Category: HOBART

Jewish International Film Festival is on across Australia this October

Jewish International FIlm Festival woman

Posted: 24/09/2023

This year, the Jewish International Film Festival (JIFF) returns to Australian screens from 23 October – 6 December, presenting a diverse array of enchanting and enlightening tales from Jewish cinema worldwide. Boasting 55 Australian premiere films from 19 countries, the Festival programme includes 30 feature films, 20 documentaries, two series, and six short films, alongside a suite of live events across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, and the Gold Coast. According to Artistic Director Eddie Tamir, the 2023 JIFF reflects the timeless resilience and adaptability of the Jewish spirit, offering a remarkable line-up of films from the deepest roots of Yiddish culture to Australian stories and boundary-pushing tales. He described the Festival as an immersive journey that reflects on the past and acts as a beacon for the future. The Festival begins with the Australian Premiere of ‘Matchmaking,’ Israel’s biggest blockbuster of 2023. This romantic comedy, directed by the mastermind behind ‘Magic Men’, has won the Audience Award at the Miami Jewish Film Festival and takes audiences on a journey with Moti Bernstein, an Ashkenazi ideal who defies tradition for Nechama, a Mizrahi beauty. As for Australian stories, JIFF 2023 invites audiences to delve deep into history and emotion. ‘Revenge: Our Dad the Nazi Killer’ thrusts viewers into the post-WWII era, where three brothers uncover their father’s suspected revenge spree against Nazis. The closing night film, ‘The Jewish Nazi?’, follows the astounding journey of Alex Kurzem, made “Hitler’s youngest soldier” by a Latvian Nazi battalion after the massacre of his Belarusian family. The Festival’s… Read More

Category: CITIES, ADELAIDE, ARTS & CULTURE, BRISBANE, CANBERRA, HOBART, LIFESTYLE, LONDON, MELBOURNE, PERTH, SYDNEY

Tags: brisbane, canberra, documentaries, film festival, gold coast, hobart, Jewish cinema, Jewish International Film Festival, JIFF, melbourne, perth, sydney

Need a hotel? Leisure Inn Penny Royal just upgraded

by James Banham

Posted: 17/07/2023

Get ready to experience the charm of yesteryears coupled with the comfort of the present at the historically significant and heritage-listed Leisure Inn Penny Royal in Launceston. The hotel, a part of the StayWell Holdings property portfolio, proudly introduces an array of exciting upgrades aimed at creating a rejuvenating and enhanced guest experience. Leisure Inn Penny Royal holds the exclusive distinction of being the only hotel in Launceston to offer a 4-bedroom apartment. The spacious lodgings are perfect for families and groups seeking the comfort of ample space. As part of the recent refresh, guests can now luxuriate in beautifully redesigned lounges equipped with contemporary furnishings and state-of-the-art smart TVs. The modern kitchen spaces have also been refreshed, offering guests the convenience of self-catering, replicating the comfort of their own homes. The hotel has further amplified the guest experience by installing new carpets throughout, replacing bathroom shower screens, and incorporating noise-cancelling windows in all apartments and hotel rooms. In addition, there’s a new lift coming up near the reception area by mid-September, enhancing the ease and convenience for guests. Starting its journey as a corn mill in 1840, the hotel is filled with a rich history and undeniable charm. Nestled beside the Tamar River, Leisure Inn Penny Royal strikes a harmonious balance between its alluring heritage and modern amenities. These upgrades are a part of StayWell’s progressive development plan, reflecting steady growth and performance year on year. Over the next two years, more Group hotels will be upgraded, including Leisure Inn Pokolbin Hill. Also, new… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, AUSTRALIA, CITIES, HOBART, TRAVEL

Tags: Best hotels Launceston, Hobart hotels, Leisure Inn Penny Royal, Tasmania Hotels

Dark Mofo exhibition in Hobart: Mines; from the mind of Simon Denny

by THE F

Posted: 15/06/2019

An unnervingly vibrant dystopia opened on the eve of the madness that is Dark MOFO 2019. Curated by Jarrod Rawling and Emma Pike and taking two and half years from conception to exhibition, Mines will leave you feeling helpless. In the bowels of MONA is a colourful sign, “Mines”. Fittingly its physical location is buried beneath the earth. But this is less about our traditional mineral past and more about the collection and manipulation of what we may see as intangible. Data. Our data. Metric monitoring of our behaviours and patterns. Allowing corporate entities to manipulate what we love, what we hate, what we must have. Using the bones of the classic boardgame, Squatter, Denny has amended its gameplay and thematics to reflect our era, our data. Denny lulls us with space. He gives us room to move and the freedom to interact. With intelligent use of “The O”, augmented reality, designed by the MONA boffins, we are able to see how our interactions with the exhibit are collated and displayed real time. This speaks to the reality of our digital presence being commoditised and with the information space changing around us thanks to surveillance capitalism, one thing is clear, we are the resource. Come and see. Don’t be helpless, all alone. Mines is open until the 13th April 2020. Remember to download “The O”, from the iTunes App Store before you arrive, or collect a device from the lovely crew at MONA. Entry is $28, $25 concession, Tasmanians and under 18s get in for free.

