Let Brisbane boldly remind you what really matters
The Brisbane Festival is living up to its “Boldly Brisbane” tag this year by adding hope and colour to the city’s family attractions.
Sunshine Coast
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It felt right from the moment we left home.
An early Friday escape, We were ahead of the afternoon rush and on our way back to the city that has throughout my life been a reminder of how the other half live.
Brisbane is less than two hours down the road but it felt like an age since I had made the trip.
The run into town was clear.
The same could not be said for the outbound lanes as an exodus from our ultimate destination was in full swing.
But the popular vote on where a good weekend could be had didn't deter us.
They didn't know what they were missing.
Five-star everything
Everything about Emporium South Bank is opulent.
I had previously seen the shiny new structure from the street but I viewed it from a new perspective knowing the staff at reception had my name on their books.
Attention to detail and numerous friendly staff take this place to a level above anywhere I'd been lucky enough to stay.
If you are comfortable with your own image you will love the reflective properties of nearly every spotless surface.
If not, this place is still good because every other aspect of the 21-storey building's decor has been meticulously thought out.
Through the grand lobby and into an elevator reminiscent of New York's Times Square, I was keen to see what a king river suite entailed.
Automated curtains peeled back to reveal expansive views across South Bank, the Brisbane River, into the city and far beyond.
The bathroom was on my right, complete with large tub and two hand basins.
You could probably fit five people in the shower and still adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Further in there was a brass-top bar on the left and a bountiful minibar on the right.
Then a large bed and what appeared to be another large mirror, but was actually also the television and in-room entertainment hub.
Finally I got to the double glass sliding doors that opened to add an authentic soundtrack to visuals of the bustle below.
It was an exciting introduction to a luxurious stay of unwavering quality.
More than art
The stunning riverside esplanade and gardens of South Bank are hosting some striking installations this month as Brisbane Festival organisers take art to the people.
Festival artistic director Louise Bezzina, chief executive officer Charlie Cush and their team have remained steadfast through the past six months of pandemic uncertainty to bring a broad program of experiences to suit different tastes and demographics.
They have reacted to global COVID-19 turmoil by creating a festival that inspires hope and reminds us of the resilience found in things of beauty.
Perched throughout the inner-city river area are six giant Gouldian finches which make up Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's Messengers of Brisbane.
The spectacularly-coloured native birds are typically found in northern Australia but have made their way to Brisbane to sit atop some of its most prominent structures.
Urban Arts Projects design principal Elishia Whitchurch was a part of the Brisbane-based team that brought the inflatable birds to life.
"The finches are really here to inspire a message of joy and hope, especially at a time like this where 2020 has been a really challenging year for many, many people," Ms Whitchurch said.
"I think it really is a testament to Brisbane Festival and (artistic director) Louise's vision and tenacity that the works have gone ahead and that there are these beautiful, physical, sculptural elements that are dotted around the city."
The finches were a highlight as my wife and our toddler son walked through South Bank enjoying the many free elements of the festival.
Song, dance and stories of southeast Queensland's Indigenous people rose from the ashes of a smoking ceremony which heralded a fresh and peaceful start to festivities.
Jumoo, which means smoking in the language of the Turrbal people, featured stories from Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast tribes in a ceremony which made guests feel welcome to the country they had called home for thousands of years.
Later that night we danced to the sounds of All You Need Is Love, an upbeat reminder from "boylesque" drag crew Briefs Factory and brass outfit Brisbane Excelsior Band of what mattered the most.
West has zest
The festival is by no means limited to South Bank and will by its September 26 conclusion have travelled throughout the city.
A short stroll the next morning to meet Metro Arts creative director Jo Thomas at her organisation's newly-opened West End hub was a portal to more free and inspiring experiences.
Artist Hiromi Tango has installed Brainbow Magic to bring comfort and spark joy through the magic of fluorescence.
Brisbane artist Robert Andrew's kinetic work A Connective Reveal - Community reaches across the Metro Arts space, pulsating and slowly maturing through its use of natural materials and technology.
Interactive social experiment Avoidable Perils gives anyone with a smartphone a chance to save cartoon heroes through large-scale teamwork.
Ms Thomas said those works and a host of others would hopefully attract people to West Village's creative outlet.
"We want them to enjoy this beautiful new space," Ms Thomas said.
"At Metro Arts we are really about community and we are really about welcoming everybody so that's what we are doing this year."
It keeps coming
More free experiences back at South Bank added to a wonderful afternoon that culminated in an electric evening show.
Well known classical pieces and renditions of pop favourites expertly played by a quintet from Queensland's chamber orchestra, Camerata, attracted plenty of picnic blankets to a hillside auditorium.
From there a short walk through Annea Lockwood and Bob Bielecki's Wild Energy experience gave a completely different sonic sensation.
For us it was then a short walk over the Victoria Bridge for an early sitting at modern Chinese restaurant Donna Chang.
This was a dining highlight, not only because of the outstanding food, drink and surrounds, but also the lengths to which staff went to make us and our rambunctious toddler feel welcome.
The full effect of the Sunsuper Night Sky laser show became apparent once night fell.
Australian audio visual artist Robin Fox has based her beams from buildings along the river to create a pulsating show set to an ethereal soundtrack.
It was certainly a different, but also awe-inspiring experience to previous fireworks extravaganzas.
The free options which our family enjoyed were just some of those offered in a festival that is living up to its Boldly Brisbane tag.
Let it remind you of the joy and hope which spring from the finer things in life.
For more visit the Brisbane Festival or Visit Brisbane website.
The writer was a guest of Brisbane Festival and Tourism and Events Queensland.
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