Drawing Godot and other arts in Canberra this weekend

‘DRAWING Godot’ is a series of etchings by Nicholas Harding, inspired by many hours sitting in on rehearsals of the Sydney Theatre Company production of Samuel Beckett’s play ‘Waiting for Godot’.

Nicholas Harding – ‘Dancing for Godot (Gogo and Didi)’, etching, edition of 25.

It’s a rare example of a crossover in our arts scene, but not the first time for Harding, who, in 2001, won the Archibald Prize for his portrait of John Bell as King Lear. At Beaver Galleries, 81 Denison St, Deakin, Tue to Fri 10am – 5pm & Sat and Sun 9am – 5pm until October 14.

Luke Chiswell – Bush

KINGSTON cafe, Local Press, and local artist and fashion designer, Luke Chiswell, are getting into the spring season this evening, Thursday, October 2, with a showcase of art, fashion, music and fresh cold-pressed juice. 129 Trevillian Quay, Kingston Foreshore from 6pm – 10pm. Recently back from NYC, Chiswell has been completing a new collection of paintings and women’s garments in the bush inside his Collector studio.

Stephen Harrison, Two Figures and a SeaMine

AS we predicted, Downer artist Stephen Harrison is on of 38 artists whose sculptural work is being featured in the annual Rookwood Cemetery “HIDDEN” Sculptural Exhibition, still running until Oct 12. In its sixth straight year, the show is an initiative created by Rookwood United Cemeteries, aimed at demystifying the image of cemeteries as being dark or intimidating.

“YOU Are Here” is Canberra’s festival of experimental and emerging arts, producing events that highlight arts that are strange, risk-taking and playful. The organisers are looking for both artists and event ideas. Call-out to festival@youareherecanberra.com.au . Closes 31 October 31.

IT’S 30^th birthday party-time at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia tomorrow, Friday Oct 3, with an evening of FREE entertainment, full of music and movies: a retro 1980s music session at The Vinyl Lounge, and a special 35mm screening of the 1981 classic “Gallipoli” at Arc Cinema. The screening will also include the Canberra premiere of the animated short “The Gallant Captain”, as well as television footage from 1984, the year the NFSA was born. The fun starts at 5.50pm but visit nfsa.gov.au for details.

Kami’s party

THE Iranian Film Festival Australia, now in its fourth year, the festival will kick off in Canberra tomorrow 3 October before moving to Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. Nine feature films and five short films, the idea is to provide the chance to experience Iranian identity. The opening film is “I’m Not Angry,” by Reza Dormishian, and it closes with “Fish and Cat”, a horror film with no violence! In between are seven other films including the edgy “Kami’s Party,” and several movies dealing with contemporary family issues.” Iranian Film Festival Australia. At Capitol Cinemas, Manuka, (October 3 – 5) bookings to iffa.net.au

Jacob Potter new work

JAS Hugonnet has the most unusual gallery in town – it’s online. Currently showing is new work by Jacob Potter, visit Jas Hugonnet Gallery at hugonnet.com.au

TOMORROW Friday October 3, AJ Leonard and Jenny Rowlands will appear, hosted by the Artists Shed, in their rendition of “Sgt Peppers” on uke and cello… at Benedict House – note the new address. Ukulele Republic of Canberra at 7.30, main show 8pm, Bookings essential to music@artistsshed.com or 0412 463 388. Dinner available at 6pm, drinks at the bar.

THE Artists Shed is also hosting Bruce Watson with a theme concert, ‘Our Land, Our People’—songs of Australian life— this Saturday, Oct 4, from 7.30pm at Benedict House, 39 Isabella Street, Queanbeyan. $17, $12 concessions. Bookings essential to music@artistsshed.com or 0412 463 388. Dinner available at 6.30 ($30) drinks at the bar.

Ibu Menjahit [My Mother sewing] 1944 by S. Sudjojono oil on canvas Collection of the National Gallery of Indonesia

“Masters of Modern Indonesian Portraiture” is at the National Portrait Gallery until October 15 only. A rare chance to view this work.

“TRAVEL Light” is an exhibition at the Gallery of Australian Design exploring light rail as a catalyst in the design of contemporary urban environments. The show includes a showcase of design proposals from the Australian Institute of Architects’ Canberra Light Rail Station Ideas Competition. 47 Jardine Street, Kingston, Wednesday to Friday 10am-5pm. Saturday 10am-3pm. Sunday 9am-noon until October 30.

From Haptic Gaze

IN their joint exhibition at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, “Haptic Gaze”, visual artists Di Broomhall, Emily Casey and Kerry Shepherdson encourage us to allow our eyes to evoke our sense of touch and thus experience the work from these artists who share a love of textiles and colour. They describe this conversation subconscious dialogue that takes place between our body, mind and our senses as a form of ‘haptic,’ where the ‘gaze’ replaces the anticipated physical action ‘touch’. Curated by Ellen V Wignell, the official launch is today, Thursday 2 October at 6pm and the exhibition continues until 25 October.

Leonie Andrews, Karma, 2014. Cotton embroidery on canvas.

