From afar great success often seems so effortless and obvious but when the stories involved get told things often are more complicated and the joys of success can seem more legitimate, more earned.

The story of Franki Valli and his three mates, who together became the Four Seasons and for this production, The Jersey Boys is another where serendipity plays a large role but an abundance of talent, at least for a couple of the quartet, sits at the core of the phenomenon. Three hungry, randy teenagers spy greatness and girls through the end of a microphone and happen upon a great song writing talent (in Bob Gaudio) that can deliver on the vision.

Their years together, making it and breaking it and prevailing (at least for Valli and Gaudio) have all the elements of a great story. The music they created, like few other groups that started when they did, has survived now two whole generations and seems likely to comfortably make it through another.

The Jersey Boys production is as good a modern musical as you will see. As mentioned, the story is excellent, bolstered by its authenticity, but it is the music that separates this from its peers – it seems impossible now that one could compare A Chorus Line to this in regards to quality and entertainment. Hit after hit, melodies to get your feet tapping, hands clapping and mind wondering back into one’s past just keep coming.

No expense and element of professionalism is spared in this production with live music, quality singing and acting and a staging that seems infinitely flexible. So good were the performances of Valli and Gaudio by Jeff Madden and Bob Declan respectively that one almost believed they were their characters brought back from 50 years ago.

Anyone who is a fan of Four Seasons music or musical theatre would be a fool to miss out on The Jersey Boys – simply this is a theatrical highlight of this year and for a great many others as well.

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Done mostly in liquid graphite, with a couple also in pencil, with an array of colours used monochromatically as the background, Clarke just about covers the field of contemporary comedians, from Shaun Micallef to the Sandman and Josh Thomas to Fiona O’Loughlin. Her inspirations for comedy are the Doug Anthony Allstars, so it is no surprise they consume the largest canvas and amongst them she sees Paul McDermott as a role model as he too is an artist.

Tom Gleeson confronted with his own portrait and when asked for his reaction said, ‘flattering, really flattering’ and no doubt others featured in town for the Fringe will drop to catch a peek of their likeness.

Using only images and her own perceptions of the artists, all feature enlarged eyes but some are laughing, others quizzical and Wil Anderson looks positively scholarly.

Next steps for Julia are the finals of RAW Comedy this week and later in the year she is off to Edinburgh for the big fringe to see how it is all done. This work will certainly place her in good stead as she pursues her twin passions. Go see it if no other reasons as exhibitions about the Fringe at the Fringe (like also Gary Cockburn’s photographs) is a genre that needs encouragement.

Kryztoff Rating  4K

See all Kryztoff’s previews at www.kryztoff.com and all our reviews here at www.kryztoff.com/RAW and remember also to subscribe for Adelaide’s most up to date reviews. To win free tix, join us also on Facebook and Twitter.

To see reviews of shows not covered by Kryztoff go to BankSA Talkfringe at www.talkfringe.com.au.

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When did that happen? I don’t know. I believe it was last friday. It was really hot and I was in a bright white room drinking free alcohol when it was suddenly inundated by scores of colourful, shining, vibrant people who’s energy gave off an intensive amount of radiant heat that added to the heat already in the room. My brain began to sweat. Was it real? I remember walking up a staircase that came off Hindley street…

There was a blurred array of faces, they all seemed to be based off the same template. Although some of them appeared not to follow the template at all and were merely morphed & amorphous renderings of the colour spectrum that flashed across my amygdala.

The madness I am referring to is the opening night of a recent exhibition held by local graffiti, street and underground artists. The basis of the exhibition was a grafiti template, sprayed onto a piece of wood made by Store of Toy Soldiers Crew fame www.flickr.com/photos/toysoldierscrew.

The blank template was handed out to the various artists that contributed to the show in order to fill in with their own imagination and the results are studied and multitudinous in the variety of their scope. Many of the pieces were created by prominent graf artists from around Adelaide and happily you may recognise some of their styles as talented graffiti pieces have become more and more accepted and patroned around town.

Paper String Plastic is hosting Bird Calls, an exhibition of six female performers ranging from song to spoken word as part of the fringe throughout next week, check out the facebook page for details
www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=126645234073543

And the gallery is always a good place to check out whats going on with talented local artists from around town at the moment. Artists are an outsiders’ commentary on the world and on life in a particular moment. They document the world as it was at a particular moment in time and we should support them in their mission! As a wise woman once said to me before of thousands of people in a voice that only I could hear..; You should support your artists!! Buy Something and put it in your house. Treasure it because it means something!! Great art is amazing, and it’s rare, and it should be, coz that’s what good is. It’s amazing and it’s rare and it means something.

Never overlook the importance of art.

