Arts: Recent Episodes
Eastside Radio 89.7FM
Our cohort of culture hosts have lively conversation with creative individuals, talk to industry experts, writers, commentators and critics and they bring their wealth of knowledge to you, the listeners.
You'll find out what shows are on; the engaging exhibitions to see; the best in the written word; the latest in performing and visual arts; what the cultural organisations are up to as well as hear all of the great music form Eastside's collection.
In this episode of Arts Friday, Angela Stretch speaks with Mirri Leven, Director of Art Leven, on the opening night of the gallery’s new Woolloomooloo space and the launch of a significant exhibition and auction honouring the collecting journeys of Dame Marie Bashir and David Shehadie. Established in 1981, Art Leven has spent more than [...]Read More... from Art Leven Auction
In this episode of Arts Friday, Angela Stretch speaks with artist, educator, curator and presiding judge Kathryn Minkley about the tenth annual Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize — Australia’s highest-value women’s art prize, with a total prize pool of $58,000 across three categories. Celebrating a decade of championing Australian women artists, the acquisitive prize and [...]Read More... from Ravenswood Women’s Art Prize 2026
Blak Douglas joins us for an insightful conversation about “home flown”. His powerful exhibition that launched at NSW Parliament House on 7 May 2026. We explore the inspiration behind the body of work, the stories and messages throughout the exhibition. Blak Douglas shares his creative process, discusses challenging traditional expectations of what Aboriginal art is [...]Read More... from Blak Douglas on Arts Friday
In this episode of Arts Tuesday, Suzi and Diana are joined in the studio by renowned accent and dialect coach, Linda Nicholls-Gidley. Teaching in many of the nation’s drama schools and working in a broad range of media ranging from film to theatre, she has over 20 years of experience. Linda speaks about different accents [...]Read More... from Arts Tuesday: Interview with Linda Nicholls-Gidley on the science of accents
Based on the novel by the Nobel prize winning author Olga Tokarczuk, Drive your Plow over the Bones of the Dead is a play being put on at the Belvoir theatre starring Pamela Rabe as Mrs Duzjeko, a woman investigating a series of murders that have mysterious connections to animals and nature. Marco Chiappi is [...]Read More... from Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead – An Interview with Marco Chiappi
A young woman, Jana Vytrhlik fled Communist Prague and, as a political refugee and via Austria and New Zealand, made her way to Sydney. She had taught herself English by watching daily soaps on TV while caring for her infant son. She was one of the original staff members at the Powerhouse Museum, where her [...]Read More... from Interview with Dr Jana Vytrhlik – Treasures of Old Jewish Sydney
Samin, frontman and creator of packingdhaka visited us in the studio early Monday morning. We spoke to this wonderfully vibrant individual about his growth as a musician. Formation of the band Packing Dhaka, it’s iterations, his farewell show This Saturday December 6th @sneakypossumbar. [...]Read More... from In the studio with Samin with Packing Dhaka
An exploration into the artist’s ideas and intentions behind his bold, politically charged artworks. Blak Douglas was born in 1970, Blacktown, NSW to a Dhungatti Father and Caucasian mother, a four time Archie Awards finalist and prizewinner for 2022, his bold, colourful artworks are mainly inspired by social justice and public affairs. Blak Douglas talks [...]Read More... from An interview with Blak Douglas; his artworks, heritage and political narratives
On the 25th of November, playwright Jack Kearney and director Lucy Clements appeared on Arts Tuesday to discuss their upcoming play Born on a Thursday at the Old Fitz Theatre. The play tells the story of a woman returning home to her family in Western Sydney during the turn of the millennium and explores the [...]Read More... from The Old Fitz, Y2K Paranoia and Head Knocks in Sport: Suzi and Diana interview Jack Kearney and Lucy Clements
On October 2, Australian music icons Dave Graney & Clare Moore appeared on Arts Thursday on Eastside Radio, where they discussed their latest projects and reflected on their remarkable four-decade partnership. Dave Graney & Clare Moore are one of Australia’s most enduring and distinctive musical partnerships. Since the late 1970s, the duo has carved out a unique place in Australian music through [...]Read More... from Arts Thursday: Interview between Toby Creswell, Dave Graney and Clare Moore
Silky Roads have crafted a captivating musical style—funky, soulful, and full of energy. An electro-funk-pop quartet, they take the grooves of Parcels and Daft Punk in a silky-smooth direction. We had a great time chatting about their new EP Wallflower (7 tracks, out now!). Tune in to hear their stripped-back live performance—featuring electric synth and acoustic guitar. You [...]Read More... from Silky Roads in Conversation: The Journey to “Wallflower”
Today, on Arts Thursday, Maisy and Paula welcomed David Spicer, manager of the Bondi Theatre Company. David Spicer was an ABC journalist for 30 years before becoming a theatrical agent. He also work for the Association of Community Theatre. In 2017, he created the Bondi Theatre Company with a goal to “entertain, develop new, update [...]Read More... from The Fifth Comedy and Cabaret Season starting August 30th
Emma Greenhill is currently undertaking a course at the Con Open Academy, and comes onto Arts Friday to have a quick chat about her experience with Angela. [...]Read More... from Angela Talks To Emma Greenhill About The Con Open Academy On Arts Friday
In this episode of Arts Monday, Lindsey and Caroline meet Dr Neerja Chandna Peters, who shares her reflections on abstract art – and how colour and music provoke emotions of joy and harmony. Dr Neerja Chandna Peters takes us on a journey through her global art career, from where she grew up in New Delhi, [...]Read More... from Interview with Dr Neerja Chandna Peters – A Journey into Abstract Art
Interviewed by Lindsey & Caroline Listen to our interview with Fahn Jim where he explains his thoughts and process for his unique works He has a rich background in architecture and inventions. Those experiences he has brought into the art world and displayed through his series of paintings and live performances which creates an immersive [...]Read More... from Fahn Jim (James Gardiner)- One of a Kind Art Making
Interviewed by Lindsey & Caroline Listen in As Neerja Peters talks about her choice of Harmonizing colours and how her presence show both generous and inspiring aspects. Her abstract and geometric works became her form of meditation and joy. The delicate interplay of memory, geometry, and colour in each piece creates their own meticulous narratives [...]Read More... from Neerja Peters – Abstract Artist who Finds Peace and Harmony in Her Works
In this episode, we revisit an interview from Arts Tuesday with curator Samantha Ferris about The Garden of Time, currently showing at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. This touring exhibition brings together six artists Three from Australia and three from the Netherlands in a shimmering, cross-cultural conversation inspired by J.G. Ballard’s dystopian short story. As the world teeters on [...]Read More... from The Garden of Time, Samantha Ferris’s interview
In this podcast, Toby Schmitz joins Di Simmons & Suzi Whitehead to discuss his latest release, The Empress Murders. From writing award winning plays to appearing in numerous TV series, Schmitz is an exceptionally accomplished artist with plenty of experience under his belt. In his latest book, Schmitz offers readers a thrilling whodunnit mystery, with [...]Read More... from Toby Schmitz Discusses His New Book “The Empress Murders” On Arts Tuesday
Adam from the band @Apocolypseboyo came into the Alan Slight Studio for an interview Today with Lindsey (AKA Curli Q) on #SubteranneanSydney. They spoke about different forms of musical expressions. Elaborating on the progression of Apocalypse Boyo, who began as 2 piece. Adam rapped/sang alongside Joel who had created some beats to play with his [...]Read More... from Adam from Apocolypseboyo and musical expressions
Olivia Ansell is the Festival Director of Sydney Festival, which is a festival showcasing music, art, dance, theatre, and more, from all around the world. Established in 1977, the festival runs every year in January for 3 weeks. Join Olivia as she discusses about some of the shows and events that will appear in the [...]Read More... from Olivia Ansell and the Sydney Festival
In this episode, we unravel the complex friendship between Inky Stephenson and Miles, set against the shifting political tides of the 1930s. Lloyd-Alison Young’s portrayal of Inky—a character tangled in fascism, populist politics, and anti-Semitism—sparks questions about loyalty, ambition, and morality. After three years in prison for her political affiliations, Inky’s relationship with Miles fractures, [...]Read More... from Podcast : The Kingdom of Eucalypts
“Why were the Bee Gees so successful? What was their secret?” In this episode of the Eastside Radio Podcast, presenter Toby Creswell sits down with Australian author Clinton Walker to talk about his latest book Soundtrack from Saturday Night Fever as they delve into the history of disco, explore the Bee Gees’ “serendipitous” with music mogul [...]Read More... from Arts Thursday Interview with Bee Gees Expert Clinton Walker
David Theak is a respected saxophonist, composer and bandleader on the Australian Jazz Scene. He is a lecturer in the jazz unit at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In his free time, he is also the artistic director of the Sydney Con Jazz Festival. David joined Matt McMahon and Dan Barnett from Blow to speak about the organisation of [...]Read More... from 2024 Sydney Con Jazz Fest Artistic Director
On the Art of Mindfulness show, Chris Phillips dived into a lively conversation with actor and psychotherapist, Annie Looby, about creativity, curiosity and the art of mindful self-inqury. Annie share’s her experience with the Hoffman Process, being on retreat with Eckhart Tolle, her beautiful weekend workshop process -Love Code – and the connection between mindfulness and creativity. [...]Read More... from Interview With Annie Looby On The Art Of Mindfulness
Neil James Murray is one of the founding member of the Warumpi band that has performed for 20 years and produced 3 ground breaking albums and held down a successful solo career since 1989. He was awarded the 2017 Port Fairy Folk Festival Artist of the Year and is regarded as one of Australia’s finest singer songwriters. Neil [...]Read More... from Neil Murray from Wurumpi band
Zachary Bennet-Brook is a Dharawal man from Wollongong whose fascination with the sea and surf inform his art practice. His first ever mural was painted on the Bondi Sea Wall and now he is up to his third in this location. This latest work, entitled Travelling, portrays the connections between us all. The colours represent the [...]Read More... from Zachary Bennet-Brook – Bondi Sea Wall
Sam Kim (aka SamAbsurd) started his art career as a graffiti artist in Sydney’s Western Suburbs. Over time he honed his aerosol skills to become one of the region’s most prolific mural artists. As well as beautifying countless walls, doors, skate parks and humble infrastructure boxes, he has also spent time as a youth worker encouraging [...]Read More... from Sam Kim – Bondi Sea Wall
Keith Stanley has painted a big colourful octopus nestling in amongst the coral and seaweed on the Bondi Sea Wall. He is inspired by all the creatures in the ocean, and the octopus signifies the protector of the coral and the ocean ecosystems. Keith’s love of ocean creatures as well as the context of Bondi Beach [...]Read More... from Keith Stanley – Bondi Sea Wall
Natalia Chabadova (aka Natasha Art) loves travel and art. The two inform a lifestyle that has brought her to Bondi from Slovakia. Her mural entitled Whales Constellation portrays 3 different species of whale floating in an underwater dream world, expressing freedom and liberation. Check out her website for more spiritually inspired art. [...]Read More... from Natalia Chabadova – Bondi Sea Wall
Gaston Duflos, aka Gasty, (originally from Argentina) has been creating art in Sydney’s eastern suburbs since 2018. His mural reflects his fascination with beach culture, Sydney icons and a love of cool dogs wearing sunglasses. He’s inspired by the art of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michael Basquiat as well as images from the world of fashion. [...]Read More... from Gaston Duflos – Bondi Sea Wall
Scott Rathman (aka Rusted Tin) is an Arrernte artist from east of Alice Springs now based in Semaphore, South Australia. He creates colourful murals in schools all around Australia, and has realised his dream of painting a mural on the Bondi Sea Wall. His work features his signature tag, “Make Kindness the Norm”, and signifies people [...]Read More... from Scott Rathman – Bondi Sea Wall
Michael’s work stands out from the other murals on the Bondi Sea Wall because it is an impressionist landscape painting as opposed to the highly coloured graphic murals. He gets his ideas from painting in national parks (particularly in the Blue Mountains) and bringing his sketches back to the studio to turn into outdoor public [...]Read More... from Michael Black – Bondi Sea Wall
