TWiSK #368
Uncle Vanya @ Theatre Works
Chagall flagship exhibition @ Jewish Museum
Prelude to budget showdown
Plus more music, arts and community
Chagall flagship exhibition @ Jewish Museum
Friday 9 June – Sunday 10 December
The Jewish Museum’s 2023 flagship exhibition – Chagall – celebrates the remarkable story of international master Marc Chagall (1887-1985). International curator and art historian, Jade Niklai, has transformed the Jewish Museum into a Chagall-inspired dreamscape that includes an exclusive capsule of original works and poems, alongside a bespoke immersive experience and creative making space. $25/$20
www.jewishmuseum.com.au
26 Alma Rd
Contact 8534 3600 about disabled access via rear
Closed Monday and Saturday, other days 10 am – 5 pm
St Kilda Film Festival @ St Kilda and South Melbourne
Until Monday 12 June
Watch trailer
Don’t miss the great range of Film Festival screenings this week.
This year SKFF also has a range of screenings in bars and hidden venues in South Melbourne.
Program now on line
Port Phillip residents get a 10% using promo code LOCAL10
STASH Industry Night @ Alex
Monday 5 June, 7.30 PM
An all singing all dancing fundraiser and celebration of the local musical theatre scene. Big list of local talent across a number of stages. $28
Tix and info
Victoria Police: Community Safety Forum @ St Kilda Town Hall
Tuesday 6 June, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Organised by Victoria Police, this forum welcomes community members to talk with police about what is important in our community. The forum will explore a range of topics including crime, family violence, road policing, youth offending, drugs and emergency management.
Registration required 
Breaking the Grip – Councils and the neo-liberal agenda @ Middle Park Library
Tuesday 6 June, 7 pm – 9 pm
As debate about the Council budget rages, Progressive Port Phillip has invited Dr Richard Denniss from the Australia Institute to discuss the importance of challenging the ‘roads, rates and rubbish’ focus of neo-liberals in local government.
Free but please register
(upstairs – lift access) 254-256 Richardson Street, Middle Park
Budget submissions @ Council
Wednesday 7 June, 6.30 pm
The saga that is the Council budget process continues, this meeting will no doubt hear a range of public submissions on rates and spending. The Council will ultimately set the rate and budget at a special meeting on 20 June.
With an evenly divided council, anything could happen.
Key questions to watch are:
Will the proposed rate rise of 2.8% get through?
Will the significant cuts to the Cultural Development Fund get through?
The public is welcome to watch in person or online. 
Uncle Vanya @ Theatre Works
From Wednesday 7 June – Saturday 17 June
Multi-award-winning director Bronwen Coleman (Dirt, Naomi, Ignis) and the Anthropocene Play Company breathe immediacy and new life into Anton Chekhov’s renowned classic, Uncle Vanya. $45 with some tix $20
Bookings
Jo Meares’ Silver Bullets + Gareth Skinner @ George Lanes
Thursday 8 June, 7 pm – 11 pm
“Sydney songwriter Jo Meares returns to Melbourne for a special show with his brilliant Melbourne band Silver Bullets. The phenomenal Gareth Skinner and his cello will be performing on the night also.”
Tix 
T4T: Transgender Showcase @ Pride
Thursday 8 June – Saturday 10 June, 7.30 pm – 9 pm
“For trans folk, for non-binary folk, for everyone who has fled the confines of gender altogether.”
A showcase of Trans performers across a range of mediums – drag, burlesque, comedy, music and more.
See line-ups and purchase tickets here
Maoko Mend & Meetup Sewing Circles @ Space2b
Fortnightly on Thursdays from 8 June until 20 July
Join Japanese sewer Maoko Carroll in a regular sewing circle at Space2b Social Design. Spend some time with like-minded people, learn how to mend your garments and feel connected with the community. $10 Donation. Drop-ins only
More info
144 Chapel St
The Delines (USA) @ Memo
Friday 9 June, 7 pm
Direct from Portland (Oregon), The Declines are a musical collaboration between Willy Vlautin and singer Amy Boone. Its classy Americana in the style of The Walkabouts, sultry story songs with a rich sound. Supported by Jimbo Mathus, a treat in his own right. $60 / $55
Tix 
Mark Normand – Fanny Guy Tour @ Palais
Friday 9 June, 6 pm and 8 pm
fun-loving New York comedian Mark Normand. $80
Tix
Blackbirds F.C @ George Lane
Friday 9 June, 7 pm – 11 pm
“Featuring members of The Hollowmen, Helvelln, the Vanda’s, and Flicker, Blackbirds FC play their own brand of new wave, country rock inspired by The Go-Betweens, REM, Wilco, and, oh yeah, The Church.”
Tix
Discovery – Daft Punk Tribute Show @ Espy
Friday 9 June, 9 pm
Celebrate and lose yourself to dance as world renowned Daft Punk tribute ‘Discovery’ take you on a musical catalogue journey showcasing Daft Punk’s last studio album ‘Random Access Memories.’
