Vivid Sydney / Ideas - for kids and families

Vivid Sydney and Ideas kicks off at the end of the month - the festival never fails to deliver an extensive range of workshops and experiences young and older youth.

Highlights include:

{KIDS/CODE/CREATE}

An interactive project using code, light and music. 

https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/kidscodecreate-1

CODE IN THE CITY

 Code in the Park is about inspiring everyone to learn the basics of coding, to acquire a new digital skill for the future of work, innovation and education. 

https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/code-city

RHODES CREATIVE:

 The Sydney suburb of Rhodes opens its arms to residents and visitors with a program of masterclasses, workshops, activities and talks that focus on 3D printing, NAO robotics and wearable art and tech. Highlights includes: Robots: Human Robot Friendship Ball, NAO Robot Workshop and Meetup, Simplebot Maker LabOur Robot Future, as well as 3D Printing : The Future Is Now, CAD Design Masterclass Jewellery Making, CAD For Adults and Kids, and ; Wearable Tech and Fun with Electronics for Kids 8-12. Meet some of Sydney’s coolest robots and participate in an epic human robot dance.
https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/rhodes-creative

FUTURE MAKING FOR KIDS

 Future Making is a fast-paced, hands-on session for 9-12 year olds that explores Human-Centred Design and Design Thinking. 

https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/future-making-kids

CAD FOR KIDS: 3D DESIGN FOR TEENS

Using Autodesk 123D Design, participants will learn how to create and customise a game piece for a set of checkers. 

https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/cad-beginners-hands-workshop-kids-10-14yo

SIMPLEBOT MAKER LAB

 Get together with your family and friends (in groups of up to four), as your are guided  through making simple bots that use common robotic mechanics.  

https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/simplebot-maker-lab

MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCE (MAAS)

The MAAS has collaborated with Vivid Sydney to present a comprehensive program of innovation and technology-based activities for the whole family.  For the full lineup of MAAS events during Vivid Ideas: https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/museum-applied-arts-sciences

NICK WISHART WORKSHOP

Dive into the world of wearable electronics and learn how to add and control full colour LEDs to your wardrobe, skateboards, installations.

https://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/wearable-technology-workshop

Visit www.vividsydney.com for the full details on what is on offer.

Art Express 2017 - a refuge from the rain

Art Express at the Art Gallery of NSW has turned into one of our yearly day adventures. An inspiring day for children (and adults) of all ages that continues the conversation of art well after leaving.

Art Express 2017 
until the 23 April
Art Gallery of NSW

Erth Dinasour Zoo / Seymour Centre

This September 27th to 1st Oct the Seymour Centre is hosting the wildly acclaimed Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo.

My children ages 3 and 7, and I were luckily enough to go and see Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo at the Seymour Centre yesterday. It is suggested that it is suitable for children 5+ but I took a chance with my 3 yr old daughter, and she loved it!

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo is technically a very elaborate puppet show, but these are no naive puppets on strings, these are amazing and exquisitely made walking roaring dinosaurs! The look, sound and move like absolutely "alive” prehistoric creatures. We enjoyed the production very much. The show is hosted by a charming and funny palaeontologist, with interesting facts and educational dino info for the kids, plus some tongue and cheek laughs for the adults. 

The show starts with the the introduction of the smaller Dino’s to help the kids settle into being comfortable and curious about these highly lifelike creatures. It then moves on to the bigger and scarier dinosaurs where you might be deceived to thinking these are live creatures for a while as they look so real. Even though the host is openly reminds up these are only puppets, the dinosaurs delight the kids with their realism of movement and loud scary roars. 

My 7 year old son knew they were puppets but he enthusiastically played along letting them scare him out of his seat! The talented designers, makers and puppeteers of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo have done an amazing job here to delight us into believing we are being entertained by these “alive” creatures while we are in the theatre. 

