The annual Newman Film Festival is coming up on Sunday, September 19! Starting at 5pm at the Newman Recreation Centre, the afternoon will feature live music, bbq, dancing and premiere a number of short films made by young people in Newman and the Martu Desert Stories crew. See the Pilbara from a different perspective!

For those who can’t make it, stay tuned to the CuriousWorks site for film highlights!

Click on the flier below for a bigger version.

*To VJ: to conduct a live visual performance.*

Ever dreamed of projecting onto a skyscraper? Building visual awesomeness to accompany your favourite band? Sharing your photography or home videos in a more creative way?

Then this is the workshop for you.

Learn practical skills – creative and technical – in VJ’ing and share your first VJ set with a group of the lovely SHARE folk at the CuriousWorks warehouse.

Over two hours, you’ll receive hands-on training and create your first VJ set.

The price? A measly $30. There are 10 places only – we want to keep this workshop intimate, so everyone gets to really make and learn something.

Book a place at the workshop now – simply by sending your contact details to workshops@curiousworks.com.au with “VJ Workshop” in the subject line. We’ll take it from there.

Details:
Sunday, 5 September 2010
3-5pm VJ Workshop ($30)
5-9pm Share Sydney (Free)
402/11 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Directions: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/contact/
No BYO

The workshops are suitable for those who:
- Are first timers
- Want a burst of creative ideas and thinking around showcasing their visual work
- Have been dabbling and seriously need to spend some one-on-one time with someone who can answer your fiddly technical questions

Tutors and respective VJ Software:
* Joe aka sqgl – Arkaos + MIDI mapping
* George aka Subpixel – Neon v2 (Open Source+Free)
* Robert Moorman – Resolume (or Final Cut Pro Editing)
* Jolanta aka VJ lullaby – Modul8 + Numark mixer hardware
* Bart aka Videokidz – Modul8 + image mapping techniques

Demos of their work can be found at http://sharesydney.spruz.com/videoprofiles.htm

After the workshop, as the Sunday afternoon turns to dusk, you can share your new-found knowledge and jam with other VJ’s and electronic musicians, as CuriousWorks hosts its first SHARE Sydney.

Share Sydney is a regular open multimedia jam, the likes of which are occurring globally as part of a network which provides support & infrastructure for new media communities worldwide.
http://sharesydney.org/

We’re trying something different, and exciting, for Twist this month.

Each analogue musician will be paired up with an electronic musician to remix and reshape their sound on the fly and create improvised loops, beats, and live samples. We also welcome some guest VJs.

The core Twist experience remains the same: improvised music and visuals that feed off each other and audience contributions through SMS and the Internet. All in our beautiful lil’ warehouse, right next to Central Station.

So come on down! No two Twists are ever the same – and this night continues to surprise and delight us.

July Twist - Photo by Matt Sutton, http://www.mattsuttonphotography.com.au/

Twist
8-11 pm, Wednesday 18 August 2010
402/11 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
$10 (tax deductible) donation
Directions: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/contact/

Facebook Event

Learn more about Twist here.

Artists:
David Carr: banjo; acoustic and baritone guitars
Aimee Falzon: vocals
Robin Dixon: ‘cello
Stuart West: trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica
DJ Squiggle, Robert Moorman, Peregrin, Subpixel, VJ Lullaby: live (electronic) audiovisuals

As always, all the money raised goes towards empowering disadvantaged communities across Australia to have a self-defined, sustainable voice.

This fundraiser will be held under a NSW fundraising certificate at the CuriousWorks HQ.

It’s fine live music, with a twist.

CuriousWorks’ July Fundraiser
8-11 pm, Wednesday 28 July 2010
402/11 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
$10 donation
Directions: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/contact/

This time it’s a little later in the month, but July’s Twist event shall be worth the wait!

Combine live music with dynamic visuals and a little audience participation/manipulation and you’ve got a Twist!

CuriousWorks’ monthly improvisational fundraising event promises to be full of surprises. This month’s themes: City & Desert!

Twist – verb:
1. to combine, as two or more strands or threads, by winding together; intertwine
2. To distort the meaning or form; pervert
3. To combine or associate intimately.

CuriousWorks is a charity that works with disadvantaged communities around Australia. Twist is our way of connecting with and supporting our own community.

Each month we gather some of the most talented independent musicians and artists in Sydney showcasing their collective talents in our uniquely welcoming studio. Money raised is split equally between our charity and the independent artists that perform.

