City Hub 4 August 2016

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city hub 4 AUGUST 2016

New Greens candidate is farm fresh!

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS You can take the boy out of the country, but can you put the country into the City council?

That will be the question for Lindsay Johnston, the first Greens candidate for the City of Sydney Council Elections to be held on September 10.

The preselected Greens Candidate for this year’s City elections hopes to educate those in the City on how their food is made.

If successful, he will replace Irene Doutney, a long time City resident and member of the Greens.

Unlike Doutney, Johnston is a relative newcomer to the Greens as well as the City, joining the Greens in 2011.

Now a resident of Pyrmont, Mr Johnston was a farmer for decades and now owns his own agricultural business in the CBD. Based in the Albury Wadonga region for most of his life, in 1996 his farm was seized by liquadators, an event that would see him change careers to help other farmers who had been “shafted” by big banks.

His story was among those featured on a 1997 Four Corners episode which he believes may have formed the basis for the novel and subsequent film The Bank.

The story of corporate greed in an era of privatisation would make Johnston become a warrior for rural families trying to defend their farms and their livelihoods from quick corporate profits.

That chapter is just one in a life with mixed political experience, which has ranged from the Nationals, Trade Unions and most recently the Greens.

Johnston wants to educate those in the City on how food is produced, as well as the growing challenges of Australia’s food supply.

He said Australia needs to have a big think about its R and D. “We need major research and development in this country so we can find ways of getting chemicals out of agriculture, but that is a huge task.”

Lindsay Johnston. Source: Supplied

He believes his experience makes him uniquely positioned to contribute to City Council, even from his experiences as a young adult. “I grew up on a farm on outskirts of Albury, that was compulsorily acquired by Albury Wadonga Corporation. I know what it is like for all these people going through compulsory acquisitions for the WestConnex.

It is a most unpleasant feeling, when everything you have worked for is being tipped on its head.”

It was the regulations faced by farmers that forced Johnston to try and make a difference by joining the Nationals in 1975. It seems odd that someone who joined the Nationals is now a member of the Greens. Reflecting on it, Johnston says he became disillusioned with what the party stood for, saying political deals meant that it usually benefited the big end of town.

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“The nationals looked after the big guys, and the little guy got screwed. That did not sit well with me. In the end I wanted to see enough reform, I wanted to give everyone a fair chance. I didn’t think The Nationals stood up for a fair go.”

When he was a member, he said the party was not sufficiently socially progressive for him. “The policies they had then were way behind the eight ball. Take today, they are behind on marriage equality, but back then, they were even opposing Fraser about allowing refugees in the country, I can remember the rhetoric that was being chucked around at sub branch meeting and I just didn’t sit comfortably with it. They like a very monopopulation white Caucasian population, and they didn’t want to see too much diversity in rural and regional Australia.”

Through a friend, Johnston then became interested in Labor politics. While he never joined the Party as a member, he did join the Federated Miller’s and Mill employees association.

Now, Johnston blames the privatisation of the Commonwealth Bank under Paul Keating as responsible for the profit seeking behaviour of banks in the 1990s.

“I was not impressed with Keating’s economic policies, I thought the sale of the Commonwealth Bank was absurd. I thought to sell such a rich and valuable public asset for $3 a share was absurd.

“When it acquired the Commonwealth Development loan book, it became a major shafting bank.

It was a similar process that meant his debt was onsold to creditors who foreclosed on his loan and locked him out his farm. When the bank took his farm they said he was “a nutter” because he wanted to farm sustainablly and try and keep carbon in the soil.

Now, he says these are the policies the Federal government is encouraging.

“Backward thinking people will always be behind in their thinking, and those that gave banks advice, and those that sat in the chair of bankers thought they had some agribusiness knowledge, really had no idea about how to make agriculture sustainable for the future, and it was a costly process, I invested a lot of money, moving toward moving toward a sustainable farming enterprise.”

While not a conservative, Johnston is very much a conservationist.

He wants to see more social justice in the City of Sydney, and names homelessness and affordable housing as among his top priorities.

He thinks that council has dropped the ball on certain parts of the City. So dissimiliar to his own childhood, when he sees children living in massive strata buildings, he thinks it is the City’s job to provide those kids with playing fields.

Greyhound adoption rises ahead of racing industry ban

BY OLIVIA STANLEY Public interest in Greyhound adoption is surging following the state government’s decision to the shut down the industry from 1 July next year.

Greyhound Rescue is just one of many groups around the state trying to re-home dogs no longer wanted by the industry.

Representatives of the re-homing service hosted a rescue adoption day at Annandale’s PetO on Sunday.

Nat Panzarino, part of the organisation, said the ban has raised awareness for the animals’ welfare.

“Now that there has been a lot more media coverage and a lot more interest, we’ve seen a huge uptick in the number of application forms that we’ve been receiving,” she said.

However, the fate of many of the dogs is in doubt, despite the Baird government’s ‘transition plan’ for the 6,800 greyhounds currently registered to race.

Greyhound Rescue are “always operating at full capacity”, Nat said, and other services like it are similarly stretched.

“As soon as we adopt one dog out, we get another dog in. There’s a waiting list of trainers who want us to take their dogs.”

The service manages to re-home between 150 and 200 Greyhounds annually and is the largest organisation in NSW. However, a special commission reported last month that up to 68,000 have been killed in the past twelve years.

Joey Clarke and his greyhound, Albert. Photo: Olivia Stanley

One dog fortunate enough to escape that statistic is Albert, a Greyhound taken in by Jessica Andrews and Joey Clark earlier this year.

A successful racer in his earlier days, Albert now enjoys the homely life.

“It’s really brightened our lives – he’s just such a sweetie,” said Jessica, who also visited the rescue adoption day on Sunday.

Contrary to popular demand, Greyhounds

are promoted as docile, family-friendly pets that don’t require excessive amounts of exercise.

Jessica says one lap around the block each day is more than enough walking for Albert, who she says has won around $60,000 prize money in his racing career.

“They’re very chill, they don’t need a lot of stimulation, they don’t need big walks, and they’re fine on their own.” city hub 4 AUGUST 2016

3

Final chapter for local Paddington bookstore

BY CHARLOTTE GRIEVE After more than three decades of loyal service, one of Oxford Street’s literary institutions has closed its doors.

Ranked among Sydney’s top ten bookstores, Ariel Booksellers was opened in 1983 by the now-owner, Julia Banks’ parents who saw an opportunity ahead of their time.

The modern oasis will be remembered amongst Paddingtonians for its unique selection of art, architecture and design books as

Yannima Pikarli Tommy Watson.

Ariel was a bookworm haven that added to the patchwork of Oxford Street’s rich tapestry. Devastated customers reflect on the book store’s Facebook page of the “good times” had in the store.

“When I moved to Sydney from a much smaller centre 28 years ago, Ariel being open late into the night seemed the height of urbane sophistication. It was evidence of culture and a thriving community which didn’t live within the bounds of a 9-5 working week,” posted Kevin Peckham, a long-time Ariel customer.

“The last fantastic bastion of Paddington to go,” said Cass Daniels on the page.

The shop in Paddington.

After a month long sale with prices Photo Charlotte Grieve reduced by up to 70 per cent, the book store has finally joined the well as its cutting edge furniture and growing number of businesses on eclectic selection of gifts.

Oxford Street to close its doors.

The independent bookstore was The arrival of Westfield at Bondi located opposite the UNSW College of Junction in 2004 combined with Fine Arts, acting as a creative hub for the the growth of online shopping has local community across generations. contributed to the declining ability of “Thank you for being there for stores to be able to afford high rental two generations of my family,” Jacinta prices of Oxford Street stores.

Coelho posted on the book store’s While Paddington residents might Facebook group. feel dismayed by the closure of their Open until midnight most nights of much-loved store, Ariel Booksellers the week, the book store was host to a will be starting a new chapter by plethora of prominent book launches opening a store in Glebe as early as such as that of Aboriginal artist, October.

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Local Businesses overlooked by City of Sydney

BY JORDAN FERMANIS The Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce (PUCC) held an event on 28 July to reinforce the need for a business community in the City of Sydney.

PUCC President Lawrence Gibbons said that what Ultimo lacked was a proper shopping precinct and that council had flatly rejected to support new businesses.