Head up the stairs at 99a Hindley st. to check out the template exhibition and the permamnent exhibition on display there too
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Paper-String-Plastic/139410616112175

for more photos look here
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=100000418422483&aid=51360

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By Socratos

Buskers Of Adelaide, a fringe photography exhibition by Matt Carty
Love Adelaide (Upstairs @ the old Lizard Lounge), Light Square House, Level 1, 9 Light Square
Open for two more weeks – Wed
nesday through Friday until March 11 9am – 3pm

Matt Carty has attempted to undertake an archival historical recording of some of the colorful characters that light up our streets. The shots are rendered in beautiful rich black and white which give focus and ambiguity to the frames and a depth of richness all at once.

Matt’s career began as a sports and news photographer for the country times newspaper his home town of Kadina. From there he went on to study photography and established himself as a free-lance in the news battle around Adelaide. He eventually worked his way up the ranks (with a brief stint in QLD) to senior photographer at the Advertiser and had three of his shots published on the front page. After about 7 months he decided that his passion for photography burned strong however his passion for being an obligated member-of-staff did not. So he (wisely) left The Advertiser (a move which in my mind establishes him with limitless journalistic credibility) and set up his own full time photography business. Matt also exhibits his personal works at various establishments across Adelaide.

Included in the shots are some familiar faces who most people will likely recognise. There’s Andy the Chap-Man who plays that intriguingly exotic looking upright multi-stringed concoction that looks like a bass and a guitar put together on the one neck and sounds like a harp. It’s actually called a Chapman stick. www.myspace.com/andysalvanos

Also in the shots are Peter Hacquoil, Izera, and Chris Dewin and  who may be recognised respectively as ;
The piano guy; Yes he actually carries a PIANO with him every time he goes busking! Peter may often be found on busy street corners laying down atmospheric piano-key moods. Find him on facebook; Adelaide Piano Busker, he is available for parties & private functions.

The crazy long haired dude who is kick @$$ at keyboards; aka Izera. Lately to be found teaming up with fellow street performer Iddi who does acrobatics and the limbo to the beats. You should buy one of Izera’s cd’s. I reckon they will be collectors items in 30 years time. But only if you have insurance, cause you might break your back trying to do an acrobatic limbo to it.

The Mandolin Gypsy; often found to have an affinity with tie-dyed shirts, Chris Dewin has been busking for somewhere between 20 & 25 years. Strangely enough he originally started busking to overcome stage fright! besides his mandolin you may find him creating the soundwaves with a formidable array of instruments.
www.youtube.com/ChrisDewin

Mark Jory & Greg Wain are both teachers so if you see them around and you’ve always been thinking about refining your tinkering on the old six-string you should talk to them! Greg’s email is gmusoz@gmail.com

The brochure provided at the exhibition is the best place to get information on the buskers themselves so you should go there and get one!

Kryztoff Rating  3.5K
info@mattcartyphotography.com.au
http://www.mattcartyphotography.com.au

See all Kryztoff’s previews at www.kryztoff.com and all our reviews here at www.kryztoff.com/RAW and remember also to subscribe for Adelaide’s most up to date reviews. To win free tix, join us also on Facebook and Twitter.

To see reviews of shows not covered by Kryztoff go to BankSA Talkfringe at www.talkfringe.com.au.

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As with past years, the breadth of the styles is matched only by their quality – from photography to sculpture, needlework to blown glass.

Ruby Chew has created three large canvasses (top right) in kitsch 1950’s ‘hyper reality’ style that aim to reveal the inner qualities of her sitters that intrigue and grow on you the more you examine them. David Suter and Tom Squires have created substantial sculptures, Suter’s Orb, (centre) a 150cm diameter concrete sphere, looks like some moon rock and Squires’ Model For Philipp Mainlander Piece (left) is a tall multi layered rectangular cuboid that stretches to the ceiling. Both have small adjunct pieces; Suter’s has a moon that goes with his earth and Squires has small, almost stool like piece of not dissimilar proportion to Suter’s, the meaning of which may require Tom’s input.

The glass work of Zoe Woods I have covered previously in our review of the Uni SA Visual arts exhibitions as too the photography of Alice Blanch and Carly Snoswell’s fascinating web like forms constructed only from plastic fastening loops. They remain highlights even in this bigger field. (See: Uni SA Grad Exhibition Review Pt 3, Uni SA Grad Exhibition Review Pt 2, Uni SA Grad Exhibition Review Pt 1

While commercial success is not always a great measure of quality, the preponderance of red dots at this year’s exhibition even after a few days speaks volumes if nothing else for a public awareness of the excellence of our visual arts schools and the Helpmann Academy’s efforts to promote them.

This is a quality exhibition and adds to the Fringe’s reputation as genuine visual arts festival in its own right to partner SALA.

