Arts Rocket Friday Finds

image via http://www.ryojiikeda.com

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

(A little early) Arts Rocket Friday Finds

Posting our Friday Finds an evening earlier  to share some exciting events happening over the school holidays and beyond.

• 13 rooms - Kaldor Public Art Projects - Fantastic kids workshops over the school holidays all inspired by 13 rooms (curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Klaus Biesenbach).  Animation, sculpture and movement.
• The MCA have some fun drop in Contemporary Kids workshops - Cardboard City   and  Junior Art School. They also encourage families to come along to their annual Zine fair on the 26th May
• If you didn't catch Olafur Eliasson last time - make sure you don't miss him this time at the Sherman Gallery.  Especially if you have kids that love lego!
• This school holidays you can't go past seeing The List Operators 6D within the Kids at the House program.

Sydney Easter Show 2013

My Monster Art - Artist: Jet

Over the weekend my son was invited to an art exhibition of a friend from school.  Jet is only nine years old but already  has an extremely distinctive style.  The exhibition was held in his home and friends and family gathered to support Jets new adventure in the art world.  When Jet is not too busy playing sport or downloading music you will find him home with a pen in his hand.

To view Jets gallery of work visit http://mymonsterart.tumblr.com/archive
Any enquiries contact info@artsrocket.org

Lincoln P Jones - Creativity Project Speaker

Next week the Creativity Project - Big Fat Smile hits the MCA -  the conference aims to inspire creative thinking, collaboration and innovation on March 13th.  The event is for arts and cultural workers, arts therapists and  educators.

One of the speakers is Lincoln P Jones,  a published author at the age of 17. We loved that Lincoln is passionate about  writing and we wanted to find out more about what inspires him to write.  

Hi Lincoln....

What do you love about writing?
I love writing because it allows me to explore worlds that you can't touch.
Worlds that I create, and experience. And because it makes me feel good
about myself.

At what age did you discover that you wanted to be a writer?

I discovered I loved writing when I was about 8 or 9. I started writing
fan-fiction at first, but it wasn't really good. In fact a lot of the time,
I barely had my own ideas. But I slowly got better.

Who is your favourite author and why?
My favorite author is Brian Jacques. Firstly because his writing style
influenced mine, it helped my style improve. Secondly, he wrote several of
my favorite books, most notably the entire Redwall series.

You are working on  scripts for a  movie and TV series - Can you  tell us
more about them?

Well, one of these scripts is an adaptation of a 1975 Japanese TV show
called Akumaizer 3, because I loved the mythology and wanted to fully
explore this world Shotaro Ishinomori created. Whereas my TV series script
is set in a post-apocalyptic future. Think Redwall meets The Postman and
Arthurian Legend.

Do you have any more books on the way?

Why, yes. Though it's a secret, I will give you a hint about my next book -
it begins with the word 'Arrr!'. I am planning to have the book finished
before my 18th birthday in July, and I am looking for a publisher.
And I may also be working on a video game idea, though that one has
something to do with Bushrangers .

Who are three people that inspire you to be creative and why?

The three people that inspired me to be creative are my mother, she helped
me discover my talent. Then there's my stepfather, Jeff, with whom I've had
many discussions on ideas. And the third person was Julie, who helped me
learn some discipline and got me to focus on my writing. I'd also like to
toss a shout out to my Distance Ed English Teacher, Mrs Murphy, without who
I would've never got the courage to publish my writings as short stories.

What do you want people to take away with them from your talk at the
Creativity Project?

Hopefully it's to be creative, to never give up in what you honestly believe
in, and to make the best art you possibly can.

--
Registrations now open for the Creativity Project Big Fat Smile.
Full list of speakers

Art Month Sydney - kids and their families

Art Month Sydney is just around the corner. Great stuff on for kids, adults and families.

The Textaqueen will be hosting a kids super - Identity workshop at Sullivan and Strumpf for Art Month Sydney on the 2nd March.

Also check out the kids workshops held each Sunday during Art Month, the Art Crawl for parents with strollers and a talk at Object Gallery on the benefits of introducing art and design to kids at an early age - Tomorrows Thinkers.

