights Head to Jingili every second Wednesday for free music and skating at the park. Step aside midweek, make some time for yourself and meet other skaters – newbies and spectators welcome. These fun skate nights include anything on wheels such as skateboarders, skaters, BMX bikes and scooters. Boards and helmets available. WHEN WED 2, 16 & 30 SEP | 6-8PM AT JINGILI WATER GARDENS COST FREE INFO launchdarwin.com.au Sounds@Mindil Volume #3
Top End sunsets, great local tunes and chilled vibes... This is how to celebrate the Dry season! Head along to enjoy this free, all-ages, family-friendly gig at the iconic Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. Enjoy everything the Markets has to offer as you kick back to the great tunes from young local artists. BYO picnic, blankets, and chairs.
WHEN SUN 13 SEP | 4.15-7.45PM AT MINDIL BEACH
SUNSET MARKETS
COST FREE INFO launchdarwin.com.au Geek Squad If you’re aged 13-19 and have a love for all things geeky, from anime to gaming and everything in-between, then why not join Geek Squad? Spend an hour with likeminded peeps and make new friends. WHEN EVERY THU | 3.30-4.30PM AT PALMERSTON LIBRARY COST FREE INFO palmerston.nt.gov.au The Pinnacle Foundation Scholarships The Pinnacle Foundation provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTIQ+ Australians to realise their full potential and overcome challenges arising from their identity. Young people aged 17-27 who are planning to study full-time to gain an educational or vocational qualification are invited to apply. WHEN CLOSES TUE 15 SEP INFO thepinnaclefoundation.org
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Off
LISTINGS
PERFORMING ARTS By Anna Dowd
THE RAILS
CABARET
First Thursday Comedy WHEN AT COST INFO
hen it comes to making your own fun, Darwin waits for no one. A wild new variety night of burlesque, comedy, dance and circus, backed by live music from local legends The NEO, proves this Top End tradition is alive and well. Coordinator, and member of The NEO, Tim Sinclair says the idea came about as a way to get more creative collaboration happening. “We’ve been performing at festivals for years and it used to be all about getting artists together, hanging out, playing and sharing ideas,” he says.
“None of us had had that experience for a while so we decided to make it ourselves in a monthly event. We had the idea well before COVID – it was our big 2020 plan – getting all these artists from different genres together in a kind of mini festival.” Their inaugural cabaret in July was full of surprises, a format Sinclair says the cabaret collective is based on. “We had everything from Hemlock from Solid State Circus balancing an axe on his face and walking across an audience member, to Teghan Hughes from Happy Yess play a drinking game based on listening
Since 1984, Corrugated Iron Youth Arts has given young Territorians the chance to flex their creative muscles through A dynamic, fun and challenging program. Corro's Johanna Hayes gives OTL the down low on what they've been up to.
for a certain cord.” Alongside a few core monthly performers, including Darwin Divine Dancers and Solid State Circus, Off The Rails Cabaret invites both seasoned artists and first-timeon-stage Darwinites with a random talent to get in touch. “On the night we’d love to be able to say for example, ‘and now here’s Merv from Humpty Doo with his parrot’ and it’s totally the highlight of the night.” September’s line-up includes an improvisation segment where musicians, circus performers and comedians take ideas from
“It should be a pretty wild, interactive experiment!”
Canned Comedy Enjoy a great line-up of local comedians as they perform their best jokes to raise food donations for Foodbank NT. Entry is by canned food donation – bring as much as you can... Every donation of three cans or more goes into to raffle draw for a great prize. A fun night of laughs, good food and fundraising? It’s just the sort of vibe we need in 2020. WHEN WED 9 SEP | 7-10PM AT THE DECK BAR COST CAN OF FOOD INFO facebook.com/ amyhetheringtoncomedy
Third Thursday: 8 Out of 10 Crocs WHEN AT COST INFO
THU 17 SEP | 7.30-9.30PM HAPPY YESS AT BROWN’S MART $10 facebook.com/topendcomedy
WHEN SAT 26 SEP | 8PM AT
DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB
COST
$20 | $15 CONC | $50 VIP
(TABLE WITH PLATTER AND
BUBBLES) INFO
facebook.com/theneoband
LOL Thursdays WHEN AT COST INFO
THU 24 SEP | 8.30-10.30PM THE BEACHFRONT HOTEL FREE facebook.com/topendcomedy
THE G.O AT CORRO Corrugated Iron Youth Art’s main exploration of late has been creating in the online space. Right off the bat is the Take 1 film project, where the war against teachers is waged on Battlefield Year 7. This hilarious perspective on school was self-devised by young people, and amid the laughs, does an excellent job of pointing out how we are all slaves to those higher on the ladder. The Take 1 film project provides opportunities for participants to become familiar with filmmaking – as actors, writers and working behind the scenes.
