JANUARY 2016 ISSUE #5 LIMITED PRINT EDITION
BONNIE GRAY
REBEKAH KAMSKY PHOTOGRAPHY
SWAMP TO SAHARA
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WWW.THEEYECREATIVE.COM
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SUPPORTING | AUSTRALIAN | CREATIVES THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 3
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WE DEDICATE THIS ISSUE TO ALL CREATIVES PAVING THE WAY TO BECOME THEIR OWN VERSION OF ‘SUPERHUMAN’. On Sunday 10th January the world lost its Starman, its Hero, David Bowie; an icon, an inspiration, a genius. He didn’t just set the musical world on fire, he set the creative world on fire. From his flamboyant outings as alter ego Ziggy Stardust, he challenged norms and shattered preconceptions while staying true to his art and passions, and has paved the way for many creatives to flourish in his wake. May his spirit live on forever. - Amy Farnworth
David Bowie 1947 - 2016 “I suppose for me as an artist it wasn’t always just about expressing my work; I really wanted, more than anything else, to contribute in some way to the culture that I was living in. It just seemed like a challenge to move it a little bit towards the way I thought it might be interesting to go.”
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44.
Swamp to Sahara
22.
Bonnie Gray
14.
Aden McLeod
CONTENTS 50.
Alexia Brehas
12.
Staff Picks!
32.
Rebekah Kamsky THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 6
BRANDING hello@eclecticcreative.com.au
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INTERIORS & STYLING | P H OTO G R A P H Y THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 7 www.eclecticcreative.com.au eclecticcreativestudio jess_eclecticcreative
CHATTY CHAT CHAT The whole world was shaken this month with the loss of the late and great David Bowie. Through mourning his loss & listening back through an extensive playlist of his beautiful tunes, I thought about just how far a creative soul can travel in such a short amount of time. I mean, 69 years is not a lot of time considering how many people’s lives were touched and changed by his presence in our world. Bowie paved the way for individuality in such a powerful way using his creativity, and seemed to know exactly what wavelength everyone was on around him, but seemed never to place boundaries on his own life. To me, Bowie was (and still is), the ultimate persona of that saying; ‘bursting through the glass-ceiling’. There are so many of us trying to pave our way in this world as creatives. We are trying our hardest to get out there, to show people what we can do; to change lives, minds and lives...and you know what? No one tells you how difficult it actually is. No one tells you how hard it is to drop your ‘normal’ job and dive straight into your dreams. No one tells you how exhausting it is to spend every moment of the day and night thinking and dreaming about your next movement, your next product,
ON THE COVER
Photographer: Rebekah Kamsky pg. 32 Model: Sara Tansy
your ever-changing market and diminishing bank balance. They also don’t tell you how f**king amazing it is when the project you’ve been working so hard on for the past eight to nine months, suddenly is sitting in your small hands looking quite big and magical. The team and I struggled through deadlines this month (also missed those deadlines), recreated the layouts for the 6,475th time, fought with the printer for days (literally), had excessive doubt about the whole project and encountered major money issues (sorry Mr. Westpac). In the end though, after a little belief, more than a few hundred coffees and plenty of wine, a bunch of pick-me-up-tunes and a little help from our inspiring creative friends, this little engine that could – actually DID! *Cue applause* So what I’m trying to say in the most round-about way possible, is that maybe we’re all alike; Bowie, you, me. Maybe, all it takes is courage to climb that Mount Everest of creativity, even if you have to trek through pelting rain, mud, snow storms and every shitty little obstacle the universe can throw at you. Because in the end, the reality is that we all have the potential to be our own version of superhuman. OK yes, there is a chance that we can’t all be a bright, shining light in the sky along with our good mate Bowie with a legacy of brilliance trailing back to earth... but who says we can’t try?
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EDITOR & FOUNDER Samii Lund
samii@theeyecreative.com
ADVERTISE WITH THE EYE CREATIVE info@theeyecreative.com
GENERAL ENQUIRIES info@theeyecreative.com
SUBMISSIONS The Eye Creative accepts freelance art, photo and story submissions from creatives around Australia. We may not be able to reply personally to each individual that is unsuccessful, however we will keep your work and story on file for upcoming issues or opportunities. To submit, please fill out the form online at www.theeyecreative.com
JANUARY ISSUE PUBLISHED JANUARY 2016. THE EYE CREATIVE PUBLISHER: BLURB
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SAMII
AMY
SAMII LUND FOUNDER, EDITOR, NET WORK MANAGER
AMY FARNWORTH CREATIVE MANAGER, WRITER
DESCRIBE YOURSELF.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF.
I’m a caffeine driven, creative-minded gypsy that can’t sit still for more than 10mins without needing a nap. I have ten billion things running through my mind all at once and the only thing that can stop it from its own chaos is that glorious moment when I take the first sip of coffee in the morning. I live for that moment. I get a kick out of people falling over (cruel I know, but I can’t help but giggle), I love myself a mango, the beach and laneway cafe’s in my hometown of Melbourne.
