Be first in the country to catch some new tunes by the one and only Claire Bowditch as she wraps up the second season of this year’s ARTBAR season. The award-winning musician’s trio will be previewing some new songs from her upcoming album ‘Modern Day Addiction’ as well as some old favourites. Bowditch will be previewing her first two singles ‘Bigger than the money’ and ‘The Start of War’ for the first time. Her show will be preceded by a showing of the WA Indigenous Art Awards exhibition. Doors open at 6.30pm on Thursday, August 5 at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Tickets are on sale now.
Dragging out travel photos can be a tedious affair but Simon Cowling has reinvigorated the experience through his ‘Side Tripper – An Unreliable Memoir’ exhibit. Cowling draws on his passion for travelling – conveyed through a collection of visually unexpected, quirky, strange or just downright silly images. For Cowling, the exhibit is a ‘collection of images taken over several years that catalogue my fascination with the history and stories contained in the textures and rhythms of city streets.’ The exhibit is open till August 29 at Perth Galleries in North Fremantle.
Altar Boyz the musical will be in Perth this month with its sharp parody and sinfully spectacular dancing. This spoof about a heavenly boy band follows the inspiring story of five small-town boys trying to save the world, one screaming fan at a time. Talkin’ Broadway hailed the production as ‘high-octane entertainment’. The musical is full of lyrical lampooning, mocking the clean-cut production values of MTV. Altar Boyz will be playing at the Perth College from August 18 to 21. Tickets are available from Mesh Theatre Company.
Any geeks out there fascinated by typography or the history of word processors (like me) are in for a treat as the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts presents The History of the Typewriter. Berlin-based Ignacio Uriarte’s new film incorporates actor/comedian Michael Winslow, famous for his role in the Police Academy films and his impressive sound-mimicry abilities. As Winslow chronicles an oral history of the typewriter, Uriarte complements the film with a series of prints that depict seven of the most popular fonts, presented in optically mesmeric fashions. Having started back in late June; be sure to catch this unique exhibition at PICA before it finishes on August 25.
The Art Gallery of Western Australia is currently showcasing the Western Australian Indigenous Arts Awards. The exhibition includes artworks such as sculptures, video, paintings and photography from indigenous artists around the country. Exhibition Curator Glenn Pilkington said it provided a vivid representation of the power of Australian Indigenous art practices. ‘The Awards exhibition offers valuable insight into, and deserved recognition for, the incredible contribution Indigenous artists continue to make to Australian culture and society,’ Pilkington said. Art history lecturer Darren Jorgensen from the University of Western Australia will be presenting an insight to the exhibition on Sunday August 8 from 3pm. The exhibition will remain on display till January 2011.
‘Home is where the heart is’ has returned for the third year, as young homeless people around WA capture their interpretation of home on film. Young homeless people are partnered with emerging photographers who teach these disadvantaged youth the tricks of the trade. Youth Affairs Council of WA executive officer Lisa Laschon said many people in the community believe that young people are homeless because they choose to be but that was not the case. ‘The exhibition is an opportunity for the wider community to understand the realities of youth homelessness through the eyes of those experiencing it,’ Laschon said. The exhibition will be held at 834 Hay Street, Perth (opposite His Majesty’s Theatre) from August 5 to 15.
Things seem pretty tough when you’re a teenager. But when Lee and Leila become embroiled in a murder, these new acquaintances must run and find refuge together in the Scottish Highlands. The Black Swan State Theatre presents Yellow Moon: The Ballad of Leila and Lee at the PICA Performance space this month. Written by acclaimed Scottish playwright David Greig, Perth’s 2010 HotBed Ensemble deliver this extraordinary tale, tipped to be most inventive storytelling of the season. The performance runs from August 6 – 22 at the PICA performance space with tickets on sale now.
Newcomer Susan Sheppard will be launching her solo exhibition ‘Down To Earth’ on August 5, showcasing her ability to evoke emotion from her varied subjects. Sheppard’s works include large scale landscapes, seascapes, animals, birds and flowers. Western Australia’s environment features heavily throughout her pieces, capturing her interest in both local and remote areas. On opening night, Sheppard will be giving away the original Fish-Hook Bay picture (above) to one lucky person who has previously purchased an archival print. The exhibition is to be opened by Jacinda Bayne on August 5th, at the Fremantle Freight Gallery.
Benn Dorrington