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the audience and turn them into something on the spot. “There’s some pretty amazing improvisers in our performance art community, so we’re hoping to get on stage and take any suggestions from the audience – could be places, people, objects, and play them out.
THU 3 SEP | 7.30-9.30PM HAPPY YESS AT BROWN’S MART $10 facebook.com/topendcomedy
But why stop at film? Why not try and push the boundaries and
explore the ways that theatre can be created online? This month, Corrugated Iron is involved in international collaboration Cloudlines, exploring the intersection of theatre and virtual reality. Another devising project, led by teenagers, it explores how climate change impacts young people – the tension generated between being handed a mess and not being taken seriously. While all of this runs from Corro HQ in Darwin, Corrugated Iron also returns to the remote Indigenous community of Wadeye for an action-packed circus school holiday program. The circus fun continues
next month with a trip to the Tiwi Islands, where participants can swap tales of the day’s circus feats over a community BBQ. Enrolments for Term 4 workshops are now open, the term kicking off on Mon 12 Oct with circus and drama classes for all ages. Learn more about what Corrugated Iron does by paying the crew a visit at the Malak Marketplace Pop Up at the Botanic Gardens on Fri 18 Sep – there are also lots of fun circus activities for all ages to try!
INFO corrugatediron.org.au facebook.com/ corrugatediron
Anne McMaster, 'Tidal zone', 2020, etching & embossing on paper, 15x56cm
Art U&T
ABO
with Tactile Arts' Artist in Residence Anne McMaster
nne McMaster has spent the last three months as Artist in Residence (AIR) at Tactile Arts’ Printmaking Studio. This month, her exhibition Drift opens. Anna Dowd caught up with her for a chat. For those who haven’t seen your amazing work yet, how would you introduce yourself? I’m originally from Victoria and have been living in the NT for 10 years. I’m a lover of all things creative and
Drift
an artist who turns to the natural world for inspiration.
The aesthetic of the Top End’s tropical coast has been an enduring theme in your work – when did this start? When I was living on the Tiwi Islands 10 years ago, on Melville Island. The alluring freshness of the island’s coastal habitat was the subject of my Master of Fine Art, completed in 2015. How did the idea of your exhibition, Drift, come about? I’d visit the neighbouring Maritime
Gallery at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and was drawn to a little boat, I believe was designed on the Shetland Islands – a fitting link to my Scottish ancestry.
The term “drift” fabricated a notion of movement, of coming and going, of floating on water, air, of journeys, and even dreaming. How did days unfold during your residency? I initially documented ideas and research in a visual diary, made plates, then progressed to the
printing press to make prints. I’d start with a deliberately open plan that would ‘drift’ into more concrete methodology as the day progressed. The Tactile Arts Artist in Residence program is the longest running AIR in the NT. What have you enjoyed most about the experience? Having time and space to create a new body of work, and an exhibition as the end point, really focused me.
WHEN FRI 18 SEP – SUN 4 OCT AT TACTILE ARTS INFO tactilearts.org.au If you’re interested in the Tactile Arts’ Artist in Residence program, applications are open until Wed 30 Sep. Visit tactilearts.org.au for the juicy deets!
I’ve developed a deeper sense of enquiry into my printmaking habits and enjoyed meeting other artists in their studios.
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VISUAL ARTS CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY Building Orange 12, CDU Casuarina Campus | 8946 6621 | cdu.edu.au/artgallery WED–FRI 10AM-4PM | SAT 10AM-2PM
ABORIGINAL BUSH TRADERS Lyons Cottage, 74 The Esplanade, Darwin | 8942 4023 aboriginalbushtraders.com MON-FRI 9AM-4PM, SAT 9AM-3PM
Salon des Refusés
2020 marks eight years since the inception of the Salon des Refusés. Over that time, the event has grown in strength with many collectors and institutions eagerly awaiting the exhibition each year. As a companion event to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATISAA), Salon des Refusés allows the viewer a rare opportunity to compare and discuss
the merits of selected and rejected NATSIAA artworks.