For $22 a ticket for this 60min show, I would definitely recommend the whole family to go along and enjoy this amazing Dinosaur experience these school holidays. Even though it says 5+ I think kids from 3yrs will be ok also. Also, make sure you stay back after the show as the kids are able to interact, pat and take photos with the smaller Dino’s, it was a great experience and all of us we thoroughly loved the show.

by Virginia and family

Erth Dinosaur Zoo / Seymour Centre

I want to be a Rockstar

I want to be a Rock Star is a new children’s book by Melbourne author Mary Anastasiou. The book is charmingly illustrated by Anil Tortop.

This is the first in a series of books for young readers by Anastasiou, inspiring them to explore their future passions and creative dreams. I Want to be a Movie Star and I Want to be a Sports Star are the upcoming titles in this series.

My son, who is 7, read the book straight away by himself when he received it, after being intrigued by the title. In fact this book came along at just the right time as we are introducing him to music and pop culture. Only a week ago my music loving husband carefully curated a best of alternative Rock playlist for him to listen to. I must agree it was a great playlist but we would like to open him up to many more genres out there, I am personally not a rock person but love country and retro disco and would like to share that with him (much to the dismay of my husband!). 

This delightful book takes the young reader on and adventure following Luke and his dog Ralphie on their dream of being music stars through the many different genres of music such as country music, rap music, all the way to classical music. There is no general info about these genres, but each of these musical styles is given personality through Anil Tortop’s energetic illustrations. My husband and I follow and appreciate pop culture of all levels and hope to share that passion with our kids, this book is a great way of introducing creative musical dreams in a visual and entertaining way. My son really loved reading the book with us also and listening to our personal insights on these music genres. 

Coming from music loving parents, he was familiar with most of the genres in the book except for Jazz and the art of DJ-ing, so we will definitely create some fun playlists for him to further explore now.

This book isn’t a fairytale it’s so much more. It’s an opportunity for young readers to discover that ‘happily ever after' can happen in real life by having ambitions and dreams that are real in this world. Whether those dreams be creative or sporty, discussing and reading about what these are with children can become an exciting way for the young readers to begin this journey. We are looking forward to reading the rest of this series. I want to be a Rock Star is available in a hardcopy, a portion of the sale of these books go to the children charity TLC for Kids.

Reviewed by Virginia and family

For more info visit https://www.lilrebel.com.au/

Friday Finds

+ Spot on Festival from the 27 Sept - 2 Oct at Riverside Theatres. So much quality stuff on for over the festival. We are looking forward to Slingsby Theatre Company's Oscar Wilde's  The Young Kimg and $10 movie tickets.
+ Lights and  Lanterns / Dandenong Festival of Lights 26 August - 9 October
+ Film in Revolt / A platform for teens who are intersted in film

Friday Finds

image credit: Raquel Caballero

+ My youngest son adores animals and did a vet workshop with these guys a few years ago. New programme out for 2017 AND they are also offering two scholarships.
+ My daughter would love these graphic tights. Too many choose from!
+ Our friend Lilly Blue from BIG Kids magazine will lead participants through theatre games, collaborative invention and art making in response to SCAF's immersive installation, After Voices. 
+ My daughter is my new photographer for my project Hello Bookshop (That's her pictured). It was very exciting to work with her.  We will give you a heads up when our first conversation is up.
+ If you are in Penrith this is your last chance this weekend to catch The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer. We loved  it in 2011 at the Sydney Festival.
+ We will be in Melbourne this weekend and will be popping along to Circus Oz's open house in Collingwood.

Friday Finds

+ Assignments from artist Miranda July's project, Learning to Love You More
+ Beautiful online games for younger children
+ Grab a camera, jump on a train and create your own 52 Suburbs
+ Like a TED for mums. A collaborative community for creative mothers
+ Keep your teen busy for 100 days
+ Kidtopia festival in October

Australian National Maritime Museum - Wildlife Photographer of the Year

images by Mischa

This week over the school holidays I took my two youngest children (15, 12) on an adventure. An adventure like we used to do when they were younger. I didn’t tell them where we were headed just to take their cameras.

As we approached the Maritime Museum they were little apprehensive. They had been before there when they were younger and saw no sense in going again.

We were stamped at the front counter, which gave us access to the whole museum – boats and all. With our map in hand our first stop was the submarine (which is quite an experience, imagining people working and living within the space), we then hit up the HMAS Vampire and the HMB Endeavour. The submarine was our favourite.

