ANDREW Barr says spirited bidding by 17 local and interstate investors has seen a site for a new service station for the Weston Creek and Molonglo Community sell for $5.75 million.

“This is another example of the ACT Government working with the private sector to provide the services Canberrans need across the city,” Andrew said.

“The growth of the Molonglo suburbs has put pressure on the existing Weston Group centre – particularly the local petrol station.

“This new site will help ease the pressure on the Weston Group Centre and provide more options for the residents of Weston and Molonglo to fill up their vehicles.

“The high level of interest from both local and interstate investors sends a very clear message that Canberra is a great place to invest and I’m sure the residents of our newest suburbs, as well as those who live in Weston Creek, will be delighted at this news.

“Located on the corner of Kirkpatrick Street and Cotter Road, with easy access to the Tuggeranong Parkway, the almost 7,000sqm site will also have a fast food restaurant and possibly a car wash as part of the development.

“The successful purchaser has indicated that they are keen for the development to proceed as quickly as possible and will aim to have the businesses operating by December next year.”

The post $5.75 million paid for a servo and fast food outlet appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

A TROUGH of low pressure is crossing southeast New South Wales this morning, accompanied by a vigorous west to northwesterly airstream, locally reaching gales force.

Damaging winds averaging around 60 km/h with peak gusts to 90 km/h are forecast for parts of the Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory, Southern Tablelands and Illawarra forecast districts today, particularly higher parts.

A wind gust of 120 km/h was reported from Thredbo top station overnight.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:

• Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
• Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
• Keep clear of fallen power lines.
• For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.

Severe Weather Warning issued. Gale-force winds for parts of southeast NSW today. https://t.co/d7sIRiByum pic.twitter.com/WtrhaH6yNX

— BOM ACT (@BOM_ACT) November 26, 2015

The post Gale warning for Canberra appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

THIS exhibition is introduced with a quote from Nick Cave referring to the mythology that surrounds the ‘artistic process’.  Basically, he states, it is hard work.

Exhibitors in this year’s annual accredited professional members’ exhibition were asked to display a signature work alongside an item that might give some insight into the process behind their work.

Glen Martin, in his brief exhibition essay, states that there may be a seemingly tenuous link to us, but that is the way inspiration works.

Many pieces speak of place – ranging from the intimate to the broad environment.  Gail Nichols, whose ceramics work is far more familiar to us than the hooked, recycled cloth hanging “Bobs Creek Culvert” is immediately recognisable as a landscape, while the tiny porcelain objects by Kaye Pemberton in “Tidelining” speak of the littoral zone, its fragility emphasised by the material she uses.

Flora frequently is the basis of many artists’ work, evidenced in Margaret Brown’s delicate coloured porcelain “Fallen Leaves”, Ximena Briceno’s prototype “Banksia Serrate” and the vessel “Dwarf Kerrawang” by Cathy Franzi.

A wide range of materials and techniques is displayed as is an increasing use of technology, such as Niklavs Rubenis’ laser etched cups in Douglas fir and Monique van Nieuwland’s handwoven panels taken from books published in the late 1800s from hand dyed monofilament.

This exhibition sits comfortably with its companion in the gallery, the solo show by Tom Skeehan “Thought – Process”.

Creating great craft requires skill, dedicated hard work, more hard work, experience and knowledge.  The work in this exhibition brings consummate resolution between the elements needed to make great craft.

The post Skilled, dedicated hard work in Craft ACT show appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

“JACOB Marley’s Christmas Carol” by Tom Mula is billed as an entertaining, dark and an often humorous look at the side of “A Christmas Carol” not told by Dickens.

Jacob Marley searching to save Scrooge’s soul

Festivals and events:

THE SIDS and Kids ACT Christmas lights in the City event kicks off tomorrow with an extravaganza in City Walk, Civic, starting at 7pm and featuring The Grinch, Jay Laga’aia, Amber Nichols, Santa and the Chief Minister.

