Liquid Architecture 9 hits the road this July and celebrates its ninth consecutive year as Australia’s premier sound-arts festival. Occurring annually since 2000, Liquid Architecture is a collaboration of curators and content producers who bring musicians, composers, designers and media artists together in this sense specific festival.

“The strength of LA9 is that it offers such a breadth of experiences. With festival locations having different Artistic Directors, there is also a strong sense of place for each event. We are thrilled that Sound Travellers is able to enhance the strong local and international content, by providing opportunities for Australian artists to tour nationally with the festival” said Joanne Kee, Director of Sound Travellers,.

Exploring the diverse methods of sound making and sound theory, Liquid Architecture 9 will be touring Brisbane, Sydney, Bendigo, Melbourne, Castlemaine, Cairns and Perth, with a provoking program of musical performance, audio visual presentations and installation work.

“There is an incredible strength and diversity amongst our artists, many of whom tour successfully overseas, yet have little opportunity to tour in their own country. By supporting our artists to perform nationally, the cross pollination of music, ideas and cultures develops a stronger, more creative scene,” said Kee.

Liquid Architecture presents an outstanding program of local Australian artists. Featured this year is Metalog, a project designed to concentrate on the meta of instruments; Amanda Stewart: voice and text, Ben Byrne: tape and electronics, Natasha Anderson: recorder and electronics, Robbie Avenaim: percussion, Jim Denley: winds and electronics, Dale Gorfinkel: vibes, trumpet and electronics, The result is a “meta” band that explores and diffuses electro-acoustic sound. Metalog is playing July 12^th at Liquid Architecture 9, Sydney.

Also touring nationally is Lawrence English, media artist, composer, curator and Artistic Director of Liquid Architecture 9, Brisbane. English’s work is eclectic and characterises a long-term exploration into various themes including audio/visual environments, found sound/vision, subtle transformation of public space and sonic art works that exist at the very edge of perception.

English is also co-directing Liquid Architecture in Cairns, which will feature emerging Brisbane artist Tom Hall. Drawing inspiration from countless ‘peripheral’ spaces, Hall’s practice involves considered explorations into place, space and time. Tom Hall is kicking off his national tour “Sight Beyond” in Cairns, July 25^th.

International artists Toy.Bizarre (France), Marcus Schmickler (Koln), Andrew Pekler (Berlin), Rafael Toral (Lisbon) and Robert Normandeau (Montreal), perform alongside Australian artists encouraging cross cultural dialogue and providing an important means of generating future initiatives. Bridging artistic sensibilities over geographically distant places, Liquid Architecture 9 presents the best emerging and global talent.

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If you are an artist working in the areas of visual or hybrid arts, performance and film then check out these new presentation and professional development opportunities.

Studio Program
PICA is currently seeking expressions of interest for the 2009 Studio Program. PICA’s Studio Program provides participating artists with a dedicated space to produce new work. The artists work in their studios throughout their residency and are required to present artist talks, open their studio on select days and must result in a public outcome.

The application process for PICA’s Studio Program has changed and will now remain open throughout the year. Both visual and performing artists will be considered. For further information, see the guidelines in the ’studio’ section on PICA’s website.

For any queries, please contact PICA’s Curator Melissa Keys on 08) 9228 6300 or exhibitions@pica.org.au or check out www.pica.org.au

Circle of friends presents the work of two Melbourne-based artists David Rosetzky and James Lynch.

A DVD projection by Rosetzky, Nothing like this, 2007, explores the nuances of friendship amongst a group of twenty-somethings over a holiday weekend and No fear, a sound piece based on self-help tapes that involves subtle interaction between the work and its viewers.

James Lynch is represented with a series of four short
animations from 2003-2006 documenting his friends’ dreams that have included him and explores our subconscious connections and friendship fantasies.

Art Gallery of Western Australia
Until 25 August 2008
Perth Cultural Centre, James Street Mall