Tix
LITFEST 2023 @ Albert Park College
Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June
Famous for their Rotary Book Fair, now with a powerhouse literary festival with top authors including:
Sarah Krasnostein (The Trauma Cleaner, The Believer, and Not Waving, Drowning)
Laura McPhee-Browne (Cherry Beach, Little Plum)
Natasha Sholl (Found, Wanting)
Singer-Songwriter Hannah McKittrick (The Day Has Again Bruised Me).
Fest tix $30 and $15 concession.
Tix
SKFF: International Family Animation Explosion #2 @ Astor
Saturday 10 June, 11.30 am – 12.30 pm
A collection of new animations drawn from around the world, curated especially for families and kids of all ages. This is cinema of pure imagination, designed to delight children and captivate adults. $10 and kids up to 16 enter for free.
Tix and info 
PestWatch! Crab rumble field training @ local rock reef
Saturday 10 June, 12 pm -2 pm
Join the Port Phillip Baykeeper, Neil Blake to look for Asian shore crabs and European Green Crabs. Learn how to identify these invasive marine pests and how to tell them apart from our native crabs. Explore the rock reef at low tide, so wear closed-toed shoes and bring gloves, as crabs can be pinchy!
This crab rumble is fun for all ages.
Register 
SKFF Gravel Road – film and music @ Espy
Saturday 10 June, 1 pm
Watch the award-winning documentary ‘Gravel Road’ presenting the story of the rock band ‘Desert Stars’ debut tour through Western Australia’s outback – and then hear the band in all their dusty glory. With John Wayne Parsons & Eleanor Dix. $22.95
Tix
Gordon Holland – EP Launch @ George Lane Matinee Sessions
Saturday 10 June, 3 pm – 6 pm
W.A born, St Kilda based multi-instrumentalist, Gordon Holland is finally releasing his debut solo EP, Skipping Stones On A Salt Lake.
Tix
Rolling Thunder Vietnam @ Palais
Saturday 10 June, 7.30 pm
Rolling Thunder Vietnam features songs by Steppenwolf, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Curtis Mayfield, Gladys Knight, Billy Thorpe, Edwin Starr and Paul Simon. They include Magic Carpet Ride, Fortunate Son, The Letter, Black Magic Woman, Help Me Make it Through the Night, War, People Get Ready, Killing Me Softly With His Song and Bridge Over Troubled Water. $68
Tix 
The Modfathers with Steve Lucas @ George Lane
Saturday 10 June, 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm
The Modfathers play from 1964 to 1984. Music that started it all. The Mod & Mod revival. The Jam, Joe Jackson, The Who, The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Specials and more.
Tix and info
Stephen Cummings Album Launch @ Memo
Saturday 10 June, 7 pm
Stephen – together with some special guests – will feature material from the new album plus songs from his considerable back catalogue. His first-full band Melbourne show since his 2020 stroke, the evening promises inspiration, emotion and some unforgettable music. Supported by Tanya Lee Davies. $60 / $40
Tix
Sunday Stroll @ Elwood Singing Walking Trail
Sunday 11 June, 10.30 am – 12.00 pm
Discover stories, history, places and people of Elwood through song.
Meet at Song Site 5: Robinson Reserve, between Barkly St and Marine Parade, Elwood.
Walk along the foreshore from Song Site 5 to Song Site 8. Free event led by Elwood Community Choir leader, Jeannie Marsh.
Info
St Kilda Repair Café @ EcoCentre
Sunday 11 June, 2 pm – 5 pm
Bring your broken items to the St Kilda Repair Cafe to reduce waste and learn new skills, all while having a cuppa. If you have any unwanted phones or laptops, please bring them along to donate.
Info
38 Blessington St (across from previous EcoCentre)
The Tarantinos @ St Kilda Sports Club
Sunday 11 June, 5 pm
Free
The Hoodoomen @ Espy
Sunday 11 June, 6 pm
Free Sunday blues in the Basement
Eugene Hamilton & The Money @ Memo
Sunday 11 June, 7 pm
King’s Birthday Weekend and who better than Eugene Hamilton and The Money to celebrate it with, They make on art form out of playing re-invented covers. It’s gonna be a Funky, Memphis, Countrified, Latin, Jazz, Soul, Boogaloo Experience. Supported by Willowbank Grove
$50 / $40
Tix
Art Exhibition ‘The way we see’ @ Artful Yoga Gallery.
Until’ 30 June
Local artist Howard Kimber has put together a collection inspired by Australian modernist Jeffry Smart. The work is about a man’s place in the world he has constructed.