To celebrate five years of partnership with CDU Art Gallery, the Salon des Refusés will also feature a display of the wonderful artworks acquired from previous Salon exhibitions by Charles Darwin University since 2016.
Wik and Kugu Art Centre Collaboration Wikmunea, 'Songline of the Dog', 2018-2019, ochres and acrylic on Milkwood. Photo: Fiona Morrison
Kieren Karritpul, 'Nauiyu Stars' (detail), 2020, lino print on paper
KIEREN KARRITPUL: WORKS ON PAPER | 2020 UNTIL FRI 25 SEP
DARWIN VISUAL ARTS
Ground Floor, Harbour View Plaza, 8 McMinn St, Darwin | 8981 9351 | dvaa.net.au
Works on Paper features lino block prints, paintings and drawings, exploring culture and the landscape in small, intimate, one-off works. Kieren Karritpul is a Daly River artist who works with painting, printmaking and drawing on various surfaces including canvas, fabric and paper. Kieren draws inspiration for his art from his culture and the landscape around him.
UNTIL SAT 12 SEP
TUE - FRI 12PM-5PM | SAT 10AM-3PM
MY BLUE, BLUE HEART BY MARIE OLIVEIRA “Some speeches are hard to ignore, some statistics hard to face, some news articles are hard to get out of our minds. I read the UN Secretary General’s opening statement at the UN Summit on the dire state of our planet, it made my heart very blue. Then Australia was on fire and it just kept burning. As Mother Nature’s splendour and beauty demanded to be seen, my blue, blue heart struggled. But I’m hopeful that from chaos and destruction comes new life and new order.” - Marie Oliveira
WHEN FRI 18 SEP – SAT 3 OCT | OPENING FRI 18 SEP, 6-8PM Marie Oliveira, 'My Blue Heart', 2020, Ink on rice paper, 64x45cm
Mandy Rains, 'Still Life with Cow Skull and Fruit Salad' (detail), 2019, Acrylic, paper and fabric on canvas, 20x25cm
OUTSTATION
2/3 Parap Place, Darwin | 8981 4822 | outstation.com.au TUE 10AM-1PM | WED–FRI 10AM-5PM | SAT 10AM-2PM
HOMELANDS Outstation Gallery and Tjungu Palya present HOMELANDS, an exhibition of paintings from Nyapari, South Australia. The exhibition comprises paintings by NATSIAA finalists Angkaliya Curtis, Keith Stevens and Ginger Wikilyiri, Salon des Refusés entrant Beryl Jimmy, and the revered Tjampawa Stevens, just to name a few.
WHEN SAT 5 SEP – WED 30 SEP
RE-HASH BY MANDY RAINS Over a millennium, simple subjects in art have become synonymous with reflecting everyday life. This exhibition has been created to unify a series of, sometimes, disconnected subjects that are part of everyday life. The simplicity is in the organisation of the familiar, but the subject may seem somewhat disconnected. Or is it?
WHEN FRI 18 SEP – SAT 3 OCT | OPENING FRI 18 SEP, 6-8PM
Ginger Wikilyiri, 'Kunamata' (detail), 2020, synthetic polymer on linen, 121x151cm
PAUL JOHNSTONE GALLERY
Harriet Place, Darwin | 8941 2220 | pauljohnstonegallery.com.au WED–FRI 10AM-5PM | TUE & SAT 10AM-2PM
Taylor Cooper, 'Malara: Wanampi Tjukurpa' (detail) , 2020, Acrylic on Belgian Linen, 198x198cm
TACTILE ARTS
WE ARE PAINTING FOR OUR CHILDREN Nganana paitamilani tjitji tjuta-ku munu Anangu tjuta-ku
19 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay | 8981 6616 | tactilearts.org.au DAILY 10AM-4PM
Merrepen Arts 2020: New Paintings, Textiles and Ceramics There is an exciting vibrancy and enthusiasm at Merrepen Arts in 2020. The artists have been working on new fabric designs, paintings and decorating ceramics. Inspired by the landscape of the Daly River,
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its vivid colours and abundant wildlife, there has been a focus on experimenting and pushing ideas in unique directions. Phillip Wilson, Carmen Gilbert, Susan Nurra, AnnCarmel Mulvien, Kieren Karritpul and Nola Jimarin, are all exhibiting works across the three mediums expressing the diversity of their individual visions.
