Wollongong Tibetfest 2006

Wollongong Festival of Tibet

Tibetfest 2006

Karma Phunstok, Tertonpa Peter Parker, oil on canvas, 2005.

The Australian Year of Tibet 2006 was celebrated in Wollongong, Australia, between 15-26 February with TibetFest 2006.

## Calendar of Events - 4 February 2006 ##

!!! ### TibetFest06 Information leaflet ### !!!

## PROMOTIONAL FLYER January 2006 - in colour ##

A variety of events took place during the two week period, including:

Karma Phunstok exhibition- by the Tibetan Australian artist Karma Phuntsok (personal web site: karmaart.com) at the Project Contemporary Art Space, 255 Keira Street, Wollongong, from 15-26 February. A list of works included in the exhibition and offered for sale is available here: Karma exhibition works. The artist was in attendance at the exhibition. Official opening of the exhibition by Senator Bob Brown, Australian Greens - 7.30pm Thursday 16 February 2006.

Song of the Mandala Tour- creation of a sand mandala by monks from Namgyal Monastery, India, at the Wollongong City Gallery, 21-26 February. Official opening and welcome 12pm Tuesday 21 February 2006. Monks accompanied by Tibetan Australian musician Tenzin Choegyal.

7 Paths to Tibet photograph exhibition and sale at The Old Courthouse, Belmore Basin, Wollongong Harbour, 18-19 February. Official opening by Paul Bourke Australian Tibet Council and Dorji Dolma, Tibet Community of Australia, 7pm Friday 17 February 2006. 7 Paths to Tibet website here.

Public teachings on the Mandala by Tenzin Phil & Lama Ngawang. 2-3pm Saturday 18 February. Location - Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour.

Tibet & Tibetan Culture - talk by Samdong Rinpoche, Prime Minister, Tibetan Parliament in exile, 2-3pm Sunday 19 February. Location - Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour.

Tim Johnson - lecture on the art of Karma Phuntsok. Well known Australian artist Tim Johnson gave a talk on his ongoing collaboration with Karma Phuntsok. 7pm 22 February 2006. Project Contemporary Art Space.

Songs of the Mandala Concert - music, singing, dancing and chanting by Tenzin Choegyal and the Namygal Monks. 7pm, Saturday 25 February 2006, Project Contemporary Art Space. Cost: $10.

Wollongong Tibetfest06 was committed to raising awareness of cultural, spiritual and political issues concerning Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetfest06 was organised by the Wollongong Dharma Collective.

Calendar of Events

Wollongong Tibetfest 15-26 February 2006

Event Localities

1. Project Contemporary Artspace, 255 Keira Street, Wollongong
2. Wollongong City Gallery, cnr Burelli and Kembla Streets, Wollongong
3. Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour, cnr Cliff Road and Harbour Streets, Wollongong

Date	Event Information
15 February, Wednesday	10am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace. Karma is a Tibetan Australian artist from Kyogle whose work reflects both his traditional upbringing in Tibet and as a refugee in India, and his residence in Australia since 1981. His large works on canvas strongly feature elements of traditional Tibetan Buddhist iconography. The artist will be attending the exhibition at various stages throughout the two week showing. All works on display are for sale. Below is a 26 minute interview with Karma Phuntsok on the exhibition.
16 February , Thursday	10am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	7pm: Official opening of Festival and Karma Phuntsok exhibition by Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown, Project Contemporary Artspace. Senator Brown visited Tibet in 1999 and has been a long-standing supporter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of autonomy for Tibet. The Welcome to Country will be given by local Aboriginal Elder Mr. Allan Carriage. Below is a 2 part video of the opening ceremony (27 + 4 minutes).
17 February , Friday	10am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	7pm - Official opening of 7 Paths to Tibet photograph exhibition, by Paul Bourke, Australia Tibet Council and Dorji Dolma, Tibet Community of Australia, Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour. The exhibition features works from a number of artists. Works are for sale. Some of the artists will be in attendance during the two day exhibition. See their website here.
18 February, Saturday	11am - 5pm: 7 Paths to Tibet photograph exhibition, Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour
	11am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	2pm - 3.30pm: Public talk and workshop on the Mandala, by Tenzin Phil and Lama Ngewang, Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour
19 February, Sunday	11am - 5pm: 7 Paths to Tibet photograph exhibition, Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour
	11am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	2pm: Tibet & Tibetan Culture - Public talk by Samdong Rinpoche, Chairman of the Tibetan Cabinet, Old Courthouse, Wollongong Harbour. Samdong Rinpoche was the senior spokesperson on political affairs for the Tibetan people in exile. He is also a senior scholar of the Tibetan community. See: wisdomoftibet.com. The following is a 35 minute video of the teaching by Samdong Rinpoche.
21 February, Tuesday	12pm: Official welcome to Wollongong - Namgyal Monks and Tenzin Choegyal, Wollongong City Gallery. The Monks are from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's own monastery in India. They are touring Australia for the first time and will prepare a traditional sand mandala over the period of a week. The Welcome to Country will be given by local Aboriginal Elder Mr. Allan Carriage, assisted by Ms. Carol Speechley.
	1pm - 5pm: Sand Mandala by the Namgyal Monks, Wollongong City Gallery
22 February, Wednesday	10am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	10am - 5pm: Sand Mandala by the Namgyal Monks, Wollongong City Gallery
	7pm - 8pm: Tim Johnson lecture - The Art of Karma Phuntsok & Collaboration, Project Contemporary Artspace. Tim Johnson is a world renown Australian artist and Buddhist who has also collaborated with Karma Phuntsok for more than a decade. Tim will be talking about Karma's work and the process of collaboration.
23 February, Thursday	10am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	10am - 5pm: Sand Mandala by the Namgyal Monks, Wollongong City Gallery
24 February, Friday	10am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	10am - 5pm: Sand Mandala by the Namgyal Monks, Wollongong City Gallery
25 February, Saturday	11am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	11am - 4pm: ATC stall and market, Project Contemporary Artspace. Items will be for sale relating to Tibet and support for various issues such as refugees.
	12pm - 5pm: Sand Mandala by the Namgyal Monks, Wollongong City Gallery
	7pm: Songs of the Mandala concert, featuring Tenzin Choegyal and Namgyal Monks, Project Contemporary Artspace. Entry: $10. Below is a two part video of the concert performance.
26 February, Sunday	11am - 4pm: Karma Phuntsok exhibition, Project Contemporary Artspace
	2pm - 4pm: Sand Mandala Dissolution and Parade, Wollongong City Gallery and Wollongong Harbour. Below is a two part video of the Dissolution ceremony (21 + 15 minutes).
	4pm - 5pm: Festival close, Project Contemporary Artspace