Issue 20 online

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enviro d n a e cultur , y t i commun

pla rt a x hu y, tbo h g e! festi b i l r o on vals galore, m ch its u m way, nd chocaholics delight a

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Spring Issue 20 * 2015

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The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja

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Inspiration is budding in Spring @ Burrinja Burrinja Climate Change Biennale Acquisitive Art Prize – Shortlist Exhibition 11 Oct 2015 – 31 Jan 2016 Showcasing works in all mediums that respond to themes of climate change both locally and globally. Including audience response and creative activities. Be part of the conversation.

The Owl’s Apprentice Tuesday 29 September. 11am & 2pm A delightful tale about earning your wisdom. A heart-warming, interactive and playful show for families combining puppetry and physical comedy with warm storytelling.

David Bridie – intimate & solo Thursday Nov 26

Award winning singer / songwriter David Bridie is one of Australia’s most innovative artists: from My Friend the Chocolate Cake to Melanesian collaboration and acclaimed Solo albums. Café Burrinja.

Burrinja - Cnr Glenfern Rd & Matson Drive, Upwey ph: (03) 9754 8723 w: burrinja.org.au

burrinja - BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ARTS

editor’s rave I’m a little bit fed up! Just when I feel like Winter is dragging on and the cold is getting too much, we had a few beautiful days to remind me that Spring is on its way. No doubt the cold will continue for a while but already some flowers are starting to bloom and the smell and look of a fresh start is starting to peek it’s head around the corner.

Just in the nick of time I think.

One thing that really got me excited was the news that hillsceneLIVE 2015 event was coming soon. The three events last year were so inspiring that I’m really looking forward to this one. It was amazing seeing all the artists that are working in innovative and experimental performance and media who live in our local area. And it’s great that their work can be showcased in our local context as well. If you didn’t get a chance to see any of the hillsceneLIVE events last year make sure you get to this one.

Each had its own different flavour and were beautifully coordinated by Gareth Hart, who has a lot of expertise, not only with his own choreography practise but also in creating events that offer a unique experience.

I’ve made a little montage of the three hillsceneLIVE events from last year on the back page to wet your appetite and there will be an artwork dedicated to hillsceneLIVE at the End of the Line festival which is on again on November 28 this year.

I’m sure Spring will be a time filled with plenty to enjoy even if the weather isn’t always shining. With plenty of markets, festivals, exhibitions, great food and a beautiful environement always available, there’s no excuse not to get out there and make the most of the season.

Spring is a time for renewal so I’m brushing away the feeling of being fed up and looking forward to the sunshine ahead.

Editor/Designer Adriana Alvarez Cover Gerard Russo Editorial Committee Ross Farnell, Amy Middleton, Gareth Hart, Zoe Amber Preston Contributors Gerard Russo, Miro Anderson, Matt de Boer, Karly Michelle Whalley, Carolyn Oates, Andrea Woodberry, Katherine Reynolds, Jessie Yvette Journoud-Ryan, Genevieve Jones, Gareth Hart, Amy Middleton, Tiffany Morris North, Ariel Haviland, Elaine Pullum and Adriana Alvarez facebook: The Hillscene www.hillscene.com.au blog: hillsceneblog.wordpress.com/ For submission and advertising enquiries e: hillscene@westnet.com.au Printed by Ferntree Print on Envirocare 100gsm recycled paper. © Copyright 2015

The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja Proudly sponsored by Photo by Miro Anderson

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WOW! Great Cover Words and images by Amy Middleton If you have driven past Limerence in Belgrave at night-time recently, you may have noticed a warm glow emanating from the window display. I invite you steal a moment to take a closer look – you’ll find the delightful lightbox illustrations of Gerard Russo nestled amongst other carefully curated treasures.

When I arranged to visit Gerard at his studio in Belgrave I had no idea I would receive such a gracious welcome into his special home. From the cinnamon topped lattes, spacious studio and thingamabob filled “his + her” printer’s trays he shares with his partner Rachel - I quickly realised that Gerard was an intentional character, soaked with creativity and an all-round lovely person to spend time with.

Gerard and Rachel share their home with Tait, their cat. They plan on inviting bees to the party this summer as they embark on a bee keeping course in the coming weeks. With Italian blood pumping through his veins, growing natural produce is important to Gerard and even in the winter, his veggie-beds boast luscious greens.

Having completed a BA Fine Art (Media Art) in 2009, Gerard has continued to refine his process

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and experiment with different techniques that currently present themselves as delicate illustrations on copper that are crafted into gorgeous lightboxes.

Gerard is invested in every step of his creative process, from using family and friends as subject matter, to sourcing and constructing the wooden frames that house the work.

Gerard describes his artwork as, “illustrative, often figurative and casually plays with ideas of the natural and mechanical. The artworks are either one-offs, drawn directly onto the copper, or start as ink drawings and are then transferred onto copper board where it is then etched and illuminated from the rear of its custom enclosure.” When talking about creative process he said, “Mostly I create - just to get it out – this often leads to being something quite wonderful, because they start out so naturally.”

