Puffio

Apparently theatre administrators and promoters of larger shows around Adelaide are rather pleased with what they saw at last week's BASS Ticketing seminar... a 'real time' seating and sales website which allows them to monitor sales for an event in a 'seat at a time' way, meaning they can log in any time of the night and day and see how their sales are going. Until now they've had to await a report emailed to them, and it can be hours - days - out of date, since it's generated at midnight. The new system, it's suggested to Puffio, will make tracking of trends very easy, the allocation of tickets even easier, and over sales a thing of the past. There's also some new software toys coming which will allow punters to connect up to an active website on their mobile phones and secure tickets immediately they see a promotional poster.

They've been rather busy this winter - must something to do with the lack of rain - and they're at it again. Zephyr Quartet launch their 'Electro Acoustic Project' at the Rocket Bar in Hindley St on Fri 29 Sept from 9pm. What is this, you ask? An exploration of music for electronic sounds and amplified string quartet, performed by some of Australia's leading young composers. Performers such as Zo‘ Barry, Cameron Deyell, Brendan Woithe, Michael Yuen, Fioan Hill, Stefan Panczak, Belinda Gehlert and Hilary Kleinig. Their compositions comprise a diverse mix of works for Zephyr, blending elements of live-sound manipulation, interactive installation, visuals and improvisation.


Perhaps he gets down and dirty on the streets, or just hangs around the neighbourhood. South Australian artist Peter Serwan unveils the results of all that time prowling the mean streets with his exhibition 'Suburban Snapshots', opening on Fri 1 Sept at the Hill Smith Gallery. Influenced by his boyhood in Mt Gambier, Serwan, who works in oils on linen, takes his personal observations from the mundane to the captivating through his art, showing his view of that which we immediately recognize as the great Aussie suburban sprawl. It couldn't be anywhere else.

As previously noted in this column, Windmill Performing Arts has embraced the 2006 Australia-Japan Year of Exchange with its touring season, taking their show 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Fish' to Osaka and Tokyo and performing to Japanese Royalty. Windmill's Creative Director, Cate Fowler said, "The company aims to be a leader in providing its audiences with a range of cultural experiences; to enrich their sense of community, interaction and awareness." Uh-huh.

Now Windmill is returning the favour, bringing to Adelaide a production of 'A World Of Paper' in association with Theatre Kazenoko Kansai (Japan). This production was originally presented at Come Out 2003. There will be three performances of ''A World Of Paper' at the Festival Centre's Space on Sat 23 Sept.

The Melbourne Fringe Festival runs from Wed 27 Sept to Sun 15 Oct, which means it starts really soon now. The call is out from their Digital Fringe arm for submissions of digital visual material to be part of a web based digital arts festival that connects to Melbourne via numerous screens throughout the city. Digital Fringe artworks will be streamed live to all participating screens including Federation Square, hidden in venues and retail outlets, from screens in public spaces. For info on the submission process log onto www.digital fringe.com.au Schmidt: justin@horsebazaar.com.au

It's all funny word play here: 'Carpe Argillum - Seize The Clay' is the title of an exhibition of ceramic work by The Clay Collective which runs from Wed 31 Aug at the Light Square Gallery and showcases the work of 10 contemporary South Australian ceramic artist with current or past links with JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design . For the last five years or so they have exhibited as The Clay Collective. This is Terrestrial(s) by Gus Clutterbuck



It's their second mention in this column!!! The Zephyr Quartet combine forces with Leigh Warren & Dancers in 'From Tango To Techno', wherein they perform the music of Michael Nyman in this spectacular season finale of Musica Viva's MŽnage Concert Series. This moving and provocative performance will illustrate the profound influence that music and dance have upon each other. It stands to reason, really. 'From Tango To Techno' plays at the Leigh Warren & Dancers studio in the Lion Arts building on North Terrace city at 8pm on Thurs 14 Sept.

The call has gone out to budding and established artists and graphic designers from around Australia to become a part of Fringe history by entering the 2007 Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition. Timelines are tight due to previously explained issues with the Fringe going annual, but it's business as usual down at Fringe HQ... to be in it you need to check details of the competition at www.adelaidefringe.com.au This year, the competition design brief requires entrants to gain inspiration by listening to the song Unpredictable by The Herd, which can be downloaded from the Adelaide Fringe website. Don't ask why. To get into it you need to know also that the Fringe Poster Competition closes on Tues 10 October 2006.