So please come along and relax on the couches; meet new friends; impose your influence on the performance; and let your senses be nourished.

Last month’s themes of Fear & Hope produced some nutty results! This month’s themes, City & Desert, are bound to do likewise.

Images will be presented to a group of improvising musicians. They respond with music. The jam begins.

In turn, VJ’s will respond to this music with their own images, mixed live. Live illustrations will also be drawn!

The artists:

* Robin Dixon on looping various instruments and sounds into a bed of musical goodness – his main band is Derwent River Star – http://www.myspace.com/derwentriverstar

* Dave Carr on guitar and banjo virtuosity – http://www.davidcarrmusic.net/

* Aimee Falzon on live drawing and vocals – you can hear her sing and see her draw in this clip: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/imagine-the-city-as-a-living-thing/

* Shakthidharan on VJ’ing and soundscaping – you can see one of his works here: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/mashup-generations-conference-2009/

* Raphael Gadot, a jazz drummer from Paris, on drums

As always, all the money raised goes towards empowering disadvantaged communities across Australia to have a self-defined, sustainable voice.

This fundraiser will be held under a NSW fundraising certificate at the CuriousWorks HQ.

Over the past few months, CuriousWorks has partnered with Penrith City Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Program on the Neighbourhood Stories initiative. The goal: empower local residents to tell their stories and make positive contributions to their neighbourhood.

Focussing on 6 local residents and 3 Penrith City Council staff, CuriousWorks ran training workshops where the participants would learn videomaking and web publishing skills. The website and content they created will finally be debuted on the 8th of July!

Come along to meet the participants and check out the super-cool website, complete with interactive multimedia map!

Details below:

When: Thursday 8 July 2010

 4pm for 4.30pm start (5.30pm finish)

Where: St Marys Corner, Community Cultural Precinct

Memorial Hall, corner Great Western Highway and Mamre Road

Car entry via 29 Swanston Street, St Marys

RSVP:

e: shunt@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

t: (02) 4732 7500

This month’s Twist fun-raiser will be divided into two sets, each with a different theme: fear and hope.

We welcome all contributions, whether they be words, poems, images, sounds or videos. Just make sure your contribution this month is related somehow to hope or fear and, if it’s not obvious, let us know which one!

To contribute, simply:

• Text 0423 614 923
• Tweet with the hash tag #twist and include @curiousworks (here’s an example)
• Email your stimulus to twist@curiousworks.com.au
• Pop a comment into the post below
• Or bring your stimulus – including real life, physical objects – to the show this Wednesday!

The details again:

8-11 pm, Wednesday 16 June 2010
402/11 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
$10 donation
Facebook Event

As always, all the money raised goes towards empowering disadvantaged communities across Australia to have a self-defined, sustainable voice.

This fundraiser will be held under a NSW fundraising certificate at the CuriousWorks HQ.

Ah, the memories… Details on the next Twist can be found here.

It’s fine live music, with a twist.

CuriousWorks’ June Fundraiser
8-11 pm, Wednesday 16 June 2010
402/11 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
$10 donation
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121719747858584&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=121719747858584&ref=ts
Directions: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/contact/

Ever wondered what you’d get if you took the most enchanting live music and combined it with live visual artistry in an interactive environment?

Well, add the inviting charm and cosy, informal intimacy that resonates around the candlelit walls of the beautiful CW HQ and you have Twist, the exceptionally fun monthly side-project and fundraiser by CuriousWorks.

Twist – verb:
1. to combine, as two or more strands or threads, by winding together; intertwine
2. To distort the meaning or form; pervert
3. To combine or associate intimately.

CuriousWorks is a charity that works with disadvantaged communities around Australia. Twist is our way of connecting with and supporting our own community.

Each month we gather some of the most talented independent musicians and artists in Sydney showcasing their collective talents in our uniquely welcoming studio. Money raised is split equally between our charity and the independent artists that perform.

So please come along and relax on the couches; meet new friends; devour the delicious home-made curry; and let your senses be nourished.

It’s live music with a twist. It’s art with a twist. It’s Sydney with a twist. And it’s fun!

This month, we’re continuing the improvisation theme that worked so well in May. Images will be presented to a group of improvising musicians. They respond with music. The jam begins.

In turn, VJ’s will respond to this music with their own images, mixed live. Live illustrations will also be drawn!

