SHIBUI Issue 2 by SHIBUI & Co.

on the radar

tunisia from rwanda & ghana to New york city snap to it

culture

Jesse Lindemann

craftsmanship

global connection

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S H I B U I HELLO

SHARE THE SHIBUI SPIRIT Welcome to our second edition of SHIBUI Issue! Our journey has only just begun, but the vision we share is a mighty one and we hope you journey with us from the get-go. S H I B U I & Co. curates tales told through artisans and photographers from around the globe, publishing aspirational stories that enrich travel experiences and support traditional craftspeople and their communities. We believe in a deeper cause, inspiring wanderlust over global uncertainty, and a greater sense of cultural understanding and connection. Our SHIBUI spirits are humbled by the calibre of talents in the pages that follow. Sharing these stories is soul-inspiring and we hope you enjoy the storytelling as much as we do.

and

S H I B U I & Co. est. JuLY 2017 S H I B U I Issue is a bi-monthly online publication published BY S H I B U I & Co. We would like to THANK the following PEOPLE for their support, TIME and contribution WITH this EDITION. Meran SALSKI, Jordan Eastway, Moacir Zeledon, SKYE BRABY and SUPPORTERS. co-founder / curator / OPERATIONS KARINA EASTWAY co-founder / curator / creative BRISEIS ONFRAY PROOFREADER Meran SALSKI ALL eNQUIRIES hello@shibuiandco.com SUBScRIBE to the shibui tribe shibuiandco.com Â©copyright 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

THIS PHOTO was taken by one of our SHIBUI Roamers Jordan Eastway while on a recent trip to Nepal to assist with rebuilding following the 2015 earthquakes.

HELLO S H I B U I

CONTENTS

SHIBUI. A JAPANESE WORD USED TO DESCRIBE AN UNDERSTATED, CLASSIC KINDA COOL. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AN ENRICHED BEAUTY ACHIEVED THOUGH MINIMALISM AND PURPOSE RATHER THAN ADORNMENT AND EXTRAVAGANCE. ITS VALUE MUST BE DISCOVERED AND UNDERSTOOD RATHER THAN BOUGHT OR WON.

S H I B U I CONTENTS

MEET THE MAKER

WORLDLY TREASURES

4. RWANDA, GHANA & NEW YORK CITY A beautiful partnership, designed in New York and handmade in Africa. 10. TUNISIA Meet the creative blending Tunisian traditions with modern design.

27. CULTURE COLLECTIVE Travelling out of reach? These artisan treasures will bring the world to you.

SNAP TO IT

30. AUSTRALIA Sandra Tyson’s change in career results in stunning, textual ceramics. 36. USA Art of Aloha.

14. Snapping his way around the globe, JESSE LINDEMANN shares his favourite pics and tips.

DESTINATION DESIGNER

22. USA One of the world’s oldest forms of printing still looking swell.

MODERN MAKER

DIRECTORY 41. Find our SHIBUI makers, photographers and designers here.

COVER IMAGE Sandra Tyson, All Fired Up Pottery (page 30). THIS PAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Gothic Quarter, Barcelona, Spain, snapped by the sharp lens of Australian photographer Jesse Lindemann, Australia (page 14); Old-school print-making is back. Destination designer Britt Rohr is stamping her own style across Califonia and beyond (page 22); Australian ceramicist Sandra Tyson brings nature into functional design (page 30).

CONTENTS S H I B U I

MEET THE MAKER

handin-hand curator BRISEIS ONFRAY THE makerS Indego Africa and their artisan partners interview with Deirdre King (Creative Director, Indego Africa) PHOTOs Brittany Barb (Marketing & Brand Manager, INDEGO AFRICA) COUNTRIES ghana, RWANDA and the USA

Indegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s artisan partners show off their finished products at Imirasire Cooperative in Rwanda.

