Arts Archives – J-Wire

Venice Biennale jury excludes Israel from top awards over ICC warrants

Rob Klein — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:34:43 +0000

The jury of the Venice Biennale has ruled that countries whose leaders face charges at the International Criminal Court will not be considered for its top prizes, a move that effectively excludes Israel from this year’s awards. In a statement issued this week, the five-member jury said it would “refrain from the consideration of those […]

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Bondi exhibition ‘Holding Light’ turns grief into collective response

Rob Klein — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:29:22 +0000

Four months after the Bondi Beach terror attack that killed 15 people during a Chanukah celebration, a major exhibition has opened at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery, transforming grief into a shared act of reflection. Titled ‘Holding Light’, the exhibition brings together 29 artists responding to the December 14 tragedy, with works shaped by loss, memory […]

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Jewish Queen Berenice and the Roman Empire

Anne Sarzin — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:32:33 +0000

Book review by Dr Anne Sarzin While eclipsed in history and literature, right up to the present day, by the seductive and celebrated saga of lovers Cleopatra and Mark Antony, the life of Jewish Queen Berenice from first-century Judea and the story of her sexual liaison and well documented partnership with Titus, the future Roman […]

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Children’s book scrapped after illustrator’s remarks on Bondi victims

J-Wire Newsdesk — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:09:52 +0000

The University of Queensland Press (UQP) has cancelled a forthcoming children’s book after concluding it could not proceed without appearing to endorse public comments made by its illustrator following the Bondi terror attack. Bila: A River Cycle, written by Wiradjuri poet Jazz Money and illustrated by Matt Chun, had been scheduled for release this year. […]

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Creating a Secure Life

Anne Sarzin — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:34:14 +0000

Book review by Dr Anne Sarzin In an insecure world with shifting sands beneath our feet, stable and significant relationships with others generally promise a safe harbour in stormy weather. American psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine’s self-help book, Secure: The Revolutionary Guide to Creating a Secure Life, provides a potential lifeboat for readers cast […]

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Tradition revisited: Fiddler on the Roof returns

Rob Klein — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:42:36 +0000

Few musicals have endured like ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, but its staying power has never relied on nostalgia alone. Since opening on Broadway in 1964, the story of Tevye and his family has travelled across continents and cultures (it ran for more than 50 years in Japan), returning again and again because its central questions […]

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Sydney Jewish comedy showcase returns with laughs, stories and a stacked line-up

J-Wire Newsdesk — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:51:35 +0000

Sydney’s Jewish comedy scene is gearing up for a lively night, with the Sydney Jewish Comedy Showcase returning next month as part of the Sydney Comedy Festival. Back for another year, the show features a mix of emerging and established comedians, each offering their own take on culture, family and the chaos of everyday life. […]

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The Phantom of the Opera

Alex First — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:31:47 +0000

An opera review by Alex First Superlatives can’t do justice to a magnificent Handa Opera production of The Phantom of the Opera on its 40th anniversary. With the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as a spectacular backdrop, the leads are glorious, the chorus captivating and the production values mesmerising. As far as the staging […]

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The High Road: Confessions of a homicide cop

Anne Sarzin — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:20:38 +0000

Book review by Dr Anne Sarzin If you think the confessions of a homicide cop are not your beat, this book should change your mind. It packs a realistic punch with an array of gut-wrenching case histories that a dedicated Canadian homicide team solves despite the complexities. On the surface, The High Road is a factual, straightforward […]

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Carole King made the earth move

Anne Sarzin — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:47:58 +0000

Book review by Dr Anne Sarzin Generations have lived the most significant events in their lives to the soundtrack of Carole King’s songs. Songs such as Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Everybody’s Doing a New Dance Now, and (You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman, the iconic song that ironically—given King’s non-identification with […]

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