VISUAL ARTS

Cloudscapes: Meditations On The Mystical,
Elements Art Gallery, 131A Waratah Avenue,  Dalkeith
Multi award winning Perth based artist, David Giles, began painting 18 years ago after nearly drowning in the Southern Ocean near Walpole. This life changing near death experience consolidated his aspirations of an artist’s life and strongly influences the imagery of his paintings even to this day.
Exhibition runs ’til Sunday, June 12.

The Botany Of Beauty, Greenhill Galleries, 6 Gugeri Street, Claremont.
With an artistic career spanning more than three decades, an impressive list of exhibitions and awards under her belt and a loyal following in Sydney and Melbourne, Christine Johnson will head to Perth in June for her debut solo exhibition. The Botany Of Beauty is the first of a new series of paintings by this remarkable artist in which Johnson transports the viewer into the intimate space of the artist’s garden. Capturing luminous imagery of both exotic and native flora, Johnson’s oil paintings beautifully imagine the details of the floral landscape while almost dissolving into abstraction.
Exhibition opens on Friday, June 3, and runs ’til Saturday, June 18.

Verisimilitude, The Oats Factory, 69 Oats Street, Carlisle.
Verisimilitude is the culmination of Roxanne Cox’s investigation into the language of images. The resulting paintings are atmospheric and richly layered depictions of everyday scenarios plucked from Roxanne’s collection of found photographic images; through the artistic process these images become imbued with new meaning and a new significance.
Exhibition opens on Saturday, June 4, and runs ’til Sunday, June 19.

Zhao Qing, Perth Centre For Photography, 91 Brisbane Street, Perth.
Coinciding with the third anniversary of the Sichuan Earthquake, PCP will exhibit the work of Zhao Qing, an award winning photojournalist from Shenzhen. This work highlights the impact of the tragedy on the ordinary citizens of Sichuan province and the dramatic rescue efforts undertaken by the Chinese Army, medical teams and volunteers in response to the earthquake.
Exhibition runs ’til Wednesday, June 15.

Evolving Identities, John Curtin Gallery, Building 200A, Curtin University, Bentley.
An exhibition of works by significant Australian Indigenous artists, curated from the art collections of leading Western Australian universities, Evolving Identities includes works from urban artists Brenda Croft, Julie Gough and Tony Albert, who exploit, subvert or parody language to interrogate histories and form a narrative which underlies the cultural alienation and displacement of Aboriginal people since invasion. Works by artists who practice within remote communities, including Rover Thomas, Churchill Cann, Queenie McKenzie and Patrick Mung Mung, illustrate an ongoing connection to country. Curators Connie Petrillo (Edith Cowan University), Mark Stewart (Murdoch University) and Pauline Williams (Curtin University) have selected works from each collection that not only explore cultural identity and the artist’s ongoing connection to country, but also artists who recognise the influence of other indigenous artists as role models.
Exhibition runs ’til Wednesday, July 6.

remix, Art Gallery Of Western Australia, Perth
Cultural Centre, Northbridge.
Like the mixtape exhibitions in 2003 and 2006, remix brings together a diverse group of works that offer an opportunity to experience what some of Western Australia’s artists are doing in their practice. The works selected are not limited by a single theme but instead are orchestrated around approaches to making art, materiality or the experience of place. The exhibition includes a broad mix of media with painting, sculpture, design, photography, textile and filmic work, most of it new or recently created and representing some of the most compelling examples of contemporary practice by Western Australian artists.
Exhibition runs ‘til Monday, August 15.

Japanese Design Today 100, Gallery Central, 12 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge.
An insight into the nature of contemporary Japanese culture is offered by this unique collection of Japanese designed household items. The exhibition presents designs for domestic objects produced during the 1990s, plus it casts a glance backwards to the roots of contemporary design, from the post-war Japan of the 1950s. There is the world’s smallest radio and TV, the Walkman and other innovative electronic devices, cars, bikes, furniture and solutions for practical clothing and low cost accommodation.
Exhibition runs ’til Tuesday, May 31.

PERFORMANCE

Laryngectomy: Homilies And Parables On The Freedom of Speech, The Blue Room Theatre, 53 James Street, Northbridge.
It is said that without freedom of speech and expression, any freedom is an illusion. It is in this spirit that Renegade Productions proudly presents the world premiere of Laryngectomy: Homilies And Parables On The Freedom Of Speech, a celebration of this most fundamental freedom. Laryngectomy is a unique hybrid of lecture and performance that extends the boundaries of Renegade Productions’ capacity for experimental theatre, incorporating physical imagery and storytelling with performance.
Season runs from Wednesday, June 1, ’til Saturday, June 18. Bookings can be made via (08) 9227 7005 or blueroom.org.au.

The Pride, Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre, 174 William Street, Northbridge.
Directed by talented emerging artist, Zoe Pepper, The Pride takes a long hard look at lions. Bruce, the figurehead of the family has just chosen a savannah theme for his new kitchen. Bruce is weighed down by his impressive mane and is beginning to struggle with the pressure of the renovations and taking care of his pride. Bruce knows his time is limited, since James, his stronger, more handsome neighbour, has been peering through the windows admiring the family and the mod cons. Such is the life of a lion. The drama of the jungle never seemed so close to home in this award winning comedy that explores people’s readiness to forgive, even in the face of gross moral misconduct.
Season opens on Wednesday, June 8, and runs ’til Saturday, June 18. Bookings can be made through BOCS.

MUSIC

Aaron Goldberg Trio, June 1
Ellington Jazz Club; bookings via
ellingtonjazz.com.au.

Ari Hoenig, June 3-4
Ellington Jazz Club; bookings via ellingtonjazz.com.au.

Club Zho, June 27
The Bakery; bookings via nowbaking.com.au,