NEW books from Pitt Street Poetry by John Foulcher and Geoff Page will be launched at civic library mezzanine this Friday, Nov 27, at 5.45 for 6pm, all welcome. Refreshments served.

CANBERRA urban artist Kurt, from Stylized Impact, and Dan, known as Byrd, will lead a street-art workshop for children aged 5 to 9 years. Kids will start colouring a large-scale mural based on Manga character Samurai Flamenco. At the Embassy of Spain, 15 Arkana Street, Yarralumla. 10– 12:30pm this Sunday November 29, no bookings required. Free.

Opera:

Charles Hudson as Rodolfo and Louise Keast as Mimi in La Bohème

Film:

THE Palestinian Film Festival returns in November, 2015 with seven features and five short films to challenge preconceptions and capture the imagination of audiences across Australia. At Palace Electric, November 27-29, bookings to palestinianfilmfestival.com.au

IMB Bank Sunset Cinema, is back at the Australian National Botanic Gardens until December 19 for 4 sessions per week, with a mix of blockbusters, dramas, thrillers and family films, live music, beanbags, food and a fully licensed bar. Booking s to sunsetcinema.com.au

Theatre:

THE “Public Theatre” venture by Aspen Island Theatre Company in the pop-up Greek theatre in Civic Square afternoon, and evening and late night performances culminating on Saturday, November 28. For the full program visit aitc.org.au

Kate Hosking and Geraldine Turner in The Chain Bridge, photo Lorna Sim

REP has “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” on stage now. IN the play Bernard plans to entertain his chic Parisian mistress for the weekend while his wife is away, but things go wrong. Perfect pre-Christmas fare. At Theatre 3, 3 Repertory Lane, Acton, until Dec 5, bookings to canberrarep.org.au or 6257 1950.

RAY Lawler’s famous play, “Summer of the Seventeenth Doll” is turning 60—since its first staging in 1955. Jordan Best, Jim Adamik, Liz Bradley and Alexander Hoskison have got together with Karen Vickery to present scenes from the play at the National Portrait Gallery, 1pm, November 28 and 29. Bookings not required but donations welcome. Post-show discussion at 2pm on Nov 29.

Concerts:

Cellist Sol Gabetta

“Three Sides of Love and Death”, Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra, The Q, Friday, November 27, bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290. Workshops at Jerrabomberra Community Centre 9am-noon, Saturday, November 28. Inquiries to starts.com.au or 4823 4407.

“A MUSICAL Tardis” is how Canberra composer Michael Dooley sees his coming concert, “Anachronisms”, a virtuoso line up of Canberra pianists playing 11 of his compositions. At All Saints Church, Ainslie, 8pm, November 28, bookings to mikedooleymusic@gmail.com or tickets at the door.

THE final concert in the Kangara Concert Series will be “Songs of Summer. Christina Wilson, mezzo soprano and Alan Hicks, piano. At Kangara Waters Retirement Village, 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen 2.15pm, Saturday, November 28. Tickets $25 (includes afternoon tea) at trybooking.com, or at the door.

GIFTED students will perform works they have prepared with Senior Teacher, Philip Swanton in the ACT Organ School Student Concert, at Wesley Uniting Church, 5.30pm Thursday November 26. Free admission. Bookings not required

THE ACT Suzuki Piano Chamber Music Concert will be at Wesley Uniting Church, 2.30pm Sunday, November 29, bookings to eventbrite.com.au

Gigs:

Lime Cordiale

MIC Fest is an exciting end of year showcase event. At the Music Industry Centre, CIT Woden Campus 4-11pm, Thursday November 26. It will feature a wide range of music acts, including seven bands, electronica acts and up and coming solo artists. Open to the public, free entry.

