Art Smitten - The Podcast

Zack and Ben spoke to ØFFËRINGŠ, artist and founder of UnitePlayPerform, about her design week installation Design Your Own Universe. You can find UnitePlayPerform on Instagram. You can listen to Art Smitten live every Saturday from 12pm on SYN 90.7. Get in touch with the show on our Instagram @artsmittensynSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benjamin sat down with artistic director of the Children's International Film Festival (CHIFF), Thomas Caldwell, to chat about developments in cinema and programming for children. To find out more about CHIFF go to https://www.chiff.com.au/. Art Smitten airs live every Saturday from 12pm. Get in touch with the show on our Instagram, @artsmittensyn Find us on SYN at http://syn.org.au/show/art-smitten/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ai Yamamoto and Dan West are musicians, instrumentalists, producers, composers and educators. Ai collects sounds from field recordings, sounds from our daily lives and game sounds, creating textures and flowing melodies in her work. Dan fuses sounds from both people and machines from within his custom shipping container sound lab. For Art Smitten, we spoke with them about their upcoming performance at the Neon Parlour art gallery over in Thornbury for this year’s Spring Darebin FUSE festival. They will be creating a great immersive experience within the space on the 10th and 11th of September at 8pm so don’t miss out! For more information and to book your tickets, click here.  Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here at Art Smitten, we chatted with local Naarm filmmaker Lucie McMahon about her documentary film, Things Will Be Different.  The film explores community, the impact of losing one’s home and the important role that public housing plays in so many people’s lives. The film follows residents who are forced to relocate from the Walker Street estate in Northcote after it is sold for private development. The first screening of the film which includes a walking tour will take place on Saturday the 10th of September for the Darebin FUSE Festival.  The second screening takes place on Sunday the 18th of September at the Thornbury Picture House.  Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the flagship youth arts organisation Western Edge comes Distortion - a genre-ending and time trippy production that will be unlike anything you have seen before. Distortion will be playing at Wyndam Cultural Centre, Footscray Community Arts Centre and the Bowery Theatre in St Albans from the 3rd to the 17th of September.  We chatted with lead artist Clarisse Bonello and co-artistic director John Marc Desengano all about Western Edge and the upcoming Distortion.  For more info and to book tickets click here. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joseph O'Farrell (JOF) is a Melbourne/Naarm based artist and the creative director of White Night. Known for his own large-scale installations focused on accessibility and inclusivity, JOF’s aim with his work is to develop art that adds value to the community. Here at Art Smitten, we spoke with him about an event that does just that. White Night is a celebration of arts, culture and community. It will take place in Bendigo on Saturday 3 September and over in Geelong on Saturday 8 October. Don’t miss it! For more info check out: https://whitenight.com.au/bendigo/  https://whitenight.com.au/geelong/  Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raphael Recht is a Naarm/Melbourne based rapper, performer, photographer, creative director, health advocate and more. Art Smitten EP Cristina spoke with him about his new album titled Lifexpectancy. Dubbed a hip-hop musical journey, Lifexpectancy is the soundtrack to Raph’s life experiences, including growing up with cystic fibrosis and having the opportunity to meet and perform with the one and only Michael Jackson back in 1997 which helped shape his love for performing. Lifexpectancy is out now, which you can listen to and purchase here. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca is an Australian artist and educator, with a special focus on print-making, textiles and dyeing techniques. She has exhibited her work throughout Australia including the RMIT gallery and the Canberra Contemporary art space. Art Smitten host Mherhean spoke with Rebecca about the art exhibition titiled Above the Canopy at Town Hall Gallery. The exhibition showcases Australia’s diverse natural environment and its relationship to climate change, which is especially relevant now. Her work, along with many other artists is now showing. The exhibition is open until Saturday the 24th of September.  For more info click here. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sullivan Patten is a DJ, producer and curator who has worked in the arts industry for almost two decades, both in Australia and overseas. Headed by Sullivan is the upcoming winter music festival in St. Kilda, Southside Live. Southside Live will be taking place over 10 days, from Friday the 24th of June to Sunday the 3rd of July.  Grab a coat and some friend and go see some great Australian acts perform including Mitch Tambo, Hiatus Kayote, Adalita and Briggs this Winter! Click here for more info and to see the entire lineup. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penny Harpham is the executive Director of Western Edge - a not-for-profit arts organisation that works to create safe places for young artists in Melbourne’s west and give their work a platform.  Along with Tariro Mavondo, she co-directed the upcoming theatre/film hybrid work titiled The Retreat.  