Originally from Brazil, Kaina Morais has created a beautiful mural on the Bondi Sea Wall called The Gatekeeper. It features two jaguars, one black and one yellow (her spirit anima)l, in front of a portal or mandala. It is a very spiritual work with lots of symbolism representing yin and yang, male and female and the [...]Read More... from Kaina Morais – Bondi Sea Wall
On the Bondi Sea Wall we meet Matthew Brettschneider aka Melnunnie Art. As Matthew tells us ‘melnunnie’ means red in his traditional language. He is a wiradjuri man who grew up on the Lachlan River. We can see the river in his mural which reflects his love and knowledge of country. Like a lot of indigenous [...]Read More... from Melnunnie – Bondi Sea Wall
This week we feature ‘Seaweed Mob’, a mural by Archibald finalist and winner, Blak Douglas. The work has since been removed, in this three part interview we’ll hear why. We’ll also talk to Blak about life, art and love, politics and activism – set against the backdrop of some of Blak Douglas’s music: some complex [...]Read More... from Blak Douglas – Bondi Sea Wall
Next in our podcast series of Bondi Sea Wall muralists we meet Michael Gallus (aka Frallus Design). A graphic artist from Sardinia, Michael has made Bondi his home where he loves the lifestyle and creative energy of Bondi Beach. His work portrays the sensations of surfing, which he equates to be like floating on a [...]Read More... from Michael Gallus – Bondi Sea Wall
Since embarking on his art career Mulga has exhibited in over 60 art shows, published 2 books, painted thousands of artworks and murals, won multiple awards and worked with a multitude of big brands. Mulga (aka Joel Moore) joins us on the Bondi Sea Wall to talk about his fascination with gorillas, Australian animals and iconography. With [...]Read More... from Mulga – Bondi Sea Wall
In this episode of Bondi Sea Wall we feature an alluring mural painted by visual artist Tania Wursig. Tania is an Australian visual artist specialising in portraiture. Since 2011, Tania has embraced a travelling lifestyle, splitting her time between Sydney and the captivating islands of Tahiti. As an artist in residence, she spends three month [...]Read More... from Tania Wursig – Bondi Sea Wall
Have you ever wondered who the artists are behind the Bondi Sea Wall murals? In this podcast series we meet the mural artists who have come from all over the world and around Australia to adorn the Sea Wall at Bondi Beach with colourful, thoughtful and sometimes provocative public art. From lush tropical jungles to [...]Read More... from Bondi Sea Wall – Intro
HOT JAZZ PICNIC HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 2024. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION. Katie Thorne is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who was born and raised in rural NSW (Wiradjuri Country). She describes her music as “sing-in-the-car songs, cry-on-the-walk-home songs, songs so personal I can’t quite believe I’m sharing them.” Her unique sound blends jazz with [...]Read More... from Interview with Katie Thorne – Hot Jazz Picnic
Arts Tuesday talk with Hamed Sadeghi about his mastery of the tar, a classical Iranian string instrument. He will be performing at the Sydney Opera House on 13 May 2023.
Inside/Out at the House from 1st May to 7th May 2023
During her latest Arts Monday show, our German Intern Sara talked to Casey Green about what is going on at the Opera House at the moment. Casey Green is one of the Producers of Inside/Out at the House which is happening from 1st May to 7th May at the Sydney Opera House. Each evening a special performance will take place inside the concert hall of the Opera House, while simultaneously broadcast live to audiences outside on the Forecourt. Tickets for the Forecourt are available for just $10 and include public transport.Inside/Out at the House features performances from The London Symphony Orchestra together with Sir Simon Rattle, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choirsand Australian Chamber Orchestra.Casey Green also talks about the organisation of this event and about what is planned for the future...
Queer as Flux opens at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Unwrapped Festival on 24th November and runs until 26th of that month.
Arts Thursday’s Maisy Stapleton interviewed Zac Callaghan (they/them) about the performance and its inspiration – his own gender transformation and the concept of transformation and flux, rather than stasis, being at the core of our living experience, including the aging process and our ever-changing relationships with each other, animals and life itself.
The interview plays on Arts Thursday 24 November, but you can also listen here.
South Australian-born, Sydney-based Phil Bayly has travelled and exhibited worldwide since the 1970s. After vice-chairing the collective Kick Arts in far north Queensland, he is now based in Sydney, working on personal projects such as self-published artist books.
Phil BaylyExhibition: The view outside Bondi Beach Promenade, 4 – 11 December 2022 Head On Photo Festival 4 – 20 November 2022
Arts Friday’s Angela Stretch went to Eastside’s Bondi Studio to speak with the exhibiting photographers: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, Head On Photo Festival Founder, Creative Director and lead curator; John Donegan, Photojournalist; Jake Nowakowski, news photographer; Serena Dzenis, is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland; Murray Fredericks, photographer and Phil Bayly, Sydney-based photographer who has travelled and exhibited worldwide since the 1970s.
Presented in six stories due to technical issues on the day of broadcast, Friday, 4 November 2022. The first story is with Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, the founder, creative director and lead curator of the Head On Photo Festival, who joins us to provide an insight into this year’s Head On Photo Festival program.
Arts Friday acknowledge the custodians of the Gadigal, Bidiagal and Birrabirragal clans from which the program has been produced at Eastside Radio’s Bondi Pavilion Studio at Bondi Beach.
Serena Dzenis is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland. She uses her work to tell stories about science, conservation, environmental issues and the future of mankind. 2021 + II: utopia broadcasting is an exhibition that encapsulates everything about human construction : consumerism, the wonders and dangers of science and sheer curiosity.
Serena DzenisExhibition: 2021 ± II: utopia broadcasting Bondi Beach Promenade, 4 - 11 December 2022 Head On Photo Festival 4 - 20 November 2022
Arts Friday's Angela Stretch went to Eastside's Bondi Studio to speak with the exhibiting photographers: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, Head On Photo Festival Founder, Creative Director and lead curator; John Donegan, Photojournalist; Jake Nowakowski, news photographer; Serena Dzenis, is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland; Murray Fredericks, photographer and Phil Bayly, Sydney-based photographer who has travelled and exhibited worldwide since the 1970s.
Presented in six stories due to technical issues on the day of broadcast, Friday, 4 November 2022. The first story is with Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, the founder, creative director and lead curator of the Head On Photo Festival, who joins us to provide an insight into this year’s Head On Photo Festival program.
Arts Friday acknowledge the custodians of the Gadigal, Bidiagal and Birrabirragal clans from which the program has been produced at Eastside Radio’s Bondi Pavilion Studio at Bondi Beach.
Murray Fredericks previously photographed a series of large-scale landscape photographs with fire as their central theme. While shooting, he filmed BLAZE, an observational documentary by Academy Award-nominated team Bentley Dean (director) and Tania Nehme (editor). From the start of his career Fredericks process has involved prolonged solo journeys to remote and often extreme locations.
Using non-destructive methods, Fredericks sets blazing trees, and often simply flame itself, against vast flooded lakes and river systems that have defined the interior of Australia over the La-Nina cycles of 2021 and 2022.
Saturday 5 November 5 PM – 6 PM (Sydney AEDT) film premiere – BLAZE at the Bondi Pavilion in the High tide room.
Angela Stretch went to Eastside’s Bondi Studio to speak with the exhibiting photographers: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, Head On Photo Festival Founder, Creative Director and lead curator; John Donegan, Photojournalist; Jake Nowakowski, news photographer; Serena Dzenis, is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland; Murray Fredericks, photographer and Phil Bayly, Sydney-based photographer who has travelled and exhibited worldwide since the 1970s.
Presented in six stories due to technical issues on the day of broadcast, Friday, 4 November 2022. The first story is with Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, the founder, creative director and lead curator of the Head On Photo Festival, who joins us to provide an insight into this year’s Head On Photo Festival program.
Arts Friday acknowledge the custodians of the Gadigal, Bidiagal and Birrabirragal clans from which the program has been produced at Eastside Radio’s Bondi Pavilion Studio at Bondi Beach.
News photographer, Jake Nowakowski’s, Superheroes in lockdown was produced during Melbourne’s restrictive and prolonged 112-day COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. The subjects are serious cosplayers who would usually spend their days visiting patients in hospitals or attending Comic-Con events, but just like the rest of the Melbournian population, they were confined to their homes.
Jake Nowakowski, news photographer Exhibition: Superheroes in lockdown Bondi Beach Promenade
Arts Friday’s Angela Stretch went to Eastside’s Bondi Studio to speak with the exhibiting photographers: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, Head On Photo Festival Founder, Creative Director and lead curator; John Donegan, Photojournalist; Jake Nowakowski, news photographer; Serena Dzenis, is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland; Murray Fredericks, photographer and Phil Bayly, Sydney-based photographer who has travelled and exhibited worldwide since the 1970s.
Presented in six stories due to technical issues on the day of broadcast, Friday, 4 November 2022. The first is with Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, the founder, creative director and lead curator of the Head On Photo Festival, who joins us to provide an insight into this year’s Head On Photo Festival program.
Arts Friday acknowledge the custodians of the Gadigal, Bidiagal and Birrabirragal clans from which the program has been produced at Eastside Radio’s Bondi Pavilion Studio at Bondi Beach.
John Donegan is an artist with a background in photojournalism. His artistic practice searches for the beauty in ordinary rhythms of everyday life, often highlighting the seemingly unimportant, insignificant, or unseen. The Broken Creek marks a turning point, whereby Donegan is exploring finding peace within nature and himself.
John Donegan, Photojournalist Exhibition: The Broken Creek | - 12 November 2022 Stanley Street Gallery Head On Photo Festival | 4 - 20 November 2022
Arts Friday's Angela Stretch went to Eastside's Bondi Studio to speak with the exhibiting photographers: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, Head On Photo Festival Founder, Creative Director and lead curator; John Donegan, Photojournalist; Jake Nowakowski, news photographer; Serena Dzenis, is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland; Murray Fredericks, photographer and Phil Bayly, Sydney-based photographer who has travelled and exhibited worldwide since the 1970s.
Presented in six stories due to technical issues on the day of broadcast, Friday, 4 November 2022. The first is with Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, the founder, creative director and lead curator of the Head On Photo Festival, who joins us to provide an insight into this year’s Head On Photo Festival program.
Arts Friday acknowledge the custodians of the Gadigal, Bidiagal and Birrabirragal clans from which the program has been produced at Eastside Radio’s Bondi Pavilion Studio at Bondi Beach.
Head On Photo Festival opens at the Bondi Pavilion on Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach. The Festival features exhibitions from over 600 contributing artists that include a program of workshops, panel discussions, artist talks and associated activities. With an awards pool of over $70,000 in cash and prizes, the month-long attraction showcases all things relating to photography. Arts Friday's Angela Stretch went to Eastside's Bondi Studio to speak with the exhibiting photographers: Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, Head On Photo Festival Founder, Creative Director and lead curator; John Donegan, Photojournalist; Jake Nowakowski, news photographer; Serena Dzenis, is a lens-based artist from Australia who resides in Iceland; Murray Fredericks, photographer and Phil Bayly, Sydney-based photographer who has travelled and exhibited worldwide since the 1970s.