UNTIL SUN 13 SEP
Kieren Karritpul, Barramundi Platter (detail), 2019, hand painted stoneware, 35cm diameter
Fregon is a small town with a big heart. The rhythm of that heart is undeniably the art centre. Kaltjiti Arts was established in 1961 and in recent years has become a powerhouse in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. Artists such as Witjiti George, Matjangka (Nyukana) Norris and Taylor Cooper are now well established in the Indigenous art market. This exhibition will present a selection of outstanding works with a special focus on Tjangili George, whose depictions of desert wildflowers are extraordinary.
UNTIL SAT 19 SEP
NORTHERN CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART (NCCA)
AUDIT HOUSE
WED–FRI 10AM-4PM | SAT 10.30AM-2.30PM, OR BY APPOINTMENT
MON-FRI, 9-2PM | SAT & SUN, 10-3PM
Vimy Lane, Parap | 8981 5368 | nccart.com.au
2 Burnett Pl, Larrakeyah | 8981 2848 | nationaltrust.org.au
GROUNDSWELL: RECENT MOVEMENTS WITHIN ART AND TERRITORY With accelerating momentum, contemporary artists are shifting the conceptual focus of their practices to address the intensifying crisis of Australia’s diminishing water supply.
Marnie Jay:
Born to
Alongside scientists and environmentalists, artists have historically presented as some of the first responders to this crisis. This exhibition showcases a selection of powerful reactions with focus on changes to the Northern Territory’s water supply.
be Wild
Marnie Jay is the first artist invited by the National Trust of the Northern Territory to exhibit in their stunning headquarters.
WHEN FRI 4 SEP – WED 30 SEP
OPENING FRI 4 SEP, 6PM
Niall Barrington, ‘Running Out’ (detail, Katherine), 2019, mixed media
COCONUT STUDIOS
8/18 Caryota Court, Coconut Grove | facebook.com/coconutstudiosdarwin WED-SAT, 10AM-5PM
Marnie Jay, 'Pumbah the Alpine Dingo', 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 41x82cm Lauren Burrow, 'A stick developing eyes...' (detail), 2020, Gypsum, plum juice
Lauren Burrow: A Stick Developing Eyes...
Born to be Wild is a collection of recent works that includes Marnie’s signature Old Darwin theme, a bunch of birds, a few florally bits and an alpine dingo named Pumbah. The exhibition title honours Marnie’s birthplace at Myilly Point, and acknowledges that all native wildlife has the right to live free in their natural habitat.
WHEN SAT 12 SEP – SUN 27 SEP
Coconut Studios’ inaugural exhibition is A stick developing eyes… by artist Lauren Burrow. The exhibition presents an installation of sculptures exploring the life of Val Plumwood – a philosopher, writer and activist who survived a saltwater crocodile attack in Kakadu in 1984. The work was developed during an artist residency at the Territory Wildlife Park.
WHEN FRI 11 SEP – SAT 10 OCT | OPENING FRI 11 SEP, 6-8PM
GYRACC
Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre Stuart Highway, Katherine East | 8972 3751 | gyracc.org.au TUE–FRI 10AM-5PM | SAT 10AM–3PM
PECK & SNAP, MANDY TOOTELL This is the inaugural public gallery solo exhibition by Katherine based artist, Mandy Tootell. Inspired by her 2019 Territory Wildlife Park Artist in Residence, Tootell’s body of artwork utilises intertwining techniques and mediums to represent birds and animals, indigenous to the Northern Territory. Self-described as “highly decorative gentle arts”, Peck & Snap combines painting, ceramics, free-motion stitching and printmaking (lino and cyanotype).
WHEN FRI 11 SEP – SAT 10 OCT | OPENING FRI 18 SEP, 6-8PM
Mandy Tootell, 'Spangled drongo', 2020, gouache and acrylic paint on printed fabric
Robyn McLean, ‘Fishin’ song’ (black bittern and black catfish), 2020, digital print on fabric
Artists in the Park
Enjoy this showcase of artists who have participated in the Territory Wildlife Park artist residency and public art commission programs, curated by Jasmine Jan, over the past decade. Featuring 21 artists and 140 community contributors, Artists in the Park displays a diversity of artworks inspired by the flora and fauna of the Wildlife Park through an array of unique artistic practices. See what happens when painters, photographers, ceramicists, sculptors, textile and installation artists run wild!
