This Week In The Can

Posted on 10 September, 2018

Your essential guide to what’s on in Canberra this week!

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10+ THINGS NOT TO MISS

Sustainable House Day 2018

The Link—located in Ginninderry’s first suburb Strathnairn—will be holding tours, talks and demonstrations for the public on Sustainable House Day—Sunday, 16  September.

This award-winning building showcases Ginninderry’s commitment to sustainability and includes a large solar cell on the roof generating the building’s power. The structure has a high recycled content with many items being 100 per cent reclaimed or recycled. Large water tanks also collect rainwater from the roof for our toilets and to help irrigate the drought-tolerant gardens.

Find out more at ginninderry.com.

American Masters

Jackson Pollock
Blue poles 1952
oil, enamel, aluminium paint, glass on canvas
National Gallery of Australia
© Pollock-Krasner Foundation/ARS/Copyright Agency

Drawn exclusively from the National Gallery of Australia’s (NGA) outstanding collection of American art, American Masters celebrates that nation’s artists from the 1940s to the 1980s. When the NGA acquired Jackson Pollock’s Blue poles in 1973, at the time the most expensive American painting ever sold, our emerging collection hit the global headlines. This exhibition tells the story of the formation of our incredible American collection and includes many major works not seen together for a long time.

From Abstract Expressionism, Colour Field, Pop, Neo-Dada and Photo-Realism, to Conceptual, Land and Performance Art, American Masters examines how a generation of young Americans, inspired by European émigrés, challenged local traditions and reinvented modern art. The sensational international impact of the era’s major artists is captured in masterpieces by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Chuck Close, Donald Judd, Eva Hesse and Louise Bourgeois.

Highlights include paintings and works on paper by the New York School; Sol LeWitt’s huge Wall drawing No. 380 a-d 1982, specially re-made for this exhibition; and a selection of spectacular light works by Dan Flavin, Bruce Nauman, Keith Sonnier and James Turrell.

Showing daily until 11 November at the National Gallery of Australia.

The High Tea Party

Get ready for a weekend of indulgence, tiny cakes and glamour! So much more than just a fancy tea party, The High Tea Party at The Hyatt Canberra is a way for women to let someone else worry about everything for once, treat themselves to some cakes, and be pampered.

Mix up your meditation routine with extreme knitting!

The phenomenon is coming to Canberra Centre for its EDEN experience this Saturday 15 September from 10:30am–12:30pm.

Hosted by fibre artist Jacqui Fink whose extreme scale merino wool installations have been seen across the world, the workshop will give you the chance to make your own!

Taking place in Canberra Centre’s new EDEN installation, get creative and purchase your tickets through canberracentre.com.au – all tickets include materials and a goody bag.

Tickets are $40 from Eventbrite.

CANBERRA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Returning to Canberra for its 23rd year, the Canberra Short Film Festival is back to showcase short films across nine different categories. Showing films from Canberra locals, as well and both national and international artists, CSSF is not one to be missed.  

Screenings will be held at Dendy Cinema, Belconnen Arts Centre, Tuggeranong Arts Centre and Smith’s Alternative from 9 September – 16 September. Join the Canberra Short Film Festival in supporting the talent that makes up the Australia’s film industry.  

Happening 9 September – 16 September over multiple locations. 

Tickets from $15. Bookings are essential. See website for more information.  

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.

Heath Ledger: A Life In Pictures

Heath Ledger. Credit: Karin Catt.

Audiences around the world know and love Heath Ledger as a charismatic movie star who pushed boundaries and created iconic roles. Now they have a chance to discover Heath’s creative process and deep passion for the film industry and the visual arts, in a unique exhibition curated in collaboration with his family.

Explore a selection of film costumes and props, Heath’s own character research journals, celebrity portraits and acting awards and more. A Life in Pictures offers a rare insight into the man behind the camera. A program of special screenings and talks will complement the exhibition.

Showing until 10 February 2019 at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Acton. See website for more information.

Cellar Door

Image via facebook.com/pg/CellarDoorCBR

Cellar Door is a new wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene. 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. Capital City Soul Club are the resident DJs.
Make a day of it with a film at Palace Electric Cinema and NewActon’s leading food and drink destinations.

Happening Saturday 8 September from 2-5 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon. See the Facebook event for more details.

Exhibition: Greybilly

Named after the grey, green and cream opal found in the South Australian mining town of Coober Pedy, Greybilly brings together work by Abigail Varney (Melbourne) and Nina Baker (Sydney). Photographs by Varney present a vivid perspective on depleting resources in Coober Pedy. Conceptual jewellery by Baker sees the transformation of disposable plastic containers into objects of beauty. Curated by Yasmin Masri, Greybilly explores the search for, and creation of, what’s precious; and the reality of finite resources.

Showing until 29 September at the Nishi Gallery, 17 Kendall Lane, NewActon. See the website for more information.

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.

So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history

As conceptually thrilling as it is aesthetically rich, So Fine features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history. Forming part of the Portrait Gallery’s twentieth birthday celebrations, the exhibition enriches the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.

So Fine’s contributing artists – of various ages and backgrounds, and hailing from different parts of Australia – have all created new works for the exhibition. Aside from gender, their common attributes are a meticulous approach to creation, driven by considered, nuanced thinking. Their works are intricate, refined and affecting objects that reconceive events, people and places from Australia’s past.

The artists involved are Shirley Purdie, Linde Ivimey, Bern Emmerichs, Leah King-Smith, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Nicola Dickson, Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling), Fiona McMonagle, Valerie Kirk and Carol McGregor. Charged with these makers’ passionate, intensely individual takes, and incorporating themes from pre-history to the present, So Fine challenges and delights, as well as interrogating the boundaries of contemporary portraiture.

Showing until Monday 1 October at the National Portrait Gallery. See the website for more information.

Trivia Tuesdays

Grab your mates, grab a drink and get ready for a good time. MOLO Live will be hosting trivia every Tuesday – and if that wasn’t good enough, the winners get to ‘pluck a duck’ for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

If your team is the brainiest you stand a chance to win a keg, vouchers from Brodburger, Bentspoke or STA Travel and heaps more!
Happening every Tuesday from 5.30 pm at MOLO Live, in the ANU Pop-Up Village on ANU Campus, Acton.

Cellar Door  

Cellar Door is a new wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene. 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. Capital City Soul Club are the resident DJs.  

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

Happening Saturday 15 September from 2-5 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon. See the Facebook event for more details.  