WHY IS THE EYE CREATIVE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
This is like someone asking me why I drink coffee. My answer would be somewhat similar. Without it, I’m a mess. I can’t function without it... It’s my life source; it’s my oxygen. It keeps my blood pumping and my imagination circulating. Through The Eye, I can network with the creative community on a professional basis and gain insight into their businesses and goals. It’s fulfilling and inspiring, and I often cry when I read the teams articles; either with laughter or because the stories tug at my heartstrings. However brilliant it is to immerse myself in the creativity, The Eye is also my answer to the question “Samii, what are you doing with your life?” (I tend to get asked this a LOT as I am 26, single and somewhat expected to ‘adult’ properly.) It’s a great feeling watching their faces go from arrogant to impressed when they view it. (I’ve got this adulting thing in the bag.)
On first impressions I’m aware I can come across as bold, brash, confident with an air of arrogance, and fiercely opinionated (some have even said I have ‘resting bitch-face’. I beg to differ). However, I’m a bit like an onion; peel away the layers and there’s more to me than meets the eye. I’m strong-willed and independent. I’m borderline reliant on alcohol and caffeine to see me through any day of the week that ends in D.A.Y and I’m a self-confessed fitness freak who’s not afraid to stuff my face with chocolate. I’m a bit of a perfectionist which is probably why I’m critical of my abilities and I’m a slight music and film Nazi, with a love of The Beatles, Tarantino, and anything to do with the Rocky or Godfather films. Some people might call me a little crazy, but hey, being normal is boring, right...?
WHY IS THE EYE CREATIVE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
I like to think karma, luck, destiny and the cosmos were on my side the day I stumbled across The Eye Creative. Being involved with this publication is like a dream come true, it’s as if all my birthdays and Christmasses have come at once and I’m not afraid to say that I think I’ve found my ideal job, my calling in life: my vocation. Discovering new talent, seeking out and promoting wonderful creatives and being able to develop my own creativity in the process is exciting and exhilarating and I want it to continue for as long as possible!
www.chasingamylou.com
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JO
CHRISTIAN
JO NIXON ART DIRECTOR/ PHOTOGRAPHER/ ILLUSTRATOR
CHRISTIAN GABRIEL WRITER
DESCRIBE YOURSELF.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF.
Day (and midnight) dreamer, nutrition enthusiast, photographer come illustrator. A lover of rivers, jewels, ivy, space, hearty chit chats, Mexican and all things smokey (mmm smoked paprika)!
5 THINGS YOU CAN’T WITHOUT: 1. A good dose sun and nature 2. Chocolate (prefer the dark shit) 3. All the songs that make me melt 4. A Camera 5. And a whiskey ;)
WHY IS THE EYE CREATIVE IMPORTANT TO YOU? At The Eye Creative we support the local creators, the makers & the doers! A force that needs to be nourished, not only by the act of doing but the appreciation from others who remain inspired by all the incredible unique talent out there! www.joannanixonillustration.com
I’m not as tall as I’d like to be but feel I’ve aged better than some of my contemporaries. I prefer to go to the movies alone and wish others would stop taking that personally. I can’t drive a car because I’ve never really tried and am rather fine with that. I can play a wide selection of instruments....okayishly. I once owned a pistol-gripped crossbow (no fatalities). I tend to forget my dreams the moment I wake and that annoys me. I have crowd-surfed in a chalet more than once. I prefer the company of cats purely because historically they have proved to be better comic strip protagonists.
WHY IS THE EYE CREATIVE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Anything that supports a community of people is important, especially when those people are around us. The internet is an impressive place and talent may be so abundant that some can lose sight of their own origins when it comes to art and networking. Inspiration begins at home. A community that reminds us of the soil from which our creativity grows makes us enthusiastic when it blooms and flourishes. Support your local, kids.
THE EYE TEAM THE HARD WORKING, SUPER-STAR CREATIVE TEAM BEHIND THE EYE THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 11
WHAT DOES THE EYE CREATIVE MEAN TO YOU? We asked you to write in and tell us what The Eye Creative means to you! Our favourite response (below) will win The Fox Tan Pack (worth $39.95) and a hard copy of The Eye Creative: January Issue!
Special thanks to our friends at The Fox Tan. www.thefoxtan.com
DEBBIE, WA
“The Eye creates more creation! Words like ‘originality’, ‘artisan’ & ‘maker’ actually mean something; cementing integrity in a bright & shiny way.”
WINNER!! CONGRATS MELISSA!
“The Eye Creative is a space to be wowed by amazing creative instigators. An arts hub to connect and collectively meet and collaborate!”
MICHELLE
“No matter what is going on this crazy world, there is a creative place I can escape to more than usual.”