S H I B U I MEET THE MAKER

DESIGNED IN NEW YORK CITY AND HAND-MADE WITH LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE, THESE ARTISANS OF RWANDA AND GHANA ARE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE TEAM AT INDEGO AFRICA TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL LIFESTYLE RANGE, THAT IN RETURN IS HELPING TO SUSTAIN THEIR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND CULTURAL CRAFTSMANSHIP.

indego africa S H I B U I

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Sweetgrass bundles ready to be woven into baskets at Covanya Cooperative in Rwanda; Rwanda -“the land of a thousand hills”; One of Indego’s artisan partners and Vocational Training students weaving a basket at Josepha Cooperative in Rwanda.

S H I B U I MEET THE MAKER

HOW, WHEN AND WHY DID THE INDEGO AFRICA (IA) VISION BEGIN? Indego Africa was founded in 2007 with a simple idea: empower women artisans in Africa by showcasing their beautiful craft and investing in the power of education. Since our founding, Indego’s mission has always been to help artisans lift themselves and their families out of poverty and become empowered businesswomen. We team up with groups of women in Rwanda and Ghana to sell products that are designed in New York City and handmade in Africa – using traditional techniques, local materials, and genuine artisanal skill. All 100% of Indego’s profits, along with donations, are invested into business, entrepreneurship, and technology education programs for the artisans who handcraft our products.

AS THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF IA, IT MUST BE AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE TO BE COLLABORATING WITH THESE WONDERFUL AFRICAN COMMUNITIES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING WITH THESE LOCALS? I love how collaborative the process is. These groups of artisans look to us for market and business opportunities, and we look to them for production and a chance to show the world their exceptional artistry and craftsmanship. Seeing how much dedication to and passion for craft they have is so inspiring to me. It helps shape the vision of our brand in the best possible way. I also love how, as partners, we’ve been able to grow together. I started at Indego Africa six years ago, when many of our partners were also just forming their businesses. Looking back, I feel like we were all babies in this journey! We’ve worked through >

indego africa S H I B U I

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INDEGO AFRICA IS A GLOBAL TEAM THAT TRULY PRIDES ITSELF ON MAINTAINING A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE AND A CONNECTED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARTISANS WE WORK WITH. OUR ARTISAN PARTNERS SHARE OUR PASSION FOR EDUCATION, ARTISTRY, AND THE FUTURE OF THEIR COUNTRY, AND IT’S A COMMON BOND THAT CONNECTS US AS PARTNERS.

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DEIRDRE KING

S H I B U I MEET THE MAKER

cultural challenges, business-related bumps in the road, collaborative successes, (epic) failures and, most importantly, we’ve experienced moments of incredible joy, growth, empowerment and pride — all together as partners. I consider the commitment of these women to our shared mission to be the most essential element to the success of our company. I love building this brand together, hand-in-hand with them. WHERE DOES THE CREATIVE DIRECTION FOR AN IA COLLECTION BEGIN? The design process looks different for every product but always has the same creative spin behind it. The first thing it always starts with is the artisan element itself. What can our partners make with the skills and materials they have? What will be a good fit for our brand aesthetically and will it showcase their artistry? Whenever I’m seeking—or seeing—inspiration, these are the parameters front and center in my brain. From there, I focus on using colour and pattern to tell a story but also showcasing the power of texture through neutrals. I want our products to feel happy, well made, and to evoke a casual chic design element. We sell home goods, baby and kids’ décor and apparel, women’s accessories, art and objects, but we always make sure our product line feels cohesive and comprehensive. What are the designs that would be able to tick all these boxes while also following trends in the markets we serve? The design process can feel sort of like a puzzle sometimes, and that’s before we even start sampling! Once we have an idea that will work, I communicate with our production teams in Rwanda and Ghana, who then sit down and work with the

LEFT Deirdre learning how to weave banana leaf from one of Indego’s artisan partners at Twiyubake Cooperative in Rwanda.

