Welcome to the second edition of the ARTS review, the AU review’s look at the world of Arts and Film…
In This Issue: Melbourne Arts Fair appoints new Co-Directors, Mitch Cairns coordinates Alaska Projects group exhibition, Star Wars Burlesque comes to Melbourne, Sydney Dollar Shop to open, La Soiree season is extended, Griffin Theater company presents The New Electric Ballroom, The Holding Pattern new online music marketplace and photographer Matthew Nederhauser teams up with Chineses leading musicians.
MELBOURNE ART FAIR CO-DIRECTORS APPOINTED
Emilly-Rose Davis and Laetitia Prunetti have been announced as the co-directors of Melbourne Art Fair 2012. Bill Nuttall, Chairman of the Melbourne Art Foundation (MAF) announced last month that the new co-directors would be taking over from former director Bronwyn Johnson.
The long-running biennial exhibition of contemporary art features the work of both Australian and international living artists. The 2012 Melbourne Art Fair is held at the Royal Exhibition building, Carlton Gardens from the 1-5 August 2012.
MORE INFO: http://www.artfair.com.au/fair
SYDNEY: ALASKA PROJECTS TO PRESENT COOL WORLD, COORDINATED BY MITCH CAIRNS
From Tuesday 31 January – Sunday 12 February 2012, Alaska Projects will present a new group exhibition, coordinated by Mitch Cairns.
Following up the success of previous exhibitions, Cool World will feature ten local Sydney painters displaying their work in the unlikely space of the unique converted mechanics’ office gallery, located on Level 2 of the Kings Cross Car Park, Elizabeth Bay Road.
Exhibiting artists include:
Anna Kristensen
Anna Peters
Elizabeth Pulie
Frank Littler
John Spiteri
Mary MacDougall
Mike Schreiber
Matthew Tumbers
Trevelyan Clay
Mitch Cairns
Local Sydney artist Cairns has exhibited his work at Breenspace and Melbourne Art Fair 2010, as well as being in the collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.
Alaska Projects launched with their first exhibition, Lorem Ipsum in October 2011. In 2012, the initiative will also present a new and diverse program of work by artists including Bababa International, Tom Polo and Sarah Rodigari.
MORE INFO: http://www.alaskaprojects.com
MELBOURNE: STAR WARS BURLESQUE: THE EMPIRE STRIPS BACK
In a burlesque show which will combine light sabers with lingerie, Melbourne is set to venture into a galaxy far, far away.

After taking Sydney by storm with three sold-out runs, the Star Wars Burlesque promises to indulge the fantasies of the sci-fi geeks amongst us. Scantily clad Princess Leia will accompany busty female storm troopers and gyrating Wookie girls on stage for what should be an otherworldly performance.
Star Wars Burlesque: The Empire Strips Back will premier on Saturday, 25th February 2012, at The Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne.
MORE INFO: http://www.ticketek.com.au
SYDNEY: GREAT DESIGN AND AFFORDABLE PRICES, AT THE DOLLAR SHOP
From February 2012, The Dollar Shop, a new pop-up store, will be launching at 58 Oxford Street, Sydney. This one-of-a-kind retail store will be dedicated to selling locally designed products at prices below $20.
Local designers and artists will have the chance to sell products, the like of jewelry, clothes, bags, stationery, craft, home wares, instruments, photography, posters and self-publishing. The Dollar Shop will take only a small commission from the sale price of all items, to help cover the bills.
This exciting new retail venture will allow for up-and-coming local visionaries to gain exposure for their work. There are also plans for workshops to be held at the venue, where the wider community can learn crafty new skills from the artists and designers involved.
The Dollar Shop is currently looking for submissions from any local artists and designers who would like to sell their wares in-store. The store is also seeking volunteers to help run the operation.
MORE INFO: http://www.dollarshopsydney.com.au
SYDNEY: LA SOIRÉE SEASON EXTENDED
The Sydney Opera House has announced a two week extension for La Soiree, with performances to continue until 26 February.
With an exciting blend of cabaret, new burlesque, circus sideshow and contemporary vaudeville acts, La Soiree has been selling out venues worldwide. The troupe are also heading to the Adelaide Fringe later in the year.
La Soiree stars David O’Mer (aka Bath Boy), Captain Frodo, The English Gents, Ursula Martinez, Mooky, Le Gateau Chocolat, Mario Queen of the Circus alongside many more.
MORE INFO: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com
SYDNEY: THE GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM
The darkly poetic comedy, The New Electric Ballroom, by contemporary Irish play right Edna Walsh will open the 2012 season for the Griffin Independent Theater Company this March, with a production at the SBW Stables Theatre.
The New Electric Ballroom tells the tale of three sisters haunted by their past. Breda, Ada and Clara are live in an isolated rural fishing village. Clara and Breda relive a traumatic moment from their past, whist Ada, the younger sister acts as their audience. When lonely fishmonger Patsy arrives on the scene, there is a faint glimmer of hope for the three women.
One of Irelands most imaginative playwrights, Walsh has cultivated a reputation for dark humour and bold storytelling. Walsh saw success with his 1996 play Disco Pigs and the film adaption of the same name. His 2008 biopic, Hunger, also won the Camera d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. Walsh brought home two awards in two years at the Edinburgh Fringe, picking up a Fringe First award from both The New Electric Ballroom and it’s a companion piece The Walworth Farce.
The New Electric Ballroom director, Kate Gaul, has produced many notable independent works for major theaters, including the recent production of As You Like It and The Seagull for the Siren Theatre Co. The plays cast includes Odile Le Clezio, Genevieve Mooy, Jane Phegan and Justin Smith.
The New Electric Ballroom season runs 10 – 31 March with tickets are on sale now.
MORE INFO: http://www.griffintheatre.com.au.
THE HOLDING PATTERN PROMISES CONTROL FOR UNDISCOVERED MUSICIANS
After two years in development, a new online marketplace for unsigned independent musicians will offer artists the ability to sell their work, whilst still retaining copyright control.
The Holding Pattern operates as an easy-to-use online music store where consumers can search by artist, keyword or genre – everything from Jazz to Electronica.
For the artist, The Holding Pattern will offer automatic licensing, and the ability to make an honest and fair 80 percent from the sale of their music. This innovative and intelligent commercial platform will also allow companies to locate and purchase the licensing of independent music for creative projects.
Whilst the future of legal downloading is a currently in worldwide discussion, The Holding Pattern demonstrates the possibilities for independent distributions, and the ways in which new technologies can create a fair exchange between artist and consumer.
MORE INFO: http://www.holdingpattern.com
SYDNEY: SEEING IN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH SOUND KAPITAL
Carriageworks and Creative Asia presents projections by photographer Matthew Nederhauser and live Performance by AV Okubo, Nova Heart and Xiao He.
Based in Beijing, Nederhauser is internationally renowned for his photography, which chronicles the punk underground of urban China. Nederhauser will also present a free artists talk and his work will appear as projections to accompany the musical performances of some of Chinas most talked-about and creative musical acts.
After touring the US, indie electro outfit AV Okubo will preform along side Helen Feng in her solo project Nova Heart and Beijing’s Xiao He at Carriageworks, 3 February 2012 as part of the City of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival.
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