Meet Hamish Cairns. Hamish is a photographer. He recently returned to Brisbane from Pakistan and what he describes as World War III happening there right now. “This is worse than Vietnam, but there’s no information,” he says. As someone who witnessed the situation first-hand, he believes it should be headlining the news every day. “What’s happening there is going to change the world we live in,” he says. His photographic exhibition PAKISTAN - Faces From the Frontline will display shots of actual refugees who have fled the warzone.
Continue reading ‘faces from the frontline’
This Friday, September 18, is PARK(ing) Day. It is an international day of action that was started in 2005 by the arts collective Rebar to raise awareness about the lack of parks and green spaces in San Francisco’s downtown. They transformed an on-street car park into a ‘people park’ by temporarily providing turf, seating and shade. It is based on the idea that paying for a parking meter is like ‘renting’ a public space, and that you don’t technically need to put a vehicle there. Since the original PARK, the idea has been creatively adapted by hundreds of people around the world and in over 50 major cities. In 2008, Brisbane was the 3rd largest city worldwide with over 40 PARKs and it’s back and bigger this year. Continue reading ‘park(ing) day 2009′
Arts, crafts and vintage design buffs heed this: an opportunity to free your inner bowerbird while doing the greater good. Next Saturday 1 August, the annual Karuna arts market will spill a glorious trove of original and pre-loved art, crafts, jewellery and clothes upon Brisbane. Retro, deco, vintage, modern, all under $75. Last year someone unearthed a Pro Hart original on a Bible cover. All proceeds will help Karuna to support Brisbane families to care for a terminally ill loved one, at home and at no cost. Karuna - a Sanskrit word meaning ‘compassion‘ - provides free round-the-clock nursing, family counseling, equipment loans, respite care, bereavement support and spiritual care.
map magazine and the Brisbane Powerhouse are proud to present a special screening of Iranian documentary, Be Like Others, as part of the Queer Film Festival. Tickets will cost $15 and money raised will go to the Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association. Winner of the Teddy Jury Award at Berlin International Film Festival 2008, and an Official Selection at Sundance Film Festival 2008, Be Like Others is a fascinating look at those on the fringes of Iranian life – young people looking for acceptance through radical means. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, a country with strict social and traditional values, sex-change operations are legal, yet homosexuality is still punishable by death. With Iran’s international arms negotiations dominating news headlines, a very private kind of drama is unfolding behind the scenes. Continue reading ‘be like others’
map magazine is officially on facebook and we’d love the pleasure of your company! Become a fan of map on facebook and you’ll have access to exclusive ticket giveaways and prizes only on offer to map’s facebook fans. You can also keep updated on everything that’s happening in the world of map, from upcoming interviews to secret events. Plus, there’s those 25 random things that you never knew you needed to know about map magazine …
If there’s something to be said for ‘normalising’ ideas the more we talk about them, then Brisbane curator and publisher Monique Van Dijk wants to chat in lengths about depression in women. She’s just announced the call-out campaign for her Blue Like You e-book project and is calling for 100 brave women aged 15 to 35 and living with depression to tell their stories in a candid way and match their words with real names and photos. It sounds pretty daunting but Monique will be part of the project too because she’s dealt with depression for more than five years, and she’s not alone – depression is now the third most common cause of illness in women. She’s ready to talk about it now but for a long time she pretended everything was fine, even to her closest friends and her family. ““I finally got to the point where I realised that dealing with it by myself just wasn’t working,” Monique points out in her Blue Like You call-out. “For me, seeking professional help was hideously confronting but it definitely worth it. It was such a relief to talk about my depression and actually discover how common it is. I used to think that I was abnormal, weak and lazy but I have learnt that acknowledging mental illness doesn’t mean there is something wrong with me, in fact it has allowed me to feel OK about myself for the first time in years.” The more Monique talks about it, the more she finds other women sharing their stories and feeling a huge burden lifted by just being honest about their experiences. If you’re ready to help lead the way to making depression as commonly discussed as gluten allergies and knee reconstructions, then now might be the time to tell your story. The website will be up and running soon so stay tuned for more details but in the meantime you can get in touch by emailing monique.vandijk@mac.com
The Frontier Touring Company and map magazine proudly present Amanda Palmer & The Danger Ensemble live in concert on Sunday 1 March at The Tivoli – the first stop on her Australian tour. (Tickets are onsale now via Ticketek.) One-woman machine, The Dresden Dolls’ Amanda Palmer is a rock musician, artist, writer, political activist and more. With a penchant for the complicated, Amanda Palmer’s debut solo outing, Who Killed Amanda Palmer (out now through Roadrunner), snowballed from a small idea into a project that’s nothing short of brilliant. Who Killed Amanda Palmer sees its fearless heroine weaving together the many threads of her personality, her interests, her extensive artistic family, her astute, witty world observations and the stark openness of her feelings into a dynamic record that pushes emotional limits while staying true to its genius creator. We look forward to seeing you at the concert!
