Raw Ink Magazine - December 2011

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art | design | music | writing | creative | culture

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brisbane gold coast tweed coast Issue 4, December 2011

www.rawinkmagazine.com

In this Issue: A recap of 3Photography’s exhibition Unravelling as it Seams A look into Bleach* - Surfing the Fringe

THE RAW INK TEAM

Roxy Coppen

Graphic designer and editor. roxy@rawinkmagazine.com www.monkeywingdesigns.com

Ruth Dunn

Journalist. ruth@rawinkmagazine.com

Liana Turner

Journalist and photographer. liana@rawinkmagazine.com onlyverisimilitude.blogspot.com

Hi RIM Fans!

We’re sorry to be late this month, we’ve been caught up in the end of year mayhem and have tried our best to put together another issue.

We’d like to thank Metia and Jayden - our December guest writers! We love to get contributions.

Once again, if you know of any creative events happening in your local area, or would like to contribute to the magazine, feel free to send us an email to: roxy@rawinkmagazine.com

Cover photography by

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on our Twitter-tweets.

featuring

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope you have a great holiday and we’ll see you next year ;)

Liana Turner Codey Haynes

From,

The Raw Ink Team xx

www.rawinkmagazine.com www.facebook.com/rawinkmagazine.com www.twitter.com/rawinkmagazine.om

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contents to go, Mia!’ 6 ‘Wray Metia Skinner

Nation’ 48 ‘Green Jayden Windsor

Parade - Jack 10 Lantern Evans Boat Harbour Debbie & Terry

18 Bleach* 26 Loretta Lizzo 28 ‘3photography’ Liana Turner

& Roxy Coppen

as it Seams’ 34 ‘Unwravelling Liana Turner

Kite Festival 41 Kirra Debbie & Terry

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Wray to go, Mia!

Wray

to go,

Mia! Metia Skinner

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Christmas has arrived early for up-and-coming singer/songwriter, Mia Wray. The talented Sunshine Coast schoolgirl is headed to Sydney to compete in the Telstra Road to Discovery Boot Camp Program this month. An exciting summer is ahead for Wray, who was named this year’s wildcard entrant in the competition.

One of the youngest competitors, Mia is looking forward to the three-day music workshop where she will be mentored by industry experts.

Mia laughingly says she “burst into tears in the school office”, when her mum called to let her know she had been successful. The inspiring 16 year old is drawn to the transformative quality of music, as she believes it has the power to “change peoples’ moods and lives.”

Inspired by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Pete Murray, and Adele, Mia describes her style as “folksy, acoustic and upbeat”. Mia developed her love of music at an early age – writing her

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first song at 13. Before that she was singing in the bath and letting her imagination roam free as she invented her own nursery rhyme tunes.

It is astonishing to discover she has never had formal music lessons, as she strums the guitar and tinkers on the piano with ease. There is a relaxing quality in her whimsical lyrics and delightful melodies, which reflects the artist herself. So relaxed, she forgot to enter the Telstra Road to Discovery competition until the night before, she says, flashing a compelling smile.

She modestly admits she is still learning, and

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encourages other young artists to follow their passion, whatever that may be.

“It’s ok to make mistakes,” she muses.

Soak up Mia’s soulful sound at sunset at Rococo’s restaurant on Hastings Street, Noosa Heads every Tuesday from 6pm – 9pm. She also has a regular gig at Sunshine Beach Surf Club on the first Thursday of each month. To check out some of Mia’s tracks, head to her website http://www.miawray.com

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LANTERN PARADE

jackevansboatharbour photos by debbie coppen and terry english

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Bleach* Surfing the Fringe is readying for debut, and its momentum is startling. The surf culture festival will celebrate all art forms that reflect the Gold Coast’s most intrinsic assets – the beach, the waves, and the people that ride them – with an eye-popping array of art, music, food, film, photography, theatre, talks and fashion events scattered across the coast.

Already shaping up to be the largest art festival in size and scope ever held on the Gold Coast, the core schedule for Bleach* will take place over 16 days in February and liberally smother the Southern Gold Coast’s iconic beaches and venues with a healthy dose of surf culture. Pop Up galleries in shipping containers, mobile music truck concerts and outdoor surf

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cinema nights will be accompanied by a series of indoor performances and installations, including the local launch of Gold Spaces, and initiative that will reclaim unutilized shop fronts and allow groups of individuals to transform them into temporary galleries.

Bleach* surfing theme couldn’t be more apt for this part of the world. Surfing is more than a sport, it’s an art form in itself, and its influence permeates the creative pursuits of all who appreciate it.

Surfing inspires creativity across a wide range of art forms, and while many news outlets talk of a ‘brain drain’ of talented professionals departing Australia’s towns and cities to seek greener offshore pastures, surfing is the honey that attracts

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some of the world’s best creative types to our golden Gold Coast beaches.

Sure, we may be better known for major surf events and can claim more world tour surfers than anywhere else on the planet, but as Bleach* will demonstrate many of the sport’s most celebrated photographers, designers and filmmakers also call the coast home, and just as many songwriters write tunes and artists first put brush to canvas after being inspired by our waves and envious laidback lifestyle. Be all beachy and arty is what we’re good at - like really, really good at.

