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Sizzling sex spices up the Opera Queensland 2014 program
Westender has assiduously attempted to attend every season opening in postcode 4101 in an attempt to keep up with the inside goss on what’s coming up in the Arts during 2014.
The good news is that there is so much planned for the new year that we’ve barely managed to keep up. Here’s what we’ve found out so far.
That’s the bad news as well. If you have the inside running on future events in the Arts Feast that is 2014 on this side of the river, let us know through the comments page at the bottom of the page.
A free screening of Kinseki (I Wish) on November 28th
Film lovers can win tickets to the prestigious Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane next month at free open-air screenings of past nominees.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the first screening would be in the Chinatown Mall at 7pm, Thursday 21 November and feature Gattu from India. Nominated for Best Children’s Feature Film in 2012, it follows the story of a young street kid in a small town where kite-flying is the local obsession.
“Starring Mohammad Samad as Gattu, the Hindi film was produced by the Children’s Film Society, India, and has received much critical acclaim, including recognition at the Berlin International Film Festival last year,” Cr Quirk said.
“The Asia Pacific Screen Awards are the region’s highest accolade in film, recognising and promoting cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest growing film region: comprising 70 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people and responsible for half of the world’s film output.
“The 2013 winners will be announced at a gala red carpet event at City Hall on 12 December but prior to that there will be a number of free public screenings.”
Gattu will be followed by a free public screening in the Chinatown Mall on 28 November of Kinseki (I Wish), a film from Japan nominated for Best Children’s Feature Film in 2012.
“Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu, Kinseki is a beguiling tale of two young brothers trying to reunite their family and will appeal to all ages,” Cr Quirk said.
“Then on 5 December, Shui Yuet Sun Tau (Echoes of the Rainbow), a film from Hong Kong nominated for Best Children’s Feature Film in 2010 will be shown.
“Those who attend these films in Chinatown Mall will have the chance to win double passes to attend the awards ceremony on 12 December.”
Cr Quirk said other free open-air community screenings would take place at South Bank Parklands on Saturday December 7 (Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga-Hoole) and December 22 (Happy Feet Two).
Details on screenings are available at http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/unlisted-pages/community-film-screenings/
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards were established in 2007. They are now managed by economic development board Brisbane Marketing in a unique collaboration with Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations.
Photo: Buzz Chung stars as ‘Big Ears’ in Echoes of the Rainbow
On Monday 25th November, community members from across Brisbane are invited to join in the activities helping to raise awareness and important funds for White Ribbon. All attendees at the events will participate in the ’My Oath’ campaign for White Ribbon, by ’swearing’ to stop violence against women.
White Ribbon Day is the world’s largest male-led movement to end men’s violence against women. It is an annual campaign that recognises the positive role that men play in preventing violence against women. It fosters and encourages male leadership in the prevention of violence against women, based on the understanding that most men are not violent. This campaign is a means for men to speak out against violence against women, and to safely and effectively challenge the attitudes and behaviours of a minority of men who use or condone violence against women. Women also support White Ribbon by encouraging the men in their lives to make a commitment to promote positive attitudes and behaviours towards women, as well as intervening safely to prevent violence against women when needed.
’One in three Australian women has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime,’ says Kylie Robertson of Brisbane Domestic Violence Service. ’This could be your mother, sister, daughter or friend. So by supporting these events you will be joining us on the path of prevention and change.’
Community members, services and organisations from across Brisbane have joined together to host these events.
In North Brisbane the Northside Alliance Against Domestic and Family Violence (NAADV) will be holding an event at Bunnings Carseldine, 1925 Gympie Road. Highlights include an all day sausage sizzle, speakers at 10.00am and visit from the Queensland Police and Fire Services, so bring along the kids.
In Central Brisbane the Brisbane Family Violence Network (BFVN) will be holding an event at Reddacliffe Place (outside the Treasury Casino) at 11.00am. The Walk in Her Shoes event asks men to literally undertake an obstacle course in womens shoes. This is no easy task, however it does promise to be a lot of fun and importantly to get the community talking about domestic and family violence.