artisans to see if the piece can come to life the way we want through a traditional sampling process. From there, we review, redesign, and resample. Then within a few weeks, months, or seasons, we have a new product. It is my favorite part of the job to be a part of this global design process. IS THERE AN INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT YOU WISH TO SHARE? I have had so many favorite moments working with the artisans over the years but one thing that truly stands out for me is seeing their level of dedication and passion for artistry come through in the products we sell. Our artisan partners are incredibly hardworking and talented, and it is inspiring to see the beautiful products that come from their work and commitment. Indego continues to play a transformational role in the lives of so many women and we are lucky to be a part of something so special and unique! WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY? Rwanda will always have a special place in my heart. Not only is the country beautiful, the history rich and thought provoking, the people friendly, kind and lively, but the atmosphere is one of hope and enthusiasm for collaboration, hard work, and innovation. On top of that, there is so much development and newness happening there — each visit is like the first time in the best way. I am so proud to work with and in Rwanda and I think it is truly a beautiful country, on so many levels and in so many ways. SHIBUI & Co. would like to thank Indego Africa and their artisan partners for sharing their story with us.

indegoafrica.org instagram.com/indego_africa/

indego africa S H I B U I

MEET THE MAKER

RICH IN HISTORY curator KARINA EASTWAY INTERVIEW WITH ESSIA CHALOUEH PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED by ESSIA CHALOUEH SUPPORTING TUNISAN ARTISANS COUNTRY tunisia

S H I B U I MEET THE MAKER

TUNISIAN LOCAL ESSIA CHALOUEH DESIGNS CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE AND HOMEWARES WHICH ARE HANDCRAFTED USING CUMULATED HERITAGE, TRADITIONAL METHODS AND NATURAL MATERIALS. WHERE ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY AND WHERE ARE YOU BASED NOW? I’m from Bizerte, a city in North Tunisia, and I’m currently living in Tunis, the capital city. HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS THE AMAZING WORK OF THE TUNISIAN CRAFTSWOMEN?

went through the country as well as the people who have perpetuated its brightness throughout times. Today, the Tunisian heritage has the print of each one of them whether they are Numidians, Romans, Carthaginians or Arab Muslims.

Sometimes I find about good craftswomen by word of mouth.

Cumulated traditions, manual dexterity and creative intelligence are based on and blended with the handicraft product be it utilitarian or decorative, traditional or modern. It has a strong presence in everyday life.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT TUNISIAN CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND CRAFT – THEIR DESIGNS AND HISTORICAL INFLUENCES ETC?

WHAT MATERIALS DO YOUR ARTISANS WORK WITH AND ARE THE DESIGNS TYPICAL TO TUNISIA OR DO THEY HAVE A MODERN TWIST?

The Tunisian cultural tradition is rich with the different civilisations that

Generally, my artisans use natural materials from animal fibres such as >

I’ve met the talented craftswomen during my visits to the crafts villages, cities and villages markets and also during trade fairs of artisan creations.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Tunisian-inspired collection; Essia Chaloueh.

Essia Chaloueh S H I B U I

S H I B U I MEET THE MAKER

CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT Traditional weaving methods used in Essia’s contemporary design; hand-stitched vegan leather stool with redwood; Tunisian craftswomen at work. Tunisia is particularly steeped in artisan history with influences from Numidians, Romans, Carthaginians and Arab Muslims.

wool, animal hair and leather, plant fibres, or wood such as Tunisian olive tree wood. In my designs, I play on the combination of different Tunisian materials and textures. Then I have them woven by artisans to design my beanbags, stools, or cushions, blending the traditional authenticity of the artisans with a resolutely contemporary style. HOW DOES YOUR WORK WITH POUFFY DESIGNS BENEFIT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN TUNISIA? I collaborate with talented artisans spread all over Tunisia. Every region is renowned for the know-how of its artisans, for instance, the regions of Sidi Bouzid and Kasserine are specialists in traditional wool weaving. Through our activity we’ve created direct and indirect jobs with the collaboration of rural artisan women. CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW REWARDING THAT EXPERIENCE IS FOR YOU AS A BUSINESSWOMAN? My experience led me to learn a great deal through my

acquaintances, the meetings, collaboration, exchange of experiences and know-how. Patience and passion are the words that best characterize my approach and my personal work. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO VISIT IN TUNISIA? Every single region in Tunisia has its appeal and history. I really love Sidi Bou Said, Djerba and Hammamet. TOP TRAVEL TIP IN THE REGION? Travellers should explore historical monuments, as an experience it is extremely enriching. And more importantly, taste the Tunisian dishes and traditional sweets, a real delight. WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU WORKING ON FOR THE FUTURE? The passion that drives me in my work, always urges me to progress and go forward to explore new international markets and to promote our expertise as well as Tunisian handicrafts.

