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SYDNEY’S CREATIVE MELTING POT ART.PHOTOGRAPHY MUSIC.DESIGN | FREE SPITPRESS.COM FEB/MAR
MYSTERY JETS On their recent trip to Oz
Dominic Proust Images that are at once childlike and oddly sinister
Rah Collective A rad emerging print collective from Sydney
AND Hungry Kids of Hungary, Passenger, 4a Gallery, Toby Marosszeky, Leeloo and lots more!
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FEB/MAR
04 Editorial 06 Spit Bucket 09 Passenger 12 4A Gallery 15 Seema Duggal 16 Boy Meets Girl 18 Rah Collective 24 Tea & Laundry 25 Mystery Jets 27 A Bird’s Nest 28 Freshwater Blues 29 Hungry Kids of Hungary 30 Leeloo 32 Her Second Smile 33 2 Baked Pooseys 34 Bird’s Nest Soup 35 Photospread: Innaturale 40 Dominic Proust 44 Faces 46 Nestled Up Away from Home 47 Natalie Dufton
opinion
about/work
LOCAL
The Spit Press Team Publisher - Spit Press Media Managing Editor & Advertising - Tym Yee tym@spitpress.com Head Designer - Chumpy chumpy@spitpress.com Head Photographer & Web - Zabrina Wong zab@spitpress.com
Blog - Caitlyn Adamson caitlyn@spitpress.com Spit Press TV - Grace Tan grace@spitpress.com ---Senior Contributors: Adam Byrne, Caitlyn Adamson, Edwina Storie, Sally Rawsthorne, Holly Friedlander, Chloe Hazelwood, Tommy Faith
Assistant Editor & Submissions - India McDonough india@spitpress.com
Contributors: Sasha Gover, Sarah Luckey, Andrea Stauber, Genna Alexopoulos, Isabel Waterhouse, David Smith, Jenna Turner, Glen Wolter, Matt Byrne, Nick How, Reanne Potter
Distribution - Angela Nolimaio angela@spitpress.com
Special Thanks to: Jonathan Villanueva and Hewett Cook
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Scream Hi! www.spitpress.com / info@spitpress / submissions@spitpress.com Facebook: TheSpit Press. Facebook fanpage: facebook.com/ spitpressfb Twitter @spitpress The Spit Press is published bi-monthly by Spit Press Media. The opinions expressed by individual contributors are not necessarily those of The Spit Press staff. For more information visit spitpress.com or email info@spitpress.com. Emails are to be used for professional use only. All competitions are games of skill and do not involve any element of chance. Winners are decided by a panel of judges. WHEREVER YOU ARE, HAVE A RAD ONE! Cover: Photographer - Toby Marosszeky www.tobymphoto.com Stylist - Elaine Laurel Make Up - Bonita Chan Hair - Natalie Anne Ayoub Props - Newtown Old Wares
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NESTING It’s a bit shit to hear that 100 copies of issue 05 of our magazine ended up in the trash heap because one of our usual stockists decided that they didn’t like us anymore. It made us realise that whilst we aim to create a publication for the creative people of Sydney, we can’t always rely on a lot of corporate businesses to help us out. We’re about quality, not quantity, creativity, not money. We’re slowly (but surely) building our little nest and gaining the trust and support of so many people in the independent media scape, but we need your help. We need more lovin’ on our facebook site, more emails to remind us that people similar to us, who want to share and explore the creative community in Sydney, exist. We need you to let us know that you’re with us in spirit when we’re up at 3am trying to figure out the best order for the articles to run or which image should grace our humble cover. We’d like to think of you guys when we’re working our day jobs selling books, working in call centres or sitting behind desks. We would like to extend our thanks to our advertisers and sponsors from all of our issues up until this point. For the businesses we’re yet to meet, what are you waiting for? From our next issue onwards, we promise that we’ll try harder than ever to support emerging artists, writers, photographers and designers if you promise to be part of our nesting process. Let’s fly,
Tym & India.
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SPIT BUCKET
Rainbow Chan This Sydney musician has an infectious love for story-telling. Whether chasing romantic adventures, stitching together childhood dreams or rummaging through antique fairs, Rainbow is constantly collecting bits and pieces for her music. With diverse influences from Bjork to Steve Reich, 50’s ballads to Chinese folksongs, Rainbow’s songs are delicately-crafted gems embedded in the nostalgic imagination. Written, recorded and produced by Rainbow at home, her debut EP Brushed Upon With Rose conjures an eclectic mix of vintage tones, sweet textural landscapes and child-like layers of electronic and acoustic colours. Mixed and mastered by Jonathan Boulet, the 5-track release reflects a mature and instinctive sound that will surely make a colourful splash.
The Simple Death by Michael Duffy A man has come off the Manly Ferry and Detective Nicholas Troy investigates but he is distracted. His mentor Father Luke Corelli has been accused of abusing a young boy years before. To Troy’s dismay he’s not denying the charge and nor is the Catholic Church trying to defend his name. Troy’s ambitious and attractive colleague Susan Conti is newly single and his eccentric boss, Jon McIver, would rather be singing the blues than following leads. The fact that this book is set in our great city might give you the chills but you wont put this read down!