As well as illustration his work encompasses Animation, Video Art, Motion Graphics and Logo

Design… and he produces a bit of music as well.

(Creative Octopus Alert!!!)

CJ at Limerence who has known Gerard longer than I, suggested that, “Gerard’s work is similar to the impression I get of him as a person, at first playful but more complex when you look closely.”

I recently heard someone say, that ‘the way you do anything, is the way you do everything’. As I walked through his studio, flicked through sketch books and spent time chatting to Gerard, his strong athletic revealed itself in delightful ways. The decorative textures on the walls, the materials he used to make his art and the carefully curated artworks sprinkled through his home all suggested an eye that is always looking for something beautiful. Creativity and care could be seen in every detail.

As I drove away from Gerard’s home I felt like the details of my own life were calling for a little more tender loving care… in one short hour, I had been given a glimpse into how a life of subtle intension can produce a creative environment that anyone would feel inspired to live and work in.

To see Gerard’s artwork head to Limerence. He is also having a solo exhibition at Gin Lane during the End of the Line Festival in November. www.gerardrusso.com

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cafe tarts Gino’s ah’ cioccolato - Belgrave Hidden around the corner from the main drag in Belgrave is Gino’s ah’ cioccolato. They specialize in chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

Their fresh, cooked to order, churros are crunchy but fluffy on the inside and are really delicious.

(Churros, in case you don’t know, are Spanish style donuts - editor). Served with a choice of milk, dark or white chocolate, dulce de leche (Spanish caramel) or their newest addition, nutella. A double serve of 8 churros gets you two choices of dipping cups.

We also ordered the European hot chocolate.

An extra hot, extra thick, extra chocolatey hot chocolate. This is not for the faint hearted. This hot chocolate is so luscious it can be eaten with a spoon and comes in flavours including dark, milk, chilli, hazelnut (recommended) and orange/cinnamon.

Amongst the other drinks we ordered were a chocolate thickshake and a caramel frappe, also made with dulce de leche, yum! And of course coffee, which also met expectations.

Other delicacies available include biscuits, brownies and artisan chocolates.

So all in all a nice little café. A great place to take the kids for a chocolate treat or if you need a sweet fix. If you are not a sweet tooth you will be disappointed. Chocoholics are well accommodated for and should leave very satisfied.

Prices are fairly average, drinks range from $4.00 to $5.50. Our bill for four, sharing a double serve of churros was under $35.00 17 Bayview Rd, Belgrave Facebook - Gino’s ah’ cioccolato Tiffany Morris-North Tiffany is a passionate artist/crafter/foodie living with her family in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges. Follow her adventures on her blog tiffanymorrisnorth.wordpress.com

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environment Platypus Program Belgrave Words by Matt de Boer Everyone loves platypus. What’s there not to love about a bizarre egg-laying mammal that eats worms using only electroreceptors to find it’s way around. Plus, it blows bubbles out of its fur, and has a poisonous spur on its hind foot. Did you know its Wurrundjeri name is Dullai Wurrung – which means ‘proud lips’! But the shame is that, like many of our favourite animals, its habitat is under pressure – not from evil bulldozers so much as all sorts of nasties getting into its water, including litter.

Most of the litter that gets dropped on the streets eventually makes its way into a waterway. Stormwater drains do a great job of making sure all the rain runoff from roads gets taken away, but in doing so, it carries many plastic wrappers, take-away containers and other rubbish straight into our local waterways. Where our favourite Ornithorinchus anatinus likes to make it’s home. Did you know that a survey a few years back found over 20% of platypus with a potentially fatal piece of litter caught around its neck or body? And eventually all this rubbish ends up in the ocean where it joins the giant plastic food web – just awful. But there is something great we can do to help out!

I’m coordinating a program called Communities for Platypus, which is aiming to clean up litter in a handful of townships in the Yarra Ranges, including Belgrave. It’s hard to buy anything these days without packaging, and for some reason we all feel the need to consume vast amounts of stuff wrapped in plastic. But when you think about where it all ends up, it makes one think twice about leaving things lying about, to end up in the creek.

Fortunately I’ve had the pleasure to meet some amazing local people who are doing a great job of looking after platypus, and keeping Belgrave creeks free of litter. One of the main ways the Communities for Platypus project is

operating is by supporting local community groups to continue the dedicated work they are doing and raise awareness about the value of keeping our townships clean. We are working with Belgrave Traders, Southern Dandenongs Landcare and Belgrave Platypus on projects in Belgrave to help raise awareness about platypus and reduce litter in Belgrave.

Pretty soon we’ll be working on projects to help address litter issues around the station and Blacksmiths Lane. We are looking for innovative ideas and would love to hear your most out-of-the-box ideas for improving these places and helping reduce the litter problem!

You can email your ideas to m.deboer@ yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

Communities for Platypus receives funding from the State government of Victoria and is a Yarra Ranges Council program. We also acknowledge the great work of Belgrave Platypus, Southern Dandenongs Landcare and Belgrave Traders.