ALISHA, VIC
“The Eye Creative to me is a window to the world of creatives; a little escape and a useful tool to keep me motivated on those not so creative days!”
MELINDA, VIC
“The Eye Creative is a means of escape from the hustle & bustle of worklife. It is creative genius, hand crafted into a beautiful collection of pure artistic philosophies.”
**For your chance to win a prize pack next issue, submit your feedback on the Jan issue to samii@theeyecreative. THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 12
WIN!
ORC APPAREL SUMMER SERIES
15% OFF FOR EYE READERS
ENTER CODE ‘ORCEYE16’ AT CHECKOUT ORCAPPAREL.COM
@ORC_APPAREL IMAGE SHOT @ RUSSELL_HOLLIDAY THE EYE BY CREATIVE | PAGE 13
jo
These totally bitch’n hand-made earrings by designer Emily Green have our inner pre-teen hearts thumping with memories of Zack Morris’ blue steel gaze.. ahhh Saved by the Bell nostalgia. Good times. www.emilygreen.net @helloemilygreen
Amy
Jo has us crushing on Sydney-based illustrator FURRY LITTLE PEACH and this spectacular bed sheet set - and for good reason! You’ll be having a whale of a time between the sheets with this incredible illustrated sheet set! Complete with 2 x pillow cases, 1 x flat sheet and 1 x fitted sheet (single bed only). www.theclubofoddvolumes.com @furrylittlepeach
A banana doing the worm dance in blue jeans!? Laurie Melia strikes again. www.yellowtreestore.etsy.com @laurie _ melia
samii
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CRUSH ON THESE TOP PICKS FROM THE EYE CREATIVE TEAM
There’s a lot of things that Samii can’t live without, but this product right here would have to be at the top of the list right next to her coffee addiction. Summer Salt Body‘s White Clay Masque is a natural facial mask made of...wait for it...white clay. Soothing & perfect for those with sensitive skin! You’ll be feeling closer to nature in no time. www.summersaltbody.com @summer __ salt
jo Jo’s recent ‘ear worm’ Ginger And The Ghost, a musically etherial Sydney Duo, are a sweet magical bliss ball within our playlist this month. Check out their tunes below: www.facebook.com/gingerandtheghost @gingerandtheghost
samii
Amy
Lot Twenty “I dropped into this little bar/cafe/eatery on a severely hungover Sunday morning back in May 2015. The guys who served me my LARGE, double shot, skinny flat white were just gems! So chatty and so nice; and they even took the piss out of me for looking dog rough and for being a pom...but you know what...I liked it (I’m not easily offended). Located in Perth’s cultural centre - it’s a must!” - Amy www.lot20.co
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IMAGE: ‘Marcus Aiello’ from band ‘White Blanks’. FB: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteBlanks/ IG: @whiteblanksband Image by Aden McLeod
THE EYE: If your best mate was trying to set you up at a bar, how would they introduce you/ describe you to the perfect tequila drinking stranger? ADEN: Most likely something way too rude to be repeated! His also my assistant so probably talk me up to be the best photographer in the world hoping he’ll have a chance with the perfect tequila drinking strangers beautiful beer drink friend. THE EYE: What is it about photography that gets your blood running? ADEN: It the excitement of creating a photo, running around changing lighting, finding the right angle, the right subject, etc. I see no photoshoot as ever being the same, so every time I get the excitement of creating something completely new, something completely unique to that moment in time. THE EYE: You’re very experimental with some of your work – what made you think outside the box when it came to the developing process? ADEN: Whenever I shot film, I always thought that it had so much more to offer as a medium. All my commercial work is digital so I wanted to completely break the two mediums apart. After many failed attempt at breaking film from digital I just went “fuck it”, and went completely experimental shooting on cameras from 1930’s, scratching, burning, cutting, and montaging the negatives, and splashing around with chemicals in the darkroom. This, to me, exposed the real beauty I was searching for in film.
I just picked up a pin over a lightbox and started hacking into it, creating my first scratched image (see attached). By scratching into the negative it was creating this irreversible, natural effect that couldn’t be obtained digitally. THE EYE: As creatives, we often find ourselves sort of on the outside of the ‘norm’, seeing life from a completely different angle from that of our mates. Did you find this when growing up, and is this a contributing factor to you finding your passion in photography? ADEN: I’ve been extremely lucky that even growing up all my good friends have been creatives as well. Becoming a photographer was just a very natural occurrence in my life, picking up a camera not knowing anything, shooting with mates and then it naturally progressed to become an obsession for me. If it wasn’t for the friends I grew up with and have now I don’t think I would’ve found the passion for photography I have now. THE EYE: Music seems to be a big influence in your work. Is there a particular reason why you enjoy photographing others in their creative zones? ADEN: It’s the energy and vibe you get from live music. Traveling around with a band/artist just has so much energy in it. It’s all in the moment, every night is a story and a good time. Then after shooting a band for a while you start to grow trust with each other, and that’s when the creative juices start flowing and no idea is ever thought to be stupid.
