The Weekender: February 21 – 23
WITH Summer soon coming to an end, why not spend some of it outside? From White Night Melbourne, crafting pompoms, squeezing in an exhibition on its last day or riding your bike around with fellow film lovers, there is an impressive amount of things to get you out and moving as Sarah Khazaal explains.
White Night Melbourne
February, Saturday 22 (7.00pm) – February Sunday 23 (7.00am); Melbourne CBD + Federation Square
Image: Frankzed via Flickr
Last year, White Night Melbourne hosted its first event and attracted an unexpected amount of attendees with roughly 300,000 people visiting the city. With much anticipation for its second year running, it is clear that the folks over at White Night Melbourne have better prepared themselves this year.
Held between 7.00pm – 7.00am throughout the city of Melbourne, White Night Melbourne will be based primarily within Federation Square and aims to transform the city into what can be described as a “cultural playground”. From prominent landmarks, to the smallest laneway, the cultural festival will certainly have plenty of surprises in store.
A wide range of events, both free and ticketed, have been arranged and will encompass street performers, fashion displays, street food stalls, film screenings, lighting installations, concerts and even interactive events.
With so much jammed into 12 hours, it is possible that you may need to stay out for the whole night to be able to really enjoy everything that the White Night Melbourne hosts have intended!
Check out Rachel Furolo’s write-up of White Night Melbourne 2014. For further information, such as programming, can be found at the White Night Melbourne website.
The Pom Pom Project
Saturday, February 22 (7.00pm); CAE Info Shop (44 Degraves Street, Melbourne)
Image: Frisco Public Library via Flickr
So many of us are used to viewing Etsy as an online marketplace to purchase unique or vintage items. However, as part of Melbourne’s White Night, Etsy has taken the opportunity to host an event that invites much more interaction than clicking around on your computer.
Held in the Centre for Adult Education (CAE)Info Shop on Degraves Street, The Pom Pom Project is essentially a challenge to the people of Melbourne to work together on a craft project outside of the virtual world. The goal is for those participating to craft about 1,400 pom poms from 80kg of wool that will eventually be joined together to make a collaborative sculpture.
Local artist Sarah McNeil and Pony Anarchy editor Kristie Webster will be appearing as special guest instructors on the night and participate with the construction of pom poms.
That being said, the virtual world will not be ignored as an instabooth will also be set up to help people share their crafts online.
To learn more about this event, check The Pom Pom Project’s official event page over at White Night Melbourne’s site.
All That Glitters
Closes Sunday, February 23, Arts Centre Melbourne
Image: ID Number THX 1139 via Flickr
Closing this Sunday is art exhibit, All That Glitters, a free exhibition spotlighting some of the elaborate and iconic costumes that have been held in Melbourne’s performing arts collection after they were retired from the stage.
The exhibit is the perfect way to demonstrate Melbourne’s performing arts scene as it not only gives visitors to see the costumes – each impressive as they are on their own – it also describes the people behind the creation of these costumes. In documenting the designers’ vision and creative process, those studying fashion should be able to find pearls of inspiration among these most outstanding outfits.
Those interested or studying in the performing arts may also find much to draw upon in the exhibit which showcases the effort and considerations that go into the creation of a production.
For more information about this event, visit All That Glitters’s page at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Projector Bike Friday Night Rides
Every Friday night (ends June 27); Testing Grounds (1 – 23 City Rd, Melbourne)
Image: Richard Masoner via Flickr
A fun and healthy event in the heart of the city is the Projector Bike Friday Night Ride, a free event promising a night of friendship, exercise, entertainment and a drink at the end to top it all off. The only condition to participating, however, is that you bring a bike of your own along.
Projector Bike Rides is all about piquing the interests of film lovers as it takes them on a riding tour of the city with periodical stops at varying locations where participants can view portions of award winning films or shorts – all of which can are projected from the inside of organisers’ custom built bike, loaded with its own sound system.
Departing at dusk (about 8.00pm), and returning around 9.30pm, the crew take you back to the Testing Grounds Bar where you can have a drink, talk about the clips shown that night and make a few friends.
There is more information to be found at the Projector Bike Website.