PIALLIGO URBAN HIGH TEA @ FLORIADE 

Showcasing a range of sweet and savoury treats alongside an impeccable range of teas by Canberra based Tea Garden Co. Unwind with High Tea at Floriade – set amongst the tulip gardens, treat yourself to an afternoon delight in the Pialligo Urban Café including pastries, cakes, finger sandwiches and scones. 

Gluten-free dietaries can be accommodated, just let the staff know when booking tickets.  

Tickets cost $42 pp, and booking is essential 

Happening 15 September – 14 October, Friday –  Sunday, 2.30pm and 3.30pm at Pialligo Urban Cafe at Floriade, Commonwealth Avenue, City  

See website for more information 

San Churro Real Ruby Chocolate Experience 

Be taken on an immersive dessert experience with the highly anticipated Ruby Chocolate (as seen on MasterChef). Ruby is the first new true chocolate discovery in more than 80 years, offering a naturally fruity and deliciously velvet taste. 

The #RealRuby Chocolate Experience will take chocolate lovers on an enchanting sensory journey that will heighten the five senses. Opening with an expertly curated and narrated chocolate tasting, followed by a dramatic dessert reveal with Ruby chocolate in its purest form and of course paired with San Churro’s traditional Spanish Churros. Tickets cost between $37 – $53 pp, and bookings are essential 

Happening 10 September, 12pm at San Churro Woden, Canberra 

See website for more information 

FILTER COFFEE MASTERCLASS WITH SEVEN MILES 

Designed for baristas, café owners and all round coffee enthusiasts who want to learn the basics of filter and dig a little bit deeper into the art that is filter coffee. Join Seven Miles Coffee Roasters for a look into ‘alternative’ brewing methods, including the pourover (v60), aeropress, batch brewing and more. 

At this free event you will take a look at – and taste – the effects of the different methods, dose, grind size, temperature, agitation and many more variants.  

The day will include, but not be limited to, conversations, light snacks and refreshments and a whole lot of coffee. Bookings are essential and can be booked via the website.  

Happening 12 September, 6pm – 8pm at Seven Miles Coffee Roasters Canberra, 23 Whyalla St, Fyshwick 

See website for more information  

GRAN FIESTA MEXICANA CANBERRA 

Canberra is an extremely multicultural place to live in, but it is still lacking in Mexican food. CIT students thought this would be a great opportunity to open the door to Central America with traditional Street food for sale on the premises.  

There will also be a Folkloric dance performance with “Mexico Lindo”, and a competition for The Best Mexican Costume. Tickets for the event cost $15 for presale, and $20 at the door. Kids under 12 years free. 

Happening 15 September 6pm – 11pm at the CIT Function Centre, K Block, 37 Constitution Ave, Reid 

See website for more information 

SUNDAY SESSIONS WITH A TWIST  

Spend your Sunday the way they do in Cuba – sunshine, dominoes, fruity rum punch bowls, tasty Spanish food and live entertainment.  

Highball’s fabulous street party style Sunday Session is on again every Weekend and it’ll be fun for all ages (you can even bring your little ones). With weekly live entertainment from some of Canberra’s best Latin and percussion groups, your Sunday afternoon will really take off.  

Acoustic performances, bottomless mimosas, punch bowls, coronas and plenty of dominoes sets to share!  

Happening until Sunday 7 October at The Highball Express, 82 Alinga Street. Free entry. See the website for more information.  

HIGH TEA  

Showcasing a range of sweet and savoury treats by Pialligo Estate, alongside an impeccable range of tea’s by Canberra based Tea Garden Co.  

High Tea at Pialligo Estate is as refined as its setting. Tuck into delicate pastries and cakes, classic finger sandwiches, scones with Estate jam plus a glass of bubbles for extra indulgence.  

This High Tea is perfect for celebrations, birthdays, hen parties, dates, family get-togethers and friends wanting something different! Bookings are essential.  

Inclusions | Glass of Bubbles, Selection of Tea Garden Co. Teas, Selection of sweet and savoury items.  

Happening weekends until Saturday 22 December from 10am at Pialligo Estate, 18 Kallaroo Road, Pialligo. From $55. See the website for more information.  

TIPSY TEA AT WHITE RABBIT COCKTAIL ROOM  

It’s always time for tea at White Rabbit Cocktail Room, Tipsy Tea that is! Kicking off from two every Saturday and Sunday, Tipsy Tea is perfect for those seeking a little adventure.  

Tipsy Tea ($65 pp), in true White Rabbit style combines classic high tea flare with signature concoctions encouraging the curious to explore their senses. To eat, you are greeted by a 3- tier platter with an array of flavoursome bites including; spiced pork sausage rolls, smoked salmon and cream cheese pinwheel sandwiches and semi-dried tomato and caramelised onion tarts. Looking for something a little sweeter? Try the sour rhubarb and marshmallow tarts or the delightful dark chocolate and peanut brownies topped with caramel icing.  

Every Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 pm at White Rabbit Cocktail Room, 65 Northbourne Avenue, City.  

Book your table via info@whiterabbitroom.com.au or on (02) 6257 7779.  

BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS @ HIGHBALL  

Highball are freeing the mimosa from being a brunch-only drink and taking them for a night out, Cuban style! Head in on Wednesdays for some fresh and fruity bottomless mimosas and share a charcuterie platter.  

– Flight Details –
•  $45 per passenger (4 pax minimum)
•  1.5 hours of service
•  Charcuterie platter to share
•  Wednesdays from 4pm  

They’re also letting their mimosas out on the weekends so you can catch them 4-7pm on Saturdays and from 2pm on Sundays.  

On every Wednesday from 4pm at The Highball Express. Entry is $45pp, min 4 people. Visit the website for more information.  

GARDEN BAR HAPPY HOUR  

Select wine, beer, basic spirits, cocktail specials while you enjoy live music from Canberra’s most talented local musicians. Make your Friday happy and relaxing with a various selection of popular drinks.  

Happening Friday every week between 5pm – 7pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, inside Hotel Realm 18 National Circuit, Barton.  

Cost: $5 wine, beer, spirits.  

FRIDAY SOIRÉE AT BUVETTE  

Add a little sparkle to your Friday night with Buvette Bistro’s Friday Soirée. Set outdoors in the Parisian-style Buvette Terrace, celebrate the weekend with this exclusive event. Enjoy VIP service with a personal bartender and select your drink of choice from the special cocktail menu, designed exclusively for Friday Soirée.  

Sip on a French 75 or a Lychee Torsadée whilst enjoying fresh oysters, charcuterie or a duck liver parfait.  

Every Friday from 4pm to 7pm at Buvette, inside the Realm Hotel, 18 National Circuit, Barton. Find more information here.  