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Oil paint and ochre Many hillscene articles begin by a stroke of serendipity. This one started a little like this.

One Sunday morning whilst watching my son’s soccer team I happened to talk to one of the parents about his family’s interesting history. When a wine writer, Max Allen, came to interview them about their vineyard he noticed some indigenous artworks and so the story of the de Pury’s connection with William Barak began to unfold.

From that initial meeting many of the works and diaries from this connection eventually lead to the exhibition Oil Paint and Ochre at the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum. It examines the relationship between Wurundjeri leader William Barak and local wine making pioneers, the de Pury family of Yeringberg.

Best remembered for his artworks which show traditional indigenous life and his activism, William Barak was one of the most important leaders for Victoria’s Indigenous community in the nineteenth century. Both a respected spokesman and acknowledged leader at Coranderrk until his death in 1903, Barak was said to have been present when John Batman met with tribal elders in the Melbourne area to sign a treaty in 1835, and has been credited with “building a bridge between black and white culture”. The de Pury family were Swiss

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settlers at the forefront of the 19th century Yarra Valley wine boom.

Against a backdrop of the establishment of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station near Healesville, and the growth of the Yarra Valley wine industry, an extraordinary relationship developed between this Wurundjeri leader and winemaking family.

With relevance to our national heritage, Oil Paint and Ochre will offer an intimate insight into the complexity of first-generation negotiation between Aboriginal and European people in Australia.

The exhibition will include never seen before items such as indigenous artifacts presented to the de Pury family and now housed in the museum’s Yeringberg Collection, family photographs and the extensive de Pury farm diaries which recorded daily life in the Yarra Valley from 1874.

“The interaction between William Barak and the de Pury family was tied to the country on which it took place, where descendants of both sides still live to this day. This makes the Oil Paint and Ochre exhibition a significant one for the residents of the Yarra Ranges,” says Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Maria McCarthy.

exhibition The exhibition will also present writings from Aunty Joy Murphy, AO, a significant and highly

regarded Elder of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations, professional Historian Helen Doyle, renowned wine writer Max Allen and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum Curator Karlie Hawking.

The de Pury’s still live at Yeringburg and they have donated a collection of their family history, including the diaries, to the Museum.

Oil Paint and Ochre runs until Sunday 22 November at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum located at 35-37 Castella St Lilydale.

Entry is free.

Excerpt from the diaries Book 1 – 23 June 1889

h Barak was here yesterday and was so muc ed track had you him told amused when Papa ow, two fellows, he said ‘him yarra-blackfell like when him go shooting, him carry gun just he blackfellow, him look here, look there” (and her anot like look no s)’ word to suits the action man straight on the ground”, and he told was Papa he was to tell you that he (Barak) like very pleased to learn that you track men blackfellow.

Ada de Pury

Barak with Jules and Victor de Pury circa 1883

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Art with intent Words and images by Karly Michelle Whalley This year has been another different sort of year for me.

It has been the year that I started making and exhibiting with intent. It is this word ‘intent’ that has changed things - rather than only making because I enjoy it, I have also been making to invite other people into my inner space, or maybe it has been to open my space up to include others.

Either way 10 years ago, even 3 years ago I never would have imagined this is what I would be doing. My life has been one of ‘rolling with the punches’ - things outside of my control have happened and you just have to make do. The biggest of these has been developing Chronic Fibromyalgia, a condition characterised by widespread but unexplained pain and un-refreshing sleep amongst other things. Over the 10 years that it has now been, my husband and I have had to adjust and re-adjust to live within the parameters it lays out for me.

Three years ago I was teaching at a tertiary institution, something I loved, but which I soon realised had a much too demanding schedule for my fibro-soaked body. Stepping back was difficult as I felt I’d run out of jobs to try while also having this condition. But in many different ways art has always been there for me and it was again at this time in the form of encouragement.

I had originally trained for the theatre, but the theatre is physical and demanding it was too much once I got sick. At high school I didn’t think I was an artist because painting isn’t my thing but over the years my understanding, experience and education has been broadened and gradually I accepted that I loved making things and that others also seemed to appreciate what I made, meaning I was an artist.

When I stopped teaching, I tentatively began to explore what it means for me to be an artist and began making with ‘intent’. For my fibro body it’s a good lifestyle - I can structure things around how I feel physically. Despite being at home with a cold as I write this, generally my health does seems to be improving. Hopefully for my financial self it will also be a good choice one day.

For my creative self it has been wonderful. I booked in for a couple of exhibitions this year and these gave me structure and a visible opportunity to share my inner self with the wider community. I’ve now had 2 solo exhibitions, something I still find quite amazing.

I’ve also started offering workshops under what I call ‘The Moments of Rest Project’ where I offer space for

artist others to engage in creativity as a place of rest and meditation. I have embraced my randomness in art making - I love the process of finding an object in nature, in an op shop, around the house and discovering how it fits into a larger idea. I love the meditative process of making and the tactile nature of what I do, of seeing pieces develop, change and morph into something different and the surprise I get when something doesn’t quite work out the way I thought it would, but is in fact better. So while the exhibition process, running workshops and the other random bits and pieces can be tiring for my fibro, I still love the process, the opportunity and hope that I can continue to invite people into my inner space.

