The Hunter’s This is Not Art (TiNA) Festival will return to Newcastle on the weekend and a local circus troupe will set the night ablaze with a story of bushrangers and women – told through fire.
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Soulfire Circus fire dancer Kirsten Wolfe said L00t is a narrative about bushrangers that challenges stereotypes of gender and sexuality.
“There are numerous LGBTI bushranger tales like Captain Moonlite, who asked to be buried with his [male] lover at Gundagai,” Ms Wolfe said.
“[L00t] is about a sense of ownership [over women], treating them like currency… But money means nothing – it’s just paper.
“And what does paper do? It burns.”
Ms Wolfe said TiNA allowed groups like Soulfire Circus to indulge their creativity and put together shows that are more conceptual than the standard fire dance.
“TiNA is what made me love the region,” she said.
“Its experimental nature… It shows off what our troupe can do.”
Ms Wolfe said she, along with co-performers Tris “Bear” Arellano and Maitland’s Kikki Elliott, will use a variety of fire-covered implements including flaming swords, fans and a staff.
L00t will be performed in Newcastle’s Pacific Park at 5pm on Friday, September 30.
The 2016 TiNA festival program is comprised of more than 190 events that will take place over the October long weekend from Thursday September 29 until Sunday October 2. Now in its 19th year, TiNA will activate the city with its neon green theme and plenty of local businesses and cafes will follow suit.
The not-for-profit festival provides a platform for emerging and experimental artists to test their work, share ideas and connect with other artists.
There are plenty of opportunities for the public to take part in TiNA with three open mic events presented by National Young Writers’ Festival, glittery bike tours and the “Sunday Wind Down” in Pacific Park to close the festival.
This Is Not Art will be officially opened at the Watt Space Gallery on Thursday night at 6pm.