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The Khanz This emerging Sydney 4 piece are gigging like mad men in bars, clubs and pubs all over Sydney. With a sound that would float nicely on the airwaves of taste maker music stations like Triple J and FBi, you can expect big things from The Khanz in 2011. Their EP Triggers boasts 5 solid tracks and you can give it a listen and join their 12,500 strong army at facebook.com/
Jean-Michel Basquiat In his short career, Jean-Michel Basquiat was a phenomenon. He became notorious for his graffiti art under the moniker “Samo” on the Lower East Side in the late 1970s, sold his first painting to Deborah Harry for $200, and became best friends with Andy Warhol and inspired the likes of Madonna. Appreciated by both the art cognoscenti and the public, Basquiat was launched into international stardom. In this
Ghoul Bursting onto the scene in 2008, Ghoul made an immediate impact with their mini-album A Mouthful of Gold which they distributed freely at their shows and on MySpace. 3 years on and fresh from performing at Field Day 2011, this Sydney experimental four-piece are releasing an all new mini-album Dunks this February. You can find it at myspace. com/ghoulsydney...it’s been on repeat since we got our grubby little hands on it.
definitive documentary, director Tamra Davis pays homage to Basquiat her friend and Basquiat the icon. Thanks to our good friends at Hopscotch Entertainment, we have three DVD copies of JeanMichel Basquiat: The Radiant Child up for grabs. All you have to do is email us at info@ spitpress.com and tell us in 25 words or less what one question you would ask Jean-Michel Basquiat and we’ll pick the most creative answers as winners. Closes 15th March, 2010.
Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours California’s favourite sons Cold War Kids return with their 3rd album Mine Is Yours as a reinvented band. The once blues/indie outfit have swayed towards more of an anthemic guitar driven sound. The man behind the buttons, Jacquire King of Kings Of Leon’s gigantic Only By The Night, brings a near identical production to these songs, which is hard to swallow as a fan of their earlier albums. If you like modern rock with a soulful touch you’ll love it. We can almost guarantee you’ll be hearing it all over the airwaves for the next year. Cold War Kids are going to be a lot of people’s new favourite band.
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AN ENCOUNTER WITH PASSENGER For UK born singer/song writer Mike Rosenberg, Passenger isn’t just a musical outlet but also a lifestyle. Tym Yee asked him about busking, his extended periods in Australia and recording his latest album Flight of the Crow with artists like Lior, Katie Noonan and Josh Pyke.
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T: Some would call the UK your nest, but can you explain how the Flight of the Crow landed in Australia? M: I came out here a couple of years ago and did a little support tour with Lior. It was only a few shows but it just went really well. The music went down really well so at the end of 2009 I came over again for what I thought would be just a few months of busking and playing a few shows and stuff. One thing lead to another and the busking went really well and I met all these fantastic artists and the idea for this collaborations album came about, and it ended up being six months that I was over here. T: Can you tell us a bit more about your busking and how it plays a role in funding your album? M: It’s kind of the model we work on now. In this day and age you’ve got other options rather than being in massive amounts of debt to big companies. Flight of the Crow and a couple of my other records were funded from busking. It’s not that difficult to do. It’s actually a pretty good source of income. It keeps you playing gigs and you get feedback which is handy. There’s less pressure on the records to do well because you’re not in debt to anyone. Anything is a bonus really.
T: Do you have plans to return and settle in the UK soon? M: The plan is to just go back and forth and keep touring both places and chase the sun, which is not the end of the world. Because of the busking thing, you kind of need good weather. So it works well to do your summer time and then go back to the UK. T: Clever move, having summer all year round. Where do you feel most at home? M: I still see the UK as my home, my family is there and all my old school friends. I grew up there. I really love Australia and I’ve got a fantastic group of mates now. It’s a place I hope I can keep coming back to. I feel very lucky to have come out here and stumbled across your beautiful country. T: Your latest album Flight of the Crow has so many collaborations with great Australian artists, how does something like this come about? How do you go about meeting someone and saying ‘hey do you want to write a song with me?’
M: Absolutely. It’s an up and down kind of way to live. It can be really exciting, you’re never standing still and you’re always in new places and meeting new people. I can’t complain… travelling around the world playing my music to lots of different people. It’s a dream come true. But on the other hand you do give up a lot of
M: As I said, I already knew Lior before and I knew Josh Pyke just through doing gigs so those guys were on board really early on. It was massively helpful. A lot of people I just met at gigs and festivals and on my way around Australia… you kind of bump into people. When I’d explain about the project and I was able to say Josh and Lior were involved it was a big help. Just so people knew it was on a certain level and it was being taken seriously. Honestly, I am so amazed by people’s openness and willingness to get involved with an artist who is relatively unknown. The project could have been something that never got released or died on its ass and the fact that people were willing to give up their time and talent was a
things; that sense of security, relationships, but it’s all part of it really.
real leap of faith and something I was blown away by.
T: That sort of vagabond lifestyle, it comes through in your music a lot, but do you ever feel sort of unsettled?
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T: Your music speaks for itself, so as far as being on that certain level… M: I hope that had something to do with it! T: These collaborations sound very you, very Passenger, but also very distinctly of the other artists - Boy & Bear, Lior and Katie Noonan in particular. Why did you decide to take the collaborative route? M: It really wasn’t something I planned on doing. It started off as a very simple idea that it would be cool to record some songs as I was travelling round, and just whack them up on Facebook or Youtube and each time have it with a different Australian artist. It just grew. The songs sounded great and there was something more to it than the throwaway Youtube idea. The idea of collaborating has always been interesting to me, you know, the Stones would write something for Hendrix then Hendrix would write something for Bob Dylan…it’s a great idea because you end up with something that you could have never done on your own. T: It all sounded very organic. Was the writing process like this? M: In an ideal world I would have loved to sit down with all these artists and write a song, but the reality of everyone’s schedule only gave us an afternoon or morning here or there. Most of the songs I wrote as I was travelling so I think they really fit. The songs were of that time and of that moment when I was meeting everybody. T: Who’d you enjoy working with in particular? M: (Laughs) Cheeky question. You know what, I’m not just saying this to be political, but they were all amazing. Just the idea that people would get involved for no money up front or no idea of how the project would go speaks volumes about the people and who they are.