“The problem is there is not a vision for creating a retail precinct on Harris St. In fact there is a long history of it not happening, for zoning reasons, for regulatory reasons, for I don’t like it reasons,” Mr Gibbons said.

The event was attended by Greg Fenwick, a representative from Newcastle City Council and Newcastle Now, a business association that has developed innovative business ideas for Newcastle City.

The event aimed to strengthen ties between the PUCC and other business associations whilst also to provide possible ideas for the City of Sydney to adopt.

Mr Gibbons said that as it currently stands, the City of Sydney has failed to develop a plan for with proper consolation from the business community.

“A local action plan for the village economy was never presented. In fact council now ends without any kind of plan for the local villages at all.”

“The problem is a lack of willingness to commit to the problems local small businesses face,” Mr Gibbons said.

Newcastle Now presented to the chamber

Mr Gibbons also stated that it would be unwise to submit to ‘cronyism’ and depend upon the government for grants which is why a chamber of commerce is necessary.

“As a chamber of commerce we can’t just depend on the goodwill of government.”

“We don’t want to solely depend on grants,” Mr Gibbons said.

Also in attendance were representatives from the City of Sydney council. Councillor Linda Scott said that the innovations presented by Newcastle Now were a source of inspiration for the City.

“It’s telling that a global city like Sydney is looking to a fantastic innovative city like Newcastle to get some good ideas.”

“It’s my view that what makes a fantastic city is what is good for the people that live here, good for the people that work here and good for the people that want to start businesses in the City of Sydney,” Clr Scott said.

Councillor Christine Forster said that in her view, the council needed to be more forthright in achieving concrete outcomes for businesses.

“You have to have an environment where the businesses when they have an issue, they can talk to council and council responds.”

“The current Sydney council is great at making plans, it is just not very good at implementing outcomes and delivering outcomes for its business communities and it’s residents,” Clr Forster said.

Councillor Angela Vithoulkas from the Sydney Matters party spoke of the need for more organised business associations like the PUCC with suitable funding from the City of Sydney that met the needs of residents and businesses alike.

Whilst the Greens candidate for the City of Sydney Lindsay Johnston told the event the Greens were in favour of building business partnerships where the community can be brought together.

“Community, the residents, businesses, specialists need to form partnerships and we need to do this in precincts. I can see that if this concept gets off the ground in the City of Sydney and I would hope that I would be there 100% behind this.”

The PUCC says that is close to finalising the reopening of the Pyrmont growers market which ended due to Fairfax Media, the major sponsoring pulling the pin.

The PUCC is also eagerly awaiting the results on the number of businesses enrolled to vote for the upcoming City of Sydney elections which may be due to iniquitous council procedure.

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city hub 4 AUGUST 2016

Calls for Government transparency with cannabis cultivation

BY LUCAS BAIRD The founder and director of Medicinal Cannabis Australia has cautioned the NSW government about keeping the public in the dark regarding their pilot cultivation scheme.

The Office of Primary Industries announced the $21 million trail programme last week, shortly before it became apparent that doctors would be able to prescribe cannabis to certain patients, but were short on the details.

When asked by the City Hub on Friday, the office failed to provide relevant answers and did not describe what would be associated with the trail’s costs.

Medicinal Cannabis Australia director, Heath Kratzer, said that while the government cultivating cannabis was a step in the right direction, they need be more transparent.

“I guess they feel the need to test different strains and pick a strain or a few strains that are right for different diseases or hopefully that’s what they are doing,” he said.

“The trouble is that is pretty difficult to find information on what the State Government is trying to achieve and it is a lot of guesswork really.”

“They haven’t really stated anything so I can understand why people feel like they are being left in the dark.”

However, the Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, did say that he hoped this pilot programme will make sure that the

The government has plan to trail cannabis cultivation in the state. Photo: Supplied

pharmaceutical supply is secure and safe into the future.

“This is an important step forward that underpins the potential pharmaceutical supply of cannabis-based medicines made in Australia.”

“This cultivation research will build the additional evidence required to produce medicinal cannabis in NSW to guaranteed safety and quality standards.”

Mr Blair also said that he believed this programme will pave the way for non-

government cultivation in the future, but it is currently unclear on how this transition will happen.

Mr Kratzer said that while he supports non-government cultivation, he warned that prices could skyrocket if big pharmaceutical companies were to gain monopolies on farming cannabis.

He said that price gouging was endemic in the pharmaceutical industry and that he hoped that the government would not lock out small investors and farmers from the industry.

Sirius fight continues after building left off heritage list

BY LUCAS BAIRD The iconic building’s time could be up after the Minister for Environment and Heritage, Mark Speakman, decided against listing it as heritage. Photo: Hpeterswald The Shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage has slammed the Government’s decision to forego heritage listing the Sirius Building in Millers Point.

On the 31 July, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mark Speakman, put to bed hopes that the Sirius Building would be listed as heritage drawing outrage from the Millers Point Community and the Shadow Minister, Penny Sharpe.

Ms Sharpe said that this was an example of “Mike Baird happy again to sell of public

assets” and accused the government of pursuing a “short term bottom line”.

Ms Sharpe alluded to the storied history of building and its construction as a result of the green bans in the seventies and said that it “means nothing” to the Premier.

“They are willing to ignore any and all advice be it social, environmental, heritage or otherwise,” Ms Sharpe said.

“The Sirius building was the result of a commitment to build public housing in the city after the green bans campaigns in the 1970’s. It was a commitment to public housing tenants and the NSW community that housing would be provided to those who needed it.”

Members of the community agree with Photo: Hpeterswald

Ms Sharpe that the historical context of the building needs to be considered, but are also concerned with the potential damage this could do to the community The Save Millers Point group are determined to make sure the Sirius Building remains in Millers Point and have said they would continue to lobby the government to consider alternatives to demolition or selling the building.

“Perhaps we should be asking whether another Green Ban for Sirius is needed forty years after The Rocks Green Bans were lifted?” they said.

Convenor of the Millers Point, Dawes Point and the Rocks Public Housing Tenants group, Barney Gardner said that the news was devastating to the community.

“It is all about the money. Once upon a time when the government was selling properties, now they are selling the land as well,” he said.

“It [Millers Point] is not theirs to possess.

If anything it belongs to the people, the indigenous and local population.”

This negative reception hasn’t stopped Mr Speakman from defending the decision. He said that by listing the site as heritage, the value of the land would drop by $70 million.

Mr Speakman said that this $70 million could be used to build around 240 more social housing units.

“I am not listing it because whatever its heritage value, even at its highest that value is greatly outweighed by what would be a huge loss of extra funds from the sale of the site, funds the government intends to use to build social housing for families in great need,” he said.

“This doesn’t mean a practice that money trumps heritage. Here there is a dramatic contrast between whatever heritage value Sirius has and what would be the huge loss of funds for getting people who need a helping hand off the social housing waiting list.”

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Mandla jumps ship to Sydney Matters

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Former Liberal Councillor Edward Mandla has slammed former colleague Christine Forster as not being a team player, and said that partnering with Sydney Matters party Angela Vithoulkas as a natural fit.

Speaking to City Hub, Clr Mandla described defecting from the Liberal Party as like an epiphany whilst in conversation with Clr Vithoulkas.

Mr Mandla sought out a phone conversation with Ms Vithoulkas just prior to last month’s council meeting because he was seeking a seconder for what has since been labelled Mandla’s menstrual motion.

Clr Foster had told Clr Mandla that she would not be seconding his motion.

He said that during the conversation with Clr Vithoulkas he was “quietly envious not to be beholden to anyone, to do what you think is right for the community”.

A long silence ensued on the telephone line.

It was a moment of great revelation for both of them.

As Clr Mandla recalls, Clr Vithoulkas said: “Imagine what we could do for Sydney if we ran together... I can’t believe I said that.”

Mandla said since serving as councillor, that he has had to deal with factions.

He said his defection was a whirlwind that happened very quickly.

“There is the cliché that 24 hours is a long time in politics. Well, I have lived that now.”

So far, Mandla says his experience with Sydney

Matters has been extraordinarily positive.

He said City residents and business owners should expect fresh independent voices.