HIGH TEA ON THE BURBURY TERRACE  

Designed to blend tradition with innovation, the new Burbury High Tea menu also offers signature favourites with freshly- baked scones, strawberry macaron and finger sandwiches. Burbury Terrace is also proud to introduce a fully-dedicated gluten-free high tea menu. Remaining as innovative as the standard menu, it also includes the traditional sandwiches and indulgent sweets.  

$50.00 per person including TWG Tea and freshly-brewed coffee. $60 per person including a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, TWG Tea and freshly-brewed coffee.  

Available Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 4.30pm at Burbury Terrace, Barton. Find more information here.  

PETIT FEAST AT BUVETTE  

Spoil yourself with a bountiful spread including savouries, charcuterie, cheeses and decadent desserts. Every Saturday at Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar.  

It’s not breakfast, it’s not lunch…but it is an indulgent feast for all the senses. The Buvette Petit Feast features freshly made savouries and sweets as well as lavish desserts. In addition to tea and coffee, you can order a Bloody Mary, French Champagne and Rosé.  

Available between 11.30am – 2.30pm every Saturday at $65 per guest, including a complimentary glass of Rosé. For $15 guests can add unlimited Mimosas. Buvette is fully licensed and has free parking all weekend, outdoor covered seating and complimentary WiFi.  

For bookings, call 02 6163 1818 or email buvette@domahotels.com.au. Find out more at hotelrealm.com.au.  

TACO TUESDAY  

Your choice of chicken, pork, or beef in a soft shell taco with cabbage, shallots & coriander. Happening every Tuesday from 1pm-5pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.  

BURGERS & BEERS  

A selection of Burgers and tap beer. Happening every Wednesday from 5pm-10pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.  

PIZZA & PALE ALE THURSDAYS  

A selection of housemade Pizza paired with a schooner of James Squire Pale Beer. Happening at 5pm every Thursday at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.  

MUSIC, STAGE AND THEATRE  

THE SEASON 

Meet the Duncans, a mob as funny as they are unforgettable. Back home on Tassie’s Dog Island for birding season, and the threat of snakes and Pop’s explosive temper, the family reunites with a country and culture still very much alive. 

But their long memories and smart-arse streak mean it’s not just the birds sticking their beaks where they’re not welcome. Old secrets are dug from their burrows and fledgling rivalries begin to take flight – it might all fall apart if it wasn’t for the fierce love that holds this bunch together.  

Nathan Maynard has crafted a deadly funny portrait of a singular corner of our world. 

Directed by Isaac Drandic and featuring a stellar cast including Tammy Anderson, Trevor Jamieson and Luke Carroll, this national tour of the original acclaimed production is a raucous and rowdy celebration of tradition and the bonds that unite us. 

Happening 13 – 15 September at the Canberra Theatre, London Circuit, City  

See website for more information 

 American Masters: Merce Cunningham Performances 

Dancers from the American Masters: Merce Cunningham Dance Residency will perform a range of solos, duets and trios excerpted from Merce Cunningham choreography. These works are being remounted under the guidance of Jamie Scott, former company dancer and choreographic stager from the Merce Cunningham Trust (USA).  

Happening 4 – 16 September, 12 – 12.30pm & 2 – 2.30pm, at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes 

See website for more information 

 Beloved Muse – Emilie Flöge 

Information Business woman. A gesamtkunstwerk. An artist. 

Emilie Flöge (1874-1952), was a reformist fashion designer and one of the Flöge Sisters who ran a hugely successful Viennese fashion salon; she was also life companion to artist Gustav Klimt and an integral part of Vienna’s fin de siècle art movement. Those are the facts, but who was Emilie Flöge really?  

Beloved Muse re-imagines the part of Emilie’s life that she deliberately burnt, and rescues a radical and extraordinary woman from the ashes. Maxi Blaha, a Vienna-based, Australian-Austrian actress renowned for her sensitive portrayals of Austrian female icons (such as Bertha von Suttner and Efriede Jelinek ) brings her to life in this elegant portrait cleverly mixing Flöge’s internal and external worlds and a life lived across two world wars. 

Brought to Australia for the Klimt centenary year, this production utilizes original props initially owned by Flöge and Klimt, with Blaha accompanied by Georg Buxhofer on bass.

The final show on Sunday 16th will be performed in German, and cost per ticket ranges from $25 – $39 pp. 

Happening 13 – 16 September, The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City  

See website for more information  

Canberra Wind Symphony Emerald Concert 

Begin with Karel Husa’s Apotheosis of this Earth. In four movements, this mammoth work performed by the Canberra Wind Symphony Orchestra, articulates the composer’s activism on the ‘desperate’ state of the world, touching on war, hunger and environmental factors. This work tells its story with suspenseful tensions and building textures, which range from the tittering of little birds through to full-ensemble forest fires that will set the room alight.  

Two heavenly works bring together the prosperous and healing spirit of the Emerald stone: David Maslanka’s Angel of Mercy and James Swearingen’s and the Angels Called. These works utilize angelic brass fanfares and lush lyrical lines to bring heavenly beauty into the concert hall to stand next to Husa’s dramatic interpretation. Samuel R. Hazo’s Exultate – at breakneck speed – captures the vibrancy and energy associated with the emerald hue.  

This program delivers textures spanning the full range of the dynamics of the wind ensemble.  

Happening 16 September 2pm – 3.30pm, at The Street Theatre, Childers Street, city, tickets cost between $10 – $45 pp 

See website for more information 

 Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf 

‘For me, garden design isn’t just about plants, it is about emotion, atmosphere, a sense of contemplation. You try to move people with what you do. You look at this, and it goes deeper than what you see. It reminds you of something in the genes — nature, or the longing for nature’. Piet Oudolf 

Revolutionary landscape designer Piet Oudolf is known for designing public works like New York City’s popular High Line and the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park that redefine our conception of gardens as works of art in themselves. 

This gorgeous, meditative documentary immerses viewers in his work, taking us inside Oudolf’s creative process. From his aesthetic theories to his strikingly abstract sketches to the ecological implications of his ideas, the film poetically reveals how Oudolf upends conventional notions of nature, public space and, ultimately, beauty itself. 

Cost per ticket –  $10 pp, bookings essential  

Happening 16 September 4pm – 6pm at Arc cinema, McCoy Circuit, Acton, City  

See website for more information 

Irish & Celtic Music Festival 

 Join the Craic in Yass at the Irish and Celtic Music Festival. The festival includes traditional Irish and Celtic music plus Australian folk, master classes and Junior Fleadh, sessions galore and Blackboard venues, Celtic markets, Poets Soiree and breakfasts, Ceilis and special workshops. So much entertainment for all of the family to enjoy! Yass will host Geraldine Brosnan, a traditional Irish Musician from Co Kerry. 