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Feature Gallery: 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art Tucked away in the hustle and bustle of the big smoke, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art exhibits risky and bold Asian art, asserting their position as a unique and culturally significant gallery in our diverse city. Gallery director Aaron Seeto sat down with The Spit Press to tell us more. SP: When and how did 4A start?
building on Hay Street, which is our current location. 4A is still quite compact as a gallery A: 4A has been around since 1996 and was and an organisation but throughout work we created as a cultural space to present and have developed an important profile here and promote the work of Asian-Australian artists to overseas and we are networked into global facilitate dialogue between Australia and the discussions of Asian art and culture worldwide. Asia-Pacific. It’s a network where we often share information and we are fortunate that we have a very SP: 4A sounds like a new battery size – what wide pool of people to call on for advice. is it’s significance? SP: Describe 4A’s curatorial direction/ A: It’s actually an acronym which stands for the selection process. Does it have one? Asian Australia Artists Association, we shorten it to 4A. A: 4A presents a curated program. It is developed from research we have been doing SP: What was it like starting a gallery in throughout the entire life of the organisation. Sydney? Did you find much support? Was it We are building an important framework for hard to get off the ground? contemporary Asian and Asian-Australian art. We also like to work with artists in new A: 4A’s mission has always been clear from and meaningful ways, so we like to develop the get go. One of the reasons why 4A was projects from the ground up, encouraging established in the mid 1990s was because artists to take risks and do things that they there was a lack of understanding of the may not be able to do elsewhere. As an contribution that Asian-Australian artists make independent space, with no imperative to sell to our culture. 1996 was also the height work (we are not a commercial gallery) we of xenophobia propagated by people like have a lot of freedom to operate almost like a Pauline Hanson, so a group of Asian-Australian laboratory or an incubator. We’re renowned artists and others got together and this led for supporting artists at the very beginning of to our organisation being established. 4A their careers as well as working with key artist has been well supported by the community in a global context. at large throughout the years, and we in turn have been able to support a range of artists SP: What’s the hardest part about running and cultural dialogue throughout Australia. 4A an independent gallery? came from very humble origins – we occupied a small ‘shoebox’ sized office high above A: Our program is ambitious for the size of our Sussex street in Chinatown, gradually moving organisation, we have a small staff producing
of what we do. Working with artists to realise different things, it definitely keeps us on our toes. We have to constantly remind people that what 4A does is not just for AsianAustralian people. If you asked the person on the street, regardless of what industry they work in, or what cultural background they have, whether they thought that a relationship or understanding of Asia was important to the future, they would probably say it is. 4A’s work through contemporary art and culture helps us to understanding Australia’s geography, history and culture. We always remind people that developing Asian cultural literacy in the Australian community is not just important for now, but for future generations regardless of what industry or background they come from.
to a two room gallery on Liverpool Street, before moving in to the City of Sydney owned
evolving cultural influences that will be significant to Australia’s future.
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new projects with anywhere up to 30 artists each year – but this is also the exciting part
SP: Have there been any disasters? A: Many of our projects are experimental and risky and this is what we thrive on. We encourage artists to constantly challenge what contemporary art practice means. Working in this way means that we are constantly trying to push the edge. Supporting artists to develop these types of projects is what makes working at 4A so satisfying. SP: What other spaces in the city do you admire? A: I really respect the work that is being done at spaces like White Rabbit and Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation because they open up a different world view, and illustrate
4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art 181-187 Hay St Sydney NSW 2000 www.4a.com.au
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Creative Profile: Seema Duggal When searching for a local creative to profile we went straight to a reliable source - www.sidestreetsydney.com.au. We looked through some articles and interviews, and stuck on who to approach, decided that Seema Duggal, the director and owner of the Sydney blogazine would be the best person to chat with! Tym Yee asked T: Seema Duggal, who are you? S: Well, that’s a bit of a loaded question. I suppose appearances would lead me to believe I’m a 26-year old female. I’m LA-born, Sydney-based, Indian-blooded. I like long walks on the beach with my puppy dog Smokey, staying home on Saturday nights, Indian take-out and generally being really, really boring.
long road ahead with both – they’re in such early stages and growing one brand, let alone two, takes so much time. I’m trying to be patient and enjoy the journey while I’m on it! Later in life though I envision myself writing books in the country with a beautiful family and an equally beautiful wine selection. T: Can you tell us about some of the challenges you’ve faced along the way?
T: What do you do? S: I own and direct the blogazine Side Street Sydney and the online store Final Episode. T: What’s the best thing about running the ‘blogazine’ Side Street Sydney? S: Getting to speak to such amazing people and then writing about them, of course! T: Your online fashion store Final Episode sells all kinds of unique things, what can our readers find there? S: It’s an online accessories store committed to stocking labels that embrace originality, innovation and conceptual design. People can find some pretty amazing shoes, bags, eyewear, jewellery, belts and scarves by both local and international, established and emerging designers, including Camilla Skovgaard, Opening Ceremony, Tristan Blair, Deadly Ponies, Natalia Brilli, Elke Kramer, Borba Margo, Pamela Love, 2 by Lyn & Tony, TRU$T FUN!, Alexander Wang, Jeremy Scott, Dries Van Noten, TMOD, DISCE MORI by Julia deVille, Strummer and Handsom. T: What other crazy projects do you have flying around in your head? S: I think I just want to concentrate on making those two as big and beautiful as they can possibly be for the time being, as there is such a
S: How long have you got? The balance thing I mentioned earlier is a big one – it’s very hard to do with such big projects that require so much of my time, but all work and no play can make me a complete nutcase. There has also been so much to learn and do and so many mistakes have been made along the way (and will continue to be made I’m sure of it!), so navigating that without losing my cool has been such a massive challenge! But I am getting better at it... I suppose it’s very easy for me to panic and stress and freak out about everything I have going on, so getting a bit zen here and there has been very important for me. And of course let’s not forget the whole having no money thing! That’s one thing that I’m actually getting a bit sick of, but I suppose I have to constantly remind myself what I’m doing this all for! T: What advice do you have for emerging creatives wanting to start something fresh? S: Ahhhh, patience! Be so patient! Your vision will never be realised exactly as you want it to be right away, so if you go into it knowing that and not expecting miracles I think you’re a lot better off. Be prepared for many hours of work for little to no pay and a seemingly endless to do list that will be full of challenges that may well make your head spin. But most importantly, try to remember that it’s all worth it, and never, ever lose your belief in yourself. If you can retain that, then it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be exactly where you want to be. THE SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com | ISSUE 6 | 15
boy meets girl In 2011 we all know the story – meet the boyslashgirl of your dreams, fall in love, sleep with their best friend and things fall apart, then fall back together. But it hasn’t always been like this. Sally Rawsthorne talked to previous generations to see how nests were made before the Facebook generation.