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, HOBART, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Australian arts, dark mofo, Dark Mofo arts, Dark Mofo Hobart, Hobart arts, the f art, ThE F Hobart

HOBART: Dark Mofo’s Siloam – The end of the world and the giant iron arsehole

by THE F

Updated: 13/06/2019

Boys in high-vis have been digging through bedrock. When once we had to turn around and walk where we had been, we can now circumnavigate MONA. An endless loop. No more getting stuck at the entrance to Pharos and Faro. Through the tunnels we find Confessional, by Oliver Beer. The Ammonoidea shaped construction of a noise dampened chamber, leading to the giant iron asshole flatulating ambience at MONA’s surface. Using a gramophone effect, patrons in the bowels of MONA can confess whatever they wish to be heard by whoever is near. One level above Confessional is Ai WeiWei’s White House. The fixing free construction coming together like a giant lego set to show the skeleton of a Qing Dynasty home. Absolutely gorgeous. A hot red tunnel ascends from White House. Leading to your very own Virgil, your very own Beatrice. Ready to literally strap you into a harness to experience one of the circles of hell. Inferno for the everyman. For the everyman. A blueprint of a good life; in allegory and analogy. Dante’s, Divine Comedy. Not talking down to the people, talking to the people. Guiding. The Divine Comedy by Alfredo Jaar is the installation for the everyman. When words and science fail the everyman, when the everyman is failed by an ill-intended, overgrown system. Art could fill that void, to bluntly educate by “Look at this. Not good”. The Divine Comedy is an emotive hand-hold through a not too distant future. An experience where you can literally feel the heat and pressure of an Inferno from above and hear the rushing of water beneath your… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, HOBART, LIFESTYLE

Tags: dark mofo, Dark Mofo Siloam, Siloam Hobart, Siloam Mona Dark Mofo, Siloam review, THE F arts blog, THE F Siloam, THE F Tasmania, THE Hobart

Mine: Mona’s new exhibition explores extraction

by James Banham

Posted: 23/05/2019

Until 13 April next year, Mona will explore the concept of mining and its varying forms. Super topical with conversations around the Adani Mine in Queensland circulating and the constant mining of individuals’ data for commercial use, it’s a range of work that is sure to stir-up excitement for the Hobart gallery. From 8 June 2019, Simon Denny’s deep dig into the topic of extraction will star sculpture, a giant board game and augmented reality in a series of works that that draw inextricable links between resource and data mining. It’ll mark the largest exhibition by the New Zealand artist to date. Exploring themes of work and automation, the exhibition takes the Australian mining industry as a case study to interrogate the effects of technology on human labour. In Mine, Denny—whose previous work has examined cryptocurrency, capitalism and surveillance—connects mineral and resource mining with the more opaque world of data collection. Setting these extractive practices against a backdrop of colonisation, ethics and economics, Mine reflects on them in terms of both hope and anxiety about the environment, technology, and development. See more and make your next trip to mona a reality at the Mona website. Mine will open on 8 June 2019 and runs until 12 April 2020. The exhibition is curated by Jarrod Rawlins with Emma Pike from Mona.

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, HOBART, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Art blog, Hobart art blog, Mona, Mona Hobart, the f art, THE F Hobart Mona, THE F Mona

