Penang Free Sheet During the Lock Down

As we enter week 2 of the likely-to-be-extended lockdown, the creative community of Penang is exploring ways to keep the artistic and cultural life of our great island alive during this unprecedented situation. I’ll try to collate what is happening in this newsletter. Please continue to support the arts in Penang by participating in things that interest you. Looking forward to seeing you IRL in the hopefully not too distant future!

ART March 26th-April 5th

BOXED IN is an art exhibition originally planned to be part of the now postponed Open Studios Penang art festival. It showcases Penang-based visual artists from various different backgrounds. Artists were given two wooden boxes which measure 12’’ x 12’’ to let their creative imaginations run wild. The artists clearly deserve the recognition after working so hard to produce artworks.
So curator Ivan Gabriel has organised an online preview.

BOXED IN (one foot at a time) - The Online Preview Looks at the artists' works in progress and behind the scenes stuff Through videos they have created during the lockdown. It all begins on Thursday 26th March. Click “going” on the Facebook event to follow the video updates.

MUSIC Ongoing

KL-based Baroque music ensemble Wicked Music People were scheduled to play a concert here in Penang on Sunday 29th March. This like their other engagements has been postponed, so, by video, each of the musicians recorded a track separately in their own homes and pieced them together with the wonders of technology.
This is J.H. Schmelzer's Sonata Quarta, from his Sonatae Unarum Fidium, which would have been performed here on Sunday. 
https://youtu.be/bqFFA7OWubY  

ART Wednesday 25th March 2020

If you are an artist yourself Penang Art District would like to understand the impact of COVID-19 on you  - the income and opportunity losses in the past couple of weeks and your future projections. In this online video call they will explore possible support for the arts community; a relief fund or a platform of resources for artists, and an emotional support group where artists can keep in touch with each other during the lockdown.

Please join us on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/201144595

DANCE Daily 6.15pm

Live dance class with local Penang Salsa/Bachaha/Cha Cha Cha teacher Darwen Tolentino via Facebook Live. Become his Facebook friend at https://www.facebook.com/DARWEN2016 in order to join in.

WORKSHOP Wednesday 25th March 4pm

Free online art class using Zoom - How to Draw a Mandala. https://m.me/zenveeart

Please prepare: Drawing paper (8cm x 8cm), black gel pen / black pen, drawing compass

MUSIC Every Saturday

Penang-based DJ Carl Hinds spins live weekly virtual DJ sets every Saturday evening. Join the Facebook group STIR CRAZY LIVE! For the schedule.

WORKSHOP Saturday 28th March 3pm

Learn about the business of urban farming during this free 2-hour online session with Penang urban farm Victory Farm. Register at  https://bit.ly/32W0uNT

ART Sunday 29th March 6pm onwards, Artist Sharing 9pm

Screening of a 46 minute three-channel video installation, by Penang-based artist Okui Lala. National Language Class: Our Language Proficiency simulates a classroom setting of a discussion amongst six people in different languages. It was first shown during the Singapore Biennale in 2019 and was planned to be a physical screening during Open Studios Penang. It will be followed by an artist sharing, which will be joined by the curator of the Singapore Biennale, Goh Sze Ying. Link for video screening between 6pm and 9pm https://vimeo.com/383250251. Link for artist sharing at 9pm https://zoom.us/j/734393632

COMEDY Ongoing

The stand-up and improv comedians of Penang are finding whatever humour in the situation that they can...of course. Check out their regular video postings on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/penangcomedy/