Happening 14 – 16 September on Comur Street, Yass, New South Wales 

See website for more information  

The Cat Empire at UC Refectory  

If it has been a while since you danced up a storm, sang out loud, smiled your face off, had a night out with your friends or lover…the time has come. The Cat Empire have announced a National Tour for Sept 2018 through some of their favourite Australian venues. They will be taking some new songs out on the road, as well as The Empire Horns and the fabulous Odette. Loved around the globe for their melody driven mood lifting music, The Cat Empire are one of Australia’s most celebrated musical outfits both at home and abroad, selling more tickets annually than any other Australian band. This is testament to the quality of their musicianship, showmanship and unstoppable energy and generosity as performers. The show is all-ages, so be sure to bring your kids! Tickets range from $45 – $66 pp 

Happening 16 September from 7.30 at the UC Refectory, University of Canberra, Building 1, Level B, Bruce 

See website for more information     

Burlesque Royalty Comes to Canberra

Imogen Kelly has been making provocative whoopee for over a quarter of a century and is a pioneer for women’s performance movements. She is well known internationally for her disemboweling of showgirl genres and lobbying for legislative changes  concerning  women’s  rights  during  The  Woods  Commission  in  1994  (which  allowed  for  performers  of  striptease  to  be  classed  as  entertainers,  so  they  could  work  outside  of  the  red  light  district).  This  has  seen  Imogen  Kelly  dubbed  Australia’s  first  lady  of  striptease  (renowned  as  Australia’s  Queen  of  Burlesque  and  also  crowned  World  Queen  of  Burlesque  in  2012  at  the  Burlesque  Hall  of  Fame  in  Las  Vegas).  

While  Imogen  Kelly  is  in  town,  #JazidaProductions  is  facilitating  two  workshops  so  she  can  share  her  skills  within  the  Canberra  community.  Imogen  Kelly  is  running  two  1.5  hour  workshops  titled  ͞For  The  Love  of  Lili (a  creative  classic  strip  tease  intensive)  and  ͞Going  Big (focusing  on  large  costumes  and  prop  work). 

Happening 16 September  

See website for more information  

Rhythm Syndicate & In2Deep: All That’s Jazz 

Spend a jazzy Sunday afternoon at the High Court of Australia with the choral jazz singers of ‘Rhythm Syndicate’ and original jazz sounds of duo ‘In2Deep’. The combined talent of all these musicians promises an afternoon of creativity, toe-tapping music and jazz classics, giving the audience an afternoon to remember. 

Rhythm Syndicate will perform a program of toe-tapping jazz and swing classics, including two of his original arrangements – ‘In the Mood’ and ‘Cry Me a River’, as well as ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ (the Gershwins), ‘Blue Skies’ (Irving Berlin), ‘I Could Write a Book’ (Rogers & Hart), ‘The Nearness of You’ (Hoagy Carmichael), and many more.   

Admission to the concert is by registration only, tickets and registration cost is free.  

Happening 16 September 1.30pm at High Court of Australia, 40 Parkes Place East, Parkes 

See website for more information 

FourPlay ‘Wish’ Single Launch 

FourPlay put the ‘eclectic’ back into ‘electric string quartet’ with their second new single, ‘Wish’, a powerful, haunting ballad about living in a climate-changed world. 

FourPlay have been wowing audiences around the world for over 20 years with both their radical reinventions of pop songs and their wildly eclectic original material, have often had environmental and political themes in their music. 

Their new single ‘Wish’ takes this to the next step: a haunting ballad with tones of Not Drowning Waving and ‘70s folk protest songs, with powerful lyrics delivered passionately by Tim Hollo and Lara Goodridge, intricate viola lines from Shenzo Gregorio, and a soaring, poignant cello solo from Peter Hollo. 

Wish includes five archival remixes from the band’s Now To The Future album, unreleased until now. Indeed it is the album’s title track, Now To The Future being reworked as glitchy post-rock by Brisbane’s Chris Perren, experimental noise by Canberra’s Shoeb Ahmad, and two very different, beautiful drone works from Adelaide’s Panoptique Electrical and Melbourne’s Part Timer. The EP closes with a radical electro-pop reworking of “You’ve Changed Your Tune” by Sydney’s ollo. 

Happening 14 September 9.30pm – 11.30 pm at Smith’s Alternative Bookshop, 76 Alinga Street, Civic 

See website for more information 

FADING BY CANBERRA YOUTH THEATRE 

Canberra Youth Theatre’s (CYT) Company Ensemble presents an original work by Melbourne playwright Laura Lethlean. Fading has been developed collaboratively drawing on the cast’s individual and ensemble responses to transitioning from childhood to adulthood. It explores the effect of the expectations that are placed upon the individual, the pressure that comes with becoming an adult, and the grief of the childhood left behind. The work is post dramatic in its form, using metaphor to convey the pressures felt at this age and how we navigate these. 

Fading is part of Canberra Theatre Centre’s Education Program, which aims to offer students live theatre experiences to encourage critical thinking, build empathy and raise ethical questions leading to personal growth.  There will be two matinee performances in the season, specifically for students in years 10 – 12, with post show Q&A sessions. 

Fading is directed by Katie Cawthorne with original lighting and sound design by the CYT Technical Theatre Team, alongside Kimmo Vennonen and Gillian Schwabb. Tickets cost between $17 – $20 pp and bookings are essential 

Happening 12 – 15 September at the Canberra Theatre, London Circuit, Civic 

See website for more information 

Trivia Tuesdays  

Grab your mates, grab a drink and get ready for a good time.  

MOLO Live will be hosting trivia every Tuesday – and if that wasn’t good enough, the winners get to ‘pluck a duck’ for a chance to win some awesome prizes. If your team is the brainiest you stand a chance to win a keg, vouchers from Brodburger, Bentspoke or STA Travel and heaps more!  

Happening every Tuesday from 5.30 pm at MOLO Live, in the ANU Pop-Up Village on ANU Campus, Acton.  

SUNSET SESSIONS AT THE LAKES  

The perfect way to end your week…Head to The Lakes every Friday from 4pm in the lounge, for your chance to see some of Canberra’s best local musicians!  

Happening until Friday 29 March 2019 at Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, 110 Gundaroo Drive, Nicholls. Free entry. See the website for more information.  

FILM  

CANBERRA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL   

Returning to Canberra for its 23rd year, the Canberra Short Film Festival is back to showcase short films across nine different categories. Showing films from Canberra locals, as well and both national and international artists, CSSF is not one to be missed.   

