Stone's Style – Jessica Simon, A Life in Fashion

A new fashion exhibition opening at the Gold Museum Ballarat, will showcase the fashions of one of Ballarat’s most prominent figures during the mid-20th century, Jessica Simon (née Stone). Fashion director, clothing designer, retailer, philanthropist, world traveller and local style icon, Jessica Simon was a key figure in Ballarat’s fashion history.

Love, Desire and Riches

Barwon Park Mansion presents Love, Desire and Riches – The Fashion of Weddings. A collection of over 50 famous and rarely seen wedding gowns and accessories sourced from around the world. Romance is never without drama and costumes from great moments in literature and film will be placed along side real life love stories of the women and men of Melbourne.

Abigail’s Party

Mad As Us / Geelong Production Company is proud to present Abigail’s Party – a wickedly black comedy that has gained a cult status in the theatre world since its debut in 1977. Come see what all the fuss is about and join the party in Beverley and Laurence’s London ‘70s lounge room- a night you won’t forget. Starring Libby Tanner, Brad Beales, Lauren O’Callaghan, Clare Springett and Scott Middleton.

Art of Bradman Exhibition

‘The Don’ finally plays Geelong! An exhibition experience like no other, this amazing cricketing feast features over 50 selected original works by renowned artist Brian Clinton. The exhibition will include rare Bradman objects, memorabilia and images – some never before seen on public display – and artifacts from Geelong’s cricket tradition.

12 x 12 Plays

Local writers and performers from across the region bring 12 original plays to the Potato Shed. Each play is 12 minutes long. Some deal with the darker side of life while others will have you laughing in the aisles. This very popular series of original works is a must-see end of the year dramatic treat not to be missed.

Arti

While many people think being an artist may be the easiest thing in the world, making a living from it is actually a pretty tough act. That’s where the new app idea, Arti, by Codeacious comes in. They’ve designed an app for you iPhone, Samsung or whatever contraption you may have – provided it can download apps of some sort – where you can buy and sell artworks, but it’s so much more than that. We had a chat with app designer Ian Priddle, about the ins and outs of the app and how you can help make it a reality.

Graphic Design at The Gordon

With another successful year ticked off, The Gordon Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design students are in the process of putting the finishing touches on their portfolios. From corporate branding, product packaging, great digital media and illustrations, the folios are brimming with eye-catching and attention to detail pieces.

Ghanda: The story behind the cherished Torquay-born clothing label

Step into any one of the 20-plus Ghanda stores across Australia and you’ll find rack after rack of colourful slogans and detailed illustrations printed onto all your wardrobe essentials. It’s easy to appreciate the designs at face value, but you mightn’t fully realise how they came to be.

Odyssey Film Festival

As a student it can be a hard fete trying to get your work taken seriously outside of the schooling community, but thanks to Trent Edwards, Media Studies teacher at Lara Secondary College and the Youth Development Unit at CoGG, it’s become a little bit easier.

Analogue Academy

What started as a friendship at work and a mutual love for the arts and photography, Daniel Horvat, James Cox and Joshua Maxwell de Hoog have since turned their passions into Analogue Academy: a café, gallery and film processing lab with the possibility to flow beyond that.

Daylesford Highland Gathering

Gather your clan and come join us for the Daylesford Highland Gathering and enjoy a wee bit of Scotland in the picturesque tourist town of Daylesford. The Gathering includes a captivating Street March and a full day of drumming, piping and dancing at the picturesque Victoria Park, located at the southern entrance of Daylesford. Market stalls will tempt the tartan in you!

Kitty Flanagan

She may be seen as a woman who gets easily frustrated at things, but Kitty Flanagan has just as many loves as she does hates and Geelong just happens to be one of the former. “My favourite thing about touring is getting out and going outside the bigger cities,” she says.

Retrospective – Justin Gummer

Explore the fascinating world of wool embroidered canvas-work. With a bountiful use of colour and texture, Justin’s works are sewn by hand, and are designed to inspire, challenge and move. Every stitch breathes a life of its own.

Pivotonian Cinema

Jessica Litsas and Mark Walker are bringing life to an old idea, with their independent cinema officially open for a pop up Summer season at the Ukrainian Hall on Pakington St. Amidst organising their program launch, and hanging of the screen, I had the chance to sit down with the pair for a much needed coffee break.

Conversations With Mediums

What happens when we die? Are loved ones and friends still around us after they pass? How do babies represent as souls? Bestselling author and award-winning journalist, Scott Podmore, went on a mission to investigate many different theories, which he reveals in his latest book, Conversations With Mediums.

Ballarat Cup

A day shaped by racing tradition; the Ballarat Cup is the perfect way to celebrate the end of an always-spectacular Spring Racing Carnival. Reminisce with friends from the past, soak up the colourful atmosphere and enjoy the roar of the crowd as the finest thoroughbreds battle it out down the straight.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)

Who’s afraid of William Shakespeare? We aren’t. We are going to make Big Willy memorable as short and funny. This is a romp through all thirty-seven of Will Shakespeare’s plays and aims to out-Python Monty. A small number of brave actors will brazenly blend the best of Shakespeare with the bottom of the absurdity barrel.

Creative Design Market

Held only three times a year the market is held in the historic Wintergarden Precinct on McKillop Street Geelong. The market attracts designers from all over the region, artists with the gift to make beautiful and desirable pieces. Are you looking for a delightful present or treat for a friend?

The Tea Guy

For many tea is a chance to take some time out, to drink while catching up with friends or to satisfy those mid-afternoon cravings, but for Benjamin Neoh of Modern Tea, it was the perfect escape during a rough time of his life. “It was only when I started to have trouble with my mental health that I went to a naturopath and I tried all the tinctures and disgusting concoctions they give you,” Ben said, his expression reliving the moment.

Broadway, Here I Come!

This showcases the talent of the GSODA Junior Players with musical numbers from stage and screen. Featuring songs from classic shows such as “Pippin”, “Chicago”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie and “Sister Act”, and from modern hits such as “Book of Morman”, “Matilda”, “Wicked”, “Avenue Q” and “Legally Blonde”, the show has something for everyone.

COSI

A hilarious and touching comedy about a recent university graduate who is hired to direct the residents of a psychiatric facility in a show. One forceful resident convinces Lewis to direct the Mozart opera, “Cosi Fan Tutte” – but no one can sing!

St. Goliath

It isn’t every day that you get three Aussie blokes so passionate about menswear that they decide to start a mens clothing line out of their garage, which is essentially what the founders of St. Goliath did way back in 2003. Today, the designs you see on St. Goliath clothing are all due to a very lovely man named Paul Cooper, the head designer for two years at St. Goliath.

Clementine Ford

Emma Watson’s UN speech might have sparked conversations about equality, and while this was a one-off for the actress, advocating change is something Clementine Ford does on a daily basis. While Emma’s speech was created for a specific event, everything Clementine does originated from a much more organic process. Once she was aware of the inequality in Australia, she began calling herself a feminist and advocating for social change.

Courthouse ARTS: The Collective

“We can’t change the past but we can certainly change the environment now to one that people will want to be involved in,” Courthouse ARTS general manger Jamie Smith says. After joining the team about six months ago, Jamie saw the opportunity in restructuring the organisation to achieve the best in its ability. As a result big things are about to change for the youth arts centre. The venue itself isn’t changing, but the roles within it are.

 

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