Blog Archives
Sainkho Namtchylak
The perculiar and engrossing, soothingly gutural, Throat Music mastered supremely by Namtchylak will leave you captivated. Her orchestra of the heart emanates from traditional music of the widely unknown, Russian-occupied, self-governed country that is Tuva. Having developed the song of the ancient Urghers in tandem with localised Siberian nomadic and Turkic tradition, her vocal merits brought her to Moscow; and then to widespread Western recognition. Namtchylak has, in the last decade, resided in Vienna and continues to mesmerise audiences in Eurasia and beyond; headlining Hungary’s OZORA festival in August. This “woman from the Steppes” has received critical acclaim for her (often collaborative) efforts on 30 released albums to date. The contemporary Stepmother City might be interpreted as an intellectual Bjork construct: but without the mise en scène.
from: Stepmother City
Harvest Festival 2012
This Saturday the Collingwood housing estate is staging the 2012 Collingwood Harvest Festival, located adjacent the housing commission towers in Harmsworth Park, rear of 229-253 Hoddle Street. The festival is free and there are some great bands lined up, with free bbq and many activities to check out.
The festival marks the harvesting of the vegtables that are grown in the Harmsworth Gardens, by the local community. It has been running since 2001 and attracts crowds of up to 2000 people, annually. The festival offers an array of multicultural activities and foods that span all 5 continents. The festival culminates in dancing and theatrical processions, and ends with an enormous fire sculpture spectacle. Join the event on Facebook and share it around!
2012 Collingwood Harvest Festival: This Saturday, 31st March 3pm-7pm. All welcome.
http://collingwoodharvestfest.weebly.com/
Sugar Mountain Festival 2012
The newest musical ensemble feast to hit Victoria is now upon the horizon; once again hosted at The Forum in Melbourne‘s CBD. The first lot of Sugar Mountain tickets went on sale yesterday: for the event in January 2012.
The first half of the line-up has just been announced too; with the awe-inspiring John Maus headlining alongside other knock-out acts including Deerhoof, Prince Rama, local upstarts World‘s End Press and many more! Their website is kicking it too; teeming with photography, artwork, and free download mixtapes by Oscar Slorach-Thorn, Nick Allbrook, and Rat Vs. Possum (among others). The site also features a swathe of information on the festival (as you‘d probably expect), and Oscar also treats us to a somewhat impromptu interview with CoCo Rosie; before endowing us with a video for his Oscar + Martin track Recognise. Also, in the Film section you‘ll find a video documenting work by street art maestro Two One and a clip by The Forest City Rockers Ft. Thee Oh Sees. Sugar Mountain presents us with a grab-bag of contemporary, studious musical greats and complements them with film screenings, photography, and art exhibitions. Hurry in and get your Early Bird tickets to this artistry exposition at: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/1300473897C72C8C?
sugarmountainfestival.com
Carl Scrase
Carl “Synchronicity“ Scrase is a Melbourne born-and-bred artist; an exile of the leafy suburban bourgeoise set. From this somewhat culturally tethered outlook, Scrase resolved to “change the world“ through art. Immediately following his graduation from the VCA Fine Arts (Painting) programme, Scrase hit the ground running with an impressive display of works. As an exhibitor in the Next Wave Festival, he was accordingly represented in the esteemed Melbourne Art Fair. Subsequently, Scrase has maintained his artistic integrity with shows at local ARIs (Artist Run Initiatives) including TCB Waratah Place, and as part of the Platform Artists Group in the Degraves Subway. He says that some of his greatest influences come from “psychologists, philosophers and writers; Carl Jung, Haruki Murakami, Tom Robbins” and I believe you may well be able to detect shades of Half Asleep in Frogs Pajamas in some of his works.
