This Week in the Can

Posted on 22 July, 2019

This Week in The Can is your essential guide to what’s happening in Canberra. From theatre to sport, food and wine to music, and much much more!

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WHAT NOT TO MISS 

Christmas in July: A Merry Long Lunch at Pialligo Estate

Grand opening of Farrah’s Liquor Collective

THE DRESSMAKER COSTUME EXHIBITION

From 1950s Dungatar to 2019 Canberra, the original costumes from the hit film The Dressmaker will be on display at the NFSA from 18 April 2019.

Audiences will be able to go ‘behind the seams’ of a diverse range of elegant vintage fashion worn by Hollywood stars and home-grown acting talents including Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Snook, Judy Davis, Rebecca Gibney and more.

The exhibition, designed by Marion Boyce, features a spectacular range of haute couture worn by the film’s stars.

The Dressmaker Costume Exhibition celebrates the artistry of the film’s sumptuous designs, as well as the transformational power of fashion.

Showing until Sunday 18 August from 10 am – 4 pm at the National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton.

See nfsa.gov.au for more information.

Painting on Country

Five senior artists from Tjungu Palya art centre in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia have reinvigorated their ancestors’ practice of painting directly onto the land. Their work, captured in a series of large-format photographs, is both timeless and transient, bridging the ancient and the contemporary.

Exhibition on show at the National Museum of Australia until 30 September 2019. Free entry.

More information at nma.gov.au.

FOOD & DRINK

Monet’s Tea Salon @ the NGA

Celebrate the NGA’s winter exhibition Monet: Impression Sunrise with an unforgettable high tea, and enjoy a selection of French-inspired, sweet and savoury delights.

$43 NGA Member, $48 Guest.

Happening daily at 11 am and 2 pm on Level One, National Gallery of Australia.

Bookings online at nga.gov.au or Ticketek.com.

Friday Night Drink Special at Pialligo Estate

CELLAR DOOR

Cellar Door is a wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene happening every Saturday from 3-6 pm. Buy wines from local makers every Saturday afternoon in the iconic Nishi Grand Stair, NewActon Precinct.

Grab a souvenir glass, taste the latest drops, and buy at cellar door prices.

Wine stalls rotate each week with complementing stalls like flowers, cheese, chocolate and books.

Make a day of it with a film at Palace Electric Cinema and NewActon’s leading food and drink destinations.

Happening every Saturday from 3-6 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon.

See the website for more details.

Monet’s Feast at First Edition

In conjunction with the Monet: Impression Sunrise Exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia, First Edition bring the farm-to-table tradition lived passionately by Claude Monet into the 21st century with a 3-course set menu based on some of Claude Monet’s favourite dishes from his home town of Giverny, France.

The 3 Course Set Menu (which is also available as individual courses) was developed using an abundance of fresh herbs and vegetables found in Monet’s kitchen garden. Beginning with an entrée of Camembert Fritters with apple and botanic jelly, a mouth drooling boeuf bourguignon with rosemary puff pastry crust for mains and Normandy French apple tart with vanilla bean gelato for dessert.

A few of the recipes are of French origin, such as the famous Normandy apple tart. Others are from locations abroad where Monet travelled in search of motifs to paint, such as the Savoy Hotel, London where he acquired their recipe for Yorkshire pudding.

The Monet’s Feast costs $65 per person, but guests will also receive a beautiful Hard Cover “Monet’s Palate Cookbook” per table when ordering the 3-course set menu option. Exquisite photography and inspired recipes bring Monet’s kitchen garden back to life.

The creative team have also designed a Monet themed Cocktail – The Giverny. A gin-based cocktail – available for just $10.

Happening until 1 September 2019 at First Edition Canberra, Level 1/65 Northbourne Ave, Civic.

See the website for more information.

Contentious Chef’s Truffle Selection and Special

One course or three-course selection of the ‘best of the day’ from Contentious Character’s Every Day All Day Menu and from their Daily Specials that can be truffled to your delight!

Happening 22 June – 3 August, every weekend from 10 am – 5 pm at Contentious Character, 810 Norton Road, Wamboin.

See the website for more information.

Truffle Infused Winter Weekends at Cellar Door

Truffle season is nearly upon us and Mt Majura are excited to include truffles at the cellar door as part of the winter tasting experience.

Come in to the cellar door at Mount Majura Vineyard to taste a flight of wines matched with truffled brie. Combining Flinders Estate triple cream brie a deliciously rich and creamy brie style cheese with truffles from neighbour Jayson at The Truffle Farm.

Every Saturday and Sunday from early June to late August.