So much so that Louise Bezzina, Artistic Director of Bleach* and Creative Producer Events and Festivals at Connecting Southern Gold Coast, is surprised something

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similar hasn’t been done here before. “Despite the Gold Coast being home to many of the world’s most iconic surf breaks, it will be the first time that the Gold Coast has hosted a major festival that explores the creative side of surf culture.”

All Bleach* exhibits have been hand picked to ensure a standard of workmanship that will impress. Prior to Bleach* Bezzina held a range of high profile arts positions including Managing Producer for MAPS for Artists for Metro Arts, Program Manager for the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Producer at the Brisbane Festival, Director of Mackay Festival of Arts, and directed various works.

Familiar with what it takes to operate a successful arts festival, Bezzina is certain

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Bleach* will astound attendees. “We’re delighted with the depth of artistic talent we’ve brought together for Bleach*– it’s going to be world class.”

While the national and international surfing fraternity hit town for the Breaka Burleigh Pro, Kirra Teams Challenge and Quiksilver and Roxy Pro events, Bleach* Surfing the Fringe will encapsulate the Gold Coast’s under-publicised outflow of creativity and highlight the positive aspects of our surf-ingrained culture by boasting a phenomenal volume of locally produced works. Some of the artists exhibiting are already famous in their own right, while others are lesser known. But established or up-and-coming, all artists involved in Bleach* share the common

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bond of being ocean admirers brimming with talent.

The festival will feature over thirty artists and photographers including Ted Grambeau, Joli, Trent Mitchell, Shelli Bankier, Duncan MacFarlane, Sean Scott, Claudio Kirac, Jasson Mackay, Joel Rea, Jenny Midson, Magnus Kennedy, Nick Chalmers, Chryslyn Bruhn, Potts, Yoshi, Jae Copp, Guy Warren, Sasha, David Williams, Ryan Hingle, Brad Payne, Scott Christensen, Narani Henson, Heidi Ledwell, Scott Rottumah, Ophelia Braithwaite, Michael Baker, Jim Davidson, Todd Clare, James McMillan, Stephanie Laine, Darren Love, Otto Schmininger, Dick Hoole, Jack McCoy, Mal Sutherland, Eddie Sawden, Frank Pithers, Martin Tullemans, Richard Harvey,

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Justin Crawford, Peter Crawford, Ryan Heywood, Switchfoot, King Tide, Band of Frequencies, Paper Kites and many more.

Bleach* Surfing the Fringe will take place 11-26 February, 2012.

For more information about Bleach* visit www.bleachfestival.com.au

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3PHOTOGRAP 28

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Written by Liana Turner Photos by Roxy Coppen Three local photographers of the Tweed-Byron region collaborated last month for the 3Photography exhibition, which was aimed at raising money for Tweed Byron Cancer Care. The exhibition, held in the Dawes Pavilion at the Murwillumbah Showgrounds, included the donated works of Trevor Worden, Tristam Evison and Justin Ealand, was a triumphant follow-up of last year’s inaugural exhibition – which was a great success with 90% of the artworks selling within the first hour. This year’s exhibition had an equally – if not more – positive reaction from the community, with over six thousand dollars raised on the opening night. The trio

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stepped up this year, with the introduction of framing on all the prints, and an increase in the number of works included in the exhibition – 60 compared to last year’s 40 works. The 3Photography exhibition is a perfect example of a sense of selflessness within the art world; Tweed Byron Cancer Care will feel the benefit of all proceeds from the stunning photographs.

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********************************* After the huge success last time, Mvmnt, Warrant Promotions and Mannequin Republic have teamed up again to bring another zoo show to Brisbane on Thursday December 15th.

Headlining the night is STREAMER BENDY, who are 5 guys and a girl making waves with their bitchin combination of rock, pop and dance. Guaranteed the most entertaining performance you’ll see all year! They’re even fresh off a US tour with The Veronicas, and will bringing along their mates ADVENTURE LAND too.

Also on the lineup we have FINDERS KEEPERS, who ripped it up last time they played at The Zoo and keen to come back and melt some more faces and getting it started we have newcomers WILLOWS to kick the night off with some good old fashioned rock. Tickets are only $10 presale through oztix or $12 on the door.

For more information and ticket information check out: https://www.facebook.com/warrantpromo https://www.facebook.com/mvmntgroup https://www.facebook.com/streamerbendy https://www.facebook.com/adventurelandband https://www.facebook.com/finderskeepersmusics https://www.facebook.com/Willowsmusic

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Unravelling As It Seams liana turner

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Sometimes it can be difficult to appreciate what an impact the little things in life make.

Your grandfather’s favourite armchair, or that incense your mum used to use – it all adds up to an unfathomably deep pool of memory, where the furthest expanses are only reached on the odd occasion. Dale Collier explores this mystical world of memory associated with objects and experiences in his exhibition, “Unravelling As It Seams”.