1. Peggy and Jeff Jamieson On Peggy and Jeff Jamieson’s mantelpiece sits something out of the ordinary; the Olympic Torch, with which Jeff ran. Next to it, a Commonwealth Medal for Greco-Roman wrestling. Not a common sport in Australia, Jeff successfully competed in, then coached Australia’s national teams in Greco-Roman wrestling for years; the 2010 Commonwealth Games represented Australia’s first success in the sport since he left. Although it was his passion, the political nature of competitive sport was disheartening – when someone places first in the nation, but someone else is sent to the Olympics, there is something very wrong… Olympic level competition could certainly put a strain on a relationship, but no such strain was ever apparent between Peggy and Jeff. Peggy was a supportive wife, not one to resent the encroachment of competitive sport on the life of her family. Rather, the most disruptive and turbulent period in the family was when Jeff left the sport; leaving his passion due to a loss of faith hit him hard. A man of a bygone era, Jeff’s disappointment was never obvious except to those who loved him – his children.
2. Caterina and John Janssens After the horrors of Europe in World War Two, a 20 year old John (formerly Johanes) left Holland for warm weather and the prospect of finding a job. He wasn’t the only young Dutch man in Australia at the time; he became close with another, close enough to go and see his family one return trip to Holland. This fateful parental visit was when John met Caterina, the younger sister of his friend in Australia. A smitten John returned to Australia… and months later, Caterina followed him. She worked as a nanny for the English family with whom she lived, while he worked on what preceded the computer and lived in a sharehouse in Mosman. They had the happy ending following the gamble of coming to Australia – Caterina and John got married and had two sons.
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3. Lel and Stan Rawsthorne Lel and Stan Rawsthorne were born and bred in the same small country town in New South Wales’ Central West. They have known each other since primary school and are now in their eighties. Five children later, they still live on the same street, in the same house that they did as newlyweds. While this life might seem small to some, they are content in their house and in their world, and wouldn’t have it any other way. But people whose lives may seem small can also have their world fall apart, and Stan and Lel are no exception. Their youngest son, Robert, was killed in a hit and run accident in America several years ago, undoing the foundations on which their life was built. Things are better for them now, but they’re still sad, almost five years on.
4. John and Cecelia (Biddy) White War hit everyone in 1940s Britain; John and Cecelia White were certainly no exception to this. In spite of his pacifistic views, John, like many of his generation, was conscripted for war; Cecilia waited behind in London. While Cecilia waited in bombed, war-torn London, John went to war. But someone who won’t fight and goes MIA when their daughter is born is troublesome in wartime, and John was sent to India to teach soldiers how to drive amphibious vehicles. After time spent in India, London was too cold and impossible to find a job in. Much to the disapproval of Cecilia’s parents, they followed her brother to Australia. The weather was tough for them; the culture was different and they missed their families. But they never returned to the UK to live.
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rah collective qwux Luke Burcher Jessica Minervini-Eringa Kara Nissen Kirst Ohh Jess Cally
The rah collective is a small group of artists working together to help forge their own place in the art world. Working almost exclusively on paper, the six artists that currently make up the rah collective all have a strong focus on the creation of their work, either drawing, printing, cutting or folding their work by hand. Currently, the members of the rah collective are qwux, Luke Burcher, Jessica Minervini-Eringa, Kara Nissen, Kirst Ohh, and Jess Cally, who have been working on a new website, online store and book to be released in the first half of 2011. The rah collective were lucky enough to be involved with The Spit Press from the very beginning, hand screenprinting 500 posters for inclusion in the very first issue, as well as supplying art for the walls at events like On The Road, which The Spit Press hosted. The notion of forming a collective is not a new thing. rah collective was created as a means of support and motivation for a group of artists within the Sydney art scene. By working with and having the support of like minded creative people, the progression of artistic talent, technical skill and creative thinking are all encouraged. By working together, they are able to achieve more as a collective than any of the artists could achieve on their own. At the moment, they are putting together a book of creative talent from all around Sydney and are looking for illustrations, photographs, papercraft, paintings, anything really, that they can showcase in their lovely little book which is scheduled for release in the first half of 2011. The rah guys are still taking submissions for the book, so head to their website for more information. The members of rah collective are busy people, and they like it that way. They want to be making things all the time, and are always looking for an opportunity to explore, an empty wall space to fill, other artists to work with, or shows to be a part of. If you want to get involved, or just want to know more please visit www.rahcollective.com.
