Truly Asia
Celebrate Malaysian culture on Saturday, when the Otago Malaysian Students Association presents Si Tanggang, a night of cultural performances: Malay, Chinese, Indian and hip-hop dances, kompang (hand-held drums), dikir barat (clap-and-sing choir), silat (Malaysian traditional martial arts).
Si Tanggang is on at the Teachers College Auditorium at 7pm on Saturday.
Tickets are on sale at the University Union and Hunter Centre, 12-2pm, or email iso@ousa.org.nz.
Pot stuff
Hokitika ceramic artist Chris Weaver was one of the first graduates from the Otago Polytechnic School of Art ceramics course, in 1976.
His exhibition "Slice" opens at the Brett McDowell Gallery in Dunedin tomorrow and runs until August 27.
Weaver has been invited as one of eight International studio ceramic artists to the Huaguang Ceramics factory in China to collaborate with model-makers and artisans employed there.
Gigs
Alibi, the Octagon. Fridays, 7pm-11pm: Mbryo, lounge jazz.
B Bar & Bistro, Dowling St. Sunday, 7.30pm: John Egenes: alt country multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
Bath St. Tonight, 10pm: DJ Playjarhythm. Tomorrow, 10pm: "Uncharted Territory", a Drum and Bass journey with Jayji, The Blizzard and Guests. Saturday, 10pm: Cool Kids Club with Jash, Abstrack, Guy Fisher, O. D. and Samuel (Chch).
Cellars Bar, Stafford St, Dunedin. Friday, 9pm: Ash and the Matadors with the Tomato Plants and Dave Coleclough.
Circadian Rhythm Cafe, 72 St Andrew St. Fridays, 5.30pm: Philtre Jazz Trio.
The Craic, the Octagon. Saturday, 9pm: The Biff Merchants and Tono.
Dunedin Musicians Club, 12 Manse St. Thursdays, 5pm: open mike night.
Isis Lounge, 68 Princes St. Every Thursday: Oxo Cubans jam night, from 8pm. Every Friday, 8pm: Oxo Cubans, party night.
The Penguin Club, Oamaru. Saturday, 8pm: Mel Parsons and The Rhythm Kings.
Pequeno, the Savoy. Thursdays: Mojaz, lounge music from 8pm.
Ra Cafe and Bar, 21 the Octagon. Tonight, 9.30pm: Bevan and Wills. Tomorrow, 5.30pm: Jimmy Higgs; 10pm: DJ Dalboy. Saturday, 11pm: DJ Jordan.
Refuel, Otago University. Tonight, 9pm: OUSA Future DJ competition. Saturday, 9pm: OUSA Future DJ competition (finals). Tuesdays, 8pm: Jazz in the Pocket. Wednesday, 8pm: The Scurvey Dogs and Guests.
Robbie Burns Pub, 374 George St. Thursdays: Calder Prescott Jazz Quartet, 8.30pm.
Rosie's Bar, Victoria Hotel. Thursdays, 9pm: open mike night. Gear provided.
Terrace Bar, the Octagon. Friday and Saturday nights: Livewire.
Family fun
Blueskin Bay Library. Preschool story time, every Friday, 10.30am. Excludes school holidays. Free.
Wednesday, 10.30am: World's Biggest Storytime - Gather round and join a nationwide storytelling session of Itiiti's Gift, by Melanie Drewery.
Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Pl. Wednesday, 10.30am, storypit: World's Biggest Storytime - Gather round and join a nationwide storytelling session of Itiiti's Gift, by Melanie Drewery.
Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Octagon. Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4.30pm: Hiroshima remembrance event. Activities, table crossword based on the book Sadako and the Paper Crane, by Eleanor Coerr. Free. All welcome.
Knox Church, 449 George St. Friday, 1.30pm-2.30pm: preschool music for children 0-5 and carers. Mosgiel Library, Hartstonge Ave, Mosgiel. Preschool story time, every Tuesday, 11am. First Friday of the month, 3.45pm: Kids Book Club. Tuesday, 11am: World's Biggest Storytime - Gather round and join a nationwide storytelling session of Itiiti's Gift, by Melanie Drewery.
