The sudden COVID-19 lockdown has put many Sydneysiders plans on hold, especially with school holidays coming up. Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC) have come to the rescue, re-invigorating their popular digital program with a bunch of new offerings to keep the community entertained while at home.
“We’re back in the digital realm with a brand new series of online activities and events that people can enjoy from the comfort and safety of home,” said CPAC Director Craig Donarski. “From film screenings, 3D exhibition tours, kids workshops, cooking demos and artist talks; there’s all sorts of things to see, make and do on our website to help keep the boredom at bay.”
CPAC’s new FREE digital program includes
CPAC Youth book club – CPAC Youth are shifting their book club online this month with the quirky best-seller “Convenience Store Woman” by Sayaka Murata. The novel tells the story of 30-something Keiko, an oddball who struggles with everyday social settings, but finds purpose and acceptance in her work at her local supermarket. This is a free event for young people (15-25 years old).
NAIDOC Week Online Film Screening – Warwick Thornton (one of Australia’s leading filmmakers) tackles a fiery subject head-on in We Don’t Need A Map. This bold film challenges us to consider the place of the Southern Cross in the Australian psyche. Fri 9 July, 8pm.
Online Activities for the Kids – A jam-packed mix of activities for creative kids of all ages to enjoy – from any location. These online Art Activities and the fantastic Creation Station project will inspire young artists to use the power of their imaginations for good. There are videos, worksheets, colouring in and activities.
Looking at Painting: Artist Audio – The exhibition launch for this next exhibition has been postponed till Saturday 31st July at 3.30pm. In the meantime, you can listen to audio statements from some of the featured artists.
Blak Douglas – Art Worksheet – Artist Blak Douglas speaks to his experience as a descendent of the Stolen Generation through his essay ‘Intergenerational Fauna,’ which you can read in the LOSS exhibition catalogue. Online visitors can also listen to his audio statement, plus there will be an art activity booklet available soon.
GINA 3D Exhibition Tour – take a virtual walk through a current CPAC Exhibition GINA. Gina Sinozich was a local Casula based artist, known for her distinctive artistic style and powerful story-telling ability. A Croatian-Australian immigrant, Gina and her family arrived in Australia after World War II, making the voyage by boat from Istria following the dissolution of Croatia. Gina first took up painting at age 70, as a way of expressing and coming to terms with the impacts of experiences in her life. Sadly, in June last year Gina passed away. GINA is an exhibition that brings together works from her artistic career to tell her personal story.
There’s a whole lot more available with CPAC’s digital program including cooking demonstrations by the head chef of CPAC’s on-site restaurant Bellbird Dining & Bar, gardening tips, performances, artist interviews and podcasts.
The digital program is live now at www.casulapowerhouse.com/visit/cpac-digital-program