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TEA & LAUNDRY Holly Friedlander writes a letter to her mum and dad about leaving the nest, jumping into the wind and taking on the real world. Dear mum and dad,
the nest, it’s only natural to feel like I’m leaving you both a little bit in the lurch. I mean, whose going to remind you that, no, Katy Perry does not I’m writing this letter to you to clear a few things up. One day soon, I make good music or that it’s okay for a teenage girl to be in love with a will leave the nest; take flight, leave home, move out, take a leap of vampire. And dad, sweet dad, who else is going to recognise that your faith, get lost, jump ship or possibly just move into the granny flat at the hearing-aid batteries have gone dead or remind you to turn the steaks in back of the house. All in all, I feel that this is a momentous occasion, between ‘X Factor’ performances? After all these dependable years, are and in turn, all options must be considered. Not in the “Can I take we really going to survive without each other? the microwave or do I have to buy my own?” scheme of things, but in I’ll invite you over for a meal and I can come back to the old house terms of “How do we really feel about this inevitable situation?” So, for tea with a side of laundry. Of course, there are memories that we mum, dad, lie down on separate therapeutic lounges, and let us (or me) share that will continue to connect us no matter how far apart we are. discuss how we’re really feeling. Despite my childhood scarring, I’ll always smile when I remember the Upon first thought of entering the big bad world, excitement fills time dad ‘borrowed’ my razor scooter, wearing his attractive knee-high every fibre of my being, accompanied by a strange taste and that Christmas socks, to accompany me to the local shops. Whether scarring morning’s breakfast. Don’t get me wrong, a life of true independence or moving, funny or sad, it’s memories like these that will remind me of is thrilling to say the least, but is the fantasy of ‘life on the outside’ really where I come from, even without the daily visual. Or, you know, be vital going to be what I’ve imagined all these long years, slowly etching lines in my admittance to an institution. with a broken razorblade into my bed post? Is it going to be all butterflies Most important of all though, is the realisation that this giant leap and picnics? No, I assume not. So what happens when I inevitably come must be undertaken, just because that’s life. Let’s put aside feelings of crawling back, malnourished and in need of a month long shower? guilt, of uneasiness, of questioning and of regret, and remember that, Mixed feelings aside, I’m excited to finally be able to tailor my despite my hectic life, I will think of you often and fondly, as I know you living arrangements to suit me. Like no longer needing to deal with a will think of me. 100-metre long driveway. Whilst a good source of accidental exercise, So get up, stretch your legs, and mum, you can borrow dad’s walking blind in complete darkness at 2am is, shortly, a bitch. So hanky to dry your eyes. Let us share a metaphoric hug and smile at maybe I could trade that in for something else – six flights of stairs or a what the future has in store. Oh, and by the way, you might want to lift or a camel on a travelator. I don’t know exactly, but the possibilities buy a new microwave. are endless! Trivialities aside, there is a sense of abandonment, however small, With lots of daughterly love, that accompanies this new found chapter. It bubbles away under the surface, leaving an uncomfortable sense of guilt. As the last one to leave Holly Friedlander Liddicoat 24 | THE SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com | ISSUE 6
Mystery Jets Having recently toured our shores, Will Rees from Mystery Jets spoke with Annabel Berry about his nest in London, gay soldiers in Gallipoli and Australian girls. Annabel has had a huge crush on him since she discovered the band in 2008 and we dangerously gave her his phone number...
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MYSTERY JETS
A: Hi Will, I’m actually really excited to be talking to you because I’ve had a huge crush on you for ages now...
think ‘Alice Springs’ is a great example of that. It’s set in Australia, in Alice Springs and it’s about these two soldiers who fall in love, almost like a very homoerotic love song. W: (Laughs) How’s that! But we’ve never met But when you take all the concepts out of each other! it, essentially it’s just a very emotional rock tune. So it was cool to do something that A: YouTube. wasn’t purely autobiographical. W: (Laughs) YouTube is very deceiving, be warned.
A: That’s actually really interesting… the story behind ‘Alice Springs’.
A: You’ve recently landed in Australia but before we get to that I thought you could tell me about your home city of London.
W: [Laughs] Yeah. It’s these two soldiers in a second world war story, Galli..Gallipol... Gallipoli? [Laughs]. But yeah it’s cool.
W: London is the best city in the world; there are so many different cultures and things going on in one place. It’s very wonderful, and it’s quite dangerous. It’s an amazing place to start a band; there are so many venues and so many young kids who are obsessed with music. It’s kind of a hothouse of ideas. I love London.
A: What a mouthful. You worked with producer Chris Thomas [Sex Pistols, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Elton John] on the third record; I bet he had some interesting stories to tell you.
A: What kind of music did you listen to as a kid? W: Lots of bands like Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, and I was really obsessed by Queen. Then my sister got me into Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana. I really loved the MTV Unplugged series that Nirvana did. So I listened to quite a big mixture of lots of different types of rock music. A: Are you happy with how your third album Serotonin has been received? Lyrically I think you guys have really kicked it up a notch. W: Yeah, absolutely. There was no way we wanted to repeat ourselves and make another Twenty One. We tried to make something strong, and more evolved. I think Twenty One is a very beautiful album, very autobiographical and there are some great pop moments in it. But I think on Serotonin we wanted to make songs that were muscular. Songs like ‘Alice Springs’ and ‘Lorna Doone’ talk about things that are maybe obscure but also quite powerful. I 26 | THE SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com | ISSUE 6
decide whether they want to buy into it. It’s nice to give people those choices. And people who were sitting on the fence before might get off that fence and be like “I really dig this, I’m going to get into it” and then go and buy the album. So I think it’s great. A: And do you think there’s a future for CDs? W: I still buy CDs a lot. But they’re never gonna sell the way that they used to sell. The future is online. That’s the way it is now. A: Something we all have to get used to. Now, last time you guys were here you played Falls Festival and you played Field Day recently, how do you describe the vibe of a festival in Oz compared to elsewhere?
W: He’s got some cool stories. He’s like an old shop of stories. Working with him was amazing; it was a real privilege actually. He’s done so much good stuff, but he is very shy and keeps to himself.
