el croquis 127: John Pawson

I like John Pawson's work. I appreciate the thought he puts into his work, the clean lines, the minimalist approach, the lack of clutter, having a place for everything. Had a look through the latest el croquis no. 127 and it's on John Pawson's work 1995 - 2005.

The el croquis website features some of his projects.

W: http://www.elcroquis.es/MagazineDetail.aspx?magazinesId=141&lang=en

Lindt Cafe, Martin Place, Sydney

The Lindt Cafe has great chocolate desserts, deliciously rich cakes, ice-creams, sweets, iced chocolates, hot chocolates, and also some non-chocolate snacks too.

Street art, May Lane, St Peters

February's street art in May Lane has been created by the Die Laughing Collective.

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

Australand shifts from Sydney apartments

Article on Australand's strategy to increase it's property trust division as the apartment market is weak at the moment.

"The outlook for the commercial, industrial and investment arm of the group is to increase capital allocations to large scale industrial land estates and to source about $200 million of new property a year."

Australand has been steadily increasing its asset base in its trust division and will continue that path in the year ahead...

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/australand-shifts-from-sydney-apartments/2006/02/06/1139074167867.html

Downloading movies from the net for a fee

Article in the SMH listing providers like Telstra's Bigpond and ReelTime who will let customers download movies online for a fee.

W: http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/coming-to-a-small-screen-near-you/2006/02/07/1139074232813.html

Eric Weideman and Jack Jones - 19th Feb, Sydney

The kids of the 80's era may remember Eric Weideman from 1927 and Jack Jones from Southern Sons. They're playing an acoustic show at West Ashfield Leagues Club on Sunday 19th February.

W: http://www.westsashfield.com.au/online/Default.asp?DeptID=98

Work/Play UTS: 30 Years of Visual Communication

An exhibition exploring 30 years of visual thinking from high profile UTS (University of Technology): Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication graduates.

Dates: 28 February - 24 March 2006
Location: UTS Gallery, Level 4, 702 Harris Street Ultimo
Times: Monday - Friday, 12-6pm

UTS Gallery: http://www.utsgallery.uts.edu.au/

UTS: Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building: http://www.dab.uts.edu.au/

Webcreme

Webcreme: Web design inspiration. View screenshots of sites selected by Webcreme and follow the links.

W: http://www.webcreme.com/

Sony Tropfest 2006 - Sunday 26th Feb, 3pm Free

"Sony Tropfest takes place in just over two weeks, beaming the 16 finalist films via satellite to locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart and Perth.

Sony Tropfest is a full summer day of entertainment, featuring live music from Australian band REGURGITATOR, a panel of celebrity judges and the much anticipated awards ceremony."

Festival Sites:

Sydney: The Domain, Royal Botanic Gardens
Presented by Sony Tropfest.
Public bars and catering: Cointreau, Stella Atois and MadFish Wines.

Melbourne: Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Presented by Sony Tropfest and City of Melbourne

Hobart: Salamanca Square, Hobart
Presented by Machine Laundry Café

Canberra: Stage 88, Commonwealth Park, Canberra
Presented by the National Capital Authority

Brisbane: Suncorp Piazza, Southbank, Brisbane
Presented by QPIX

Perth: Princess May Park, Adelaide St, Fremantle
Presented by the Film and Television Institute.

16 Finalists:

A Room With Askew
Director: Gregory Godhard
State: NSW
Producer: Gregory Godhard
Synopsis: A room askew and a meal that may never happen.

Applause
Director: Michael Noonan
State: QLD
Producers: Michael Noonan/Carine Chai
Synopsis: Struggling to find motivation, office worker Werner Brim is confronted with a most unusual situation - replacing the couch and coffee table in his office is a live audience...and they want to be entertained!

Burst
Director: Juliet Lamont
State: NSW
Producer: Gail Williamson
Synopsis: To forgive is to set yourself free.

Carmichael & Shane
Director: Alex Weinress/Rob Carlton
State: NSW
Producers: Alex Weinress/Rob Carlton
Synopsis: A single father has a unique approach to raising his two year old twin boys...pick a favourite.

Carnivore Reflux
Directors: Eddie White/James Calvert
State: SA
Producers: Huy Nguyen/Sam White
Synopsis: In their lifetime the average meat-eating human will consume; 10 cows, 1/2 tonne of fish, 760 chickens, 37 sheep and 42 pigs.

Fishy
Director: Dale Sidney
State: VIC
Producer: Pamela Smith
Synopsis: A perfect Christmas dinner is wasted on a demanding picky, fussy snapper with impossibly high standards.