pouffy.tn. facebook.com/Pouffy.tn instagram.com/Pouffy.tn/

Essia Chaloueh S H I B U I

snap to it

CAPTURE ME IF YOU CAN

curator BRISEIS ONFRAY photographer Jesse Lindemann COUNTRIES GLOBAL

S H I B U I snap to it

WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS ARE ON A HIGH AND THE CONCEPT OF REMOTE WORK IS NOW COMMONPLACE, JESSE LINDEMANN HAS HIS DREAM GIG TOTALLY COVERED.

Jesse Lindemann S H I B U I

S H I B U I SNAP TO IT

PREVIOUS PAGE Antelope Canyon, AZ, USA. CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW Happy snapper Jesse Lindemann; Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia; Snowmobiling on a glacier, Iceland; Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.

WHEREABOUTS ARE YOU BASED NOW? Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. YOU HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE IMAGE LIBRARY. WHEN DID YOU START WANDERING THE GLOBE AS A PHOTOGRAPHER? While my wife and I were living in London for a couple of years we travelled to Europe a lot and ultimately decided we wanted to travel full time. So, we started an online business and I decided to make my passion for photography more than just a hobby. FROM ICELAND TO MOROCCO AND MANY CITIES BETWEEN, WHAT IS YOUR ‘STAND-OUT’ DESTINATION SHOOT (SO FAR)? I would probably have to say photographing the annual Correfoc (Fire Run) in Barcelona in 2015 that was ultimately featured by Lonely Planet. The atmosphere was electric and between the light, movement and flying sparks, it was technically a very difficult shoot but one that I really enjoyed.

HOW DID THE TRAVEL BUG BECOME A FULL TIME DREAM GIG? From a standing start, we knew that travel photography and social media were going to be a longer-term play but needed to give ourselves the opportunity to travel a lot while still earning an income. So, we started an online business that lets us do just that and as a consequence of being able to travel regularly, we are able to constantly be taking on opportunities and generating new and interesting content. My photography has really just grown as a consequence of travelling all the time. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH DESTINATION TO GO NEXT? We have a bit of a bucket list and despite having been to over 40 countries, there’s still lots of places we’ve not experienced. We love places that offer a combination of unique cultural experiences, great food and beautiful scenery.

Jesse Lindemann S H I B U I

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Castellers (Human Towers) of La Merce Festival, Barcelona, Spain; Maasai Mara, Kenya; Correfoc (Fire Run), Barcelona, Spain (as featured in Lonely Planet).

S H I B U I SNAP TO IT

Jesse Lindemann S H I B U I

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Sydney Harbour Bridge from Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia; Tower Bridge, London, England; Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA.

S H I B U I SNAP TO IT

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MY PHOTOGRAPHY HAS REALLY JUST GROWN AS A CONSEQUENCE OF TRAVELLING ALL THE TIME. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SUBJECT MATTER OR PLACE? It’s always been about travel photography but while I started shooting mostly cities and urban content, having moved to the beach I’ve recently found myself gravitating more toward nature and more adventure and outdoor-type content. WHAT CAMERA/S DO YOU SHOOT WITH? I mostly shoot with a Canon 6D. I also use the DJI Mavic Pro drone, a GoPro for underwater content and a Sony A6000 for video.