Presented in six stories due to technical issues on the day of broadcast, Friday, 4 November 2022. The first story is with Moshe Rosenzveig OAM, the founder, creative director and lead curator of the Head On Photo Festival, who joins us to provide an insight into this year’s Head On Photo Festival program.
Arts Friday acknowledge the custodians of the Gadigal, Bidiagal and Birrabirragal clans from which the program has been produced at Eastside Radio’s Bondi Pavilion Studio at Bondi Beach.
A history of an institution could be dull, but not when it’s about the Art Gallery of New South Wales and written by Steven Miller, the gallery’s archivist – who writes with style, wit and great knowledge.
The book’s title - The Exhibitionists - gives an intriguing idea of what might be inside!
Arts Thursday's Maisy Stapleton spoke with Steven about the personalities, history and incidents that comprise the story of the Art Gallery.
Steven Miller is head of the National Art Archive and Capon Research Library at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He has published widely on art, and his most recent books are Awakening: four lives in art (Wakefield Press, 2015) with Eileen Chanin, and Dogs in Australian art (Wakefield Press, 2nd ed, 2016).
For further information:
The Exhibitionists: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/media-office/the-exhibitionists/
The publication is distributed by Thames and Hudson and is available through the AGNSW shop, online and in bookstores.
Tune into Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton and Paula Towers every fortnight from 10:30 to noon for insights into our arts and cultural life
Textiles breaking the barriers of technology, form and material.
On Arts Thursday 28 April 2022, Maisy Stapleton visited the exhibition Pliable Planes, a major exhibition of experimental textiles and fibre practices by leading Australian practitioners at the UNSW galleries. Maisy interviewed Co Curator of the show, Catherine Woolley and artist Kate Scardifield, who worked with large scale sailcloth and parachute silk as well as video to explore the impact of landscape and climate on textiles in her work You Don’t Need Me To Tell You.
Pliable Planes looks to the use of unexpected new materials and processes, based on textile traditions.
For further information:
Pliable Planes: https://www.instagram.com/unswgalleries/?hl=en
If you would like to listed to the whole program, go to http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ and click on the date 28 April 2022.
Tune into Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton and Paula Towers every fortnight from 10:30 to noon for insights into our arts and cultural life
With the 22 federal elections to be held on 21 May 2022, arts voters might like to consider future support for the arts, when making their mind up about candidates and political parties and groups.
Arts Thursday, with Maisy Stapleton spoke to Penelope Benton, the Executive Director of NAVA – the National Association for the Visual Arts – about their campaign for the 2022 federal elections. Vote for Art aims to increase government support for the visual arts to unlock their great social and economic potential for the community.
The interview was played on 28 April 2022 and is produced in full here.
For further information:
NAVA: https://visualarts.net.au/
If you would like to listen to the whole program, go to http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ and clicking on the date 28 April 2022.
Tune into Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton and Paula Towers every fortnight from 10:30 to noon for insights into our arts and cultural life
Richard Johnson AO, OBE, and a Gold Medallist of the Institute of Architects, is a renowned architect and the designer of a number of cultural buildings, including the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, the Asian wing at the Art Gallery of NSW and the recent extension of the Anzac War Memorial in Sydney.
He has a lesser-known role as an exhibition designer.
Here he speaks to Maisy Stapleton from Radio Eastside’s Arts Thursday about designing for art exhibitions and in particular, his recent work on the design of the Art Gallery of NSW exhibition Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou Paris.
The interview may change your perceptions of exhibitions forever!
For further information:
Matisse: Life & Spirit, Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou Paris: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/matisse/
Richard Johnson: https://architectureau.com/articles/raia-gold-medallist/
Window, Cricket Bat is a performance developed for the exhibition Happy Objects now on show at the Australian Design Centre.
The exhibition celebrates the power of objects to link us to people and places, ideas and memories.
Written by Hilary Bell, Window, Cricket Bat is a collaboration between Griffin Theatre and the Australian Design Centre, and is presented within the exhibition space at the ADC’s William Street Galleries. Window, Cricket Bat is directed by Jennifer Rani with actor Lucia Mastrantone.
Arts Thursday’s Maisy Stapleton talks to playwright Hilary Bell about the inspiration for this short play, where audience members find themselves at the table of a famous playwright and his equally eminent guests, with a few unexpected happenings!
For Further information: https://australiandesigncentre.com/exhibition-happy-objects/
For Bookings: https://griffintheatre.com.au/whats-on/window-cricket-bat/
Opening Night 11 January Season 12 – 21 January
For more arts interviews tune into Arts Programs from 10:30am to noon every weekday.
On 13 May Maisy Stapleton spoke to Deborah Ely AM about her role at Bundanon.
Bundanon on the Sholhaven River near Nowra was given to the nation by Arthur and Yvonne Boyd in 1993 as a remarkable cultural and environmental asset.
For the last 15 years, CEO Deborah Ely has nurtured, developed and transformed its programs, landscapes and resources and opened up Bundanon to its community, to artists of all genres and to the nation. Bundanon has gained an international reputation, as well as becoming a much-loved local destination.
In the next few months, Deb will be leaving Bundanon with a remarkable legacy; including its enhanced role as a highly respected and loved cultural resource and with a unique infrastructure project – a gallery and collections store and visitors’ facilities, that will fulfill the needs of Bundanon and its communities for many years to come and provide an architectural attraction in its own right.
Deborah speaks to Maisy Stapleton about her time at Bundanon; the inspiration of the Boyds, the programs she has fostered and the incredible project she is delivering after many years of planning. She also describes the culmination of this project and its design by architect Kerstin Thompson.
YOU MAY WISH TO LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PROGRAM by going to http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ and clicking on the date 13 May 2021.
Tune into Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton and Paula Towers every fortnight from 10:30 to noon.
Jennifer Bott AO joined Maisy Stapleton on Arts Thursday July 8 for a thoughtful discussion on the value of the arts. It was also a nopportunity to to explore Jenny’s stellar career in the arts and in cultural leadership roles.
Jenny’s distinguished career has embraced almost every form of the arts from community practice, to music, performing arts and the visual arts. She has run some of the nation’s major arts and cultural organisations including the Australia Council, NIDA, the National Portrait Gallery, Regional Arts Australia and Musica Viva as well as working at Opera Australia and heading the development office at the University of NSW. Jenny has chaired or been a director of many arts boards, including Bundanon and the Australian Museum.
Jenny is now looking at a role in local government, standing for the Wingecarribee Shire council in the Southern Highlands. We talked about her life in the cultural world, the changing nature of the arts ‘industry’ and how a cultural and leadership background can work for the wider community.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PROGRAM by going to http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ and clicking on the date 07 July 2021.
Tune into Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton and Paula Towers every fortnight from 10:30 to noon.
Coupe has written the definitive biography on one of Australia's greatest rock icons. His book, 'The Man, The Music and the Life in Between', describes insights about the highs and lows of Kelly's career from humble beginnings to the everlasting legacy we now know today.
A one-off special looking at the impact of coronavirus on the world of Arts. As Australia adapts to life under new rules, Eastside's Arts programming is changing. In this podcast we ask how Sydney's Arts scene is adapting.
Featuring an in-depth interview with Dr Fiona Stanaway, clinical epidemiologist at the University of Sydney. Also featured is Peter Berner, Australian comedian and practising artist deciding how to respond to the current climate.
Presented by Ed Jennings.
Paul & Anthony chat with Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos on Arts Monday on Eastside Radio.
Paula discusses that the pavilion will stay the centre of the community and remain the centre of arts for the community as well. During the interview she tells us how the whole building is going to be refreshed.
To find out more about the issue click here.
Sienna Brown, author of Master of My Fate discusses her novel of one man's story - being born into slavery in Jamaica, later captured as a convict, sent to NSW and imprisoned at Hyde Park Barracks. A wide variety of topics ranging from Brown's inspiration, characters and the central role of women in the novel is discussed.
To learn more about Sienna Brown and her novel, check out the link below:
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/master-of-his-fate-9780143787532
Megan Washington is curating and performing We Are Twenty, the 20th birthday concert for the City Recital Hall and joining her on the line up will be Queensland innovators Topology, the Luke Howard Trio and Electric Fields.
Megan will be performing a brand new work with Topology based on the speeches of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and joined Gemma in the studio on Thursday Drive to discuss the concert and what she's working on next.
The event will be happening on the 30th October at City Recital Hall. To buy tickets click here or go to their website for more details.
Paul Kildea has just been appointed Artistic Director for Musica Viva Australia.
He replaces Carl Vine who steps down after 20 years in the job.
He chats to Paul Neeson about his vision for the future of the organisation and previews the 2020 concert season, interspersed with music from the artists we will hear throughout the year.
You can find out more about the program for the year and find tickets here.
Caroline Mackaness was responsible for the delivery, on behalf of the Trustees, for the Centenary of Anzac legacy project to complete the original 1930s design vision for the State’s Memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park - along with significant new community and education facilities. She was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 2 October 2019, filling us in on the history of this truly beautiful memorial.
Would you love your name on a plaque, recognising your charitable contributions? Do you donate to causes and charities because helping others improves lives? Giving makes you feel good.
Lucy Bloom knows a thing or two about how charities run.
Lucy is a writer, speaker and consulting CEO who raised an impressive $7million for an international charity, only to have the rug pulled out from under her. Lucy Bloom chatted with Claudia Chan Shaw on Arts Friday about her new memoir “Get the Girls Out”; her charity work in Ethiopia and Cambodia; and love, loss and starting again.
In this chapter, Ed talks of the challenges of an ever-expanding Sydney and nominates the following 5 areas as critical: population, water, geography and topography, transportation and infrastructure, the harbour and waterfront.
Remember to download this chapter (and the others) at https://medium.com/sydneyxxxl
On Arts Wednesday 18 September 2019, Sylvia's guests were Chrissie Kirkwood and Fergus Barker, landscape architecture students from UTS. As a student exercise, they were required to reimagine Rushcutters Creek, once a meandering stream rising in Darlinghurst and emptying into Rushcutters Bay. What is left is a mainly concrete stormwater channel through an area that was once a popular picnic and recreation site in the early nineteenth century. Their proposals are imaginative and exciting and are being considered by the 2 councils, through whose land the creek flows.
On Arts Wednesday 11 September 2019, Sylvia and Ed discuss Chapter 3, which looks at Sydney from the Bicentennial in 1988 up to today. This period is marked by 3 major infrastructure events: the Olympic Games, Barangaroo and Green Square.
Remember to go online at https://medium.com/sydneyxxxl to download this chapter, as well as chapters 1 and 2, if you haven't already done so!
On Arts Wednesday 11 September 2019, Sylvia's guest was Rabbi Benjamin Elton, Chief Minister of the Great Synagogue in Sydney talking about the liturgical music of the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement. Through 4 prayers selected by Rabbi Ben, we look at the history of the service and its specific musical traditions.
BAD Sydney 2019 is a crime writers' festival, being held this weekend. Artistic Director, Catherine du Peloux Menage, joined Sylvia in conversation on Arts Wednesday 4 September 2019.
Ed Lippmann joins Sylvia in a discussion of Chapter 2, The First 200 Years. The lack of planning, power of developers and shoddy buildings are a feature of Sydney from the earliest days and still beset us! But there's the good news: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and the Bicentennial celebrations!
Remember you can download Chapter 2 (along with Chapter 1 at https://medium.com/sydneyxxxl
Create NSW has streamlined its funding programs to make them more accessible and less complicated. The current funding round is open with the next round opening in February next year.
