Family Program Story by Tyrion Perkins The Book Gig is where drama students bring a book to life. Final year students from the University of Southern Queensland were given the book “White Crane,” the first in Sandy Fussell’s Samurai Kids series. Rather than act out the book, they decided to use it to inspire new scenes that explored similar themes. They performed four pieces. In the first, two tigers trained for a Samurai competition. One boasted she’d be first, and looked like she would, leaping up the mountain, until she froze, frightened of heights. The other tiger who was not likely to win, saw her fear and carried her on her back so she could win. Moderator Alan Cockerill then lead a discussion with the audience and author Sandy Fussell. The young audience was able to find links of themes with Sandy’s books including working together; everyone has some sort of strength even if you don’t see it; and forgiveness, through a scene with rat being charged in court for chopping off gecko’s arm. Sandy was surprised that forgiveness came out as one of the themes, as it was not clear in the first book, but became a major theme of the series.
0 Comments
School Program, Family Program and Adult Program Story by Megan Daley The opening night of the Narelle Oliver exhibition and the Story Arts Festival, on the 2nd of September, was a night to be remembered. It was an honour to have so many members of Narelle Oliver’s family in attendance, including her husband Greg, children Jesse and Liam and her father, who travelled from Toowoomba to be there and celebrate Narelle’s work. A packed room of adults and children enjoyed music, drinks, snacks and art…so much beautiful art. Narelle’s artwork stole the show and it was a privelage to be able to see the orignials from ‘I Want to Be in a Book’ and so many more of her works. The studio space was poignant, but gives a beautiful insight into how Narelle worked and the space in which she worked. Cecil AKA Lee Fullarton was in fine form and helped the Mayor of Ipswich to present students from Blair State School and Bethany Lutheran College with certificates of thanks for the artwork they produced in conjuction with the exhibition. The student artwork was beamed onto buildings in D’Arcy Doyle Place and there was much excited screaming as students saw their artwork brought to life through animation and then being beamed, large scale, across the Ipswich CBD. The Narelle Oliver Exhibition will be on display until 30th September. School, Adult and Family Program Story by Tyrion Perkins The exhibition of an illustrator’s work is always a highlight of the Story Arts Festival in Ipswich, but this year it took on new meaning as Narelle Oliver passed away during the planning stages in October last year. Jenny Stubbs, organiser of Story Arts, had first talked with Narelle about the exhibition in 2015. Jenny suggested focusing on her book “Rock Pool Secrets” that was due to come out in 2017, but Narelle said she was working on a new book that would include some of her artwork from past works. Thus the exhibition focused on “I want to be in a book.” When you walk into Ipswich Community Gallery, the character Cecil guides you through the exhibition of Narelle’s original artwork from the book, complete with handmade notes. He was a little outline drawing that sat on Narelle’s wall for many years, watching her make book after book. One day, she felt, he wanted to join in and be in a book himself. Thus, the book (and exhibition) shows his adventures as he has a go entering many of her other books, but eventually gets to have his own. You can take part with interactive elements by downloading an app to your phone or tablet. When you hover it over small pictures on the wall, Cecil starts to move about. This Augmented Reality component was created by Activate Entertainment, led by Tyronne Curtis. Watch Cecil move around the room, swim, and even blast off in a rocket. The exhibition was curated by Lee FullARTon who had first met Narelle in a festival ten years ago. They did an artist in residency together at Riverview State School with Darryl Bellingham. She has a lot of affection for Narelle and it was a work of love to put together the exhibition. Narelle’s husband, Greg, daughter Jessie Oliver and friend Megan Daley helped put together a replica of Narelle’s studio, complete with actual furniture, tools, and bits of artwork.