Happening until 25 August from 10 am – 5 pm at Mount Majura Vineyard.

See mountmajura for more information.

The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region

Indulge in a feast of the senses and join in the fun at The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region. Each year from June to August more than 250 individual events are held across the Canberra region showcasing the region’s fresh Black Winter Truffle.

Taste and experience the magic of these highly-prized gems. Indulge in the special flavours and aromas of truffle dishes at local restaurants and cafes. Join a hunt and see for yourself how the talented dogs unearth truffles. Learn from the chefs and other truffle experts at a cooking class or demonstration, or pop along to a market and pick up some truffle delights for yourself.

The Truffle Festival is the ultimate foodie festival, and a fabulous celebration of winter in the Canberra region.

Happening now until Sunday 1 September starting at 10 am at various locations.

See truffle festival for more information.

Monster’s Afternoon Delight

Serene, methodical and exceptionally Monster.

Presenting a new Sunday afternoon blend, Monster Kitchen and Bar is adding a little extra flavour to your signature lazy day with its very own High Tea…

Amidst the hand-crafted furniture, bespoke artwork, and ambient lighting you will find the familiar flavours you have come to appreciate from the team at Monster with a range of exclusive tea flavours by Tea Garden co, tea inspired cocktails, Champagne all complemented by black and gold fixtures.

1 pm every Sunday at Monster Kitchen, Ovolo Nishi. Tickets $70 to $120  – more information on Facebook.

Freestyle Fridays at Vertikal

Join Vertikal every Friday for indoor ski lessons with indoor snow machines and music. Enjoy discounted sessions from $40 or kick back with a Jindabyne Brewing beers on tap or Canberra Distilling Co & Underground Spirits.

Every Friday at Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports, Unit 2, Building 3, 1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick. Find out more at vertikalsnowsports.com.

MUSIC

CHOIR OF KING’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

Founded in the fifteenth century, the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge is arguably the world’s most famous choir and the pre-eminent representative of the British church music tradition. Their distinctively pure tone has been honed over centuries in the vaulted stone arches of the College Chapel.

Comprising 16 boys (the youngest aged seven) and 15 male university students, the Choir remains a major force by balancing unmatched history and tradition with continual growth and adventurous programming.

The repertoire in these programs reflects this breadth by showcasing pieces from the Renaissance to the present day.

These performances are especially poignant, marking the Choir’s final tour with Stephen Cleobury, after 37 distinguished years as Director.

Happening Thursday 25 July from 7 – 9 pm at the Llewellyn Hal, ANU Campus, Acton.

See musicaviva.com for more information.

More local music

Check out BMA and CBR DIY for more local gigs!

STAGE + SCREEN

Jay Gatsby Requests

The Vinyl Lounge at NFSA

Bring along your favourite records, share your music stories and hear what’s spinning on the NFSA’s turntables.The ultimate listening party for vinyl aficionados.

The Vinyl Lounge is on the first Friday of every month.

Happening until Friday 6 December from 5:30 pm – 7 pm at the National Film and Sound Archive.

See nfsa.gov.au for more information. 

FESTIVALS

Image via facebook.com/pg/fyshwicknichemarkets.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

THE SANTA SPEEDO SHUFFLE

Shufflers will be braving the cold to run around Lake Burley Griffin to raise money in support for those living with Cystic Fibrosis in next to nothing.

In the ACT, the Santa Speedo Shuffle is now in its eighth year and participants are asked to raise at least $650 each. The overall goal is to fundraise $165,000 as people with CF receive little or no government funding or support and rely heavily on their community-based associations for help. In both the ACT and SA, all funds raised will be used to alleviate the costs to members of treating the disease and add to their quality of life.

CF is the most common life-shortening genetic condition in Australia. Managing CF is lifelong, ongoing and relentless as It impacts the whole body, including the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems.

Happening Sunday 28 July from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm at the Southern Cross Yacht Club.

See santashuffle.fundraise.digital for more information.

Downer Trivia Night

Downer Community Association invites you to the first-ever Downer Trivia Night. 

Join us for fun and prizes as we test your knowledge of Downer, Canberra, movies, music, TV and maybe a bit of news and politics (not too much). Each table accommodates 8 people, but don’t worry if you’ve got less than that – we’ll accommodate you and, who knows, perhaps you’ll meet some of your fellow Downer denizens!

All welcome, but why not get to know your neighbours by putting together a table from your street?

COST: $15 per head via Eventbrite.

BYO: Snacks and drinks (including glasses). Peter’s Wine Shop will be open until 7 pm, if you want to grab something to drink beforehand.