ALSO at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, is “The Embroidered Truth,” an exhibition of contemporary embroidery by Leonie Andrews, reflecting on the ‘truths’ of suburban life. The exhibition continues until 1 November.

DON’T throw out your old jeans, bring them to the Australia National Botanic Gardens and make paper out of them at Paperworks Inc. during school holidays. The paper making workshops will be held at the Australian National Botanic Gardens on Tuesday 30 September and Tuesday 7 October at 11.00 am and 1.30 pm. The cost is $20 per person and bookings are essential. Workshops are suitable for adults and children aged 7 – 12 years. Bookings essential to anbg.gov.au/gardens/

ALSO at the Gardens is the “It’s Child’s Play” outdoor exhibition, featuring paper sculptures of everyday items of clothing, the coloured skirts and pants representing individuals from all walks of life. Until 12 October at the Gardens (Just follow the signs from the Gardens’ cafe). Entry is free and is open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm.

ceramics by Trenna Langdon and Ben Kendon

STRATHNAIRN Arts is presenting two exhibitions from today, Thursday 2 October until Sunday 19 October. “Atmosphere” is an exhibition of ceramics by Trenna Langdon and Ben Kendon will be officially opened by artist Suzanne Edgar at 4pm this Saturday 4 October at Strathnairn Homestead Gallery, Stockdill Drive Holt.

Magpie print Annie Day and Robin Esra

ANOTHER exhibition, “Magpies to Monoprints” prints by Annie Day and Robin Esra (The Printmaking Sisters) will also open at Strathnairn, 4pm on Saturday 4 October.

THREE new exhibitions are opening at M16 Artspace in Griffith at 6pm today, running to Oct 19, 12 – 5, Wed – Sun Thursday 2 October.

Oscar Capezio, Interim-sculpture (That should work for now), 2013. Video still

IN “Working Title”, Emerging Exhibition Prize winner Oscar Capezio plays with artistic process.

A work by Mary Ann Mein

“CANBERRA Botanical” seeks to promote the appreciation and enjoyment of botanical art to the general public and provide professional opportunities to botanical artists.

John Alcock photography

IN “Through the looking glass”, John Alcock presents Australian flora in new and interesting ways through creative photography.

WINNER of the 2013 Southern Highlands International Piano Competition Konstantinos Destounis, will be in Wesley Music Centre, to perform works by the great romantic composers Chopin, Schumann and Liszt at 3pm this Sunday 5 October at 3pm. Bookings to trybooking.com/FNOQ or tickets at the door.

Kate Barker’s ‘scout’

“A Scouts Handbook” is a solo show by Canberra artist Kate Barker, featuring paintings which explore the historic scout movement. Barker’s paintings, which often feature imagery sourced from old photographs, have become hugely popular in Canberra and beyond in the past few years. At ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place Dickson until October 19, Wednesday to Sunday 12pm-5pm.

ON Saturday 4 October at 7.30pm, pianist Andrew Rumsey concludes his ‘Rumsey & Friends’ concert series. The concert will be held at Wesley Music Centre and will include well-known associate artists, and a guest appearance by distinguished Canberra cellist David Pereira. Bookings to trybooking.com/FNOT

‘Full of life and love 1′, 2014 detail, Hand coloured drypoint etching_1

“BLOOM linger breathe” is an exhibition by Lani Davidson Opening at 6pm today, Thursday 2 October and running at Canberra Contemporary Art Space in Manuka, 19 Furneaux Street, Manuka, Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm until 12 October. Through her etchings and sketches, she investigates how nature’s strength, melancholy, fragility and finality sustain and inspire her art practice.

“POCKET Holiday” is a 1 hour audio visual performance presented by Danny Wild together with Australian collective, Zonk Vision And featuring performances from Kate Murphy, Holden Hands and Calico Cat. This event incorporates performance, film screening and live music into a hyper-real world of humour and colour. At Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Gorman House 6pm Friday October 3, $5at the door.

Image by Chris Canham

Gallery@Bcs presents “Celebrate, Connect, Grow”, a showcase of recent work from Canberra artists with diverse abilities in celebration of Mental Health Week. October 2-17 at gallery@bcs Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Crt Belconnen, Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm. Official Opening by Mick Gentleman MLA 5pm Thursday October 2. All welcome.

THE Borodin Quartet from Russia, presented by Musica Viva, will be performing in Llewellyn Hall at 7pm on Thursday, October 2. Ruben Aharonian (violin), Sergey Lomovsky (violin), Igor Naidin (viola) and Vladimir Balshin (cello) will perform string works by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. Bookings to musicaviva.com.au or 1800 688 482.

“THE Golds” is a new documentary by filmmaker and choreographer Sue Healey, who has worked with The Golds in Canberra to create a 34 minute film that gives insights into the art of ageing through dance. Healey’s dance films have had wide international exposure and she is the recipient of the prestigious Australia Council Creative Fellowship for 2013/14. Screening at Arc Cinema, NFSA 2pm October 3.

THERE will be a meeting of the School of Music Poets on Friday this week, 3 October, at Biginelli Espresso at 2pm. Bring any poems you wish to have workshopped.

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