To see more of Karly’s work go to: www.karlymichelle.com flickr.com/photos/karlymichelle/ instagram.com/karlymichellew

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Gradual launch

music

Words by Carolyn Oates Gradual are a newly formed Australian Rock band who tip their hats to bands like Matt Finish, The Church and Midnight Oil. For the youngsters out there…google these bands, you won’t regret the education in Australian rock history.

These guys aren’t young, bearded, stovepipe-jean-wearing trendsters. They are a rich memory bank of experience as members of other bands that have been part of the Melbourne and Australian music touring scene for decades. When you combine the talent of these 4 blokes into a band you get the gorgeous sound of rock that shows the restraint and understanding of how to deliver a song.

The songwriter and front man for the band is Brian Baker, who has worked with the likes of Eddie Rayner (Split Enz, Crowded House). David Carr, (who has worked with acts like Big Scary, Deborah Conway, and mixed the ARIA award winning Sharkmouth album by Russell Morris) plays the dual role of guitarist and producer/engineer for this recording. Throw in bass player, Darren Trott, who is also fronting and writing for his own band (Third Best Friend); and Steve Wells, a stylistically diverse and solid drummer, and you get a big sound.

The 4 track EP starts with the lyrically descriptive For Love, a song rich in analogies of all the risks taken for that one pursuit.

Close to Home is a lilting ballad with tastefully placed vocal harmonies and guitar riffs. It then moves into full rock mode with My Beautiful Friend a song about the winter sun in Melbourne. The EP finishes with We Fall Slowly, a mid-paced love song that would get the cigarette lighters (or mobile phone screens) out and swaying at a live show.

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Photo by Glenn Stephenson

Gradual launch their EP at Sooki Lounge Friday September 18 with guests Dirt River Radio.

Carolyn Oates Carolyn is a local singer/songwriter and also offers instrument tuition, for more information go to www.carolynoates.com

Don’t give up!

In October, Dandenong Ranges Music Council is presenting Burrinja with Attitude, a festival of visual arts, music, theatre and activities for all ages and abilities. As the festival program comes together, it has become increasingly clear to the coordinators, that many of the artists taking part have beautiful stories to tell - stories of courage and hope.

One such individual is Andrea Woodberry, here is a small snippet of her journey…

Can you tell us a bit about yourself - your abilities and your disability?

I caught encephalitis in 1994 while I was studying Geomatics at Melbourne University.

For those of you who don’t know what it is, the membrane that covers the brain becomes inflamed and because the brain is enclosed in the skull and basically has nowhere for the swelling to go, the brain pretty much compresses in on itself. People who get it suffer varying effects ranging from death, to being in a vegetative state to having almost no ill-effects at all to not even knowing that they have had it.

I was pretty lucky - at first I couldn’t see, walk or talk - but now I can do all three again. I use a mobility aid to get around and I have a sight impairment. My computer ‘reads’ for me.

Because of my sight impairment I cannot see faces clearly so, until I remember your voice, I am likely to have trouble recognising who you are - so please do not be offended if I don’t greet you by name!

I have been an EACH volunteer for many years and did both of my work-placements for my Community Development course through them.

I also hold a Certificate IV in disability work and a counselling diploma. Before I fell ill I worked as a casual at K-mart and quickly earned the title ‘Head Casual’ (a ‘Mickey Mouse title if ever there was one!!).

I now work at Dandenong Ranges Music Council where I research arts opportunities for people of all abilities in Yarra Ranges and other disability/ all ability related projects.

How has having a disability changed your perspective on life?

In some ways there has been not much change, I still have the same warped sense of humour I had before I got sick - but in other ways there has been a big change. I get very frustrated because I cannot do a lot of things I could do pre-illness like read, drive a car, swim, walk without an aid and much more. Having said that, I am less self-centred and more conscious of the needs of others now and I am more empathic and patient... with everyone but myself!!

What advice would give anyone who has recently developed a disability?

DON’T GIVE UP! If at first you don’t succeed try, try again! Be patient with yourself, having a new disability is a MASSIVE adjustment. It will take time to adjust to the change in your abilities - not just yourself, but others close to you will need to get used to them too…

What message would you like to send to the wider community who may not understand what it is like to live with a disability?

Treat us like you would anyone else, after all, we are just like you but maybe a bit slower or we may have other challenges. Treating us as if we are different is one of the most insulting things you can do, right up with speaking to our carers rather than us and getting impatient when we are doing things slowly and taking over... before you do something for us, ask if we need help rather than taking over.

What are your goals for the next 5 to 10 years?

Ooh, that’s a hard one... Continue my volunteer work, try to do a little bit of paid work, spend a lot of time with my husband and my dog and most of all have fun and be happy...

Do you have any bad habits you feel you can share with us?

A few years back I did a sustainability diploma. I was tragically over-enthusiastic about the whole recycling thing - now I am totally OTT about turning lights off, not wasting water and the like.

