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

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

Take your time - BUT hurry up before it closes

CLOSING ON SUNDAY 11th APRIL - OLAFUR ELIASSON

This weekend grab the kids and head down the MCA to catch the wonderful exhibition from Olafur Eliasson - Take your time.

Suitable for kids of all ages this exhibition explores light, shapes and colour in an interactive environment. When we first walked in the kids rushed to the large communal table filled with small pieces of white lego and constructions that had been built by creators before them. Every room within the museum captures the imagination.

This is not to be missed!

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About the Exhibition

The MCA presents the must-see contemporary art event of the year, Take your time: Olafur Eliasson. Gathering works from major collections worldwide, it spans Eliasson’s diverse career from 1993 to the present, including installations, sculpture and photography. It is the first large-scale exhibition of works by this Danish-Icelandic artist to be presented in Australia.

From light-filled environments to walk-in kaleidoscopes, Eliasson’s unique, experiential works explore the intersection between nature and science, and the boundary between the organic and the artificial.

Raised partly in Iceland, Eliasson has drawn his inspiration from that country’s landscape and spectacular weather. He recontextualises elements such as light, water, ice, fog, arctic moss and lava rock to create works that shift the viewer’s consciousness and sense of place.

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Adults $15 Children under 12 Free

MCA details

Exhibition Website

Reinventing kids playground spaces

The Cool Hunter explores creative spaces for kids around the world.

We spend millions annually on "adult playgrounds" — stadiums, concert halls, bars, restaurants. We spend billions advertising and promoting them. Why is it that we do not seem to want to dedicate the necessary resources to give our children the best we can offer? The Cool Hunter

Ready to get Sketchen?

Odosketch is a fun online tool that lets the user draw on the screen as if they were using a sketch book.  Great rainy day distraction!

Odosketch seeks to recreate the decidedly non-digital experience of working with a sketchbook. Its papery textures, variety of brushes and intentional imperfections make you forget you're working on a screen.

Orisinal - Online Games

Easy going non violent online games for young children at Orisonal. Beautiful graphics designed by Ferry Halim.

Visit http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/ to join the fun.

Kids Mail Swap

Keep your eyes peeled for Pigeon Pairs next Kids Mail Swap sign up.

Every child who signs up needs to send a postcard OR letter to 5 other swappers.

Sign up's are open to kids aged 2-12 years & they will be sending/receiving mail from other kids of a similar age.
The mail doesn't have to be over the top, it could be a homemade postcard or one of your hometown. It could be a picture that your child has drawn or coloured in or just a few sentences written by themselves or you depending on their age.
You do not need to have a blog to play along & sign ups are open to everyone, so please be prepared to post overseas.

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For more details visit Pigeon Pair

Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years | MCA | NSW

Last school holidays when deciding what to do with the kids ( aged 10, 7 and 5), I lived by the following code:

1. It had to be fun and
2. It had to be free

At first we thought it may be impossible but we were delighted to find that when you digged deep enough treasures do appear.
One of those treasures was the Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Discover the work of internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama with this major exhibition that spans decades of her artistic practice.Working across different media and forms that include painting, collage, sculpture, installation and film, as well as performance and its documentation, Kusama creates works that reveal a fixation with repetition, pattern and accumulation.

Expect lots of dots!

Some parts of the exhibition were difficult to prevent my children from touching, as it was just too tempting. They loved the rooms that allowed them to be  enclosed (with a small group)in a room of dots and mirrors or starlights and water(it felt like we were in space) revealing amazing patterns.

If your kids want to learn more about Yayoi and have fun with dots, the Queensland Art Gallery have a fantastic online interactive experience where they can dot to their hearts content.
An education kit is available online to download for older kids.

This exhibition finishes on the 8th June so you don't have long to catch it.

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Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years
24 FEBRUARY - 8 JUNE 2009
Cost : Free
Location: MCA
140 George Street
The Rocks NSW 2000
Australia

The box doodle project

The rules are quite simple: 

rearrange a box to make any kind of figure or object.

make the most of least.