As stated, Scrase endeavours to change the world and has established a framework in doing so; using a three-pronged approach that encompasses (documented) personal introspection, his pronounced tactility in objets d‘art, and in seeking to determine the nature of societal reflex and the possibility of such an endeavour. Although I define these 3 directions in my own words; his Artistic Statement can be found on the carlscrase.com website. I must also comment that within these endeavours it is clear in my mind, that Scrase has achieved such a pronouncement in the tactility of his art. This was most recently seen in his 14-metre tall The Generative Power of Opposites; an inflated “2-finger salute“ that was featured at the Splendour In The Grass festival and then re-mounted during February at the Perth Cultural Centre.
But of course you must see his art to make of it what you will, yourself. Carl “Synchronicity“ Scrase (or) his Wemakeus Collective will no doubt be exhibiting at a gallery near you.
Psychological landscape of a man flying off the planet.
Photo Collage on Wood, 2010
Carl Scrase is represented by John Buckley Gallery in Richmond.
Original Mould
This weekend heralds the Original Mould Emerging Artists’ Market. The event will take place at 1000 Pound Bend on Saturday the 6th of November 2010.
This is a truly Melburnian arts feast; featuring the hottest creative minds in a showcase ensemble that is quite simply spectacular.
Original Mould provides a platform for young emerging artists to showcase their designs and the arts community are welcomed through the doors to critique, collect or mingle with the artists. The market begins at 1.00pm with an impressive outlay of contemporary mediums featuring (but not limited to) street art, fashion, design, fine art, printmaking and media arts.
• Saturday the 6th November 2010.
• 1000 Pound Bend located at 361 Little Lonsdale Street.
• Doors will open from 1.00pm to 7.00pm.
• Live Performances from The Adventure Spirit and by DJ Oakley.
1000 Pound Bend is an underground warehouse with a spacious yet cosy interior, accommodating up to 30 stallholders. The venue provides our patronage with a dynamic atmosphere, with room to have a drink and relax whilst celebrating the future of Melbourne’s inspiring artists.
The market features emerging artists and arts enthusiasts. It gives up-and-coming arts talent an opportunity to sell their merchandise, so don’t be shy to splash some cash.
The market provides a creative arena, bustling crowd, plus live performances from successful local band The Adventure Spirit and also a set spinning discs by DJ Oakley.
Don’t miss out on the insight and intrigue in experiencing Melbourne’s freshest new arts!
Witness the future of our newest artists with Original Mould: Emerging Artists Market.
Croatian Festival + Clown
The Labour Day weekend marked this year’s Croatian Festival at the Hrvatska complex in Footscray.
INFX long-time compére Ms. Geyer joined myself in perusing this Balkan-Australian community’s offerings. Although it was great to see an abundance of people (it appeared as though the entire community was present), unfortunately this abundance did not extend to the food and music. What little was on offer didn’t exactly impress, although after a peek in the VIP area we were convinced that only the privledged had the pleasure of the bountiful offerings attributed to this culture right here in Melbourne. Otherwise, I found the exhibits of mannequins modelling traditional dress interesting, although other artworks and photography on display were lacking in appeal.
Overall, it was a satifactory day out -with a splash humour amongst suburban Australians and their ex-pat relatives. This humour was namely a white albinoid rabbit on the back of a red bicycle, seemingly ridden by a sexagenarian clown. An anglo-saxon entertainer too mind you. Ms Geyer and I were lucky enough to stumble upon said clown later (after visiting a few old cranks at the nearby Publishing Museum). We stalked the clown and confronted it with a wide-angle lens…
Ms G: “Are You having a good day?”
Sparkle: “Yes, except that you’re not”
-Rock the boat w/ Ms Geyer
GOOD VIBES – Interview with a Norwegian
So… this 24 year old Norwegian girl came bumbling in on our little group in the queue for a vodka slushie. She had tears streaming down her face and said ‘Don’t you just hate men?‘. She didn’t get much of a response from us, just small nods of polite agreement, but we thought at the time she might be good to interview. Weaved in there between Busta Rhymes and Salt’n'pepa, she gives a nice little peephole view into the modern woman’s woes of wooing.
.Good Vibrations 2010 with your on-the-spot reporter: Smigroid .
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