Puffio

If the idea of swanning around at a prestigious Adelaide address one evening whilst listening to the fresh jazz of the Skyline Quartet is one which appeals to you greatly, then 'Sunset On The Terrace' is the event for you. Get to Carrick Hill on Thurs 15 March when hopefully the nights will still be a little warm from 6.30pm to 8pm. Look out over the skyline (pun intended) and see what's going down in the ole' city. BYO picnic hamper and drinks etc, though there will be bar service on the evening. Sounds swanky. Here's the Skyline Quartet looking forward to performing on the night.

At the Playhouse in the Festival Centre from Tues 2o Feb is a collaborative project which seems to go on and on... Leigh Warren Dancers work with State Opera in exploring the works of American composer Philip Glass. Such works seem to give Leigh Warren full rein to explore his Glass obsession, and this time the introspective gaze turns to 'Satyagraha', a work based on the life of Indian statesman and peacemaker Mahatma Ghandi. Joining the LWD and State Opera in realising this performance will be the Adelaide Vocal Project. 'Satyagraha', part of the 'Portrait' series, is on for four nights only.

While most attention is firmly turned toward the Fringe Festival, which takes up the bulk of next months in our fair city, there's other events on the go. Don't forget a great calendar of contemporary music performances associated with the bloody big car race, which hits the streets to the near East of the city in a few short weeks...

Adrian Caon's tantalising artwork is notable as much for its intent as its content, really... His exhibition seems to be making a point, since it is entitled' Assign Each Star To One Of Its Wars: Series no.11 of the project '101 things to do with an American flag'. That's rather a mouthful of intent, isn't it? His provocative - and perhaps evocative images - are on display at the University Of Adelaide's Barr Smith Library from Mon 26 Feb through to Sun 25 March. The picture below is entitled 'Germany 1917'

Don't forget the hard working folk at the Palace Cinemas who will be putting the final touchs to the 'Alliance Fran¨aise French Film Festival', which kicks off in the later part of March. From Tues 27 March they claim the festival will "come of Age" as it presents such luminaries as 'The Singer' a poignant romance starring Gˇrard Depardieu as a faded, middle-aged dance hall vocalist who falls for an unhappy woman half his age.

More on works of art around Adelaide: Doug St Clair's 'The Opposition Art Show' opens at Shop 5 Ebenezer Place on Wed 7 March (ie just the day before the Fringe opens officially). Here's a sample of the merchandise.

Mixed signals at Urban Youth - Artistic Director Glenn Hayden suggested a week or so ago that he was somewhat over the idea of his company tackling so-called "youth issues" in bald style, noting that many of the younger and interested people in his neck of the woods were more attuned to great theatre rather than a proscribed programme based on youth issues. A fresh and welcome statement indeed!! But now comes the announcement that Urban Youth will be developing and mounting an epic production named 'Curfew' looking at the issues surrounding youth curfews in Australia. Well, okay, they think it's a bit of a buzz topic, but what about the enthusiasm? As part of their research Urban Myth set up a blog, and the results have been massive. Check it out at http://www.blognow.com.au/urbanmyth/.

A sailor whose interests lie in leather!!! Hmmmmm... 'Nautical Dreams' is an exhibition by Jacek Gniadek which is into its last couple of days on show at The Parks Community Centre Arts.

South Australian Film Corporation Chairman Cheryl Bart has announced that the Premier and Minister for the Arts, Mike Rann has appointed Bridget Ikin as a new Director to the Board of the SAFC.

A lot of important events around the state were cancelled last weekend in the face of extreme weather conditions. But it wasn't just sporting events: the ASO's Alfresco event, scheduled for the Botanic Gardens on Sat 17 Feb was called off due to the danger such heat posed to the extremely rare and costly instruments played by the performers. Keeping their instruments in tune would prove a major challenge alone in 40¼ heat.

South Australia's Flying Penguin Productions, who last year performed Brian Friel's 'Translations' is back again with a call for interested parties to help out with their production Pinter's 'The Birthday Party', to be staged in May at the Queen's Theatre, in the play's 50th year. Later in the year the 'Penguin will be taking on Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's 'Assassins', a musical with bite. Flying Penguin is looking for volunteers to help out: carpenters, stage managers, front of house staff, painters, technicians, bar staff etc - whether you know a lot or a little they'd love to hear from you!! Contact David Mealor on 0402 686 468 or email david.mealor@afct.org.au

Here's a good news story, so remember the name - you'll probably here of him performing at the Adelaide Guitar Festival before too long. Aleksandr Tsiboulski is a 27 year old University of Adelaide PhD student, and is also a Fulbright Scholar in the Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Texas in Austin. Currently, it seems he's sweeping the board in the world of international guitar competitions. Only two months after winning the Tokyo International Guitar Competition Tsiboulski has taken first prize in the USA inaugural Southwest Guitar Festivals International Competition held last weekend in San Antonio, Texas. The award makes it his fourth top prize in a year, included winning the St Joseph International Guitar Competition and being a finalist in the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America competition.

After disappointing news of his postponement, the news has turned good... the ASOs concert with the great Burt Bacharach has been rescheduled for Wed 4 July in the Festival Theatre. If you're holding tickets you should reconfirm that they are still good. If not, a very limited number of tickets are available, but once they're sold out...

Playing a free Sunday session at the Festival Centre is Melbourne's Skipping Girl Vinegar, who used to be known as Mayfly. The alt-acoustic-pop foursome perform on Sun 4 March.

For the Feast Festival for 2007, some changes in the wind, not least of which is the retirement of Fanny Jacobsen and her replacement, Daniel Clarke, who has been working and studying in the UK. Clarke arrived back in Adelaide last week and has taken up his post by the time you read this magazine, working hard at making the 11th Feast Festival bigger, brighter... all the usual things.

And also a big welcome back to arts administrator Steve Mayhew, who landed from Hong Kong - where he's been working for the past year or so - and landed a desk job somewhere in Country Arts.

The 2007 Helpmann Academy Graduate exhibition opens in the drill hall at Torrens Parade ground on Thurs 22 Feb, featuring twenty six of the most outstanding young artists. Gathered together from the TAFE and other institutes around SA, for the first time the organisers are also doing the Backers Prize - roughly similar to the Packers prize from the Archibald, but this one chosen by the security guards from the 8 partner schools.