Happening Saturday 27 July from 7 – 9.30 pm at Downer Community Hall. 

Find more information via Eventbrite.

SOLAR HOUSE DAY – BUILD, RENOVATE, OR BUY? 

A free exhibition showcasing sustainable products and technologies for your home as well as a panel discussion revolving around the topic of ‘Build, Renovate or Buy?’

4:30pm-6:30pm Exhibition

Browse and talk with exhibitors of sustainable products and technologies. Be part of a ‘speed dating session’ where you can have a 5-minute consultation with an architect about your home and/or sustainable design.

6:30pm-8:00pm Panel Discussion

Have your questions answered about designing, renovating or buying homes and apartments. Plus info on how to climate-proof your home. All the latest on sustainable technologies!

A free, must-attend event with local architects.

Happening Thursday 24 July from 4:30 – 8 pm at the Robertson Building.

See architecture.com for more information.

HART.R8 FOR HARTLEY

Why support Hartley Lifecare? All of the profits raised from this year’s fundraising will be put towards the knock down and rebuild of our Hartley Court facility. Hartley Court consists of three houses located in the suburb of Hughes and supports up to nine people with complex disabilities including three overnight respite beds supporting up to 60 people a year.

Although Hartley Court was a wonderful achievement for its time, it has now passed its capacity and it’s time to rebuild a best practice facility. Over the last 40 years the development of new and innovative housing models and new ways of supporting people with disability has vastly improved. Incorporating the use of assistive technology means we can design and provide support that will foster independence, privacy and pride for our residents who call Hartley Court their home.

The vision for the proposed redevelopment of Hartley Court is to create vibrant new living spaces that will enable our clients to live their best lives.

Happening Saturday 27 July from 8 am until 6 pm at various gyms around Canberra.

See hartley.org for more information.

50KM ROW FOR MND  

Chris Giorgione will be rowing for 50km at S7 Strength and Conditioning to raise money for John Hodnik, a 48 year old man recently diagnosed with MND.

The gym will be open to the public to visit and exercise during the event, for a donation. There will be competitions and prizes to be won that have been donated by local businesses.

We would love to see some new faces and hope to raise enough money to make a difference in Johns quality of life as he battles this disease.

Happening Saturday 27 July from 8 am until 1 pm at 10 Spongolite Street, Beard.

See Facebook for more information.

FIRIES CLIMB FOR MND FUNDRAISING  

Career and volunteer firefighters from the ACT and NSW will be raising funds for MND. The team will be climbing the Sydney Tower in November in full Fire Fighting gear carrying Breathing Apparatus. This is 96 flights totalling 1504 stairs.

See Sunday 28 July from 10 am until 2 pm at 46 Hibberson Street, Gunghalin.

See fundraise.firiesclimbformnd.org for more information.

DIGNITEA – A HIGH TEA FOR CHARITY 

Canberra Grammar School students are organising a high tea event to fundraise for Share the Dignity charity which directly benefits women in crisis. The high tea event will include sweet and savory treats, guest speakers, Share the Dignity sanitary item donation collections, and lucky door prizes.

Happening Sunday 28 July at 2 pm at the Canberra Grammar School Dining Hall.

See trybooking.com for more information.

SPORT + FITNESS

Freestyle Fridays at Vertikal

Join Vertikal every Friday for indoor ski lessons with indoor snow machines and music. Enjoy discounted sessions from $40 or kick back with a Jindabyne Brewing beers on tap or Canberra Distilling Co & Underground Spirits.

Every Friday at Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports, Unit 2, Building 3, 1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick. Find out more at vertikalsnowsports.com.

MEET & MOVE

Are you finding it hard to get active since having kids? Perhaps it’s time for you to Meet & Move!

Meet & Move is a new, active playgroup. It’s facilitator, Nicole Sadlier from Bluearth, knows that it can be hard to get out of the house when you have young kids. But like she says “When you do get outside,  you feel much better. Your mood improves and you feel refreshed and more energetic!”

Meet & Move sessions occur outdoors and include a pram-friendly, baby-wearing friendly walk, gentle yoga-style stretching or toning exercises (selected sessions) and a chance for the kids to burn off some energy at a playground or to walk/bike with the group.

It also engages parents and their kids in activities which develop skills such as running, kicking, balancing, throwing and catching. Their focus is to make movement fun and help parents to bank more active time into their day.

Join one of their free weekly sessions which run on Monday – Thursday from 10 am during the school term. Full details for locations can be found on Facebook.