Arts Month Sydney runs throughout March - for more info visit:  http://artmonthsydney.com.au

Arts Rocket Friday Finds

image via Sydney Theatre Company

It's been a while but Friday Finds are back! Film Festivals, Zines, some blocks and a pelican.

• The French Film Festival has some great kids flicks screening and thankfully most of the films outside the family strand are classified so if you have teens there is a wide selection
• Young at Heart  Film Festival has some great classics - my son loved American Graffiti so this is his chance to catch it on the big screen. Get the kids to take their grandparents to the cinema.
• MCA Zine Fair is back in March - great for kids of all ages - get them to make their own when you get home 
• Love these building blocks from Japan Found vis Kidlolly 
• and for later in August - Sydney Theatre Company with Barking Gecko Theatre will be presenting a production of Storm Boy - Ages 6+

Blaze - Sydney Opera House

image: Daniel Boud

Last night the kids and I went along to the Sydney Opera House for the performance of Blaze.  It was a beautiful evening so  we started  with a drink down at the Opera Bar before heading in.  At the Opera House lots of families mingled in the foyer before the start of the show.

Blaze consists of a dance crew of street and break dancers hailing from almost every corner of the world.  The show premiered in London and Sydney is one of the many stops in their international tour.

With our drinks and popcorn sorted, we walked into the Concert Hall to see  the  stage  was set with pairs of shoes spotlit waiting patiently for their owners. As the shoeless dancers appear the back curtain rises to reveal an amazing backdrop set made up  of drawers and cupboards (and a bathtub!)  piled up on top of each other...during the show some drawers opened to reveal and hide dancers, get climbed over and danced within and acts as a  screen for spectacular projected scenery without overshadowing the dancers.

The dancing blew us away, exciting and full of energy - and showcased how innovative street dance can be.  Everything worked in the performance, the dancers sharing their passion and the soundtrack keeping it together.  You can find out more about the dancers here: Blaze UK.

I was discussing recently with another Mum how I am finding it difficult to find performances that I can take all my children to - I have three children aged between 9 and 14.  Blaze kept every family member satisfied. We all loved it.

This isn't a show where all the action just happens on stage....it's an interaction with the audience. The crew encourage you to get your cameras out, to cheer along and if the mood strikes you -  to get up and dance.

By the end  everyone   in the audience was up dancing (there was a grandmother getting her dance moves on a few chairs over from us).  One lucky child got to go on stage and dance with the crew. After their last encore and  as the lights went up many audience members lingered a little bit longer in the hope the dancers would return on stage just one more time.

Extra: If you have kids that are into skateboarding - get them to bring their gear   to the  Blaze skate park  outside from 11am until 7pm. My eldest son is keen to go back to show off his skills.

Blaze runs until 20th Jan 2013 at Sydney Opera House.
All ages.

http://blaze.sydneyoperahouse.com/

Samsara

Last week in Sydney the heat rose to just over 40 degrees. It was a hot one! The place to be was in the cinema. I decided I would take the kids on a mystery movie trip to see a film that didn't involve over the top special effects or animation.   There was  lots of guessing on the bus trip to the cinema on what film we would be going to see. As the bus got closer to the Palace Verona - they cried "This is a film YOU want to see!"

I saw Baraka directed by Ron Fricke in 1992 and found it mesmerising and I wanted the kids to have the same experience.

Samsara, (a Sanskrit word that means "the ever turning wheel of life") also directed by Ron Fricke  was shot over 4 years in 25 countries.   The audience gets transported out of their comfort zone to "sacred grounds, disaster  zones, industrial sites and natural wonders."

What did the kids think of it?  They were initially not impressed that they were brought to a film with no dialogue. Some parts did bore them, whilst other scenes intrigued them  and freaked them out a bit - especially performance artist Olivier de Sagazan.

Samsara is rated PG BUT please view the parents guide on IMDB to decide if this film is suitable for your family.

The Cat in the Hat - Sydney Opera House

image: Leigh Russell

Today we headed to the Sydney Opera House to celebrate Summer with Dr Seuss's The Cat in the Hat  and experience the family friendly precinct along the Broadwalk. As we headed towards the Opera House we could feel the vibe before we even walked into the special Summer at the House area.

