Illumination of Water
Dave Sparkes’s upcoming exhibition Illumination will be showing at Byron Bay’s Lone Goat Gallery from Friday till 15 February.
This collection of watercolours is his first solo show, and the exhibition will feature works created by Dave over the last 18 months, with a focus on his glowingly impressionistic landscapes and seascapes of the east coast. His painting is a hybrid of impressionism and realism. True reality on two-dimensional paper is impossible, but his attempts at nevertheless trying to achieve that reality – through reconciling the world at large with his own impression of realism – is the essence of his art. This altered reality defines his style, and dwelling in that mysterious zone is one of the reasons he paints, rather than just taking photos of a scene.
Opening 6pm Friday. All welcome.
The ART of The Byron Bay Surf Festival
For those out there who don’t surf and are still on the fence about whether or not to go to the Byron Bay Surf Festival, here’s the creative carrot that should convince you to come: The calibre of artists showing off their collections in person or through the provision of exclusive pieces is unbelievable.
The art side of the surf festival kicks off on Friday afternoon 25 February with the Art Show Opening Party in The Lone Goat Gallery at 5.30–7pm, which will remain open to the public for the three-day event. Otis Carey, Tyler Warren (US), Andy Davis (US), Brodie Jackson, Paul McNeil, Nanda Ormond, Kei Otsuka (JPN), Matt Yeates, James McMillan, along with photographers Ming Nomchong and Hayden Richards aka SA Rips, will all be showcasing their latest collections.
This highly influential gathering of artists, some of whom will be on hand to meet, greet and possibly even create a few special pieces in front of our eyes.
Webb in the Garden
This Friday the Byron Brewery launch FREE headline comedy shows in their iconic beer garden.
Offering patrons the kind of show you’d usually be paying big bucks for, the good people at the Brewery are brewing up big monthly laughs with a headline comedy night scheduled for the first Friday of every month. Launching the very first Comedy in the Garden is Lindsay Webb.
‘Lindsay Webb is more than your average standup. He has an almost mindreader-like ability to pick faces in the audience and create a show purely on where they come from and what they do. The last time I saw him at The Arkaba, half the show was a six-degrees exercise in linking audience members together. It was sheer genius.’
That’s what one reviewer said of him at the Adelaide Fringe after his sellout show in 2016.
Lindsay loves digital media, as regular guest on Wil Anderson’s FOFOP Podcast, as well as hosting a podcast for BP Australia (CBBP Podcast). He is a regular guest at 612 ABC QLD with the Futureheads panel.
Also known for crowd warmup for many TV shows, including Gruen Nation ABC, Q&A ABC and Save Your Life Tonight ABC.
He has supported many great acts, including Wil Anderson around the country and Jim Jeffries’s QLD shows. Lindsay was also a guest comic on The Darren Sanders Show on GO. Back in 2009 Webb took out the Guinness World Record for the Longest Show by an Individual – 38hrs 6min. It just shows what a relentless energy Webb has: able to improvise and create unique comedy experiences every time he hits the stage.
Lindsay Webb is joined by the superbly funny Paul McMahon as support and much-loved Queen of Comedy, Mandy Nolan, as MC. 8pm.
Free show! Booking to ensure a great table highly recommended. 6639 6100
Come early because this is CULT COMEDY at its best.
In my opinion
Want to learn how to write what you think in a powerful and succinct manner? Mandy Nolan has been doing it now for nearly two decades and will be running a day workshop to help wannabe opinion writers craft their pieces.
‘Political, personal, from the everyday to the downright conspiratorial, I’m interested in helping people find their voice on the page so they can better connect with their readership!’
Tuesday 21 February, 9.30am–4pm.
For enquiries call 0422 701 680 or email [email protected].
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