Meet & Move is a program of the Bluearth Foundation, working in partnership with Mums Exercise Group Australia (MEGA) Canberra and supported by ACT Government under the ACT Health Promotion Grants Program.  It has been created to help mums with young kids to be more active together, get outdoors and connect with other mums.

MARKETS & FAIRS

Ultimate Women’s Weekend Expo

NORTHSIDE FAMILY MARKETS

Northside Farmers Markets brings you the best quality fresh produce from the region. Select from leafy vegetables, free range pork, pastured eggs, luscious peaches and juicy apples.

Grab a sit and enjoy the amazing aroma and refreshing taste of our freshly brewed coffee. Enjoy with some pastry or bakery product. Do all your weekly grocery shopping while enjoying the spacious and sunny atmosphere. Brings friends and family and friends, share a cuppa and stories from your week.

Happening every Saturday from 9.30 am – 4.30 pm at Thoroughbred Park, Lyneham.

See the website for more information.

SOUTHSIDE FARMERS MARKETS 

Get along to the Southside Farmers Markets every Sunday morning and pick up the finest fruit and vegetables and produce our region has to offer.  There are over 50 stalls made up of farmers and producers who sell their food direct from their farm or kitchen.  Many farmers are out picking their produce the night before the market and you can certainly taste the difference.

Talk to the farmer direct and find out where your food is being grown, how they grow it, and even how they best like to cook it.  Not only do they provide us with fresh food every week but they are a wealth of information on the food that nourishes week in week out.

What’s in season this week?  Annual herbs, beans, peas, beetroot, capsicums, carrots, chillies, corn, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, garlic, onion, radishes, rhubarb, squash, zucchini, melons, stonefruit, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes and more!

Every Sunday from 8.30am to 11 am at Canberra College, 2 Launceston Street, Phillip. Entry is free, visit the website for more informatio

MARKET GARDEN PRODUCE STAL

Selling fresh, clean, chemical-free vegetables, preserves and baked goods in the Courtyard of 56 Wallace Street, Braidwood every Saturday morning from 8.30am until 12.00 or sold out. Wynlen House is a small urban micro-farm specialising in offering a broad range of seasonal vegetables all year round.

They also run workshops to show people how to grow vegetables, garlic, and raise small farm animals on a large suburban block and offer slow food events to showcase the benefit and deliciousness of produce grown locally, without chemical inputs and picked fresh.

On every Saturday from 8.30am – 12 pm, at The Courtyard, Braidwood. For more information visit the website.

OUTDOORS

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

NAMADGI OPEN DAY – WORLD RANGER DAY CELEBRATION

Namadgi was declared national park in 1984 and along with park rangers, community and volunteer groups have helped make Namadgi what it is today. Come and learn how these groups contribute to the management and preservation of Namadgi National Park. Keep warm by a fire while chatting to rangers, enjoy a Lions club BBQ or hot coffee, talk a short walk with volunteers to see Aboriginal and European historical displays or get a photo with the cheeky Parks Gang Gang Mascots, Orrick and GiGi

Happening Sunday 28 July from 10 am – 2 pm at the Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre.

For more information call 02 6207 2918 for more information.

Take a short walk with a ranger and learn about the potoroos and other important inhabitants of the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Eucalypt Forest and get back in time for “Koalas in the Canopy”.

This wildlife walk is suitable for all ages, there are no bookings required and the cost is included in the Reserve entry fee.

Available Saturdays, 2 pm – 2.45 pm until 29 June. Meet at the koala enclosure in the Eucalypt Forest.

Find out more at tidbinbilla.act.gov.au

Koalas in the Canopy

From 2.45 pm – 3.15 pm every Saturday until 29 June you can search for koalas and enjoy a ranger-guided walk through the tall eucalypt forest at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Hear a ranger’s story or two about these fascinating marsupials.

Meet at the Eucalypt Forest car park. Normal entry fees to Tidbinbilla apply. No bookings required for Koalas in the Canopy.

Find out more at tidbinbilla.act.gov.au.

KIDS

DRESSUP: CHANGE THE WORLD

Discover the incredible journeys of some of the world’s most inspiring people, taking the time to walk in their shoes in DressUP: Change the World.

Connect with the lives of historical and contemporary figures, including Frida Kahlo, Adam Goodes, Beyoncé, and many others, by dressing up in their most iconic outfits.

Immerse yourself in their stories of triumph as they go from ordinary people to visionary leaders who have made a difference in the world. Listen to their stories and learn about the challenges they overcame to leave their mark.

Visitors can also tell their own story in the new Zine Lounge. Whether you prefer writing or sketching, the Zine Lounge lets you carve out a space for your voice to be heard.

This engaging exhibition space provides a bold and quirky environment that will inspire young people and asks them “How will you change the world?”