Eat The Problem: MONA’s Kirsha Kaechele opens the new exhibiton

Mona Eat The Problem Kirsh Kaechele dining table

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

Everything you’d be loathed to see in your kitchen, presented in a striking contemporary compendium of graphic imagery, inspiring recipes, underpinned by social-political commentary: this is Eat The Problem. A book and exhibition by Kirsha Kaechele from MONA in Hobart – read more about the gallery here – Eat The Problem is a sensory experience of overloaded proportions, forcing its viewers to see, feel, smell and taste like never before. Or at least, insanely rarely. Fuelled by the reality that faces the Australian ecological system, that is invasive species, creatures and experiences, the Eat The problem exhibition startles visitors through dazzling light, permitting them to taste colour, feel sound vibrations and participate in movement and music. In a nutshell, Eat the Problem lets visitors engage in various acts of transformation as part of Kaechele’s surrealist exploration of turning flaw into feature using invasive species—including humans—in food and art. Heralded by a gigantic glockenspiel (like a xylophone), that assumes the role of a dining table that’s been illuminated in the full colour spectrum, MONA’s executive chef Vince Trim has designed a menu that uses invasive species such as deer, sea urchin and thistle and transforms them into sumptuous monochromatic dishes for visitors to eat. And if you’re not hungry or would like the full experience, the exhibition allows you to book a session to undergo a range of transformative healing sessions in the gallery, including sound baths, reflexology, massage and hot and cold treatments. “Eat the Problem brings to life the practice of transforming shit into… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, HOBART, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Art blog, Australian art, Eat The Problem, Eat the problem book, Food art, Hobart art, Kirsha Kaechele, Mona art, Mona Hobart, MONA Kirsh Kaechele, the f art, THE F art blog, THE F Eat The Problem, THE F Mona

MONA museum in Hobart: Why you need to go right fucking now

by James Banham

Updated: 15/02/2019

When it comes to MONA – the Museum of Old and New Art – in Hobart, there’s one thing it has plenty of: stories. Sure, there are the tales of the debaucherous parties that went on in the gallery’s earlier hey-days. The fact it’s privately owned and how and why that came to be. The stories of its political disdain; the owner’s penchant for personal gratification through a gallery hacked into the side of a mountain; it goes on. One thing is for certain, though; there’s only one story that matters, and that’s that it’s a damn good time. There’s nothing but one hell of a cultural awakening that is a far cry from what you’d expect to come out of Hobart, but 8 years prior. MONA is the art gallery that put Hobart on the map, turned up the city’s tourism quota and sits at the pinnacle of wholesome Australian experiences that can only really be found in our southernmost city. The city itself is known – if anything, for its work over the past few years alone – for quality. Quality food, wine, art, experiences, hotels, road trips, scenery, oxygen. Much like the rumours of the existence of MONA, what you can take away from a trip to Tasmania is as wide and varied, but one thing is constant: quality, stories and the whole array of it all. The gallery almost sits atop it all. Though it’s about a 20 minute trip from the centre of town – a journey easily embarked on… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, HOBART, LIFESTYLE

Tags: About MONA Hobart, Art blog, Australian art, Australian art blog, Hobart art, How to get to mona, MONA blog, MONA Boat, Museum of Old and New Art, right fucking now, THE F art blog, ThE F Hobart, THE F Mona, Why to go to MONA, Why you need to go to MONA in Hobart - like

Lunch at Frogmore Creek outside Hobart’s the best you’ll do

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

Frogmore Creek is nice. I’m fact, it’s better-than-nice; it’s an institution in Tasmania and only 20 minutes from town. It’s the privately owned and operated little producer of a veritable tonne of wines and varying wine labels to come out of our fair Southern state since it first came about. The Frogmore Creek name is synonymous a quality drop, but have you been to the winery? Just over the Tasman Bridge from Hobart and out of town by car for about 20 minutes, the winery sits on a little road, overlooking a helluva lot of vines and in the far distance, the largest space program in the country, the Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory. If you’re patient enough, so see the gargantuan satellite dish oscillate throughout the day. But it’s not the Frogmore location, or view that sets them a bottle above the rest, it’s what they do; their ‘bread ‘n’ butter’ as it were; their lifeblood – wine. Lauded as one of Tasmania’s host awarded wine makers, Frogmore is known for its 42 Degrees South, Single Block Series, Winemakers Reserve and Frogmore Creek label, of course, offering a wide and hugely varied set of premium varietals that can be found all over the country. All made, processed and shipped-out on-site they’re a huge operation, but where they really shine – if food’s your thing – is the restaurant at the cellar door. About the Frogmore Creek restaurant and cellar door They do tastings, of course, of the whole range and everyone behind the bar is… Read More

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, HOBART, LIFESTYLE

Tags: best places to eat hobart, frogmore, frogmore creek, frogmore creek winery, frogmore creek winery tasmania, hobart food, hobart restaurant guide, hobart wine, hobart wine guide, tasmania winery

