A festival of outdoor arts, music and doggos!
A festival of outdoor arts, music and doggos!
The warmer weather is officially here, *air punch*, so, prepare to treat all your senses this spring with ten days of WONDER at our city’s foremost arts precinct HOTA. Not only do they have regular amazing events and a world-class art space, but there’s also a brimming schedule of events happening from Friday 29th October to Sunday 7th November.
Much like last year’s program, you’ll have the option of free and ticketed events to attend with contemporary art and sound installations, including a world exclusive and brand-new outdoor work by Melbourne-based design studio: ENESS. All up — there’s plenty in store!
If you’re a fan of our four-legged friends, there’s a treat in store for you. The main feature will be the Lost Dogs Disco, where 16 large-scale inflatable and interactive dog characters will come to life. From the brilliant creative team behind the Airship Orchestra installation at the Brisbane Festival 2021, these characters, some nearly 5 metres tall, will come to life on the forecourt of HOTA’s Outdoor Stage. And should you get close enough, you’ll be able to hear barks and growls!
The outdoor installation will also play backdrop to Neon Remix on Saturday 6th November – the ticketed music concert seeing out WONDER. For those old enough (or young-at-heart), the show is an ode to the 80s and will throwback to a time where disco died, and post-punk of pop collided with new wave sounds to deliver a soundtrack unlike any other decade!
The concert will deliver a lineup of the Gold Coast’s brightest fluorescent-minded musicians in a troop of contemporary New Wave Synth Classics under the creative lead of Blair Condon (Miss Lucy). Featuring artists Mackenzie Brown (Miss Lucy), Matt McGuffie (Ivey), Ondre Davis (The Yams) and special guests, Millie Perks (Ivey), Tanisha Cook and Gemma Owens (The Oogars) and DENNIS.
Amongst the program, there’s even more dog-orientated fun to be had with Let’s Be Friends Furever on Friday 29th to Saturday 30th October. Described as one part dog show, two parts TED talk, and three parts family photo album – this show mixes documentary with video in a theatre-turned-dog-park performance with real dogs taking the stage.
And if that wasn’t enough, be sure you bring your furry friends along to Fridays on the Lawn (with Inside Gold Coast): Doggy Edition held on both Friday 29th October and Friday 5th November. The perfect place to wind down and enjoy live local music and drinks from HOTA’s Lawn Bar. All whilst taking in our iconic skyline and the radiant artwork set before it!
HOTA CEO Criena Gehrke said WONDER is the ideal socially-distanced outdoor fun we could all do with… and of course, a celebration of our furry friends.
“This year, WONDER at HOTA is back, and it’s bigger and bolder than before, with larger-than-life art in the outdoors and an explosion of colour and sound, with a program fully dedicated to a dog’s life,” she said.
Pencil this one in Gold Coast, because if we’re not mistaken, it’s already looking pretty paw-some to us!
Where: HOTA, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
When: Friday 29th October to Sunday 7th November 2021
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
It’s the moment the arts community, and indeed the public of the Gold Coast have been waiting a little while for (drum roll) the shiny new Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery is now open! And what a great complement to an already incredible arts precinct this is going to be!
While the tickets to access the gallery this weekend were already sold out, the opening weekend is set to make you excited. There will be artworks both indoors and out that celebrate the diversity, richness and ambition of the Gold Coast. Coinciding with live music across both the Saturday and Sunday daytimes, the experience — even for those without access to the gallery (for now) — is set to be a great one-off experience still.
On Saturday 8th May, the music program will serve as a vibrant soundtrack to the buzz of excitement and anticipation at the Gallery and its surroundings. Music will kick off from 11am to 3.30pm with a line up on the Outdoor Stage featuring the fiery instrumentation from Hussy Hicks, dreamy psych-pop from Echo Wave, the colourful sounds of Samba, Bossa Nova from Augusta Street, the hip hop and traditional rhythms from young First Nations band, Jarulah and Blackline Band and the funky, disco vibes from DJ Felix.
On Sunday 9th May, you’re encouraged to experience ‘Echoes of Gold’, featuring performances by: Eliza & The Delusionals, Donny Love, DENNIS. and DJ sets by VICES to name a few. All hosted by Kate Baggerson and Zac Fahey, with live on-stage interviews with artists, musos, and industry movers & shakers, the line-up will be nothing short of exciting.
And to amplify that local Gold Coast flavour, even more, The Design Collective Markets will be on-site showcasing a selection of Gold Coast and Queensland artisan makers and retailers for a pop-up market of boutique wares and gifts! Not forgetting the mix of food trucks/outlets, local beers, it’s lining up to be solid Sunday in our eyes. On a picnic blanket or standing with a cold one in hand — either way, it’s an unmissable Gold Coast event.
If you did secure tickets to the opening, in the opening exhibition, titled Solid Gold: Artists from Paradise, be sure to keep an eye out for local artist Aaron Chapman’s inclusion — we have it on good authority it will be big and bright! You simply can’t miss it.
Internationally, the Contemporary Masters from New York: Art from the Mugrabi Collection exhibition (13 November 2021 – 27 February 2022) will be showcased in the new 1000m2 main exhibition gallery a stunning space featuring approximately 70 works from some of the world’s most influential contemporary artists including Andy Warhol.
And if you decide to hold off on visiting the Gallery until after Friday 14th May, you can then check out the incredible new Palette Restaurant and Exhibitionist Bar. Both of which where you will find deftly put-together food and tantalising cocktails await with enigmatic views of our skyline and hinterland.
The Gold Coast art scene is set to flourish, folks!
Where: HOTA, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
When: Opening weekend – Saturday 8 May & Sunday 9 May 2021
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