Arts report Chris Virtue speaks to Grainne Brunsdon, Director of Arts Investment, Engagement & Development at Create NSW, to find out about the changes.
For more information visit: https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/category/funding-and-support/
Prominent Sydney architect, Ed Lippmann, has written a book called Sydney XXXL. For the next 6 weeks, Arts Wednesday will feature Sylvia in conversation about one of the 6 chapters in the book. Each week, that chapter will be uploaded onto the net where you can download at:
Ed introduces his thesis in Chapter 1, entitled Global Urbanism and Cities. He records the growing world-wide trend of increased urbanisation, the challenges this poses and how Sydney fits in. You can upload this chapter and, subsequent chapters at https://medium.com/sydneyxxxl
If you were running an Arts Festival, wouldn't you like to call it Sedition? That's exactly what Toby Creswell has done and it looks at the 70s: music, theatre, film, art and more.
Toby was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 28 August 2019.
During the course of July/August 2019, Sylvia's guest was Dr Jacqueline Nguyen, ornithologist and palaeontologist at the Australian Museum. In a six-part series, entitles Birds and Bones, Jacqueline took us through a unique view of birds, via fossil bones. The six episodes are: 1. What does an ornithologist do? 2. Australia: the birth place of song birds 3. Bristlebirds 4. What fossils can tell us about Australia's birds 5. Mihirungs: Demon Ducks of Doom 6. Bird names
Our patience has been rewarded! After a long wait, acclaimed author, Diane Armstrong has published a new novel: The Collaborator. Based on an historical event in the darkest days of the Holocaust, Diane has woven a gripping story. She was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 21 August 2019.
In this podcast, Dr Anne Watson speaks to Maisy Stapleton about her research and subsequent publication on the architect Peter Hall – of Hall, Todd and Littlemore.
Hall was a young architect with a string of successful projects, who was invited to step in to complete work on the Sydney Opera House, after Jørn Utzon’s sensational departure from the unfinished building in 1966.
Hall found that he had accepted a poisoned chalice: a seemingly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that instead brought conflict, controversy and condemnation, probably destroying his future career.
Anne talks to us about her book The Poisoned Chalice: Peter Hall and the Sydney Opera House and the ensuing drama when Hall took on the task of completing the building.
This interview was first aired on 8 August 2019 on Arts Thursday, with Maisy Stapleton.
For further information:
The Poisoned Chalice: Peter Hall and the Sydney Opera House: https://opus-soh.com/
LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PROGRAM!
Go to http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ and click on the date 8 August 2019.
Listen to Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton every fortnight from 10:30 to noon for in-depth conversations on the arts.
In this podcast, Maisy Stapleton speaks with Prue Venables, a ceramic artist and the focus of an exhibition at the Australian Design Centre: Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft \ Prue Venables. Prue is the ninth artist to be honoured as a Master of Australian Craft.
Prue is joined in the interview by Alison Britton, an English ceramicist who was awarded an OBE for services to art and is a fellow of the Royal College of Art in London. Prue and Alison shared a studio together in London, as well as being fellow potters.
Prue and Alison delve in to the work and underlying motivation of artists and Prue explains her development as a potter – by no means a straightforward path.
This interview was first aired on 8 August 2019 on Arts Thursday, with Maisy Stapleton.
For further information:
Prue Venables at the Australian Design Centre – Living Treasures Exhibition: https://australiandesigncentre.com/prue-venables/
Prue Venables: http://pruevenables.com/ceramics/
LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PROGRAM!
Go to http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ and click on the date 8 August 2019.
Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton is presented every fortnight from 10:30 to noon.
What makes a successful costume designer in Australia?
Maisy Stapleton, spoke to Jennifer Irwin, key costume designer at Bangarra and previously at the Sydney Dance Company on Arts Thursday on 18 July 2019.
Jenny is the winner of many awards and nominations for her designs and recognised by her industry for her contribution to the performing arts.
She recently designed the costumes for Graeme Murphy’s incredible contemporary staging of Madama Butterfly presented in Sydney by Opera Australia and previously, worked on the Sydney Olympics and designed for commercials and films – amongst a host of assignments such as teaching and producing exhibitions.
Jenny gives us great insight into what it takes to succeed in the performing arts in this country.
Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 14 August 2019 was Dr Matthew Stephens, curator of Songs of Home, the latest exhibition at the Museum of Sydney.
The conversation took an idiosyncratic walk through the exhibition, via 8 of the 60 music tracks you can hear when you visit. The tracks were selected by Matthew and range from the song Bennelong and Yammerawanne sang in London in1793 to a contemporary approach to the theme of Songs of Home by an Anglo-Australian folk group.
On Arts Wednesday 7 August 2019, Sylvia's guest was Dr Stephen Gapps, curator at the Australian National Maritime Museum, talking about the latest exhibition Bligh: Hero or Villain. You probably know most about the man from either primary school history or Hollywood, where Bligh is always the villain, undone by the loveable rogue, Fletcher Christian. The exhibition challenges this view and asks the visitor to do the same.
On Arts Wednesday, Sylvia's guest was Elise Edmonds, Senior Curator at the State Library of NSW, talking about Dead Central. The old Devonshire Cemetery was pulled down to make way for Central Railway in 1901 and the exhibition traces the history of the cemetery, established by Governor Macquarie to the building of the new station. In many ways, this story mirrors the development of the small convict settlement at Sydney Cove to the thriving metropolis it would become.
Dazza and Keif are best mates and semi-bro-fessional breakdancers from the suburbs, trying to make it big on Youtube.
The problem is that their only followers are Dazza’s Mum and the account Keif set up for his cat.
When an embarrassing viral video thrusts them into the spotlight for the wrong reasons, Dazza and Keif find themselves confronting identity crisis, feminist theory and queer politics.
Created and performed by Keely Windred and Danni Ray, Dazza and Keif Go Viral is a high-energy dance comedy that follows the boys’ pursuit of internet fame and accidental ‘awokening’.
Expect high-energy dance nostalgia, hyper-masc homo-eroticism and obscure Shannon Noll references from this award-winning duo.
Paul Neeson from Arts Monday had the chance to talk to Dazza and Keif shortly before their opening night of Dazza and Keif - Go Viral at the Bondi Feast Festival.
Have you ever experienced a performance of taiko drumming? It's very exciting. You can feel the drumming beating in your chest. It's energetic, theatrical and uplifting. And Australia's own internationally acclaimed drumming ensemble, Taikoz, will be performing Japanese taiko in their production, The Beauty of 8, at The Joan in Penrith on 20 July and at NIDA on 27 July.
The Beauty of 8 is a juxtaposition of the sonic boom of six Odaiko grand drums, the haunting shakuhachi, movement and lavish costumes.
Over the course of June and July 2019, Shakespeare scholar, Dr Anna Kamaralli, made a welcome return to Arts Wednesday with a 6-part series entitled Shakespeare and Company. In this series, Anna explores Shakespeare's company - The Chamberlain's Men - which he joined as a young actor.
The six episodes are as follows: 1. Two Houses, both alike in dignity: In this episodes, Anna looks at the establishment of professional theatre in England and the first 2 companies. 2. Cut him out in little stars: In this episode, Anna looks at the star system and who were the stars of the company 3. It is a pretty youth: Here Anna teases out what we know about the boy actors who played female roles 4. Let her speak too: Although not in professional theatre, women played their own theatrical roles! 5. Hooted at like an old tale: In this episode, Anna ,looks at the sources of Shakespeare's plots 6. Tricks he hath in him, like gentlemen have: In the final episode, Anna asks "What next?"
On Arts Wednesday 10 July 2019, Sylvia's guest was philosopher Dr Simon Longstaff, Director of the Ethics Centre. In the light of recent headline news - Israel Folau, John Setka, AFP raids on journalists - what is free speech in Australia and what should it be in a fair society?
On Arts Wednesday 3 July 2019, Sylvia's special guest was Dr Sarah Reeves, curator of Apollo 11, the new exhibition at the Powerhouse. On 20 July 2019, it will be 50 years since Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, marking one of the momentous moments in human history.
Todd Gibson Cornish, principal bassoon with Sydney Symphony Orchestra, was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 26 June 2019, talking us through this magnificent instrument: its history, construction, sounds and techniques of playing, interspersed with music by Bach, Mozart and Teleman.
On Arts Wednesday 19 June 2019, Sylvia's guest was curator, Nicholas Chapman, from the Art Gallery of NSW talking about The Essential Duchamp. This exhibition, comprising more than 100 works from the Philadelphia Art Museum, is a comprehensive review of the work of this undoubtedly brilliant but enigmatic man and artist. If you only know his name through Fountain, the urinal he submitted for exhibition, be surprised at how much more there is to Marcel Duchamp!
From April through to June 2019. each week Arts Wednesday featured one track from Leonie Cohen's latest album, Pages Suite alongside conversation between Leonie and Sylvia about the music. It is jazz pianist Leonie's first foray into classical composition and the suite was inspired by the stage performance for The Diary of Anne Frank, for which Leonie was commissioned to write some music.
The tracks are as follows: 1. Lights Finale 2. Capture 3. Spring Kiss 4. Dance Away 5. Dance Away 2 6. Looking Out, Looking In 7. Baruch 8. Pages 9. Lights Finale (Piano solo)
What are the best international models for heritage tourism and how can they be applied to Australia?
Last Year, Dr Caroline Butler-Bowden, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to explore visitor experiences at heritage sites across 5 countries, 18 cities, 24 museums and 27 historic sites.
Join me, Maisy Stapleton, to learn from Caroline’s acute insight into places ranging from ancient sites (The Roman Baths in Bath, England) to contemporary art and Danish Culture at Louisiana, outside Copenhagen, Denmark.
This is essential listening for anyone interested in heritage and cultural tourism – or for the traveller who would like to gain insight into some of the best-managed heritage and cultural sites in the world.
Caroline Butler-Bowdon is Director, Strategy & Engagement at Sydney Living Museums and is on secondment for the next three months as acting Executive Director, Public Spaces in the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment.
For further information:
Caroline Butler-Bowdon’s report on her fellowship experiences can be found at https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/detail/4213/Caroline+Butler-Bowdon
You can listen to the whole Arts Thursday program by going to http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ and clicking on the date 13 June 2019 2019.
Tune into Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton every fortnight from 10:30 to noon.
On Arts Wednesday 12 June 2019, Sylvia played an interview she recorded with curator, Tansy Curtin, in the Bendigo Art Gallery about its truly monumental exhibition, Tudors to Windsors. It showcases not only the changing nature of portraiture, but the changing nature of beauty, might and power.
Don Was and Justin Seltzer at Eastside The President of Blue Note records, Don Was, has been in Sydney as part of his world tour celebrating the 80th birthday of this iconic jazz label. With Blue Note's Vice President Justin Seltzer, he joined Mick Paddon in the Eastside studios during Time and Space. Don Was made his name as a musician and as a record producer, working over decades with just about every major name in the rock and pop worlds including the Rolling Stones, Roy Orbison, Bonnie Rait, Brian Wilson and many more, as well as jazz legends such as Wayne Shorter, Charles Lloyd, Joe Lovano and Kurt Elling. He joined Blue Note as its President in 2011. On Time and Space Don Was talked about his approach to music and production, the musician driven philosophy Blue Note developed from its earliest recordings in the late 1930s which still informs the way they work today, and how he sees the future of the label. The podcast opens with a track from one of the albums Don nominates as his all time favourite recordings on Blue Note-the title track from the album Ode to Joe by Joe Henderson. It closes with another track from Don's selection, Wild Flower, from Wayne Shorter's Speak No Evil, an album which Don tells us in the interview has been important in helping him through some low points in his career. The interview was broadcast in Time and Space on Eastside Radio on June 5th of this year.