I am also seriously addicted to shows like Home and Away, TV crime shows like Bones, and Dancing with the stars!!

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Brent Dakis adorned Words by Adriana Alvarez

When I went to speak with Brent Dakis a few weeks ago, the conversation could have gone in many different directions. Being a creative powerhouse of the hills community for several years he has undertaken many different artistic projects. We could have talked about ‘Limerence’ which he co-founded with CJ five years ago or ‘The End of the Line” festival, a hugely successful arts and music feast in Belgrave. We could of spoken about his photography or graphic design business or his interiors work, there are so many facets to this creative soul.

We did discuss some of these things but what we talked about most was his jewellery. It’s his passion and where he has focused most of his creative energy.

It’s also the reason he decided to move on from Limerence last year so he could dedicate more time to his work. Even making a purpose built studio when he moved to Upwey so he can create whenever he feels inspired. When his studio was at the shop he would often be interrupted but not here. It’s a space that seems to ooze Brent’s raw, atmospheric cool, welcoming you into his process and vision.

He began making jewellery while studying printmaking at the Victorian College of the Arts.

He was struggling with the way they taught art because he was interested in so many mediums; painting, drawing, sculpture etc and he found it constraining to try and stick to one. Yet he really enjoyed the “organic chemistry and oxidising” which was happening with the metal. As he was getting

really disillusioned, CJ suggested he try jewellery because it was somewhere in the middle, so he did.

Since he had no training the first thing he made was one off painted pieces on wooden discs. “Even though that wasn’t metal it was my first play with making wearable art,” says Brent.

After experimenting a bit he eventually began making the watch-part jewellery, which led him to achieve some success at markets and to his getting some basic training with a friend who was a jeweller.

From there it was just trial and error. “I made ranges and they didn’t sell and I learned from that. Then I started doing commission rings and... here I am 6 years later. I mainly do commissions now but I’m going back to doing ranges again. Now that I’ve been doing it long enough that I kind of know what I want to make.”

While he doesn’t draw artistically much any more, his most recent work incorporates some drawing.

Since he is now working with steel, iron and gold, it’s bringing the design process back into the jewellery and allowed him to add more texture to each piece.

Brent’s work is all about individuality with each piece being unique, more like a work of art. With commission work Brent really enjoys the personal experience of working with people collaboratively to achieve a piece that is specific to their needs and ideas. “I think if you’re going to have a ring on your hand or a necklace around your neck why not have it so that it’s a representation of your taste and

Photos by Brent Dakis

what excites you rather than something that’s mass manufactured and doesn’t represent you at all,” says Brent.

His work can only currently be found at Limerence and he wants to limit where you can find his pieces preferring to provide that personal experience.

“I’d love to get myself into e.g.etal and Pieces of eight which are two jewellery galleries in the city. They represent a handful of artists that do unique left of centre jewellery.”

Every part of his jewellery making is carefully considered, from the design of the cards that go in the bag with the jewellery to his website. From his photoshoots to his jewellery displays and his cosy, creative studio space at his house. It’s all about providing a unique experience that you wouldn’t get with anyone else. What you get is a bespoke piece of jewellery that you are the “caretaker” of until it gets passed on. Beautiful jewellery is something that will outlive most of us, survive through countless generations and it can end up having a distinct history. “It’s all about stories. Telling stories with your body and through what you put on it. The story of the experience of working with me, then gets told to other people and then that story continues, through the kids. That’s what I love. The story telling part of it.”

Brent has some interesting stories to tell. From his early business ventures when he was in primary school to his love of the hills “constant movement” from the trees, to his lack of success with his post school education - dropping out of a myriad of courses. His artist spirit can’t be contained and his creativity will no doubt lead him to be a name infused in many peoples stories for many years to come. www.brentdakis.com

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community announced early this year that they would not be purchasing the old Police Station building.

Instead, it would seem that Council have decided to invest $3.95 million into the redevelopment of the Emerald Hall, with a further $1.75 million being injected from Bendigo Bank and the State Government.

According to the Cardinia Shire, the hub will be “an integrated community facility that will give local residents access to health services, educational and skills-based learning and local business information.

The Hills Hub Words and image by Gareth Hart

Earlier this year, I heard rumours bubbling, gossip spreading, and innuendo growing around the idea of a ‘hills hub’. Much of what I was hearing was controversy over this idea.

A little digging and I discover this to be true – Cardinia Shire Council have earmarked the Emerald Hall as a site of potential redevelopment. They are calling this project, the Hills Hub. More scratching, a few conversations over coffee at the General, and keeping an ear to the pulse confirmed that support for this project was a little divided. Divided because it would appear that community values and Council actions were not so aligned in this instance. Late last year it was impossible to live in or around Emerald and not hear the huge community support and drive for Cardinia Shire Council to purchase the old Emerald Police Station, and convert it into a ‘hills hub’ of arts and cultural organizations, community health, a tourism information centre and a range of other community services.