“THE Great Pretenders” will revisit hits from the 60s on, with artists like Queen, Beyoncé, and Kiss as well as bit of Christina Aguilera’s “Burlesque”. At the Vikings Club Erindale, Nov 27-Dec 6. Bookings to ticketek.com.au

Exhibitions:

FORMER Chief Minister Jon Stanhope launch Marsden Art Group’s 2015 exhibition of works by 13 Canberra artists at Watson Arts Centre in Aspinall Street Watson at 6pm today, November 26, after which the show will run 10-4 Thurs-Sun until December 6.

WORKS of the latest graduates of The Australian National University School of Art will go on display this Friday No 27, when the School opens the 2015 Graduating Exhibition. All welcome to view.

DESIGN CANBERRA continues around Canberra and Queanbeyan. Their website is very easy to follow, visit designcanberrafestival.com.au

GALLERY@BCS presents ‘Barriers: break or breakthrough,’ Photography, Sculpture, and Poetry by Geoffrey Dunn and Marina Talevski, at Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Crt, Belconnen Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm until Nov 27.

BELCONNEN Arts Centre has “Hidden Faces”, its Community Cultural Inclusion Program exhibition until December 13 and “Coexistence,” by Paul Dumetz and Maryke Henderson, until December 13. Meantime in the Outdoor Gallery at BAC, recipient of the Emerging Artist Support Scheme, artist Anton Poon has used the metaphor of a bridge to explore the concept of cultural transition. Until Dec 13.

STRATHNAIRN’S Christmas exhibition “Conviviality” will be themed around food, festivity and friendship. It runs at 90 Stockdill Dr Holt, 8.30 – 8pm Saturday 8.30pm – 4pm Sunday, until December 20.

PHOTOACCESS’ three new shows feature Rebecca Worth and Ellen Hewitt will present solo, installation-based photographic exhibitions, and Exhibition Award winner Kong Kudo will present a new motorised installation of flipbook photography.

Judy Witherdin Mosaic Art

THE Peculiar Library is curated by Canberra-based Curator Narelle Phillips, and features works by Alex Asch, Reid Bedlington, Rachel Bolton, Jacqueline Bradley, Diane Broomhall, Tom Buckland, Mariana del Castillo, Rebecca Hanrahan, Nicci Haynes, Ray McJannett, Kendal Murray and Paul Summerfield. At ANCA Gallery 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson until Sunday November 29 noon-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday.

BEAVER Galleries is showing watercolours, prints and small objects by cartoonist/artist Judy Horacek, inspired by her love of old maps, travel, boats and flying. Also they have an exhibition of work by the late Andrew Sayers. At the galleries, 81 Denison St, Deakin, Both shows run at Beaver, Tue to Fri 10am-5pm, Sat and Sun 9am-5pm, until November 29.

IVY Hill Gallery has “Take a Line,” drawings by Veronica O’Leary, Peter Tucker and Simon Weber, at 1795 Tathra-Bermagui Road, Wapengo, Thursday to Sunday until December 6.

‘WOMEN of Canberra’, stories of 100 women from Canberra ‘Seeking Utopia’ by Fredrika Rose and ‘Light and Grain’, photography by select students from Lake Tuggeranong College are the three newest exhibitions at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, running until Saturday, December 5.

NIgel Lendon

CRAFT ACT: Craft + Design Centre has two exhibitions at Level 1 North Building, 180 London Circuit – “Thought – Process”, new furniture and drawings by Tom Skeehan and “discover define develop deliver,” this year’s annual Accredited Professional Members exhibition.

THE Gallery of Australian Design and the Land Development Agency have “Front Door,” a snapshot of images recollecting the story of the Northbourne Housing Precinct, Gallery of Australian Design, 47 Jardine St Kingston, until November 29.

THE exhibition ‘Oh me, oh my!’ sees the gallery for contemporary metal and glass decorated and filled with rings, bracelets, pendants, objects and brooches from artists new and old, at Bilk Gallery Palmerston Lane Manuka, runs until December 24.

