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

Genext - New Romance: Art and the Posthuman | Museum of Contemporary Art

My daughter (15) went to MCA's Genext evening New Romance: Art and the Posthuman  on Sunday. The event is for teens aged between 12 and 18, where they get the run of the museum. (images by Mischa)

More info 

A creative school holidays

The Peasant Prince, image:  Heidrun Lohr

School holidays are upon us. We have selected some fun creative activies that will have you covered.

The Peasant Prince at Monkey Baa Theatre (until 20 April) brings the beautiful story of Li Cunxin’s iconic autobiography, Mao’s Last Dancer to the stage. If you have a child who just can not sit still throughout performances, the theatre has a special relaxed performance and is described as “the opposite of the quiet carriage on the train” on the 14th April. 

Sherman Contemporary Art Gallery – Introductory workshop to mobile photography with photographer Markus Andersen. Participants will be introduced to picture-taking and processing apps, as well as basic photographic techniques before applying this expertise “in the field” in the local Paddington area.
Saturday 23 April, 10–12pm.

$20 | Recommended for ages 12+

Pull out the paints and paper and inspire them to start working on their entry to the Little Things Art Exhibition to be exhibited at Saint Cloche Gallery in Paddington.

  

Get your musical on at the Art Gallery of NSW screening of An American in Paris (rated PG). 20 and 24th April 2016. Free.

While you are at the gallery pop in to see Art Express - Featuring a selection of outstanding student artworks developed for the artmaking component of the HSC examination in Visual Arts 2015. Free.

Got creative teens? Smart ARTS workshops and talks will be right up their alley running from the 8 – 17^th April 2016.

The Sydney Comedy Festival brings on the laughs for kids with Comedy for Kids over the 2016 festival. 

Waverley Council Art Prize 2016

Budding artists aged 9-18 are encouraged to enter the Waverley Council Art Prize, entries are welcome across a broad range of mediums including drawing, painting, sculpture, video and animation. The Youth Art Prize offers over $3000 in prizes.  Opening night for the announcement of winners and performances by stunning Circus folk.

Opening: 6pm, Thursday 2 June 2016

Exhibition dates: 2─28 June
Artworks and applications are due to be delivered to the Waverley Library from Monday 9 – 20 May.

Numerical Street Exhibition | 18 Feb - 1 March 2016

Art Month Sydney | Youth and Families

Last night we attended the opening evening of Art Month Sydney 2015 at the National Art School. The family program is full of architecture, photography and art experiences for your young ones. It is also wonderful to branch out the family program for older children.

Art Month Sydney - March 2015
various venues

Sydney Children's Festival | BIG

Our friends over at BIG will be at the Sydney Children's Festival today..... say hi to them at the Lawn library from 12pm.  Join them in making a tiny inside/outside portrait or create a response on a side by side postcard.

Also on todays list of fun things to do at the festival includes Hula hooping, KAPOW!, Paper, Torch Torch! workshop, Disco - Au Go Go  ++

The festival runs until the 28 September at the Seymour Centre.

Friday Finds | Arts Rocket

I found some time last night to put together a small selection of our Friday Finds.......

Here is my official list of Friday Finds for Friday 4 July 2014:

• Expose your kids to cinema.... Last month I re-watched DO THE RIGHT THING with my eldest son (now 16) and as it celebrates it's 25th anniversary - the messages are still very clear.  It was wonderful to share this film with him for the first time. Search out films in your local dvd store that show them the world but are also age appropriate. 
• Let your kids have their own space in your garden - let them dig it up and go crazy. If you don't have space for a garden - get a herb box
• Lastly - have fun over the school holidays and enjoy your time together.

x

DISCOVERED | The Selfie Project at Kinokuniya

Where: Kinokuniya Books - Sydney   

When: Month of June 2014

PS - While you are there check out their children's book section - best selection of kids books in Sydney.

Mother Artist Network Forum | 25 May

Our friends over at BIG Kids magazine will be at this months MCA Zine Fair on the 25 May to host the Mother Artist Network forum and launch Issue 6 Patterns of Pathways. 

My date for the event will be  the very wonderful Wolfgang and Rose - hope to see you there!

"Artists and co-creators of BIG Kids Magazine Jo Pollitt and Lilly Blue will be hosting the first Mother Artist Network forum at the MCA. Joined by artists Emma Magenta and Emma Gale, the panel will explore the challenge and rich terrain of navigating motherhood with an ongoing professional art practice. The Mother Artist Network (MAN)) was launched in 2011 as a platform to provoke dialogue about creative practice and motherhood."