More information
1 Vale Street
Later in June
Teen Art Workshop Project @ Linden
From Monday 12 June, seven Monday nights 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm
Make, play, learn – do it your way. The Linden Teen Art Workshop Project (TAWP) invites you to embrace your creativity on your own terms. Whether you want to experiment, have fun, or acquire new skills, it’s all up to you. Join in for a relaxed and open environment where you can express yourself. Free
More information + registration 
SKiPPS Winter Wellness @ Albert Park Oval #1 Pavilion
Thursday 15 June, 8 am – 6.30 pm
Celebrate the approaching winter solstice & rejuvenate with a special fundraiser for St Kilda Park Primary. Enjoy a session or two or full day of yoga, sound bath, hypnotherapy, chakradance or Feldenkrais method. All profits to SKiPPS. $20 per session or $115 for full day (8 sessions).
Tix
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” @ Alex
Friday 16 June – Sunday 2 July, various times
Broadway’s Tony Award-Winning Smash Hit. $55 / $25 Family $98
Tix
What does ‘world heritage’ mean? @ U3APP Saturday zoom
17 June 2023 – 2.30 to 3.30 pm
A zoom conversation between Dr William Logan AM and Dr Joe Hajdu explaining what it takes to get onto the list and how places are managed once they have been inscribed. How the system works will be explored using Berlin’s Museum Island as a case study. Free
More info and zoom link 
Author Talk: Carmel McKenzie @ St Kilda Library
Tuesday 27 June, 6.30 pm – 8 pm
A fascinating discussion about the history of St Kilda servants between 1841 and 1900.
Reflecting its wealth, St Kilda boasted the highest number of resident servants of any Melbourne suburb for much of the nineteenth century. Free
Bookings needed
A month of extra Pride @ Pride
From 1 June
Pride has programmed a big month of extra activities in June which is Pride Month. They’ve got something happening almost every day.
Full program
Book early
Fiddler on the Roof @ Alex
Wednesday 2 August – Sunday 13 August,
MLOC (not-for-profit community theatre) presents their first production of its 2023 season with Fiddler on the Roof.
Tix
Irony or laziness or just the way of AI
Linden New Art supplies an AI generated image for promotion
The image above was supplied by Linden to help promote their forthcoming Teen Art Program.
During processing for the website, TWiSK noticed that Linden had titled the image as “AI generated image of teen photographic art workshop.”
A call to Linden revealed they resorted to an AI image because they didn’t have any photos because the workshop was yet to happen.
Does it strike you as odd that a creative gallery would offer an image generated by AI?
As the heading says, is it irony, laziness or a glimpse into the future?
TWiSK: This Week in St Kilda and ChatGPT?
Has AI made TWiSK redundant? Not yet apparently, here’s the ChatGPT response to a request for information on forthcoming events in St Kilda
Q: What’s happening This Week In St Kilda?
A: As an AI language model, I do not have access to real-time information about events in St Kilda. However, you can check out various online resources such as the St Kilda Festival website, Facebook event pages, and local news websites to find out what events, gigs, exhibitions, and activities are happening in St Kilda this week.
But AI is only getting started …
Council faces the public as budget decision looms
Community debate, discussion and democracy are alive and well in Port Phillip
On Wednesday evening there will queues at the microphone as the public make their submission to Council on the draft rates and budget package. From rate freeze to full whack, from culture cuts to community benefit, the divide in Port Phillip is starker than ever.
But it remains civil and far removed from the disruptive tactics employed in other municipalities by vocal lobbies.
RoPP/Liberal vs Progressives with Mayor in the middle
Like most of Aussie politics, our councillors agree on most things. But that doesn’t make the differences trivial.
In broad terms, the conservatives look at council and see waste, unnecessary bureaucracy and over-reach with council spending money on pet projects rather than core business. Their major strategy is to limit rate rises to increase ‘productivity’ while targeting unnecessary spending.
And guess what, they are right sometime times.
Progressives see opportunity for community benefit
The Labor and Green councillors look at the same council and see something very differently. They value community co-operation and collective solutions. They value cultural funding because it enriches the community – and brings people together. They want to help out in areas that aren’t really the business of local government – like homelessness – because those that should be offering solutions aren’t doing a good job.
And you guessed it, they are right sometimes.
FYI Link to Progressive Port Phillip budget submission
Spare a thought for independent Mayor Heather Cunsolo
TWiSK respects Mayor Cunsolo. Her manner in Council meetings is open and respectful.
Her responses to questions and criticism is also open and measured.
Her independence is not in doubt.
But the pressure must be considerable.
As the debate rages, let’s all be careful to focus on the issues and not the personalities.
But Council is not without its problems
The latest CEO report identifies a number of red flags:
Nearly a third of Council capital projects are running behind or over budget or both.
Likewise, nearly a third of operations are running behind or over budget or both.
Alarmingly, one in four community service requests are not resolved in ‘agreed timeframes’.
And the same goes for Councillor requests.
And the staff turnover at Council is an alarming 20% pa.
Nevertheless, bravo for publishing these results for everyone to see.
TWiSK looks forward to reporting on the community feedback to Council
Greg Day
Happy to chat anytime 0418 345 829
Content suggestions and community questions are always welcome.
gday@archives.gdaystkilda.com.au
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