THE EYE: Where did the scratch technique come from? ADEN: The scratch technique was not planned at all! It came from wanting to explore what film photography could offer over digital. After much experimentation I found it was the physicality of film had to offer. Bored in the darkroom,
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THE EYE: What has been your favourite moment seen through your lens? ADEN: I don’t have one singular favourite moment through the lens, but my favourite moment is shooting a live gig and when it gets to the end of the night, last band, everyone’s had way to many drinks (including myself), everything’s getting a little rowdy, I’m jumping all over the amps and speakers. After I just put my camera down for the night, having no clue what if what I shot is any good, then finally the next day I get them onto the computer and they’re all just amazing! That’s definitely my favourite moment! And I feel that it’s only after a few drinks that you get the best photos because you become part of the gig rather than just an outside, sober photographer.
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IMAGE: ‘Cam Little’ from band ‘The Vanns’ FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheVanns/ IG: @thevannsband
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THE EYE: Do you have any other creative talents? ADEN: If talking absolute rubbish is a creative talent, than that! If someone asked for a story I could come up with an hour long story about unicorns and rainbows that makes no sense at all! THE EYE: What’s on the agenda for 2016? Any big plans? ADEN: Just to get better and grow as an artist. Every year I just try and shoot more and shoot better. Everything this far has all happened very naturally so I’ll just keep going along with that until it doesn’t work anymore. THE EYE: Have you encountered any major hiccups along the way that you feel like you’ve really had to grow from? ADEN: Not at all. I’ve been extremely lucky with my journey, everything has happened so naturally. Started off shooting my mates surfing because I couldn’t surf myself, then shooting early music videos at around 13, then it all kind of just flowed into where I’m at now. I put most of that on the group of friends I’m in with nearly everyone being a creative so nothing was ever forced.
THE EYE: What is one thing about being creative that drives you bonkers? ADEN: My brain. Sometimes I’ll wake up at 3 in the morning with some weird idea that at the time I think is the greatest thing ever, and won’t be able to sleep because the idea will just take over my brain. Then I’ll wake up in the morning and realise that it was actually a completely bad idea. THE EYE: If you could change the world with one image taken from your camera – what do you think that would be? ADEN: I’m really not sure. For an image to be powerful enough to change the world I think it can’t be planned. It’s all about right place, right time, and the ability to capture that exact, powerful moment. But as for a theme, I think something that shows people to just have a good time with everything they do and not take life to serious. Not sure how to say that in one photo, but I think that’s an important thing to live by. WORDS BY: SAMII LUND (THE EYE), ADEN MCLEOD @aden.mcleod www.adenmcleod.com
THE EYE: What is one thing about being creative that you just can’t live without? ADEN: The creative community. Everyone I’ve ever met while being a photographer has been great! The support and ideas that flow in the creative community is definitely something I couldn’t live without. As a sociable person there’s nothing better than being able to share and discuss ideas with people that are just as passionate as you.
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IMAGE: ‘Marcus Aiello’ from band ‘White Blanks’. FB: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteBlanks/ IG: @whiteblanksband Image by Aden McLeod
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IMAGE: ‘Tyne James-Organ’ FB: https://www.facebook.com/tynejamesorganmusic/ IG: @tynejamesorgan Image by Aden McLeod THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 23
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BONNIE GRAY
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“MY PAINTINGS ARE SMOOTHIES, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO TASTE THE BRIGHT FRUITY COMBOS.” Bonnie Gray’s vivid and descriptive metaphor of her paintings reads like a contemporary ice-cream menu, drawing you in and sparking intrigue and curiosity, a bit unsure of which delicious flavour to choose. But seeing them in real-life makes you want to devour the delights and the colours they exude. I’m salivating just thinking about them… Despite never having the chance to ‘formally’ study art, Bonnie’s passion developed during classroom daydreams where doodles and sketches turned slowly into paintings and poetry; her drawers always crammed full with art diaries and painted splashes. Her explorative imagination kept her enthusiastically processing new and fresh ideas throughout adulthood while, her childlike attitude and the way she ventures into things with her eyes wide open is clearly reflected in the colours and visuals she now embraces with an open heart.
Name dropping the wonderful Ken Done a source of inspiration, it’s easy to see how and where he influences her, as his simple, brightly coloured designs feed into much of Bonnie’s work, and his spectacular use of colour is apparent in everything she does. That’s not to say she’s an imitator or copy-cat of Ken’s, hell no (although imitation is the highest form of flattery), Bonnie Gray has a unique style, and it’s fun, vivacious, eye-catching and abstract. In fact, it’s so good that I can’t see how it would fail to put a smile on your face. Even if you missed your morning train and spilled your triple-shot, flat white all over your new cream ballet pumps – her art is purely uplifting – it’s abstract, happy art!