Box  doodle

House in Focus - Photo Competition

Mischas Opera 2008

Sydney Opera House are launching House in Focus; a global photography competition where one lucky winner will have their best shot exhibited at Sydney Opera House.
The winning photo will be mounted onto a large-scale canvas for display in the Western Foyer - home to three Sydney Opera House theatres – where thousands of visitors will see it every week.

We went the Opera House today with a visiting relative and my daughter (aged 6) took some photos to enter. Its a special image for us because we are all in it and the Opera House acts as the backdrop. You can vote for Mischas image here.

We would love to hear of any Arts Rocket readers who get their children to enter. Entries close July 30 2008. The competition is global and can also be an interpretation of the Sydney Opera House.

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For more information:
House in Focus Global Photography Competition

Little Big Shots - Opens next week

Amran’s Film (Ethiopia, 2005)

Still Australia's major international film festival for kids, Little Big Shots is an inspiring, meaningful and fun-filled festival of the best in local and international children's features, shorts, animations, documentaries and, amazingly, child-produced films.

Perfect for kids and teenagers aged from 2 to 18, Little Big Shots will screen over 90 films from 25 countries and inspire discussion of world cultures, language, cultural diversity, emotional intelligence and human values.

Little Big Shots kicks off in Melbourne next week. Other venues to follow.

Melbourne

4- 9 June 2008
ACMI Cinemas, Australian Centre for the Moving ImageFederation Square, MelbourneTickets: $6 per sessionBookings: (03) 8663 2583 or via ACMI online ticketing

Warrnambool Fun4Kids Festival
Sunday June 29 to Sunday July 6, 2008
Artspace – Little Big Shots Movie Lounge
For more details of Warrnambool's Fun4Kids festival, visit http://www.fun4kids.com.au/

Frankston
Thursday July 3 to Sunday July 6, 2008
Boulevard Events Centre
444 Nepean Highway, Frankston

Sydney

September 17-21, 2008
Sydney Opera House Studio

Campbelltown Arts Centre
July 10-12, 2008
Casula Powerhouse
June 16-18, 2008

Visit Little Big Shots for more information.

EXPERIMENTA PLAYGROUND

Shadow Monsters Philip Worthington, Shadow Monsters (2005) UK. Still image from interactive installation. Courtesy the artist. Photo by Andrew Lloyd.

EXPERIMENTA PLAYGROUND :: Free media art exhibition
Escape into Experimenta Playground, an exhibition of artworks that beg to be touched and invite your interaction.

Ever wanted to play with puffer fish and electric eels without getting wet?
How about watching your shadow take on monstrous features as it grows scales, teeth, eyes and horns?

Experimenta’s touring exhibition is a digital media playground of interactive artworks, video installations, short films and extreme art on screen by over 30 Australian and international artists.

Performance Space and Experimenta invite you to experience contemporary art like never before!

EVENTS & PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Launch & opening night party
Wednesday 7 May 6pm
FREE. All welcome

Artist and Curator Floortalks
Saturday 10 May, 2-3pm

Visit the website for images, descriptions, bios and information on artist and curator talks;
http://www.experimenta.org/playground-touring/--
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Dates:
Opening Wednesday 7 May 6.00pm
Exhibiting 8 May - 7 June Wed-Sat 12-8pm

Cost: Free
Venue: CarriageWorks
245 Wilson Street Eveleigh
Please visit the website for a map and directions.http://performancespace.com.au/location.php

NATIONAL DATES:
Samstag Museum of Art, Adelaide ::30 Aug- 17 Oct 08
WA Museum, Perth:: 15 Nov 08 - 1 Feb 09
Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria :: 25 April - 7 June 09
Albury Library Museum, 25 July- 7 Sept 09

For school bookings contact:Bec Dean becd@performancespace.com.au 02 8571 9111
To download a visit the resources at Experimenta or call Experimenta on 03 9650 9977

Sydney Film Festival - Design a Poster

Where is Winkys Horse?