W: The vibe in Australia is great, it’s really fun. What we notice in Australia is that the crowds are very unreserved, they have no trouble in expressing their enjoyment of the music. It’s really cool. Crowds in England are a little bit reserved sometimes. And that’s A: Interesting. Speaking of the new album, the kind of main difference in vibe between what was the significance behind the Australia and England. name Serotonin? A: And of course Australian girls are the W: Serotonin is a chemical in the human prettiest. brain that can make you feel happy or sad. I think it made sense to call the record W: That as well! You girls are very beautiful, that because serotonin is basically what definitely. There are beautiful girls we’re trying to do with our listeners, when all over the world, the world is full of them, they listen to the album they feel high but the Australian girls are hot. and low. We consider ourselves musical serotonin. We want to be responsible for A: Are you listening to any Australian people’s emotions and the way that the bands at the moment? chemical effects them. So that’s the sort of concept behind it, I suppose. W: I just bought a Crowded House CD. Wood Face. The album is about 15 years A: I really like that. You guys released old. I’m also a big fan of The Triffids, “Flash a Hungry Smile” online. Do you particularly the song ‘Wide Open Road’. think that putting up tracks for free on the web is a good way of promoting an A: Both national treasures. I better let you album? jet, but all the best for the rest of the tour. W: Yes I do, yes I do. You’re giving people a taste test and you’re allowing them to
W: Thank you so much. I really enjoyed this interview. See you round.
A Bird’s nest Has anybody ever informed you that many species of bird nest together and mate for life? This is loyalty and commitment at its very best. Chloe Hazelwood writes When I think of nesting, the first thing that springs to mind is setting up home base with your significant other. Whether this is a whirlwind decision made three weeks into your relationship or something carefully considered after several years of courting, you have to give it some thought. Will you spend your time engaged in gentle debates about what shades of matching pastel your linen and teacups should be? On the flip side, you might find your style feeling so cramped that you start quartering off sections of the house as your territory, posting pickets that warn prosecution to any trespasser. When quizzing my pals on the subject, one summed it up well: “You have to make sure you really are ‘comfortable’ with each other. Like, you have to share a bathroom, so you’ve got to be confident your relationship is solid.” That, right there, is a pearl of wisdom. Moving in together sort of makes you wonder if your relationship has evolved to that next level. The first month or so of living with a partner seems like you’ve re-entered the honeymoon phase of your courtship. It feels like being encased in a bubble of security that will never burst. There’s the romantic (mostly packet) meals cooked for each other, shared over a bottle of cheap red wine; the privacy to walk around the house in your undies (if that’s your kind of thing); and endless spooning dates. The best way to get to know someone through and through is by living with them. It’s a window into their soul. In the home, your guard is down, you’re in your comfort zone. Every facet of your character is on display.
So it’s only natural that two personalities co-habiting one space can, at times, clash. This is a healthy part of human interaction. I’m the first to put my hand up and say that having “alone time” is vital, especially when you and your partner are both a bit hot under the collar. Does moving in with your other half mean a part of that individualism is lost? My grandfather always told me that “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. These days, I feel like that wise old saying has been forgotten, or at least swept under the rug, as young lovers arrange their entire schedules around each other. Most of my coupled-up buddies who still live at home will see each other at least five out of seven days a week. For most, the transition to sharing an abode is just a necessary step in the evolution of their relationship. Let me just put forward the idea of living with friends. Sure, there’s always little quirks they’ll have that might drive you a little batty, but you’ll all share the mutual understanding that each needs their own space from time to time, and this rule can be followed; living with a partner, it can easily be broken. Like birds, will you and your beloved settle into the nest for keeps? Or will the twigs and branches snap under your struggle for your own breathing space? Repeat after me: there is no rush. Take slow, deep breaths. Weigh up the pros and cons - write a list if you need to. Practise a simulated living situation temporarily; if you can live in relative harmony and don’t feel like a caged bird fighting for space in a tiny, overcrowded aviary… I give you my absolute blessing.
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FRESH WATER BLUES R.E.S.P.E.C.T - find out what it means to Tym Yee, as he talks with the creators of the controversial new Australian realitydrama Freshwater Blue. When you talk to big shot media folk you’re usually restricted to a 15 minute conversation. They are busy people with plenty of important things to do, so I understand this. I thought that calling television producer Toby Yoshimura (Saturday Night Live, The Amazing Race, Jerry Springer) on a Wednesday afternoon would be one of those ‘sorry your 15 minutes is up’ exchanges. This preconception in mind, I sat down at 3pm having not had any lunch. Big mistake. Toby was more than generous with his time for The Spit Press. You might lose a bit of ‘street cred’ by admitting that you watch Toby Yoshimura and Jayne Parker’s latest creation Freshwater Blue, Australia’s first reality-drama – and I’m in no way writing to defend that notion, nor am I writing to convert you or say that I watch it either. When I saw the first teaser for the show on MTV I instantly wanted to know who took the template for Laguna Beach and then preceded to rape one of Sydney’s nicest beaches with it? When I sit myself down for some quality ‘reality TV’ I know I’m not really watching reality. When I switch on the Kardashians I expect to see beautiful women in designer clothes having bitch fights and driving Bentleys. When I turn on Wife Swap I really do want to see an obsessive compulsive, Jag-driving, pommy square wind up in a house full of uneducated, cigarette-wielding, bum bag sporting chavs. I watch this because it is so far removed from my own reality that I can enjoy peering into the lives of such hilarious characters and situations thinking to myself ‘thank FUCK that THAT isn’t me’. So when I turned on Freshwater Blue and watched some teen drama about getting drunk at Schoolies I thought, who gives a damn? We’ve all been there; this is nothing new. When I spoke with Toby and Jayne, it was made very clear to me that this is because none of the show was scripted and this is exactly what these kids are going through. 28 | THE SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com | ISSUE 6
The drama might have been old news but it was this idea of filming a TV show of day-to-day stuff that we’ve all experienced ourselves that is so original, in Australia at least. There’s a lot of shit to be copped when you produce a show on a “shoe string budget” with a conventionally unpaid cast. I asked Toby and Jayne how they felt when people compared their show to Laguna Beach or The Hills and they agreed “Laguna’s first season was mildly legit. Second and third seasons it flew right off the rails into semi-scripted reality, which is just another way of saying scripted. The Hills was completely constructed television.” When asked about all the negative feedback the show receives Toby said “I don’t care if you hate the show, I’m going to keep going as we are. You know why? For every ten people who hate the show, there is a girl who says ‘I am absolutely in love with the show, thank you so much’ and that’s who I’m making it for.” In this self-hating indie masochist hipster world we live in, where our own opinions of what is cool and what is not are all blurred, contradictory and short sighted, I shamelessly stand up and salute Freshwater Blue. They’re doing what they want to do and slaying the haters as they go. I see a lot of similarities in what we’re doing with The Spit Press (conceptually that is…I’m not a beaches stud and if you saw me in Speedos you’d probably cry… tears of joy, mind you). I cheekily suggested a Spit Press reality TV show and they laughed… but then again I am alone, sitting on the floor of a two bedroom apartment eating Sara Lee carrot cake from the foil pan as I write this… not all that interesting and definitely not dramatic. Freshwater Blue airs at 4:30pm on Thursdays on MTV. If you like it, you like it, if you don’t, then you don’t. I never thought I’d say this when I watched my first episode, but I definitely respect it.
