I was asked to take part in Tribal Theatre’s opening night exhibition on March 11 at the old Dendy theatre and jumped at the chance to show my work alongside a number of rad Brisbane artists including: Ellen Stapleton, Clarissa Bones, Bel Johnstone and S.J O’Connor. There will also be short films shown throughout the evening.
If you want to come along, make sure you send an email to Sam and claim a ticket as they’re very, very limited.
The lovely Rebecca Murphy has organised This Little Piggy, an exhibition of 25 artists and 25 little piggy banks, and it’s opening on February 12th at China Heights. Indeed, I shall be one of those 25 artists and have vandalised a little piggy in the most loving way.
Let me tell you about this particular little pig. I received him in the mail courtesy of the brutish hands of Australia Post, and he was in pieces. I figured I’d incorporate a little of his turbulent history when creating the piece so instead of carefully gluing him back together and glossing over his many battle wounds I drew different patterns on his many portions and created Advice Pig. If you go to the show, you will see an example of his sage wisdom on the other side…!
Here’s an artist list to prove how fabulous it will be: Ben Allen, Burntfeather, Caitlin Shearer, Chrissy Lau, Dreams of Grandeur, Emma Kidd, Gloz, James Carey, Jessica Klingelfuss, Kaitlin Beckett, Little Gonzales, Luke Burcher, Megan Dell, Mz. Kat-ii, Natalie Perkins, Nicole Tattersall, Qwux, Rebecca Murphy, Renee Anne, Robbie Karmel, Tiger, Tony Curran, Yewot, Yolanda Stapleton, Yuki Nakano.
If you’re in Sydney town do go check out This Little Piggy
Opening night: Friday February 12th
China Heights
Level 3, 16-28 Foster St, Surry Hills.
The facebook event page is over yonder!
Yep, the government is still planning to install mandatory internet censorship and I’m still flaming angry about it. Nick and I are part of StopInternetCensorship.org and we’re having a BBQ in Orleigh Park on Australia Day to chat with supporters and other likely chaps about our campaign against the internet filter.
If you can’t make it on Tuesday, there is a handy dandy ACTION page with some things you can do to make your opposition to the internet filter felt by the government. There’s also a Stop Internet Censorship wiki where you can contribute your ideas and discuss ways of protesting.
As part of my own personal protest against mandatory internet filtering I will be taking part in The Great Australian Internet Blackout. This means that from January 25-29 this blog, and all the other sites I run, will be going black to demonstrate against Australian internet censorship. My sites will be available – to browse as usual you’ll just need to close the blackout box. I hope this doesn’t cause too much inconvenience but I wanted to contribute, as a website owner and blogger, to a cause that is close to my heart. If you run a website or a blog and want to demonstrate against the mandatory internet filter, here are instructions on how to black your site out. I hope you do participate, because it means vastly increased visibility and the chance of informing people who perhaps aren’t as internetty as you!
The blacklist will contain material that isn’t even illegal, and you can bet it will also contain content that the government wants to suppress (e.g: political dissent!) Internet censorship affects me as a web content producer, and you as a web content consumer; moreover, it affects us as Australians and constituents with a right to a transparent government.
Today I spent the afternoon with some friends at the Asia Pacific Triennial at GoMA. It’s one of the most fun and engaging exhibitions but it only happens every three years, so it’s always a must do. Entry is free, making it a lovely and value-packed few hours too! You can come back and find new things to explore and think about too, as it’s on for three months.
The lighting cast beautiful shadows, I always admire the delicate lighting at the Queensland Art Gallery and GoMA.
See more pictures of APT6, what I wore and our dinner at Vapiano!
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Sunday was Z-day: the day of the undead, The Brisbane Zombie Walk. If you were in the CBD you may have seen the shuffling gait of the rotting hoards raising money (and the deceased) for the Brain Foundation. The day was organised by the lovely Cara, and I would have gone had I not been feeling rather undead and bed stricken 
Instead, I leave you with these fantastic photos taken by Nic Suzor!
SWEET ZOMBIE JESUS!
I don’t mean to brag, but I’m so happy to be part of the Once Upon show! Thanks to the combined efforts of Renee and Angela, the show pulls together 38 of Australia’s most amazing emerging artists and themes of fairy tales and folk law (one of my areas of interest!) Once Upon is opening on November 19th at aMBUSH Gallery in Sydney – you should go and tell me all about it! I wish I could be there but alas I can’t afford to fly down, boo hoo.
I’m allowed to show you but a peek… I have four pieces in the show and all of them will be revealed on the night in their pretty frames, waiting to be crowned with a red SOLD! dot. My theme is “Chicken Little”, a story I feel quite comfortable with in this age of hysteria and superstition! I have sent scans to Renee and Angela tonight, but I have another idea for two of my pieces and I really want to explore them… I just hope I have time.