Screenings will be held at Dendy Cinema, Belconnen Arts Centre, Tuggeranong Arts Centre and Smith’s Alternative from 9 September – 16 September. Join the Canberra Short Film Festival in supporting the talent that makes up the Australia’s film industry.   

Happening 9 September – 16 September over multiple locations.  

Tickets from $15. Bookings are essential. See website for more information.   

FRANKENSTEIN: 200 YEARS OF MONSTERS  

The NFSA (National Film and Sound Archive) presents a short season of films about, or inspired by, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This year marks 200 years since the publication of the book which has inspired the season and supports the NFSA-ANU conference, Frankenstein: Two Hundred Years of Monsters. The program includes the screenings of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’, ‘The Mole People’, ‘Gothic’, and ‘Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein’. Tickets cost $10 pp per night, and bookings are essential.  

Happening, 7, 8 and 13 September at Arc cinema, McCoy Circuit, Acton, City  

See website for more information 

RIGHT THERE ON MY TV 

The NFSA presents a nostalgic look at the pioneers of Australian music video from the 1970s. Revisit music television from programs you fondly remember and others long since forgotten: from Nightmoves, Bandstand and Thank God it’s Friday at the Zoo to the international tour specials, variety shows and telethons of the era. Featuring special guest, actor and singer Marty Rhone, plus more to be announced. Cost per ticket – $20, bookings essential.  

Happening 14 September from 7pm at Arc cinema, McCoy Circuit, Acton, City 

See website for more information 

AFTER THE APOLOGY COMMUNITY SCREENING 

The ACT Human Rights Commission and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body invite you to a free screening of After the Apology. The film tells the story of four Aboriginal grannies who challenge government policies to bring their grandkids home. The screening includes refreshments and a panel discussion, and celebrates the 11th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).  

Happening 13 September 5pm at the Visions Gallery in the National Museum of Australia, Lawson Cres, Acton 

See website for more information 

FESTIVALS  

FLORIADE 

Developed in 1988 as a grand, one off floral tribute to mark Australia’s Bicentenary and Canberra’s 75th anniversary, Floriade has become Canberra’s most iconic annual tourism event and Australia’s premier spring festival. 

The floral display of more than a million bulbs and annuals planted across 8,000 square meters of inner city parkland is more than just a flower show. Floriade is a diverse, ever expanding program of music, cultural celebrations, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market traders, artistic displays, entertainment and recreational activities. 

Happening 15 September – 16 October at Commonwealth Park, Regatta Place, Parkes 

See website for more information 

MARKETS  

Lyneham Primary Great Garage Sale 

Lyneham Primary School is having their annual Great Big Garage Sale – toys, clothes, books, kitchenware, bric-a-brac, sports gear, games, music, bikes and more. 9am – 12pm.  

This event is run by the Lyneham Primary School P&C. All money raised goes back into the school and the kids. 

Happening 15 September 9am – 12pm, Lyneham Primary School (front lawns), Brigalow St, Lyneham 

For more information, call 0429000989.  

(In case of rain the event will be cancelled) 

SOUTHERN HARVEST FARMERS MARKET AT BUNGENDORE  

The Southern Harvest Farmers Market: selling sustainable, authentic, regional food: grown and made by the Community, for the Community.  

The market is open every Saturday. It is a great source of fresh food and farm produce from around the region including meat, eggs, seafood, honey, fruit, vegetables, preserves and refreshments.  

Happening until Saturday 20 October from 9am-1pm at Bungendore Anglican Hall, 25 Butmaroo Street, Bungendore Anglican Hall, New South Wales, Australia. Free entry. See the website for ore information.  

YASS COMMUNITY MARKETS  

Support the local producers and come to the Yass Community Markets. Local wine, jams, sauces and craft items. Oil, baked goods and great coffee or juices. Vegetables and plants too. Home made food, arts and crafts.  

It’s a great place to catch up with friends or to take a family and friends, with good weather expect to see the jumping castle and more stalls outside.  

The Yass Community Markets have become a fantastic community event every first and third Saturday of the month. Come and have a coffee, relax and enjoy the ambiance and perhaps take in a local vineyard for lunch.  

Happening until Saturday 2 February 2019 from 10am-1pm at St Augustines Church, Meehan Street, St Augustines Church. $2 entry. 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 information.  

MARKET GARDEN PRODUCE STALL  

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.  

WORKSHOPS, TOURS & TALKS  

Image: Martin Ollman

Panel: Has Canberra evolved into the city Walter and Marion envisaged? 

Hosted by Amanda Whitley, Founder and Director of HerCanberra, the National Capital Authority is holding a panel discussion and an exclusive preview of the new National Capital Exhibition. Join panel members Dr Dianne Firth, Chris Uhlmann and Catherine Carter as they discuss: ‘Has Canberra evolved into the city that Walter and Marion envisaged?’ 

Enjoy a night of conversation and light refreshments, including the showcasing of wines from Lake George Winery. Happening Tuesday 11 September at 6pm. The National Capital Exhibition is located at Barrine Drive, Regatta Point. Tickets $11 via Eventbrite. Limited tickets available so get in early to secure your spot. 

Mix up your meditation routine with extreme knitting!

The phenomenon is coming to Canberra Centre for its EDEN experience this Saturday 15 September from 10:30am–12:30pm.

Hosted by fibre artist Jacqui Fink whose extreme scale merino wool installations have been seen across the world, the workshop will give you the chance to make your own!

Taking place in Canberra Centre’s new EDEN installation, get creative and purchase your tickets through canberracentre.com.au – all tickets include materials and a goody bag.

Tickets are $40 from Eventbrite.

Sustainable House Day 2018 

The Link—located in Ginninderry’s first suburb Strathnairn—will be holding tours, talks and demonstrations for the public on Sustainable House Day—Sunday, 16  September. 

This award-winning building showcases Ginninderry’s commitment to sustainability and includes a large solar cell on the roof generating the building’s power. The structure has a high recycled content with many items being 100 per cent reclaimed or recycled. Large water tanks also collect rainwater from the roof for our toilets and to help irrigate the drought-tolerant gardens. 

Check out sustainability in action 

A great line of experts will be at Sustainable House Day, including: 

• Electric Vehicles Canberra 

• Solarhub 
• Stiebel Eltron 
• Ozbreed 
• Master Builders Associatio 
• Ideal Building Solutions 

• McDonald Jones Homes 
• Rawson Homes 
• Monier Tiles 
• Frank Fenner Foundation

Performing Drawing // Antonia Aitken 

 ‘Walking Breathing Drawing’ is a drawing action that responds to the recorded rhythms and looping of breath whilst walking. This live performance, performed in the gallery as three gestures, explores the generative movements and sensations experienced in the walking body. Bookings are essential, and cost for the event is free

Happening 15 September, 10.30am, 11.30am and 3pm at the NGA, Parkes Place East, Parkes 

See website for more information 

Tall Poppies and Poplars Tour 

Want to visit a more exclusive garden this spring? Discover secret gardens, and hear behind the scenes stories told by the gardeners who worked at Old Parliament House, on a 45-minute tour through the green spaces of Old Parliament House.  