Jonathan Liu from Archie Rose Distillery, talked Sylvia through the ins and outs of distilling spirits as disparate as gin, vodka, whiskey and rum. They also talk about Archiemite, the latest product, featuring the taste of hot buttered toast and vegemite (although they don't specify which yeast extract!)
On Arts Wednesday 22 May, art consultant, Anna Groden, joined Sylvia for their review of this year's Archibald Prize. As usual, the offerings this year were a mixed bag of the good, the bad and the in between, but, as always, providing a lot to talk about.
During April-May 2019, music historian, Andy Bromberger, presented a 6-part series entitled Composers, Court Life and Compositions. In each episode, Andy examines the social and historical milieu that produced the man and his music.
Episode 1: Bach
Episode 2: Beethoven
Episode 3: Brahms
Episode 4: Mozart
Episode 5: Tchaikovsky
Episode 6: Verdi and Wagner
On Arts Wednesday 15 May 2019, Sylvia's guest was nutritionist, Dr Joanna McMillan, talking about the Health Star Rating System. Why do refined oils like canola and sunflower receive 5 stars while pure oils like olive and avocado receive 4? And has medical research any updates about fat and health?
Is Julian Assange a villain or hero? This was the topic of conversation on Arts Wednesday 8 May 2019, with Sylvia's guest, Dr Keith Suter. What are his crimes and why is he now languishing in a British prison? And why does the USA want him in custody?
On Arts Wednesday 24 April 2019, Sylvia's guest was foreign correspondent, Irris Makler, talking about her latest book, Just Add Love. She tells the stories of grandmothers (and a couple of grandfathers), Holocaust survivors, whose memories reside in the taste and smells of food from long lost homes.
On Arts Wednesday 17 April 2019, Sylvia's guests were Brody Smith and Bri Kerr, co-directors of the Bugisu Project. This amazing start up by a group of young people imports coffee from Uganda, lends it to customers and use the returned grounds in compost and manufacture of a surprising array of goods. Profits are then sent back to Uganda, supporting a charity there which looks to redress the gender imbalance in rural communities. It's a story and a half and heartening to hear such passionate and idealistic young people.
MELYZ chats with Margaux on Arts about Eurovision, her debut EP, and her passion for creating music.
MELYZ represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest, under her real name – Mélanie René -with one of her own compositions “Time to Shine”. After touring with Eurovision across Europe for over a year, Melyz focused on a more authentic and personal music project, and developed a Pop Electro vibe, under the artist pseudonym, MELYZ.
“Melyz is a blend of catchy Pop feels and heavy Electro groove, a mixture of Mauritian vibes and European glam, a fierce yet soulful music creation”.
You can catch Melyz’s debut EP “Don’t Tell On Us”and music video here:
https://youtu.be/n-z_LoP_SGM
and you can find out more about singer songwriter, MELYZ at www.melyz.com
Dr Margaux Dombkins - ARTS Monday
On Arts Wednesday 10 April 2019, Sylvia's guest was Michael Atherton, probably best described as an all-round musical genius, reputed to be able to play every musical instrument known to mankind! This conversation is about the hurdy gurdy, a most unusual instrument - part barrel organ, part bagpipe, part violin, part keyboard and part lute! Hear Michael play it and talk about it, including its very long history.
The cover image is a detail from Hieronymous Bosch's painting, The Garden of Earthly Delights from 1515, showing the hurdy gurdy.
On Arts Wednesday 3 April 2019, Sylvia's guest was Melissa Farrow, recorder and Baroque flute player with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Melissa brought both instruments into the studio and talked us through the history of these instruments as well as their sounds - which, of course, she was able to demonstrate.
On Arts Wednesday 20 March 2019, Sylvia's guest was artist, Gemma Smith, talking about her career survey exhibition, entitled Rhythm Sequence at UNSW Galleris. The conversation centres on the language of painting: colour, shape and materials.
Like you, I suspect that autism was something you never heard of growing up. Now however, we all know the word and we all know or, know of, someone who has it or who is on the spectrum - in other other words, we’ve all heard of it. But what is autism? Who does it affect? And what happens to those who have it?
Sylvia had this conversation with Dr Sam Arnold, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at UNSW on Arts Wednesday 13 March 2019.
In 2003, UNESCO placed Tel Aviv's White City on the World Heritage list. The White City refers to the more than 4,000 buildings, designed by Bauhaus architects, fleeing from Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
Dr Micha Gross is one of the founders of the Bauhaus Centre in Tel Aviv and Sylvia recorded this conversation with him at the centre.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan interviews Louise Hawson, the photographer behind the 52 Suburbs blog and book.
How well do you know your city? How far do your notions about community extend beyond your immediate neighbourhood?
Louise Hawson woke up one day and realised she was a stranger in her own city. And then she set herself a mission: to explore and photograph one new Sydney suburb a week for a whole year.
At the heart of the blog and the book is the portrayal of ‘beauty in the burbs’ captured through Louise’s photography, which celebrates the vibrancy, multiculturalism and community of Sydney's localities in a refreshingly unconventional way.
Visit Louise’s blog: http://www.52suburbs.com
On Arts Wednesday 27 February 2019, Sylvia's guest was Maya Dvash, Chief Curator of the Design Museum in Holon, Israel. Hear about the origins of the museum and its development over the last few years. The conversation continues with a discussion of the temporary exhibition by Dutch design master, Maarten Baas and the commissioned works by Israeli designers on the theme of time.
Author Wil Roach chats with Gaz and Di on Arts Tuesday about his recently released book titled ‘Black, Gay & Underage – A Memoir of London’. Roach’s book gives us an inside look into his life, experiences both good and bad, memories, stories, family, revelations and much more that allows readers to be a fly on the wall in the life of Wil Roach. Roach shares some of those enticing stories with Gaz and Di here at Eastside as well as tells us about his struggles as a young writer.
A jack of all trades - not only is Roach a writer, poet, and performer, but he is also an involved community activist member. Roach works as a Community Development worker for London local authorities and is actively involved in the London Labour Party when he isn’t working on his memoirs project or performing his poems.
For more information, visit Wil Roach’s website here!
Elaine Chia the CEO of City Recital Hall joined us at Eastside FM for an interview by Virginia Lowe on Arts Wednesday. Chia tells Eastside how though she’s always had a passion for music, her degree was actually in interior architecture. During her time studying she worked at The Princess Theatre in Melbourne as an usher where she discovered her love for musical theatre. She landed a job with Cameron Mackintosh of The Phantom of the Opera which eventually took her to Sydney where her career then blossomed from there.
Located between Pitt and George Street, City Recital Hall or more commonly referred to as ‘Angel Place’ is home to a plethora of concerts exhibiting the talents of various artists, performers, presenters, ensembles and more.
For more information visit https://www.cityrecitalhall.com!
Arts Friday's Angela Stretch talked to Denise Carlos from 'Las Cafeteras' about their political perspectives, identity and the power of music.
Las Cafeteras are a band of Mexican–Americans living in East LA and as the LA times described them, are “a uniquely Angeleno mishmash of punk, hip-hop, beat music, cumbia and rock.”
By blending traditional music with hip hop and punk they have kept two traditions alive-music from their homeland, and the punk and hip hop legacy of political protest. Catch them live at WOMADelaide in March.
For More Information Click Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XqqsuLl8hU
On Sunday 10th February, Riverside Theatres at Parramatta celebrated the Lunar New Year with an afternoon of traditional Chinese music.
Gong Xi! Songs for the Lunar New Year featured music and songs from China performed by a sextet of musicians, members of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Chinese Music Ensemble playing traditional Chinese instruments including the dizi (bamboo flute), erhu (two-string bowed fiddle), pipa and zhongruan (four-stringed plucked lutes), guzheng (21-string zither) and daji (percussion). Together, these traditional instruments blend seamlessly to create a quintessential and celebratory Chinese sound in celebration of Chinese New Year.
Artistic director and performer Dr Nicholas Ng joined Claudia on Arts Friday and played the erhu (2 stringed instrument) and the hulusi - an instrument made from a gourd and wood live in the studio.
In this week's episode of Arts Monday Susie Lindemann talks to actor and director David Field. They discuss how arts art and politics interfere, the benefits of shooting low-budget films, his approach to directing and more. The guest also talks about his most recent project 'The Combination: Redemption', which is a follow-up to the 2009 movie 'Combination'. The movie, which Field directed and stares in, will be released on 7th February.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan and Amanda Peacock (Art Gallery of NSW Coordinator of Aboriginal and Photography Education Programs) discuss the exhibition 'Home'.
Sadly for most Koori artists, reflections on the idea of home are actually infused with the long term effects of displacement through colonisation:
“This gallery stands on the home of the Gadigal clan of the Eora people … when the First Fleet landed at Warrane (Sydney cove)… the home of the Eora became contested ground and was systematically taken away…”
The exhibition’s concerns were denser than the simplicity of its title, addressing colonisation, dispossession and assimilation; self-determination, which includes challenges to the dominant political and societal hegemonies; and cultural continuity.
The exhibition featured around 100 works of art drawn from the gallery's collection, supplemented by loans from select regional galleries, and featured artists:
France Belle-Parker, Mervyn Bishop, Karla Dickens, Peter McKenzie, Michael Riley, Genevieve Grieves, Rea, Brook Andrew, Richard Bell, Roy Kennedy, Donna Brown, Badger Bates, Laddie Timbery, Kevin Gilbert, Lorraine Connelly Northey, Elaine Russell, Jim Stanley, Robert Campbell Jnr, and Harry Wedge.
More on the exhibition and the gallery here: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/home/
It was a pleasure for Gaz and Diana to have Michael Costi, the director of The Overcoat musical, in their show. He talked about the classic jazz song "Salt Peanuts" and his new show "The Overcoat" based on an old Russian short story. "It’s surprising, full of mystery, and if you make an error there’s a slight chance you could be attacked by bats." For More Informations Click Here
In this week's episode of Art's Tuesday Phillip Patterson and Micaela Ellis, both students at NIDA( National Institute of Dramatic Art) discussed the school's participation in the 2019 Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney.
The students talked about the importance of LGBTQIA+ representation, the details of their project and how the idea came about.
It is the first time time that the school is doing a Mardi gras float, which includes choreography, costumes and other elements showcasing NIDA's talents.
More information and how to donate:
https://www.nida.edu.au/productions/bring-nida-to-mardi-gras-2019.
On this weeks episode of Art's Tuesday Becca Hurd, playwright actor and originally from Chicago chats to Gaz and Diana about her one and a half women show 'The Other Side of 25', which she wrote and stares in. It tells the story of a women in her mid-twenties that agrees to become her sister's surrogate and is 'full of humour, music, and a few tears'. The actress and writer also discusses the inspiration for writing the play and her personal choice to leave 'The Windy City' to study at NIDA in 'The Big Smoke'.
'The Other Side of 25' can be seen at Old 505 Theatre
Click Here for More Information and to Book Online
Chinese New Year is coming soon. Claudia invited Daphne Lowe Kelley, the Vice President of Australasian Art and Stagework, to her Arts Friday Show in order to talk with her about their new play 'Pigsys Wedding'. The show will be presented on the 9th of Feburary at the Concourse in Chatswood. Find more information and tickets here.
The popular series, Beauty, was repeated on Arts Wednesday recently.