The artists:
Ali J :: Amy Borrell :: Anna Laura Blandford :: Bec Winnel :: Bel Johnstone :: Ben Zen :: Caitlin Shearer :: Catherine Campbell :: Chrissy Lau :: Courtney Brims :: Dawn Tan :: Elisa Mazzone :: Ellara Woodlock :: Emma Kidd :: Burntfeather :: Jaxie Yael :: Enyáj :: Jessica Hyde :: Jessica Klingelfuss :: Jordan Clarke :: Kaitlin Beckett :: Kareem Rizk :: Kareena Zerefos :: Laura McKellar :: Lucy Hope :: Madelynn Holmes :: Manuela Strano :: Meeri Anneli :: Melody Caramins :: Natalie Perkins :: Nicole Tattersall :: Nina Mary :: Rebecca Murphy :: Renee Anne :: Sarah Barron :: Sarah McNeil :: Tabitha Patterson :: TheRipeCollective
Tomorrow night the Brisbane Twestival will be held at Joshua Levi Galleries and I’ve donated this mysterious package to be auctioned off, with proceeds from the auction (and indeed the whole night) going to the Inspire Foundation.
The Inspire Foundation was established in 1996 in direct response to Australia’s then escalating rates of youth suicide.
We combine technology with the direct involvement of young people to deliver innovative and practical online programs that prevent youth suicide and improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Our mission is to help millions of young people lead happier lives.
Awesome cause, right?!
As for my package, the contents aren’t that mysterious 
I’m auctioning off one of my frankie doodles, and I’ve included a note on a postcard (as well as my card!) If you’ve got nothing else to do tomorrow night, and you want to listen to some local bands and buy some local art – go to the Joshua Levi Galleries and get a ticket on the door. It’s only $18!
There’ll be lollies and cupcakes too!
I was watching the triple j hottest 100 of all time on rage just before, and Thriller came on. You know I’m a massive Michael Jackson fan, and they played the WHOLE mini movie from beginning to credits! When I was a kid I would try to dance along to it, but it’s pretty intense choreography so mostly all my sisters and I did was the lurchy hand movement from side to side (picture relevant!) I was trying to dance along to the clip and failing miserably, so after it ended I rushed to google to ask Dr Internet for a cure to my Thriller choreo blues.
I found Thrill the World, a world-wide mob of zombies dancing to Thriller at the same time everywhere on earth – and now I’m totally obsessed with the idea of doing it in Brisbane. Gather the hordes to stomp, shuffle ha slide and booty swim!
You can learn how to do all the choreography from the instructional videos. Now… where’s the most awesome place we can lurch, shuffle and drop our limbs? I’d love to do it at South Bank, ha!
There’s a Brisbane group on facebook. If we abide by the Guiness World Records rules, we could possibly beat Toronto’s record of 62 undead Thriller dancers set in 2006.
Start learning the moves, and join a horde near you STAT!
On Saturday I went to the Equal Love rally to march in support of same-sex marriage. I went to support this key human right for all people, even though I am privileged insofar that my relationship is legally recorded as a marriage. The government and religion should have little to do with each other, and much MUCH less to do with dictating who can love who. Recognising same-sex marriage will not harm my marriage to Nick, nor will it destroy society; in fact I might be so bold as to venture that it can only do GOOD! People will feel less anxiety when it comes to talking about their relationships; more children will grow up in loving homes with parents that are in a legally recognised couple; and who can argue that love is bad? Surely you’d have to have fairy floss for brains.
Brisbane Tweeps for Equality by David Jackmanson
If you support love (and you’re Australian!) please make a submission to the Senate enquiry into the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009. The last bill was rejected because the anti marriage equality groups pulled more numbers than the pro same-sex marriage groups even though the last Galaxy poll declared that a majority of Australians support same-sex marriage. The other side has mobilised and they are a minority – why are you sitting on your arse waiting for other people to pitch in? Go make a submission to the Senate enquiry online now!
I just picked up three of my beautifully framed pieces from Bizarre Framing and dropped them into KILN Gallery for The Illustrators show, a group exhibition I’m so chuffed to be part of. I saw Nigel Buchanan’s gorgeous giclee prints lined up against the wall, and said hello to Shaun Campbell and his fancy car as he was bumping in an installation. The show also includes Jim Tsinganos, Brett Lethbridge, Ron Monnier, Courtney Brims and Lucia Masciullo – some incredible names in Australian illustration that I’m rather honoured to be included with!
Now I shall present to you a taste of The Illustrators!
And little old me!
Come and take a look this Friday night if you’re local. Tomorrow the KILN site should show all the pieces in the Illustrators show in the online gallery, so if you’re in an art buying mood you can get a heads up! The show runs from Friday 31 July for three weeks.
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