Before or after the performance families can hang outside in the sunshine  along the western broadwalk and grab a drink, Mexican from El Loco (with kid size tacos) or delicious healthy ice blocks. We loved this area and there is enough space to wander around and take in the amazing view. There are shaded table areas but make sure you take hats for kids if you miss out and have to take a table in the sun.

The Creative Play areas is a successful concept used to keep young children occupied before they head into the theatre.  Within the foyers kids have a choice of story telling, puppet making and the very popular Seussophone to keep them busy. 

The Cat in the Hat performance (with an all Australian cast) is wonderful for families with young children (3 - 6 years) who love the book and want to see the characters brought to  life. If you have children who are hesitant in learning how to read this is a great opportunity to see a performance that can lead to picking up the book to start their reading adventure.    Cat in the Hat  kept  the young audience members transfixed utilising sound effects, puppetry, vibrant props and kids imagination   to capture the chaos and charm  bringing this classic story from page to stage.

Our tip: Make sure you give yourself time before and after the show to experience everything on offer!

The Cat in the Hat  until 27th Jan 2013
Sydney Opera House
running time 40 minutes
Ages 3 - 6 years
----

Kids at the House 2013 - Sydney Opera House

I absolutely love it when a new season or program is announced for a theatre or festival.   Kids at the House 2013 season has just arrived for our selection pleasure.

What is on our list to see:
Horrible Histories - Awful Egyptians - Possibly one of the best TV shows out there for kids (and secretly for adults).  All my kids  are very excited about this performance.
When: 1st July - 14th July 2013 | Ages 6+

13 Storey Tree House - My youngest son is loving this new series by Andy Griffiths and fantastic to find out it will be looked after by Richard Tulloch (The book of Everything).
When: 21st Sept - 3rd Oct 2013 |

The Listies in 6D - The List Operators latest show about movies...these guys are amazing.
When: 16th - 28th April 2013 | Ages 5+

Miss Ophleia -  This performance looks intriguing..  and  based on the book Ophelia’s Shadow Theatre.
When:  27th - 28th July 2013 |

We are still looking through all the choices for 2013....for you to discover more on what is on offer visit: Kids at the House.

What is on your Kids at the House 2013 list to see?

Arts Rocket Friday Finds

image sourced from http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au

Finally after being away for a month we are back in the swing of things. Jet lag has passed and we are getting out and about enjoying what Sydney has on offer in Summertime and discovering some fun Friday Finds.

• Blaxland Riverside Park - Cool Hunter: Absolutely  loving the images from The Cool Hunter of this fantastic playground in Homebush. The designers worked with the earth rather than against it to produce an amazing space for kids to go wild.
• Moss Terrariums: This is a project that has been on our list of things to try for a while. Create your own little worlds and add plastic figures to the mix.
• If the weather turns this Summer and you are stuck inside get inspired by the beautiful work using cardboard boxes by artist Annalise Reese. 
• Michelle Schoeps Organic: Beautiful blog that features Michelle's family recipes using amazing produce. 
• If your kids are allowed to stay up late then let them take in a Drive in Cinema experience. The classic  Stand by Me will be screened on the 1st December.
• The  Mother Artist Network Festival is on now on over at BIG magazine...BIG are also after contributions for their next publication with the theme "Into the Dark."

Enjoy your weekend!
Leigh

Sydney Festival 2013 with kids

Sydney Festival program time again.... I already have my tickets for David Byrne and St Vincent (I will be taking my teen son with me!).
This is what we are also looking forward to:

The Listies  | Earworms   The List Operators performance at the 2012 Sydney Festival was one of the hottest tickets for families.  Another  must see show for 2013. Jan 15th - Jan 19th 2013

School Dance This looks great! Teen awkwardness at a school disco, a new work by Windmill Theatre. Jan 10th - Feb 3rd 2013

It's Dark Outside   From the creators of  the beautiful The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer  (Sydney Festival 2011) this performance tells the story of an old man venturing out into the wild. Jan 11th - 15th 2013

We got to see a few Francis Bacon pieces in Italy so I am excited that the Art Gallery of NSW  will be exhibiting him as part of the festival (recommended for older children).

This is only the tip of the iceberg on what will be presented over the festival: Visit http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2013/ to see the full program. If you have older children don't be afraid to explore outside of the family program - there are some gems to be found.