WHEN FRI 18 SEP – SAT 31 OCT | OPENING FRI 18 SEP, 6-8PM
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MUSIC DSO PRESENTS
The
Kids’ Classics:
Faste Fiv
HOEDOWN GET YOUR DANCING BOOTS and cowboy getups ready… Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) brings the fun with the first Kids’ Classics concert for 2020. We caught up with Tara Murphy, DSO’s Concertmaster and Outreach/Education Officer, for a chat.
starting to move for the first time, it just reaffirms how important movement and music is. What tunes can we expect to hear? It’s a little bit country and western, really. There’s nothing specific, no famous ‘hoedowny’ classical pieces, just good tunes – and all the kids can get dressed up if they want to.
What inspired you to put on a hoedown? I think any chance for kids to get to move and feel free is important, especially now with everything that’s happened this year, and we’d like to facilitate that.
What’s fantastic is that musicians from our Young Artists program are performing in this concert, which is made up of really dedicated and passionate young musicians from the community. They range from 13 to 18-years-old, so it’s like the young inspiring the younger.
Now that I have my own little one, who is about one-year-old and
Why is a classical program for kids so important? We’re so used to being spoon-fed information these days, and the songs we listen to on the radio – that we all listen to – spoon-feed meaning. Concerts like this give little ones the opportunity to use their imagination and to give their own meanings. It’s a different way of engaging with music. This year there are two Kids’ Classics performances, and at the end of the year we have our Family Proms concert with all DSO musicians. Kids’ Classics is a smaller ensemble, specifically programmed for children.
We’re basically encouraging the kids to get up and have a boogie. Their parents, too – when they get up and join in the fun, it makes for the best photos!
WHEN SAT 5 SEP | 9.30-10.30AM
& 11AM-12PM
AT LUDMILLA PRIMARY SCHOOL COST $10 | $5 CHILD | $25 FAMILY WHEN SAT 12 SEP | 11AM-12PM AT BATCHELOR OUTDOOR
EDUCATION CENTRE
COST FREE INFO dso.org.au
CONSTANTINA BUSH THIS MONTH, YOU’RE invited to settle in on the couch at Darwin Entertainment Centre for an evening of music and laughs with Constantina Bush and special guest musician, Emma Rowe.
MUSIC NT PRESENTS Photo: Rhett Hammerton
You never know what’s in store for you with Connie B, but you can be guaranteed an unforgettable, fun and relaxed evening. We asked her to do The Fast Five for us. What’s the first album you ever bought? The first album I ever bought was Madonna’s True Blue. It was a toss up between her and Whitney Houston, and I figured I related to Madonna cause she had the sl-t thing going on.
Purple
Patch
ALICE SPRINGS LOCAL, and Berklee College of Music graduate, Darcy Davis wears many creative hats – producer, sound engineer, lyricist, jazz pianist and now, front man of Central Australia’s newest blues/funk fusion band Purple Patch. MusicNT caught up with Davis to find out more about this new project. How would you best describe Purple Patch? Purple patch literally means a series of good luck or an elaborate piece of writing. Purple Patch as a band is a proliferation of blues, rock and funk created by four “Desert Rats” from Central Australia. The sound is full of groove, grit and attitude that has an audible “purple” feel to the vibe we create together. Drums, Hammond organ, electric guitar and bass make up our ensemble.