On until 31 December 2019 at the Museum of Australian Democracy Old Parliament House.

See the website for more information.

LITTLE GRIFFINS

The National Capital Authority’s popular and entertaining Little Griffins program for children four years and under and their parents and carers is back for 2019.

The free, fun and interactive session will include building with DUPLO, songs, stories, and games. No bookings required – just come along!

Happening the last Friday of every month (unless that Friday falls on a school holiday) from 1 am at the National Capital Exhibition, Regatta Point.

Visit nca.gov.au for more information.

PLAYUP

After an exciting transformation, the imaginative family space in the Museum of Australian Democracy has all-new hands-on activities to educate, excite and challenge young minds.

This creative exhibition space celebrates the role of children in our community and provides a welcoming environment for families to engage in the rights and responsibilities of children through imagination, discovery, role-play and fun.

Happening every day from 9 am – 5 pm at the Museum of Australian Democracy, King George Terrace, Parkes. Entry costs vary.

Visit the website for more details.

LEAP INTO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY  

Your local library is a treasure trove…not only are there free books and resources, there are regular amazing events! Giggle & Wiggle with your little ones (up to two years) and help them learn through language play using interactive rhymes, songs, games and stories.

Looking to improve your English and make new friends, then head along to your local library for one of the informal English conversation groups. For more events and info check them out here. 

EXHIBITIONS

Claude Monet. Impression, sunrise [Impression, soleil levant] 1872, Gift of Victorine and Eugène Donop de Monchy 1940, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, © Christian Baraja SLB.

MONET: IMPRESSION SUNRISE

Monet Mondays @ the NGA

Experience Monet after hours with music and a glass of Perrier-Jouët champagne from NGA bar. Available every Monday with purchased exhibition ticket.

$22 adult, $20 concession/student, $17 members

Happening every Monday from 5.00 – 7.0 0pm on Level One, National Gallery of Australia, Parkes.

THE DRESSMAKER COSTUME EXHIBITION

From 1950s Dungatar to 2019 Canberra, the original costumes from the hit film The Dressmaker will be on display at the NFSA from 18 April 2019.

Audiences will be able to go ‘behind the seams’ of a diverse range of elegant vintage fashion worn by Hollywood stars and home-grown acting talents including Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth, Hugo Weaving, Sarah Snook, Judy Davis, Rebecca Gibney and more.

The exhibition, designed by Marion Boyce, features a spectacular range of haute couture worn by the film’s stars.

The Dressmaker Costume Exhibition celebrates the artistry of the film’s sumptuous designs, as well as the transformational power of fashion.

Showing until Sunday 18 August from 10 am – 4 pm at the National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton.

See nfsa.gov.au for more information.

ART SPARKS  

Maria’s personal practice and teachings use Intentional Creativity®, a process learned from Shiloh Sophia McCloud, which weaves together intention, symbolism, and layers of energetic and creative processes in opening individuals to the transformative power of creativity.

Art Sparks, a Living Studio exhibition, will examine themes around the sacred feminine and nature. Maria brings open curiosity, a joy of learning and sharing, and will use a range of mixed media and painting techniques. Materials include paper, canvas, acrylic and watercolour ink and paint.

Maria will also play with the use of thread, wire, weaving and metallic leaf. Her intention is that her art will be a gateway, an alchemical altar, that awakens people to liberate the beauty within and around them.

The public is invited to watch Maria at work and interact with her. A range of free workshops are being offered on Fridays and Sundays, to which all are invited.

Happening Friday 26 July until Sunday 1 September from 10 am until 4 pm at the Belconnen Arts Centre.

See belconnenartscentre.com for more information.

SIMILAR LINES

Elizabeth Curry has sustained a life-long fascination with patterns and the contentment they elicit. From those around us in the natural world to those found in the built environment, patterns of all kinds provide order and can present a harmonious quality to the observer.

Elizabeth’s own increasingly intricate, hand-drawn, mandala-style designs were employed as a vehicle for generating the motifs to be utilised for the body of metalworks displayed in ‘Similar Lines’. Through the process of drawing, an unconscious divulgence of a visual archive is released and truly unique and intuitive, but somehow familiar, designs are produced.

For many years, Thomas Wood has had an interest in plants and gardens. He has worked as a horticulturist, grown plants as a nurseryman and arranged and designed with flowers. His creative practice is influenced by the natural environment, where he finds infinite colours, patterns, shapes, textures and possibilities.

Thomas uses layering techniques of acrylic colour and a bright palette to give his work an energetic feel. He works in a repetitive and methodical way, slowly over a period of time building up layers. Working in this way is a type of mindfulness, because he is completely absorbed in the task at hand.