Yesterday I stumbled upon one of the coolest places to be on a sweltering morning in Noosaville. With A-Grade air conditioning bouncing off dark grey slate floors and sliding up walls of books stacked to the ceiling, the new {Embiggen Books} on Weyba Road makes for a soothing refuge from the outside world. It’s only a few weeks shy of its three-month anniversary but looks like it will become one of those stores that locals attach themselves to with sturdy safety pins, especially with the hearty Organika cafe and wholefoods shop next door (try the papaya and banana fruit smoothie - deeeelicious!). Embiggen’s catch cry is: “Where science meets art”, and to that end it stocks an inspiring collection of art and science tomes (it’s already the largest science bookstore in Queensland and the third largest in Australia) and you’ll also find a sexy selection of mainly non-fiction books dedicated to design, religion, philosophy, the environment, economics, atheism, and skepticism. One wall is saved for use as a fine art gallery and I fell instantly and deeply in love with the works by current exhibiting artist, Silvi Glattauer, from Melbourne. Her six nature-based photographic pieces (image inset) are printed on 100 percent cotton ragpaper using museum grade archival methods, which makes for a textured and eerie glow to the unadulterated images. Embiggen will host regular artist talks with local and visiting artists, scientists and philosophers, and is also the new HQ for the newly established Sunshine Coast Skeptics Society to promote critical thinking about life, the universe and everything in between. On January 21, Peter Ellerton, winner of the 2008 Prize for Critical Thinking will speak to the topic Bullsh*t Detection for kids, for life. If you want your thinking to be challenged, head for arguably the coolest new store in Noosa.
Imagine having a cow in the backyard. Or on the balcony. Slightly impractical, but that’s where Herdshare steps in. Herdshare is crowdfunding for wannabe cattle farmers. People can buy a share in a cow and pay a local farmer to board, care for, and milk the cow. The shareholder then obtains (but does not purchase) the raw milk from their own cow. Which neatly gets around the food standards regulations banning the sale of unpasteurised milk products for human consumption. The arrangement allows consumers to buy a share in a cow for about $50, plus a monthly agistment fee - yielding about seven litres of milk a week (or less, plus cheese and butter). Even better, it’s tweaking the food production paradigm, enabling consumers to become food producers. And farmers, instead of being primary producers, are paid to care for animals that are no longer theirs. The first Herdshare has hit Brisbane. It’s early days, and prices are expected to fall as demand grows. I’ll drink to that.
On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Assembly called on all member countries to publicise the declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories”. The 60th anniversary of the declaration’s proclamation is being celebrated with the publication of We Are All Born Free, a children’s book brought to life by renowned illustrators and translated into more than 30 languages. The State Library is also hosting a couple of free events, including one in its Living Library. Image: Debi Gliori, from We Are All Born Free.
If you’ve ever hankered to don a ruffly shirt, knickerbockers and eye patch, now’s your chance. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is hosting a benefit gig on Friday as it readies for its fifth Antarctic whale defence campaign, Operation Musashi, departing Brisbane this month. Get your pirate garb on and get down to The Arena by 8pm to see The Red Paintings, The Paper and the Plane and others sing - and paint - up a storm of support. Entry is free but donations towards Operation Musashi will be sought, by hook or by crook. BYO parrot.
As the excitement of Halloween fills the air on this All Hallow’s Eve, if there’s one thing that embodies that ghoulish spirit, it’s the Thriller Dance. For anyone who hasn’t seen one of GoMA’s newest acquisitions, Candice Breitz’s King (a portrait of Michael Jackson), it’s well worth the 15 minutes you’ll spend laughing. The work is a multiple-screen video installation in which 16 of Jackson’s most ardent fans each present their interpretation of his 1982 chart-topping album, Thriller. Here in the map office, we’re also ardent fans of Michael Jackson’s iconic dance (even though a few of us weren’t alive when it first made its debut), and we’ll admit to partaking in the routine in the office on more than one occasion (it’s a great stress reliever). So when we heard that the registered world-record for the most people doing the Thriller Dance in unison was recently broken, our competitive spirits pricked up. At 73 people, we figure it’s a record we could break … anybody for a spot of Thriller?
The map village EAT/DRINK ‘best place’ awards 2008/2009 celebrate Brisbane’s favourite eating and drinking hot spots. We want you to tell us what’s what when it comes to eating and drinking, and it doesn’t just mean the food or drink – it means the whole package. We want the creativity, the experience, the ambience, and the flavour all to be taken into account when you tell us who you think deserves to be considered Brisbane’s best. Please vote for your favourites! The first 100 people to vote will receive a free double pass to map magazine’s exclusive premiere screening of Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona at the brand new Palace Barracks Cinemas on December 3. Plus, the person to vote for the most winners will receive a wickedly indulgent prize pack from Little Creatures Brewing valued at $240 (and for those who come close, there are also five runner-up packs). Voting will take about 8 minutes and will be open until November 7.