hungry kids of hungary Tommy Faith and Dean McGrath of Hungry Kids of Hungary exchanged thoughts on pop music, discussed touring and spoke about what it’s like to be on the up and up. “The name of the game has always been writing pop songs” said Hungry Kids of Hungary lead singer Dean McGrath. I gasped. ‘You can’t do that,’ I thought. ‘Did he really just use the P-word?’ Though ‘indie-pop’ is a widely accepted term in today’s burgeoning hipstercentric music climate, ‘pop’? Pop is not. Pop is Lady Gaga (who you’re allowed to like ironically). Pop is Black Eyed Peas. Pop is Justin Beiber. Pop is knowing what it is like to wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy. Uninformed cultural references aside though, Hungry Kids of Hungary write some of the catchiest hooks you may ever hear. It’s no surprise then that they’ve found such success over the past two years. When I caught up with Dean he was markedly understated about his band’s success. “We can’t complain. Things are going well I guess. We’re on the tail end of our album tour and we’re all on the verge of collapse, it’s all going well.” And it is. Ever since the band won Triple J Unearthed last year it’s been a case of the up and up for Hungry Kids. “Getting that initial radio play and all the things that came with it was amazing. We got to play Big Day Out on the Gold Coast and it was a great launching pad for us. Things started happening at an incredible rate after Triple J picked up on the music.” Speaking with Dean however, there was no sense of the rockstar syndrome that one might expect from a band tasting the first fruits of
success. As they wandered through a parking lot trying to find their car, Dean talked about aims and aspirations. “We’re not the kind of band that dreams of world domination or anything like that. As long as we can keep playing music that we enjoy we’ll be happy.” Since the release of their newest record Escapades in October, Hungry Kids have been travelling town to town as part of their heavy schedule. “We’ve been having such a great time. It’s been a massive tour and there’s been a massive workload surrounding it all.” This year the band has toured with heavyweight internationals such as OK Go and Jamie T but this tour was more about music between friends. “We’re touring with Ball Park Music right now and we’ve been hanging out with them today. It’s been really nice since the Ball Park kids have been friends of ours for a little while now. Jo and Tom from Big Scary we didn’t know beforehand but we’ve quickly become great friends with them. We’ve all had our skateboards with us you know...” Hungry Kids have been hitting rural towns and the smaller cities along the East coast for the Escapades tour. “This tour’s probably the biggest. We were in Wollongong last night but we’ve been to Ballarat, Toowoomba, we’ve been everywhere.” Already however, the band is thinking about their next batch of songs. “We want to go overseas again early next year and we’re putting together plans for that but we want to start looking at writing new songs for the second album too.”
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Leeloo When it comes to discovering rare treasures, I’m sure you’ve trawled through endless stores and stalls, searching far and wide for that perfect vintage delight that won’t break the bank balance. Chloe Hazelwood spoke with Angela D’alton Angela, owner and creator of online store Leeloo, has fostered a growing community of web customers who would rather be able to browse all of these precious wares from the comfort of home and find the ultimate collectible with a few quick clicks of the mouse. She showcases one-of-a-kind creations from selected emerging Australian designers and artists. From jewels to zines, beauty to stationery, essential accessories and a handy gift guide, Leeloo has your A to Z wish list covered. Lads and dads will not go without either – there’s a category devoted to them! It’s clear that this project is Angela’s baby and she has nurtured it lovingly from humble beginnings to what it has now become. “It was a natural goal,” Angela says of starting an online store that supports Australian designers and artists. And the distinctive choice of title? “It was simply named after my dog Leeloo, since she’s a very important part of my life.” To Angela, Leeloo is a kind of analogy for the spirit of the ‘underdog’, representing her total support for “hand-made, unique and sustainable fashion”. Although she came from an I.T background, Angela’s real interests always lay in the arts, and she is a self-confessed ‘avid shopper’, having already given her credit card a good workout through online buying. Realising that the world of web was quickly catching up with print, Angela’s dream blossomed, like the petals of a delicate blooming bud. As an “ardent follower of style”, Angela observed the “overproduction of clothing and mass production in general”. This increasingly worried her. Moreover, the corporate world was becoming less appealing; “I needed to make a huge change in my personal
life… I wanted to feel happy and fulfilled”. It seemed the universe was synchronising these events to give her the push to “be the change I wanted to see in the world”. With this, Leeloo was born. Having pored over Angela’s store myself like a child let loose in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, I discovered a myriad of quirky and unique treats, which immediately became objects of desire. Initially, Angela did her research and networked with creators. “Now, however, most of the designers contact Leeloo, which is such a wonderful luxury for me! Being able to consider the designer submissions and curate the bits and pieces for the store is one of the best parts of my job. No, actually, I’d say it is the best part.” Angela muses over whether she should open a shop, or remain online. “It’s something that comes up on my radar from time to time, yet strangely never seems to feel right. I feel that staying online is the right thing for Leeloo.” If you’re craving a closer look at her collection, you can check her out at Finders Keepers Markets, a bi-annual beacon of independent design and art that exhibits in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. “2011 will see Leeloo having a whopping six market stalls!” I can almost hear the excitement and anticipation in Angela’s writing. “Being able to set up the stall so it’s pretty and inviting and then seeing people’s faces light up with smiles as they walk towards the goodies is such an amazing experience. That’s the one thing I do miss about having an online store but thankfully I have that at the markets!” As you can see folks, Angela has struck a win/win situation, but that’s in huge part due to her dedication and beamingly positive attitude. Love your work, dream big and anything is possible! THE SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com | ISSUE 6 | 31