The following 6 episodes are included: 1. Dr Simon Longstaff on Beauty and Philosophy 2. Dr Norman Olbourne on Beauty and Plastic Surgery 3. Damian Freeman on Beauty and Art 4. Rachel D'Arbon on Beauty and Body Building 5. Dr James Franklin on Beauty and Mathematics 6. Les Rice on Beauty and Tattoos
On Arts Wednesday 23 January 2019, Dr Keith Suter was Sylvia's guest, talking about the changing face of warfare in our time. The discussion ranged from declining appetite for war since 1950, the change in battle fronts, change in equipment and the change where warfare takes place.
Jenny Eriksson is part of the baroque ensemble The Marais Project. Jenny completed her initial musical studies at the then NSW State Conservatorium of Music studying music education and cello with Barbara Woolley. Her band just released their new album 'What Should I Say' in cooperation with the band Elysan Fields. In Gaz and Diana's Arts Tuesday Show she talked about her part in the new album and her music.
On 19 July this year, it will be 50 years since Neil Armstrong took his historic steps on the moon and those steps were beamed onto television sets around the globe from Honeysuckle Creek, just outside Canberra.
On Arts Wednesday 16 January 2019, Sylvia's guest was Andrew Tink, who's latest book, tells the story of Honeysuckle Creek and its director, Tom Reid and it is still an amazing story, well worth telling!
Glenn Elston is the Artistic Director of the Australian Shakespeare Company and joined Diana and Gaz on Arts Tuesday this week! He enlightened us on the different programs that you can expect from the company this year. To find out more click here
Shanul Sharma was a guest on the latest Arts Monday show with Susie. He spoke about how he went from heavy metal to opera, why he even started to sing and what you can expect about his show. If you want to see him live, you can visit the Domain at the 19th of January at 8pm for Mazda Opera in the Domain. For more informations of the event click here
Elissa is a career arts and culture journalist. It was a pleasure for Gaz and Diana to have her on their weekly Arts Tuesday show . Elissa talked about what is happening in January and gives her recommendations on new magnificent shows including a new slam poetry show.
On Arts Wednesday 19 December 2018, social analyst, Neer Korn once again returned to Arts Wednesday to talk about the major studies he undertook this year. Learn about how we see ourselves, switching off - the dilemma of constant use of our screen devices - and finally corporate giving.
On Arts Wednesday 12 December 2018, Sylvia's guest was Peter Raissis, Curator of European Art at the Art Gallery of NSW. The conversation covers the origins and history of the Hermitage collections, starting with Catherine the Great and two of the Russian artists represented in the exhibition: Vassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich, both towering figures in the development of twentieth century art.
On Arts Wednesday 5 December 2018, Sylvia's guest was Beatrice Gralton, Head Curator of Visual Arts at Carriageworks, talking about the astonishing exhibition, Until, by American artist, Nick Cave.
Barbara Lasserre's latest book is called Words That Go Ping and subtitled The ridiculously wonderful world of onomatopoeia. And a wonderful world it is!
Barbara was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 18 November 2018.
Learn about words that sound like the action described and how those actions - such as a heartbeat - are expressed differently in different languages eg Arabic: ratama-ratama or tum tum; Hebrew: bum-bum; Hindi: dhakdhak; Indonesian: deg-degan; Italian: tu tump; Latvian and Lithuanian: tuk-tuk and Japanese: dokidoki.
What a pleasure to have Director Dino Dimitriadis and actress Di Adams come in to chat on Arts Tuesday. 'All My Sleep and Waking' is a new play written by Mary Rachel Brown, and in this podcast we get Dino & Di's insight into this wonderful play. It starts previewing at Old 505 Theatre on the 28th November, right through to the 22nd December. For more information, click here
During September/November 2018, Arts Wednesday hosted its second series for the year of Sydney By Design with prominent architect, Ed Lippmann. This 6-part series looks at how technology has changed building, buildings and architecture from our days in caves through to the 21st century.
Part 1: Ed introduces the series with a précised of episodes to come
Part 2: The Ancient World, including Egypt, Greece and Rome
Part 3: Gothic and Medieval architecture through to the Renaissance
Part 4: The Industrial Revolution
Part 5: The 20th century and modernism
Part 6: From post modernism to the present day.
On Arts Wednesday 21 November 2018, antiques expert joined Sylvia in conversation about porcelain: what it is, its history and a focus on English porcelain.
Entomologist Bryce Peters may well be the only person on earth who likes cockroaches. Find out why in this conversation. As summer is upon us, Sylvia took the opportunity to talk about those creepy crawlies we hate the most.
Miss Docker is one of Nobel Laureate Patrick’s White’s most memorable creations. She and her neighbours are as hilarious and peculiar as they are uncannily familiar. Together, this pioneering text and marvellous characters take us on a dizzying ride through suburban Australia, exploring the meaning of morality, mortality and the need for belonging in A Cheery Soul.
Gaz Simpson and Diana Simmonds invited actor Jay James-Moody into Arts Tuesday in order to learn what makes this current production by Sydney Theatre Company so enjoyable.
Julius Caesar is Shakespeare’s political thriller, a masterpiece of intrigue and treachery. Stand witness to the assassination that leads to a life and death struggle for power in the Republic. Citizens mutiny, Mark Antony schemes, and the fate of Rome hangs in the balance.
Gaz Simpson and Diana Simmonds invited actor Russell Smith into Arts Tuesday to further discuss Bell Shakespeare’s production that’s seething with rage, leaving audiences breathless at how quickly violence reveals the fragility of democracy.
Exhibitions Co-ordinator at The Australian Musee, Fran Dorey, was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 7 November 2018, talking about Whales/Tohora, a new exhibition at the museum.
For centuries, whales have captured our imaginations. We have revered and mythologised them, hunted them to the brink of extinction and passionately protected them. But how much do we know about them?
The west-African drum, the djembe, was the subject of Sylvia's conversation with djembe master, Saul Smith, on Arts Wednesday 31 October 2018.
Saul teaches us about the history of the instrument, how it's played, how it's made and how it is used. Interspersed in the conversation are tracks from his album Rhythms of Life.
When the future of the world as we know it becomes increasingly less predictable, what sort of education should we be giving our young people? What skills will they need to equip them for uncertainty?
On Arts Wednesday 24 October 2018, Sylvia's guest was Professor Geoff Masters, CEO of the Australian Council for Educational Research, who is heading up the curriculum review.
Valley Artists is proud to announce that its next major production will be the premiere of Australian playwright Noel Hodda’s latest work, The Sculpture Garden. The Sculpture Garden will be directed by Bob Philippe, who also directed – to popular acclaim – Valley Artists’ 2013 premiere of Noel’s play Across the Water, a story of age, loss, recriminations and regrets, acceptance and love.
The Sculpture Garden is the story of a young woman and a young man, of a sister and a brother, of a husband and a wife, and of a father and a daughter. “Everybody has secrets….”
For more information and tickets click here
There is also the play of Mary Rachel Brown with an exciting story:
As a father's death approaches, three siblings struggle to reconcile with their differing experience of the same man. Conflicting memories, rusted on family habits and arguments about who will do what at the funeral all create distraction from the painful truth. Parental love isn't always fair. And keeping score on family history is a dangerous game.
In a special and rare move, Mary Rachel Brown revisits and rewrites her first play; an ode to the complexity of forgiveness and a searing and unflinching look at family, love and duty.
For more information click here
Arts Thursday 4th October 2018
Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage in St Petersburg opened at The Art Gallery of NSW last week and this week Maisy Stapleton spoke to Peter Raisis, Senior Curator of Historical European Art about the exhibition and the fascinating story behind the collection.
FIND OUT MORE:
Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/hermitage/
The Hermitage State Museum: http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/
LISTEN IN:
The whole program, including an interview about another masterpiece, The Horizon Apartments in Darlinghurst, can be heard on demand through the Arts Thursday page http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ by clicking on the date 18th October 2018.
Join Maisy Stapleton fortnightly from 10:30 to noon on Arts Thursday for conversations, behind-the-scenes views and coverage of Sydney’s arts events, stories and issues.
Arts Thursday 4th October 2018
The Horizon Apartments in Darlinghurst – designed by the late architect Harry Seidler on the site of the former ABC studios and offices has just celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Two of the Horizon residents, Peter Morton (who once worked in the ABC studios) and architect Mark Broadley (Chairman of the Horizon Owners’ Corporation) join the program to tell us about the building and its residents.
FIND OUT MORE:
Sydney Open (Sydney Living Museums): https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/sydneyopen
LISTEN IN:
The whole program, including an interview about Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage in St Petersburg can be heard on demand through the Arts Thursday page http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ by clicking on the date 18th October 2018.
Join Maisy Stapleton fortnightly from 10:30 to noon on Arts Thursday for conversations, behind-the-scenes views and coverage of Sydney’s arts events, stories and issues.
David Coles is a master paint maker, using traditional pigments to create gorgeous oil paints for artists. In his recently published book, Chromatopia, he explores the history of colour. In this conversation, Sylvia focuses on the toxicity of so many pigments and the variety of black pigments.
Australia’s vast and unspoiled Kimberley region is under threat, as mining, pastoralism and irrigated agriculture drive an unprecedented land grab. Award-winning director Nicholas Wrathall investigates the politics of an area branded Australia’s “future economic powerhouse” with the highest percentage of Aboriginal people living on Country. Undermined: Tales from The Kimberley follows young Indigenous leader Albert Wiggan, veteran cattleman Kevin Oscar and Senior Elder June Davis through David-and-Goliath battles to preserve their homelands, asking the question: who benefits from this development? Via Paris Pompor, QUEER FOR YOUR EARS had the opportunity to speak to Nicholas Wrathall - Director ofUndermined: Tales from The Kimberley which is screening as part of ANTENNA FILM FESTIVAL on Sunday 14th October at 3pm at Palace Verona and it comes with a Q&A session with Nicholas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgvWGc8qroo
Tim Brown has been involved with Meditation and teaching meditation for over 20 years.
Tim sat down with Virginia Lowe on Arts Thursday to chat about his journey so far, which involves a trip to Uzbekistan, Vedic Meditation, mantra's and more.
You can find out more about Tim Brown via his website: http://timbrownmeditation.com/
During the course of August and September 2018, Professor Geraint Lewis, Professor of astrophysics at Sydney University, made a welcome return to Arts Wednesday with a 6-part series entitled The Science of Science Fiction. Listen to all six episodes here.
If you would like to hear more, this is the link to the podcast of a recent talk he gave on the future history of the universe: https://soundcloud.com/sydney-ideas/the-end-of-time-the-future-history-of-the-universe
The Sydney Architecture Festival 2018 featured distinguished architecture writer, academic and commentator, New Yorker, Karen Stein, who gave the closing address about what architecture is and isn't. She joined Sylvia in the studio with distinguished Sydney architect, Arts Wednesday's own Ed Lippmann in discussion.
On Arts Wednesday 26 September 2018, Professor Zdenka Kuncic was Sylvia's guest, talking about AI and where it is headed. AI now can only perform tasks programmed by a human, but what about AIs that can think for themselves? Is this brave, new world something to embrace or something to fear?
This Arts Thursday segment on the Sydney Architecture Festival covers Ethics in an Age of Excess, a panel discussion querying if architecture has lost its social purpose, and its focus on the public good during the current building boom and the construction of bigger and ‘better’ building.
Maisy Stapleton interviews Shaun Carter principal architect of Carter Williamson, previous President of the NSW Chapter Australian Institute of Architects and a member of the discussion panel .