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JESSE LINDEMANN

TOP PHOTOGRAPHY TIP FOR THE BEGINNERS? Find someone’s style that you love and work hard to understand all the technical aspects of what is required to reproduce similar content: light, colour, composition, post production, etc. Once you’ve learned the ‘how’, you can focus on creating your own unique style and applying it to subjects that inspire you. WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO TRAVEL? The need to constantly challenge my view of the world and my perspective on pretty much everything. meandmytravelbugs.com instagram.com/photobohemian/

Jesse Lindemann S H I B U I

Destination Designer

making an impression curator KARINA EASTWAY THE MAKER Britt ROhr PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED by Britt ROhr COUNTRY USA

BRITT ROHR’S IN LOVE WITH CALIFORNIA: THE COLOURS OF THE OCEAN, THE VIBRANT SUNSETS AND A VERY OLD TRADITION CALLED LETTERPRESS. WE UNCOVER THE PASSION BEHIND HER PAPER OBSESSION, AS WELL AS TOP TIPS FOR VISITING LA. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU – WHERE ARE YOU BASED AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY? I’m based in Southern California – my studio is in Hawthorne, I live in Manhattan Beach. I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia. I moved to LA quickly after college – promised myself I’d make it at least two years – and it’s been 10. I’m so over the moon in love with California. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE TRADITIONAL ART OF LETTERPRESS FOR OUR READERS? Letterpress is one of the oldest types of printing. It’s where type or a plate is inked by rollers and the design is literally pressed into the paper. Each piece of paper is individually fed

S H I B U I DESTINATION DESIGNER

into the press, and only one color can be processed at a time. It’s a painstakingly laborious but beautiful process. WAS LETTERPRESS SOMETHING YOU’D ALWAYS WANTED TO DO OR DID YOU FALL INTO IT BY ACCIDENT? I never specifically wanted to do letterpress, but I did always find it fulfilling to make pretty things. I found a piece of letterpress stationery once and had no idea what it was – it was just so tactile and beautiful. Once I identified that it was letterpress, I set out to find a studio with classes. I didn’t intend to start a career by taking that lesson – but I immediately fell in love with it… and here I am.

WHERE DID THE NAME SWELL PRESS COME FROM – KEEN SURFER BY ANY CHANCE? I wish I could surf, and take credit for the name, but neither are true. Four years ago I was having a hard time picking a name for my little hobby, and at the time I was running my business out of our garage in Manhattan Beach. Manhattan Beach is an adorable surfing town – so my husband thought to name it Swell Press, as in an ocean swell. I spend a lot of time explaining to people >

Britt ROhr S H I B U I

that no, it’s not swell like ‘Gee, that’s swell’. It’s swell because I’m so inspired by the ocean we’re lucky enough to live next to. THE LETTERPRESS PROCESS INVOLVES A LOT OF DIFFERENT SKILLS FROM CREATING THE INITIAL DESIGN THOUGH TO MIXING INKS, PRINTING AND CUTTING… WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART? Oh boy. I love the design phase – my favorite is when a client lets me go wild without a ton of instruction – I find that’s when I do my best work. But still until this day, very few things beat feeling the paper get that deep impression from the press.

S H I B U I DESTINATION DESIGNER

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS AND VERY RECOGNIZABLE STYLE? My mind is always buzzing at capacity because I find inspiration everywhere. Most obvious would be the beach – the blues and the greens of the oceans, the vibrancy of the sunsets. DO YOU OFTEN COLLABORATE WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CALLIGRAPHERS OR DO YOU LOOK AFTER THAT SIDE OF THINGS YOURSELF? I collaborate with a bunch of super talented calligraphers, most I’m still pinching myself that I get to work with. When I work with calligraphers, typically I’ll send them the words I need written, with a rough idea of

style and layout, and let them do their magic. I then take their beautiful work and import it into my designs. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER MEDIUM YOU’D LIKE TO EXPERIMENT WITH IN THE FUTURE, OR IS PAPER ‘IT’ FOR YOU? I want to experiment with everything, it’s exhausting. I have printed on leather before, and I loved it. It takes a very particular type of leather to accept the impression from the press. I’ll try to print on anything I can… I recently played around with duplicating a marble texture and that was a ton of fun. I’ve also experimented with vinyl and screen printing on acrylic, which was a ton of fun. I’ve also designed for laser cut acrylic, which was awesome. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR STUDIO AND CREATIVE WORKSHOPS? The studio is an open space in both layout and potential. There’s a decent amount of room to play around with mediums or projects. Square footage is hard to come by in this part of town, so I feel so lucky that I get to have enough space for almost anything I want to do. We’ve got three vintage printing presses, two giant paper cutters, and a variety of non-letterpress art materials