Happening Friday 26 July until Sunday 1 September from 10 am until 4 pm at the Belconnen Arts Centre.

See belconnenartscentre.com for more information.

THE DNA OF COLOUR: ILDIKO KOVACS AT THE DRILL HALL GALLERY

This exhibition surveys an important chapter of Ildiko Kovac‘s painting production, characterised by the powerful fusion of line, colour, image, substance and scale. The majority of paintings make abundant use of rollers. Kovacs’s characteristic motif establishes a kind of linear circuitry, an arabesque turning back on itself.

Curator Sioux Garside notes that: “Deoxyribonucleine acid (DNA) is a code, a fundamental material that all life is made from. As the inherited essence from our ancestors, it determines the core of who we are, and who we will become, from the moment of our conception. It activates predestination if it is allowed to grow and blossom into life.

Kovacs has described her paintings as growing from ‘the line travelling through space,’ and links it to her experiences of ‘vast open distances and roads that go on for eternity.’ Performative movement is the vital element that makes her paintings dance.”

This exhibition was initiated by Orange Regional Gallery and was curated by Sioux Garside.

Happening until Sunday 11 August from 10 am – 5 pm at the ANU Drill Hall Gallery.

See dhg.anu.edu.au for more information.

CONTEMPORARY WORLDS: INDONESIA AT THE NGA

Featuring 20 emerging and established artists, Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia showcases the vibrant and complex art of Australia’s closest neighbour, bringing together practitioners from Bali and Java’s key artistic centres of Yogyakarta, Jakarta, and Bandung.

Presenting new acquisitions and commissions from artists such as Melati Suryodarmo, Fx Harsono and Eko Nugroho, this is an exciting exhibition dedicated to the best of contemporary Indonesian art. Free.

Happening until Sunday 27 October from 10 am – 5 pm at the National Gallery of Australia.

See the nga.gov.au for more information.

The Historical Expression of Chinese Art: Calligraphy and Painting from the National Museum of China

Painting on Country

Five senior artists from Tjungu Palya art centre in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in South Australia have reinvigorated their ancestors’ practice of painting directly onto the land. Their work, captured in a series of large-format photographs, is both timeless and transient, bridging the ancient and the contemporary.

Exhibition on show at the National Museum of Australia until 30 September 2019. Free entry.

More information at nma.gov.au.

onetoeight: Australia’s first prime ministers

Visually arresting, humorous andthoughtful, Canberra-based artist Alison Alder reinterprets and reinvigorates portraits of the first eight prime ministers in onetoeight, a contemporary art exhibition. Developed from Alder’s fellowship with the Australian Prime Ministers Centre and motivated by the early period of our nation’s democracy, onetoeight brings these important historical figures a little bit closer to us.

Inspired by a picture of Stanley Bruce’s cabinet where they were all wearing a lapel badge, Alder presents each prime minister wearing at least one badge to reference a key aspect of their time in office. Neither explicitly positive or negative, we are left to form our own opinion.

Through the portraits, intense patterned wallpaper honouring the prime minister’s wives and a Term-O-Meter animation tracking the changing political hues of individuals and governments, Alder gives us a sense of our nation’s history that is lively, dynamic and parallels the present day.

Showing at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Find out more at moadoph.gov.au.

FORM BEYOND FUNCTION: NIGEL LENDON’S PLASTIC CAMERAS

Alongside his practice as an artist and art-historian, Nigel Lendon has been an inveterate and purposeful collector of, amongst other things, conceptual art, Afghan War rugs and over 200 plastic cameras.

In the 1970s and ‘80s Lendon was interested in the intersections of high culture and mass communication. He discovered flea markets swamped with plastic artefacts discarded by previous generations and asked, how was it that plastic, once heralded as the “material of the future”, so rapidly fell out of fashion to become cheap and ‘nasty’?

Lendon’s plastic camera collection has remained cocooned in storage until now. It has emerged when plastic and the waste it generates is now regarded as a new challenge for the survival of life on the planet.

Happening until 27 July from 10 am – 5 pm at Canberra Museum and Gallery, Cnr London Circuit and Civic Square.

See cmag.com.au for more information.

A Tale of Two Villages

A Tale of Two Villages tells the story of the Hall-Ginninderra district from Aboriginal times, through the early pioneer farming settlement at Palmerville and then Ginninderra, to the establishment of the village of Hall from 1881.

Showing at Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Victoria Street, Hall each Thursday 9 am-12 pm and Sunday 12 pm-4 pm.