Happening 15 September – 14 October daily, 2.30pm – 3.15pm at Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes 

Tickets cost $8 pp, bookings essential and can be booked via the website. 

See website for more information  

Women with Altitude forum

Women with Altitude Canberra is hosted by local leaders and members that want to connect professional women, either in their own business or from the corporate business world. They support each other with learning, connecting, and fostering collaborations and developing personal skills.  

The WWA’s purpose is a warm friendly bitch-free, clique-free culture. All are welcome.  

Along with this event, a Collaborate and Grow session will be directly after. Collaborate and Grow sessions are a member benefit for members to link in to get support, advice, ideas and directions forward for whatever they are currently working on. The event costs $49 pp, and the one on one sessions are free for members and guests are welcome for an additional charge.  

Happening 14 September 8.45 am – 10.15 am at The Attic at Elk and Pea, 21 Lonsdale St, Braddon 

See website for more information 

BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE  

Discover the stories behind the building on a special tour of Parliament House. Learn how the building’s impressive architecture is symbolic of our national identity and gain a rare view into private areas.  

These tours run only on non-sitting days (except Christmas Day and when seasonal tours are running). We recommend that you arrive at least 20 minutes before your tour or event for screening and check-in as places are limited to 10 participants. tours operate for 55 mins. For security purposes, all participants must present photo identification and ticket confirmation to join any behind the scenes tours or events. If you do not have these, you will be unable to participate.  

Participants on a paid tour can take advantage of a 10% discount on any purchase from The Parliament Shop on the day of the tour.  

Happening until March 2019 at Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Capital Hill. See the website for more information.

GUIDED TOURS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA  

Visiting the National Library of Australia? Take a tour and see a side of the Library most visitors never experience. Whether this is your first visit or the next of many, you can learn more about the Library and its exhibitions by joining a free guided tour. Tours are offered by trained Volunteer Guides who have a passion for sharing their knowledge of the Library and its collections. Your Guide will welcome the opportunity to introduce you to the National Library, its collections and the stories of Australia.  

Treasures Gallery – Daily at 11.30am
Take a tour and come face-to-face with some of the Library’s greatest treasures and Australia’s greatest stories.  

Behind The Scenes – Thursdays at 2 pm
Take a tour to visit enormous stacks where the books are stored and learn about strange curiosities in the Library’s collection that have been acquired over more than a century of collecting.  

Discover your National Library – Saturdays at 2 pm
. Join a Library guide for a journey around the building and discover the stories in the Reading Rooms and public spaces.  

For more detailed information visit the website.  

ART FOR LUNCH  

Drop into 30-minute weekly talks or creative activities interpreting works of art in the NGA’s collection. Check our website for further details. This event is free but bookings are essential.  

Happening every Thursday until November 29 2018 from 12.45pm–1.15pm at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes. See the website for more information.  

STEPPING FORWARD: COMBINING SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH LIGHT EXERCISE  

This free group is suitable for women wanting to reconnect socially with other women after domestic violence. The group gets together each fortnight to go for a relaxed 30-minute walk and catch up at a local café. Guest speakers are invited to join providing information about topics of interest in the group. This group is an open group, making it easy for new members to join throughout the term. This group is organised and run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT.  

On fortnightly in Tuggeranong on Wednesday mornings and fortnightly in Gungahlin on Friday mornings, during school terms only. Children not yet at school are welcome to attend. Complete the online contact form to register.  

THE SCIENCE OF US  

The 2018 Canberra Speaker Series held across the year at the iconic Shine Dome. The series will investigate the science of our lives and our health, from the moment of conception through to death, focusing on some of the issues we face during our lives and what science is doing to resolve them.  

We’ll feature leading experts in the areas of reproduction, embryo development, personalised medicine, addiction, mental health, aging and more.  

Happening until Tuesday 11 December from 5.30pm at The Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Acton. $10. See the website for more information.  

NOT-FOR-PROFITS WORKSHOP SERIES  

Managing a not-for-profit (or for purpose) entity is not what it used to be. The level of competition has increased 10 fold and the amount of money available for supporting your activities has decreased by an even bigger number. Throw on top of this all the added expectations of corporate governance, best practice, competing for great staff and the high burn out rates and you wonder why you do it.  

That’s easy – you’re passionate about the cause, but is that enough to make you sustainable? Times are a-changing and this sector has many opportunities and challenges not affecting other sectors. This series of workshops will look at some of the biggest issues facing organisations in the not-for-profit/for purpose sector today and present options on how to address them. There will also be an opportunity for you to connect with other local community groups and share your knowledge and experiences with one another.  

Happening until Friday 9 November 2:30pm at Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre, 6/65 Tennant Street, Fyshwick. See the website for more information.  

OUTDOORS  

Image: VisitCanberra

ACT PARKS WETLAND WONDERS  

Take a walk with a ranger through Tidbinbilla’s wetlands to learn about its amazing inhabitants and if you are lucky catch a glimpse of an elusive platypus. Entry fees to Tidbinbilla apply. No bookings required.  

Arrive early to explore the rest of the sanctuary or the eucalypt forest. Happening until Thursday 30 September from 3pm-3.30pm at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Paddys River Road, Paddys River. See the website for more information.  

ACT PARKS CRITTERS OF THE EUCALYPT FOREST  

Every Saturday take a short walk with a ranger and learn about the potoroos and other important inhabitants of the Eucalypt Forest and get back in time for “Koalas in the Canopy”. Meet at the koala enclosure in the Eucalypt Forest.  

Normal entry fees to Tidbinbilla apply. No bookings required. Happening until Saturday 16 February 2019 from 2pm-2.45pm at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River. See the website for more information.  

ACT PARKS KOALAS IN THE CANOPY  

Every Saturday 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. Happening until Saturday 16 February 2019 from 2.45pm-3.15pm at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River. See the website for more information.  

KIDS  

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. Ages 5-12. Bookings are essential. Register here.  

COLOUR  

See colour as you’ve never seen it before! Is your yellow the same as mine? How do pixels and paint differ? Turn a blue butterfly green, visit the Room of Missing Colours and hear fascinating stories from people who see colour when they hear music. Discover Colour at Questacon and see the world in a new light!  