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Bonnie told me: “The abstract pieces I’ve been jumping into recently have been far from realistic. I dove into a brand new swimming pool of ideas, filled with oceans, landscapes, miniature abstract people, poems, palm trees, 90s vibes and flamingo pinks.”
cheering them on into health wholeness and helping them soar into their purpose in life. It’s bigger than just my paints and canvas, though; the Bigger Picture Project is a project that is propelling people off the streets and into their flourishing destinies and futures.”
It’s these ideas that have helped her develop the project she’s currently working on; her new business that sees her producing commissioned work for anyone who wants to buy it!
Due to be released this month, Bonnie is uber-excited about the project, and we are too, so watch this space and check her Instagram @_ bonniegray for more details, or email her at bonniegrayillustration@hotmail.com.
Loving to paint with brand new brushes, acrylic paints and bright coloured chalks, Bonnie enthusiastically states: “I must say that when uniting colours and inventing new shapes and patterns, there’s such an emotion of joy. When colours and shapes best-friend each other, and you get the right ingredients together, the flavour is grand.” It’s not surprising that she thinks this way, as the 26-year-old from Terrigal likes to start a ‘big art day’ with a bike ride, a swim and a large banana smoothie! “Starting the day with yummy flavours, colours, explorations, people, sounds, and the sea gets my imagination dancing.” Stating that her new business and collaborations with other creative women as two of her biggest achievements to date, it’s the ‘Bigger Picture Project’ that Bonnie speaks eagerly about. “This project has been on the down-low and hasn’t been expressed on Instagram yet. When someone enquires about one of my pieces via email, I let them know a percentage of the money they are
After fangirling over her images and stalking her social media accounts for months, we’ve desperately fallen in love with Bonnie’s attitude and the lust for life that she so clearly portrays through her paintings. Her personality is as colourful as her work is, and you’d be crazy not to see how intense creativity and art are to her: “A world in which I couldn’t paint, would be like a room that’s dark with no natural light. There’d be heavy metal music playing in the background, and my housemate would be snap-chatting my every move. I’d have to open the curtains, turn the roof into a convertible, create a new playlist and chase my housemate out of the flat!” Bonnie Gray…it’s safe to say...we HEART you!
WORDS BY: AMY FARNWORTH @_ bonniegray
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L
H WWW.LIVHEYERMUSIC.COM Facebook - Liv Heyer Music Instagram - @livheyermusic THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 30
LIV
HEYER THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 31
CHASING AMY LOU For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to write. It’s that simple. I used to write and illustrate my books when I was younger (they were BRILLIANT, or so I was told by my parents). My school essays were always longer and more convoluted than those of my peers, with my tutors sometimes failing to grasp the ‘concept’ of my writing. They would dismiss it as incomprehensible or ‘not concise enough’ (more fool them). While studying Journalism at University in the UK, Academics tried to push me to produce writing that was more concise. They would tell me; “Tabloid journalists can condense the longest pieces of information into the tiniest spaces, Amy; you need to break your articles down; train your brain”.
But you see, therein lies the problem. I’m a talker and a thinker so my thoughts are expressed through my writing and more often than not, failing to be able to explain myself in a concise way, I will ramble for hours about a subject I find interesting. My musings can span pages and my vocabulary and language can flit and flirt from the simple to the downright obscure. What can I say? I love writing. I began my ‘travelling career’ in 2005 when I arrived in the US, to participate in the Camp America programme. Upon completion, I travelled from San Francisco to LA, and then on to New York…on my own, having just turned 20. From then on I had the bug: Following my Graduation, I took city breaks whenever I could (or more like, whenever my measly budget would allow). I applied for a job in Glasgow and lived and worked there for six years.
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I spent time and money visiting friends in Germany; acted as a local with a former work colleague in Paris; hopped over to Belfast to stay with mates and hostelled in Edinburgh during the Fringe. I explored and broadened my historical knowledge in Copenhagen; soaked in the Catalonian culture in Barcelona with my brother, and partied hard in Krakow. It wasn’t until 2013 though, that I fell in love with travel and decided to try and combine my two passions. In May of that year, I went to China…alone. I was 27. China is a BIG country. China is a dangerous country. I loved it. Everything about the culture, the history, the way of life, the people, the food – it fascinated me. I was there for three weeks and you know what? It wasn’t nearly long enough. During that time, I did some incredible things and met some of the most influential people I have met to date. It was those people and that experience that have helped turn my life into what it is slowly becoming today. Returning to the UK, exhausted but itching to get on the move again, I made a decision that would alter the course of my path forever. I quit my job (I was a Firefighter – logical progression from graduating with a Journalism degree…right?!). I quit my job and decided to come to Australia. Now, my intentions, at first, were to come on the Working Holiday Visa, and possibly stay for two years and then…well…I didn’t have a plan after that; I would just wing it. In September 2014, I arrived in Brisbane. My adventure had begun. After several ups and downs, some ‘soul searching’, and some struggles with work, I finally found my feet. And I was happy. I’d started a blog in which to document not just my travels but my feelings too, and I felt liberated; I felt like myself.
