09 AM | 17 Feb

Zandra Rhodes, A Life Long Love Affair with Textiles

RMIT Gallery, Melbourne 11 Feb 2008 – 22 Feb 2008

Email: rmit.gallery@rmit.edu.au Web: www.rmit.edu.au/rmitgallery

RMIT Gallery is proud to present a stunning exhibition of Zandra Rhodes’s unmistakable designs in the first major retrospective of the fashion doyenne’s garments to be shown in Australia.

Zandra Rhodes began as a textile designer in the UK in the late 1960s and remains one of the most creative and influential artists in the fashion world today. Her flamboyant use of colour and form has created original clothing that is timeless.

Her name has always been synonymous with a wild, yet feminine aesthetic of shredded chiffon, filmy crinolines, punk wedding dresses, elegant beaded shifts, jagged coats and sheer kaftans. She designed for the late Diana Princess of Wales and today her clothes are likely to be seen on Kate Moss, Kelly Osborne and Kylie Minogue.

A Life Long Love Affair with Textiles charts Rhodes’s creative progress from the initial inspiration to the finished product, bringing to life many of her iconic designs over four decades. Over 40 original garments and textiles will be on display alongside her inspirational sketchbooks, hand printed fabrics and paper patterns.

The exhibition has been co-curated by RMIT Gallery Director Suzanne Davies and Sarah Morris.

09 AM | 17 Feb

‘Hello Kitty’ MMO goes into beta

Usually when you hear the awkward acronym “MMORPG,” which stands for massively multiplayer online role-playing game, it’s referring to some title in which elves take on dragons, or orcs battle with giant swords against shamans.

You know, your typical World of Warcraft stuff. Well there’s now a contender & the newest MMORPG went into private beta, and there’s not a battle axe in sight.

We bring you, courtesy of famous blogger and investor, Joi Ito: Hello Kitty Online, the new online game from Sanrio Digital.

In addition to many of the regular features of an online game, like a virtual economy, guilds and custom avatars, Hello Kitty Online will offer players “a persistent, beautifully-designed environment where thousands of players and (non-player characters) live, explore and quest in a magical world with real and imaginary zones such as the Flower Kingdom, Tokyo, Paris, Moscow and more.”

Of course, it’s really too early to tell what this game will be like, but it’s sure to draw tons of players in, initially at least, because of its theme. After all, who doesn’t think of Hello Kitty and get all squishy inside? Well, okay, I don’t, but that doesn’t mean you don’t. Right?

More or is that meow? 

08 AM | 17 Feb

**SEEING THE FUTURE OF SECOND LIFE**

The Evolution of Networked Digital Environments

Julian Stadon (Perth) is currently undertaking a mentorship with Professors Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau, at the Interface Culture Lab, part of the University of Art and Design, Linz, where he is developing mixed reality systems in Second Life.

Julian is working on developing interactive augmented reality constructs to appear 3D in physical space when viewed through a head mounted display. The project explores the evolution and impact of newly evolved networked digital environments, particularly in Second Life. Julian aims to produce the final outcome in an exhibition at the John Curtin Gallery in May 2008.

The project has many socially innovative applications that can benefit the community in varied ways. These include the possibility of crossing over into computer game interfaces, raising new awareness of digital technologies and the contextual issues associated with it, through exhibition and also to the academic community, through the uniqueness of the project.

Julian is documenting his experience daily – follow the lessons and developments here www.anat.org.au/mentorship.

The ANAT emerging technology mentorship provides an opportunity for practitioners under 30 to explore new artistic directions, expand technical skills and increase knowledge of networks, debates and business practice spanning a three-month period.

For more information on the mentorship contact manager@anat.org.au

08 AM | 17 Feb

SquatFest – The Anti-Tropfest Fest

Sunday night, Feb 17, 7:30pm. We are very excited about our exciting secret location! To find out where it is SMS the word “squat” to us on the day: 0400 881 144. And we will bounce back all the details!

About Squatfest: SquatFest happens every year at the same date and time as TropFest. While the hopeful entrants for TropFest are fretting about whether they’ll get the chance to move up a rung in the Hollywood Sweatshop, artists and activists from ’round Australia are living it up, projecting films and videos in an inspiring squatted venue.

08 AM | 17 Feb

The adventures of Tim & Puma Mimi & Tim Leary’s entrance into the multiuser sarcophagus

Tim Leary would have loved this!! Presented by etoy and Tim & Puma Mimi. Gone from one dimension transmuted to another.

etoy’s MISSION ETERNITY SARCOPHAGUS (a white cargo container at the entrance to ARCO pavilion 14) is where the art group etoy calls and reactivates a dead pioneer of the information age: Timothy Leary. He is the first MISSION ETERNITY TEST PILOT to enter the multiuser sarcophagus, and again the pioneer: other pilots will follow him.

In Madrid, 8g of Leary’s mortal remains will be integrated into his updated TERMINUS. This plug-shaped capsule stores the ashes of the MISSION ETERNITY PILOT after cremation and links it to digital remains such as personal data, voice samples, images, a post-mortem activity plan and more.

The ceremony held 16.02.2008 was public and accompanied by 4 etoy.AGENTS and a live act by TIM & PUMA MIMI from Zurich. http://www.myspace.com/timandpumamimi

Background to the etoy.ART-INVASION 2.0 http://www.etoy.com/blog/archive/2008/02/10/etoy-art-invasion-2-0.html