“It’s going to be forward thinking, embracing tech, public private partnerships might happen, addressing parking, waste, and a specific focus on nighttime economy. Forward thinking backed by tech is what you’re going to see.”

Clr Mandla is the candidate for the Sydney Matter’s deputy Lord Mayor position.

“Over the past four years Edward Mandla has shown that he wants to see real action for the City of Sydney residents, business owners, workers and visitors,” Clr Vithoulkas said in a statement last week.

“Like all the Sydney Matters team he shares a conviction for making the City safer, smarter and easier to deal with by giving the community more access to council decision-making.

“In his term as a councillor, he has been an advocate for the City of Sydney to be completely transparent and has held it to account in decisions such as tender processes and emphasising that the business case stacks up on council policy and expenditure.”

“He has also shown that while a member of the party he was an independent thinking person who did not buckle to party members in his pursuit for delivering better outcomes for the City.

“I believe Edward will be a positive addition to the experience of the team that spans business, planning, education, law and technology innovation and personal experience of living and working in this city.”

Scott in top spot on Labor ticket

Linda Scott. Source: supplied

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS Incumbent Councilor Linda Scott will retain first billing on the Labor ticket for the City of Sydney Council Elections scheduled for September. It is the second time Scott will run for the Lord Mayor position after first running in 2012.

The new business voting laws is sure to have a great impact on the result of the coming election as City Hub reported weeks ago.

Ms Scott said she was pleased with the diversity of seven candidates announced on the Labor ticket.

Second on the ticket is Jonathan Yee, a restaurateur and president of the Sydney chapter of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association.

Labor chose to abandon the community preselection process which it had adopted at the

City of Sydney before the previous council election four years ago.

Mr Yee has been operating the Emperor’s Garden restaurant for the past 37 years in Haymarket. He has been actively involved in the inner west branch of the local Lion’s Club.

Ms Scott made a media appearance yesterday with Ian Roberts, the first Rugby League player to come out as gay in 1994.

Mr Roberts, said homelessness as well as under investment in local community facilities was one thing the council had to the power to change.

Linda Scott told City Hub the Labor Party was going to be running with “very progressive” policies in the seat of Sydney.

“Unlike the current Lord Mayor who endlessly plays the blame game with other level of government, Labor is focused on outlining a positive vision for the future.”

“We’re putting forward a great team, that represents the diversity of the City and great new skills to the council table,” Ms Scott said.

With a diverse spread of candidates, Labor hopes to steer voters away from current Lord Mayor, Clover Moore’s 12 year stranglehold on the position. However in the last election Labor was only able to secure victory of Scott to the City of Sydney council.

“Nora Ingram, will be the first ever Indigenous person to serve as a City of Sydney councilor.”

“Jonathan Yee the owner of the Emperor’s garden, 37 years of continuous business in the City of Sydney.”

“It’s a great winning team and we’ve got a great set of positive policies,” Ms Scott said.

The Labor Ticket: 1. Linda Scott 2. Jonathan Yee 3. Norma Ingram 4. Holly Rebeiro 5. Ian Roberts 6. Graham Brecht 7. Darren Jenkins

8

city hub 4 AUGUST 2016

Mandla. Source: supplied

They preselected WHO??? Dark horse Lib secures spot

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS The Liberal Party has been forced to throw up Craig Chung second on the ticket for the City of Sydney Council election after Councillor Edward Mandla withdres his nomination and later defected from the Liberal Party to join Angela Vithoulkas’ Sydney Matters party.

The second spot on the Liberal Party ticket for the September City of Sydney Council election was won by Craig Chung last Wednesday during the preselection contest.

Mr Chung is a Ryde Councillor and was thought to be a dark horse prior to him winning preselection.

City Hub understands that it was anticipated to be a close contest between Sean O’Conner and Adrian Bartells, but that all changed following Clr Mandla’s resignation from the party on Monday.

City Hub received reports that Mr O’Conner withdrew from the contest early in the day last Wednesday, when it became clear he wouldn’t

Craig Chung. Source: Twitter

win, throwing his support behind Mr Chung over Mr Bartells. It is understood that Mandla’s votes also went to Chung.

City Hub contacted Mr Chung for comment but said he was not allowed to speak before a campaign launch to be held at a date to be advised.

Mr Chung is currently serving on Ryde Council where he was elected in 2012.

It was suggested that the council merge with neighbouring Hunters Hill and Lane Cove councils under the NSW Government’s controversial amalgamation plan. But following legal action launched by Hunter’s Hill Council the City of Ryde Council is yet to be dissolved.

City Hub understands there is nothing in the Local Government Act which precludes councillors from serving on more than one council at a time In previous Ryde council meetings, Mr Chung has supported a discussion on whether Australia should become a republic as well as supporting large infrastructure projects such as the Lachlan Lane site.

FEATURE

Laura Grace, Tiera Boo, Sair Solidair and Kim Siew. Photo: Chris Peken

the different community groups and culture groups and things that Addison Road do.”

Sarah Harvie builds large inflatable sculptures. This year at the Festival she’ll be inviting the public to paint on either of two sculptures she has created.

One has already been partially painted by students from Marrickville High and Tempe Primary school, they were her “match up”.

On the question of gender bias, she’s pretty clear: “Generally it’s been a male dominated thing for a while.”

She doesn’t think women were deliberately excluded, but rather that it was the nature of the environment.

“Street art is associated with getting out there, getting on walls, climbing up…a guy basically risking his life hanging outside a building.”

Harvie believes that just by participating women are effecting changes in street art. Their work is more likely to be political, depict female images, and bring the language of women to the streets.

Bus TV is a mini-documentary video in which artist Laura Grace interviews bus drivers from local depots.

It will be shown on monitors mounted on old bus seats in the Chrissie Cotter Gallery. Grace will also be giving a talk, explaining her work and sharing bus driver stories with the audience.

While she acknowledges that graffiti and stencil art are probably still male dominated, Laura feels there is a fair representation of women in installation and projection art and in her field, electronic media.

Perhaps it’s because of the ubiquity of technology.

On whether her gender influences her art, she said: “Maybe because I’m a woman, the people that I interview and work with react differently to me.”

She feels no particular incentive to imbue her work with feminist ideals, allowing herself intrinsically to inform her art. “I do like to engage with the public and make people think.”

As Victoria Johnstone notes, most street artists use pseudonyms and their art is not defined by any distinguishable gender qualities, so the average observer wouldn’t even know whether it was a man or woman who created the work.

“Really, sex shouldn’t matter. It’s about the quality of your art.”

Perfect Match Festival

Aug 5–7, various Inner West locations.

For info on free neighbourhood celebrations, talks, tours & more go to: www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/ news-and-events/perfect-match-2016

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she has created for the Festival is based on a black female guitarist called “The Duchess” who played alongside Bo Diddley. She gets her inspiration from music: “Often I hear these women and think ‘oh what do they look like, can I incorporate them into my artwork?’ And that’s what I did with The Duchess.”

Akisiew (aka Kim Siew), a mural artist, suggests that at least in it’s early days, graffiti art belonged to the bad boys club: “…there wasn’t really a place for a female to be naughty or do naughty things.”

Having said that, she doesn’t think criminal behaviour holds much appeal for girls and believes it’s the legitimisation of street art that has attracted more female artists. Apart from diluting it’s shady past, the broader acceptance and interest in street art means wider themes and subject matter can be explored.

“I think it’s important that women just go out there and express what they want to express,” said Akisiew (aka Kim Siew). She has been involved with the Festival every year and witnessed its growth and expansion, noting there are many more artists and activities.

This year she was matched with Addison Road Community Centre: “My style is well suited to what they wanted. They really wanted something that was character based, something that was going to show

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BY RITA BRATOVICH There was a time when the term “graffiti art” seemed contradictory. Graffiti was associated with delinquency, vandalism, risky activity and was almost exclusively practised by male adolescents. The growing street art movement has absorbed graffiti culture into its folds and legitimised it, at the same time erasing the gender boundary that had been sprayed in thick black paint around it.

Case in point, the third annual Perfect Match Festival, held this year by the newly formed Inner West Council, will feature a strong contingent of female artists.

Developed by Marrickville Council originally to combat illegal graffiti and antisocial behaviour, the festival has grown exponentially both in popularity and range. It is a unique forum for council, community members, property owners and artists to come together to discuss artwork and locations that will enhance the area, discourage defilement and attract visitors.

