All about glass

JamFactory will run a dedicated retail space within the Museum of Economic Botany during celebrated American glass artist Dale Chihuly’s seven-month outdoor exhibition set to open in the Adelaide Botanic Garden this September.

The shop, which will sell the work of local artists alongside limited-edition Chihuly glass artworks and prints, will be in the museum space designed by Khai Liew that is usually used for temporary exhibitions. It is one of a number of initiatives planned as part of a collaboration between JamFactory and the Botanic Garden in the lead-up to the Chihuly in the Garden exhibition.

The not-for-profit craft and design organisation will also deliver a series of public events including glassblowing demonstrations, talks and other activities at its home in the Lion Arts Centre as part of the partnership announced today.

Seattle-based Chihuly is known worldwide for his brightly coloured creations and public projects, with the Adelaide display of large-scale sculptures and installations to be part of his Garden Cycle series inspired by a lifelong fascination with glasshouses. When it was first announced, Chihuly said he had sought an opportunity to return to Adelaide since he first presented work at JamFactory in 2000.

JamFactory CEO Brian Parkes says many of the studio’s own glass artists have studied and/or taught at the Pilchuck Glass School established by Chihuly in Seattle.

“This is a great opportunity for visitors to discover the breadth of glassblowing talent within South Australia inspired by Chihuly, plus we invite visitors to come and view the largest hot glass studio in the Southern Hemisphere right on North Terrace,” he says.

Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium director Michael Harvey says that during the seven-month Chihuly in the Garden show, a series of activations will allow visitors to experience the art outside of usual opening hours “and in a variety of exciting ways”.

Emma Webb to farewell Vitals

Vitalstatistix artistic director Emma Webb. Photo: Morgan Sette / supplied

After 14 years leading Vitalstatistix, Emma Webb is stepping down from her role as artistic director and co-CEO, saying she believes the time is right for “a new era and generation of leadership” at the Port Adelaide-based arts organisation.

Vitals made the announcement at the end of last week, saying that the sold-out Adelaide Festival season of I Hide in Bathrooms – a world premiere work by Astrid Pill and collaborators presented by the company as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations – would be Webb’s swansong.

“It’s been an absolute honour to lead Vitals and to have the opportunity to really make a difference over a lengthy period of service,” Webb said in a statement.

“I’m delighted to leave the organisation with a solid vision and funding in place for its work in the future of progressive and experimental art in Australia, and I can’t wait to see what comes next and be a very regular audience member. And I am very proud to join the legendary and bolshy alumni of artistic directors of Vitalstatistix!”

Vitalstatistix chair Angela Flynn said Webb left an extraordinary legacy, paying tribute to her tireless advocacy for independent artists and the small to medium arts sector. The board will begin the recruitment process for a new artistic director in the coming weeks.

And the Fringe winners are…

Margot Mansfield’s B.L.I.P.S. has won the Edinburgh Fringe Award.

With another frenetic Fringe season coming to an end, the 2024 award winners were announced at a ceremony last Sunday at the Dom Polski Centre.

A total of 47 shows were recognised, ranging from Adelaide-raised acrobat Margot Mansfield’s debut solo circus show B.L.I.P.S. (Edinburgh Fringe Award) to the searing play Blood of the Lamb (Adelaide Critics Award) and SA performer Stephen Noonan’s children’s show the Boy & the Ball (Frank Ford Award).

Other winners included Kylan Ambrum for Aboriginal Comedy Allstars (best emerging producer), The Tumour Show (Adelaide Festival Centre’s INSPACE Fringe Award), and Dirty Energy and Trail’s End (joint winners of the Holden Street Theatres Adelaide Fringe Award).

Thanks to a new collaboration between Adelaide Fringe and philanthropic platform House of Oz, five Fringe artists also received the House of Oz Purse Prize, which gives them an opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe in August. The recipients were Gravity and Other Myths, with Ten Thousand Hours; Lewis Major, for a repertoire of works; Yozi, with No Babies in the Sauna; Clockfire Theatre, with Plenty of Fish in the Sea; and Michelle Pearson, with Mixtape Australia.

See the full list of 2024 Adelaide Fringe winners here, and catch up with all InReview’s Fringe coverage here.

Have your say with Music SA

Members of the music industry have until the end of this month to take part in Music SA’s new annual survey aimed at tracking changes across South Australia’s contemporary music sector and helping with its approach to advocacy.

As well as demographic data, the survey (here) includes questions regarding the top things that could drive the growth of the industry in SA, barriers to audiences attending live music, accessibility of spaces, and the key issues currently facing the sector. It closes at midnight on March 31.

Artist callout for exhibition

South Australian artists living with disability are invited to register their interest in the Myriad Art Exhibition, which will be presented at the State Library of South Australia during the 2024 SALA Festival.

The exhibition is presented annually by not-for-profit disability support organisation Community Living Australia, with the 2023 show featuring work by 69 South Australian artists.

Entry is free and open to any artist (or group of artists) living in South Australia who identifies as living with disability and is aged 16 and over. The expressions of interest period ends on March 28, after which official registrations will open on April 1 (details here).

The early bird catches the discount

Still on the subject of SALA, those wanting to register their exhibition, open studio or special event for this year’s festival have until April 8 to take advantage of earlybird rates.

Full-price registrations will close on May 8, as will the opportunity for registered artists and venues to apply for the various SALA awards and opportunities (here).

Green Room is a regular column for InReview, providing quick news for people interested, or involved, in South Australian arts and culture.

Get in touch by emailing us at editorial@solsticemedia.com.au

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