Preview: Goodman B-Sides 2019 – Get Lost In The Arts

This school holiday season, wander about and get lost in the arts at the latest edition of the annual Goodman B-Sides. For one day only on 16th November, Goodman Arts Centre (GAC) invites all the walk down the paths less trodden, with its community of artists crafting art into an adventure of artistic exploration, where getting lost is the experience.

Armed with a map, visitors can follow a series of suggested trails across the various workshops, performances, and art spaces in GAC, where you can learn more about resident artists’ their creative process and how they nurture and grow their art. For the adventurous, you might even deviate from the path to encounter a surprise workshop or pop-up performance. Activities include learning more about a day in the life of the young performers from A Little RAW Company and an interactive performance titled BOUND! presented by RAW Moves; learning about the influences of watercolourist Marvin Chew; discovering the hidden world of music with Tian Yun Beijing Opera and celebrating with a joyous performance by young musicians from Music Playhouse.

Visitors can take part in workshops that include making a ceramic mini plant pot or floral glass magnets, outdoor watercolour painting, an opportunity to learning the basics of Beijing Opera and batik painting, along with art trails that lead visitors to discover artist spaces and check out in-studio performances ranging from contemporary dance and classical Indian Dance.

In addition, this year’s edition of B-Sides will also see the relaunch the Goodman Community Garden – a renewed mandala-style garden space, acting as a metaphor for art, set to be the centre of hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and tours about herbs, soil, and urban farming. Previously a small, unfurnished gardening space that was communally used by artists, GAC technicians, cleaning staff, and neighbourhood residents to grow their plants, the Goodman Community Garden will be filled with an assortment of herbs, vegetables and tropical flowering plants that can be used as a programme space while also functioning as a source of natural materials for artists and their work.

Visitors can step within the Garden and embark on a learning journey of sustainable urban farming comprising of a composting station, herb spiral, micro vegetable farm, bug hotel and many more. Resident artists have contributed a clay totem pole (by Goodman Ceramic Studio) and a fire pit replica which will serve as a demonstration site for those who wish to learn more about the creative crafting of plant pots and other pottery pieces.

Finally, be sure to head over to the bustling lifestyle market, and chill out with F&B favourites. In collaboration with Cultivate Central and So Gelam Market, the lifestyle market takes on a nature-friendly theme to encourage sustainable living. From a large selection of handmade pottery work by local artisans, to handcrafted natural soaps and jewellery made of recycled materials, there is something for everyone. Aspiring green thumbs can find a range of practical gardening supplies as well. Be sure to fuel up along the way with Kombucha drinks, chomp heartily on sourdough bread, and other food and beverage offerings as the exploration continues, whether rain or shine at every turn and corner at Goodman B-Sides.

Says Ms Dorothy Neo, Centre Manager of Goodman Arts Centre: “Goodman Arts Centre has a very close-knit community of artists and tenants, who have bonded both over their passion for their craft as well as their love for nature. The Goodman Community Garden reflects the shared pride and interest we all have over nurturing and creating conversations through nature and art. We are proud to present and share the garden’s first phase with the public during Goodman B-Sides, and after the event, it will be an ongoing project to forge deeper relationships and understanding among nature and art lovers all year round.” 

Photo credits: Arts House Limited

Goodman B-Sides 2019 runs on 16th November 2019 from 12 noon to 7pm at Goodman Arts Centre. Admission is free, for more information, visit their website here