Find out more at museum.hall.act.au.

Mr Squiggle Exhibition – Royal Australian Mint

To coincide with the recently released 2019 Mr Squiggle 60th anniversary coin set, the Royal Australian Mint is hosting an exhibition to commemorate Mr Squiggle and his creator, Norman Hetherington.

The exhibition includes children’s letters to Mr Squiggle, script books, original artwork and a portrait loaned from the National Portrait Gallery of Australia ‘Norman Hetherington OAM (and friends)’ by artist Kate Rae.

The exhibition also showcases one of the most loved and longest running Australian children’s programs, honouring Norman Hetherington, the brilliant man behind the iconic puppets and television series

Happening until 28 July 2019 at the Royal Australian Mint.

See ramint.gov.au for more information.

CRAFT ACT: FORM FOLLOWS FOLD: GILBERT RIEDELBAUCH

Solo exhibition by Gilbert Riedelbauch that documents a change in his approach to his creative practice.

Gilbert Riedelbauch works as a contemporary designer/maker in Canberra, and exhibits his work nationally and internationally.

After finishing his studies as a Meisterschueler in silversmithing at the Academy of Fine Art Nuernberg, Germany, he completed a Graduate Diploma at The Australian National University (ANU) School of Art.

Happening until Saturday 31 August at Craft ACT.

See Craft ACT for more information.

PATTERN TRANSLATION

Solo exhibition by Al Munro which draws from her recent body of work. The exhibition consists of five pairs of dresses sewn from digitally printed fabrics and paintings.

The process by which these pairs of works were produced involved translating textile patterns into painted forms, translating and manipulating these via the conventions of repeat fabric design to create digitally printed textiles/paintings, and then translating back to traditional painted form.

Pattern Translation continues Munro’s interest in translating and distorting mathematical patterns to explore relationships between textile patterning and painted abstraction and begins a new focus on the aberrations and slippages that can occur as a pattern, like a spoken message, is translated from one ‘language’ to another.

Happening until Saturday 31 August at Craft ACT.

See Craft ACT for more information.

SHIFTS IN JAPANESE MATERIALITY

This group exhibition of contemporary design practice considers the changing nature of materiality in Japanese object-making culture. Through the work of experimental Japanese and Australian designers, Shifts in Japanese Materiality highlights the porosity of Japanese design and craft processes in a contemporary context.

Happening Thursday 11 July to Saturday 31 August at Craft ACT.

See Craft ACT for more information.

ACTIVISM: FORCES FOR CHANGE IN CANBERRA

Canberra has a special relationship with activism as it is not only the location of protest on local issues but is also a site of national and international protest as the national capital.

This exhibition is about activism in many forms that has taken place in Canberra over the last century. It includes the well-known stories of the fight for women’s rights, for marriage equality and the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, but also stories of quiet activism; the creation of services for marginalised groups, artist’s collectives and the protest of presence. No matter whether it’s big and dramatic, or quiet and slow, these are stories of people working for change in the Canberra community.

Happening from Saturday 13 July until Saturday 2 November from 10 am – 5 pm at the Canberra Museum and Gallery.

See Canberra Museum and Gallery for more information.

Maori Markings: Ta Moko at the NGA

By marking the skin and face with connecting patterns, Māori Tā Moko artists tell stories of prestige, authority and identity. To receive and wear Moko is a great cultural privilege. Captivating photographs, paintings and sculptures trace the history of Tā Moko from the 18th century to its contemporary resurgence, including illustrations created during Captain Cook’s first voyages to Māori Chiefs.

This exhibition includes a unique art event featuring Moko artists engaging in a live demonstration of this phenomenal practice. Free.

Happening until Sunday 25 August 2019 daily at the National Gallery of Australia.

See nga.gov.au for more information.

Magna Carta—An Australian Story

Magna Carta is one of the most famous and significant documents for democracy and human rights around the world.

First written in 1215, it set down rules limiting the power of the monarchy and safeguarding basic human rights and freedoms. Over its long history it has been reinterpreted as an icon of justice and liberty. In this exhibition, created with the assistance of the British Library, explore the history and relevance of Magna Carta from an Australian perspective.

The Magna Carta: An Australian Story exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy takes you on a journey through the history of the Magna Carta. You will discover the spirit and legacy of the Magna Carta and learn the significance it plays in Australia’s democratic history.

Happening until Monday 3 February 2020 daily at Museum of Australian Democracy.

See moadoph.gov.au for more information.

DRESSUP: CHANGE THE WORLD

Discover the incredible journeys of some of the world’s most inspiring people, taking the time to walk in their shoes in DressUP: Change the World.