Showing until 30 September 2018 from 9am-5pm daily at Questacon, Parkes.  

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.  

FOR A GOOD CAUSE  

Daramalan College Wine Tasting Evening 

Daramalan College is hosting a fund raising activity for their Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship program at Daramalan helps provide a life changing opportunity to students whose family situations would otherwise mean an education at Daramalan College would not be possible.

This year they will be featuring wines from local winery, Tallagandra Hill. Tickets cost $50 per person and bookings are essential 

Happening 14 September at 7.15pm – late at Daramalan College, Dempsey Building121, Cowper St, Dickson 

See website for more information 

VOLUNTEERING EXPO  

The Volunteering Expo is now an annual event hosted by Volunteering and Contact ACT. The Expo is a one-stop shop for people to find out about volunteering opportunities across the Canberra Region. Everyone is invited to attend, entry for the public is free! 

The Expo attracts a diverse range of exhibitors from every sector, including community organisations, environment, sport, tourism, arts, education, science and emergency management. 

As many as 60 exhibitors attend each year so attendees have the chance to explore a great range of organisations that are looking for volunteers. 

Happening 18 September 11am – 6pm at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden  

See website for more information 

EXHIBITIONS

Jackson Pollock
Blue poles 1952
oil, enamel, aluminium paint, glass on canvas
National Gallery of Australia
© Pollock-Krasner Foundation/ARS/Copyright Agency

American Masters

Drawn exclusively from the National Gallery of Australia’s (NGA) outstanding collection of American art, American Masters celebrates that nation’s artists from the 1940s to the 1980s. When the NGA acquired Jackson Pollock’s Blue poles in 1973, at the time the most expensive American painting ever sold, our emerging collection hit the global headlines. This exhibition tells the story of the formation of our incredible American collection and includes many major works not seen together for a long time.

From Abstract Expressionism, Colour Field, Pop, Neo-Dada and Photo-Realism, to Conceptual, Land and Performance Art, American Masters examines how a generation of young Americans, inspired by European émigrés, challenged local traditions and reinvented modern art. The sensational international impact of the era’s major artists is captured in masterpieces by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Chuck Close, Donald Judd, Eva Hesse and Louise Bourgeois.

Highlights include paintings and works on paper by the New York School; Sol LeWitt’s huge Wall drawing No. 380 a-d 1982, specially re-made for this exhibition; and a selection of spectacular light works by Dan Flavin, Bruce Nauman, Keith Sonnier and James Turrell.

Showing daily until 11 November at the National Gallery of Australia.

Heath Ledger: A Life In Pictures  

Audiences around the world know and love Heath Ledger as a charismatic movie star who pushed boundaries and created iconic roles. Now they have a chance to discover Heath’s creative process and deep passion for the film industry and the visual arts, in a unique exhibition curated in collaboration with his family.  

Explore a selection of film costumes and props, Heath’s own character research journals, celebrity portraits and acting awards and more. A Life in Pictures offers a rare insight into the man behind the camera. A program of special screenings and talks will complement the exhibition.  

Showing until 10 Feb 2019, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Acton. See website for more information.  

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

Exhibition: Greybilly  

Named after the grey, green and cream opal found in the South Australian mining town of Coober Pedy, Greybilly brings together work by Abigail Varney (Melbourne) and Nina Baker (Sydney). Photographs by Varney present a vivid perspective on depleting resources in Coober Pedy. Conceptual jewellery by Baker sees the transformation of disposable plastic containers into objects of beauty. Curated by Yasmin Masri, Greybilly explores the search for, and creation of, what’s precious; and the reality of finite resources.  

Cost: Free. Happening until 29 September at the Nishi Gallery, 17 Kendall Lane, NewActon. See the website for more information.  

So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history  

As conceptually thrilling as it is aesthetically rich, So Fine features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history. Forming part of the Portrait Gallery’s twentieth birthday celebrations, the exhibition enriches the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.  

So Fine’s contributing artists – of various ages and backgrounds, and hailing from different parts of Australia – have all created new works for the exhibition. Aside from gender, their common attributes are a meticulous approach to creation, driven by considered, nuanced thinking. Their works are intricate, refined and affecting objects that reconceive events, people and places from Australia’s past.  

The artists involved are Shirley Purdie, Linde Ivimey, Bern Emmerichs, Leah King-Smith, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Nicola Dickson, Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling), Fiona McMonagle, Valerie Kirk and Carol McGregor. Charged with these makers’ passionate, intensely individual takes, and incorporating themes from pre-history to the present, So Fine challenges and delights, as well as interrogating the boundaries of contemporary portraiture.  

Showing until Monday 1 October at the National Portrait Gallery. See the website for more information.  

ICONS  

Celebrating the National Portrait Gallery’s 20th birthday, Icons brings together a group of contemporary photographic portraits of inspiring women and men. When a portrait communicates determination and individuality as boldly as these do, it has the potential to transcend the artistic medium – to become iconic.  

Happening until Sunday 16 September from 10am-5pm at National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes. Free entry. See the website for more information.  

FROM THE SHADOWS: AUSTRALIA’S SPECIAL FORCES  

Their activities are secret.
Their missions classified.
Their identities protected.  

More than 600 objects, rarely seen by the public, tell the story of how Australia’s Special Forces operate in secrecy to protect our national interests and support our allies at the Australia War Memorial’s latest exhibition.  

Happening until Wednesday 17 October from 10am-5pm at Australian War Memorial, Treloar Crescent, Campbell. Free entry. See the website for more information.  

ART + SOUND  

A fortnightly series showcasing playlists curated to specific galleries by various personalities. This event is brought to you by NGA and Yamaha.  

No bookings required.  

Happening until Saturday 2 February 2019 from 1pm-2pm at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes. Free entry.  

See the website for more information.  

HALL WW1 COMMEMORATIVE EXHIBITION  

“When Hall Answered the Call” – Visit the small community of Hall’s School Museum and see their moving exhibition to commemorate the district’s contribution to World War 1 as part of the ANZAC Centenary.  

The exhibition features photos, medals, letters, and other memorabilia that tell the story of the boys and men from the district who went off to fight in WW1. Learn about the support provided by their families, the local community and Welcome Home celebrations.  

Happening Thursdays until Thursday 21 February 2019 from 10am-1pm at Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Victoria Street, Hall. Free entry.  

See the website for more information.  

RE-DISCOVERING GINNINDERRA  

For half a century during the 1860s, Ginninderra flourished and in its prime boasted a church, two schools, store, Police Station, post & telegraph office, school of arts, nursery, farmers union hall, annual show, sports team and hotel. By 1915 Ginninderra was finished. Find this out and more by visiting the Re-Discovering Ginninderra exhibition.  