Inside the museum we wandered through the regular exhibitions heading towards the main purpose of our visit – to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

On loan from the Natural History Museum in London, this beautiful exhibition showcases the most amazing photographs from around the world. The kids are into photography at the moment and I knew they would appreciate the skill it takes to capture rare natural moments on film. It was also an opportunity for us to view parts of the world that are rarely seen.
  

Australian National Maritime Museum
Darling Harbour, Sydney

Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition runs until the 16th  October 2016 

HIPPO! HIPPO!

HIPPO! HIPPO!, a new kids’ musical based on the best-selling book There’s a Hippopotamus on the Roof Eating Cake, is coming to Glen Street Theatre next month and have a  family pass valued at $75 to giveaway. The pass is valid for 2 adults and 3 children and is for the 1pm performance on Thursday July 14.

For your chance email info@artsrocket.org tell us your families favourite cake and why before July 4th (please also include a contact number). ENTRIES CLOSED

HIPPO! HIPPO!

Based on the books by Hazel Edwards & Illustrated by Deborah Niland

Adaptation and Directed by: Garry Ginivan

Original Score and Musical Direction: Mark Jones

Cast Includes: Rosie Byth, Kaisha Durban, Eamonn George and Dean Schulz

SEASON DETAILS

Venue: Glen Street Theatre, corner Glen Street and Blackbutts Road, Belrose

Performance Dates: 14-16 July 2016

Performance Times: Thu & Fri 10.30am and 1pm. Sat 10am and 12pm.

Running Time:50 mins (no interval)

Ticket Prices: $21 each or $75 for a family pass of five. Transaction charges may apply.

Patrons’ Advice: Ideal for 1 – 7 year olds.

Bookings:  www.glenstreet.com.au or 9975 1455

Friday Finds

image: Nick Miller

+ A new music and arts festival - The Lost Lands - shared experiences for families of creatives, music-lovers and the adventurous. When: October 28-31 2016, Where: Werribee Mansion (Melbourne)

+ hotDocs - Most documentaries are classified for under 18's 

+ Unicorn Youth - weekly radio show dedicated to giving young LGBTQIA+ people a voice

+ Why poetry is great for young children - Lilly Blue on Kinderling radio

+ If you have a shutterbug aged under 11 - get them snapping for this

+ JAM Online courses for kids

+ Studio Ghibli week at Golden Age Cinema in Surry Hills

+ How to talk about teenage mental health 

+ Aphex Twins first video in 17 years directed by a 12 year old YouTuber

The Red Turtle | Sydney Film Festival

a movie review by Taite (age 11)

The Red Turtle is a movie about a man that gets shipwrecked on an island, he tries to escape by building rafts but something keeps destroying it. He finds out that it was a red turtle which came on land to lay eggs the man gets angry and hits and turns over the turtle to slowly die as it can’t get to water. The red turtle dies but then reappears as a woman. He falls in love with her. They have a child and the film follows these characters till the man’s death. He remains on the island with no further desire to leave- yet his own child eventually leaves with three other turtles to see the world.

This movie shows struggles, difficulties, happy moments, ups and downs and many more emotions. Although there is no talking in this movie the pictures still give a magnificent understanding of the characters and their emotions, so little can still be enough.

The design wasn’t like an anime even thought it was made by an animation company that made another well-known anime film Totoro (Studio Ghibli). The imagery was focused on nature, while telling the story. There are very few close up shots.

This movie was sad as when the tsunami hit they experienced difficulty and a sad moment of their home land being lost and got severe injuries. At one moment I thought the father was going to die.

I think this movie is recommended for people from 9+ and for people that have patience. Some people around me thought it moved too slowly,but I was happy with the pace. This is a dramatic poetic arthouse film with a bit of romance for all ages over 9.