Otago Museum, 419 Great King St. Explorer backpacks for 7- to 12-year-olds (free). Guided tours daily at 11.30am and 3.30pm. Meet at the information desk. Weekends, 10.30am and 2pm, Atrium level 1: children's ceative activities. Every weekend during August, 2.30pm, Search Centre: "Game On! The Origins of Oware". Learn the rules and play this ancient African game. Every weekend during August, noon and 3.30pm: Interactive trolley: West African Cloth Stamping. Sunday, 10am-4pm: "Nature Explored". Meet the Locals TV star Nicola Vallance will host a day of creative creature activities, face-painting, spider floss and talks on conservation projects in the Otago region.
Port Chalmers Library. Preschool story time, every Wednesday, 10.30am. Wednesday, 11am: World's Biggest Storytime - Gather round and join a nationwide storytelling session of Itiiti's Gift, by Melanie Drewery. Free.
Visitor Information Centre, Octagon. Daily, 11am: Walk Dunedin, inner-city walking tours. Meet at the Visitor Centre.
Music and performance
Dunedin Town Hall, Moray Pl. Wednesday, August 12, 7.30pm: Dunedin RSA Choir presents Perhaps Love. Guest artists: Bevan Gardiner, Mitchell Smith and the Otago Boys High School Choir.
Marama Hall, Otago University. Lunchtime concert, Wednesday, 1pm: Haydn Year 2009: Keyboard Music Perspectives with John Van Buskirk. Otago Museum, 419 Great King St. Lunchtime music every Friday and Saturday, noon. This week: Emma Gomez; Daniel Bennett.
Plays
Allen Hall Theatre, corner Union and Leith sts, today and tomorrow, 1pm: Lunchtime theatre: Paper Cut. Written by Richard Huber and directed by Ben Vickers.
Fortune Theatre, Stuart St. until August 15: Damian Callinan: Spaznuts. Talks and films Dunedin Film Society, Red Lecture Theatre, Great King St. Wednesday, 7.30pm: Agnes Varda's Paris.
Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Octagon. Sunday, 3pm: Artist's Talk. Joanna Langford discusses her exhibition and art practice. "Frances Hodgkins: femme du monde" guided tours: 12.30pm Wednesdays. 1.30pm Sundays until August 31.
Otago Museum, 419 Great King St. Free daily talks, 2pm. Topics in August: Mondays: "Buddhism"; Tuesdays: "Legend of Osiris"; Wednesdays: "Amazing Polynesian Voyagers"; Thursdays: "Human Hair Garments"; Fridays: "Mapoutahi Pa"; Saturdays: "Native American Peace Pipes"; Sundays: "Coral". Daily at 4.30pm: Special Exhibition Gallery talk "West African Cultures". Free.
Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Gardens. Friday, 5.30pm: Exhibition floor talk. Dr Roger Collins discusses some of the art treasures in the exhibition "Paint-box Pioneers: Visions of the Past from the Otago Settlers Museum Art Collection".
Exhibitions
Anchorage Gallery, 19 George St, Port Chalmers. Until August 30: "Detail", works by Heather Dunckley, Rod Eales and Jo St Baker.
ArtSouth Gallery of Fine Art, 105 Main St, Gore: "Dreamworks", works by Keith Morant.
The Artist's Room, 2 Dowling St. Until August 8: Works by Jan Ingram, Maria Kemp and Sheryl McCammon. From August 8: 5th Birthday group show featuring works by Geoff Williams, Sam Foley, Michel Tuffery, Colin Wheeler, Jenny Dolezel, Olav Nielsen, Steev Peyroux, Margaret Silverwood, Alan Ibell, Elisabeth Vullings and more.
Aurum Wines Cellar Door, 140 State Highway 6 (1km north of Cromwell). Until September: An exhibition of Eastern Tribal Rugs.
Bellamys Gallery, Macandrew Bay. Works by Pauline Bellamy and Manu Berry. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, noon-5pm.
Blue Oyster Gallery, basement, Moray Chambers, 30 Moray Pl. Until August 8: "Is this Enough?", video and wall works by Justine Walker. Paviljon Marinum, video by Boris Dornbusch. "Interface", paintings by Cathy Helps.
August 11-September 2: Eva Wuerdinger: replace and Martyn Reynolds: Samuel Georgia Oscar/Turning back and forth. , Through different methods, Reynolds and Wuerdinger explore the way space is defined. Open Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm, Saturday noon-3pm.
Brett McDowell Gallery, 5 Dowling St. Ends today: Val Sutherland "The Odd Couples". From Saturday: Chris Weaver "Slice".
Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Octagon. August 8-November 8: Joanna Langford: "The Landless". Known for creating magical worlds where architectural structures are formed from a rich combination of ephemeral materials, Joanna Langford will create a new installation for the gallery. Until August 16: "Ey! Iran: Contemporary Iranian photography", depicts a surprisingly familiar culture. Until September 6: Russian Art in New Zealand. Until September 20: "I was Russia". Extended until October 25: "Frances Hodgkins: femme du monde" and "Frances Hodgkins: family and friends". Ongoing: "Hail Falls Noisily on Bamboo Leaves". Ongoing: "The Grand Tour": Works from the Dunedin Public Art Gallery collection.
Forrester Gallery, 9 Thames St, Oamaru. Until August 9: "Pilgrimage". Recent works by Mary Horn. Gallery De Novo, 101 Stuart St, Dunedin. From tomorrow until August 20: "Reflections", new paintings by Angela Burns.
Gallery Thirty Three, 33 Helwick St, Wanaka. From tomorrow until August 28: "The Harvester of Eyes" by Maryrose Crook and Jason Greig.
Gallery on Blueskin, 1 Harvey St, Waitati. Until August 9: Angela Burns: "Towards the Bay".
Gateway Gallery, 27 Ross Pl, Lawrence. Perpetual Collective: Ron Esplin, Bob Wyber (jewellery), James Stewart (chair-maker), Pamela Brown, Gay Webb (masks and torsos), Ray Ansin (glass), Ben Woollcombe, Margaret Palmer-McKenzie, Blue Hall (wood), Murray Ayson, Gilbert van Reenen and others. Open Thursday-Monday.
Harris Smith Art, 86-88 Bond St. Paintings by Jeffrey Harris, sculptures by Nicole Page-Smith. Open Monday-Saturday, 1pm-2pm, or by appointment.
Hocken Gallery, corner Anzac Ave and Parry St. Until October 8: "Charles Brasch - In the Company of Artists".
Hullabaloo Art Space, Melmore Tce, Old Cromwell historic precinct. Until August 23: "A Central Wedding" by Pauline Bellamy and "Crepuscular Chart" by Manu Berry. Hours 10am-4pm daily. Closed on Mondays.
Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown. Until October 26: "Speaking of Change - Memories of the Wakatipu 1900-1980".
Milford Galleries, Dunedin, 18 Dowling St. From Saturday until August 19: "The Road to Erewhon" by Michael Hight.
Milford Galleries, Queenstown, 9a Earl St. From Saturday until August 26: "Southern Traverse" by Bruce Hunt and Neil Fraser.
Moray Gallery, 55 Princes St. Until August 21: "Questions & Obsessions": new work from Benjamin King, Saskia Nickless and Michael Twaddle.
Nadene Milne Gallery, 16 Buckingham St, Arrowtown. Until August 28: Elizabeth Thomson and Russell Moses.
North Otago Museum, 60 Thames St, Oamaru. Until October: "Potions Emporium in the Time Ma-Shed".
Otago Museum, 419 Great King St. Until May 16, 2010: "Charles Darwin: Evolutionary Thinking", Nature Galleries, level 3, free. Until October 4: "Charles Brasch - A Great Good Man", People of the World Gallery. Free. Special exhibitions gallery: "West Africa: Rhythm + Spirit". Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Gardens. Until October 11: "Paint-box Pioneers: Visions of the Past", from the museum art collection.
Ongoing: "Across the Ocean Waves", Otago immigration in the age of sail. Until June 2010: "Willkommen to Dunedin: A History of German-speaking People in Otago".
Sew Hoy Gallery, 29 Stafford St, Until August 25: New Works by Gavin Ashworth. South Seas Gallery, 1088 Brighton Rd, Brighton. Weekends, 1pm-5pm. Until September 19: "By the Sea", recent paintings by Janet Weir.
Stuart St Potters Co-operative, 14 Lower Stuart St. Until August 30: Peter Gregory and Judy Ringland Stewart. Until August 17: Guest potters Elise O'Neil, Marcus Wainwright, Liz Rowe and John Paxi.
Taieri Gallery, 123 Gordon Rd, Mosgiel. Until 25 August: selection of works by Lynlee Heenan and prints by Lindsay Crooks. Toi O Tahuna Fine Art Gallery, Church Lane, From Saturday until August 28: Weston Frizzell: "We are Weston Frizzell". Queenstown.
