Ok, so what's this guy up to? (answer after the jump)...

White Fungus is an experimental arts magazine based in Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Produced by a collective of artists, writers and designers, White Fungus is an ongoing experiment in community media art.

The new issue of White Fungus comes out this week. This issue is the strongest yet for experimental music with an in-depth article on the Dead C, an interview by Andrew Clifford with Justice Yeldham (who stunned and shocked audiences throughout NZ last year thanks to alt.music), an interview by Daniel Beban with Annea Lockwood, plus articles on John Wiese, Greg Malcolm and Manuel Göttsching. This issue also features a new 7-page colour comic, Noah, by Tim Bollinger, new art by Richard Killeen, Hye Rim Lee, Yao Jui Chung and Tao Wells plus much more....

And the launch party... my god, the launch party... (more after the jump)

A swag of Wellington artists have produced video art for The Artists Film Festival, opening tonight at 5:30pm at the Film Archive (cnr Taranaki and Ghuznee Sts).

Curated by Wellington-based curator (and Listener art critic) Paula J Booker, the show promises an extreme mix of artworks....28 video works in total, possibly the largest video exhibition ever undertaken in NZ.

Highlights include someone singing to Janis Joplin until almost passing out, CHCH artist James Oram generating electricity by bike to power his own ME sign....it's all pretty entertaining/shocking/thought-provoking stuff.

EXHIBITION DETAILS
The Artists Film Festival
11 April – 17 May 2008

LIVE PERFORMANCE, Thursday 17 April, 7pm
The Twilight Drone by Johannes Contag (of Cloudboy fame) Tickets $8/6.

Contag explores the notion of the ambient film with live accompaniment to this film work shot in a snow-covered Austria...

Here's another one of the wee guys in this series of temporary sculptures:

Quite an appropriate location, atop the long-abandoned toilets and amid the construction of the new Courtenay Place park.

Opening tomorrow night at the Film Archive - Wellington multi-media artist Sarah Jane Parton presents her wacky take on the future...

Well known for her beguiling video and installation work (and love of lycra leotards) Parton has assembled a cast and crew of Wellington's finest to create a sci-fi musical odyssey starring Toi Whakaari graduates Antonia Bale, Anja Tate-Manning (Chapman-Tripp award winner), and Jade Daniels, alongside theatre veteran Rose Beauchamp, dancer Sam Lahood and a bevy of young and talented children.

With music performed by a live band featuring the members of Cassette under the musical direction of Parton’s partner Luke Buda (Phoenix Foundation), fronted by the perpetually hilarious Jo Randerson, the show contains a reasonable degree of cynicism, offset by moments of absurdity and humour.

In this cross-genre work, ideological meltdown is imminent, the revolution is doomed long before it begins and audience members are advised to bring a blanket.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Thursday 28, Friday 29 February and Saturday 1 March at 7pm
at The Film Archive, cnr Taranaki and Ghuznee Streets

Tickets:
Full Price - $15,
Concession - $13,
Fringe Addict - $12

Read Brannavan Gnanlingam's great interview about the show
here

This fancy man sits atop his bicycle at the top of Cuba St at the intersection with Karo Dive.

The plaque strongly implies that this is a temporary piece of art so get up and see it.

ps. there is also a blog mentioned on the plaque but I forgot what it was, if someone can find out and leave it in the comments, that'd be grand.

It's upon us, Fringe Festival time.

I always love this time of year becuase you never quite know what might be happening around the corner. But you do know it's a celebration of creativity that's truly unique to our lovely Wellington.

Driving home today i saw art installations being installed, and i can't wait to go visit them tomorrow

My cellphone sent 'SECRET' to 2343 along with my name and email so i could find out more about the Footnote Plus fuse secret production.

My ears and eyes are preparing for a 3D film plus octophonic sound at the Paramount courtesy of SpartacusR.

Do let us know what you're looking forward to over the next few days and weeks!

Now, don't get me wrong: we Wellingtonistas are not usually parsimonious when it comes to paying for drinks. On the other hand, we're a canny and logical bunch, and it only takes about 10 free glasses of house wine to save up enough for a Mega Mai Tai, so in the long run it pays to seek out gratis grog.