as well – different kinds of paints, craft materials… and we’re still growing more. We might add another press and a screen printer soon. WHAT’S YOUR ‘MUST DO’ FOR ANYONE VISITING LA AND TOP TRAVEL TIP? Oh my gosh – there is SO much to do in LA, it’s overwhelming! Here’s my idea of a perfect day in SoCal. Have breakfast at Manhattan Beach Post in downtown Manhattan Beach (the bacon cheddar biscuits are a must). Drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu towards the beautiful Temescal Canyon hike. After the hike, drink a well deserved beer and eat delicious fish tacos at Dukes in Malibu. Grab some strawberries from the truck parked off PCH and watch the surfers off the beach. Maybe rent a paddlebaord and give SUPing a shot. Right before sunset, head to Main Street in Venice, walking along the string light lined streets, popping in at boutiques and maybe a restaurant for a cocktail… now that’s a day I’d love to have. A travel tip would be to ask locals for advice, and don’t focus too much on the Hollywood / Walk of Stars tourist traps. The geography of California is so beautiful, the oceans, the hills, the sunsets – that’s where this state will captivate your heart. SWELLPRESSpaper.COM FACEBOOK.COM/SWELLPRESS INSTAGRAM.COM/SWELLPRESS/

Britt ROhr S H I B U I

worldly treasures

culture collective IF TRAVELLING FEELS OUT OF REACH, IMAGINE FARAWAY PLACES WITH THESE ARTISAN TREASURES.

MARRAKECH BASKET (Navy and pink, 8’x 7”) Handmade with heart by Burundian refugees at the Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda. Woven from locally-sourced sweetgrass. RRP 70.00USD, indegoafrica.org

worldly treasures S H I B U I

culture collective continued...

S H I B U I worldly treasures

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE A WELL-CRAFTED HOME by Janet Crowther. Beautifully photographed, with inspiration and 60 projects for interior and outdoor home design using quality materials such as linen, leather and timber. RRP 39.99AUD, penguin.com.au VEGAN LEATHER POUF by Pouffy Designs. 40cm cube, handstitched with double zipper. POA, poufy.tn HANDMADE PLATES by Sandra Tyson. All Fired Up dinner plate RRP 45.00AUD, entrÃ©e plate RRP 35.00AUD (as featured on page 28). 0416 040 901 or instagram. com/allfiredup.pottery or facebook.com/allfiredup MILK MAKEUP COOLING WATER with natural sea minerals and caffeine to cool on contact. RRP 24.00USD, milkmakeup.com

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MODERN MAKER

heart and Soul 30

S H I B U I MODERN MAKER

curator Karina Eastway THE MAKER sandra tyson PHOTOs sandra tyson COUNTRY AUSTRALIA

WHEN SANDRA TYSON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE FORM OF HEART DISEASE, SHE HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD LEAD TO A COMPLETE CHANGE IN CAREER DIRECTION. THE RESULTS ARE STUNNING: UNIQUE, TEXTURAL AND CREATIVE CERAMIC PIECES MADE WITH LOVE.

sandra tyson S H I B U I

S H I B U I MODERN MAKER

Where are you from originally and where are you based now? I was born in New Plymouth, Taranaki, which is a small beachside town on the west coast of the north island of New Zealand. I lived there for 21 years, after which I moved to Victoria and eventually the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. You came to pottery in a very unusual way. Can you tell us a little more about that? I nursed for 29 years in a Neurosurgical Department and at the age of 36 was diagnosed with a rare form of heart disease. Because of its rarity it took around 10 years to diagnose. The diagnosis has been very restrictive and I can no longer exercise. It’s exacerbated by extreme heat or cold. As a result I am in hospital quite regularly. Your style is incredibly unique – was that a direction you wanted to take or did it happen organically? I have always been drawn to anything with texture, anything handmade and quirky. I guess you could say it happened organically.