Also on display are some of her lino prints, and Lee showed students the painstaking process of carving one out. You can also flip through books of many recognisable art from her other books. Lee spent the week of Story Arts leading school students through the exhibition, and asked each what memory they would take with them? They said “The artwork,” “books,” “the studio,” and “how amazing Narelle must have been.” The exhibition also includes animations outside the gallery at 6.00-7.00pm each evening. These are drawn by students from Bethany Lutheran Primary School and Blair State School, and animated with elements of Narelle’s own work by Miles Blow and Jules Pitts. The exhibition will continue until the end of September with children’s workshops on 20th, 21th, and adults on 24th September. To book into the workshops go to idtl.net.au. You can even get to know the exhibition in detail, as Lee is also looking for volunteers to help for a day or even half a day. Shifts are 10am-1.30pm and 1.30pm-4.00pm. Email Jenny at [email protected] if you would like to help. Family Program Story by Tyrion Perkins How do you write a book with a virus as a main character? That was the question Ailsa Wild confronted when agreeing to help her scientist housemate get his work out to the world. He was writing papers about microbes, but hardly anyone was reading them. Ailsa had found science boring when at school, but working on this book changed her mind. She showed the small group of us the space-invader-like virus that attack bacteria. Together with the help from another researcher, an artist and graphic designer they came up with a story of a nurse in WWI who contracts dysentery, and is helped by the virus. They decided to do it as a graphic novel. Ailsa wanted minimal text, and the pictures to show a sense of movement. They spent two and a half years researching, writing as a script, storyboarding and discussing the artist’s sketches, right up to self publishing. I think all of us were amazed and excited how in-depth science could be told in comic book form. Ailsa then got us to have a go writing a script or storyboarding. Find out more at: https://theinvisiblewar.com.au/ Creators: Briony Barr & Gregory Crocetti Author: Ailsa Wild (with Dr. Jeremy Barr) Illustrator: Ben Hutchings Family Program Story by Tyrion Perkins Boys, girls and parents gathered to “Dance, Skip, Sparkle and Twirl through Stories” with author Natalie Jane Prior.
They made wands, lanterns and other craft, and heard a couple of stories from her book, “The Fairy Dancers.” A highlight was joining in a dance class with ballet teacher, Sam Lloyd, accompanied by ballerina, Ella. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and I think a few families may be watching some ballet shows soon. School, Family and Adult Program Story by Tyrion Perkins I still can’t believe there is a musical of Sigi Cohen’s and James Foley’s “My Dead Bunny.” And that’s after seeing it. Just two years ago I was hearing all about the funny/creepy book about a boy’s pet who comes back not quite right after death, and seeing the book trailer. Today I listened to the music and watched children around me tap their feet and even jig to some of the songs performed by That Production Company. It began with a bleak black and white set, the costuming and props matching the colour scheme of the book. The audience entered to the sound of creepy music that built up an atmosphere that lead to screams when lightning and thunder struck and Brad made his first appearance. The owner of Brad and his family sang the tail of how his poor pet met his electro-fried end, and how the boy came to dig him up. Brad was played by a large puppet when alive, and a silent but menacing Gary Farmer-Tricket in a green-tinged rabbit suit. The music was enjoyable. I particularly liked the one where Brad’s owner can’t sleep for the sounds of something “hopping down the hall.” The singers were all good, and the lead boy’s voice outstanding. We saw all the key moments in the book, with a few new events so it went for nearly an hour. The year five and six classes loved it, but I wouldn’t take the younger ones, as it is a bit scarier than the book. This stage version adapted by Cassandra Ramsay and Timothy Wynn with music and lyrics by Lizzie Flynn hits all the right notes. See it – if you dare... http://www.thatproductioncompany.com.au/ Family Program Story by Tyrion Perkins Animal Advocates took over Ipswich Library Mezzanine on Monday night when Samantha Wheeler and Rebecca Johnson arrived with bag loads of fluffy animals and other equipment. Samantha talked about the plight of wombats in South Australia which feature in her latest book, “Wombat Warriors.” She showed photos of the enormous burrows they dig on farms, and discussed what problems that those holes can cause the farmers and their animals. The young audience were horrified to hear the way the burrows are often dealt with and what it means for the wombats inside, and Sam discussed what alternatives there are and what the children could do to change what was happening. Rebecca Johnson, author of the two series, “Juliet Nearly a Vet” and “Vet Cadets,” lead a mini vet convention. Each child took a vet kit and animal and Rebecca showed them how and how to find a heartbeat and to use a stethoscope. She also discussed why a vet might need a notebook, what needles are for, and where is the best place to take an animal’s temperature. The children got to practice all the different things on their animals and it took a bit of working out where the essential organs are of some of the more unusual animals. But that is what a vet has to do! |
Blogging Team 2017
Tyrion Perkins ArchivesCategories
All
|