Calling all bloggers with a social conscience! Join the global conversation about poverty by taking part in the second annual Blog Action Day, this Wednesday 15 October. Any individual or organisation can register to join. Bloggers are asked to post words, podcasts or videos about poverty - in your own voice and style, and in a way that is relevant to your blog and audience. The idea is that the blogosphere will raise awareness of and influence public discussions about issues of poverty. Last year more than 20,000 bloggers participated in the inaugural event, which focused on environmental issues. There are stacks of ideas on ways to participate, including supporting The Global Fund and Kiva. Blog Action Day was co-founded by Australian blogger Collis Ta’eed of the mighty FreelanceSwitch and is supported by many of the world’s popular blogs and social action network, Change.org.
An old friend tells Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs – every night the same number of beasts. After thinking it might be connected to his part in the Israeli Army mission during the 1982 Lebanon War, the two men conclude that it’s not. Baffled by this recurring dream, Ari decides to interview old friends and comrades from around the world, to discover the truth about that time and himself. Nominated for ‘Best Animated Feature’ at the Oscars, Waltz With Bashir, directed by Ari Folman, is a gripping documentary about one man’s quest to discover the truth. Waltz With Bashir opens on September 11. For your chance to attend map magazine’s premiere screening at Dendy George Street on Wednesday August 20 @ 6:45 pm email alice@mapmagazine.com.au before Tuesday the 19th of August.
PARK(ing) Day is a annual global event that will be held on Friday, September 19, 2008. Pioneered by San Francisco arts collective Rebar in 2005, PARK(ing) Day is based on the idea that paying for a parking meter is like ‘renting’ a public space. The concept was started to raise awareness about the need for more urban parks. Instead of parking a car, they “parked” a park by laying down some turf, a tree and a seat. Since then this simple fun idea has sparked imaginations in 50 cities worldwide. Every year it continues to creatively challenge people to rethink the way streets are used, reinforces the importance of urban public space, and creates diverse conversations about how we make vibrant and sustainable cities. In 2007, there was one PARK at Urban Grind in Paddington and in 2008 look out for dozens more PARKs happening across Brisbane. At this stage, locations will include in the CBD, Southbank, West End, the Valley, Paddington, ‘Gabba, Spring Hill, Gaythorne, and Morningside. Other potential locations are in Milton, St Lucia, Newmarket, Bulimba, and Stones Corner. Continue reading ‘countdown to park(ing) day’
In the history of the world, has humanity ever reached a tipping point like the one we seemingly face, with the knowledge we’ve created it and the capabilities to ensure it never happens again? And not just environmentally but economically, culturally, socially and industrially as well? Each day when I read the news I anticipate (depending on the section) which bank has collapsed, how close we are to a recession, what the latest science is telling us about climate change, and with more acceptance than I should have, I gloss over the latest conflict in the West Bank, bombings in Pakistan and the war in Iraq. But in the midst of this insatiable media reporting, some communication mediums give me pause to also consider if there ever been a better time to be positive and opportunistic about the future? Continue reading ‘being blue.’
The winter chill bites deep in Melbourne, but that’s when the creative scene really gets cracking. So pack your woollens. Here’s my pick of upcoming southern revelries: 1. The (inaugural) Melbourne Festival of Travel Writing (19-20 July). 2. Which is on the same weekend as the Melbourne International Design Festival, which includes the famed Design Market shopfloor and a series of open houses at usually off-limits historic buildings (somebody pass me the oxygen). 3. ‘Prey’, Julia DeVille’s latest exhibition of Victorian inspired jewellery. 4. New artworks will emerge in the city’s always-amazing, ever-changing laneways. 5. No need to go chasing big balls of wool around town. Crafty kittens get thee to the Thread Den sewing lounge for one-off habadashery sessions. 6. Banish chills with some wood-fired oven-lovin’… learn to bake sourdough at The Convent Bakery, using masonry wood-fired ovens built in 1901. 7. Haul out that flapper frock and head to NGV International for a whiz-bang Art Deco exhibition. How’s that for scratching the surface? Hello, work? I need to reschedule. Check out more happenings at Lost and Found and Three Thousand.
Then you’re lucky. Many kids in remote Indigenous communities struggle to read and write, affecting their capacity to learn, get a job and lead full and healthy lives. They face extra barriers to literacy – many are learning English as a second language; many suffer serious middle ear infections, affecting hearing and speaking; while most lack basic access to reading materials. Indigenous Literacy Day encourages all Australians to help raise money to buy books for kids in remote Indigenous communities. The day falls on 3 September, but you can start to contribute now by participating in the Reading Quest - starting with a book you’re already reading! Choose at least seven books from an age-appropriate suggested booklist, and up to three of your own choice. On completion, you are asked to make a small donation to the literacy project. Squirrel some dollars for a book-buying splurge on 3 September, when participating booksellers will donate a percentage of the day’s takings. Organise a Reading Quest, activity or event at your workplace, school, group or bookclub. Or send this post to your friends (see that button up there?). It’s the best excuse you’ll have all year to make time for those must-reads gathering dust on your shelves.