More details about these events can be found on the Brisbane Domestic Violence Service website www.bdvs.org.au
These events will be one of many events taking place across Australia to raise awareness for White Ribbon Day, 25 November, the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. White Ribbon merchandise will be available at the events to purchase.
White ribbons and wristbands will be available at a number of stores around Australia, as well as online. To find out which stores, visit www.whiteribbon.org.au. For more information about White Ribbon Day visit www.whiteribbon.org.au.
You can also take part in the ‘My Oath’ campaign by visiting www.whiteribbon.org.au/myoath and swearing never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.
The Westender received this statement from the Quensland Centre for Photography today, and thought it important that we share it with you.
QCP FUNDING CUTS STATEMENT
On the 31st of October the Queensland Government announced it would no longer provide triennial funding for the Queensland Centre for Photography from the start of 2014. The Government has cut the core funding of QCP by $170,000 per annum.
The QCP has played a leading role in Queensland and across Australia promoting the work of photo-media artists, supporting industry growth both nationally and internationally.
Over the last year we have presented 70 artists in the exhibition program, profiled 10 artists internationally and two artists nationally, produced one publication for an emerging artist with two more in progress. As part of the biennial Queensland Festival of Photography (last held in 2012) more than 125,000 people participated in 74 events right across Queensland.
The cuts and austerity measures announced on the 31st of October were applied exclusively to the small to medium arts sector, with the timing of the announcement leaving only 8 weeks for affected organisations to find alternative ways of funding or sponsorship.
With the difficulties this area of the arts industry has in accessing corporate and philanthropic support, the cuts will have a devastating effect. Institutions facing the prospect of closing down will experience multiplying losses, placing a large part of the sector that have delivered art services to the community in a very difficult position.
The QCP’s estimated losses for next year are many times the announced cuts to its triennial funding. The larger loss for Queensland of venues, programs, professional knowledge and decades of investments developing artistic talent, not to mention the loss of intellectual capacity and experience, is impossible to estimate.
The organisations affected are at the core of the capacity for the state to develop artistic talent. They have been the bridge between educational institutions and the global art institutions in Queensland and Australia. Some were also key exporters of Queensland art to national and international markets; their closure in the mid and long term will greatly set back efforts to promote Queensland art to the world.
For QCP, as one of the leading institutions of photo-media art in Australia, the first group affected by the funding cut are the 70 artists scheduled in the exhibition program for the year 2014. Other programs such as QCP publications, the Queensland Festival of Photography and its international conference in April next year, among others are in a process of review as to our capacity to deliver them.
We have three weeks to find new strategic partners that would allow the institution to keep its doors open; if we are unable to do so, our key actions would be focused on ensuring the appropriate recognition of the work done by artists, educators and the community, as well as suitably archiving all materials- electronic or hard copy- that document and celebrate one of the most unique achievements in the photographic medium in Australia.
The QCP’s central role has been the development of artistic talent in the area of photo-media art in Australia through programs that develop community interest locally, nationally and the internationally. In that endeavour, we would like to thank the community of artists, sponsors, academics, collectors, art dealers, curators, publishers, and directors of other institutions that partnered with us during the last ten years. We would like to acknowledge the individuals and organisations that opened its doors and continue developing Australian photography and in doing so, encourage artistic development and provide sustainability for hundreds of artists. We would like to express our deep gratitude for the kindness of the artistic community of the USA, particularly in Los Angeles, that welcomed, mentored and made us recipients of a larger legacy of knowledge while celebrating the achievements of Australian photography. Our appreciation extends to the visionary individuals in government that for the last decade supported us, understanding the value of developing our own artistic voice as a nation.
These are difficult times, particularly for volunteers, staff, board members and artists. Your kind support means much and we hope you can join us at all the upcoming events marking a decade of achievements and to celebrate our community regardless of the adversity we are faced with.