How to take-on a two-day fitness bender in Hobart with Bulk Nutrients – and survive

by James Banham

Updated: 16/11/2022

Sure there’s exercise and fitness, but doing it in Sydney on Bondi Beach, glistening under the southern sun in a balmy 25-degrees is nothing compared to doing it in the freezing cold in Hobart. Or up an even colder mountain. But, when you and a contingent of six other faces and folks in the Aussie fitness industry get on a plane and head south from Sydney to do just that as guests of Tasmanian born-and-raised protein supplement manufacturer Bulk Nutrients, you know you’re in for something quite unique. Bulk Nutrients and its founder, Ben Crowley were keen to show off the best that Tasmania – his home state and the home to his upwards of $27 million business based in Grove just out of Hobart – had to offer. And that they did. With a group of personal trainers, fitness writers, Instagrammers and bloggers in-tow, the Bulk team put themselves and their group through our paces to test the benefits of what Bulk Nutrients protein supplements can do. And after and two day assault on the bod, it seemed pretty unanimous – they work! Here’s what we took-on, what we recovered with and what we personally back. Day one with Bulk Nutrients: Arrive at Hobart airport. It’s cold. Super cold. Like, single digits cold. Coming from Sydney, it’s a shock to the system, but we all survive, order our green teas and coffee at the single cafe in the terminal before piling in to the seven-seater people mover to head to destination number one: Raw Challenge… Read More

Category: CITIES, FAMILS, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, HEALTH & FITNESS, HOBART, LIFESTYLE, TRAVEL

Tags: ben crowley, best protein, bulk nutrients, bulk nutrients protein, famil, fitness bender, mount wellington descent, protein powder, Protein supplements, raw challenge tasmania, where to buy protein

Eat cheap in Sydney with Dimmi this July

by James Banham

Posted: 02/07/2018

July is a quiet time in restaurants around the country. With it being winter, cold, miserable and nothing but stay-at-home-worthy, Dimmi is taking the bull by the horns and throwing down a 50% discount on many of the country’s most beloved restaurants. From 2-31 July, Dimmi’s access to the hottest restaurants ensures that every social occasion is covered; catch up with friends for dinner at Longrain in Sydney, in Queensland book a mid-week lunch at Comuna Catina, Adelaide residents can enjoy a long lunch at The Kitchen Door or indulge the taste buds with dinner at Melbourne’s St Luja. Here are some of the restaurants participating for you to get excited about… SA Lindes Lane Bar & Eatery Rigoni’s Bistro The Kitchen Door Level One @ Electra House QLD Caffe Primavera Comuna Catina Motion Bar and Grill Moda Restaurant VIC Henry and the Fox Hunter & Barrel – Eastland Time Out Fed Square St Luja NSW Longrain Fratelli Fresh Manta Restaurant & Bar Berowra Waters Inn WA The Harbour Master Julio’s Hunter & Barrel Whitford City Tom’s Italian Reservations open on Monday 2 July via the Dimmi website and the Dimmi app!

Category: ADELAIDE, BRISBANE, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, HOBART, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE, SYDNEY

Tags: dimmi, dimmi discounts, food, order food, restaurant discounts

ARTS & CULTURE

breakdance head spin pexels pixabay 159273

Experience break dancing like never before this MAy

24/04/2024

By James Banham

Get ready to experience the ultimate celebration of hip hop culture, innovation, and artistry at Breakin’ Convention 2024. An international festival of Hip Hop dance theatre, it’ll be taking over Sadler’s Wells in Islington this coming May Bank Holiday. Enthusiastically helmed by the visionary UK hip hop maker and Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D, this festival has become a beacon for fans and creators of hip hop from around the globe. The excitement is palpable as we gear up for two days packed with jaw-dropping performances, interactive workshops, and live music that promise to electrify the Sadler’s Wells venues on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May. With an extraordinary lineup featuring international sensations like Femme Fatale (USA), Sons of Wind (France), and Jinjo crew (South Korea), alongside groundbreaking UK acts such as TRAPLORD, Boy Blue, and When Time Was New, this festival is set to showcase the dynamic and diverse world of hip hop dance theatre. Attendees of all ages can look forward to a vast array of activities including spectacular dance performances, bespoke graffiti workshops, freestyle sessions, and even live DJs sessions that guarantee to keep the energy high and the spirit of hip hop alive throughout the entire building. Not to mention, the festival coincides with the historic moment of breaking becoming an official Olympic sport at the Paris Olympics, adding an extra layer of exhilaration to the festivities. Beyond the performances, Breakin’ Convention 2024 invites audiences to engage directly with the hip hop community through unique events such as the Tiny… Read More