This event is free but bookings are advised.
For more information and to book:  http://www.mca.com.au/events/mother-artist-forum/8772

Art Month Sydney 2014

Art Month Sydney is always an exciting time for families to get around and explore art around the city with exhibitions, talks, tours and experiences. Gallery doors are thrown open with over 200 exhibitions and events in March allowing for many adventures to be had.

Here's a few to get you started:

Art Play at the MCA - Hang out with Hiromi Tango's beautiful interactive artwork Dance (2012)
For teens - Skate Deck Painting Workshop with artist Phil James
Your mind is exactly at that line -  Bright and bold Sol Lewitt
Express Yourself - Selected artworks by 2013 HSC Visual Arts students
Discover Sydney's art neighbourhoods by bike

Art Month Sydney 2014
artmonthsydney.com.au

re:make project

I am working on a new project with Vanessa Berry. We have been rescuing discarded art works from the streets in our neighbourhoods. We will matching 12 found art pieces with 12 emerging and established Sydney artists to give them a new life. The new artworks will be sold at an exhibition in early 2014 with funds raised to be used to develop an art workshop program at East Sydney High School.

You can find more about our project here: re:make and follow us on twitter and facebook.
You can also sign up to receive re:make updates and exhibition details

We will revealing our found artworks and artists very soon!

Art Month Sydney - kids and their families

Art Month Sydney is just around the corner. Great stuff on for kids, adults and families.

The Textaqueen will be hosting a kids super - Identity workshop at Sullivan and Strumpf for Art Month Sydney on the 2nd March.

Also check out the kids workshops held each Sunday during Art Month, the Art Crawl for parents with strollers and a talk at Object Gallery on the benefits of introducing art and design to kids at an early age - Tomorrows Thinkers.

Arts Month Sydney runs throughout March - for more info visit:  http://artmonthsydney.com.au

Our adventure

image: Leigh Russell 2012

We are back from our wonderful adventure. Highlights included:
Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice... a beautiful home transformed into a celebration of art. The collection is amazing. Kids favourite was the wish tree in the garden by Yoko Ono.

Francis Bacon at the Strozzina in Florence (my favourite). Discovering the eerie woven threads of  Chiharu Shiota. Italian Art in the 30s beyond fascism at Palazzo Strozzi.

Finding and photographing the  love padlocks collectives on the bridges throughout Italy.

Taking new members of our  family in Dublin to the Dublin Theatre Festival for the production of White for some first time theatre experiences. The Ark located in Temple Bar is a cultural centre for children with a fantastic programme.

Now we are back in Sydney we are looking forward to what the summer months will bring!

Arts Rocket Friday Finds

• La la Land colouring books featuring Australian and International artists
• Sign up camera loving  kids to the Art House Co-op Series 
• Sydney Opera House goes  Lego  
• Film festivals in Sydney with great family films - check out French Film Festival, Young at Heart and the Silent Film Festival
• Pop up Paper Zoo at Tinkerlab

Our March

• My daughter and I will be visiting Art Express at the Art Gallery of NSW
• Down the Rabbit Hole at White Rabbit Gallery is on our list
• Looking forward to The War of the Buttons at the 2012 French Film Festival
• Hopefully get to catch the documentary I am Eleven at Young at Heart Film Festival

Art Month Sydney 2012 - Family Adventures

The Contemporary Art Festival - Art Month Sydney have announced their exciting program with a selection of Art Adventures for families.

Highlights include:
Paper Cutting with Gregory and Watts | 10th March 10am  11am
Kids get creative with paper exploring textures, colour and shapes with artists Gregory and Watts.

Gallery: Chalkhorse | 8 Lacey St Surry Hills
Ages: 7 - 11 years
Cost: Free
Bookings: admin@chalkhorse.com.au
* parents are required to stay with children

Mobile Phone Photography | 24th March 10am 12pm 
Teens will get to make the most of their mobile cameras with this workshop. Inspiration will be taken from the current Trent Parke exhibition.

