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Brian Robinson / KickArts Artist in Residence

Cairns based artist Brian Robinson has recently left his position as Curator at the Cairns Regional Gallery. Having always pursued his art practice "after hours", Brian has been awarded a twelve month artist-in-residence at KickArts Contemporary Arts in Cairns. Over the next year Brian will be working out of the Djumbunji Press studios, as well as teaching print making workshops in communities in Cape York and the Torres Strait.

Brian's influences come from his Torres Strait heritage, as well as contemporary day to day surroundings in Cairns. Brian has favoured lino cuts for many years, where patterns are dug into a piece of lino, then the lino is covered in ink and put through a press so the pattern is transferred on to a piece of paper. 

Most of the images which can be seen in Brian's current exhibition (now on view at KickArts) reveal handiwork of extremely fine detail. There are also a few etchings in the show, a process that Brian has recently become keen on.

Photographs ©Sean Davey/The Cairns Post

"Lagau Dunalaig" (Island Lifestyle) by Brian Robinson with Joel Sam is showing at KickArts Contemporary Arts in Cairns until October 30. 


For more information check out this link: http://kickarts.org.au/exhibitions/current/lagau-dunalaig-island-lifestyle/

The Pyramid Challenge

Walsh's Pyramid is about twenty five kilometres south of Cairns on the Bruce Highway near the town of Gordonvale. At 922 metres tall, its striking triangular shape is a local landmark and it is well known and distinctly recognisable. Each year hundreds of competitors voluntarily run up the pyramid and back down again in the Great Pyramid Race.

The Cairns Post journalist Ben Blomfield and myself were assigned to a story to preview the 2010 Walsh's Pyramid Race in Gordonvale. To gain a first person account of what its like to climb Walsh's Pyramid, Ben and I did exactly that, although while the majority of entrants run the whole way up (not to mention the extra 10km's from and back to Gordonvale) we took a more modest approach and struggled to walk up the monster in an hour and a half. In the time it took us to just get up the mountain, the best competitors had run ten kilometres, made it up and down the mountain, and had been resting for ten to fifteen minutes!

The record for the race is held by Neil Labinsky, who has completed the entire race course in one hour and fifteen minutes. Neil won the 2010 race on Saturday, claiming his third Pyramid title, as well a cool thousand bucks.

Ben Blomfield (aka Bear Grills) after conquering Walsh's Pyramid.
Photograph ©Sean Davey/The Cairns Post

http://pyramidrace.com

Watch a video of our (mis)adventure to the top of Walsh's Pyramid here

The Toughest 13 Year Old I Have Ever Met

His name is Jack Henley and he is thirteen years old. He rides bulls. Big bulls that have big horns. And when I first met Jack at his home in Mossman, north of Cairns, his handshake eluded to just how strong this wiry kid really is. Jack happily posed for pictures with his riding straps and rope, with some great assisting by his dad Shane (who held an esky lid which bounced the on-camera flash - a great aid when the remote transmitter dies!). Without any awkwardness, Jack moved into different poses and then to a different location to get a variety of shots. Polite, professional and seriously tough. And to all the young ladies out there, I'm afraid to say that this young gentleman already has a girlfriend.

Jack Henley at his home in Mosman, Qld

Photograph ©Sean Davey/The Cairns Post

Tour de Tableland / Stage 3

Cyclists made their way to the quiet and picturesque town of Yungaburra yesterday to compete in Stage 3 of the Tour de Tableland. Riders completed a five kilometre time trial course which began on a nice incline, giving competitors a fast start to the course. The time trial was won by Cairns rider Dave Edwards.

Time trial winner Dave Edwards starts his lap.

Joshua Hislop takes the left hand turn into Yungaburra village at high speed.

Mark Gaviglio warms up before his trial run at a local bed and breakfast.

Joel Lewis passes the local butcher shop in Yungaburra near the end of the time trial.

Photographs ©Sean Davey/The Cairns Post

Freediver Bjorn Nielsen

Divers will brave the freezing depths of Lake Eacham, diving as deep as 60m without scuba gear, in an Australian-first competition.

Cairns is playing host to the Double Dip Down Under freediving competition on July 24 to 25 with dives taking place on the Atherton Tableland and Woree swimming pool.

Freediver Bjorn Nielsen during a training session at Woree Swimming Pool

©Sean Davey/The Cairns Post

Buluwai Native Title Claim

Willy Brim and his son Aden from the Buluwai people have launched  a native title claim at Bare Hill on the tablelands to protect rock art which has been carbon dated at more than 5000 years old. 

Aden and Willy are photographed at a rock art site which was used as a birthing suite.

Rock painting depicting ancient warrior Ganandoran.

 Willy is photographed at the 'Cairns Base', a site which was used as a birthing suite by his ancestors.

 A rock painting depicting Wangal Longal, the almighty birthing spirit.

Willy is photographed at the Ganandoran rock art site.

All photographs © Jake Nowakowski/The Cairns Post

Read more about the Buluwai native Title Claim at The Cairns Post here