Victoria Johnstone, Arts and Cultural Development Officer for the Inner West Council, says one of the main goals of the festival is to “educate people around appreciation of art and foster respect between artists and property owners”.

When asked if there was a conscious decision to include more female artists this year, Johnstone replied: “They’re not being chosen because they’re women; they’re being chosen because their work is on par now with some of the best street artists globally.”

Johnstone’s theory on why women may not have participated in street art much in the past has more to do with the nature and scale of the artworks.

Creating some of these works can involve using a forklift, cherry-picker, harness and pulley, and power tools. While it was once outside their sphere of consideration, young girls are now becoming more confident about getting a forklift licence, putting on a safety helmet and vest and abseiling down the side of a three storey factory.

Opinions on the origin and prevalence of gender discrimination in street art varies among female artists. “There’s no doubt about it, there’s definitely a gender imbalance,” said Tiera Boo. She is one of the stencil artists contributing to the Paste Up Wall, a display being held in conjunction with The Stencil Art Prize.

Tiera believes women’s hesitation to get involved in street art is a result of social conditioning: “Society in general doesn’t allow women, or girls, especially when they’re starting out, to make the same public mistakes… as women we get judged for our faults more harshly than men do.”

She thinks women are less likely to risk the severe scrutiny that comes with street art and therefore they don’t make the mistakes from which they can learn and ultimately grow as an artist.

When she began stencilling, Tiera fully embraced the punk and political milieu of the scene at that time.

Her art still reflects a feminist sensibility. The work

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

On an isolated road in the Central Desert a stranger rescues a young woman from a near fatal car crash. It’s a moment of life and death.

A bond is formed and worlds collide.

Elsewhere, a woman waits for a man to return from the mines, her secrets to be slowly revealed. Each one, at various levels, is broken.

The multi-gifted Sarah Enright plays Mia – the waiting housewife – battling her demons from inside and out.

“It’s about three people – their isolation, the impact the expanse of the land has on them, their emotional state and their relationships,” explained Enright.

Broken Written by Darwin based Mary Anne Butler, Broken has made its mark on a swathe of awards up and down the country, most notably winning the Victorian Premier’s Award for Literature. “Mary Anne’s amazing script is just so poetic and beautiful with all the emotions that it travels through,” said Enright. “It’s abstract – really like a spoken poem.”

Coming back to a text-based piece after so long away has been a major attraction for Enright: “It’s been a real joy to use words again and know the power that is in language.”

Set at night, in the quiet malevolence of the outback, the work draws the audience into a deeper kind of listening.

“Sometimes you can go to the theatre and feel bombarded. We are trying to slow down time a little so people feel comfortable in the dark and tune into the story with their ears.”

Enright – who is no stranger to Australian theatre, film and television – adds another creative string to her bow later this year, taking up a fine arts residency in Austria. (GW) Until Aug 28, varied performance times.

Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. $30-$45. Tickets & info: www. darlinghursttheatre.com or 02 8356 9987

Richard Carrol

Calamity Jane

Australia’s most unique musical theatre experience, Neglected Musicals, presents Calamity Jane.

Adapted from the stage play after the 1953 Warner Bros film, Calamity Jane stars Virginia Gay in the titular role as ‘Calam’, a gun-toting, disaster-prone woman who promises to assist a local saloon proprietor by getting a music-hall star from Chicago.

Calamity Jane is the first Neglected Musicals production to run an entire week of shows – particularly special since the production company is not-for-profit and all participants are

volunteers. Further, Neglected Musicals presents musical theatre that has rarely or never been seen in Australia – with only a read through and a day’s rehearsal, the final show is presented with scripts in hand and piano accompaniment.

“It’s hilarious because by the end of the week the performers will have had much more experience doing the show than rehearsing it,” said Richard Carroll, the director of Calamity Jane. “I think it’s going to be great for them, I think it’s going to be really fun to see how the show changes up every night. I think the performers will have a lot of fun and it’ll feel really different every performance.”

“The audiences that come to Neglected Musicals are really loyal and very enthusiastic and they know exactly what they’re going to see,” added Carroll. “But I think it’s [Calamity Jane] a great opportunity for Neglected Musicals to reach new audiences and hopefully they’ll keep coming back for more!” (ES) Aug 3–7, varied performance times. Hayes Theatre Co, Potts Point. $45.Tickets & info: www.hayestheatre.com.au or 02 8065 7337

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A Nest of Skunks Imagine being forced to flee your home and move to a new country. Now imagine this new country doesn’t accept you, and dehumanises you and your family. Nest of Skunks explores the story of a family of asylum seekers on the run in their new country.

Written by James Balian and Roger Vickery, this play hits right at home for both men.

Balian and his family fled Iraq in 1969 to get away from all the tension, and Vickery lived down the road from Bonegilla Migrant Camp when he was a child and went to school with refugee children.

The play is based on a 1000-word short story written by Vickery; he decided to turn it into a theatre production and asked Balian to be his co-writer.

“I read it and loved it. He wanted to turn it into a play and started the process. I wrote a 40-page draft then we expanded it into the full-length play. I think it’s on it’s twelfth draft now,” Balian explained.

Both writers felt it was important that the play is unbiased, and made sure the writing doesn’t manipulate the audience into thinking a certain

Amanda & Brendan

viewpoint; they want their audience to make their own conclusions about their work.

“From the story viewpoint I like the fact we didn’t get into an emotional cliché, because the danger is to make the people feel a bit like you must have this emotion to it,” said Balian.

“We just tell a story, it’s a thriller about a family who are on the most dangerous night of their lives. The audience will find their level of connection with it.” (AMal) Until Aug 13, 8pm Wed-Sat, 5pm Sun. The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $22-$32.

Tickets & info: www.thedepottheatre.com

Celebrity Theatresports – comedy for a new Indigenous cause!

Celebrity Theatresports is the night the stars come out to play for the funniest fundraiser of the year!

Twelve celebrities and twelve Theatresports champions (paired in celebrity-champion combinations) take to the stage without a script to make up comedy scenes on the spot from audience suggestions. In a series of hilarious games, challenges and comedy skits – from songs and poems to scenes in all kinds of styles – teams compete for laughs and the judge’s scores.

Celebrity Theatresports draws on a wide range of material, from contemporary events, affairs, and popular culture to obscure films, and the tv guide.

This year’s show is raising money for Impro Australia’s new Indigenous Theatresports Youth Fund – aimed at bringing free Theatresports David Callan and Jon Williams

Mary Anne Bulter

Arts Editors: Jamie Apps - Alannah Maher For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

shows and training to indigenous youth across the state.

Jon Williams, the director of the show, says that with celebrities such as The X-Files’ “lone gunman” Dean Haglund, and Jay Laga’aia (the legend from Star Wars, Home and Away, The Lion King (musical), and Play School), this year’s show promises to be the best yet.

Celebrity Theatresports is an annual event that gets bigger and better with every show. Whether you have never been or are a regular attendee, this year’s show is not one to be missed. The promise of spontaneous comedy and fundraising for a worthy cause makes for a good night out. (RP) Aug 6, 8pm. Enmore Theatre, 118 Enmore Rd, Enmore. $28.55.Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au or phone 9550 3666.

Info: www.improaustralia.com.au

Contributors: Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Alicia Sim, Peter Urquhart, James Harkness, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana, Shon Ho, Jacqui Rothwell, Emily Shen, Andrew Hodgson, Irina Dunn, Cindy Aravena, Jacob Aguilar, Caitlin Burns, Zeiya Speede, Rita Bratovich, Chantal Walsh, Raffaele Piccolo, Barbara Karpinski, Taylah Felice.

Three Sisters

Packemin Productions presents

Credit: Marnya Rothe

Wicked Photo: Grant Leslie Photography

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other young women met in the land of Oz and formed an unlikely but profound friendship – Wicked tells the incredible untold story of the women who would become Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Over the rainbow and not too far out west, Packemin Productions present a spellbinding production of this much loved modern musical at Parramatta’s Riversides Theatres.

Producer/Director Neil Gooding was pleased to see this “big, youthful and exciting” production met with standing ovations and excellent reviews upon its opening last weekend.