What’s the thinking behind the rustic quality of your work? Being born in NZ and spending most of my childhood on my friends’ farms and owning a horse, I have always had a love for barns, country style, vintage, antiques; essentially anything rustic. Travelling is also a huge inspiration as I love to collect handmade pieces from the places I visit. I am always on the lookout for textural pieces that I can use on my clay. Even my husband finds pieces for me now. What drew you to pottery and how did you go about learning the art form? It was always on my bucket list to try pottery. I am one of those crafty girls who is always cross stitching, crocheting or dying fabrics! My friends have always teased me and said you are like an old lady, but once I started pottery I was hooked. I also realised that while my mind was actively engaged in pottery, I soon forgot about the possibility of having a heart attack.

sandra tyson S H I B U I

What pieces do you enjoy making the most? I love making bowls, crosses, my frilly plates and pretty much anything with a lot of texture. I love making spoons but believe it or not, as simple as they appear, they are one of the hardest pieces to make. We love your textural style and intricate patterns – where does your inspiration come from? It comes from anything really. Sticks, plants, shells, nature, garage sales, unusual material.… you name it; I see inspiration in it. What’s next on your bucket list? Good question. I would like to write a book about how you can turn a negative into a positive. I often hashtag my Instagram posts with #livingwithheartdisease and post photos of myself in ED. I don’t do

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I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO ANYTHING WITH TEXTURE, ANYTHING HANDMADE AND QUIRKY.

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SANDRA TYSON

this to draw attention to myself but more so to create awareness. I get a lot of feedback and some beautiful messages from people I don’t even know about their own personal battles so I like to think I am helping other people. My heart dictates how much I make and how my day will transpire. I have had a go at the pottery wheel and it’s definitely something I want to master as I am currently focusing on the art of hand building. I also want to do more fabric dyeing as I love using material for my backdrops in my photos. I also used to do wood carving at school so that is something else I would love to have another crack at. I also present regularly at the Gold Coast Hospital and provide clinicians with my journey in dealing with a chronic illness in the form of a speaking workshop, so I would love to continue to motivate people, even though I am very much a fledgling public speaker. My husband and daughter are my biggest supporters and heroes and I also have some beautiful friends who continue to support me and my craft. Words of advice for anyone contemplating a similar change in career direction? I would say go for it. You never know where it can take you. Before you take that leap of faith, read, read, read. And when you’ve read enough, read some more. Also find someone in your chosen field and ask questions. Knowledge is everything. This for me is more of a hobby but I am proud to say that I have lovely people who purchase my work. I still can’t get my head around the fact

that people actually love my quirky, rustic, bespoke pieces. If it doesn’t work out, rest in the knowledge that you have tried and if it does, well good for you. You don’t want to be that person who says, if only I had done that. Handmade seems to be much more appreciated these days and workshops are popping up everywhere which I think is both amazing and exciting. We’re all about travellers discovering local artisans. What’s your favourite place to visit and top travel tip? Good question… I really love the architecture of Italy and Paris and the culture of Japan and New Zealand. My main travel tip would be to ALWAYS keep a travel dairy. They are amazing to look back on for inspiration and ideas. Additionally I’d encourage people to get off the beaten track and explore how the locals live, explore what they create and the inspiration behind their story. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world; everyone has a story. There are so many talented and creative people in the world. The craft in Japan absolutely blew me away, it was a visual and sensory feast in such a good way. To sum it up I would say look, learn, ask and write it down. Oh and don’t forget to take photos. But if you’re taking photos of people’s personal crafts, just make sure you get the owner’s consent. That sort of thing is very important to some people. I take my camera everywhere and I often take photos of the locals doing their thing in their environment. Photography is a passion of mine (although I am far from a professional) but for me, photos hold special memories and tell a great story. facebook/allfiredup instagram.com/allfiredup.pottery/

sandra tyson S H I B U I

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a h o l A

Art Of

curator BRISEIS ONFRAY maker Pamakane Lehua Pico photoS contributed by Pamakane Lehua Pico COUNTRy USA