The 55th Sydney Film Festival is just around the corner and the popular kids strand returns for another year.

One of the highlights during the festival is 'Where is Winkys Horse' the follow up film to a 2007 Film festival favourite Winkys Horse.
Where is Winky's Horse?
Director - Mischa Kamp ; Country - Belgium, The Netherlands.

The full program will be announced in the 8th May.

Get inspired and create a poster to promote the Kids' Films program. The closing deadline is Friday 30 May, after which SFF will display the best 10 posters in an online gallery.
A panel of judges comprising some of the most creative minds in Sydney's design world will pick the winner, which will be displayed at festival venues from 4-22 June.

Anyone aged 16 and under is welcome to enter and the winner will win a family pass to all Kids' Films at this year's Sydney Film Festival.

Better still, your winning design will be exhibited to the whole world on the festival website, and will hang in the foyer of festival venues during June.

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Sydney Film Festival
4-22 June 2008

Explore and Learn - Online activities to spark creativity

Explore and Learn

Cezanne's Astonishing Apples
Romare Beardan Let's walk the Block
From The Metropolitan of Museum of Art

Create an imaginary landscape online with NGA kids Jungle.
More Interactive Art to make online.
Include College maker Pixel face Brushter Swatchbox
From the National Gallery of Art

Andy Warhol's World

From Queensland Art Gallery

This weekend

Create your own readymech designed pinhole camera this weekend!. Visit http://pro.corbis.com/creative/readycam/ for downloads and instructions.

Dont miss -- Trop jr Sunday 17th Feb 2008

Trop jr Sunday 17th Feb 2008
Crescent Precinct, Domain, Royal Botanic Gardens

Created by the folks who bring you Sony Tropfest, TROP JR is a short filmmaking competition open to kids aged 15 years and younger. This Sunday will feature the screening the Top 8
finailists from around Australia.

12.00pm:Trop Jr site opens and onsite activities commence
02.00pm: Official Program commences
02.10pm: Trop Jr Finalist Films - Part 1
02.40pm: Interval
02.50pm: Trop Jr Finalist Films - Part 2
03.15pm: Judging Time Out
03.30pm: Awards Ceremony The afternoon will finish at approximately 4pm.

Admission is free!
For more information visit: http://www.tropjr.com.au/

The 8 Finalists for Trop Jr 2008 are:
Poor Joshua Verde
Director: Guy Verge Wallace
State: NSW

Remote
Director: Nera Skirpic-Vuckovic
State: QLD
Imaginature
Directors: Chester Greaves, Callen Hardie and Matt Cochran
State: VIC

Free Free at Last
Director: Japonica Mauala
State: NSW

Ode to Collector
Director: Marisa Lai
State: VIC

The Life of Perfarto
Directors: Students Years 5/6Main Arm Upper Public School
State: NSW

The Ducks of General Green
Director: Tim Brown
State: TAS

Besties
Director: Jasmin-Johanna Mobbs
State: NSW

Sydney Festival 2008 program announced

The Sydney Festival have announced their exciting program for 2008. The program features plenty of wonderful opportunities to engage you and your children of all ages in theatre, dance, music and visual arts. The full Sydney Festival program is available online.

Highlights for families include:

The Famous Spiegeltent- kids program

Throughout the festival they will run a special daytime program for kids within The Famous Spiegeltent. The series will feature free workshops, performances + activities that allow younger audiences to get up close and meet Festival artists, find out how the shows are made and learn some of the tricks of the trade.