Gooding’s handpicked leading ladies, Mikayla Williams as Galinda and Ashleigh O’Brien as Elphaba, prove they have the pipes and the acting talent to do justice to these dynamic roles.

“Elphaba is an underdog in the true sense of musical theatre, she looks different to everybody, she has big dreams… her story of longing and getting the opportunity that she

I Love Todd Sampson Laura is not doing too well. During her childhood she constructed an alternative reality where she heard cellos and danced with horses. Join her as she escapes back into her twisted fairy tale and encounters old imaginary friends…

I Love Todd Sampson (Redux) is an experimental work of theatre which brings together live performance, interactive architecture, film, sound, scents, an actual live horse, and television personality Todd Sampson, to tell a story exposing the vulnerability of human nature.

Marie St Anne, who conceived this show and takes the performance lead, invites audiences to follow her through an installation style theatre setting designed by THOSE WHO FALL IN LOVE LIKE ANCHORS DROPPED UPON THE OCEAN FLOOR It’s a mouthful to be sure, but Jo Morris, actor and co-producer of “Anchors” says the title captures the sense of the play.There are only three actors in this totally new show (Morris, Renee Newman and Ben Mortley) and each plays four different characters in different scenes, settings, time periods – and sometimes with different accents.

While frenetic and comical, it is also at times sensitive and poignant, examining love through a variety of filters. (RB) Until Aug 6 (Mon to Sat 7pm; Sat 6 Aug 2pm & 7pm). SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross. $30-$38.Tickets & info: www. griffintheatre.com.au

Regarded as one of the most outstanding plays from one of the world’s most outstanding playwrights, Anton Chekov’s Three Sisters receives a 21st Century treatment from Sport for Jove theatre.

For Kevin Jackson, a lifetime of fascination with Chekov’s work has culminated in directing this production, which he regards as his “favourite play of all time”.

Three Sisters visits the Prozov sisters in four vastly different situations over a four year period. The sisters live in an army-garrison city in the time of Romanov Russia in the early 1900’s; they go about their everyday lives while lustfully dreaming of things being better in another place or another time.

Jackson says this play is about “dreams” – how “we’ve all got these aspirations to do other things, but how that all ravels out is very slowly and can sometimes be optimistic and sometimes it can be pessimistic.”

Jackson commissioned Russian-Australian writer Karen Vickery to translate Chekov’s play specifically

wanted, combined with a classic [pairing of] two girls who are complete polar opposites but find each other and become best friends through adversity, I think those elements seem to always work historically in theatre…”

With dazzling costumes and sets borrowed from Melbourne’s Cloc Theatre (who also collaborated on Packemin Productions’ Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins), this production does nothing in half-measures.

Gooding is most proud of their execution of the ‘Defying Gravity’ scene at the end of Act 1 where Elphaba flies for the first time.

The music by Stephen Schwartz remains one of Gooding’s favourite elements: “…this score will go down in history as one of the best musicals ever written. When that music is played by a live orchestra, which we have, and sung well, it’s just exciting [to see] in a theatre.” (AM) Until Aug 13, varied performance times.

Riverside Theatres, Cnr Market and Church St, Parramatta. $39-$49.Tickets & info: www.riversideparramatta.com.au

architectural muse Genevieve Lilley, which weaves throughout Redfern’s 107 Projects space. Along the way you’ll meet a horse for tea and toast (played by a hefty Iberian stallion named Jazz, who has been trained to sit on a couch especially for this show) and eat lollies in a hotel room with Todd Sampson (via the magic of video and sound recording).

At the heart of this performance, St Anne wishes to make a broader statement about mental health, particularly issues stemmed from childhood trauma and how that manifests into adulthood. “[Laura’s] world is not hurting anybody, it’s the way she’s taught herself to exist… people have different ways of coping and people have

FRACTURE If you’re in need of a good thriller then head along to Fracture – it will be exactly what the doctor ordered. Fracture is written and directed by Lucy Clements.

Clements has a fascination with psychological thrillers, and there is another two in the works. This production tells the story of 20-something Charlie, who lives with a couple of roommates in a pretty average apartment living a pretty normal life. Except for the fact that Charlie has a past, and he’s about to learn you can’t hide from it forever.

(AMal) Until Aug 12, 10pm. Old Fitz Theatre, 126 Dowling St, Wooloomooloo. $25. Tickets & info: www.oldfitztheater.com.au

their own moments of comfort and there should be no judgement called on that.”

This explains the incorporation of Todd Sampson (ABC’s The Gruen Project, Redesign My Brain), or rather the idea of Todd Sampson, into this piece. St Anne described stumbling across Sampson on television during a mentally traumatic time in her life, and how he came to represent a calming presence for her – “There’s something about the timbre of his voice…this voice helped and continues to help me get through…”

St Anne hopes audiences will leave I Love Todd Sampson feeling empowered to help people, to take a conversation beyond ‘are you ok?’ next time they find someone who isn’t doing too well. (AM) Aug 9–14, 7.30pm. 107 Projects, 107 Redfern Street, Redfern. $20-$30.

Tickets & info: www.trybooking.com/194127 or www.livingroomtheatre.org

LOW LEVEL PANIC This awardwinning play written by Clare McIntyre is a bold and unflinching portrayal of femininity in both the public and private spheres.

Geraldine Hakewill plays Celia, the prim and proper one out of the three female housemates. Director Justin Martin seeks to house the play’s confronting exploration into sexism and sexual abuse in a more modern context than its 80’s roots.

See how far we have – or haven’t come – with this foul-mouthed and funny foray into the world of women. (CB) Until Aug 12. Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $28-$38. Tickets & info: www.oldfitztheatre.com

THE HANSARD MONOLOGUES: AGE OF ENTITLEMENT When producer Peter Fray shared his idea of using the Hansard transcripts for a verbatim play, Paul Daley and Katie Pollock jumped at the chance to write it. That was in 2013, Daley never expected there to be a sequel – spurred by the continued shenanigans of Australian politics, Daley and Pollock wrote a follow up. The stellar cast of actors each bring a unique element to the script. As if Australian politics isn’t funny enough already. (RB) Aug 5–13. Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale. Tickets & info: www.seymourcentre.com

for this production.While he has collected more than 20 translations over the years, he found that even the most recent Australian interpretation, from the late 1980’s, wasn’t fitting, saying:“I wanted to have the audience feel as comfortable as possible with the sound of the language and the organisation of the words.”

With 20 actors on stage in period costume, the set by Georgia Hopkins takes furniture and elements closely matched to the period and places them in an intangible black void – a fitting tribute to the abstract nature of this play.

Jackson compares Three Sisters to a gathering with your own family for a Christmas lunch, a wedding, or a funeral – “everyone’s got secrets and they don’t talk about it, aunty so-and-so doesn’t like aunty so-and-so but you never know why...” (AM) Until Aug 13, varied show times. Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland Street, Chippendale. $35-$42.

Tickets & info: www.seymourcentre.com or 9351 7940

Photo by Julie Samerski

THE BEAST Inspired by the writer’s own tree-change to Hillsville in the Yarra Valley, Eddie Perfect’s new play exposes middle class hypocrisy in the setting of a nose-to-tail dinner party. Based on real events, a group of idealistic foodies get their hands on an Angus calf for a butcher to slaughter and turn into dinner.

When things don’t go to plan, the audience will see how far short these people fall from their lofty ideals. (CB) Until Aug 14, various show times. The Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. $89.90-$139.90.

Tickets & info: www.thebeastplay.com

BETRAYAL Lies, deceit and wine may be the essential ingredients for a night of treachery, but Ensemble Theatre’s production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal falls a little short of highlighting the lingering itch of guilt or the hollow bleakness that might reside in corrosive relationships. The production is enjoyable enough, but for a play about yearning, desire and deception, the absence of threat may leave you walking away a little indifferent and safely untouched.

(SH) Until Aug 20, varied performance times. Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli. $66-$73. Tickets & info: www.ensemble.com.au city hub 4 AUGUST 2016

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THE NAKED CITY

EMBRACING THE UKE!

With Coffin Ed, Miss Death and Jay Katz These days you can borrow more than just books from your local library. CDs and DVDs are always plentiful and now you can even take home a ukulele.Yes, that wonderful four string instrument that has seen a major renaissance in recent years is now available for loan at City of Sydney libraries as well as free instructional lessons.