If you know of anyone that you think could introduce us to a strategic partner and would like to assist us, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
If you would like to read more about these issues, here are some articles:
Photo: (Photo/EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection)
Just days after Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines, the 2013 UN Climate Change Conference kicked off in Warsaw, prompting a big message from Philippines delegate Yeb Sano.
At the opening of the two-week conference, Sano vowed to fast voluntarily until a “meaningful outcome” was in sight, in solidarity with those who do not have food in the wake of Haiyan.
“What my country is going through as a result of this extreme climate event is madness,” he said at the conference this week.
“Typhoons such as Haiyan and its impacts represent a sobering reminder to the international community that we cannot afford to procrastinate on climate action.”
The country has been a center for natural disasters over the past year. Since June, the Philippines were in the direct path of typhoons Nari, Utor and Krosa, which moved over the northern island of Luzon.
The country was also rattled by a magnitude-7.1 earthquake in October, which killed more than 200 people, becoming the deadliest quake to strike the country in 23 years.
In the wake of the current devastation, Sano is not the first to attribute the impact of Haiyan with climate change.
Since the storm, the theory that climate change will intensify storms has again reared its head in the scientific and political community.
On Nov. 10, meteorologist and author of the controversial book ‘The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars,’ Michael Mann blogged that the denial of science can kill, referencing the super typhoon.
“This week’s typhoon that is now estimated to have killed 10,000 people in the Philippines might have occurred in the absence of climate change, although global warming likely put it on steroids,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, climate change skeptics maintain that the argument is unfounded.
“Dealing with disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan requires a multi-faceted approach. Focusing on added atmospheric CO2 as the dominate threat with respect to intense typhoons is a grossly inadequate response,” Meteorologist and Senior Research Scientist at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Roger A. Pielke, told AccuWeather.com.
Despite the contention, Sano remains adamant that more intense tropical storms are coming.
“Science tells us that simply, climate change will mean more intense tropical storms. As the Earth warms up, that would include the oceans. The energy that is stored in the waters off the Philippines will increase the intensity of typhoons and the trend we now see is that more destructive storms will be the new norm,” he said.
The UN climate talks will continue through Nov. 22, as more than 190 delegates continue the dialogue on climate change action and innovation.
High-speed ‘jets’ spat out by black holes pack a lot of power because they contain heavy atoms, astronomers have found.
Black-hole jets recycle matter and energy into space and can affect when and where a galaxy forms stars.
“Jets from supermassive black holes help determine a galaxy’s fate — how it evolves,” said CSIRO’s Dr Tasso Tzioumis, a member of the research team.
“So we want to understand better the impact jets have on their environment.”
The work, led by Dr María Díaz Trigo of the European Southern Observatory, is published in the journal Nature today.
Astronomers have known for decades that black-hole jets contain electrons, which are low-mass particles.
But using the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton space telescope and CSIRO’s Compact Array radio telescope in northwest NSW, the research team found the first evidence of heavy atoms — iron and nickel — in the jets from a ‘typical’ black hole known as 4U1630-47.
An iron atom is about 100,000 times more massive than an electron. When a massive particle is moving it carries more energy than a lighter particle moving at the same speed.
“Heavy atoms have been seen in jets from one other system, SS433, but that’s a very unusual system, an oddball, whereas this system is quite typical, much more likely to represent black holes in general,” Dr Tzioumis said.
While 4U1630-47 is a small black hole, a few times the mass of the Sun, the physics of black holes “is scalable”, he said, meaning that the finding would apply to larger black holes.
The discovery suggests that jets are powered by the black hole’s accretion disk — a belt of hot gas swirling around the black hole — and not by the spin of the black hole itself, which would be more likely to produce jets containing only light particles.
The jets from 4U1630-47 are travelling fast, at two-thirds the speed of light.
When such fast-moving jets containing heavy particles smash into matter in space, they could generate gamma rays and neutrinos, which might be detectable with current and future telescopes.
Publication:
Trigo MD, Miller-Jones JCA, Migliari S, Broderick JW, Tzioumis T. Baryons in the relativistic jets of the stellar-mass black-hole candidate 4U1630-47. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature12672.
