Arts, Culture & Entertainment News - March 15

"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known." Winne the Pooh

Sarah and Phil photographed by Erik Maser

If you have not heard of the wonderful Sarah Kay, then you really must because she is fabulous. She packs a powerful punch into her poetry and shares her rhyming, tumbling, insightful thoughts with the world via TED talks and school visits and keynote speeches. A spoken-word-poetry evangelist, she is the co-founder of Project V.O.I.C.E with Phil Kaye and was Business Insider's "Best TED TALK 2011' winner. 

I write about her now because the folks at Dumbo Feather magazine are bringing her to Australia. Wheee! She will appear with Phil on Tuesday March 27th at the Malthouse Theatre, Southbank, Melbourne. Tickets are $30 through the Theatre Box Office. For those of us who can't make it to Melbourne, a moment to watch her perform her "If I Should Have a Daughter" poem below.

Of course, we can't all be Sarah Kay up there in lights on a stage. Some women find it better to communicate on the page, such as those behind Footprints magazine, which arrived in my postbox this week. It is always a sweet reprieve. Just a little community of Christian girls and women sharing their thoughts on life and the world and God. The autumn 2012 issue features the ladies behind clothing label Wear n Him on the cover, a story on "being in the wilderness", advice on parenting and a 'Disturbing News' anecdote from the streets of New York: "The two biggest problems in America today are 'I don't know' and 'I don't care'." Nothing fancy, no big-noting of self, just simple, honest-to-God sharing and in a size perfect for the handbag. 

Zoe Wall and mum Shyama c/o Slow magazine

The new issue of Slow magazine is also out. I have had a sneaky peek and found: artisan baker Al Reid, who is intriguing (he set up The Artful Scientists with his wife, Bec, and also worked for the Environment Protection Authority as an environmental economist before embarking on the family business, Red Beard Historic Bakery); a portfolio showcasing a sustainable house in Victoria; designer and former ballerina Zoe Wall (who is on the cover) and her mum, Shyama ("It's nice making something that's beautiful and useful").

Showing at ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne, until Saturday April 14: A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh. The lovable bear returns to the big screen for the first time in 35 years in this animated adventure, inspired by five of the author’s most cherished stories. Christopher Robin is in danger and it’s up to Pooh, Rabbit, Piglet, Kanga, Roo and Eeyore to help their old friend get out of harm’s way (a current thinking point for GWAS, this is: helping friends out of harm's way without wanting to be a goody-two-shoes).

Looking to busy your hands? The Harvest Workroom (East Brunswick, Victoria) is hosting a number of workshops throughout autumn, including the Autumn Print School, a 4-day intensive printing program where you'll be shown how to create multi-colour placement prints and repeat patterns; learn how to draw motifs, make hand-drawn repeat patterns and place registered placement prints into lengths of fabric and linen tea towels. It runs from April 9 to 12 and costs $495. The price includes all printing materials and inks plus four tea towels and all fabric used throughout the course. The intake is an intimate 10 students.

The folks behind Daily Candy have posted an interview with Mindy Kaling. When asked "What is the best compliment that someone can pay you", she has no qualms overlooking all her other credentials to say, "That I'm pretty" (tongue in cheek). But, when asked what one question she'd like to be asked by an interviewer, it is: "You write, you act, you direct, you produce... How do you stay so stylish?". Bought her book in Brooklyn, NYC (at this store). Still haven't read it. Fully intend to! Add to 'To Do' list.

Hot music tip for the week just in: Scottish lass Emeli Sande's Our Version of Events  – "It has THE BEST GOD SONG ON IT EVER ("Next to Me", track 10)", says my informant. "Saw her on The Graham Norton Show a few weeks ago (Madonna was a talk show guest, so the poor girl had to perform in front of Madonna! But she was BRILLIANT). Highly recommended." Off to iTunes immediately...

This week I finally took myself off to see The Vow (with husband in tow). The romantic comedy gives us something to contemplate (would you fall in love/choose your partner if you had your time all over again?) and something to celebrate (the fact that you chose your partner, though you may have forgotten why!). The best part was undoubtedly when Rachel McAdams (Paige) said to Channing Tatum (Leo), "You accepted me for who I am, not who you wanted me to be."

And that, friends, is the spirit in which I shall be hosting a clothing swap at my place this weekend. That, and what James said, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Students at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. Picture by Ansell Horn and the FSSA Photojournalism Club

 Did you know Tony Bennett started the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in New York City? "We're working on 14 schools," he told Tiffany Bakker of Sunday magazine recently. "We want them all to have arts programs to give kids the chance to sing, dance or whatever it is they need to be creative... I feel as though I'm on vacation every day, because I'm either painting or singing. I'm very blessed to be doing two things I love."

To that end, Sarah Kay is proof that if you open your heart to the world just enough, like Winnie the Pooh, then it will open its arms to welcome you and what it is you want to do... 

And, with that, adieu! 

Girl With a Satchel