Hundreds and hundreds of signatures were gathered on a petition for Cardinia Shire Council to purchase the old building, which was delivered to council in late 2014. The building was estimated to cost $600,000-$800,000 to purchase. In essence, the community of Emerald and surrounds is screaming for a place where we can gather, share our pride, and support local initiatives. However, Council

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The Emerald Hall Precinct has a long and proud history of serving the district with a variety of services and uses. After extensive discussions, resources have become available for it to be refreshed and redeveloped in line with the current and future needs of the wider community, whilst retaining its existing tenants.”

An advisory group of local members and stakeholders has been formed, who are heavily driving the project. According to Cardinia Council, the advisory committee “will assist in a collective engagement process which will allow all members of the community to be engaged and contribute their thoughts. This will be an inclusive and transparent process with all key stakeholders.”

Whichever way you look at this new development for Emerald, it is clear that the town is shifting and growing as the community need rises dramatically.

I think it fair to say that never before has $6 million been invested into Emerald for a community service of this nature, which is an exciting step in Emerald’s evolution and growth, no matter the true genesis of the project.

Emerald needs a hub of some sort. Be that a historic building or a new development, who can say? The clear message? Communities have a voice, and out here, the place we all love, that voice is screamed loud with pride.

For more info, visit: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/Page/ Page.aspx?Page_id=5549 Or attend the next community consultation on 15th of September, at the Gembrook Community Centre on Gembrook-Pakenham Rd, Gembrook. There will be two session : 1-5pm and 6-8pm.

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Share in a glimpse of a working artists studio, join a workshop, or purchase an individual piece of art or jewellery.

www.leafstudios.com.au leafatkallista@gmail.com leafstudioskallista

77 Monbulk Rd, Kallista 3791 • (03) 9755 1107

Collaboration works Katherine Reynolds and Jessie Yvette JournoudRyan paths crossed at Burrinja in early 2013. They soon realised that they shared not only a similar methodology and approach to experimentation in the studio, but, at different occasions, had studied at Upwey High School, then at Swinburne TAFE for Visual Arts, and furthermore at Monash University in Fine Arts. This resulted in a cohesive working partnership in the studio. At the time Katherine had commenced a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and was exploring the language and complexities of camouflage. Jessie – a new studio artist at Burrinja – was exploring the language of sculptural mosaics with an increasing interest in using repurposed crockery and ceramics to imitate other subjects. The collaborative exhibition in the Jarmbi Gallery at Burrinja this year entitled Mimicry brought together these two streams of

interest, leading to an explorative body of work.

Over months of working together in the studio and experimenting with a variety of media, Jessie and Katherine created a series of work that encapsulated this artistic partnership. Importantly this collaborative process has enhanced each individual artists’ practise. Both Jessie and Katherine adapted their way of working to the other artist’s visual language. They found it an invaluable and enriching experience working so closely with another artist. It encourages and challenges you as an artist to further think outside of the box and to extend your own ideas.

But what comes next? Jessie and Katherine are keen to watch the collaboration grow, and plan to embark on future creative endeavours using collage and projection as a starting point.

Jessie Yvette Journoud-Ryan

Katherine Reynolds

Jessie is a local artist and currently works with sculptural mosaics from her home studio in Upwey. Her studio tenancy at Burrinja allowed her to further develop a body of sculptural work using recycled crockery. She has participated in the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios Initiative since 2013 winning the People’s Choice Award in 2015.

Katherine followed her passion for art and creativity after finishing high school. She also started volunteering at Burrinja, where she gained valuable experience about the arts industry. During her studies at Swinburne TAFE, she found a love for collage and painting, always willing to experiment with different materials. As her desire to continue working in the arts grew, it lead to further studies at Monash University where she continued to develop her practice.

She formally commenced her Art studies in France at a National Ceramics School, specialising in the traditional Decorative Arts of Ceramic Painting… where her love of crockery began.

In Australia she pursued further studies in the Visual and Fine Arts, experimenting with media ranging from printmaking to painting, collage and photography and was awarded the Monash University Faculty of Art and Design Research Masters Scholarship. In recent years, Jessie has returned to her initial interest in ceramics via the medium of sculptural mosaics. Her current work reflects on past connections and experimentation with crockery, collage and sculpture. Jessie currently provides a series of sculptural mosaic workshops from Burrinja in Upwey.

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2015 has proven to be an exciting year for Katherine. She participated in the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios as an emerging artist, utilising a studio space at Burrinja for 6 months, which allowed her to experiment on a larger scale and with new materials. Her collaboration with Jessie was a springboard for a new body of work, and their exhibition Mimicry provided valuable feedback. At the end of August Katherine also participated in RAW: Melbourne presents PARAMOUNT at the Melbourne Pavilion, allowing her to showcase her work to a wider audience and meet other like-minded creatives.

Photos courtesy of the artists

art

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End of the Line rides again End of the Line Festival is on again this year.

Why the break last year?

