23rd Feb: RAW… “a mixed bag of funny, charming and fresh short films from some of WA’s hottest young filmmakers”.

25th Feb: Mad Max presented by the Japanese Bike Show. (A range of classic Japanese bikes and muscle cars will be on show, inside the cinema.)

Tickets $15 (Full) or $5 (FTI Members)
Gates open @ 6:30pm – Screening starts 7:45pm, Princess May Park, Adelaide Street.
Call (08) 9431 6700 or mail fti@fti.asn.au to book your ticket

More info on the FTI website.

Check out The Archive on Market Street for boutique fashion brands and great bargains – recycled and new:

The Archive is a brand spanking new boutique in Fremantle and in my opinion, has the potential to be one of Fremantle’s best fashion stores. True to their name, the shop is an archive of used clothing. But don’t expect grubby Supre tanks or granny’s nighty. I’ve found Manning Cartell here for $59, Marc Jacobs shoes for $79, denim cut offs by Friend of Mine for an insane $59 and similarly priced designer ware. Are they insane or just generous? Who cares. Designer ware for mass-manufactured prices. Not complaining! (Camilla P, East Fremantle, Review on Yelp)

The Archive
23 Market Street, Fremantle
08 9431 7615
info@thearchive.com.au

Tell us a little bit about your work?

Couples of Freo is a follow-up to a recent street photography project I have been doing called 50 Unknown. 50 unknown is a street photography project which began in 2011 shooting candid and unknown individuals on the streets of Perth and Fremantle. Why 50? 50 photos from my street walks will be selected for a photobook which will be on display and for sale at an exhibition as part of FotoFreo Fringe Festival at Fidels Café in Fremantle in April.

And the “Couples of Freo” project?

This new project, ‘Couples of Freo’ will focus on couples rather than individuals and be more structured than 50 Unknown. Rather than shooting random strangers as they go about their daily routines, I am asking for couples who live in Fremantle to take a walk with me to some of the more interesting and colourful backstreets and alleyways in Fremantle for a more formalised photoshoot.

The aim of the photoshoot will be to showcase Freos retro feel, and colour film and colourful unique street backdrops will be used such decaying walls in alleyways etc, to bring out this feel. Couples will also be asked to dress up (or down) a little to help theme the photos. The intention of the project is to put together a portfolio of environmental portraits emphasising the character that is unique to Fremantle, with the possibility of a photo book (with couples permission) been put together at the project culmination, as well as the better photos being displayed on my blogsite, www.theunknownproject.wordpress.com. All couples will be provided with full resolution and edited photos from the shoot.

If you’re interested in taking part you can get in touch with Ben on 0417 183 097 and photography@benreynolds.com.au.

If there’s anything like ‘contemporary classical music’, this is what some of WA’s finest musicians are going to perform tomorrow night in Fremantle Arts Centre’s Inner Courtyard as part of this year’s Perth Festival. Expect two grand pianos being played in the main gallery, while the audience listens from outside, beautiful sounds that will echo around the gothic walls and works by recent composers like Steve Reich, Andy Akiho, Osvaldo Golijov, and more. For more info see the Festival’s website.

Perth Festival
Soft Soft Loud | The Americas
Sunday 12 February 2012
7:30pm (gates open at 7pm)
Fremantle Arts Centre

BREAKER BREAKER ten-four, anybody got there ears on out there? Get your 18 wheels rolling down to the Fly for the Truckers & Trailer Trash Ball! Yes sir-ee, were going back to the good ol’ times when men (and women) didn’t shave,  rock music actually rocked,  and we’re pretty sure it was summer all year round… We got a bunch of real cowboys running together for this special night… The Devil Rides Out, Chainsaw Hookers, The Dirty South & Guns Of August will keep your noise between the ditches and smokey out of your britches. You better not be running a fat load ‘cause there’s a Saloon Bar Shoot-Out in the Fly Trap! and Budweiser & Jack Daniels drink specials all night long. So grab your other half and put one foot on the floor,  one hanging out the door,  until she just won’t do no more. Dress to impress * Trucker * Trashy * Cowboy * Cowgirl * and be in the running for smokin’ hot prizes.

The Truckers & Trailer Trash Ball
24 March 2012, from 7:30pm
Fly By Night Club
Parry Street, Fremantle

Early birds can watch her come in to dock at 7.15 am this Wednesday the 8th of February. She’s an impressively big ship and it’s a bit of a sight to see the tugs turning her bulk around in the port before her departure. 774 passengers are rostered to come ashore so expect a few more people around town. If you miss her in the morning you can wave her bon voyage at 5.00pm the same day.

The image is very striking and topical particularly as it seems to have appeared on Bob Marley’s birthday* and has a quote from one of his songs scribed onto it. It also appears to have a range of very strong political messages relevant to WA.

*6th February 1945.

He noticed 10 in total most located near the Railway hotel.

Cost of livin’ gets so high,
Rich and poor they start to cry:
Now the weak must get strong;
They say, “Oh, what a tribulation!”
Them belly full, but we hungry;

Bob Marley

The above scale model shows a section of high-rise public housing in Fitzroy in the 1960s and OK it’s pretty extreme. Funnily enough I get a similar vibe from the Meyer building, although it’s not high-rise, it’s a thoughtless concrete bunker plonked in the centre of Freo. That building alone doesn’t inspire much confidence in modern architecture and what it can do for our port city. However I took a trip back to Europe recently an it really reminded me how amazing, interesting, fun, useful, beautiful tall architecture can be with thought and planning.

I rang in the new year in a rainy Düsseldorf but before I got stuck into the Altbier I had a walk around and saw these babies:

And if they don’t float your boat, below are some new buildings built with a more heritage look. This was done a lot in Düsseldorf as many of the original buildings were destroyed during the war.