The Retreat was brought to life and written and performed by the Sub30 Collective. The Sub30 Collective are also the first ensemble of artists to go through the Level Up Professional Development Program at Western Edge. The Retreat will premiere this week, at 7pm on Friday the 10th of June at Wyndham Cultural Centre over in Weribee so make sure you check it out. Click here for more info and to book your tickets. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 'photomaker' of many years - Robert Earp honed his craft through film photography when he was a uni student and found himself exhibited in the National Gallery of Victoria with an image from only his third roll of film.  He took his unique conceptual photography to the commercial sector for many years, and has made his way full circle back to the art world. Here on Art Smitten, we spoke with him about his collaborative exhibition with artist and “glambassador of intersexuality”  Venus Tomarz.  The exhibition, titled Venus Virgin Tomarz is open from Tuesday the 24th of May to Saturday the 4th of June over at fortyfivedownstairs in Flinders Lane.  For more information, click here. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten hosts Rachael and Cristina had the pleasure of speaking with Richard Sowada, the director of the 2022 St Kilda Film Festival.  With decades of experience in the arts sector, Richard gave us some insight into the changing nature of film festivals today and how important it is to give young, emerging filmmakers a platform.  This year's St Kilda Film Festival runs from Friday the 27th of May to Sunday the 5th of June. Click here for more information on the festival and to book your tickets!  Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten had the pleasure of speaking with photographer Marziya Mohammedali. They spoke about their protest photography and how it differs from written journalism, as well as how it influences the way they approach education. Marziya is currently studying for a PhD focusing on identity, activism and photography, at Edith Cowan University. Their photography work can be seen here.  Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten host Chris had the absolute pleasure of speaking with comedian Aidan Jones. Inspired by his grandpa's antics and the fact that Aidan himself has been fired from 14 jobs in his life, Pap is his new and explosive comedy show.  Pap is showing every single night up until the 24th of April.  Click here for more information and to buy tickets.  Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zaib Abbas is a student and one of the co-curators for Emergent 2021: VCE Graduate Showcase. The exhibition showcases the achievements of local students upon completing the VCE subjects: Studio Art, Media, Product Design and Technology, and Visual Communication and Design.  We spoke to Zaib about why she wanted to be part of it, how she and her fellow curators settled on the themes for the show and how they undertook the difficult job of deciding which students to showcase.  The exhibition runs from Saturday the 2nd of April to Saturday the 16th of April at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren.  For more information click here. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Triple threat Ruby Teys speaks with Art Smitten host Nick all about starring in the upcoming show, Schapelle Schapelle: The Musical for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.  The high-energy musical comedy satirises the highly publicised, media sensationalised story surrounding Schapelle Corby and her arrest for drug-smuggling in Bali in 2005.  Schapelle Schapelle: The Musical is showing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival throughout April. Click here for tickets and more info.  Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten host Nick had a great time speaking with comedian Floyd Alexander-Hunt whose upcoming show, Highly Strung will be showing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from 31 March to 24 April.  She spoke all about how she got started in comedy through studying law at university, and the awkward moments when her partner's family went to see her comedy show.  To get tickets to her show, click here. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten host Cristina spoke with cinematographer and editor Alana Tompson on her involvement with the Made in Rezza exhibition for FUSE Festival Darebin. She created short documentaries showcasing the featured artists within the exhibition, speaking about the need for local support of the arts.  For more info on the Made in Rezza exhibition, click here. Be sure to follow @artsmittensyn on Instagram, and tune in to SYN 90.7FM every Wednesday at 4pm-6pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jazz You is holding a fundraiser to help support those involved in the Melbourne arts industry after suffering through 2 years of lockdowns and job insecurity. To support these performers and promote positive mental health, Jazz has organised a fundraiser with the hopes to raise $15,000 for the Arts Wellbeing Collective.  With loads of entertainment including comedian Frank Woodley and magician Tim Ellis, it is a night not to miss for a great cause. The fundraiser will be held this Friday the 18th of March, and you can get your tickets here.  You can also donate to their GoFundMe here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Art Smitten host Cristina spoke with the incredible Jane Harrison - playwright (Stolen, The Visitors, Rainbow's End) and director of the upcoming First Nations Literary Festival, Blak & Bright.  She spoke about the need for Blak storytelling and connection to country, as well as the many great sessions to come, and her favourite books right now.  The Blak & Bright Festival takes place from 17-20 March in Naarm/Melbourne. Visit blakandbright.com.au for tickets and info.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.