Tattoo Art and Bodypainting Expo

Tattoo Art and Bodypainting Expo, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Tattoo & Body Art Expo Sydney; Art, Bikes, Oddities, Pro Wrestling and more

It may have been billed Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo, but tattoo's were the bread and butter of today's excitement out at Homebush, and we were excited about catching pro wrestling AWF style, plus the "jail cell" action thanks to the folks at Snake Charmer.

We were told that about 5,000 passed thru the gates today (Saturday), such is the popularity of tatts and bodyart in Sydney, Australia. There were a lot more tattoos than regular bodypainting.

Most of the stall holders were really friendly, and most invited the positive media attention also.

The pro wrestling thanks to Greg "TNT" Bounds and his stable of brawlers was one of the highlights for us, as it provided some exciting action to fill out that day. We witnessed an impressive wrestling match between Ben (Iron Jay) Coles VS Gladiator Apollo, that featured both technical wrestling and brawling. After the match they both shook hands, did some off the record interviews and posed for photos (which came very naturally for them).

Back to the regular stalls...

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin from WWE fame would have been proud to hear that skulls were on display (not real ones as far as we know, but quite a few hardcore bikers were on site). There was lots of body jewellery and detailed masterpieces, on many parts of the human body. We saw hundreds of tattoos and piercings, some of which were a bit scary looking.

The customised skateboards and skatedecks at NSP were ultra cool, and it was great to see that they were raising money for some kids that had been doing it tough, so we took some pictures of their cool creations and made a modest donation.

It was the fourth annual Show and more than 300 Australian and international artists strutted their stuff, and they will be doing the same again Sunday (tomorrow).

Big thank you to the organisers of Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo, and especially the great folks at AWF Wrestling and Snake Charmer for the excellent performances which we captured.

Websites

Tattoo & Body Art Expo Sydney
www.tattooexpo.com.au

AWF Wrestling
www.awfwrestling.com.au

Sydney Olympic Park
www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au

Snake Charmer Choppers
www.snakecharmerchoppers.com

Harley-Davidson (Australia)
www.harley-davidson.com/en_AU/Content/Pages/home.html

NSP Clothing
www.nspclothing.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Wrestling News Media
www.wrestlingnewsmedia.com

Taylor Swift - Speak Now Tour

Taylor Swift - Speak Now Tour, a set on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Taylor Swift Speak Now Tour Hots Sydney, Australia


You might have heard that Taylor Swift was spotted taking in the view of Sydney yesterday, including even catching a harbour cruise with her friends and family.

Taylor is currently on tour in Australia, and has been hard to spot as she's been doing the rounds.

The Aussie press spotted her boarding a boat in Sydney Harbour for an evening cruise.

Taylor's first Sydney took place tonight at a jam packed Allphones Arena.

The costumes and set were amazing, as a largely teenage girl audience of 14,000 or so cheered and screamed to their teen idol.

Taylor seemed to love playing to the full Allphones Arena, playing five different guitars, two banjos, the piano and a ukele. We also counted at least four different costume changes.

The country music icon is known for writing "13" on her hand before each show because it's her lucky number. Dozens of '13' signs were in the crowd, and some young ladies wrote it on their bodies also.

Taylor told the press "I was born on the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first No.1 song had a 13-second intro and every time I've won an award I've been seated in either the 13th seat, the 13th row, the 13th section or row M, which is the 13th letter," she has previously said.

We wish Taylor well on her amazing career to date and hope she enjoys the rest of her tour and stay in Australia.

Promo

Presented by: MICHAEL COPPEL, CMC & [V] HITS and SPONSORED BY COVERGIRL, JOHN SANDS & WONDERSTRUCK

Taylor Swift to bring blockbuster 'Speak Now' world tour to Australia in 2012

With Special Guests: Hot Chelle Rae

Taylor Swift, who is currently headlining sold-out stadiums and arenas on the North American leg of her blockbuster TAYLOR SWIFT SPEAK NOW WORLD TOUR 2011 has announced that in response to strong fan demand she will extend the tour into 2012 with capital city dates around Australia.

The four-time GRAMMY winner's SPEAK NOW performance is a two-hour theatrical presentation, reminiscent of a Broadway experience. The show features elaborate costumes, dancers, aerialists, changing sets, and innovative choreography and instrumentation showcased on a multi-level stage.

Taylor plays five different guitars in the show, plus two banjos, the ukulele and the piano, and changes costumes nine times over the course of the evening. During the concert she moves right around the venue, using different stages, thereby giving every audience member a great seat.

Taylor's Speak Now tour has earned high praise from top critics around the world: "One of the genre's most ambitious acts has created one of the genre's most ambitious tours. Broadway-inspired…the two-hour production was an overwhelming experience." - Billboard

Taylor's 2011 Tour includes 98 shows in 17 countries spanning three continents, and her Speak Now album is the #1-selling album in all genres of music over the past twelve months.

TOUR DATES*:
Fri 2 Mar - Burswood Dome, Perth
Sun 4 Mar - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Tue 6 & Wed 7 Mar - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Fri 9 & Sat 10 Mar - Allphones Arena, Sydney
Mon 12, Tue 13 & Wed 14 Mar - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Thank you Taylor, and also to your wonderful team who have assisted us so much lately.