Over the last year, I have seen and done some fantastic and insanely incredible things. I partied HARD in Brisvegas with old friends, sky-dived in Byron Bay, got full-on drunk on Fraser Island, spent NYE in Sydney, worked in a country town, travelled the Great Ocean Road and consumed FAR TOO MUCH coffee in Melbourne. I played with Quokkas on Rottnest Island, avoided certain death aside jumping crocs in Darwin; snorkelled the Great Barrier Reef, canoed the Everglades in the pissing rain in Noosa, and discovering this challenge at The Eye Creative – a stroke of luck perhaps? Or maybe just fate? Who knows. And now? I probably want to stay in Australia… forever. My passion for writing has been reignited by travel. That’s not to say I would ever limit myself to writing solely about travel. Hell no. I believe in other people. I love the arts. I love everything to do with creativity and expressing yourself through something that you love. Being creative is important – it can act as a release, it can soothe the soul and it can inspire others. I believe that creatives, whatever area, need an outlet too; they need a platform, just like writers. At the moment I am quite content concentrating on myself and my writing (and travel of course) and The Eye Creative is giving me that opportunity. I want to show the world what other creatives have to offer; what beautiful people, places and ideas are out there. If I can do that through my writing; if one article can catapult a designer into high recognition, then it will be worth all the effort in the world!
WORDS BY: AMY FARNWORTH www.chasingamylou.com @amyfarnworth
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REBEKAH
KAMSKY THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 34
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IMAGE: ‘Modern Escape’ Model: Umi Otomo Image by Rebekah Kamksy
A field of tall dry grass stretching to the horizon... a dark alleyway... a forest of thin trees reaching to the heavens... a coastal cliff-side overlooking raging, churning waters below.
With subsequent work chapters in multiple European and American cities for work, it would be oversimplifying to assume the camera was always at her side.
These are the elemental backdrops in a body of work that reflect the thousands of kilometres Rebekah Kamsky and her camera have witnessed. A seasoned photojournalist with an ambitious accompanying series in portraiture that feels parallel to her personal discoveries.
“I always thought that travel influenced my passion for photography, however, the more I reflect on this, the more I realise that I often find myself connected to colours, history, culture and water in my photography. It is very reflective of the Maltese lifestyle, history and culture.”
On first observation, one can sense she has not only a fondness for travel, but also a flair for lingering in chosen locations for her well-timed and structured compositions. Her ever-growing Instagram page sports an impressive collection of mountains, valleys, beaches and cityscapes that imply a well-loved passport. It also shows commitment to discovery and gives energy to our personal wanderlust. “I’m constantly on the hunt for great places. I have sometimes woken up at 3 am to drive 3-4 hours just to be there at sunrise in time for an excellent setting. You will always find me going off the beaten path, climbing over fences I probably shouldn’t be and getting lost.” But it’s not only distances that can be transcendent for Rebekah, portraiture plays a large part in her artistic narrative and ties in superbly with those landscapes. Integrating models amongst nature, textures as well as props to conjure mood and express emotion in her work. She is ever-compelled to explore her values and fold-together ideas on a personal level. “Shooting portraits gives me the chance to step into someone else’s world for a short while, and to capture their moment in time.” Rebekah was born Australian and raised in the Mediterranean archipelago of Malta for a large part of her life.