ABSTRACTION x 3 works by Andrew Christofides Mark Galea, Donald Laycock at the Nancy Sever Gallery, 6 Kennedy Street Kingston runs until November 29 Wednesday–Sunday 11 am–6 pm.

A MOTHER and daughter exhibition by Pamela and Victoria Collins is at Yarralumla Gallery behind the nursery running to Nov 27.

GEORGINA Poulos is the first artist to have a solo exhibition at Margaret Hadfield’s ‘Artistic Vision’ Gallery, 1/61 Colbee Court, Phillip, with paintings on display until November 28.

AN exhibition and celebration of the tree run at Bungendore Wood Works Gallery until December 6.

The post What’s on and where in the arts this weekend appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

AS THE gargantuan Mayfair development claws its way into the sky on Alinga Street there’s a nice little touch surrounding the public art that used to be on the corner of Alinga Street and West Row.

Hoarding signage promises “The Parcel” has merely been concealed and will be returned on completion of construction.

Climbing the adjacent staircase to the largely redundant skyway it soon reveals itself with a nifty new skin.

The post Finding the parcel appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

THE Red Hill Regenerators have expressed their bitter disappointment that the Federal Golf Club has returned to development applications to seek development on their lease.

“The latest proposal is large with up to 150 freestanding buildings and apartments,” a spokesperson said.

“The first stage of the development is in the same area as a previous proposal that was rejected in 2010 by the then Planning Minister (Mr Barr) and a 1999 proposal rejected by the Legislative Assembly. However, this time, the proposed development is much larger with more than 70 freestanding buildings and would require tens of hectares of clearance within the adjoining Red Hill Nature Reserve for fire management, road works and other infrastructure. It would also require bulldozing at least 300 native trees and nationally important endangered woodland.

“The proposed future stages are not publically released but Red Hill Regenerators understands that they involve a further 40 plus dwellings on the Clubhouse site. This project would be bigger than those previously refused permission by both Liberal and Labor governments and which outraged Woden and South Canberra residents.

“It is unclear why the golf club has dusted off this seventh development attempt. The environmental and social impacts remain the same. The proposal would significantly degrade one of Australia’s most significant temperate woodlands, and place accommodation for the aged in a fire prone, lengthy cul de sac, remote from any facilities, where the car will be the only form of transport and traffic flow will be increased on roads already too busy. It is little wonder that authorities have repeatedly labelled past proposals as poor planning and unsupportable.

“Over the last 18 months, Red Hill Regenerators have had informal discussions with executives of the Federal Golf Club and suggested other ways of addressing the Club’s financial challenges. However, the club has chosen to pursue inappropriate housing development and ignore previous government and community opinion.

“The Red Hill Regenerators hopes that Golf Club members will perceive the folly, waste of scarce resources and community angst that resurrecting past doomed rejected proposals will cause.”

The post Federal Golf Club once again tries to get into real estate appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

The post Socials / At the Music Industry Centre Fest, Woden appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

I WONDER what real-life spouses and Hollywood nobility Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt talk about when they get home from work, particularly when they’re working together. For Angelina wrote and directed “By The Sea” and plays its star opposite Brad.

I feel confident that their marriage transcends the travails and anxieties driving this drama of two people holidaying at a French coastal village in the 1970s.

Writer Roland has brought his notebook and typewriter but appears to have left his muse at home. Former dancer Vanessa does little more than lay around the hotel room, visit the local supermarket and wait for Roland to get home from the bar where he discusses life’s vicissitudes with proprietor Michel (Niels Arestrup).

Roland tolerates Vanessa’s lack of sexual enthusiasm out of love and hope that things will improve. Vanessa discovers a spy hole and begins to watch the couple in the adjoining suite (Melanie Laurent and Melvil Poupard) doing the honeymoon thing with gusto. Roland joins her, which does nothing for his erotic equanimity. Vanessa learns that the wife is pregnant. Aha, so that’s what’s bothering her. Is Roland firing blanks? Only one way to find out.