Let's start with the obvious: gallery openings and launches. You can get lucky by simply cruising the streets on a midweek night seeking the tell-tale sounds of clinking glasses and poststructuralist discourse, but dedicated cheapskates know that the best way to guarantee results is to get on the mailing lists.

Come see the new mag for the first time and enjoy a night of off-beat entertainment.

(details after the jump)

The exhibition Cameo Appearance at Mary Newton Gallery brings together eight artists working in the area of the portrait - Tony Bond, Gavin Hurley, Anna-Marie O'Brien, Gary Freemantle, Tanja Nola, Octavia Cook, Areta Wilkinson and David Cauchi.

And then my magical art powers failed me, 2007 by David Cauchi

(via White Fungus News...)

The new Hamish McKay Gallery is now open at Level one, 39 Ghuznee Street.

More info after the jump.

Start counting your coins people, because Craft2.0 hits the Hutt in four days. For those of you who can't count, that's this Saturday March 17th aka St Paddy's Day.

The fair kicks off at 11am with the first 200 people scoring a Craft2.0 bag of awesomeness full things like:

• The Craft2.0 Poster
• Badges from SuperVery
• Babylicious candy and discount vouchers
• The latest Idealog - whose contributors include Craft2.0's most favorite blogger
• Discount Vouchers for Beckon
• A surprise from Reka Cafe
• Big Bang balloons
• K-bars!!!!
• Your very own personal leprechaun.

And just for Wellingtonista music fans, here's the band schedule:

• Jason McIver at 11.30am
• SpartacusR at 12.45pm
• Ryan Prebble at 2pm
• Monobasic at 3.15pm.

And did I mention there were crafts, loads and loads and loads of crafts all for sale? Just loads, people!

Just quietly my knowledge of Craft2.0 is so vast you'd almost think I was one of the two crafty divas making it happen.

Oh wait ;)

Note: all Craft2.0 Leprechauns are invisible to human eyes

Back in Feb those lucky Auckland MySpace people had the chance to check out Evermore for Free.

Well Wellington, our time has come and it's a goodie. If you are a MySpace member just add The Black Curtain to your MySpace friends and you'll be told the secret squirrel location of the free screening of HotFuzz this Friday.

Why Go?
Well, to start it's free.
To follow it's by the genius minds behind Shaun of the Dead
To continue you get a special appearance & introduction by Peter Jackson.
If that's not enough - it's free, people!

My only hope is that Simon Pegg is as funny in person now as he was when he was in Wellington for the Laugh Festival back in the deep dark '90s.

The genius minds behind Heavenly Burlesque are back again for the Fringe and this time it's free. Gravity and other Myths is a spectacular outdoor new circus showcase inspired by the stars!

Vist Queen's Wharf at night this week and you see some of the country's best new circus, performing on a purpose-built outdoor circus rig, combined with pyrotechnics, spectacular lighting, sound and AV design.

I've been promised acts will use fire, trapeze, bungy, hula hoops, dance and object animation, all to the locally grown music of Rhian Sheehan, Module and more. This is proper circus people, not with evil clowns.

Plus here is your chance to run away with the circus in your lunchtime - Wellington Circus Trust are running introductory circus workshops at lunchtimes (12.30 – 1.30) on the days of the show performances.

Gravity and other Myths
Queen's Wharf, (under the sails)
Wellington Waterfront @ 8.00pm
Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th & Wednesday 7th – Saturday 10th
March, 2007.
Entry by donation / Koha
and bring a cushion

There is a great exhibition at the Williams Gallery in Petone featuring a range of prints by Michael Smither. Most of the art uses fairly abstract forms in a limited palette. I rate them highly. Don't be put off by the boat picture on the Williams website, because frankly I think there are far stronger pieces than that.

Very appealing too are the prices. Plenty to be had for under $1000, and if you're in the market to spend more, you can get a lovely big print.

And for the more sensitive amongst you, I didn't notice any paintings by Patrick Williams starring lady bits. Praise be.