If anything, it appears to have contributed to all her creative pursuits. With prior occupation in tourism and currently serving as Head of Digital for a boutique commercial agency, she has a wonderfully complimentary professional lifestyle to her artistry. As an active collaborator in fashion, dance and theatrics; she contributed stills for the successful installation/play ‘Suburbia’, part of Melbourne’s Fringe Festival this year. Among these achievements she has a no-nonsense approach to her drive, seeking momentum as hard as she seeks her next composition. For many, the ratio of work-to-creative-time can be a struggle; Rebekah attempts strives to balance this with methodical resolve, creating realistic targets and goals to complete to keep herself encouraged. Even this is prevalent in her work as she often cites inspirational captions with her published social media posts. High-spirited and conscientious, Rebekah’s adventurous spirit is invested in going the extra mile to create something special, or at least to document the next slice of paradise she encounters on the way there. “If you get the shot… It’s all worth it in the end!” WORDS BY: CHRISTIAN GABRIEL www.rebekahkamsky.com @rebekahkamsky
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IMAGE: Model: Sara Tansy Image by Rebekah Kamksy THE EYE CREATIVE | PAGE 37
IMAGES The Lady of Shalott series Model: Casey Becker Image by Rebekah Kamksy
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IMAGE: Model: Sara Tansy Image by Rebekah Kamksy
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Here at The Eye HQ, we promote, praise, and go absolutely nuts for creatives who think outside the box, creatives who can innovate and inspire, and who can provide their services for the benefit of our world! So when it comes to community spirit and creatively giving back to those most in need, the guys at Orange Sky Laundry are nailing it. Nicholas Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, two 21 yearolds from Brisbane, set up Orange Sky Laundry in July 2014 and since its inception, the free mobile laundry service for the homeless has been taking Australia (and the world) by storm. After being made aware that on any given night, some 105,000 Australians are left homeless, and finding these shocking figures difficult to comprehend, the boys wanted to do something about it and started up their first van in Brisbane. The service has rapidly expanded over the last twelve months, and from its humble beginnings, Orange Sky Laundry now has four more vans in Melbourne, South East Victoria, Sydney, and The Gold Coast, and shows no signs of stopping there; “We want services all around Australia in the coming months.” Says Nic. What Orange Sky Laundry aims to do is simple; so simple that the creativity behind it could be lost on the greatness that it provides and the benefits it brings to the community, when realistically it’s such a wildly creative concept, we don’t know why it hasn’t been thought of before. Run entirely by volunteers (over 270 of them), Orange Sky Laundry washes and dries the clothes and serves the needs of hundreds of homeless people sleeping rough on Australia’s streets. For free! Nic told me: “We’ve got custom fitted vans with two commercial washing machines and two dryers and we serve over 36 locations and wash over 300 loads each week. We found a way to treat others how we would want to be treated, by restoring respect, raising health standards, and reducing the strain on resources.”
The boys wanted to create a fun, flexible and easy platform for people like them to give something back. The homeless have never before been able to access free laundry services (nowhere in the world has ever pulled off such a concept, making theirs a world first), and now they can. “Our primary aim is to connect the community, and we find that Orange Sky Laundry can make a significant impact on our homeless friends’ lives on a daily basis. We are continually inspired and motivated by finding ways to engage the community and support Australia’s homeless. We feel honoured to have the trust of regular users and it’s great to see our ‘friends’ returning on a frequent basis, and we hope our service will be able to encourage them to find ways to connect better with the community.” Taking just under an hour to wash and dry a single person’s clothes, Nic and Lucas have found that the biggest impact they can make during that time is to provide their users or ‘friends’ with non-judgemental conversation; that in turn is uplifting, inspiring and offers positivity and support to those less fortunate. They may not be designers, artists, illustrators, photographers nor musos; they may not be sculptors nor painters, and they may not make the best coffee in Australia (who are we to assume, maybe they do?), but the volunteers who help run Orange Sky Laundry are all creatives in their own special way. The team behind the vans are creating a platform of hope and are challenging the ways in which we perceive and interact with the world around us. “To make the biggest impact in life, sometimes you need to do things differently and through creativity, the lives of others can be vastly improved.” Find out more about Orange Sky Laundry and about how you can get involved by checking out their website and social links below. WORDS BY: AMY FARNWORTH www.orangeskylaundry.com.au @oslaundryau
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SWAMP TO SAHARA
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It’s always interesting to find out how a band got their name. Kasabian took theirs from the young Linda Kasabian who served as Charles Manson’s getaway driver; The Rolling Stones decided to call themselves after a Muddy Waters track, and Led Zeppelin has Keith Moon to thank for their title after he told the band that they’d inevitably ‘go down like a lead zeppelin’. How wrong he was. Before I spoke to the members of Swamp to Sahara, I assumed their name was derived from something along the lines of, ‘we left the swamp, aka, the dark, disgusting pits, and arrived at the Sahara, aka the warm, arid desert.’ Well, we all know what ‘assuming’ does don’t we? Turns out though I wasn’t far off (that’s if you’re a fan of crude innuendos and dirty metaphors). Swamp to Sahara has probably one of the rudest, funniest and original stories behind their name. “We drunkenly decided on Swamp to Sahara after Alex (vocals and guitar) decided she’d present Lucia (vocals) with a date, or, at least, get her a few cheeky pics. So we made a saucy ad for her on Craiglist…’Guys, I think I have a problem, my pussy is always wet. I need someone to turn this swamp into the Sahara’…and it stuck.” Excuse me while I try to control my laughter here… Ahem, where was I? Oh yeah. Anyway, the band, including drummer, Stevo; bassist, Sam; and guitarist, Rob, formed at Uni after Alex brazenly told an event organiser that her band keen to play a gig...yet she didn’t actually have a band. So, the guys were forced to create one. Firing four people before their first stage appearance, and firing Stevo three times last month, Alex appears to be the instigator of mischief and playfulness, and also the gel that holds this tight-knit group of friends together. Just.