The artists:

* Robin Dixon on looping various instruments and sounds into a bed of musical goodness – his main band is Derwent River Star – http://www.myspace.com/derwentriverstar

* Dave Carr on guitar and banjo virtuosity – http://www.davidcarrmusic.net/

* Aimee Falzon on live drawing and vocals – you can hear her sing and see her draw in this clip: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/imagine-the-city-as-a-living-thing/

* Shakthidharan on VJ’ing and soundscaping – you can see one of his works here: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/mashup-generations-conference-2009/

* Elias Nohra, visualist for CuriousWorks since the early days

* Raphael Gadot, a jazz drummer from Paris, on drums

* Jara Johnston-Anderson on double bass; www.myspace.com/jarajohnstonanderson

As always, all the money raised goes towards empowering disadvantaged communities across Australia to have a self-defined, sustainable voice.

This fundraiser will be held under a NSW fundraising certificate at the CuriousWorks HQ.

It’s fine live music – with a twist.

For our May fun-rasier, CuriousWorks is remixing our city for a couple of hours. And you’re more than invited.

Images of Sydney will be presented to a group of improvising musicians. They respond with music. The jam begins.

In turn, VJ’s will respond to this music with a series of videos of Sydney, mixed live. Live illustrations of our imagined city will also be drawn!

It’s going to be a beautiful, evocative, surprising night of audiovisual heaven – so come along already!

And if you’re that way inclined, you can contribute your own images of Sydney too: instructions lie this way.

So. The details.

CuriousWorks’ May Fundraiser
8-11 pm, Wednesday 19 May 2010
402/11 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
$10 donation
Directions: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/contact/

Facebook Event: http://bit.ly/remixingsydney

The artists:

* Robin Dixon on looping various instruments and sounds into a bed of musical goodness – his main band is Derwent River Star – http://www.myspace.com/derwentriverstar

* Dave Carr on guitar and banjo virtuosity – http://www.davidcarrmusic.net

* Aimee Falzon on live drawing and vocals – you can hear her sing and see her draw in this clip: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/imagine-the-city-as-a-living-thing/

* Shakthidharan on VJ’ing and soundscaping – you can see one of his works here: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/mashup-generations-conference-2009/

As always, all the money raised goes towards empowering disadvantaged communities across Australia to have a self-defined, sustainable voice.

This fundraiser will be held under a NSW fundraising certificate at the CuriousWorks HQ.

See you there!

Our next fun-raiser will be dictated by YOU, in homage to Sydney, this beautiful, confused city we live in. It’s going to be a night of some fine live music and film – with a twist.

Step 1. Gather a bunch of musicians and visualists awesome at jamming.

Done. We’ve got a line up covering strings, guitar, vocals, illustration and VJ’ing.

Step 2. Gather stimulus.

That’s your part.

We want you to send us little stories about Sydney – you can send us texts, images, videos, anything – and we’ll create a concert out of it for you. Send us a haiku, your favourite photo of the city, a video from your mobile – and we’ll include it in the projections and ask our artists to respond to you in beautiful audiovisual form for the delight of your eyes and ears.

Half this band will be present!

If you’re on Twitter, the easiest way to do this is send out tweets with the hash tag #twist. If you want to make it super easy for us, include @curiousworks too. Here’s an example:

If you think Twitter is for morons from the future, then feel free to use plain ol’ email. Send your stimulus to twist@curiousworks.com.au.

Or just pop something into the comments below.

We’ll gather all the data together and project it live for our artists to respond to with live drawings, music and more. Hell yes!

The result should be a live remix of our city in audiovisual form. A fine way to spend a night indeed.

The city from our fogged-up window

So. The details.

The artists:

• Robin Dixon on looping various instruments and sounds into a bed of musical goodness – his main band is Derwent River Star – http://www.myspace.com/derwentriverstar
• Dave Carr on guitar and banjo virtuosity – http://www.davidcarrmusic.net
• Aimee Falzon on live drawing and vocals – you can hear her sing and see her draw in this clip: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/imagine-the-city-as-a-living-thing/
• Shakthidharan on VJ’ing and soundscaping – you can see one of his works here: http://www.curiousworks.com.au/place/urban/mashup-generations-conference-2009/

Robin being moody on 'cello

CuriousWorks’ May Fundraiser
8-10 pm, Wednesday 19 May 2010
402/11 Randle St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010
$10 donation
0423 614 923 if you get lost on the way

As always, all the money raised goes towards empowering disadvantaged communities across Australia to have a self-defined, sustainable voice.

This fundraiser will be held under a NSW fundraising certificate at the CuriousWorks HQ.