Floriade is a chance to enjoy one million flowers all in one place. Photo: Glynis Quinlan.
Pop culture, colour and flowers this weekend. Spring has definitely arrived and just in time for the opening of Floriade. The annual flower festival needs no introduction; this year the theme is Pop Culture. In keeping with this theme and to celebrate its 20th birthday, the National Portrait Gallery opened a new exhibition this week of bright, bold and colourful portraits—Electric! Portraits that pop! Pop art is also part of the National Gallery’s exhibition American Masters which you can enjoy on Friday night along with live music, dance performances and Andy Warhol-inspired food and drinks. If you can’t face the crowds at Floriade you can enjoy glass flowers at the Canberra Glassworks. It currently has an exhibition of works created by glass artist B. Jane Cowie. The Canberra Short Film festival is also on this weekend, it is Sustainable House Day on Sunday—check out houses to visit here—and the Capital Brewing Co. is celebrating the first birthday of its Fyshwick brewery and tap room on Sunday.
All weekend
Floriade
Where: Commonwealth Park
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9:30 am–5:30 pm
Floriade opens this weekend and this year the annual flower festival is celebrating Pop Culture. There will be retro inspired flowerbeds, as well as flowerbeds containing emojis, superheroes and Where’s Wally. Check out the details about the flowerbeds here. Highlights this weekend include:
- Kokedama workshops, Saturday 11 am–1 pm and Sunday 2:30–4:30 pm. Kokedama is a Japanese technique planting a plant in a ball of soil, covered with moss and secured with twine. Kokedama Kreations will show you how to make and care for these free-form hanging moss balls. Tickets are $35, book here;
- A conversation with Alexx Stuart, Saturday 1:30–2:30 pm in The Greenhouse. Alex is an activist and educator, she will be discussing the toxicity of ingredients in everyday products.
- Yoga on Saturday 9:45–10:30 am and Sunday 9:30–10 am at Stage 88;
- Local singer-songwriter Sophie Edwards is performing Saturday 12–1 pm on the Ferry Gate Village Stage; and
- there are craft workshops for kids in the Kids Zone and photography workshops.
Check out the Floriade Program here.
A Profusion of Blooms
Where: Canberra Glassworks
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–4 pm
A Profusion of Blooms is an exhibition of new works created by Australian glass artist B. Jane Cowie at the Canberra Glassworks in celebration of Floriade. Check out the catalogue here. The exhibition is on until 31 October.
Canberra Short Film Festival
Where: Various Venues
When: Friday 6 pm, Saturday 7 pm & Sunday 6 pm
The Canberra Short Film Festival has been running since Tuesday and concludes this weekend. It is in its 23rd year which makes it one of Austraila’s oldest film festivals. Catch mini film-marathon screenings at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre on Friday night (tickets $15), at Smiths Alternative on Saturday night, and at Dendy Cinemas on Sunday night when the awards will be announced. Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday sessions are $20. Check out the program and buy tickets here.
HM Queen Elizabeth II, 2002 by Polly Borland.
Electric! Portraits that pop!
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10 am–5 pm
The Portrait Gallery is celebrating its 20th birthday summer with a new exhibition Electric! Portraits that pop! This exhibition comprises works from the Gallery’s collection which are bright, bold and colourful. It will include paintings, prints and photographs, and video portraits. The exhibition runs until April next year.
Friday
American Masters: Friday Night Live
Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: 6–8 pm
Head to the Gallery this Friday evening and check out the Gallery’s latest exhibition American Masters. Listen to a talk by exhibition curator, Lucina Ward, make art yourself, drink and eat Warhol-inspired creations and enjoy performances by the Merce Cunningham Residency dancers and the Brass Knuckle Brass Band. Tickets are $35, $30 for concession and $25 for NGA members. Book here.
Right There on My TV
Where: Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
When: 7 pm
Take a nostalgic look back at the pioneers of Australian music television and revisit music television programs from the 70s you fondly remember as well as the programs you have long since forgotten! Featuring Nightmoves, the revived Bandstand, Thank God it’s Friday at the Zoo, international tour specials, variety shows and telethons of the era. Plus a never before seen pilot episode of 1977 music show Soundcheck, featuring radio and television personality Greg Evans and a panel of judges rating the latest record releases. Tickets are $20, book here.
Saturday
Image credit: www.littledandelion.com
Extreme Knitting with Jacqui Fink
Where: The Canberra Centre
When: 10:30 am–12:30 pm
Jacqui Fink is a fibre artist who creates large-scale knitted textiles. Her work has garnered attention from around the world and has been given the name ‘extreme knitting’. In this workshop, Jacqui will introduce you to her technique. Tickets are $40, book here.
Sunday
Capital Brewing Tap Room First Birthday
Where: Capital Brewing Co, Dairy Road, Fyshwick
When: 11:30 am–9 pm
Capital Brewing is celebrating one year since it launched its Fyshwick brewery and tap room. There will be live music, free tours of the brewery, a specialty birthday beer, dog beer and kids activities including a petting zoo and face painting.
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