The film’s combined effect is agreeable yet a little short of overwhelming, gently-paced, visually handsome (with Malta standing in for France). Mrs Pitt, transcendentally beautiful, acts with delightful precision. A moustache that makes him look spiv-ish doesn’t diminish Mr Pitt’s acting chops.

At Capitol 6 and Dendy

The post Review / ‘By The Sea’ (MA) *** and a half appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

THIS is actually episode six in the “Rocky” series that Sylvester Stallone created in 1971 and the first in the series for which he didn’t write the screenplay.

That task fell to young (still in his twenties) director Ryan Coogler whose “Fruitvale Junction” in 2013 delivered a vigorous observation of being young and Afro-American.

Rocky remains central to the series, now long since widowed, his only son dead, owner of a cosy-looking Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. But the star of “Creed” is Michael B Jordan in his third feature under Coogler’s direction, playing Adonis, orphaned love-child of Apollo Creed, Rocky’s opponent in the boxing ring for four “Rocky” films.

Adonis in his teens is an uncontrolled and violent kid awaiting trial when good fortune arrives in the form of Apollo’s widow (Phylicia Rashad) who takes him into her home and raises him into a personable young adult in whom his father’s fighting gene is strong.

Adonis asks Rocky to coach him. That relationship develops along an unsurprising path toward a bout with the US champion light-heavyweight leading to a challenge from “Pretty” Ricky Conlon, played convincingly by real-life ABA heavyweight champion, Briton Tony Bellew.

The film works well on all of its story levels – father-son relationship between Rocky and Adonis, gentle romance between Adonis and aspiring singer Bianca (Tessa Thompson), Rocky’s confrontation with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the climactic 12-rounder in Liverpool between Adonis and Conlon. The actors playing the principal roles do a fine job. The gymnasium sequences are informative and often comical. Despite my aversion to blood sports, I found myself admiring the way that “Creed” demonstrates the attributes that a great boxer must master – speed, power, agility, courage and above all determination.

At Palace Electric, Hoyts and Limelight

The post Review / ‘Creed’ (M) *** and a half appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

IT’S a sign of the times that bicycle skirt guards even exist as an item one can purchase.

So it was heartening to see in Civic today that store bought guards are not necessary when plastic sheet and zip ties can be put to good use.

Seen something around town? Email a picture to john@citynews.com.au .

The post Canberra lifehack / DIY bicycle skirt guard appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

The post Socials / At the opening of the Vibe Hotel, Canberra Airport appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

The post Socials / At the End of Movember Party, King O’Malley’s, Civic appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

ON THURSDAY morning Canberrans woke up sweltering with temperatures that had not dropped below 20 degrees over night.

This morning the Bureau reports the temperature was just above freezing overnight.

If you’re struggling to get your bedding right for the conditions you might want to ponder if something is causing extreme weather.

Sensible overnight temperatures in between the two are forecast for the coming days.

The post A 20 degree variation in over night minimums appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

THE Leadership in Government Awards for the Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ was a keenly anticipated night for guests and particularly the award recipients as the guest of honour, keynote speaker and presenter was Sir Bob Geldof – and he was in the mood for kissing and hugging.

But before we got there, his address kept a room full of accountants, public servants and their partners silent and in awe of the breadth and depth of his opinions and solutions to a myriad of current issues and problems this world is facing.

Geldof is a musician, as music provided a diversion for the young man whose mum had died and, with his two sisters, was left to their own devices from a young age.

Today he is also an entrepreneur, humanitarian, businessman and respected speaker espousing an intelligent and blunt opinion on everything from climate change, equality, leadership and why he thinks we haven’t begun this new century yet. he was applauded for opinions of Donald Trump and the need to defeat the “living cancer” that is ISIL.

Comprehensive and erudite, Sir Bob deserved all the hugging and kissing and, please, get a copy of his autobiography “Is That It?” It’s one of the best I’ve read.

