This weekend, Marina Abramović transforms the Space Theatre for the Adelaide Festival, the Ocean Film Festival screens at the Capri, and Pirate Life celebrates its ninth anniversary.

Words Charlie Gilchrist

Marina Abramović’s Institute Takeover

Featuring artists such as Mike Parr, Collective Absentia, SJ Norman, Li Binyuan and Yingmei Duan, the Space Theatre will transform into a hub of enthralling performance art for the Adelaide Festival this weekend. Audiences can engage with endurance, presence and participation and the infinite possibility of encounters between visitor and artist. Eight incredible artists have been selected by Marina Abramović and the Marina Abramović Institute (MAI) to create site-specific, long-durational works for their takeover of the Space Theatre and surrounds. The ninth work on display will be a video installation by Marina, introducing the project and guiding visitors through exercises from the Abramović Method. Marina Abramović Institute: Takeover takes place from March 1 to 4 as part of Adelaide Festival 2024.

Celebrating SA contemporary art

Neoterica is a free art survey exhibition championing the South Australian contemporary art scene by bringing together 20 mid-career artists and responses to their art from 20 writers. Described in InDaily as a “testament to the resilience of SA’s visual artists”, Neoterica is an artist-led exhibition curated by Ray Harris as part of the Adelaide Festival. The exhibition aims to support and create opportunities for mid-career artists and writers, with works reflecting ideas across photography, painting, printmaking, performance, sculpture, installation, video, sound, ceramics and mixed media. The exhibition opens on March 2 and runs until April 14 at the Adelaide Railway Station.

World premiere

This year’s Adelaide Festival began with Baleen Moondjan, a contemporary ceremony from creative visionary Stephen Page in his first major commission since leaving Barngala Dance Theatre. Inspired by a story from Stephen’s grandmother from the Ngugi/Nunukul/Moondjan people of Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), Baleen Moondjan celebrates the relationships between baleen whales and First Nations’ totemic systems. Page combines contemporary dance and storytelling with songs in English, Jandai and Gumbaynggirr/Yaegl as he conjures up the elements of theatre in the dynamic outdoor setting of Glenelg beach. Baleen Moondjan takes place until March 2.

Sauce Day at the Central Market

Sauce Day is a ritual for Italian families around the world, when the whole family comes together to create a year’s supply of passata. This Friday 1 to Saturday 2, February, the Adelaide Central Markets will be hosting their Sauce Day 2024, to celebrate Italian food and culture. Included for the first time this year is a gnocchi-making session, where you can learn to make the potato-based pasta. On Saturday, participants can roll up their sleeves and make their fresh tomato passata to take home. Market traders will also be serving up some Italian specials for the day, while there will also be live music, free kids charcoal sketching workshops, face painting, a cooking demonstration and a live radio broadcast by Radio Italiana.

Textile gallery celebrates 21 years

Almost 21 years ago, two artists had the desire to showcase their textile art, but most galleries they approached were uninterested or could only provide minimal wall space. As a result, the two artists decided to create their own gallery, T’Arts Collective, which will be celebrating its 21^st anniversary this Sunday, March 3 from 1pm to 4pm in Gay’s Arcade. Meet the artists and shop around while you enjoy champagne, nibbles, and of course, birthday cake.

Films to sea

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour brings you the best ocean films from above and below the surface. After travelling across the seas, the festival arrives in South Australia, screening inspirational, educational and entertaining films related to the ocean from independent filmmakers. This festival aims to inspire you to explore, respect, enjoy and protect our oceans. It includes a unique selection of films of varying lengths and styles covering topics such as ocean adventure and exploration, the oceanic environment, marine creatures and ocean-related sports. The Ocean Film Festival will hit the Capri Theatre Screen on Saturday, March 2.

Nine years of Pirate Life

Pirate Life is celebrating its ninth anniversary this weekend at its Port Adelaide Brewery. The three-day celebration will feature specialty beers, live music, roaming entertainment (including the Quebec-based Cirque Alfonse), art installations, live oyster shucking, and more. The free birthday celebration takes place from March 1 to 3 at Pirate Life Brewery.

Long lunch at the the Torrens Arms

The newly refurbished Kingswood Loft at the Torrens Arms will be decked out this Sunday for a long lunch. The Loft Lunch event includes a three-course meal and a fully serviced cocktail bar. On arrival, you can sip on an Aperol Spritz, while the menu includes Hervey Bay scallops and slow-roasted lamb shoulder. This is a ticketed event.