Full program and details will be announced in mid-December

Haircuts by children

This January, ten year olds will be offering the public free haircuts at salons in Parramatta and Darlinghurst. After a team of children participate in a series of training workshops with local professional stylists, you are invited to get a free haircut. A trim or a totally new look - it's entirely up to you and your young stylist.A whimsical performance that playfully engages with the enfranchisement of children, Haircuts by Children pits our trust in the younger generation against the thrills and chills of vanity.
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Where Salon Noir 251 Church Street, Parramatta (cnr Church and George Streets)
When January 17-18 at 12noon-4pm
Where Grand Royal Barbers 397 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst
When January 20-21 at 12noon-4pm
Price FREE
Bookings For bookings call 02 9247 9686 between 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday Availability is limited. Booking line will close once capacity is reached.

Au Revoir Parapluie
Au Revoir Parapluie is an intimate tale of love that winds backwards through time. Expect surprises, strangers, smiles and frowns, setbacks and triumphs and a heartfelt celebration of love, life and hope. Acrobat, violinist, dancer and mime, Thiérrée is acknowledged as one of the world's greatest and most creative contemporary circus performers, conjuring worlds of endless invention and fantasy and inviting imaginations to soar.

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Where Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
When January 8-13, 15-20, 22-27 at 8.00pm Duration 1hr 30mins, no interval
Price A reserve $70 / $60B reserve $60 / $50Child $35
Bookings Sydney Theatre 02 9250 1999 Festival Ticketek 1300 888 412 Online http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/

Kin
Stephen Page brings together three generations of his own relatives in KIN, a contemporary story of family, community and history.
Told through the eyes of seven young Aboriginal boys aged between nine and 14, KIN dramatically explores the contrast of their ancestral history and their urban upbringing influenced by popular culture, hip hop and football, and investigates their own beliefs about the world and their place in it as young Aboriginal men.
Recommended for children eight+
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Where The Studio, Sydney Opera House Bennelong Point, East Circular Quay
When Preview: January 23 at 6.00pm January 24-25 at 3.30pm & 6.00pm, January 26 at 3.30pm Duration 30mins, no interval
Price $25
Bookings Sydney Opera House 02 9250 7777Festival Ticketek 1300 888 412 Online www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Imagine - Program - Share

Scratch is a new programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive stories, animations, games, music, and art -- and share your creations on the web.

Scratch is designed for kids (ages 8 and up) where they can create Scratch projects, learn mathematical and computational ideas, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the process of design.

Stractch is free to download and the website provides easy to use instructions. Kids can start their own gallery and share their finished product.

Welcome to the town of Kafkamêsto

My son discovered some great online games on the ABC ROLLERCOASTER site. The games are listed in the following categories: Animal, Art, Science, Music, Quizzes and Sport. The graphics and themes are fantastic and you will find something suitable for all ages.

Highlights include:
Dots and Diamond- A game where you are the detective and must solve the Mysterious Case of the Missing Mummies. As you search for scarabs and other clues lots of interesting museum facts are discovered along the way.

For older kids Kafkamêsto is very intriguing. "You awaken from an uneasy dream. You are in a small, bare apartment. You are alone. You have no idea how you got there. You don't even know who you are. Welcome to the town of Kafkamêsto."

In the t-shirt maker kids can design and print their own t-shirt transfers with a wide choice of graphics to play around with.

My daughter and younger son are enjoying the online activities that can be found on the Queensland Art Galley site. In The Call of the Wild Australian artist Justine Cooper invites children to play her game where the aim is to set the animals free from the museum and return them to their natural habitat.

Kusamas World of Dots is based on artist Yayoi Kusama’s fascination with dots. This interactive is great fun- children can select different scenes and add dots of different colours and personalities. If your child is still crazy about dots after this interactive - check out Latitude & Longitudes Wallcandy Dottilicious coloured dots.

Animation Fun

Create your own online animation at FLIPBOOK! DELUXE. This very simple free online program allows children (and adults) to create their own animations. FLIPBOOK! DELUXE supersedes the original FLIPBOOK! with the addition of colour and different brush sizes to use. Animations can be downloaded or shared with other FLIPBOOKERS!

Parental warning: Please visit this website with your child as adults also display animations in the gallery which may be deemed inappropriate.