Lismore, Grafton regional galleries to host touring exhibitions
January 22, 2012
Page MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed news that the Australian Government’s national touring program, Visions of Australia, and the Contemporary Touring Initiative is supporting exhibitions at Grafton and Lismore regional art galleries.
A tribute to Australia’s first expedition to Antarctica is just one of the arts and cultural exhibitions that will soon tour the Northern Rivers thanks to almost $1.7million in Australian Government funding announced by Arts Minister Simon Crean.
“As we commemorate 100 years since Sir Douglas Mawson’s expedition to Antarctica, we are fortunate that the Grafton Regional Gallery will be one of a select few Australia-wide to host Traversing Antarctica: The Australian Experience,” Ms Saffin said.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the National Archives and the Australian Antarctic Division, exploring 100 years of the Australian experience in Antarctica. The exhibition is scheduled to be presented in Grafton in June 2014.
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$1m funding boost for Margaret Olley Art Centre
November 28, 2011
Tweed Shire Council and the Tweed River Art Gallery Foundation have welcomed today’s Federal Government announcement that it will provide $1 million towards the creation of a Margaret Olley Art Centre at the Tweed River Art Gallery in Murwillumbah.
The Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland, said the Federal Government contribution was a valuable and greatly appreciated step towards realising a vision to establish the Margaret Olley Art Centre in the Tweed.
It follows an announcement this month by the Margaret Hannah Olley Art Trust that the late Australian artist had bequeathed $1 million to establish a recreation of her studio and elements of her home and wanted it built in the Tweed, where she spent time as a child.
Council formally accepted the Margaret Olley Trust’s offer last week, to establish the centre as an extension of the Murwillumbah gallery.
Spiritsong to perform Vivaldi in Ballina, Lismore
November 7, 2011
The choir Spiritsong, under the direction of Warren Whitney, will present a collection of choral classics including the complete Gloria RV589, by Vivaldi.
Originally composed [1716] for the girls in the orphanage where Vivaldi was priest, it remained relatively unknown until 1939.
Since this performance in Siena, it has become a firm favourite with choirs and audiences for its theatrical quality and rich contrasts of texture and expression.
Also on the program will be a selection of settings of Ave Maria, of which many have been written but only four will be performed.
And the celebration? It is 400 years since the death of Tamas Luigi de Victoria, possibly one of Spain’s best composers and a master of intricate choral writing, often with the pipe organ as soloist, from the late Renaissance. His music has great intensity and emotional appeal that belies its era.
TWILIGHT PERFORMANCE:
Wednesday, 30 November, 2011 @ 6.00pm, St Mary’s Anglican Church, Ballina.
EVENING PERFORMANCE:
Thursday, 1 December, 2011 @ 7.30pm, St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore.
Tickets at the door, adult $12, concession $10, enquiries 0429 185 361.
Uki prepares for Celebration of Life
October 19, 2011
Uki and district residents have so many creative opportunities to be a part of this year’s Ukitopia Festival.
The Ukitopia Festival, November 18-20 2011, is a Celebration of Uki Life Arts and Culture.
Happy poems from Brunei
September 17, 2011
Gayathri Sama-rakoon, an author and contributor to Far North Coaster, is presently teaching in Brunei and she sent us these poems from students …
INTRODUCTION
Happy poems are simple lines of poetry which are used for self-expression. They are aimed at encouraging feelings of joy and sometimes are thought-provoking.
These happy poems are from Sekolah Menengah Rimba, a secondary school in Brunei Darussalam which is located on the island of Borneo. English is taught as a foreign language in Brunei by teachers from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada and other countries. The teachers work for CfBT, a worldwide educational charity and consultancy based in the UK. Students in Brunei have a strong awareness of people from other cultures and countries and study English alongside their national language which is Malay. These poems are from students in Years 9 and 10. We hope you enjoy them.
Happy poems!!!
The colour Blue makes me happy because it reminds me of the cloudless skies,
Green colour makes me happy because it reminds me of tall green trees,
Pink colour makes me happy because it reminds me of my mother’s rose garden,
Fried noodles make me happy because it reminds me of my 100-year old grandma,
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY CARE TO SHARE?