Our adventure

image: Leigh Russell 2012

We are back from our wonderful adventure. Highlights included:
Peggy Guggenheim Museum in Venice... a beautiful home transformed into a celebration of art. The collection is amazing. Kids favourite was the wish tree in the garden by Yoko Ono.

Francis Bacon at the Strozzina in Florence (my favourite). Discovering the eerie woven threads of  Chiharu Shiota. Italian Art in the 30s beyond fascism at Palazzo Strozzi.

Finding and photographing the  love padlocks collectives on the bridges throughout Italy.

Taking new members of our  family in Dublin to the Dublin Theatre Festival for the production of White for some first time theatre experiences. The Ark located in Temple Bar is a cultural centre for children with a fantastic programme.

Now we are back in Sydney we are looking forward to what the summer months will bring!

London

Jam packed day in London.... Abbey Rd for the Beatles fans in the family, Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street, Saatchi Gallery and Tower of London. Tonight the cinema.

Off the Grid

We will be off the grid for a few weeks  on our exciting adventure! We will try and keep you up to date on where we are and what we are doing.

See you when we get back!
x

To the Arctic 3D | IMAX Giveaway

This school holidays IMAX are screening the beautiful To the Arctic 3D narrated by Meryl Streep.  The film follows a mother Polar bear with her two young cubs up against the wild elements of the Arctic.  We have seen a few of the IMAX screenings that are filmed with 3D cinematography.  It is an amazing cinematic experience.

Our friends at IMAX have given us two family passes (2 adults 2 children) to give away to Arts Rocket readers.  To enter tell us in 25 words or less why your family would like to see To the Arctic 3D.
Email info@artsrocket.org  SUBJECT: To the Arctic 3D.  Entries close Saturday 22nd September 2012 and the winners will be notified by email.

--
For more information on screening times visit: IMAX Darling Harbour 
To the Arctic 3D is rated G.

Our adventure awaits

We will be heading on an overseas adventure very soon.. I am excited, the kids are very excited.. The countdown chart has started. When we travel with the kids we like to go with the flow but have a few plans up our sleeve.

The Zig Zag City Guides   (so far only Rome) looking forward to more sets coming out.
Luvaville:  child friendly hotels, restaurants and fun + culture
Wayfare Magazine - Family travel tips and inspiration.
Our travel lifestyle: A family of four who decided to change their lifestyle and travel the world!
lmnop: Great family world travel section

National Gallery: London: Guide for visiting Families
Tate Gallery: London: Tate kids
104: Paris: Children and Young Adults
Timeout Paris: Paris: Paris for kids

Journal Writing
We try and keep electronics on our travels to a minimum. My kids have always kept journals when we have travelled.  Sone days they are not in the mood to write...drawings can also tell a story! It is a wonderful keepsake that is lovely to find again years after the trip.
There a lot of journals available that prompt and guide your child through their writing. I prefer just a plain notebook that can be decorated.

We hope to also keep you up to date on our adventures here.

Treasure Island Adventure

ENTRIES NOW CLOSED Our friends at Darlinghurst theatre would like you to  join 12 year old Jim Hawkins on his hunt for buried treasure. But watch out.......there are double-crossing pirates all around, led by the notorious Long John Silver. Will Jim make it from his home in a small seaside village to the mysterious Treasure Island?

For the chance to win a double pass to the 6.30pm performance on Saturday September 1, email your contact details to theatre@darlinghursttheatre.com with ARTSROCKET in the subject.
http://www.darlinghursttheatre.com/treasure-island.html

Entries close 25th August 2012 and the winner will be notified by Darlinghurst Theatre via email.

Don’t miss this new interpretation of the classic children’s tale showing at Darlinghurst Theatre, August 28 – Sept 1. 

Quick Picks: Last days of Holidays

source

Last days of the holidays...Here are some quick picks to keep you busy.

• Build with artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan within their cardboard village on Thursday
• Children's Film night at the Nicholson Gallery on Thursday evening
• On Friday go to your local library,  get the kids their own membership card and let them get lost amongst the books.
• A Spanish family film on Saturday morning
• Catch a ferry Biennale Family Day at Cockatoo Island on Sunday