Glitch
Director: Leon Ford
State: NSW
Producer: Leon Ford
Synopsis: Tim has a problem. The house he lives in no longer obeys the laws of logic. At times like this, there's only one man that can help.

Goggles
Director: Olivia Peniston-Bird
State: VIC
Producer: Rebecca Peniston-Bird
Synopsis: Seven year old Billy encounters a couple of bullies on his way to the pool

How Many Doctors Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?
Director: Marie Patane
State: NSW
Producers: Marie Patane/Aimee Durrant
Synopsis: Rosie visits the local medical centre for a routine check-up... unfortunately its anything but routine! Are you due for a check-up?

Last Stop
Director: Greg Williams
State: VIC
Producers: Tatiana Doroshenko/Greg Williams/Jacob Oberman
Synopsis: Even the simple act of taking public transport seems to be fraught with peril these days -especially if you're from somewhere else.

Pacific
Director: Peter Carstairs
State: NSW
Producers: Madeleine Shaw
Associate Producer: Cecilia Ritchie
Synopsis: On a lonely beach, a chance encounter with a fisherman is the key to a young man letting go of his past and embracing his future.

Silencer
Director: Frazer Bailey
State: QLD
Producer: Steve Campbell
Synopsis: A secret rendezvous. A loaded gun. A most unexpected arrival. Nobody said it was easy offing your best mate. Beware the thoughts of ordinary evil men.

Snakepit
Director: Janos Zuzmara
State: VIC
Producer: Janos Zuzmara
Synopsis: Australia, two guys, a small room, sixty-three deadly snakes ... only one man is at home.

The Sister
Director: Belinda King
State: NSW
Producer: Belinda King
Synopsis: Amelia finally stands up to her sister, and discovers it's a piece of cake.

The Story Of Bubbleboy
Director: Sean Ascroft
State: NSW
Producer: Kristy Fransen
Synopsis: In a stab-happy world, a sad outcast wrestles with his demons. The story of bubbleboy is a film about being trapped by the past and redeemed by the future.

Tough Crowd
Director: Patrick Gillies
State: NSW
Producers: Patrick Gillies/ Jeremy Brennan
Synopsis: A petulant little girl proves to be a tough crowd for a tireless mime artist."

W: http://www.tropfest.com/

Tagger bags millions in online sale

Article in the SMH about del.icio.us, the online bookmarking / tagging application being sold to Yahoo for millions.

"Joshua Schachter was rumoured to be about $US30 million ($A39.7 million) richer, but this was far from his best Christmas. Just nine days after Yahoo! bought his online registration company Delicious (del.icio.us), and as all eyes were on it, the power failed and the 31-year-old had to work all hours to fix the site's technical emergencies..."

SMH article: http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking/tagger-bags-millions-in-online-sale/2006/02/06/1139074134071.html

del.icio.us: http://del.icio.us/

The Next Design City: Bilbao Effect

"As cities worldwide increasingly count on art and architecture to draw sophisticated travelers, some are defining themselves as "design destinations..."

W: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-next-design-city-bilbao-effect

By Design on Radio National

"As part of its new 2006 schedule, ABC Radio National introduces By Design, a program about how we shape our world - from the cities and buildings we live in to the cars we drive and clothes we wear - broadcast each Saturday at 9am with a repeat at 7pm.

By Design will look at architecture and material culture and the politics of the built environment and design. It will explore how design - the way things look, feel and function - reflects social change, and what the decisions we make as consumers of architecture and everyday objects tell us about who we are.

The program will be produced and presented by the experienced and awarded team of Mark Wakely, Janne Ryan and Alan Saunders.

For more details or to contact the program with story ideas, call Mark Wakely on 02 8333 1437 or email: wakely.mark@abc.net.au."

W: http://abc.net.au/rn/bydesign/

The Amazing Human Body Feb 3 - April 2

"The Amazing Human Body, is an educational exhibit that is intended to provide audiences with a unique and educational perspective on the inner working of the human body by viewing real human specimens, preserved through a method called "plastination".

The specimens are dry and odorless, and remain unchanged for a virtually unlimited amount of time, making them truly accessible. These characteristics lend plastinated specimens inestimable value both for training prospective doctors and for educating non-professionals in the field of medicine.

The exhibition presents approximate 400 real human specimens, including 20 whole bodies and individual organs.