Opera Australia orchestrates a new era with Matthieu Arama as Concertmaster

24/04/2024

By James Banham

In a move that marks a significant milestone in its illustrious history, Opera Australia has announced the appointment of the renowned French violinist Matthieu Arama as the new Concertmaster of the Opera Australia Orchestra (OAO). This announcement follows an exhaustive global search, culminating in Mr. Arama’s selection, a testament to his extraordinary talent and leadership abilities. Set to join the OAO in August of this year, Arama brings with him a wealth of experience as the current Concertmaster of the Opéra National de Bordeaux, coupled with an impressive track record of performances with some of the world’s most distinguished conductors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by matthieu arama (@matthieu_arama) Arama’s role will be pivotal in steering the OAO towards achieving artistic brilliance across its broad annual repertoire, which spans over 250 opera, ballet, musical theatre, and concert performances for Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. His recent engagements as Guest Concertmaster for Opera Australia on iconic productions such as La Traviata and Swan Lake, alongside The Australian Ballet, and a solo recital featuring opera and ballet excerpts, underscore his extraordinary versatility and musicianship. The enthusiasm within the OAO is palpable, with Acting Concertmaster Huy-Nguen Bui expressing excitement over welcoming Arama to the helm. “The OAO is excited to welcome an exceptional violinist and musician as our new Concertmaster. We look forward to reaching the highest levels of music-making through Mr. Arama’s artistic leadership,” said Bui. This sentiment is echoed by Opera Australia’s CEO Fiona Allan, Artistic Director Jo Davies, The Australian Ballet’s… Read More

Lauren Brincat When Do I Breathe 2024. Performer Jasmin Lancaster. Photographer Zan Wimberley. Courtesy of the artist

Public performance in Randwick Sydney by artist Lauren Brincat

22/04/2024

By James Banham

This week, the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct will experience an exceptional infusion of art and community spirit through a public performance by the celebrated multidisciplinary artist Lauren Brincat. Scheduled for one-night only, on Wednesday, 24 April 2024, Brincat’s performance marks the launch of the new Laneway Art Program. This initiative, commissioned by the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct and supported by Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities program, seeks to enhance perceptions of safety for women, girls, and gender diverse people navigating the streets and laneways of the Precinct. Brincat, along with Rochelle Haley, another leading Australian artist, has been entrusted with the mission to improve night-time connectivity and comfort within the precinct through performance-based and site-specific artwork. Both artists have engaged directly with health workers in the area to shape their projects, aiming to make the public spaces more welcoming and to strengthen the sense of community, safety, and inclusiveness across the site. The artwork, titled When do I breathe?, is an ambitious collaboration with sound artist Evelyn Ida Morris, UNSW Choral Director Sonia Maddock, and choreographer Charmene Yap. It invites the public to actively participate in shaping new paths across the precinct, offering a unique experience that encompasses three activation sites within the UNSW Kensington and the hospital precinct. The performance, beginning at 5:00 pm on the UNSW Scientia Lawn, is a reflection on the interconnectedness of local communities, especially those separated by differing work shifts and daily rhythms. Aiming to reclaim public space through collective action, When do I breathe? presents an… Read More

Good news for National Gallery London: Eva Gonzalès piece acquired

22/04/2024

By James Banham

On the occasion of the artist’s 177th birthday on Friday 19th April, the National Gallery has acquired La Psyché (The Full-length Mirror), about 1869-70, by Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883) thanks to three generous legacy gifts from Mrs Martha Doris Bailey, Miss Gillian Cleaver, and Ms Sheila Mary Holmes, and the National Gallery Trust. This is the first acquisition by the Gallery of a work by Gonzalès and the second acquisition of its Bicentenary year. La Psyché has not been seen in public for over seventy years and joins only one other painting by her in a UK public collection, The Donkey Ride, about 1880?2, at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Gonzalès is the 20th female artist represented in the National Gallery Collection, marking a significant addition. The story of Gonzalès’s reputation, during and after her life, reflects some of the reasons why women artists are not well represented in the National Gallery. These include being offered fewer opportunities in life and the lack of interest shown, consciously or not, in works by women artists by collectors of the era and onwards, from whose acquisitions the National Gallery’s own collection was assembled. During her lifetime Gonzalès was an established artist who exhibited multiple times to acclaim at the official Paris Salon. She was the only official pupil of Edouard Manet (1832-83), with whom she studied from 1869. Gonzalès likely painted La Psyché around the same time that Manet was painting his portrait of her, Eva Gonzalès (1870). That work, in the Gallery collection, was the focal point of the recent exhibition, Discover Manet & Eva… Read More

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Shooshfest: Australia’s first ever silent short film competition

17/04/2024

By James Banham

Australia’s Shooshfest, an inaugural silent short film competition, invites diverse creators to innovate in storytelling sans speech. Promising an immersive experience, it will connect with audiences, honour silent film and catalyse cinematic culture.