
Poetry of wit and humour
This Sunday Dangerously Poetic Press will hold another of their popular music and poetry-reading series. Enjoy lively music by the inimitable Miss Amber and Stukulele from Mullumbimby. Local actors, Susan Hayward and Georgia Martin, will regale the audience with their favourite poems. Poetry lovers are encouraged to bring along a poem that makes you smile to share at the open section. This can be an original poem or one you love by someone else. Sweet and savoury treats will be served by the Bangalow Heritage House Tea Room (corner of Ashton & Deacon Sts) Bangalow. Entry is $15/12 for DP members. This includes yummy refreshments! All are welcome to join them at the Bangalow Heritage House 3–5pm. Expect laughs and chuckles as the theme is funny-bone poetry of wit and humour!
Touch the goat
Southern Cross University curatorial lab presents postgrad student Dan McDonnell’s compelling paintings in a solo exhibition at the Lone Goat Gallery, titled Touch Screen, for six days only, from this Friday.
Dan McDonnell’s paintings reference digital culture through abstract layers of colour and form, taking inspiration from the visual interfaces provided by today’s laptops, smartphones and tablets. McDonnell paints with his bare hands onto plexiglass, emphasising the peculiar quality of touch-screen technology in which our interactions are at once direct and mediated. Through the language of abstract painting his work registers the effects of digital technology on visual culture at large, confronting what it means to paint in an era dominated by the screen.
The amalgamation of McDonnell’s techniques are entrenched in the language of abstract art, while still exerting their relationship to contemporary digital culture. Opening 6pm this Friday.
Happy birthday from Paul Smith
Paul Smith began making birthday cards in 1998 and switched to screen greetings in 2005. Of his work he says: ‘People frequently commented on my captions and even suggested that many of them would make good posters. I reformatted a selection of them as a widescreen slide show and selected a smaller sample to print as cards and posters. I also made ten sheets of gift wrap, four of which have been used to wrap twenty ‘birthday presents’ for this exhibition.
‘So, nothing deep and meaningful – no subverting of the dominant paradigm; no deconstruction of oppressive straight-jackets for the mind; no naked emperors exposed – just having fun connecting people I know with images by turns of phrase… Yee haa!’
Paul’s Birthday Wishes are on show at the Mullum Ex-Services Club from Tuesday 11am–9pm daily with an opening by CEO of Arts Northern Rivers, Peter Wood, on Monday 21 September at 6.15pm.
Cyberotika in Paradise
Paradise One Retreat will be playing host to a unique event in the next few weeks. Titled Cyberotika and running from 12 noon Saturday 26 to 12 noon Sunday 27 September, the event includes an informal vegan buffet dinner and some sensational stage performances and music acts. While the onsite cabins have been booked by interstate ticket holders, there are campsites available. This will be the first kink-themed event since Lascivious at the Cotton Club back in December 2002. With more than 20 performances including edgy, piercing shows, fire, erotic, roving and interactive plus more than 20 music acts across two stages including a very special guest all the way from Berlin, Kangding Ray, who is a highly respected ‘artist’ in the true sense of the word.
Kangding Ray creates his music and designs his sounds from field recordings and live instruments with most of his works being released on the prestigious Raster-Noton label. Presented by Just ’Cause – the same people who were responsible for several alternative Mardi Gras events in the 90s called Forbidden Fruit, which became globally renowned as the main underground event to attend in Sydney on that night. Just ’Cause has not held an event since 1/1/2004. Specialising in mixed-gender events for more than 20 years, with a following from both LGBTQI and hetero crowds who leave their hangups at the door! Expect a sensational event! For more information go to the Facebook event page http://bit.ly/cyberotika.


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