Audiences can learn how their own bodies are constructed as they walk through the exhibition, starting with the human skeleton and the way muscles are structured, on to the intestines and special specimens on the nerves and blood vessels, all the way to the way a baby develops in the uterus. There are also specimens that show the effects of disease such as a heart attack or cancer.

It can teach children about human physiology and help adults learn how to lead healthier lives. Additional, the exhibit also allows for audiences to better understand diseases, including cancer, high blood pressure, the effects of smoking and the use of artificial supports such as knees and hips."

Where: Sydney SuperDome, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park.

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

Coogee Arts Festival - Jan 26- Feb 26

Events include: Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sunday Music Sessions, the Stinkwater short film festival and more.

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

D>Art.06 Festival - April 12 - 21, Sydney

D>Art.06 Festival 12 - 21 April
Presenter: dLux media arts in association with The Studio at the Sydney Opera House
Venue: The Studio

"D>Art.06 is the ninth edition of Australia’s premier screen and digital media arts festival. The D>Art.06 Festival features new experimental video and web art as well as works using mobile and locative technologies, presented in a month-long program of screenings, a forum and a free exhibition.

D>Art.06 Screen: dLux media art’s survey of new international experimental video works. Selected by Ross Gibson. Wed 12 April

Matinaze Re>Mixed: A retrospective of screen-based works presented by the Sydney Intermedia Network (previous name of dLux media arts) between 1990 and 1997. Wed 12 April

D>Art.06 Imports: A selection of imported video art programs focusing on particular countries and regions. Thu 13 April

D>Art Middle Eastern Video: Acclaimed Lebanese filmmaker Akram Zaatari presents and talks about his work, followed by a program of contemporary Middle Eastern video art curated by Tim Welfare. Sat 15 April

D>Art.06 Forum: Today, established media channels like TV and cinema are both challenged and extended by new networked, mobile and personal technologies. Leading experts explore near future scenarios. Fri 21 April

D>Art.06 Exhibition: Interactive online works (D>Art.06 Web), works using mobile technologies (D>Art.06 Mobile/Locative) and a videotheque with international video art programs.

SEASON
Wednesday 12 April at 7pm, Thursday 13 April at 7pm, Saturday 15 April at 2pm

Forum
Friday 21 April 10am - 4pm

W: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/sections/whats_on/boxoffice/event_details.asp?EventID=1779&sm=1&ss=1

Rouser multizine dvd

Came across a new free dvd multizine called Rouser. It says it's a limited preview edition. The full version will launch in early February. The dvd will feature comedy, action sports, music, games, motion. Picked up a copy from Hum records on King St, Newtown.

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

Short & Sweet 2006 Play Festival

"The biggest little play festival in the world is set to explode on the Sydney theatre scene again later this month when around 150 new short plays (chosen from a record field of 1168 local and international entries) premiere at a five week season at two parallel venues.

Short & Sweet Sydney 2006 runs from Jan 31 through to March 5 at the Newtown Theatre and Feb 1 – 25 at the Seymour Centre Downstairs with 90 plays (each no longer than 10 minutes long) receiving full productions in a total of nine weekly programmes. Apart from this “Top 90”, another 50+ receiving one-off performances as part of the new “Wildcards” section.

The top ten plays from the season will then progress through to the final in the York Theatre of the Seymour Centre on Friday March 10th.

In addition, this year’s festival will also include its first ever “Pink Shorts” – a series of eight special performances of Gay and Lesbian themed plays as part of the 2006 Mardi Gras."

W: http://www.shortandsweet.org/

Cracker Comedy Festival Sydney 2006

The Cracker Comedy Festival Gala night is on Monday 6th March and the festival runs for 4 weeks. Go to shows featuring international and local comedians at various venues around Sydney. Comedians include: Scared Weird Little Guys, Umbilical Bros, Elliot Goblet, Lady Julia Morris and many others.

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

Bic Runga touring Sydney and Melbourne in March

Bic Runga will play 2 shows in Australia. Thursday 16th March at Hamer Hall, Melbourne and Friday 17th March at the State Theatre, Sydney.

Her new album Birds will be released on 4th March 2006 in Australia. I picked up a copy when I was in Wellington. Been listening to it a lot and love it. Didn't realise it wasn't here yet. Really liking the 2nd song on the album Say After Me at the moment.

W: http://www.bicrunga.com

The Web Developers Handbook - links

Vitaly Friedman has created a page of useful links for web developers.

W: http://www.alvit.de/handbook/

Also check out his article titled: '25 Sites You Shouldn't Have Missed in 2005.

W: http://www.alvit.de/blog/article/the-sites-you-shouldnt-have-missed-in-2005