Websites

Taylor Swift official website
www.taylorswift.com

Michael Coppel Presents
www.coppel.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Big Name Street Artists Paint Live For Charity: Vexta, Haha, E.L.K and Reka; The Rocks, Sydney

Some of Australia’s hottest street artists go to play for the return of Project Five at The Rocks – fast becoming Sydney’s definitive charitable live art show.

Project Five Volume Four welcomes leading lady of street art Vexta; finalist in the 2011 Metro Gallery Art Award, E.L.K. (Luke Cornish); in high demand, abstract surrealist painter, REKA (James Reka); and HAHA (Regan Tamanui) whose 10 year history of exhibiting adds punch to the line up.

The sounds of the Future Classic Deejay’s will be pumping beats live on the turntables throughout the weekend.

Street artists VEXTA, HAHA, E.L.K. & REKA will bring the vibrant colours and life of art to The Rocks, working live in front of onlookers to create unique pieces of street art on four large 2.4m x 1.2m panels.

Check it out on Friday 9th March between 6pm – 8pm at Rocks Square, The Rocks.

On completion, the works will be displayed in the foyer of the Cleland Bond Building at 33 Playfair Street, The Rocks - before they are auctioned off by Bay East Auctions Head of Art, Anne Phillips on March 22 (6-9pm) – in Project Five’s fourth charity auction.

All proceeds from the auction go to charitable arts and media organization Information and Cultural Exchange (I.C.E), who run creative arts programs for Marginalized youth in Western Sydney.  The live art event runs from Friday March 9 6-9pm, across the weekend between 12-3pm.

Live Art and Music

9 March

Opening Night

6pm - 9pm

The Rocks Square, Playfair St, The Rocks

10-11 March

12 noon - 3pm

Engage with artists creating live street art, with Future Classic DJs on the turntables.

The Rocks Square, Playfair St, The Rocks

Artist Talks

12 March

11am - 12 noon

An opportunity to get up close and personal with Project Five artists who will discuss the state of street art in Australia, their bodies of work, and personal experiences working in Australia and overseas.

New artworks created as part of Project Five will also be on display at the Artist Talks event before they are sold on 22 March at a charity auction to raise funds for community arts group Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE), a leading supporter of emerging artists in greater Western Sydney.

Websites

Project Five — Volume4

http://www.project5.com.au/

The Rocks official website

http://www.therocks.com/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Cardinal Spin

http://www.cardinalspin.com.au/

Coca-Cola Australia Foundation funds innovative youth rehabilitation program

Creative arts used to inspire change in marginalised youth...

With help via $220,000 funding from the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF), Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm (TCF) has expanded their Creative Arts Vocational Education (CAVE) program - a specialist youth rehabilitation and treatment initiative.

The financial support from CCAF to date has rapidly expanded the program, with funding providing new facilities and equipment as well as the employment and training of a full-time CAVE course coordinator. As a result, 156 students completed the program in 2011.

To celebrate the success of the program to date, CCAF advocate, Shannon Noll hosted youth involved in the CAVE program to a private session at the Australian Institute of Music– giving them a behind-the-scenes look into the music industry as well as treated them to a live performance.

Shannon Noll, describes the program and day with the kids as inspirational, commenting on its ability to inspire significant change for youth involved, "As a musician, I know how powerful the arts can be, and that is why I support the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation and Triple Care Farm in their effort to use creative arts as a tool to rehabilitate and inspire youth towards a better future".

• TCF is a unique and successful residential program for young people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness or acute behavioural problems. TCF covers 45 hectares of farmland in NSW's Southern Highlands and offers young people aged 16-24 the chance to develop emotionally, socially and vocationally in a safe and secure environment. 

• TCF’s experience shows that creative arts programs are an innovative and effective way of rehabilitating youth; as such, CAVE operates as an integrated aspect of their holistic residential rehabilitation and treatment program. 

• CAVE uses the creative arts - including music, visual art, drama and film production – as alternative forms of self expression and education for youth in the program. Further, it provides opportunities for students to increase confidence, employability as well as develop other skills they need to make a successful, and sustainable, reintegration into the community.

Nichole Sullivan, supervising psychologist of CAVE and spokesperson for TCF commented, "Involvement in the CAVE program has seen an increase in positive outcomes for our students across the board.

"Students who intensively participated in the CAVE program tend to have an increased length of stay at TCF, which means they are engaged longer and are therefore more likely to benefit from the other activities and treatments we offer.

"Hence, results for young people involved in the CAVE program indicate reductions in substance use and dependence and increased quality of life."

“We have also found that these students had better outcomes after leaving TCF, with a higher proportion involved in work or study, including three former students who are now directly employed in a music-related vocation.

Jim Bird, Chairman of CCAF, says "The Coca-Cola Australia Foundation is proud and delighted to support Triple Care Farm and the CAVE program. It is an admirable program, that we believe truly makes a difference to young people in their journey toward rehabilitation".

CCAF first supported TCF and CAVE in 2010 when it was a pilot, and since then has been the primary financial supporter of the program.

Websites

Coca-Cola Australia Foundation

http://www.coca-colaaustraliafoundation.com.au/

Mission Australia

http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/

Shannon Noll official website

http://www.shannonnoll.com.au/

Hill+Knowlton Strategies

http://www.hkstrategies.com.au/

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com