Kryztoff Rating  4K

See all Kryztoff’s previews at www.kryztoff.com and all our reviews here at www.kryztoff.com/RAW and remember also to subscribe for Adelaide’s most up to date reviews. To win free tix, join us also on Facebook and Twitter.

To see reviews of shows not covered by Kryztoff go to BankSA Talkfringe at www.talkfringe.com.au.

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As he states in his Artist Statement, Cockburn seeks to ‘capture as much of the energy, beauty and passion of the Fringe as possible’ and he achieves that admirably again. His photographs drip with beautiful colours (his reds a feature), are infused with skilled use of light and carry subtle use of mood and motion to lift what may otherwise be considered mundane. At all times he looks to capture Cartier-Bresson’s decisive moment and his Opening Parade Preparations, Gilbert Street and Sam Simmons Backstage are two of the best of this exhibition.

If there is criticism to be levelled it is that the form of presentation as large amalgams of images, rather than spaced out, tends to detract from the excellence of each.

Another important way to see and experience the Fringe.

Kryztoff Rating  4.5K

See all Kryztoff’s previews at www.kryztoff.com and all our reviews here at www.kryztoff.com/RAW and remember also to subscribe for Adelaide’s most up to date reviews. To win free tix, join us also on Facebook and Twitter.

To see reviews of shows not covered by Kryztoff go to BankSA Talkfringe at www.talkfringe.com.au.

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Shoot the Messenger is a collection of photography by Craig Beaumont, Jayson Hay, Damien Hicks and Dan Wearn, celebrating the comradery of pushbike couriers, sharing with the public what they see in their relatively unusual profession.  There are approximately eighteen pushbike couriers within the Adelaide area, some of whom have been doing this for a long time, the longest working in the industry for sixteen years, and this small group has a strong and friendly culture.

The opening night featured musicians Siva Kokanat, providing mellow tunes on Acoustic guitar, Peter Dorrian and Anthony Jaeshky playing funkier folsky tunes on an upright accordian and acoustic guitar and DJ L with hip hop inspired tunes with a flavour of soul, funk and jazz.  All the photographers and musicians are themselves couriers and this is their first Fringe event that they have organised together as a group.

I spoke to photographer Craig Beaumont, who said organising this event was a huge learning curve and that the last four months, since registering in October, had been a very busy time for them all.  Both himself and Jayson Hay are professional photographers and Dan Wearn and Damien Hicks are passionate amatuers.  They provided glimpses of Adelaide from the unique perspective of the pushbike couriers as well as glimpses of the couriers.  The shots captured motion and those moments of pause with skill, exploring varied perspectives and angles of this city.  The group wished to showcase the diversity of talents of these messengers who provide an important service making sure Adelaide businesses receive their urgent documents and packages promptly and courteously.

Speaking to the couriers, they told me the best aspects of their job was not having a boss looking over their shoulders and getting paid to ride their bikes around all day – and of course the hot receptionists and all the choccies and sugar fixes from the desks of those receptionists.  Their job keeps them in quite hot shape too, in a role where timeliness and speed is important, there are State, National and World titles where the messengers compete to discover who is the best; this is one occupation where fitness is a requisite.  Adelaide last held the National titles here in 2008, with approximately forty-five competitors attending, even nationally this is a close knit group.

Check out the Old Exchange from 24th – 26th February to get a look into the world of Adelaide’s own messengers.

Kryztoff Rating  3.5K

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The projection screens display images of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and various refugees from Asia and Africa, all of various ages but mainly younger ones, captured in a Migrant Resource Centre SA, Arts initiative.

In it you have the wise, the young, the battered, the beautiful, cute, the happy and the sad, siblings, partners, mates and families. As promoted in the handout, they are seemingly optimistic about their lives and their new surroundings and potential for contribution to this country.

The second part of the exhibition is three containers at ground level (below the projection screens) each with large scale art works, in one fabric cubes with inflated condoms strewn about (thanks to the SA Sex Industry Network!) In another fake pink rocks made of chicken wire wrapped in a grey PVC duct tape and the last, entitled Dirty Money Money, is a suitcase full of the folding stuff locked within a mesh cage.

If you are driving down Morphett Street, you can’t miss this new construction at the southern end of Light Square. However, whether you should do much more than notice it is quite a different thing. Indeed, the question has to be asked as to why has so much time and money been put into this form of presentation when a hire of a gallery could have achieved the same outcome.

The fact there are 80-100 cushions provided for people to lay out to view the images belies the actual need which casual observation would seem to suggest at no more than a dozen a night. Further, it is not clear what the connection is between the images and the art rooms unless it all about trafficking of boat people but then that has little to do with aborigines.

Lovely images of our new and indigenous youth, pity about the method and cost of facilitating us seeing them.

Kryztoff Rating  2.5K

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