It says a lot for the popularity of the modest guitar-like instrument that dates back to 19th Century as a Hawaiian adaptation of the Portuguese machete. Today there are numerous ukulele social groups, festivals and bands like the Old Spice Boys who put a modern spin on an old fashioned instrument with a repertoire that ranges from classic swing to modern day Prince.

But what about somebody who has embraced the ‘uke’ in almost a time warp setting, when the pop music of the 20th Century was just beginning to emerge. Enter Godfrey Uke, a Sydney musician and uke obsessive who has immersed himself in not only the music of the Roaring Twenties and beyond but the whole frivolity and absurdity of the prohibition jazz era.

Godfrey’s interest in the music of this era began with him sifting through his parents’ and relatives’ dusty record collections. He notes: “This opened the door to jazz of all genres, but as I get older I return more and more to where it all began: the great melodies, infectious rhythms and pure entertainment of what was essentially pop music of the early 20th Century.”

As for the ukulele, he sees it as an instrument that compliments the beauty of early jazz music very well and explains: “While it is a tool capable of playing complex music very convincingly, the uke always retains a disarming sense of joy and abandon that undercuts the pretentiousness sometimes associated with jazz. Its sound is light and springy, with very little sustain. It’s small but it can’t hide, and it certainly can’t pretend to be anything it isn’t.”

Godfrey also has an interesting spin on the modern day revival of the uke, suggesting: “To some extent the appeal of the ukulele is its relative sense of worthlessness, which is then fetishized by people who are a little

Sydney Science Festival at the Powerhouse The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest particle accelerator – 27km in circumference. It was built in an attempt to prove the existence of the Higgs boson – a theorised particle that, put simply, explains the existence of everything in the Universe. The LHC effectively recreates the moment one billionth of a second after “the Big Bang” in which this particle was meant to have formed. And that’s why it’s the world’s greatest science experiment.

Collider is an exhibition of the LHC that will feature at the Powerhouse Museum as part of the Sydney Science Festival. Dr Alan Duffy, a Melbourne scientist and one of the thousands of scientists and engineers involved in the LHC project, will give a talk explaining the experiment and describing his experience.

Annette Kellerman should be a household name, her resume is beyond admirable – she pioneered synchronised swimming; wrote about and promoted women’s health and beauty; was a long distance swimmer; performed acrobatics and vaudeville routines on stage; starred in many films; ran several successful businesses; did charity work; wrote a number of books, including a children’s book; and all in the first half of the 20th Century, while women were fighting for the right to vote.

Australian born, she achieved phenomenal fame overseas, yet was barely recognised at home.

Peter Cox, curator at The Powerhouse Museum, hopes to change that, starting with a comprehensive exhibition showcasing Kellerman’s life and work.

Predominantly using the collection of costumes and artefacts donated to the Sydney Opera House Archives by Kellerman herself, Cox has put together a seven part display. Each one SUSAIN BAIRD – SENSE OF PLACE Baird smothers otherwise serene landscapes in light. She describes her process as “distilling the landscape from its infinite possibilities”. Painted across two residencies in NSW and Tasmania, the precise way that light is spilling, or leaking, in Bard’s paintings gives the impression that she is embalming (or eulogising) her scenes rather than revitalising them.

Baird’s method emphasises the diversity of the Australian landscape and the peculiarity of its quality of light. (ZS) Until Aug 6. Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. Info: www.arthousegallery.com.au 12

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Duffy is a science communicator and is passionate about sharing discoveries and new knowledge with the general public.

“Part of the role of science today is to remind people of this incredible world that is a little bit outside their everyday experience but intimately connected with their everyday lives,” said Duffy.

The exhibition uses video, light and theatrical elements and includes artefacts from the collider itself. Duffy believes that using art and theatre can help make the complex and dry information more palatable and easier to understand. “…It’s a perfect blend of art and science, so that it is an enthralling and engaging experience…”

spotlights an outstanding feature of her work or life.

Asked if there were any stand out pieces, Cox replied “The mermaid costume would have to be my favourite”.

Kellerman would Peter Cox. Photo: Michael Snow squeeze herself into the constricting tail and perform her aquatic act. “…because the garment keeps your feet together you have to swim like a mermaid, and she was able to do that.” (RB) From Aug 10, 10am–5pm daily.

Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo.

Free with general admission ($15 adult, $8 conc, kids under 16 free). Info: www.maas.museum

MONTAGES:THE FULL CUT, 1999-2015 This exhibition gathers artist Tracey Moffatt and editor Gary Hillberg’s eight collaborative films. Moffatt and Hillberg present a series of montages of cinematic representations of topics such as violence against women, blackness and indigeneity, and artists’ work. Moffatt and Hillberg’s interest in the representation and reconstitution of the social world in cinema undergirds their collaboration, but what animates it is a waxing and waning social optimism. (ZS) Until Aug 10. Artspace, 43-51 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo. Info: www. artspace.org.au

SCULPTURE BY BARANGAROO Sculpture by the Sea expands to Barangaroo Reserve.This free event showcases twelve artworks by Australian artists.The program features free talks by the exhibiting artists and other special events run throughout the month.

The selection of works will “grow and change” over the course of the month along an outdoor walking trail through Barangaroo Reserve, running along the harbour-side Wulugul walk from Nawi Cove to Walumil Lawn.Visitors can also book cultural tours to explore the area’s Indigenous history. (ZS) Aug 6–21, 8am–6pm daily.

Barangaroo foreshore.

Free. Info: www.barangaroo.sydney

outside of the mainstream. I think a lot of uke players feel they are part of an enlightened minority that ‘truly’ understands the value of the instrument, lading to a slightly scary cult element within the ukulele community.Also, many ukuleles are very cheap.They are second only to the kazoo when it comes to accessibility (and only marginally less irritating for some listeners).Very few people are afraid of picking one up and having a go.The uke has always been a popular amateur instrument and in the days of Tin Pan Alley it was ubiquitous.Ten years ago a lot of people learnt how to pick a Ben Harper song on a guitar, whereas in the 1920s and 30s folk of a similar musical bent could play ‘Shine on Harvest Moon’ or ‘Blackbottom’ on a uke.”

The musicality aside, Godfrey Uke is quick to emphasize the importance that humour plays with his live show.

“Humour is a big part of the show because it’s a big part of life. It’s probably the most fundamental thing in the world (to me at least). I’m not sure how to act in the world or understand anything without a sense of humour, and I am deeply puzzled (and amused) by people who manage to exist without it.The era we are recreating also demands a particular style of humour that is fast being forgotten.”

Godfrey Uke’s ‘Tinpan Alley’ show plays the Django Bar at Camelot this coming Friday August 5.Take a journey back to the music and showmanship of the Roaring Twenties with a troupe of seven superbly talented performers plus a special guest performance from the remarkable young tap dancer Hilton Denis.

You can also catch this infectious madness at Hotel Blue in Katoomba on August 13 & 26.Tickets & info: www.godfreyuke.com

The exhibition will appeal to people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of knowledge, and Duffy encourages everyone should come because “it’s fundamentally cool stuff ”.

(RB) Collider: Aug 6–Oct 30. Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo. $5-$20 (family $45).

The World’s Greatest Experiment: A talk by Dr Alan Duffy. Aug 12, 6.30–8.30pm. Powerhouse Museum. $10-$25.

Info: www.sydneyscience.com.au

This weekend the 37th Moocooboola Festival hosted by the Hunters Hill Council turns the Boronia Park Ovals into a fun filled community party with entertainment for all ages and stores galore.

With two main stages, entertainment ranges from live music performances, dance and gymnastics displays and comedy acts.

Not eating for several days before Moocooboola might also be a good idea (insert ‘we are joking’ disclaimer here), because there will be more food than you can poke a OVER MANY HORIZONS New media artist Dr Keith Armstrong brings together art and science in this immersive installation that uses robotics, sound, light and movement to inform and enhance the viewer experience. In spite of the use of technology and physics and some classic scientific themes (like the periodic table), Dr Armstrong insists you don’t need a knowledge of science to appreciate the works. In fact, he sees his art as a way to make science appealing and accessible to the general public. (RB) Until Sep 23 (12-6pm, Mon-Fri). UTS Gallery, Level 4, 702 Harris St, Ultimo. Free.

