Meet the Bloggers

"With an unorthodox mix of reporting, commentary, and activism, a new generation of architectural pundits is making its voice heard—online.."

Article in Architect magazine on architecture bloggers. The article lists the person/s behind the blog, their age, where they're based, when they first posted, total posts, unique visitors received in May 2007, and a description of the blog. Blogs mentioned are:

Architecture My Ninja Please: http://architecture.myninjaplease.com
Bldgblog: http://bldgblog.blogspot.com
City of Sound: http://www.cityofsound.com
Curbed: http://www.curbed.com
A Daily Dose of Architecture: http://archidose.blogspot.com
Inhabit: http://www.inhabit.com
Life Without Buildings: http://lifewithoutbuildings.net
Miss Representation: http://www.missrepresentation.com
Subtopia: http://subtopia.blogspot.com
Super Colossal: http://supercolossal.ch

Super Colossal is the blog of Sydneysider Marcus Trimble. He's also one of the main organisers of the Pecha Kucha Sydney events.

W: http://www.architectmagazine.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1006&articleID=566882

High tea in Sydney

Article in the SMH which mentions three places offering High tea in Sydney. They are: The Tearoom Gunners' Barracks, The Observatory Hotel, and The Victoria Room. "The 2008 Good Food Guide features a 10 of the Best High Tea selection, which includes the three above."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/good-living/high-tea/2007/09/04/1188783209525.html

Ben McKenzie singing Mad World

Really enjoyed Ben McKenzie's performance of the song 'Mad World' last week on Australian Idol. Someone's put it up on Youtube.

W: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyDciWh3hoo

Lara Cameron of Kirin & Co

There's an interview with the very talented Lara Cameron of Kirin & Co on the Victoria-e site. Lara's an interactive and graphic designer who has a very cool blog and has also designed some beautiful fabrics. She's based in Melbourne.

Interview: http://victoria-e.com/2007/08/27/lara-cameron-prints-graphics-fabrics-and-a-beautiful-blog/

Kirin & Co's blog: http://kirinote.blogspot.com/

Watch live band performances online

The SMH has an article titled 'Mobile mosh pit' that talks about a new Australian website that lets you legally download shows by top musicians.

"As of last week, those who attended Paul Kelly's Stolen Apples show at the Sydney State Theatre can legitimately download the full performance - live banter, crowd noise and all - from http://www.liveband.com.au for $15..."
The idea is to generate additional excitement and sales for bands, while providing instant satisfaction to fans used to the immediacy of the internet without infringing digital rights.."

The idea "came to Jamie McDonald, a partner in the company, as he walked out of a concert in Melbourne two years ago wishing he could recreate the event's mood and make the show last longer.

"I came out and I thought, 'This is fantastic.' I bought all the band's CDs but it wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't the same atmosphere," he recalls.."

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/mobile-mosh-pit/2007/09/01/1188067422518.html

Live Band website: http://www.liveband.com.au

Spring Book Fair - Sep 15 Sydney

"S.H. Ervin Gallery is holding its annual Spring Book Fair in September. Thousands of books will be on sale at bargain prices. There will be something for everyone from art, history & travel, biographies, fiction & cookery books. There will be a children's & youth section, plus study aids, magazines & more. Come along & enjoy the fair and take home a treasure!

The fair will be held at National Trust S.H. Ervin Gallery, Watson Rd Observatory Hill, The Rocks on 15 September 07."

For more info visit: http://www.nsw.nationaltrust.org.au, or phone (02) 9258 0173.

Source: Lipmag enewsletter: http://www.lipmag.com/

Sydney Underground Film Festival - Sep 7-10

Film sessions: Recycled Cinema, Manufacturing Dissent, Love/Sick, Desire & Lack, Re: Animation, [x] Narrative, Material Affects, and The Memory Thief.

Where: The Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Rd, Enmore.
Factory Theatre: http://www.factorytheatre.com.au

W: http://www.sydneyundergroundfilmfestival.com/

Shirty 07 - Sep 15 in Newtown, Sydney

Shirty 07 is a new design event. You can buy cool designer t-shirts direct from the maker. The price of t-shirts will be capped at $69. There will also be live music and drinks at the event.

Details: Saturday 15 September, at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (1 Bedford St, Newtown). 12pm to 12am.

Go to the Shirty 07 website for more info on the designers' that will be featured at this event.