18
You recently released a new single ‘Know 2 Well’ – can you tell us about the inspiration behind it? The song is about the struggles of
L-R: Jeffrey Klarenbeek, Darcy Davis, Simeon ‘Simo-King’ Shepherd & Joey Klarenbeek
being an artist/musician/student, and having to survive on the smell of an oily rag while staying committed to the dream. The film-clip opens with lead guitarist Simo King hitching a ride into town from Larapinta Drive – anybody who lives in Alice would have witnessed his stoic daily pilgrimage into the CBD to busk and sell his original music CDs, living the true lifestyle of a hungry artist. Andre Sawenko did a fantastic job at capturing our vision of the storyline and the epic rugged outback landscapes. It’s the first time any of us have made a video clip and we are beyond stoked with the results – we would love to make more clips for future releases. Your EP is launching at Araluen Art Centre this month – can Darwin fans expect a gig anytime soon? We would love to play some gigs in Darwin! Alice Springs has a small but dedicated music scene and punter-base, but we would be super excited to share some of the desert rock ‘n’ roll vibes with the mob up
in the Top End. We plan to head up that way once we’ve got CDs and merchandise to travel with. You’ve spent time living in the US – what is it that drew you back to the Territory? One of the most influential places I visited in the US was New Orleans. There is something very special about the swamp, bayou and voodoo that permeates from the town, and there is literally live music everywhere! Something seeped into my soul after visiting New Orleans and I think it’s where the blues sound of Purple Patch started developing originally – I encourage any musician to visit in their lifetime. You’re collaborating with some other NT songwriters as this month’s Desert Sessions songwriter retreat at Ooraminna Homestead. Any artists you’re keen to work with? I cannot wait for this retreat – it’s so easy to get caught up with life and jobs and neglect your own writing. Having the opportunity to take several days off where this is the
main objective is a dream! I would love to collaborate with Xavia as I have been a big fan of her work for a while. I am sure there will be some familiar faces and some I have never met, but I relish the opportunity for a creative retreat amongst such a busy life in Alice Springs. What’s the one piece of advice you’ve received that you’d like to share with the world? When I was at music school in Boston, we had a masterclass with world-renowned bass player Victor Wooten. His message was to make your band mates sound as good as possible by being a supporting player – it’s not about you being a ‘monster’ musician and being considered the best – it’s about playing what is necessary for the overall groove and making your fellow musicians sound and feel awesome. These are the guys who get the gigs.
If you could see any artist or band – living or dead – this weekend, who would it be? Boney M! They were played everywhere when I was a lil’ girl, and you couldn’t go nowhere without hearing their voices. Whose posters did you have stuck to the wall as a teenager? New Kids on the Block and Star Wars. But really, Rob Lowe and Alex Papps from Home and Away. And I had just a little bit crush on Dieter Brummer, too. But that one photo was under my pillow… What song would you like played at your funeral? I would love ‘Rainy Days and Mondays’ by the Carpenters. Or any song by the Carpenters, as long as Karen is singing. Finish this sentence. The thing people would be surprised to know about me… Is that I’m often mistaken for a man!
On the Couch with Connie B WHEN FRI 4 SEP | 7.30PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
INFO facebook.com/
purplepatchband
COST $25 INFO yourcentre.com.au
SEPTEMBER By Zoya Godoroja-Prieckaerts
DOWN
guide OTL's quick and essential guide to live music in the Top End.
Leaving Jackson - The Johnny Cash and June Carter Show Fall into the ‘Ring of Fire’ in this unforgettable music concert dedicated to the music, love and lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter.
To find out more, head to offtheleash.net.au
For more than 40 years, Johnny Cash and June Carter enthralled audiences around the world with their songs of life, love and heartache. A love story played out through some of the greatest songs ever written.
@OTLmag
WHEN WED 23 SEP | 7.30-9.30PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE COST $25-$62 INFO yourcentre.com.au
#OTLmag
On the Couch with Connie B WHEN FRI 4 SEP | 7.30PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST $25 INFO yourcentre.com.au
Big Community Sing! Alice Cotton Residency Join Alice Cotton for a set of live original music, before belting out a tune or two with this big, community sing-along – it’s good fun and a great way to connect with others. WHEN THU 17 SEP | 7.30-9.30PM AT LUCKY BAT CAFÉ & PIZZERIA COST FREE INFO alicecottonmusic.com
