Events: Monthly round up

Queensland Pride's Michelle Cochrane filters the best in arts, entertainment and events over the next month.

DOUBLE DELIGHTS

This June sees the opening of two new shows at IMA: Fresh Cut and Douglas Gordon: Left Is Right and Right Is Wrong and Left Is Wrong and Right Is Right. According to IMA Director Robert Leonard, Fresh Cut provides a glimpse of our art future as it showcases the best new Queensland artists of the year. For 2012, the show features work by Sean Barrett, Antoinette J. Citizen, Yavuk Erkan and David Nixon.

Left Is Right and Right Is Wrong and Left Is Wrong and Right Is Right is the work of Douglas Gordon: a Scottish artist renowned for re-presenting appropriated films in ways that comment on their content and materiality. In this piece, he has appropriated Whirlpool: a little known 1949 Otto Preminger film.

Fresh Cut and Douglas Gordon: Left Is Right and Right is Wrong and Left is Wrong and Right is Right, 23 June-4 August, Institute of Modern Art. ima.org.au

OVO FLYING TO BRISBANE

Get set to be dazzled again by Cirque du Soleil: OVO is coming to town. OVO, meaning “egg” in Portuguese, is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life: butterflies, crickets, spiders, ants, scarab beetles, fireflies, fleas, a ladybug and a blue fly will soon be crawling, fluttering, and playing in Brisbane in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. This Australian tour will be the first time OVO has travelled outside of North America, and the cast of 54 performing artists will soon be flying in to amaze us with their specialised acrobatic acts.

OVO, from 14 July, Big Top - Northshore Hamilton.  cirquedusoleil.com/ovo

DION

Michael Dion and cast are back on stage this July with their new show, An Evening with Celine Dion. An Aussie Mine Musical Spectacular, this drag show replicates live Celine Dion shows to create a full, magical illusion. With over 36 years of experience as a male and female impersonator, Dion’s talents have culminated in this showcase of entertainment at its best. And with the beautifully replicated costumes, sound, images, lighting and talented backup singers, this night is definitely not one to be missed.

An Evening with Celine Dion, 13-15 and 20-22 July, Tribal Theatre. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

SUPPORT QUEER FILM

Nancy Pansy Hairy Mary is after your help. This Queer Australian/German Feature Film, written by Queensland born Bartholomew Sammut and Kelly West, is a love story about hate in which two serial killers from opposite sides of the world fall in love: brought together by their shared hatred (and killing) of homophobes.

Directed by Christoph Scheermann and starring Frank C. Marx and Bartholomew Sammut, this film needs your fundraising help to get it pushed into production. So check out the link, donate some money, and be proud of supporting your community.

Nancy Pansy Hairy Mary fundraiser. nancypansyhairymary.pozible.com

SPANISH SELECTIONS

Celebrate Spanish film this July with the 15th anniversary Spanish Film Festival. Salma Hayek, Ricardo Darin, and Luis Tosar are just a few of the stars to grace the screen this year, and popular films Torrente 4, No Rest For The Wicked, Sleep Tight, As Luck Would Have It, and Chinese Take Away are just some of the feature films to be showcased. Take your pick from this wide range of genres, wide selection of award winning films, and wide choice of Australian Premieres: whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed.

Spanish Film Festival, July 11-22, 2012, Palace Centro. spanishfilmfestival.com.au

TEDDY BEARS PICNIC

Get into the woods for a big surprise: the Brisbears annual Teddy Bears Picnic is on again. This year there will be trophies for Best Dressed Ted, Cub Ted, and Big Ted, awards for hairy bear, sexiest legs, and best tats, and lots of games to play. So RSVP and bring along your chair, sunscreen, drinks, and favourite Teddy Bear for a day of fun out in the woods.

Teddy Bears Picnic, 29 July, Bellbird Grove. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

POP REMIX

QUT Art Museum is excited to present Roy Lichtenstein: Pop remix, a National Gallery of Australia Touring Exhibition. A central figure in the 1960s American Pop Art movement, Roy Lichtenstein’s paintings are now instantly recognisable: his characteristic comic strip, benday dot imagery capture his slick, intelligent, and humorous interpretation of comic strips, classical art, and popular culture. This exhibition is drawn exclusively from the National Gallery of Australia's Kenneth Tyler Print Collection and includes newly restored and digitised, rare, candid photography and film components.

Roy Lichtenstein: Pop remix, 30 June-26 August, QUT Art Museum. artmuseum.qut.edu.au

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLUFFY

To celebrate 11 years of everything flirtatious and fabulous, Fluffy is hosting a Birthday Party to end all parties. All your favourite anthems will be provided by Fluffy Residents, Harry K and Karma, and you will be mesmerised by shows featuring Velvet Motion and hostess Alexei Paige. This is one party you don’t want to miss, so be sure to get along and celebrate.

Fluffy’s 11th Birthday Party, 15 July, Fluffy.

CAPTCHAs CAPTURED

Who knew you could make beautiful art out of CAPTCHAs—those meaningless internet passwords you must type in to prove you are human. Well, Melbourne artist Gabrielle de Vietri knew and through their use she demonstrates how context, intonation, and background music can prompt us to read meaning into meaningless words.

She collected dozens of CAPTCHAs and wrote stories using them, which she has now presented as videos. The work has several chapters, a love story and a journey to name just two, and as you watch you will be amazed that such stories could be formed from those beginnings.

Gabrielle de Vietri: CAPTCHA, 16 June-20 July, Institute of Modern Art. ima.org.au

BRIEFLY BRIEFS

To thank supporters of Briefs, Club Briefs are holding an event to showcase the new, revamped show: with new fancy feathers and new fancy acts. The after-party will feature DJ Busty Beats and special guest acts, and there will also be lots of prizes up for grabs. And as Briefs is off to the UK again, this is your chance to see the UK Preview show: but you had better get in fast, because seats will go fast.

Briefs, 23 June, Club Brief. facebook.com/events/473333896026855/