Happening until Thursday 21 February 2019 at Former Hall Primary School, Victoria Street, Hall. Free entry. See the website for more information.  

ARTISTS’ FACES AND PLACES  

Peek behind-the-scenes with this fascinating display of portraits of artists and their studios, drawn entirely from the national collection at the National Gallery of Australia. Comprised of artists’ self-portraits, artists’ portraits of other artists, and representations of the places in which they work, the exhibition explores the way artists see themselves, the way they are viewed by their friends and contemporaries, the shared world artists inhabit, and the centrality of the studio to their creative endeavours.  

In particular, Roy de Maistre’s Studio Interior 1959, painted the year before his retrospective at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, captures the artist’s strong connection to the location of decades of work.  

Happening until Monday 31 December at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes. Free entry. See the website for more information.  

NGA PLAY: KELLIE O’DEMPSEY: THE NEVER-ENDING LINE  

Kellie O’Dempsey invites you into her living sketchbook, an immersive space of moving marks and dancing lines. Digital projections collide with traditional drawing in a series of dynamic and colourful experiences and creative opportunities.  

Contribute to the unique drawing journey as you follow the never ending line to shadow puppets, 3D drawing constructions and live animation before getting into the drawing rink for an immersive drawing experience. The never-ending line investigates drawing as a way of collaboration and transformation and features sound elements composed by Michael Dick.  

Showing until Sunday 28 October from 10 am – 5 pm at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes, Place East, Parkes. See the website for more information.  

CRAFTING THE HOUSE IN THE HILL: ART, CRAFT AND DESIGN IN THE BUILDING OF AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT HOUSE  

During the 30th anniversary year of Australian Parliament House, this exhibition reveals the stories behind some of the building’s major art and design commissions and explores how these works connect Australia’s most intriguing public building with its first people, landscape, creative spirit and the principles of democracy.  

In their winning design scheme for Australian Parliament House, Mitchell / Giurgola & Thorp Architects envisaged a structure of national significance that was sensitively located within a regional landscape. The guiding design themes of land, place and identity are carefully mapped into the building’s architecture, surrounding landscaping and works of art commissioned from some of Australia’s finest practitioners in ceramics, glass, painting, sculpture, textiles and wood.  

In partnership with Australian Parliament House and the National Archives of Australia.  

Happening until Sunday 4 November at the Canberra Museum and Gallery,
Cnr London Circuit and Civic Square, City. See the website for more information.  

NGA PLAY: KELLIE O’DEMPSEY: THE NEVER-ENDING LINE  

Kellie O’Dempsey invites you into her living sketchbook, an immersive space of moving marks and dancing lines. Digital projections collide with traditional drawing in a series of dynamic and colourful experiences and creative opportunities.  

Contribute to the unique drawing journey as you follow the never ending line to shadow puppets, 3D drawing constructions and live animation before getting into the drawing rink for an immersive drawing experience. The never-ending line investigates drawing as a way of collaboration and transformation and features sound elements composed by Michael Dick.  

Showing until Sunday 28 October from 10 am – 5 pm at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes, Place East, Parkes. See the website for more information.  

PICASSO THE VOLLARD SUITE  

Pablo Picasso’s Vollard Suite is regarded as one of the greatest print suites ever made, and perhaps the most enigmatic and famous of the twentieth century. The National Gallery of Australia is one of the few cultural institutions in the world to hold the complete set of 100 engraved prints.  

Pablo Picasso’s trip to the great cultural and artistic centres of Rome, Naples and Florence had a profound effect on the course of his work during the 1920s and 1930s, a period that saw him embrace classical and mythological themes and imagery, culminating in the one hundred etchings in the Vollard suite 1930–37.  

Picasso aligned his creativity and sexuality with the mythical figure of the Minotaur, memorialising his connection to ‘the untameable beast’ in The Vollard Suite. This collection provides intimate insight into the mind of the 20th century’s most celebrated and influential modern artist, capturing his reflections on ambition, immortality, fallibility, vitality, and obsession.  

Showing until Monday 24 September at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes. See the website for more information.  

A TALE OF TWO VILLAGES – AN EXHIBITION  

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.  

See the website for more information or drop by the Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Victoria Street, Hall.  

EXPRESS YOURSELF  

This collection exhibition draws attention to portraits of Australians whose unique life experiences symbolise social and cultural themes. The portraits attest to the facility of photographic portraiture to convey compelling psychological depth.  

Happening until Friday 7 September 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes. See the website for more information.  

ART DECO  

Comprised entirely of works selected from the National Gallery of Australia’s collection, Art Deco presents superb examples of Australian vitalism, capturing Art Deco’s fascination with the meeting of art, architecture, and technology.  

In the 1920s, Australian artists rebelled against the austerity of World War I to create images of an abundant nation filled with strong, youthful figures, capturing the vitalism of a nation reborn.  

Technological advancements and urbanisation influenced the emergence of Art Deco: a new aesthetic in art, architecture, design and fashion.  

Art Deco presents superb examples of Australian Vitalism, including Rayner Hoff’s architectural frieze Deluge – stampede of the lower gods 1927, Jean Broome-Norton’s Abundance 1934 and Napier Waller’s painting, I’ll put a girdle round about the earth 1933, which captures Art Deco’s fascination with the meeting of art, architecture and technology.  

Showing until Monday 31 December 2018, 7 days from 10am-5pm at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.  

For more information, see the website.  

BEHIND THE LINES 2017: THE THREE RING CIRCUS  

Roll up, roll up to Behind the Lines 2017 and marvel at the political cartooning spectacle that is The Three-Ring Circus.  

Showcasing the year’s best political cartoons, The Three-Ring Circus captures a world where fact and fiction collide and ringmasters, jugglers and acrobats have all stepped into the political Big Top.  

From postal votes and citizenship chaos to penalty rates and constitutional recognition, 2017 was a tumultuous year in politics. Its cavalcade of political characters and sensational events provided rich material for our nation’s cartoonists who continue to look behind the lines of the daily political sideshows to capture the spirit of our democracy in all its passion, scepticism and humour.  

Behind the Lines 2017 is on now at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Open 9 am – 5 pm. For more information, visit the website.  

EMERGING CONTEMPORARIES  

Emerging Contemporaries is the Craft ACT National Award Exhibition for early career artists. This exhibition plays a pivotal role in supporting and transitioning artists into professional practice and placing Australian artists in view of the national cultural collecting institutions, business and industry, and audience.  

On display at CraftACT, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building. Email craftact@craftact.org.au or call 6262 9333 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.