The post Lyn Mills’ social event of the week with Bob Geldof appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

The post Socials / National Association of Women in Construction Christmas cocktails appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

The post Socials / At opening night of ‘La Boheme’, Ainslie Arts Centre appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

“WHY is classical music just western music?” director of the Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra Richard Petkovic asked his audience at the Q last night.

There is a simple answer to that – it isn’t, and this was perfectly illustrated in three of the exquisite solos in “Three Sides of Love and Death” concert at The Q last night.

Hosted by Queanbeyan City Council and supported by Musica Viva, Southern Tablelands Arts and the Goulburn Regional Conservatorium, the evening saw a disappointingly small but interested audience tapping its feet to a combination of fusion music, pop and virtuoso classical performances from many traditions.

Petkovic’s impressive line-up of musicians from the western suburbs of Sydney — everything from the Chinese erhu to the violin—speaks to the rich demographic of the region. Canberra and Queanbeyan are no less rich in cultures, though not always the same ones as this orchestra’s, and it is with such potential in mind that STARTS planned this concert at The Q, hoping to stimulate diverse musical practice.

With limited promotion and advertising and at a time of the year jam-packed with alternative concerts in all genres, few people knew about it and even fewer signed up for the planned music workshops, which had to be cancelled.

Performing on the stage of The Q is very different from performing in the orchestra’s own constituency at events like Parramatta’s ‘Parramasala’ festival, for the audience here was largely grey-haired and respectful but not deeply involved.

The performance itself was uneven, with some of the modern compositions on the banal side, not at all “a symphony of musical and spiritual collaboration,” as is their stated aim.

Indeed there was such a whirlwind of themes and musical ideas that it was hard to detect the “Three Sides of Love and Death” of the title. We heard a spoken word homage to the shark taken from Ambon’s heritage, a paean to the crocodile from Yolngu artist Gambirra Illume, and a mixed musical homage to the dragon from Chinese instrumentalist Nicholas Ng.

All the musicians joined in the vocal backing and as well, harpist Victor Valdes leapt downstage to execute a few flamenco steps (he was originally trained as a dancer) and Ng performed dance moves while the orchestra played—this might have been more effective in a less conventional theatre space.

In the end, the finest moments of this concert or came from classical music traditions, where the focus and mastery of the instrument was to the fore. This was seen in the opening performance on the Mongolian horsehead fiddled by Bukhu Gamburged, whose singing and whistling also underscored many works in the concert. Victor Valdes’ performance on Mexican harp of a funeral composition showed a delicate, light touch, while a rhapsodic performance by Shohrat Tursun from the East Turkestan song cycle about the Islamic world’s Romeo and Juliet, ‘Layla and Majnun’, delighted the audience.

Happily, the musicians were all warmly applauded at the end. Whether it presages future appearances in this immediate region remains to be seen – a one-off appearance out of cultural context doesn’t seem the way to go.

Petkovic clearly approaches performances as an iconoclast, blending spoken word, original popular compositions, classical recital and even dance into an end product without the smoothness of a potpourri. Perhaps the organisers’ description of it as “a kind of delicatessen of cultures” sums up both the strong and the weak points – you can choose what you like.

The post Review / Mixed bag in world-music concert appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

CHARLES Dickens’ much-loved “A Christmas Carol” is one of his most well-known stories, which has also had several film adaptations over the years, including a musical version.

Craig Alexander, plays all the roles

“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” focuses on the ghost of Christmas Past – his deceased partner, Jacob Marley.

Marley, it seems, has gone to a spirit world where he has been required to sign a contract to promise to make Scrooge see the error of his ways. He maintains an uneasy relationship with an Irish sprite who seems to be supervising him. A narrator steps in occasionally to keep the story clear. All characters are played by Craig Alexander in a very physical, amusing performance of great intensity.