My rating is 4.5 out of  5

Ready Aim - Take Flight

This June Kinokuniya are calling all paper pilots to take on the challenge and help fill the flight paths in their Wedge Gallery with paper plane creations. Once all paths are filled, along with Tuttle Publishing and NewSouth Books Australia they will collectively donate $1000 toThe Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Friday Finds

image: Ben Williams

Way Out West Festival at Casula Powerhouse

Girl Asleep screening at Sydney Film Festival - We are Windmill Theatre fans and are very excited to see Girl Asleep on the big screen. We will also be at the theatre production at the end of the year at Belvoir

My daughter (14) is reading and loving I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

ACMI in Melbourne have a fantastic kids line up over the school holidays

getting creative online

NGA Kids Art Zone

QAGOMA kids

MOMA

We have some exciting new  projects that we will be revealing very soon! 

WIN tickets to see new documentary films at IMAX Darling Harbour

Our friends at IMAX would like you and your family to experience the adventure of building the Canadian Pacific Railway in ROCKY MOUNTAINS EXPRESS and explore otherworldly realms within more than 30 of America’s national parks in AMERICA WILD 3D at IMAX Darling Harbour, the world's biggest cinema screen.

We love that our family (which is now almost full of teens!) still enjoy heading out to the IMAX films that they learn from and experience more of the world.

For your chance to win a family pass to one of the films:

Tell us about your most memorable family rail journey - info@artsrocket.org. Please also include your postal address.

Entries CLOSED. Only winners will be notified.

* Family pass - 2 adults + 2 Children

Terms and Conditions

The Secret Life of Suitcases | Monkey Baa Theatre

My children are no longer little (17, 14 and 12). When they were younger we went to see a LOT of children's theatre. We still do but they also see a lot of adult theatre with me.  I  now keep my eye out for children's productions that I feel will carry across all ages. When my eldest son (17) was in the foyer of Griffin recently for The Witches he was not impressed to be surrounded by children running under his feet.  But after he saw Guy Edmonds on stage he quickly changed his tune. He loved it.

We were invited to the production of The Secret Life of Suitcases and I took along my youngest son(12) and his best friend. I was concerned they may be too old, but I was wrong.  The Secret Life of Suitcases had everyone in the audience drawn in from the beginning.   It was wonderful to sit in the audience to hear parents and children (of all ages) laugh, gasp and 'get' what was going on -  every element of the production worked.

The story follows Larry (in an almost George Orwell 1984 setting) - Larry is busy working, VERY busy. He has no time for anything outside work.  One day out of the blue a suitcase arrives that changes the course of his life. That is all I will reveal in this adventure as you will need to experience it for yourself.

Created by Lewis Hetherington and puppeteer Ailie Cohen (with a collaboration with Unicorn Theatre) The Secret Life of Suitcases is delightful  - please go see it with your kids - young or old.

The Secret Life of Suitcases
28 Sept - 2 October 2015
Monkey Baa
Darling Harbour Lend Lease Theatre
Sydney

suitable for  4 years of age (and older!).


Learn more about this production here.
There's an app you can interact with after the performance!

Spot on Children's Festival | Riverside Theatre

The Spot On Children's Festival returns this year at Riverside Theatre - the festival offers performances and activities for all ages.  We love the Be Kind Rewind Film Festival that will feature classics that every family should experience together - The Goonies, The Karate Kid, The Princess Bride, Labyrinth, The Never Ending Story and E.T.

For younger kids (4 - 9 years) Curious Jac from Lilli Pang, a bilingual storyteller (performed in English with some Spanish, Hindi and Twi language)  brings her show to the festival about being curious.  Other performances for little ones include Ali McGregor's Jazzamatazz! and Lah- Lah Live in concert.

Our friends at the festival have given us a family pass  (four tickets)  to give away  to Curious Jac for Friday 2 October at 10am.  Just email info@artsrocket.org before Friday 25 September with why you want your family to go Curious Jac.  (only the winner will be notified)  Terms.


