This weekend sports fans can tune into Showdown 50, while art lovers can celebrate SALA with more than 600 exhibitions around the state.

Words Brooke Chapman

SALA FESTIVAL

The South Australian Living Artists (SALA) Festival 2021 is underway, with a record number of artists participating this year in more than 600 exhibitions across Adelaide and regional SA. This year the festival celebrates 24 years and will run through until the end of August. There will be exhibitions throughout the state and online celebrating the talents of South Australians, from those exhibiting for the first time to more established artists. This weekend is the official open studios weekend with a lot of artists opening their studios and welcoming the public. Head to the SALA website and filter by “Open Studios” to find a full list.

IT’S PAWGUST

Brave the cold this August and walk or run to raise funds for Guide Dogs Australia. Get outdoors with your furry friend for at least 30 minutes every day this month to raise money to go towards the breeding, raising and training of guide dogs, which deliver essential services to the blind or vision impaired. PAWGUST is both a fitness and fundraising challenge, which not only helps you and your dog improve your physical and mental health by walking or running every day, but also gives you an opportunity to raise vital funds for Guide Dogs

SHOWDOWN AT THE ARK

Grab your mates and head to The Arkaba Hotel this Saturday night to watch Showdown 50 in style. Tickets are $30 and include a guaranteed seat, all-action live, two free drinks and an ark snacker box with a cheeseburger, fried chicken tenders, chips and slaw. There will be drink specials all night and doors open at 6pm. Grab your tickets now for guaranteed entry to the Top of the Ark.

DEBUT EXHIBITION

I worked really hard on this is the debut solo exhibition of Adelaide based painter Hamish Fleming. The exhibition opens this Friday, August 6 from 6pm at Fokus Creative on Grenfell Street and will be open from 12pm to 5.30pm Monday to Friday throughout August. The show includes 22 works completed from 2019 through to August 2021, demonstrating Fleming’s artistic growth and development. This exhibition is an autobiographical exploration of mental health, ambition and persistence through adversity, depicted through a range of imagery across a diverse spread of mediums and genres.

ABORIGINAL ART EXHIBITION

Prestigious annual exhibition of South Australian Aboriginal art OUR MOB will return from August 6 to September 24 as part of Adelaide Festival Centre’s Winter 2021 season. The OUR MOB exhibition alongside OUR YOUNG MOB is the culmination of artistic activities throughout the state that bring Aboriginal artists together for a unique exhibition encompassing a diverse range of media. Since 2006, OUR MOB has provided a platform for contemporary First Nations artists to share their stories, ideas and art with audiences.

SAINT IGNATIUS ART SHOW

St Ignatius College is holding their SALA art show in two parts this year. there will be the Miniatures Exhibition, Through the wrong end of the telescope at the junior school and the Satellite Exhibitions at four locations around Norwood and Marryatville. The Miniatures Exhibition will be held each weekend in August from 10am to 3pm and begins on Saturday August 7 and concludes Sunday August 29. The art of the miniature is centuries old and is proud to present a unique exhibition of miniature art with a diverse range of 2D and 3D miniature art in the forms such as paintings, sculptures, prints, ceramics and jewellery.

For more of what’s happening around SA this month, pick up the August issue of SALIFE magazine, out now.