Director, Shelly Higgs, has given the show a minimalist production which works very well. It is referred to in the program as ‘a show in a suitcase’ where everything used – lights, props, set pieces – all can fit in a suitcase. The use of all these bits and pieces is quite imaginative and enjoyable.

Until Marley’s first appearance to Scrooge as the ghost of Christmas Past, the show works well, detailing a back story for Marley that is quite interesting and entertaining. After that point and continuing into the second act, Marley seems to become more of an observer of the remaining incidents in “A Christmas Carol”. His continuing presence then seems irrelevant and contrived.

There really isn’t anything else to say that Dickens hasn’t already said in his original story and Marley is just not interesting enough to justify making him the central character here.

The post Review / ‘Marley’ in a suitcase – not much to say appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

CONGRATULATIONS to Canberra sculptor Stephen Harrison, one of the chosen selected recipients in AMP’s $1m “Tomorrow Makers 2015” project.

Stephen Harrison (left) receives YASSarts’ 2014 ‘Sculpture in the Paddock’ prize from Prof David Williamans, photo by Therese van Leeuwin

Harrison, a graduate first in black and white art and then in sculpture from the ANU’s School of Art, has also exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Sculpture by the Edge, Sculpture in the Garden, Sculpture in the Paddock, Sculpture in the Street and Rookwood Cemetery’s “Hidden.”

In recent years his plaster sculptures have won awards, notably YASSarts’ 2014 ‘Sculpture in the Paddock’ and Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s 2015 Exhibition Award.

Some of the other recipients in “Tomorrow Makers 2015” are Kirsten Atkinson, designer and Aboriginal arts advocate from Mullaway in NSW, Janice Ablett, nurse and drug rehabilitator from Gippsland, Fernanda Helfer, engineer and clean energy researcher from Surfers Paradise and Debbie Watson, doctor and medical researcher from Mollymook on the south coast.

Harrison tells “Citynews” his goal is to create four bronze sculptures of various sizes in the ANU School of Art sculpture workshop and to stage a solo exhibition in Sydney.

“For me, the main thing is making more sculpture, and bronze is a great medium to use…I’m determined to create bold, beautiful and contemporary artwork,” Harrison says.

The post Harrison wins in AMP’s ‘Tomorrow Makers 2015’ appeared first on Canberra CityNews.

STAGING an opera is a phenomenally ambitious undertaking, especially for a group of amateur performers.

Charles Hudson as Rodolfo and Louise Keast as Mimi in La Bohème

Dramatically, “La Bohème” was a good choice for the group to tackle. Following the romances of struggling bohemian artists, the opera lends itself well to minimalist staging and has down-to-earth characters with problems that are easy to relate to. Puccini’s conversational, rollicking musical style also works well in a stripped back production.

Unfortunately, in opera more than other genres the music is in the notes, and most performers were off-key. The notable exception was Louise Keast, whose vocal performance as Mimi was excellent although her acting was wooden. Charles Hudson as Rodolfo was comfortable in lower registers, but struggled to hit higher notes. The cast made a heroic effort, but opera is uniquely demanding – many singers who struggled here would excel almost effortlessly in most musicals.

The performers were accompanied by a piano, and while this was decently done the lack of an orchestra stripped the music of a lot of its richness and humour. More needed to be made of acting and staging, and these were both quite basic.

Keren Dalzell as Musetta was on the right track: her voice was nowhere near as powerful as Keast’s, but her vivid and slightly over-the-top turn as a jewel-draped floozy had so much character and energy that it compensated for her slightly weaker voice and made for a more satisfying overall performance.

If more of the show had been done with the same character and confidence, this would have been a much more satisfying production.

I saw a lot of ambition and potential in this production. Canberra Opera provides an important service to the community, especially by giving people who love opera an opportunity to show that love by creating and performing it.

The post Review / Ambitious undertaking for young singers appeared first on Canberra CityNews.