S H I B U I Modern MAKER

LOVE IS AT THE HEART OF POLYNESIAN TRADITIONS, BUT WHAT CONNECTS THE PACIFIC ISLANDS ACROSS THE OCEAN SO BEAUTIFULLY, IS THE FLOWER CHAIN OF THE ‘LEI’. FLORAL AND LEI ARTIST PAMAKANE LEHUA PICO SHARES THE ALOHA SPIRIT WITH US. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I live on the island of Oahu in Kailua, Hawaii, USA. IS THIS WHERE YOU WERE BORN? IF NOT, WHAT IS YOUR ORIGIN? I am from a small island called Moloka’i, Hawaii (nicknamed ‘The Friendly Isle’). WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE ON FLOWER AND LEI ARTISTRY? I grew up watching my mom make leis and it was a natural thing for me to learn. My mother is an amazing lei artist too. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE YOUR FIRST LEI? For me it is my love of nature and the Hawaiian Aina (lands). There is so much beauty that surrounds us, it was natural for me to be inspired by nature and the vibrant colours of Hawaii.

IS THIS A TRADITIONAL CRAFT THROUGHOUT POLYNESIA, OR HAWAII? WHERE DOES IT ORIGINATE? Yes it is. I am a mixture of Polynesian cultures: Hawaiian, Samoan and Tahitian. These are my ‘Poly roots’, so I feel that my style is a combination of all the cultures. WHERE OR WHO DO YOU DRAW YOUR CREATIVE INSPIRATION FROM? Mother Nature. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL ART FORM. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL TO YOU, AND YOUR CLIENTS? I feel that it’s a connection with our native land and culture that our leis have. When someone sees my leis they automatically see Hawaii in them, and the beautiful colours and exoticness of the leis draw people to them naturally. >

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Polynesian floral traditions are celebrated at every age; Floral and lei artist Pamakane Lehua Pico outside her studio.

Pamakane Lehua Pico S H I B U I

38 S H I B U I

MODERN MAKER

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THE EARTH LAUGHS IN FLOWERS. PAMAKANE LEHUA PICO

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WHAT DOES THE LEI SYMBOLISE TO YOU AND YOUR CULTURE? The lei symbolises the Aloha spirit – the love that we have for the land and our culture. Each flower is woven carefully into a lei like a ‘mele’ (song) and represents the Aloha spirit, as well as the love we put into each lei. It’s very special to receive a lei, because it comes from the heart. WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO WEAR A LEI? ie. CELEBRATION ONLY? I practically wear a lei everyday. There is no rule to wearing a lei, just that you love it and appreciate where it comes from. WHERE DO YOU GATHER YOUR FLOWERS? ARE THEY LOCALLY GROWN (NATIVE)? I try to use as many locally grown flowers as possible. I grow my own flowers to use as well. HOW DOES A TRAVELLER LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CRAFT? We have a weekly class at the Four Seasons Resort at Koolina, every Thursday at 10-1pm. You can learn the art of lei Po’o making.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISAN CULTURE OR TRADITION? I love all of the Polynesian cultures. Each region has a different style but all are similar with the tradition of leis. DO YOU HAVE A MEMORABLE, TRAVELBASED EXPERIENCE TO SHARE? I just got back from a five-week travel venture around Europe and it was amazing! The best thing was that we left our plans open as we went and it worked out so well. We went to eight countries and 17 cities in five weeks! My favourite moment was an Icelandic sunset. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s on my Instagram account. IF YOU COULD BE WORKING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU CHOOSE? There is nothing like home and I am so blessed to be able to work where I do. But, if I could pick somewhere else I would say Switzerland. I was there recently and it was so amazing. Flowers were growing all over the place, which was a dream for me. It is so beautiful there. WHERE DO WE FIND YOU? We have a studio in Kailua but it is not open to the public. We do orders only. We have a Hibiscus Tub that can be rented out for special occasions too. HOW DOES CULTURE, ART OR TRAVEL MAKE YOU FEEL? Culture, art and travel make me feel alive. Instagram.com/ocean_dreamerr/ Facebook.com/oceandreamerflorals

Pamakane Lehua Pico S H I B U I

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