Editorials

The Legend of the Last Saloon is a chance to witness all that burlesque can be: playful, funny, vulnerable and a little unruly. Through song, dance, storytelling and live music, the performance unfolds as a vivid theatrical experience. Beneath the spectacle, however, lies something more intimate. Each character carries a story: a desire, a fear, a loss or a secret. As Oscar Wilde said, “Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” Perhaps that is what burlesque…

Mada’s Magic Marvels Thu 1 Oct, 11am + 2pm Get ready to become part of the magic these spring school holidays! Australia’s own Mr Magic, Adam Mada, brings his hilarious, fast-paced interactive family show to the stage, joined by Play School’s Peter Dasent on piano with an original live score. Watch objects appear, vanish and transform before your eyes, with plenty of audience participation. Will you be chosen as Adam’s next young apprentice? Perfect for curious kids and magical families!…

Many readers will recognise Trish, a gifted cellist, who for several years was Director of Coffs Harbour Conservatorium. Trish and husband, the talented composer and clarinettist Paul, share a glittering performance history enjoying distinguished international careers as soloists, chamber musicians, orchestral musicians and educators. Both have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, the Kennedy Center, Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and collaborated with international artists including Alexander Sitkovetsky, Jack Liebeck, Paul Meyer and the Navarra Quartet, as well as…

EXHIBITIONS Terri Butterworth: Small Worlds, Until 11 Oct Small Worlds presents intimate paintings that explore landscape, emotion and the interconnectedness of nature. Through observation, painting and experimentation, Terri Butterworth uses gesture, line, shape, colour and texture to create evocative compositions that reflect the shifting qualities and ever-changing nature of the landscape around us. Murray Fredericks: The Salt Lake, Until 22 Nov In 2003 photographer Murray Fredericks first visited Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, one of the world’s largest salt lakes, located in…

Golding is a Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, installation, photography and wearable art, often exploring memory, identity, community and belonging. In Wear Your Power, that practice becomes collaborative, with participants invited to create personalised “super capes” that express their own stories, strength and sense of self. Presented by Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance through Museums & Galleries of NSW, the full-day workshop at The Gallery will give participants the opportunity to work directly with Golding, experimenting with materials and…

Spring Members Exhibition: closing soon Don’t miss the final days of the Spring Members Exhibition at Nexus Art Gallery, Bellingen. Showcasing the creative energy and diversity of the gallery’s membership, the exhibition offers an opportunity to experience a broad range of artistic perspectives within one engaging collection. The exhibition runs until 8 October, then makes way for two concurrent exhibitions opening on 11 October: Fibre Artists Network’s Abstraction in Action and Ingrid Behage’s The Space Between – Ora. Ingrid Behage:…

With every piece priced at $200 or less, the exhibition provides an ideal opportunity to find distinctive Christmas gifts while supporting local artists. The exhibition brings together works that, for various reasons, have not yet found a home. For many artists, studios have become increasingly crowded, with artworks stacked against walls and filling every available space. The Santa Sale offers these pieces a new opportunity to be discovered and enjoyed. Held earlier than usual this year, the exhibition is designed…

From the varied practices of local artists to the creative exchange forged in a Kempsey art class, these exhibitions offer audiences an opportunity to encounter fresh perspectives, personal stories and expressive works across a rich range of styles. Many Voices, One Valley Wed 30 Sep- Sun 11 Oct Opening: Sun 4 Oct, 3pm From evocative landscapes and seascapes to contemporary abstracts, expressive interpretations, still life and more, Many Voices, One Valley celebrates the work of artists from across the Macleay…

The showcase has been created to elevate and support local authors, especially emerging creators seeking visibility, confidence, and community connection. Established writers are equally encouraged to participate, share their experience, and engage with readers who are eager to discover local voices. Organised by the City of Coffs Harbour Libraries, the event will be free for authors and the public and held at Yarrila Place. Libraries Service Leader Karen Rowe-Nurse said her team values the work and contribution authors make to…

But in recent years, Ngulmiya has also become a global ambassador for his music, language and culture, showcasing his own remarkable voice and songwriting around the world, and his self-titled 2022 debut album was hailed by the international UK-based World music magazine ‘Songlines’ as being “…the purest, strongest and most impressive Australian Indigenous voice that we’ve heard since Gurrumul”.  After performing and collaborating with musicians from Indonesia, India and Spain, Ngulmiya’s recent new album ‘Catalunya’ features his very talented son…