Info: www.art.uts.edu.au

twisted potato on a stick at, with plenty of exotic street and festival foods to tempt.

Be sure to save some room for dessert too as their will be a lamington bake off, and who doesn’t love a good lamington?

Finally the festival isn’t just for the two legged members of the family, you are encouraged to bring your dog along and enter them into any number of the dog show competitions and treat them to a day out also. (JA) Aug 7, 9.30am–4.30pm.

Boronia Park Ovals, Hunters Hill.

Free. Info: www.moocooboola.com FRIDA KAHLO AND DIEGO RIVERA Sydney finally has the opportunity to see the works of these famed Mexican artists in our city.This expertly curated exhibition features 33 iconic paintings – including Kahlo’s ‘Self portrait with monkeys’ and ‘Diego on my mind’ (both 1943) and major examples of Rivera’s canvas paintings – interspersed with a tapestry of photographs and letters which tell the story not only of the couple’s artistic careers, but of their turbulent relationship, passionate activism and love for their homeland. (AM) Until Oct 9. Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road,The Domain. $8-$18 (multi-visit passes available).Tickets & info: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE

By Jamie Apps Live At The Sly’s 1st Birthday: SLYFOX’s week of celebrations continues tonight with their weekly live band night also celebrating its first birthday. Over the past year the fox has hosted an incredible array of emerging talent in its low light, late night, dive-bar format.Tonight they welcome Project Collective Ska, New Venusians, Samuel Dobson and Colourfields onto the stage with the night kicking off earlier than usual at 8pm with free entry.

Thu, Aug 4, SLYFOX Hotel Godfrey Uke & His Orchestra: Godfrey Uke’s ‘Tin Pan Alley’ returns for this very special celebration of all things vaudevillian, laced with quirky comedy and lashings of absurdity.A host of of corny characters, jazz-age witticisms and classic one-liners combine to showcase the infectious sounds of American jazz from the 1920’s to 1940’s.

Fri, Aug 5, Django Bar (Camelot Lounge) The Backsliders: Renowned for captivating live shows,The Backsliders present an eclectic mix of blues styles moving from driving delta blues riffs and jungle-like rhythms, to ‘Piedmont’ blues influenced ‘all-acoustic’ unplugged treatments of 1920’s songs by blues heroes such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Robert Johnson.

Sat, Aug 6,The Basement The Balmain Sinfonia: Returning to its inner west heartland and new home this weekend, the Balmain Sinfonia performs for the first time at the Italian

Forum in Leichhardt. For the celebration the Sinfonia will be performing Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3, Tommy Tycho:Violin Concerto and Brahms: Symphony No. 1.

Sat, Aug 6,The Italian Forum Hot Potato Band: Known to cause a severe case of happy fever this 11-piece, fresh sounds brass band is sure to put a smile on your face in an incredibly unique live show. Beware, as they may make you the centre of their performance… literally!

Sun, Aug 7, Moocooboola Festival Organ Transplant: Night two of a brand new weekly residency celebrating the thriving jazz scene in Sydney.

Stalwarts of the Australian Jazz scene re-unite for the first time in a small group setting since 2005 to present a feel-good, good-time band designed to warm Sydney hearts on the coldest night and help give Sydney a positive start to the week.

Mon, Aug 8, Foundry616 Louis Stapleton and Co: While attending Germany’s largest music academy in Cologne for four years, Louis absorbed a wide variety of influences – workshopping with the like of John Taylor, Aaron Parks, Alan Broadbent and studying under Hubert Nuss and Florian Ross. These influences come together in this new quartet which values tradition and familiar forms, but you’ll also hear modern harmony and abstract colours.

Tue, Aug 9, Lazybones Lounge

By Jamie Apps When it comes to creating anything artistic, it is vital to reflect often on one’s past work to evaluate and evolve moving forward. Sime Nugent, one half of duo Sweet Jean with Alice Keath, explained that this process was a big factor which influenced their new album Monday To Friday.

“It’s a matter of everything becoming some kind of reaction to the last thing you did, which for us was an EP of really gothic old folk music. So for this record we really just wanted to trust our instincts and move into unknown territory by writing in a different style.”

This approach has seen the pair “leaving the banjo in the cupboard” and instead employing more synth and electric guitars while writing about things happening around them in their everyday life.

In saying that they are writing about everyday life it’s important to point out that the band’s

Canary – I Am Lion

Sweet Jean

storytelling hasn’t become mundane, rather they are still exploring more philosophical elements as well.“On this album we’ve spoken about ‘where do we get that sense of wonder once you’ve had some of the bubbles burst around you?’” detailed Nugent.“There are songs on the record about very immediate things, such as getting a taxi on a Friday night, but also really gargantuan things like landing a space ship on a comet.”

By writing in this more freeing manner the pair are enjoying themselves much more on stage. “We’re having a great time playing these

Slowly the echo reaches the ears of the listener like a call through a pipe, bouncing off the rounded wall before finding its way out the other end.

Canary sings into the pipe with a reserved tone that makes the occasional swear words a bit of a shock, hitting the listeners ears at a slightly louder volume and seeming to be surrounded in a brief pause in the universe.

Simple and constant; the voice is accompanied by just enough guitar, creating music out of the almost spoken words, muted and faithful, following.

The listener places their ear to this mysterious pipe with a soft voice coming from it, melancholy greets them without end. It is not without beauty, calling from so far away and fading into itself. I Am Lion is whispered through a pipe. (SP) WWW

songs and I think that comes through in our live show,” said Nugent.

As part of the promotional efforts for the record Nugent worked closely another creative in Pier Carthew to produce the music video for single ‘Main Street’.“It’s always dangerous putting a musician in-front of a camera and asking them to act so it was great having Pier there because he kept us on a tight leash, mainly trying to stop us laughing too often.”

For anybody still on the fence about heading out to see Sweet Jean, Sime recommends that you can get a test of what to expect by heading to their website where you can sign up to the mailing list and receive a free download of an exclusive cover version of Womack and Womack’s ‘Teardrops’, which is track they otherwise only play live.

Aug 4. Brighton Up Bar, 77 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $15+b.f.

Tickets & Info: brightonupbar.com.au or sweetjeanmusic.com

Ta-ku & Wafia – (m)median EP

How do you create something that is pure joy for your ears to listen to and simultaneously sends all the right chills throughout your body? Apparently its as simple as pairing up two of Australia’s brightest young stars Perth’s Ta-ku and Brisbane’s Wafia.

Ta-ku’s name has become synonymous with sensual romantic beats and production, while Wafia has made a name for herself with silky sweet vocal work. So as you can imagine when you put these two together in a room the output is going to be incredibly sweet, romantic and touching.

Over the course of 11 minutes and 28 seconds the listener is greeted with three full length singles filled with R&B inspired beats layered with dreamy piano keystrokes and Wafia’s fantastic vocals. Between the three full-length singles there are two bridging interludes which work nicely but are far from memorable.

The three singles here are all absolutely fantastic and will certainly be in rotation in my office. I can only hope this talented pair produce more music together. (JA) WWWW1/2

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Cine Latino Film Festival

By Mark Morellini This inaugural national festival showcasing a program of some of the finest films from Latin America comes to Sydney to entertain and culturally enrich audience’s movie going experiences.

A program which boasts 30 films from 11 Latin countries including Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile explores urban and rural life in these countries. There’s a good mix of films for all tastes including documentaries, comedies, dramas and four films about football for sport enthusiasts.

Festival director Alex Castro, who has been involved in Latin American cinema for 15 years, said that filmmaking has been on the increase in these countries with the advent of digital technology.

“The biggest increase has been in independent filmmaking. Most of these films are a labour of love, but they are good quality and are seen throughout the world in one way or another. There are also Latino filmmakers who work in Hollywood and many have been honoured with Oscar awards, such as Mexican Alfonso Cuaron, who was named Best Director for Gravity in 2013.”

“Many of these Latino films deal with family connections, such as

Taryn Brumfitt came to international media attention when the ‘reverse’ before-and-after photos she posted on Facebook sparked a fireball of debate and discussion about body image. The overwhelming reaction prompted her to explore the subject further, resulting in her debut documentary film, Embrace.