With a versatile style that culminates their different tastes in music, Swamp to Sahara are a fusion of funk, rock, and soul, tinged with a little bit of reggae and some occasional western that is refreshing in a music scene that seems to be populated by crap EDM covers of semi-decent 90s tunes. While Alex is inspired by Little Dragon and, erm, Lucia (her muse); Lucia favours Meg Mac and Eva Cassidy. Stevo draws from the likes of The Foos and The Chili Peppers, Rob by Avril Lavigne (it’s ok Rob, someone has to be), and Sam…well…Sam is inspired by himself (typical bassist). Swamp to Sahara have only been together a few months but have already played numerous gigs in and around the Sydney area, including World Bar on Dec 11th and Rad Bar Café in Wollongong on January 14th, and they aren’t short on stories either. They state that one of their worst gigs so far was at an open jam night, where the house band had to improvise and try to follow their unexpected tempo changes following the consumption of WAY too many tequila shots! Like all bands, they have their disagreements, with arguments deriving from the usual subjects of who gets the guitar solos, to who gets to sing which part of a song (often decided by a topless mud fight). The band claims though, that their biggest spat to date was over how many boxes of chicken crimpies would get them through the day – turns out, quite a few. Writing all their own material, Swamp to Sahara are original, fresh and insanely quirky. Planning an EP for early 2016 and wanting to ‘spread the grooves’ to Melbourne and up the coast, these young, hip, soulful and exciting characters are set on world domination. And we’ve got a sneaky feeling they’ll need a hell of a lot of chicken crimpies to help them achieve it! WORDS BY: AMY FARNWORTH www.swamptosahara.com @swamptosahara
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IMAGES: Supplied by Swamp to Sahara
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ALEXIA BREHAS
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Complex, superior, unafraid; all words that describe the impression I gained of Alexia Brehas after interviewing her last month. At the tender age of twenty, and with a more mature head on her shoulders than most thirty year old’s I know (me included), Alexia has the vocabulary of a literary professional, the determination of an Olympic athlete, the drive of someone stoically focused, and the ambition of a femme fatale who’s ready to take the artistic world by storm. She’s grabbing hold of the creative horns tightly, and she’s not letting go! Originally from South Africa, the adopted Melbournian has many, many strings to her bow – she pushes boundaries with her art, design and illustrations; creates bespoke, unique and custom designed tattoos; writes for magazines and websites; and has dipped her fingers into the proverbial pies of ceramics and engraving. Choosing only one medium at her age is way too confining, and Alexia says she enjoys having the freedom to explore many different pathways. However, having drawn all her life, she’s incredibly passionate about illustrative design and is momentarily concentrating all her energies on this area of work. When I asked her if she’d always had a talent for art and illustration, she replied; “Talent is really just the culmination of years of practice, dedication, genuine passion for exploring the artistic world, and above all, being inspired and influenced by other artists. My heart and soul are deeply embedded within the art world, and I’m always learning about artists from the past and present and being overwhelmed by the amount of beautiful work out there. I think to be an artist, you have to be interested in life because art is just a visual manifestation of thought.” Alexia’s style is striking and mesmerising as she uses fineliners and Indian ink in pointillism and stippling to create entirely monochromatic artworks: “I believe that black and white hues have infinite potential in terms of texture and tone, so I try to utilise those mediums by creating very intricate and detailed work.”
Taking inspiration from Grimm-esque fairy tales, minimalist Swiss design, as well as Japanese and Indian art forms (a style juxtaposition if ever we saw one…but a brilliant one at that), the espresso martini-loving master of all things arty, loves creating scenes of detail and intricacy. Alexia believes the crispness of linework adds a sophisticated and sleek edge to everything she works on, even if she does like listening to Ricky Martin to help her concentrate (it’s ok Alexia, we forgive you). Her biggest source of inspiration though comes from other artists: “I constantly try to immerse myself in a culture of art, because that’s the only way you can challenge yourself and force yourself to grow and break out of your boundaries.” This fiercely ambitious young woman has achieved tremendous amounts to date and has known that the art world is where she belongs since day dot. Having been involved with the 2015 RAW Natural Born Artists ‘Current’ showcase, as well as the 2015 Drawing Group Show at the Brunswick Street Gallery, she’s also had singular pieces shown at the Deakin Phoenix Gallery and ArtPlay in Birrarung Marr, and is currently doing design work for Voiceworks Magazine and Express Media which are the organisations she’s interning at. AND, as if that wasn’t enough (I don’t know how she fits it all in), she was recently commissioned to work with Triple J Unearthed band, Mango Retreat, where she designed the artwork for their album cover and got to hang out with a load of musos at the album launch. Phew! Wanting to keep herself busy (no shit) through art, design and writing, Alexia aims to continue exhibiting and would love to be working in a design studio in five years’ time, although we reckon she could do it in less! Aiming high is definitely not something this talented artist is afraid of and with her website (alexiabrehas. com) to keep fans entertained, a Facebook page and a Twitter account, this girl-wonder is killing it! WORDS BY: AMY FARNWORTH www.alexiabrehas.com @alexiabrehas
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www.hartspace.com
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