Gallery: Stills | 36 Gosbell St Paddington
Ages: 12 - 16 years
Cost: Free
Bookings: info@stillsgallery.com.au

For younger children Tali Gallery on the 17th March 10am will be running various workshops from Earthbeats and Boobook - making mosaic owls inspired from Dreamtime Owl stories. Older children can get an introduction to learning the didgeridoo. Arthouse gallery on the 3rd March 10am will also have a book reading of "A  song for Lorkie"

Gallery: Tali | 667 Darling St Rozelle
Cost: Free
Bookings: di@taligallery.com.au

Gallery: Arthouse | 66 McLachlan Ave Rushcutters Bay
Cost: Free
Bookings: contact@arthousegallery.com.au

For the whole family there are also a fantastic selection of exhibitions to enjoy. http://www.artmonthsydney.com.au/2012/program/exhibitions

For more information and details on all Art Month workshops visit http://www.artmonthsydney.com.au

My Art Journal Giveaway

This giveaway has ended. Thank you to everyone who entered. The winner has been notified.
Our friends at the Gallery of Modern Art in Queensland have given us a copy of the 'Drawing Life for Kids: My Art Journal' to give away.  The journal is inspired by Matisse's love of drawing and contains over 100 pages of activities.

My daughter (aged 10) uses her journal in bed before she goes to sleep. The book contains beautiful images and questions that prompt children in using their imagination and thinking outside the box of their everyday life.  The journal is great for kids who love to draw and kids who need encouragement.

The journal is also a wonderful keepsake.... I love this introduction: 'This art journal is about you. Take your time and make each drawing special. When it is finished, your journal will be full of your childhood memories. Treasure it for life!'

Our favourites in the book are "What would your family look like if you were all superheros and think of five things that are absolutely impossible.

To win your own copy in 25 words or less 'what your favourite time to draw is and why.' before 31st Jan 2012 to info@artsrocket.org . Winner will be notified by email on the 1st Feb 2012. Prize value :$19.95

The journal is available to purchase at the Gallery store or online at www.australianartbooks.com.au

Flickerkids - Flickerfest 2012

Last weekend we headed down the road to check out  what Flickerfest had on offer for kids.  Based in Bondi Beach, Flickerfest has grown to become Australia's only competitive International Short Film Festival with entries coming from across the globe.

Even though it wasn't what you would call cinema weather  there was a great crowd of families attending - some even had their swimming gear ready for a dip after the screening. The session screened eight shorts with a fantastic combination of animation and live action. Films represented were from Australia, United Kingdom. Norway, Germany and the USA.

My kids favourites were:
The Itch of the Golden Nit
A BBC production that involved thousand of children across the UK contributing drawings, sound effects and story ideas.
and Australian productions Toot Toot and Play lunch.

Extras

• For ages 6 - 12 years
• The bar featured goodies that were preservative free and not junky
• After the session head out to the balcony with your drink for the best view of  Bondi Beach
• Bring your swimming gear and make the most of Bondi Beach
• If you are not based in Bondi Beach - consider public transport

Bookings
This session is repeated on Thursday 230pm and at only *$5 a ticket makes it the best value cinema going this holidays (*$5 kids | $10 adults | $20 family of 4). Bookings

Sydney Festival 2012 with kids

The 2012 Sydney Festival ticket sales have gone into full swing. Have you got your tickets? Lots of fun  stuff for kids and families to get involved!

The List Operators for Kids do Compooters
My youngest son (7 years) would love this show. Slapstick mixed with the virtual world!

Holly Throsby presents See!
This looks wonderful for younger children. Holly brings her album See! to life.

Animagica looks like a beautiful piece that incorporates shadow theatre films by Lotte Reiniger with music from Icelandic instrumental group Amiina.

I always like to explore outside the family program for some gems that are suitable for older kids.

L'Effet de Serge

Meet Serge. Every Sunday he entertains his friends with a parade of homespun spectacles, animating everything around his basement and putting some magic back into their lives.

I am Eora

I Am Eora (I am of this place) breaks new ground in contemporary Indigenous performance, telling the stories of Sydney's Aboriginal continuity in a celebration of its heroes. With a cast of performers ranging from the emerging to the iconic, the project aspires to create a legacy for Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike.

Assembly

Integrating dance with theatrical and operatic performance, this grand piece involves more than 60 performers on stage, combining the force and agility of eight of Chunky Move's most exceptional dancers with waves of medieval and contemporary choral music from six principal singers and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.


The festival runs from Jan 7th until Jan 29th.
Festival First Night is free and all ages friendly on the Jan 7th
For more details and bookings visit: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2012/