W: http://www.shirty07.com.au/

Image above is from the Shirty07 website and is by designer: Smitten by Stephanie.
W: http://www.smittenbystephanie.com

Jan Gehl talk - Sep 11

City Talk: Creating a Great Pedestrian City - The Work of Jan Gehl

"Internationally renowned Danish architect Professor Jan Gehl will share his observations on the ways we can make Sydney a truly great pedestrian city at this free City Talk.

For over 40 years internationally renowned Danish architect Jan Gehl's career has focused on improving the quality of urban life, especially for pedestrians.

Jan will discuss how his research on public spaces and public life has been applied successfully in cities across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia. He will also share his observations on the ways we can make Sydney a truly great pedestrian city.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP will introduce Professor Jan Gehl and the MC will be James O'Loghlin, 702 ABC radio evening show presenter and host of the ABC-TV 'The New Inventors'.

The free City Talks presented by the City of Sydney and The Sydney Morning Herald, are designed to stimulate discussion on our urban environment..."

When and Where:
Tuesday 11 September, 6.30pm - 8.00pm (Doors open 6pm), Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay

Tickets are essential and available from the City's Angel Place Box Office. Bookings can be made by phone on 8256 2222 or click here to book online.

W: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/html/custom/2234-event-details.asp?EventID=28952

This Is Not Art - Newcastle Sep 27 - Oct 1

"This Is Not Art is Australia’s premier independent, emerging and experimental arts festival held in Newcastle, Australia. The 2007 program presents five heady days of creative over-stimulus with workshops, exhibitions, artists presentations, readings, roundtables, performances, panel discussions, project presentations and screenings. All FREE. It's only the gigs that will cost ya!"

W: http://www.thisisnotart.org/

Translucent World exhibition - Aug 29 - Nov 11

"Translucent World is an exhibition of Chinese jade from the outstanding collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing, featuring the manifold uses of jade depicting nature as a reflection of human beliefs and emotions.

Since ancient times, the Chinese have revered this ‘heavenly stone’, carved to produce the most prized ornaments and ceremonial implements. Nature, worked in a diversity of themes and styles over the millennia, has remained a potent source of inspiration for artisans. Since China's Neolithic period, real and imagined creatures of the earth - turtles, birds, dragons or other monsters - were endowed with special attributes, as revealed by their depiction in jade. Gradually the flora and fauna of nature became jade’s most important subject matter. After the Tang dynasty, the landscape with its mountains and streams came to occupy a distinguished place within jade’s thematic repertoire. Designed to decorate cultural implements or sculpted into evocative boulders, these works embodied the universal longing of cultivated individuals to escape their quotidian world to commune with nature. As a crucial component of the nature and its rhythms, humans are represented as part of this translucent world.

Chinese depictions of nature through jade are seldom mere representations of the external world. Rather, they explore nature as a reflection of the human ideal. These ideas about nature, as well as their manifestation in jade, are consistent with Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism, all of which stress humanity’s oneness with nature..."

Where: Asian Gallery, Ground level, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery Road
The Domain, Sydney

W: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/current/translucent_world

Australian Bookbinders Exhibition 2007 - July 16 - Sep 27

"In the world of digital publishing the artisan bookbinder could well be an endangered species. Annual exhibitions of the bookbinders’ art have been held since 1997, providing a focus for practitioners' skill and creativity. This is the first time it has been held at the Gallery."

Details:
Research Library, Lower Level 1
Art Gallery of NSW
Monday - Friday, 10am–4pm (excluding public holidays)
Until 9pm Wednesdays

W: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats_on?eventid=2205

W: http://www.amazingpaper.com.au/page/bookbinding.html

Evolve exhibition by Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott - Sep 6-29

"EVOLVE - Solo exhibition by Australian glass artists Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott.
With botanical creations by Saskia Havekess of Grandiflora, Sydney..

Opening night and artist talk 12th September
Sabbia Gallery presents this long awaited solo exhibition by two of Australia’s most successful contemporary glass artists Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott.

Evolve marks their 15th year together in a partnership rarely seen within any art medium. This exhibition further explores their recent exploration of botanical forms in the Australian environment, and the play of light through the form and surface cutting. It is built on the life that they share together in Sydney’s Northern Beaches..."

W: http://www.sabbiagallery.com/u_exhibitions.html

COFA Spring Fair 2007 - September 15

The COFA Spring Fair is on again 15 September at COFA UNSW.
This year's program of activities include:

* Art Exhibitions at Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Kudos Gallery and COFAspace
* Fine Art & Design market
* Open Studio Walks
* A live DJ area
* A series of Short Courses on digital image portfolio, felting, gilding, Shibori dyeing and stretching a canvas
*COFA Talks: Meet the Makers: Soda_Jerk screen and discuss their indie opus: ¡®Pixel Pirate II: Attack of the Astro Elvis Video Clone¡ The Art Life: Art on the Idiot Box with Andrew Frost
* Science-Fiction/Science-Fact: Show and tell with SymbioticA resident, artist Boo Chapple
* Printmaking demonstrations, coffee, cake and MORE!