Firstly, we are so excited that EOTL is back again in 2015! In truth, the coordinating team of EOTL has undergone a significant amount of personal change, and we had considered whether we would run the event again. I’m sure anyone who has attended the event in the past can imagine, it is a pretty huge undertaking! In our year off, we had an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from the public, traders and participating artists who said how wonderful the 2012/2013 events were and expressed how it had become such an important part of the Hills cultural calendar. So, we took a deep breath, realised that we needed to be brave, be bold and that we needed to evolve if we were going to run the 2015 event. Hence the theme of this year’s festival Be Brave. Be Bold. Evolve.

Will this be a biennial event from now on?

The most important factor in our decision to transition EOTL to a biennial format was sustainability. EOTL is facilitated by unpaid volunteers from the Belgrave Community Arts Partnership, with all participating artists and musicians also contributing their time and talent on a totally voluntary basis.

For an event of this scale to be possible we need a lot of support and cooperation from Belgrave’s venues and businesses, Yarra Ranges Council and our major sponsors and

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event partners, Burrinja Cultural Centre, Cameo Cinema, Belgrave Traders Association, DB Audio, Heavywater Creative, Limerence and 3MDR to name a few. It is with their financial and gift in kind support, we are able to make the art beast roar! Given that there are only so many favours you can ask, we recognised that we needed to honour our relationships with our artists, partners and volunteers, and not ask for too much, too often hence the reason we have decided to shift to a biennial format.

What can we expect from End of the Line this year?

The best festival yet! With a bigger team on board behind the scenes to help things run smoothly and an overwhelming amount of incredible artistic talent to showcase, it’s set to be the most exciting thing to hit the hills in years!

Since we build the event around the applications we receive, the festival takes on a different flavor each time. This year we have over 70 bands performing over 8 stages, representing a wider variety of musical genres than we have before- from hip-hop to country to experimental jazz and everything in between!

With Amy Middleton from Burrinja on board as curator, our visual art program is set to be really impressive this year, with over 30 exhibitions and installations showcasing plenty

of your favorite local artists and talented folks from further afield.

There will be children’s entertainment, street performances, live painting and an artist’s marketplace cram packed with handmade treasures to delight and inspire you!

Expect Belgrave to be bursting at the seams with creativity and colour!

Any new features you’d like to tell us about?

As I mentioned earlier, the event evolves based on which artists get on board and there are HEAPS of new artists this year!

There are a few new spaces and venues that we will be transforming on the day - where? You ask… You’ll have to wait and find out.

This year we have also made the decision to release the official program earlier, so people have more of a chance to check out what’s happening and plan their day accordingly.

Anything else you’d like to add?

We are so looking forward to sharing and celebrating the arts with our vibrant and diverse community and showing those visiting the area what a talented and interesting bunch we are! On festival day parking is bound to be difficult so we strongly encourage people to car pool or catch the train (it comes straight here ya know!?)

This is also a great opportunity to express yourself by wearing something spectacular, so Be Brave and Be Bold on November 28th!

To keep up to date go to Facebook www.facebook.com/endofthelinefestival or head to endofthelinefestival.com for more details.

How can people get involved if they want to?

This event simply wouldn’t be possible without the help of an army of volunteers! If you would like to lend a hand, there will be a volunteer sign up link on our website from September onwards.

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A little rebellion doesn’t hurt Words and images by Amy Middleton

What do Bill Murray, Lara Bingle, David Bowie and Chevy Chase have in common? A Little Rebellion!

In October last year Ali Maclean opened a new retail space in Belgrave – Little Rebellion sits snug between Helloword and Sealgull Press on Burwood Highway. If you keep your eye on the shop window you will catch a glimpse of Ali’s quirky sense of humour – at the moment Chevy Chase’s National Lampoon icon “Sparky” appears in repeated alignment, reminding us to spoil the special men in our lives. (Swoon… sigh… snigger!)

Little Rebellion sources boutique grooming goods and lifestyle wares from independent Australian owned and made brands, with over 95% of their product made in Australia. It is a pleasant space to spend time in. Careful consideration has been given to where and how products are arranged and there is a cohesive aesthetic in the store, likely as a result of Ali’s

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careful curation of the colours and patterns that layer both the shop itself, and the packaging of products. This store carries a great mix of cosmetics and skin care (for both him & her), home accessories, giftware and a healthy sprinkling of humour – each contributing to a satisfying shopping experience.

When I asked Ali about the shop name she said, “I saw a greeting card in a bookstore years ago with the Thomas Jefferson quote ‘a little rebellion now and then is a good thing’. The line really resonated with my ‘inner’ rebel so when it came to the store’s name it seemed like a perfect fit!”

So if you ever have a hankering for a David Bowie adorned gift card or a safe Lara-like tanning product, Little Rebellion should be on the top of your hit list.

1670 Burwood Highway Belgrave, Victoria Facebook Little Rebellion instagram.com/littlerebellionstore

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save the date

October 30

hillsceneLIVE 2015

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After bursting onto the cultural landscape of the hills in 2014 (see back page), hillsceneLIVE continues to grow and develop in 2015. hillsceneLIVE is an arts festival quite unlike any other in the hills. Constantly surprising, always unique.