JAM NIGHTS
AND OPEN MIC
WHEN SAT 12 SEP | 11AM-12PM AT BATCHELOR OUTDOOR
DARWIN WATERFRONT
Enjoy a couple of cold drinks and embrace the atmosphere of local live music at the Pint Club. You can even strum a tune or two! WHEN SUN 6 SEP | 2-5PM AT PINT CLUB, MARRARA COST GOLD COIN DONATION INFO facebook.com/
waterfront.nt.gov.au
firstsundayblues
Live Music at Stokes Hill Wharf Enjoy the sounds of a diverse mix of local artists as you dine alfresco, overlooking the picturesque scenes of Darwin Harbour. Bliss. WHEN EVERY SUN & WED
Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals WHEN EVERY TUE | 7-9PM AT DARWIN CITY BRASS BAND COST $20 ANNUAL INFO darwincitybrassband.org.au
Jam Nights WHEN EVERY TUE | 9PM AT NIRVANA COST FREE INFO nirvanadarwin.com.au
Kids’ Classics: Hoedown WHEN SAT 5 SEP | 9.30-10.30AM
& 11AM-12PM
AT
LUDMILLA PRIMARY SCHOOL
EDUCATION CENTRE
COST $10 | $5 CHILD | $25 FAMILY INFO yourcentre.com.au Sanctuary Sessions Round up your crew, roll out the picnic blanket, grab some nibbles and head to Sanctuary Lakes for a Dry season evening of live local music! WHEN SAT 12 SEP | 4-7PM AT SANCTUARY LAKES COST FREE INFO palmerston.nt.gov.au Lunch on the Lawn
Grab a bite to eat, pack a picnic rug and kick back on the front lawns of the Tourism Top End info centre with some free live local music. WHEN WED 2 & 9 SEP | 12-1PM AT TOURISM TOP END LAWN COST FREE INFO facebook.com/ lunchonthelawn
Live Music at Hotel Darwin WHEN EVERY FRI, 6-9PM
EVERY SAT, 6-10PM
AT HOTEL DARWIN COST FREE
HAPPENINGS IN THE RED CENTRE
UNTIL 27 SEP | 6-9PM
AT STOKES HILL WHARF COST FREE Sunday’s Live at the Lagoon Treat your ears to the acoustic sounds of different local musicians each week as you feast upon takeaway from surrounding Waterfront restaurants. WHEN EVERY SUN | 12-4PM AT DARWIN WATERFRONT COST FREE
Photo: Jett Street
/offtheleashmag
The Track
Photo: Kate La Greca
GIG
Last Sunday Jam WHEN SUN 27 SEP | 3-6PM AT DINAH BEACH YACHT CLUB COST FREE INFO facebook.com/dbcya
Xavia
DUE TO RECENT HAPPENINGS, the annual Desert Festival has been forced to go local. But with the Red Centre teeming with unique and diverse talents, it looks like it’s all the better for it. Celebrating 20 years this year, Desert Festival producers Red Hot Arts have condensed the one-month program into 10 pumping days of arts and culture, “proudly bringing local artists to the forefront as we showcase nothing but great Central Australian talent”. With over 20 events in 10 short-but-exciting days – featuring music, theatre, exhibitions, cinema, workshops, family events and more – there’s plenty to enjoy. Experience virtual reality film Storm Dog, created by NT filmmaker Caro MacDonald – a hit in the Top End, sure to be an eye-opener in the Red Centre. The film considers the impacts of climate change in the Territory through a 360-degree lens and a fictional narrative. It’s an important work that allows us the time and space (and VR tools!) to flex our curiosity. For a sweeter tone, DesFest couples local singer-songwriters with some of Alice Springs’ favourite café haunts, with daily sets to soothe your soul as you cradle your coffee. XAVIA’s dreamy combination of cello, autoharp and stunning vocals always calms and holds a crowd, whilst Bambadino brings her quirky, upbeat melodies and stories of
personal experience to the (café) table. With more local talents lined up, treating yourself to regular café outings during DesFest is a given. If these aren’t enough for you, there’s a myriad of pop-up performances held daily. DesFest Hub is home to a range of exhibitions, and there’s a night time program to activate venues and businesses around town. If music is your jam, local favourites include King Marong & Tamala Express, hip hop duo Karnage & Darknis and the Alice Springs World Chamber Orchestra. Mum’s On Tour brings Casii Williams, Patsy Coleman and Jessie K together, collaborating and sharing personal experiences through warm, soulful sounds. Running from late September to early October, Desert Festival opens alongside the famous Night Markets and ends with a special anniversary celebration. Presenting free and ticketed events, the Festival aims to deliver an accessible and invigorating program, where collaborations with various local businesses and broadcasters entice as many people to join in the fun as possible. With a 100% local line-up, this year looks like it may very well be the best Desert Festival yet!
Desert Festival WHEN THU 24 SEP – SUN 4 OCT AT ALICE SPRINGS INFO desfest.com
1919
NT Writers Festival Darwin 1–4 October 2020
Gunamidirra garawa birditj | When the tides turn 20
ntwriters.com.au Artwork: Fiona Hall, Mangrove 2010, etching on HahnemĂźhle cotton rag paper, 79.5 x 94 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.