- Azmon Ahmad, 9a Rimba
Red Roses make me happy because it reminds me of my Ferrari back at home – Diyaulhaq, 5R2
Melody makes me happy because it reminds me of a ‘flowing’ day – Murni 10E PMB
Swings in the park make me happy because they remind me of my days as a child – Nabillah, 5R2
The Green fields make me happy because they bring peace to my mind – Farah 5R2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
The pink colour makes me happy because it softens my heart with its softness - Nur N’ Matul Sapar, 9sps
Green Koran makes me happy because it brings peace to my mind
Old pianos make me happy as it reminds me of old melodies
Melted brown makes me happy as it reminds me of ‘yummy’ chocolates,
Nor Nazratul- 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
The blue ocean makes me happy because it reminds me of my favorite teen cartoon
Azure skies make me happy because of my peaceful country
A toothy smile makes me happy because it reminds me of my naughty friends – Nur Aidatul Yusuf, 9sps
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY CARE TO SHARE?
Saffron yellow makes me happy because it reminds me of SpongeBob’s square pants
Multicolor make me happy because it reminds me of rainbow in a cloudy sky – MD Afiq Hasif 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
Sushi makes me happy because it reminds me of home, memories and ‘a normal day’
Jokes make me happy because it gives me joyful feelings
Stars make me happy because they remind me of life and freedom – Muhammed Hazim Juhari, 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
Schools make me happy because it makes me think of my future
Drums make me happy because the ‘dum-dum’ beat gives me a boost
Football makes me happy because it reminds me of freedom – Ak Muhd Yahya
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
‘Boom’ noise makes me happy because it reminds me of my MP3 player
Speed makes me happy because father always drives fast
Candy makes me happy because it reminds me of the ‘sweetness’ of life
Muhd Wafiuddin Sohari- 9sps2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
Breeze on the beach makes me feel happy because it reminds me of ‘niceness’ of life
Indigo, pink, yellow rainbows make me happy because they remind me of God Almighty
Sound of violins make me happy because think of days alone
Hari Raya makes me happy because it brings me money – Nora Aboulaih, 9SPS 2
SO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? CARE TO SHARE?
PICTURE: Some of the teachers at the school.
Tweed votes on its People’s Choice Award
September 9, 2011
The People’s Choice Award for the Archibald Prize 2011 was announced yesterday at the Tweed River Art Gallery.
This incredibly popular exhibition has attracted thousands of visitors since it opened at Tweed River Art Gallery on 5 August. A total of 4313 votes were cast in the People’s Choice Award, which ran from 6 August to close of business on Sunday 4 September.
Lismore City Hall to get $5.99m upgrade
September 7, 2011
Federal Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean today announced the Federal Government would contribute $4.96 million in Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) funding towards a $5.99 million upgrade of Lismore City Hall.
Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin said she was delighted that one of her ‘Page Priorities’ was one of 35 successful projects nationwide under the $150-million first round of the RDAF.
Think tank was Splendid!
August 13, 2011
Over 150 people turned out for the Splendid Think Tank last Thursday August 4 at Lismore City Hall.
The first of its kind in the region, the Think Tank was an innovative two-day event designed to explore the risks and rewards of embracing new art, ideas and experience in the festival context.
Following hot on the heels of Splendour in the Grass 2011, the Think Tank capitalised on the success of yet another Splendour festival and brought locals, artists, students and event organisers together with key festival identities from across the country to discuss art in festivals.
Margaret Olley portrait to return to Sydney for State memorial service
August 13, 2011
The winning portrait in the 2011 Archibald Prize of the artist Margaret Olley will return to Sydney later this month for her State memorial service.
The work, by artist Ben Quilty, is one of the key attractions in the Archibald Prize 2011: NSW Regional Tour exhibition, currently on show at the Tweed River Art Gallery in Murwillumbah.
Violent Femmes founding member to attend Splendid Think Tank
July 13, 2011
Some of the country’s best-known contemporary art practitioners and festival representatives will gather at Lismore City Hall on August 4 and 5 to participate in the Splendid Think Tank, an innovative two-day event that will explore the risks and rewards of embracing new art, ideas and experience in the festival context.
Brian Ritchie, Curator of MONA FOMA (Museum of Old and New Art Festival of Music and Art in Hobart) and founding bassist/multi-instrumentalist of the American alternative group Violent Femmes, is just one of the big names that will attend the Splendid Think Tank and share his knowledge and experience with local art practitioners, arts workers, festival directors and events organisers.