Driven by a desire to support the experimental, empower the risky, encourage the challenging and sit outside of the easily definable, the festival is a feast of live art practice the supports artists to experiment and realise bold ideas.

Mumma Gaga’s Believe It or Not Words by Genevieve Jones I first met Michelle Trebilco walking into an op shop in Belgrave. When she was fronting the shop it was more like stumbling into a “happening”: a rave or some altered reality where you felt pretty much anything could happen. The music was pumping, the atmosphere was charged with laughter.

It felt a little.... well, dangerous.

I have since had the good fortune to reconnect with Michelle now, a few years later as life has taken some unexpected turns for both of us. Michelle was retrenched from Melbourne Uni freeing her up to focus more on her love of making stuff and becoming a mother to an ever growing family of unorthodox and surreal artworks.

She has been christened Mumma Gaga: an Australian maverick response to the lady herself.

That’s how Michelle found her love of making stuff. Getting dressed up for a Lady Gaga concert, she pulled a few funky tricks with

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balancing champagne glasses on her shoulders, wacked on some funny glasses and BANG... the door to her creativity opened. Well that’s how she says it happened.

Having undergone her own personal transformation, she is much like the dolls she takes apart and puts together again, revealing something closer to the truth and way more profound.

Watching her pull the dolls apart and (often violently) putting them back together turns the stomach and requires breathing through.... much like witnessing a real birth; it can be painful, gory, funny and at the end of it leaves the witness in awe of the new being freshly born.

Michelle loves to play and her work evokes the spirit of the universal laughing man. Seeing deeply into human nature she reveals a loving acceptance of humanity, as it is. Part surrealist, part seer, part child, she likes to describes herself more of an editor than an artist.

To walk into her home is to step into a visual version of the Akashic Records*, the halls of ‘Believe It or Not’. Too much to take in, in just one sitting. Her work could fill five galleries and not exhaust the backlog.

Mumma G claims ignorance about her artworks, she says they make her laugh.

Often not really understanding them until someone points something out to her.

You can follow her on Facebook and sometimes if you are really lucky, you will find her at Kallista Market and Blackburn Station Market once a month.

Her work is slightly scary, magnetic, humerous and always surprising. * Akashic Records: A term coined in the late 1800s by theosophists describing an etheric database of each and every word, thought or action of every soul and being in the cosmos (in the past, present and future) that is recorded energetically and encoded. It is said these records connect each of us to one another.

Using repurposed jewellery, framed prints, dolls of all descriptions, toys and household items, Mumma Gaga creates wearable art as well as wall art and sculptures that are playful and deliciously clever.

Facebook Mumma Gaga’s

featuring local talent is our passion experience a ‘hillscene’ moment

www.hillsceneblog.wordpress.com

coffee

Coffee meets vintage Coffee is given a twist in the hills with the introduction of a sweet new addition - Oscar, the vintage caravan at The CourtYard.

The CourtYard in Sassafras has gained a reputation as a quality furniture and homewares store that has an eclectic blend of classic European styling with a modern outlook. When business owner, Catherine Court spotted Oscar, it was love at first sight and a fun way to bring coffee to the hills.

“I have wanted to offer coffee for a while – the shop certainly has the capacity to do so – but local regulations and cost made it a difficult proposition,” said Catherine. “When I saw that Oscar was up for sale, I knew this was the answer.

He is a little bit quirky, so on- trend vintage and is kitted out to make coffee, it was a simple decision.”

Oscar is a vintage 1960s caravan that has been fully restored to be a purpose-built mobile coffee van. The restoration was a labour of love undertaken by Kristy Berry and her husband of Parkes in 2014 to be used in local events such as the Elvis Festival.

The pieces have fallen into place for Catherine, with local coffee grinders, Silva Coffee of

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Warburton and Mareesa’s Kitchen Catering of Mt Dandenong, who specialises in gluten free goodies, coming on board. Fragrant teas have been supplied

by Tea Leaves of Sassafras.

“I have been fortunate to have such wonderful people from Silva Coffee, Tea Leaves and Mareesa’s Kitchen Catering to bring the very best of local coffee and cake; they all totally understand what it is to make the best coffee and what it is to operate in the Dandenong Ranges,” said Catherine.

Oscar the coffee van is already creating a stir, with people dropping past on their way along the Mt Dandenong-Tourist Road to Sassafras. He and the coffee have been a welcome addition to the landscape. Catherine has also set aside a seating area by the fire within the shop for people to enjoy their coffee while having a chat.

Oscar is serving coffee from Thursday to Sundays from 10am and 4pm at The CourtYard, 263 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Ferny Creek.

For more information contact Catherine Court on 03 9755 2630.

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Visit us at our NEW ADDRESS

Factory 6 & 7, 1154 BURWOOD HWY UPPER FERNTREE GULLY VIC 3158 9753 6505 artwork@ferntree print.com.au Your friendly local printer over 10 years!

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Frank Kouzi

hillscene

LIVE

Photos: Ariel Haviland & Elaine Pullum