The exhibition, which opened at Comb Artspace in Coolangatta on Friday 2nd December, “draws from both personal and distant memories, cultural memories and ancestry,” says Collier, “and looks as the way people interact with objects and draw memories from those interactions.” The work is intended to “bring back memories of conversations, experiences and loved ones.” Collier utilises everyday objects which exemplify nostalgic recollections of workingclass life, from slide cameras and old televisions to boxing gloves and newspaper clippings. With a nod towards the cycle of fashions and their inevitable obsolescence, Collier delves into the ideologies behind the recovery of distant wistful memories.

The exhibition, which is Collier’s first ever solo show, reinforces the notion that

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art is about a lot more than pictures on a wall – more than the judicial selection of colour and tone, texture and composition. Indubitably, art is all of those things, but it’s also an experience, unique to each individual who stumbles across it. The easily recognisable domestic symbols make it “far easier for the audience to grasp their own memories,” says Collier.

Parallel projections portray a sense of reflection upon the self and identity, while scratchy radio-like recordings murmur gently across the room. The congregation of idyllic domestic objects across the gallery lend an alluring feel, whilst the room itself creates a heightened sense of homeliness. An eerie exhilaration permeates from the hustle of gallery-goes, sprawled across the footpath along with the peripheries of the artwork. The exhibition, supported and funded by Youth Arts Queensland, is an exciting step forward for the young artist, who says “it’s been very exciting – making this all come together, and the guys at Comb have been really great”. More of Dale’s work can be seen at www. dalecollier.com.

The exhibition, which is Collier’s first ever solo show, reinforces the notion that art is about a lot more than pictures on a wall – more than the judicial selection of

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colour and tone, texture and composition. Indubitably, art is all of those things, but it’s also an experience, unique to each individual who stumbles across it. The easily recognisable domestic symbols make it “far easier for the audience to grasp their own memories,” says Collier.

Parallel projections portray a sense of reflection upon the self and identity, while scratchy radio-like recordings murmur gently across the room. The congregation of idyllic domestic objects across the gallery lend an alluring feel, whilst the room itself creates a heightened sense of homeliness. An eerie exhilaration permeates from the hustle of gallery-goes, sprawled across the footpath along with the peripheries of the artwork. The exhibition, supported and funded by Youth Arts Queensland, is an exciting step forward for the young artist, who says “it’s been very exciting – making this all come together, and the guys at Comb have been really great”. More of Dale’s work can be seen at www.dalecollier.com.

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Kirra Kite Festival

photos by: debbie coppen and terry english

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greennation In a year when climate change and the environment have held high priority on the national agenda it comes as no surprise that we see Artisan showcasing the exhibition Green Nation.

Green Nation: an exhibition of living art, craft and design considers our everyday interaction with nature in the space of the home.

This exhibition is a refreshing approach to our relationship with nature; rather than the rift that we have seen in the debates concerning how humankind has negatively impacted the environment, Green Nation seeks to reconcile humankind with nature, to explore the lived relationship we have with the environment and emphasize sustainable living.

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jayden windsor

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The exhibition includes pieces by Another Studio For Design, Eliza Donald, Christian Duell, Donna Franklin and Gary Cass, Janet Lawrence, Richard Neville, La Chanh Nguyen, David Nicholson, Claire Poppi, and Nicole Voevodin-Cash. In each of the works, the various designers and artists have been acutely aware of the importance of integration of plants and design by seamlessly merging nature with everyday items. The greenery of these the various pieces function to create a dash of lush colour and shows up well against the polished timber floorboards of the gallery.

The suggestion of sustainable living is not only in the end products of the art and crafts, but also in the process of their construction. Clair Poppi’s silver pieces are not only made from recycled sterling silver, but she is also conscious of sustainable practices in the jewelry making process. Each of the pieces in the Green Nation exhibition are a curiosity and range from the miniature postcard gardens by Another Studio For Design to the larger configuration of contemporary bonsai, the edible sphere vegitable garden, or the Carpette room by Nicole Voevodin-Cash.

I have visited this exhibition twice and each experience was remarkably different. The first time I attended was the opening night which had a very good turnout. This created a great atmosphere. However, it also proved to be difficult to move around to see the works. Consequently didn’t stay too long. My second visit was much more enjoyable. I went on quite Friday afternoon and had the gallery to myself.

It was on my second visit that I realized I must have seen more than I first supposed. What was most noticeable

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Growing Bangle on my second visit which I would not have picked up if I had only visited once was how the works had changed.

The smaller pieces by Claire Poppi such as Growing Bangle, which were first neat tame little sprouts contained in the sterling silver jewelry were now out growing and taking over the jewelry. Green Nation is a living exhibition, seeing how the exhibition has changed gives that same rewarding feeling of each day walking out to the vegetable,

Nicole Voevodin - Cash Flourish

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or watering the plants in to garden to see how they are progressing.

Green Nation: an exhibition of living art, craft and design is an exhibition with a conscience for the environment.

It is full of lush green colour, curiosity, and reconciles humankind with nature in the space of the home. The exhibition runs until the 21st December 2011.

Edible Island Planters

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