Some absolutely gorgeous old colonial buildings still standing on the main street of Campbelltown, on the outskirts of Western Sydney.

#building #buildings #architecture #cities #Campbelltown #NSW #Australia

Something a little odd I noticed in Campbelltown.

They have shade cloth over a section of the main street. But instead of fully pedestrianising it, not only do they let cars through, but they allow cars to *park* under the shade cloth.

And yet most of the adjoining town square is *not* covered by shade cloth.

At least the cars are comfortable I suppose?

#Campbelltown #NSW #Australia #cities #urbanism #walkable #walking #walkability #cars #UrbanPlanning

Today, I saw a really powerful short film by Aboriginal filmmaker Vernon Ah Kee titled "Code Black/Riot". The film features firsthand accounts from Aboriginal children about their experiences in the youth prison system. They discussed how they were locked away in unlit cells for, in some cases, over a week at a time due to short staffing, and how they are subject to brutal violence by prison guards.

Here's a description from The Guardian:

"Among the biennale’s most powerful works is a collaborative project by Kurdish Iranian journalist and author Behrouz Boochani, Iranian Australian artist Hoda Afshar and Kuku Yalandji/Waanji/Yidinji/Gugu Yimithirr artist Vernon Ah Kee, focusing on the experiences of Indigenous youth in detention. At Campbelltown Arts Centre, a darkened gallery space is devoted to the four-channel video installation Code Black/Riot, featuring the testimonials of former staff members and child inmates of a facility in north Queensland."

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/ng-interactive/2026/mar/13/sydney-biennale-2026-highlights-politics-nuance-beauty

Alongside it is a short film by Kurdish filmmaker Behrouz Boochani, himself a survivor of seven years of detention at the Manus Island immigration detention centre, in which former detainees share their experiences of life in detention.

Both are currently on show for free at the Campbelltown Arts Centre as part of the Biennale.

I really strongly recommend anyone in or around Sydney come down to hear these accounts. They will change how you see the country.

(And yes, I know there's the ick factor around Campbelltown and it's far away from everywhere. Hearing these accounts is 1000% worth the trip.)

Details here: https://www.campbelltownartscentre.com.au/Whats-On/Exhibitions/25th-Biennale-of-Sydney-Rememory/25th-Biennale-of-Sydney-Rememory

#art #FirstNations #Aboriginal #Auspol #Campbelltown #auspol #nsw #Australia

I'm all for arts festivals including food as a focus of their exhibitions 😋

And it looks like the 2026 NSW Biennale will deliver:

"The Biennale will expand its footprint in Western Sydney this year, including Penrith Regional Gallery for the first time and bringing back Campbelltown Arts Centre. There will also be public programs across inner city and greater Sydney, including Centenary Square in Parramatta, Fairfield City Museum & Gallery and Redfern Town Hall. White Bay Power Station, a popular addition to the Biennale last year, will this year feature large-scale sculptural and installation works by artists including Nikesha Breeze (US) and painter Nancy Yukuwal McDinny (Garrwa/Yanyuwa).
...
"Highlights announced on Tuesday include a giant functioning clay oven at White Bay Power Station in Rozelle, created by Argentinian sculptor Gabriel Chaile, which will be activated for the Biennale’s opening weekend and at key moments through the festival to serve visitors Peruvian cuisine. Also for food lovers is a large vat of tabbouleh, created by Lebanese artist Mounira Al Solh as part of a community-based performance in Granville.

"The Biennale will also include a rare presentation of the landmark 80-square-metre Ngurrara Canvas II, made by the Ngurrara artists of the Great Sandy Desert of Western Australia in support of their 1996 native title claim. The spectacular painting, created by more than 40 artists, toured Australia in the decade after it was created and has been exhibited internationally – but its Biennale presentation, at the Art Gallery of NSW, will be its final outing before returning to the artists’ country permanently."

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/feb/03/sydney-biennale-2026-hoor-al-qasimi-unveils-expansive-program-for-25th-edition

#art #arts #NSW #Sydney #Campbelltown #Parramatta #Penrith #food #Granville #ausart #ausarts #auspol

It is a high-vis kind of time for Clinical Medicine, particularly in south west Sydney, with the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building at Campbelltown currently under construction #campbelltown #nsw #au

Trains are running again on the Southern Highlands Line after flooding https://www.vibewire.com.au/?p=61393&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon&utm_campaign=trains-are-running-again-on-the-southern-highlands-line-after-flooding #Australia #RailindustrynewsAustraliaNewZealand #Campbelltown

“Time to Celebrate” @sam_welsford @BORAhansgrohe claims his second #TDU2024 stage win ahead of @eliaviviani @INEOSGrenadiers in #Campbelltown More @tourdownunder #cycling #art #watercolors at https://www.theartofcycling.blogspot.com #cyclisme #ciclismo #wielrennen @PhilLiggett @AnnaMeares