When: Saturday September 15, gates open at 10 am
Where: COFA UNSW, Entry via the Greens Rd entrance

W: http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/newsevents/events/event_0100.html

Hope Street Markets - Oct 5, 6, 7 Sydney

The Hope Street Markets will be on again on October 5, 6, 7. Designers will be selling their products including clothing, jewellery, accessories, object desgin and art at the markets.

Address: 182 Campbell St, Surry Hills. Open Fri 5/10 from 6-9pm, Sat 6/10 and Sun 7/10 from 12-5pm.

W: http://www.hopestreetmarkets.com/

Once - movie

"Once is the inspirational tale of two kindred spirits who find each other on the bustling streets of Dublin. One is a street musician who lacks the confidence to perform his own songs. The other is a young mother trying to find her way in a strange new town. As their lives intertwine, they discover each other's talents and push one another to realize what each had only dreamt about before. Once is their inspiring story. Written and directed by John Carney (On the Edge, Bachelors Walk), Once is a nod to the classic musicals of the past, while it is also grounded in the bohemian world of struggling young Dubliners that he knew from his days as a young musician." Director:John Carney, Cast:Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova

The movie opens in Sydney August 30 at the Dendy. Looks like a movie worth watching!

Once movie's website: http://www.oncethemovie.com/

SMH review: http://www.smh.com.au/news/film/once-in-a-lifetime/2007/08/17/1186857731399.html

Dendy cinema website: http://www.dendy.com.au/movies.asp?Type=2#M1086

Saturday InDesign

Saturday InDesign Sydney was on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th July. There are a number of design showrooms that open their doors mainly for the design profession (architects, interior designers, specifiers etc) to visit. Many showrooms offered cloth bags with brochures of their products inside, food and drinks, and even live music. They had buses carting people around to the various showrooms as well. The areas covered included: Pyrmont, Surry Hills, Chippendale, Waterloo, and Alexandria. I enjoyed the new PYD building. It houses a number of showrooms including Roger Sellers bathroomware and Koda Lighting. Showrooms visited over the two days included: James Richardson, FY2K, Steelcase, Hafele, and Porters Paints.

Saturday InDesign: http://www.saturdayindesign.com.au/

PYD Building, Waterloo: http://www.pyd.com.au/

More photos of the day over at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaosgeneration/sets/72157601065438842/

Chris Chun's Fragile Beauty exhibition - opens Sep 13

The Fragile Beauty exhibition will feature New Works on Paper by Chris Chun.

The exhibiton will run from 11-30 September at the Washhouse Gallery in Rozelle, Sydney.
The opening night will be Thursday 13 September.

Chris Chun's website: http://www.chrischun.com
Washhouse Gallery's website: http://www.washhousegallery.com.au/

Monday to Friday tshirts

I like the idea of these tshirts, especially the Friday one.

"Beep, beep, BEEP, BEEP, [hit snooze] Beep, BEEP, SHIT! Yep, you're late again, and you don't even have time to decide which pair of underwear is cleanest, let alone what you actually want to wear.

Monday to Friday tees are the answer to what to throw on in the mornings, the lazy man's (and woman's) uniform. Super-comfy, instant fashion, every working day of the week.

Just say 'no' to crippling clothing indecision, get yourself some of
these puppies, lay back and hit your snooze button. Twice."

W: http://www.mondaytofriday.com.au

d/Art/07 - Jul 13 - Aug 18

Friday 13 July to Saturday 18 August 2007

Tue - Fri: 12.00 - 7.00pm, Sat & Sun 10.00am - 6.00pm
Gallery 2

"d/Art/07 is the tenth anniversary of Australia's premier screen and digital media arts events presented by d/Lux/MediaArts. d/Art/07 examines the increasingly fragmented edges of the digital media world, where device shifting, bandwidth and media distribution technologies are fast becoming the key apparatus of contemporary screen culture. Exploring multi-user online environments such as Second Life the exhibition looks at how artists are penetrating the 'In World' to access the new audiences and unique opportunities these spaces offer.

d/Art/07 provides a sophisticated point of entry to some of the best examples of recent digital media works from Australia and overseas, complimented by a program of online and real-world screenings, industry discussions, talks and public forums."

W: http://www.dlux.org.au