Spot On Childrens Festival 
Riverside Theatre
Parramatta
29 September - 4 October 2015

Full program 

Be Kind: Re-wind Film Festival – 29 September, 10am to 6pm

Mr Snot Bottom’s Stinky, Silly Show! - 30 September to 1 October, 10:30am & 1pm daily (Relaxed Performance on 1 October at 1pm)

But Wait… There’s More! – 1 October, 7pm; 2 October, 1pm; 3 October, 1pm & 7pm

Ali McGregor’s Jazzamatazz! – 1 to 2 October, 10am & 12:30pm daily

Curious Jac – 2 to 3 October, 10:30am & 1pm daily (Relaxed Performance on 3 October at 1pm)

Lah-Lah Live in Concert – 3 October, 10am & 12:30pm

Sorcerers and Wizards: A Family Concert with the SSO Fellows – 4 October, 3pm

Seymour Centre | Page to Stage over the school holidays

This school holidays the Seymour are bringing the pages of two popular children's books to the stage alongside free activities within their courtyard and foyers.

The Very Cranky Bear (Crank Bear) is being brought to life by South Australian theatre company Patch Theatre who are known for their delightful productions (Mr Mcgee and the Biting Flea, Emily likes to Bounce!, Who Sank the Boat?). We loved their production of  Me and my Shadow way back in 2011.

For older children,  Brisbane's Shake & Stir Theatre Co. will take on Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts.  My 11-year-old son is keen to catch this production and it is on our list for over the holidays.

What we love: Affordable family theatre.  Live music (The Vegetable Plot) and Parkour in the courtyard from Team 9Lives.

Seymour School Holiday Program
22 - 26 September
Tickets from $20.

Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize

Photographer: Jane Earle

The 2015 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize is the first national acquisitive prize for an original, freestanding sculpture of up to 80cm in any dimension. Over the exhibition, families can view the finalists artworks and also participate in family workshops and activities. 

We chatted with Fiona Hueston, a finalist in this years competition about her intriguing sculpture, Circle.

How did you create your sculpture Circle?

'Circle' consists of over 400 individually cut and handmade origami Fortune Teller forms made from white paper glued together with ethylene vinyl acetate and manipulated into a circle to create the final structure. The piece took over 50 hours to create.

What inspired you to create this piece?

‘Circle' evolved from my memory of a decision making game that I liked as a child called Fortune Teller, where the players must first choose a colour, then a number, which in turn would determine their fate and the hidden task in the middle. I created 100s of Fortune Tellers, played around and manipulate them until I discovered ‘Circle.’

I began this process by photographing interesting and repetitive geometrical patterns found in the built urban environment. The lines and angles of a roof, the patterns embedded into a cobbled street and the layers and forms created by a stack of newspapers. 

I realised that all these elements exist because someone had made a decision to create them, that life is built around hundreds of seemingly small, insignificant decisions to create a greater whole and that it is ongoing in nature.

The process of making hundreds of small decisions everyday determine the shape and form of our lives, ‘Circle’ is a metaphor for this process where the small individual forms of the Fortune Tellers brought together create the shape and form of the finished sculpture.

Why is paper your choice of medium?

I use paper because you take a flat piece of paper, which is very 2D, and create something 3D, and you can use to create many different shapes and forms and it can be layered. 

Also, I like to work with paper because it is very transportable, I can work anywhere, on a plane, on a train, in a cafe here in Sydney or in Paris. My studio is not limited to a set geographical location.

What are you working on next?

I have just finished a black circle called ‘Noir’ and I would like to make a stripy or multi-coloured circle next.

What advice would you give young artists who wanted to create their own paper sculpture?

With paper you have to be patient, and make sure your cutting and folding is accurate. Just play with it until you find something that looks and feels right.

Family Workshops include:

Weaving and Surface Design
with Artist in Residence, Edwina Straub
11 October | 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Crochet with waste
with Angela Van Boxtel
17 October | 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Three Dimensional Painting
with Artist in Residence, Julia Kennedy Bell
18 and 25 October | 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Fish Sculptures
with Angela Van Boxtel
24 October | 1.00 - 3.00pm

Artist Talks with
Ruby Aitchison, Veronica Andrus-Blaskievics, Mark Booth, Fleur Brett, Michelle Cawthorn, Adrian Clement, Melissa Coote, Tracey Deep, Lisa Giles, Fiona Hueston, Anita Larkin, Kendal Murray, John Nicholson, Belinda Winkler and Yioryios.
10 October | 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Venue: Woollahra Council 536 New South Head Road