Connect with the lives of historical and contemporary figures, including Frida Kahlo, Adam Goodes, Beyoncé, and many others, by dressing up in their most iconic outfits.

Immerse yourself in their stories of triumph as they go from ordinary people to visionary leaders who have made a difference in the world. Listen to their stories and learn about the challenges they overcame to leave their mark.

Visitors can also tell their own story in our new Zine Lounge. Whether you prefer writing or sketching, the Zine Lounge lets you carve out a space for your voice to be heard.

This engaging exhibition space provides a bold and quirky environment that will inspire young people and asks them “How will you change the world?”

Happening until 31 December at the Museum of Australian Democracy Old Parliament House.

See the website for more information.

BREAKING THROUGH: 75 YEARS OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT

Why did it take so long for women to get elected? And once they were there, what was their experience within the parliament?

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first women elected to Australian Federal Parliament, Breaking Through exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy explores the journeys of 11 trailblazers who were the first to hold particular parliamentary positions.

These are stories of resilience, perseverance and ground-breaking achievements.

From 1943 when Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons were the first women elected to parliament through to today where woman have held the highest positions in all areas of parliament, including Prime Minister.

Breaking Through exhibition, recognises the significant contribution these women made in Australia’s democracy. Look back on their lives, uncover their motivations and what they view as their greatest achievements.

Told through never before seen portraits, each a unique representation by a young artist, and powerful stories of change-makers breaking through, this exhibition will inspire visitors to think about the role of women in parliament, what it took to get there and whether we’ve come far enough.

Showing until 28 August from 9 am – 5 pm daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

See the website for more information.

BEHIND THE LINES 2018

Venture down the rabbit-hole for Behind the Lines: The Year’s Best Political Cartoons 2018, with this year’s theme Curiouser and Curiouser inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Kids of all ages can visit the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland at MoAD for dress ups, games and adventures.

Step through the Looking Glass and dress up as the colourful and curious characters of Wonderland including Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat or the Mad Hatter.

There is also a wall of crazy mirrors that will stretch or shrink you and games with a special Wonderland twist that will delight the whole family.

Older kids can go on a cartooning trail through the exhibition, following clues and learning about the art of political cartooning.

While the children are entertained in Wonderland, parents can grin, smirk and grimace at the cartoons that explore the unexpected twists and turns of politics in 2018.

For more information visit moadoph.gov.au/family. 

DEMOCRACY. ARE YOU IN? 

Your voice, your hands and even your feet have the power to be heard. Our freedoms and our way of life have been built on the foundation of democracy. This living system is sustained through the participation of each and all of us. Democracy is sustained by you.

Australian democracy is a work in progress. Curiously, at a time of stability and unparalleled economic growth, confidence in our political and social institutions is at its lowest point in decades. But giving up on them is not the answer. Our democracy needs us. Are you in?

Open daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Find out more at moadoph.gov.au.

PLAYUP 

Discover PlayUP – The Right to Have an Opinion and Be Heard, where kids can explore the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child in a playful way. Adults can even join in the fun too!

From listening pods and a roleplay Kindness Café to a fuzzy felt wall and craft activities, PlayUP has a range of exciting and immersive experiences that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head.

See the website for more information. Free after museum admission. Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Cost: Free.

AFTER THE WAR EXHIBITION, AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

After the war is a new exhibition exploring the personal stories of hope, loss, and love of ordinary Australians whose lives have been altered by war, from those who have served to loved ones left behind. Take an intimate journey of the personal costs and consequences of war, unfolding over 100 years from 1918 to 2018.

Entry is free as always, and this event runs until 11 July. For more information, check out the War Memorial website.

Finders keepers: collectors and their stories

Peek into the personal collections of five fascinating collectors. Diverse, rich and often surprising, these collections are brimming with stories. Dedicated to the act of preserving and collecting, the exhibition tells the stories of individuals through the objects they chose to safeguard revealing extraordinary stories about the ideas, individuals and events that have shaped the nation.

From cherished mementoes of political careers, to well-worn protest T-shirts, each collection takes you on a journey through Australia’s democratic history. Families can explore the exhibition and discover what makes collectors tick with fun, hands-on Finders Keepers Collector Kits.

Finders Keepers asks why do people collect, why do museums collect and what do our collections say about us? With 269 objects on display, the most in the history of the museum, Finders Keepers unveils the collector in us all and invites you to share your own collection story.

Showing until 31 August at the Museum of Australian Democracy, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

NGA TALKS AND WORKSHOPS  

Talks and workshops cater for a range of different age groups.

For full details visit the NGA website.