Ethics in an Age of Excess will be held 2pm - 3pm on Sunday 30th Sep 2018 at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House
Architecture Festival: https://www.sydneyarchitecturefestival.org/ :
Ethics in an Age of Excess: https://www.sydneyarchitecturefestival.org/program/ethics-in-an-age-of-excess
Shaun Carter: https://www.carterwilliamson.com/people/shaun-carter/
Join Maisy Stapleton fortnightly from 10:30 to noon on Arts Thursday for conversations, behind-the-scenes views and coverage of Sydney’s arts events, stories and issues.
Abram Saulevitch Kagan's life followed the vagaries of the momentous events of history in the first half of the 20th century. Exiled from his beloved St Petersburg, he goes to Berlin, Brussels and finally New York and in each place rebuilds the publishing house he had established in St Petersburg. Joining Sylvia in the studio are Catherine and Michael Atherton, talking about the book In Exile from St Petersburg.
Arts Thursday 6 September 2018.
Maisy Stapleton spoke to Angelo Candalepos, co-curator with Wendy Lewin of The Architecture Symposium,Giving voice to Australia's world-class architects, about the theme and contents of this symposium .
On Arts Wednesday 29 August 2018, Sylvia repeated an interview from 2015 with bagpipe player,Adam Wishart. Adam explains how the instrument works and plays live in the studio.
Live Interview with Vashti Hughes talking about her show “Larry’s Odyssey” coming up at the new East Sydney Arts & Community Centre.
Experience a voice class with vocal coach to the stars Larry Olive, who while warming up your “P-Spot” divulges his expert tips on the secrets to success as an Actor in the theatre. For the trained, untrained or anyone still in recovery from their drama school experience. An immersive and interactive "hour of power" where audiences are the students in the voice class and experience vocal exercises specific to Actor training. The show explores the power dynamics that can exist between teachers and students reminiscent of the Harvey Weinstein scandal rocking showbiz. This dark-comedy is a modern take on Homer’s "Odyssey" as the audience become the characters along his epic journey to the casting agent. Please note: Attendees will be participating in a vocal class which includes standing, sitting, vocalising and jiggling on the floor. Attendees are encouraged to wear suitable clothing and foot wear. Strictly limited capacity.
The interview was first broadcast during Queer for your ears Show on Eastside89.7fm.
What: Larry’s Odyssey
Where: The new East Sydney Arts & Community Centre
When: Friday 31st August & Saturday 1st September
Did you know that the Herbarium of our Royal Botanic Gardens is developing a seed bank of rainforest species? Find out how and why with Dr Karen Sommerville in conversation with Sylvia on Arts Wednesday 22 August 2018.
Education expert, Chris Bonnor, joined Sylvia in conversation about education and equity. The major topic of discussion was funding: however, does money really make a difference? And if so, how?
During the course of July/August 2018, Dr Anna Kamaralli was Sylvia's guest, presenting a 6-part series: Shakespeare's Heroes and Villains.
Part 1: In this episode Anna talks about heroes: what makes a hero and who are Shakespeare's great heroes? Our main example is Henry V.
Part 2: Here, Anna introduces us to villains. As with Part 1, Anna explores what makes a villain and the most famous is Iago.
Part 3: The topic here is Anti-Heroes, the villain who becomes the protagonist of the play and the classic is Macbeth.
Part 4: Romantic Heroes, who differ from the heroes in Episode 1 in that their rhetoric, rather than rousing us to the common good, persuades us off the perfection of his love object.
Part 5: Those Who Serve are Also Heroes. Here Anna looks at minor characters, who display the same characteristics as heroes. In particular, they speak truth to power and a good example is the Fool in King Lear.
Part 6: The Famous vs The Forgotten. Anna concludes the series by explaining why some of Shakespeare's plays are very rarely - if ever performed.
Harmonica, mouth organ, harp - whatever you call it, it's an instrument that crosses many genres and despite its small size, is very complex. Andrew Banks, player and teacher, was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 8 August 2018. Listen to their conversation (with music) here.
Nicholas Routley was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday, talking about the life and music of Australian living treasure, composer Ross Edwards. Nicholas is a musicologist, academic and founding choirmaster of the Sydney Chamber Choir, as well as being a dear personal friend to Edwards.
The Following music is played during the conversation in this order:
Ab Estatis Foribus 1 and 5 on Raft Song at Sunrise with the Sydney Chamber Choir on the Tall Poppies label
Binyang, featuring Peter Jenkin on Clarinet and Early Pratt on percussion. CD details as above
Dance Mantras, featuring the Sydney Chamber Choir on the same CD
Dawn Mantras, featuring Sydney Children's Choir, Sydney Chamber Choir and Lee Riley on shakahuchi on Eternity:The Timeless Music of Australian Composers on ABC label.
The myth of the Australian larrikin begins with James Porter: convict, serial offender and escapologist. Adam Courtenay tells the tale in his latest book The Ship That Never Was. Adam was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 25 July 2018 and recorded this conversation.
Did you know that a piano arrived in Australia on the Sirius, with the First Fleet and it was not so long afterwards that the piano took its place in the homes and lives of Australians. This is the subject of Michael Atherton's lates book and he was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 18 July 2018.
We live in an age where our experts know more and more about less and less. This is particularly true of medicine. Specialisation started back in ancient Egypt and new specialties are still developing. On Arts Wednesday 4 July 2018, Sylvia's guest was Dr Ian Kern, retired paediatric surgeon who has just been awarded PhD, with his thesis exploring this interesting history.
On Arts Wednesday 27 June 2018, John Rooney was Sylvia's guest. John is Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at St Vincent's Hospital and is also a successful musician - singer, songwriter and guitarist. The interview features songs from his latest album, Still Here and, inter alia, the subject of marrying surgery to rock music.
Music historian, Andy Bromberger, deconstructed 20th century classical music over 6 episodes on Arts Wednesday.
Episode 1:The world of music from 1900 to World War 1, a period of unprecedented optimism and experimentation across the arts, including, of course, music.
Episode 2: All the optimism comes crashing with the outbreak of World War I and the music of the period following up until World War II
Episode 3: Between the wars and after, we see the rise of political movements - the Russian Revolution, Fascism in Germany and McCarthyism in the USA. All had their impact on musicians and music.
Episode 4: If the muse went silent during World War I, the opposite was true during World War II. So much was written during the war years and subsequently, as a result of the war.
Episode 5: In this episode, Andy talks about music after the war, a sobering time of reflection, given the horrendous loss of life the world had witnessed.
Episode 6: In this concluding episode, Andy brings us up to date with music since the 1970s.
On Arts Wednesday ??? 2018, Sylvia's guest was Adrian Mitchell, talking about his latest book. The story of what happened on Peat Island is a truly shocking one. However, it is also the story of government attitudes to mental health: neglect and underfunding. And, in Adrian's opinion, there is no happy ending in sight. Peat Island was decommissioned in 2010 and entered onto the register of the National Trust in 2018.
On Arts Wednesday 30 May 2018, Anne Ryan, curator of the exhibition of Archibald Prize winners at the Art Gallery of NSW, was Sylvia's guest . What's new this year and what's different?
Acclaimed photographer, Samantha Everton, has created a magical world of oriental women. They wear gorgeous gowns, intricate head pieces and simply astounding collars. Add some exotic animals and exquisite backdrops and there you have it: Indochine, a photographic exhibition currently on at Arthouse Gallery, Rushcutters Bay.
Published just a few weeks ago, Girls at the Piano, is , in part, a memoir of a young girl's infatuation with the piano which over the years into her adolescence becomes a burden rather than a source of pleasure. It is also the story of her grandmother, a singer and pianist who emigrated to Australia just after the first World War to escape personal humiliation from a marriage which wasn't. These very personal stories are interwoven with a social and cultural history of the relationship between women and the piano since the 18th Century told through fictional and real characters. The author, Virginia Lloyd, spoke with Eastside's Mick Paddon, about her personal journey, the importance that playing the piano still has for her, having rediscovered the vibrancy of playing through jazz, and how she uncovered her grandmother's hidden history. Virginia also shared three pieces of music from Australian jazz pianists. The interview is introduced by Barney McCall's piece "Poverty" taken from his album Moroolbark. Part way through Virginia and Mick take a break to listen to Paul Grabowsky's interpretation of the Lennon song "Julia" from the CD Tee Vee. As the interview closes they enjoy a track from Mike Nock's live recording, Big Small Band, titled "Current Reality" The interview and the music were first put to air on Jane Raffan's Arts-Monday on April 30th as part of Eastside's International Jazz Day broadcasting.
Candy Royalle is a poet, performer, musician, essayist, teacher and political activist - a very passionate artist. In this conversation, we talk about her, about the nature of poetry and it's all interspersed with her own performance, live in the studio and her songs.
What really happened at Gallipoli? Professor Sean Brawley was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday, back in 2015 to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign and the interview was repeated on ANZAC Day 25 April 2018.
On Arts Wednesday 18 April 2018, Sylvia's guest was Dr Derek Wilding from the Centre For Media Transition at UTS. Did you know that every time you text, email or post on social media, you are a publisher and can be sued for defamation? Our media are changing, but apparently not our laws! Listen to this fascinating conversation.
During the course of March and April 2018 on Arts Wednesday, Sylvia Rosenblum had a series of 6 conversations with prominent Sydney architect, Ed Lippmann, on heritage issues. In Part 1, they discuss the issues: what do you pull down, what do you keep and if you keep, how do you keep? Part 2 looks at The Rocks in 1970s and Jack Mundey's Green Bans, which saved the 19th century terraces. In Part 3, the Cahill Expressway is the topic - a road that has been unloved since it was built and subject to many projects to pull it down ever since. In Part 4, Ed turns his attention to 20th century award winning buildings which have been demolished: the Exhibition and Convention Centre at Darling Harbour and the State Office Block in Macquarie Street. The Sirius building is the topic of Part 5 and it was discussions over the fate of this building that started the heritage discussion and Ed finished by looking at examples of how heritage issues are handled in Europe.
Avi Avital had a conversation with Sylvia Rosenblum on Arts Wednesday during the Sydney leg of his Australian tour for Music Viva with the Giocoso String Quartet. Find out about the mandolin, its history and its music. Avi also tells of his own mandolin education in Israel and Italy and we discover his own musical journey through
Arts Thursday 22 March 2018 Sue Giles interviewed by Maisy Stapleton
If you’ve ever wanted to involve children in theatre, either as audience, or as participants, then listen to a fascinating discussion with Sue Giles.
Sue is the Artistic Director and CEO of Melbourne's Polyglot Theatre and Vice-President of ASSITEJ, the international association of theatre for young audiences
Sue is the author of the most recent Platform Paper, published by Currency House.
Young People and the Arts: an agenda for change is both a perceptive analysis of theatre forms available to young people, as well as a passionate plea to recognise the value of young audiences and be responsive to their needs.
Platform paper no 54 is available from Currency House. LISTEN HERE:
FIND OUT MORE: Currency House and Platform Papers: https://currencyhouse.org.au
Polyglot Theatre http://www.polyglot.org.au/ LISTEN AGAIN: The whole program can be heard through the Arts Thursday page http://eastsidefm.org/arts/artsthursday/ by clicking on the date 22 March 2018.
Join Maisy Stapleton fortnightly from 10:30 to noon on Arts Thursday for conversations with artists, leaders in the arts, behind-the-scenes views of arts events and regular coverage of Sydney’s current arts events and issues.
On Arts Wednesday 4 April 2018, celebrity GP Dr Ginni Mansberg was Sylvia's guest talking about health information. How do you get your information and how do you know if it's true? The discussion examines some of these ways and highlights specific examples of how misinformation becomes mainstream.
