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 

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

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.

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

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!

Arts Rocket Friday Finds

Visiting from Tokyo to play dress up - Photograph copyright Louise Hawson

Some fun finds this week -  Enjoy!

• New Conversations with Dumbo Feather for teens
• Explore Tokyo with Shoot Tokyo and Hello Sandwich
• or travel around the world at the Museum of Sydney with photographer Louise Hawson
• or discover some amazing places over at The Cool Hunter
• The GOMA in Queensland have the best online games for kids
• Super cool design workshops at Sydney Design 
• Inspire your kids with Amag - The architecture magazine for children 
• My children are reading Mary Shelly - Frankenstein (15),  R.J. Palacio - Wonder (11) and Emma Cameron - View from the 32nd Floor (9)

Arts Rocket Friday Finds

image via http://www.ryojiikeda.com

• This installation looks unreal!!!!!!! Japanese audio-visual artist Ryoji Ikeda  at Carriageworks from the 7 June until 1 July.  Very excited about this one.
• Under 13, got big ideas - this your chance to take over Time Out Sydney and become Australia's youngest editor. 
• Love the $20 tickets at  Sydney Theatre Company - Suncorp Twenties. Family/youth performances coming up - Storm Boy, Romeo and Juliet and Laser Beak Man.
• Instagram fun.
• My Story - My Content - film competition open to students - "Why do I love movies" 

Sydney Easter Show 2013

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

(image via MCA)

• Kidlolly - lots of kids stuff curated from the web (found via Lotta Magazine)
• OK..I have been  late to explore this but the Google Art Project is pretty amazing
• We discovered 52 Suburbs when Louise Hawson first started her project...if you are yet to...Enjoy!
• My daughter is loving Polyvore at the moment where she can create her own magazine page layouts. 
• Messroom at MCA Australia - Sunday Art sessions for teenagers

Little Sydney Lives - Sydney 2012

(Image: Mischa Byrne age 10)

The Art and About kids photography competition is open again.  Australian children are invited to submit their most creative photos of their Sydney. 20 finalists will have their photos enlarged and displayed in Hyde Park. You can view the wonderful 2011 winning entries here.

I am going to recharge the cameras and get the kids to carry their cameras with them to capture Sydney from their eyes.

Entries are open to children aged 3 - 11 years.
Entries close 5pm 29th June 2012

More info: http://www.artandabout.com.au/get-involved-in-2012/little-sydney-lives-photography-competition-2012

Resources:
Children as photographers research project

Shutterbug kids digital photography workshop 

10 tips to encourage children to take photos

8 Photography tips to tell your children

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

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer | Recorders | MCA

We visited the Rafael Lozano-Hemmer Recorders exhibition at the 'under construction' MCA yesterday. Thankfully we just made it in time before it was packed away.   We love exhibitions that allow kids to participate, be involved and get excited about  art.   Recorders ticked all the boxes for us.

"Recorders are artworks that hear, see or feel the public and record and replay memories entirely obtained during the show" Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

We look forward to what the MCA will bring when it reopens in March.

          

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

A BIG new discovery

We have only just discovered the beautiful kids  magazine "BIG" - Bravery, Imagination and Generosity.  The magazine explores children's interaction with art and collaboration with artists and with probably the youngest senior editor in the world (Luca is 8 years old!).

Each issue has a different theme with the current issue  being -  First flight. So expect beautiful illustrations, photography, poetry and workshops including - how to make a flying bird animation.

Kids can get involved by submitting  their own artwork and register to be a part of the  child artist response project and can submit ideas for upcoming issues.

My daughter devours the magazine as part of her night time reading in bed before she goes to sleep. My boys haven't had a chance to look at it as she has claimed it as her own. BIG can be shared amongst the whole family (adults included) and archived to bring out later for inspiration.

Track down a copy of BIG - your family will love it.

For more info and stockists visit: http://www.bigkidsmagazine.com

Little Sydney Lives - Art and About Sydney 2011

source: http://ffffound.com/image/044c27c4de762087ee46ea1911a1c245ca840f0d

Art and About 2011 are after children aged 3 - 11 years to capture Sydney through their eyes in the kids version of the photography competition and exhibition - Sydney Life.

Little Sydney Lives has been introduced to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Art and About Sydney.

The top 20 photos will be enlarged and exhibited in Hyde Park as part of the Arts and About festival from 23 September to 23 October.

Entries close 22nd July - so make the most of the school holiday time and get the kids out of the house to snap away.

For more details, entry form and conditions visit: http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/artandabout/