Beginning with her own story, Brumfitt describes her emotional and intellectual response to the natural changes in her body. With disarming candour she discusses intimate and revealing details about bodily malfunctions, obsessive physical training, frustrated dieting and then finally, acceptance and celebration.

She bares all many times during the film: in photo shoots, at a nude charity event and while undergoing a very objective, hands-on appraisal by a cosmetic surgeon. It shows defiance and a sincere desire to encourage her audience to free themselves from shame.

Brumfitt travels extensively, interviewing women who have had varied – and sometimes extreme – experiences with body image. Most notable are Turia Pitt, the athlete who was disfigured by fire and now does inspirational speaking tours; a woman who has had a life-long struggle with anorexia; a plus-size LIGHTS OUT From the producer of The Conjouring comes the story of a young boy and his older sister who see a terrifying entity when the lights go out. Filmed on a small budget with a competent cast, unfortunately audiences may feel they’ve seen it all before. The predictability in storylines is suffocating, with the lights going off at all the appropriate times and laughably the damsel in distress also fighting off the supernatural foe and ‘surprisingly’ emerging as the hero of the piece. (MMo) WW1/2 BATMAN:THE KILLING JOKE Alan Moore’s iconic graphic novel has been one of the most anticipated comic adaptations. Mark Hamill (The 14

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Guarani, a film from Paraguay which examines a man’s relationship with his granddaughter. It’s raw, touching and a very real story,” explained Castro. “Parallel Roads is a universal story about the fragility of life – two babies mistakenly switched at birth and the shattering effect this has upon the families many years later.”

THE VIOLIN TEACHER (Brazil) – Inspired by a true story, this film is about a former child prodigy violinist who teaches children in one of the biggest slums in Latin America and the consequences that await once his haunting past is unleashed.

FRANCIS: PRAY FOR ME (Argentina) – This is the story of Argentinean priest Father Jorge Bergoglio, who in 2013 became Pope Francis 1, the 266th and current pope of the Roman Catholic Church. A beautiful and insightful film.

3 BEAUTIES (Venezuela) – A laugh out loud black comedy which satires that Latin American obsession – beauty queens.

A smart and comedic gem.

Aug 9–24. Palace Norton St & Palace Verona. $20-$70 (5 film pass). Tickets & info: cinelatinofilmfestival.com.au

Down Under

Hard to Believe

model; and a young and proudly bearded woman.

She also talks to celebrities including Ricki Lake, Mia Freedman, Amanda De Cadanet and others.

Some details and images are confronting and disturbing. These are however balanced by moments of sheer joy and triumph.

If there’s a criticism it’s that the analysis feels narrow and obvious.

Media, consumer economies and “society” are blamed for the damaging preoccupation women have with personal image. The truth is, women have done strange and ruinous things to themselves in pursuit of beauty for millennia. The subject needs a broader historical and cultural critique.

That said, it is still a film that everyone – regardless of gender – should see. (RB) WWW Showing at Palace and Dendy cinemas from Aug 4.

See websites for session times: bodyimagemovement.com.au

Joker) and Kevin Conroy (Batman) reprise their roles from the animated series in the mid-90’s, although this time around the subject matter is much darker. While the film plays out true to the novel, it would have been nice to see them delve deeper into the darkness. The story does however tell the most compelling Joker origin story and proves that both he and Batman could very easily have switched roles had their “one bad day” gone slightly differently. (JA) WWW OUR KIND OF TRAITOR While on holiday in Marrakech, moralistic professor Perry (Ewan McGregor) must decide if he should help a member of the Russian Mafia (a common problem I’m sure we all can

“These films have been specifically selected for Australian audiences as it’s practically impossible to show them all. People will wonder why they should watch these films, but they may be pleasantly surprised as they may connect with these stories. These films say different things about different people in different countries – some are familiar stories, but some are not. Take a chance on a film or two,” concluded Casto.

Only a brave filmmaker would attempt to produce a movie concerning the 2005 Cronulla riots, especially a black comedy. Such a film could easily be misconstrued as a racial slur and potentially rekindle hostile feelings amongst sensitive moviegoers if the treatment wasn’t right.

However, writer/director Abe Forsythe has successfully made a relevant comment on society with his latest offering about the ethnic clash which unfolds when two carloads of ignorant misfits from both sides meet in the dead of night.

Forsythe has written a script with just the right

relate to). His decision ultimately plunges he and wife Gail (Naomie Harris) into dangerous and deadly dealings with the English government and Russian monarchy. The film certainly has some beautiful scenes, thanks to its big budget and international production. However, it does not offer up anything we haven’t seen a hundred times before in British spy films. (CB) WW1/2 LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP Based on a short novel by Jane Austin, this delightful comedy of manners is set in England in the late 18th Century. Kate Beckinsale is perfectly cast as Lady Susan, a selfindulgent and accomplished flirt who survives on the hospitality of others

balance of violence and humour and gives credence to neither the Lebanese nor the Australian gangs. All characters on both sides have equal levels of idiocy and dysfunctionality and are justifiably portrayed as stereotyped, racist hoodlums who mirror each other perfectly.

This Australian film is hilarious entertainment, but more importantly underneath the verbal profanities and tomfoolery lies a story which delivers a very important message to all audiences, regardless of their ethnicity, about the senselessness of social intolerance. (MMo) WWW1/2

and expects a life of extravagance since becoming a widow without fortune. Elegant and beautifully filmed, this comedy is written with sharp wit and most of the humour derives from Lady Susan’s ‘encouragement of gentlemen’. This charming film which also ridicules romantic sensibility has limited appeal however. (MMo) WWW1/2 GHOSTBUSTERS This respectable reboot of the 80’s paranormal cinematic romp is an exceptionally hilarious and entertaining film which should be enjoyed equally by fans of the original franchise and a whole new generation of movie-goers. Melissa McCarthy leads a likeable cast of all

This chilling documentary is a cry for help – its purpose to spread awareness about the forced live organ harvesting of falun gong practitioners in China, to a world which seems intentionally oblivious to these unspeakable atrocities.

Followers of this spiritual exercise and meditation regime who won’t recant their beliefs are imprisoned as the Chinese government are threatened by this ‘cult’.

China has no tradition of voluntary organ donation and yet they have the largest amount of organ transplants after the US. In a six year period, an estimated 40,000 innocent people have been slaughtered for their organs and incredibly, media coverage is diminishing as the undeniable evidence is building.

Is it ethical for a government female ghostbusters. This supernatural action comedy slime fest is a feast for the eyes and ears and audiences will be engrossed by the ingenious visual effects, especially in 3D, as New York City is demolished by ghosts. (MMo) WWW1/2 SWISS ARMY MAN Occasionally a movie can be so deplorable that it’s surprisingly arresting and amusing to watch – but not in this instance. Daniel Radcliffe plays a farting corpse who helps a man (Paul Dano) marooned on an island back to civilization.This vastly unfunny ‘alleged comedy’ is unashamedly overloaded with gross gutter-level toilet humour which is obnoxious and obscene. Buried deep lies a fleeting moment of redemption

to take the lives of innocent human beings owing to their ’unpopular beliefs’ and sell their organs for profit? Why won’t the Chinese government allow an independent investigation into the source of thousands of organ transplants performed each year?

Insightful interviews with labour camp survivors, activists, journalists, human rights lawyers and surgeons who discuss these horrific crimes against humanity will have the most hardened of skeptics come to the conclusion that these allegations are indisputable. (MMo) WWWW Aug 4. NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St. $15 (incl. Q&A panel discussion).

Tickets & info: hardtobelievesydney2. eventbrite.com where an intelligent statement on society is delivered, but unfortunately it’s too little too late. (MMo) W1/2 THE LEGEND OF TARZAN This movie boasts a stellar cast that incudes Alexander Skarsgard, Christoph Waltz, Samuel L. Jackson and our very own Margot Robbie as Jane. Robbie manages to hold her own, despite being frustratingly confined to ‘damsel in distress’.The return to the Congo also sees the return of some stale ideas about the white man’s place in history.The film is a massive missed opportunity to authentically portray the African experience at the hands of European colonisers in the late 19th Century. (CB) WW1/2

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