"Word in Hand" is held on the first Tuesday of every month. This month, surreal showgurl of radical performance art Betty Grumble shares words; and spoken word artist & intersectional feminist Gabrielle Journey Jones brings poetry and drumming to the stage. Bibi & The Big Blue on Thursdays at 11pm are big supporters of this monthly event and were happy to interview the amazing Betty Grumble.
About Betty Grumble
Surreal Showgurl. Obscene Beauty Queen. Wild Womanhood. Sex Clown. With ceremonial precision and deranged wit, Betty Grumble enslaves her audience with a powerful call to arms as she raptures in the complexity of the woman body as a political and powerful site. Believing in beauty, ecosexuality and bodily becoming, Grumble is a maniacal feminist contagion, critically lauded across the board. She is a mantric, magick wish towards the cultivation of that renewable Love Energy. Are you Betty to Grumble?
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan interviews Vanessa Berry, author of Mirror Sydney, a marvellous, entrancing reverie on Sydney and its ever-changing urban landscape.
Mirror Sydney is rich in observations and history, and is vividly brought to life through its structure as an Atlas of Reflections, both in terms of the landscape it covers, and Vanessa’s beautifully drawn picture maps that accompany the essays.
Begun as a blog in 2012, Mirror Sydney focuses on Sydney’s marginalia, “the overlooked and the odd, the hidden and enigmatic places, an alternative city, a mirror or shadow Sydney”, and Vanessa makes surprising connections between physical landscapes and traces of history, myth and speculation.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan looks at feminist art practice from the 1970s related to textiles, in particular, women's fancywork, also known as 'the Gentle arts'.
Interviews with AGNSW Curator of Australian art Natalie Wilson, and Kerrie Head, Object Conservator, regarding 'Arcadia: Landscape and Bodies' (1972-1977), a room-sized crocheted 'tableaux vivant' by Ewa Pachucka.
Jane and guests also delve into the social history of women's 'fancywork' and the art historical and social history paradigms within which this type of work was and is now assessed, explored in the exhibition, 'The Gentle Arts and Feminism.'
On Arts Wednesday 28 March 2018, Sylvia's guest was Mami Kataoke, Artistic Director of Sydney Biennale 2018. During the conversation, Mami talks about her own upbringing in Japan and her professional life. The conversation moves to the philosophic underpinnings of this Biennale: Superposition:Equilibrium and Engagement and Mami explains what these mean and how they translate into artists, artworks and venue. Discussion then moves to some of the artists and their works and the most obvious choice is Ai Wei Wei, undoubtedly the most high profile artist represented.
On 21 March 2018, Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday was Themis Chryssides, dietitian and health guru in Adelaide. Their discussion looked at the question of food fads and what is currently in currently out - kale is definitely out, so you can stop eating it and coconut is definitely in but you should probably stop eating that too! It's a bit of myth debunking with science definitely getting in the way of a good story!
Researcher at Noble's Numismatics, Ilana Chaffey, was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday, talking about pre-Federation helmets coming up for auction. Each one has an interesting story to tell and some have real significance for historic events in our past.
The amazing Sonya Lifschitz, virtuosos pianist, academic and broadcaster, was Sylvia's guest on Arts Wednesday 28 February, talking about her upcoming performance of Stalin's Piano. The conversation roams through life, music, composing. Be sure to listen to the amazing story of how the show came to be called Stalin's Piano!
During the month of February 2018, historian Ellmoos presented a series of 5 episodes on Arts Wednesday with Sylvia Rosenblum, documenting the origins and development of seminal historic events on our calendar. The 5 episodes are: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, ANZAC Day, NAIDOC Day, Waratah Festival and 8-Hour Day.
On Arts Wednesday the 21st of February 2018 legendary ABC Broadcaster Christopher Lawrence was Sylvia's guest talking about his latest book Symphony of Seduction talking about the sex lives of Classical Composers. Guess which composer is obsessed with scatalogical jokes and could fart at will? Or who had two grand pianos stacked on top of each other and used as filing cabinets?
As with all interviews on Arts Wednesday an ABC produced 2 CD set to accompany the publication and music from the CDs punctuated the conversation.
You can order the book from any bookseller and also online.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan interviews Ruth Hessey, Director of Communications for the Total Environment Centre and Writer/Director of the award winning short documentary film Waste Not.
The film’s tag line is “A beautiful and emotional film about garbage”.
It is a surprisingly optimistic and powerful message about how everyday people and their attitudes can, and do, make a difference.
More about the TEC here: http://www.tec.org.au/home
More about the film: http://www.wastenot.org.au/flash/
On Arts Wednesday 14 February 2018, Sylvia's special guest was Jackie Dunn, curator of special exhibitions at AGNSW, talking about the Lady and the Unicorn. These six impossibly beautiful tapestries are on loan from the Musee de Cluny in Paris. During the conversation, thy spoke about the history of the piece, the symbolism behind many motifs and finished with some tips about what to look for.
Should Prince Charles get the job because his mother had it? This and other questions formed the subject of Sylvia's conversation with Michael Cooney on Arts Wednesday 7 February 2018. Michael is the National Director and CEO of the Australian Republic Movement and Sylvia an ardent republican. This mix makes for very lively listening.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan interviews Dr Hayley Megan French, co-curator of the exhibition 'Landing Points: Race, Place and Identity', which was devised to respond to Tracey Moffatt’s seminal 1997 photographic series 'Up in the Sky'.
'Up in the Sky' is usually read as black and white film stills, set in an iconic outback Australian landscape. The scenes are peopled, but the narrative is not clear, provoking questions concerning personal, cultural and political histories, most obviously Australian, but with global relevance.
The eleven artists in the exhibition 'Landing Points' look to Moffatt’s work as a starting point in consideration of the last 20 years of race, place and identity in Australia, and respond to the cultural complexities layered in the Australian landscape and our relation to it through new works in a range of media, including painting, performance, photography, film and installation.
The artists: Tim Johnson, Jason Wing, Alana Hunt, Caroline Garcia, Victoria Garcia, Carla Liesch, Nicole Monks with Luke Butterly, Mark Shorter, Cigdem Aydemir, Hayley Megan French and Joan Ross.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan interviews Geoff Ostling, former history teacher, porcelain collector and wearer of a full body tattoo by tattoo artist eX de Medici.
eX de Medici is also a highly collectable fine art practitioner.
Geoff Ostling plans to donate his skin to the National Gallery of Australia.
Jane chats with Geoff about his personal journey and touches on elements of tattoo’s move into the mainstream and its journey from taboo to treasure.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan chats with Damian Minton (Watters Gallery) about art, poetry and literature specifically focused on Sydney, in the exhibition Five Bells – a Visual Ode to Sydney - staged at his former eponymous gallery.
Taking cues from Kenneth Slessor's poem - voted Australia's best poem by ABC listeners in 1988 - the exhibition featured works by forty artists across a range of media and styles, offering the chance to reflect on a Sydney many of us may not recognise.
Kenneth Slessor's famous poem can be found here: http://treasure-explorer.nla.gov.au/closerlook/slessors-five-bells
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan chats with Jo Holder, Director of the Cross Art Projects in Llankelly Place, Kings Cross about the Green Bans Art Walk, which commemorated the 40th Anniversary of Sydney’s famous Green Bans.
Whole neighbourhoods were saved from destruction by developers in the 1970s by the NSW Builders Labourers Federation union Green Bans, which paved the way for dramatic changes to our city's heritage and planning laws.
The Green Bans Art Walk aimed to "capture the ideals and struggle to protect the character of the inner-city areas of Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross, the most brutal of the Green Ban struggles."
Green Bans background: https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/green_bans_movement
Sirius footnote: the Brutalist Sirius Building in the Rocks - being sold off by the NSW State Government - also has a current Green Ban on development, after the Government ignored independent advice from the NSW Heritage Council to list the building on the State Heritage Register.
Ironically, Sirius was built in the 1970s in response to community opposition to Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority plans to demolish historic buildings along the western side of Circular Quay in order to build high-rise office towers. The community was supported by the 1970s Green Bans. The building was listed by the National Trust in 2014 for its architectural and social significance.
Arts Monday's Jane Raffan interviews Walkley Award winning photographer Andrew Quilty about Blue Highways, USA.
Quilty's series gives us a glimpse of America seen via the old roads, or blue highways on maps of America.
Quilty travelled through Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and New York via these old roads, and he reveals some of the unlikely people and strange places he encountered ‘from the dustbowl to prosperity’.
More on Andrew: http://andrewquilty.com/about/
During the course of September/October 2017, Sylvia’s special guest was Dr Anna Kamaralli. Over 6 episodes they discussed the many ways in which Shakespeare presented women. Podcast 2 features the episodes "the lower classes", "shrews" and "magical "daughters".
During the course of September/October 2017, Sylvia’s special guest was Dr Anna Kamaralli. Over 6 episodes they discussed the various ways in which Shakespeare presented women.
Podcast 1 contains the first three episodes, "Shakespeare's world" , "ingenues and witty wenches" and "Queens".
During the course of December 2017 and January 2018, Sylvia replayed a 2014 series with ornithologist Richard Major on Australian birds we find in our gardens and parks. Listen to the 5 parts of the series below:
Matt McMahon is one of the very significant group of jazz musicians who have come to prominence since the turn of the century. A pianist, composer, arranger and musical director (as well as one of Eastside Radio’s longest standing presenters) he has been a winner of two of Australia’s most prestigious jazz awards: the National Jazz Piano Award in 1999 and the Freedman Jazz Fellowship in 2005. In January 2018, he celebrates the 20th anniversary of playing in one of his most enduring musical collaborations, the Matt McMahon trio, in which he is joined by Johnathan Brown on bass and Simon Barker on drums. Eastside’s Mick Paddon, presenter of Time and Space, spoke with Matt about the trio, his musical influences, what got him into playing jazz and also asked him to share five pieces of music which are important to him. His selections, containing some surprises which display the breadth of his musical interests, filled half an hour of the hour long programme which went to air during Time and Space on Wednesday January 17th. Matt’s musical selection is: – an English traditional song, Joe Peel, sung by his brother Matt McMahon – The Maids of Mitchelstown, played by the Bothy Band on their album Out of the Wind into the Sun – Le Tombeau de Couperin composed by Maurice Ravel and played by Jean-Yves Thibaudet – Stella by Starlight performed by the Miles Davis Quintet on their CDs Live at the Plugged Nickle – Nothing is Enough, from the Wizards of Oz on their CD called Soundtrack.
2017 is the 100th anniversary of the Great Strike. Are you looking forward to the next public holiday coming up? Do you know why we celebrate a Labour Day public holiday? Arts Monday’s Jane Raffan takes us on a potted history of Australia’s union movement 1850-1950 with Neale Towart, Heritage Officer for Sydney Trades Hall and Research Librarian for Unions NSW.
Arts Thursday with Maisy Stapleton on 10 August 2017 welcomed star performer, Geraldine Turner in a lively and frank interview around the upcoming performances of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, to be staged in Mittagong by CMS Productions from 17th August .
Jacques Brel was a symbol of the Beat Generation, with his songs of love, war, life and death, originally sung in French, emphasising their poignancy. The performance of Jacques Brel is Alive and Living in Paris, is directed by Geraldine and produced by the Miranda Music Society – a community music organisation presenting musical theatre of the highest quality.
The performance pushes the boundaries of emotion and brings together the angst, the heartfelt emotions, the playful and the sardonic and presents a dynamically orchestrated combination of Brel’s songs, such as If we only have love.