Her Second Smile When the nest you’ve made for yourself to shelter and protect who you are is threatened by what you do, how do you reconcile the two aspects of your life? Edwina Storie sat down with a woman who’s occupation threatens her personality, to discuss how she copes. In front of me sat her original identity. The one that could not be bought – that was saved only for her family, her boyfriend and her tiny daughter. Her lips were naked of her usual lipstick, her hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and her feet were slipped into thongs instead of heels. We sat facing each other within the warm golden tones of the five star hotel. She had been waiting on the low lounges in the back corner of the bar for me, to interview me on whether I was strong enough to join the ranks. Her occupation had consumed her life and at times, she lived the second identity more than the one she was born with – the one that sat before me. “The money is addictive,” was one of the first things Beth* confessed, her eyes down. She looked tired. For a moment I lost her in the screened words and glossy smile of Alice*. I suppose she couldn’t help it. Perhaps she was trying to entice me in, or maybe she was happier as Alice – free of conscience while on the other side. Over the interview she would flicker between the two personalities as she propositioned me to join her as a high-class escort with her new agency. She had first become Alice seven years ago when she was 21. She went from boring secretary to charismatic ‘psychology student’ – or so she told her clients. She had changed into Alice who was in charge of her sexuality, Alice who had direction in her life, Alice who didn’t have a daughter and Alice who made $10,000 for seven hours work as an escort. “You have to find your second personality,” she told me. “You have to so you can deal with the situation. She will have similar interests to you but she is not you. She has a separate wardrobe, a separate personality, a separate bank account – so you don’t blend the two.” Perhaps separating her identity into two was easy, but remembering which one was the real her seemed hard. Alice hadn’t come without a struggle. She had come as Beth’s own way of dealing with the occupation of selling her body. When she first 32 | THE SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com | ISSUE 6
joined the industry at a brothel she had still been Beth, standing in lingerie in a line of girls waiting to be chosen off the menu. She serviced ten clients per shift. But Beth couldn’t take it and Alice revealed herself to take the pressure off her conscience. She straightened her posture, focused her eyes on me and said with a stern tone of determination “No one treats this industry like a business, but it should be, and that’s what I am doing.” Now in front of me was Alice. “Look, it’s really not that bad,” she rolled her eyes. “You’ve gone to bars and met guys before, right? Well it’s just the same as that except you sleep with them and you get paid for it. You’ll be getting paid for what a lot of girls give away for free.” As she propositioned me with the vacant position, her explanation jumped between two opposite descriptions. From an easy way to make ridiculous amounts of money that nearly any woman could do, to an occupation suited only to a particular type of woman, who would most probably see its effects filter into her private life and personal relationships, her sense of self, her sanity, and her safety. It was here I could see the split. She had two homes and wasn’t settled in either of them. “You have to hold onto a piece of yourself, even though you give away so much... My partner is the only person I don’t wear a condom with… It’s only a tiny part of me, but it’s all I have left.” The nest of her personality had been ravaged by scavengers and she was trying desperately to protect what remained. She giggled nervously in an attempt to break the icy sadness, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Once our coffee cups were drained and I had asked her all the questions that pulled at my uncertainty, we shook hands, back in business mode. She looked me in the eye and said, “Just sleep on it.” Her comforting concern left me wondering whose wisdom the parting words had come from.
featuring
Banana Choc Chip Muffins It’s time to fold up the picnic blanket and prepare ourselves for the colder months. The original recipe was scribbled on a piece of paper that now has so many food and tea stains it is near impossible to read. But I have used it so many times that now I don’t refer to the paper, rather, I fondly reminisce about the many previous baking sessions. I use it over and over again as it fills the house with a mouthwatering aroma and leaves my belly in a state of pure satisfaction. It is how a home should be; warm, safe, content. As the temperature begins to drop, use this recipe to start building your nest for autumn. Love Sophie and Zabrina Banana Choc Chip Muffins Ingredients: 2 cups Self Raising Flour 3/4 cup Raw Sugar 1 cup Dark Chocolate Melts 200ml Canola Oil 1 1/4 cup Milk 1 tsp Vanilla Essence 2 Black Bananas Cinnamon Sugar
Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees, fan forced. 2. Line a 12 cup muffin tray with muffin patties. 3. In a large bowl, sift flour and add sugar and 3/4 of the chocolate. 4. Smoosh the bananas with a fork and place in a small bowl with the canola oil, milk and vanilla essence. Vigorously beat for 15 seconds with a hand beater or whisk. 5. Gently add the wet ingredients to the dry and fold together with a wooden spoon until just combined. (The key to the perfect fluffy muffin is air, so be gentle and don’t over stir!) 6. Spoon mixture evenly into muffin patties. 7. Use the remainder of the chocolate melts and arrange them neatly on the muffin tops. 8. Generously dust the tops with cinnamon sugar. 9. Bake in the oven for 14-16 minutes until springy to the touch. (The muffins will rise rapidly in the first 5-8 minutes. If they don’t, you will need to turn the temperature up the next time you bake.) 10. Allow to cool for 5 minutes and serve fresh on the couch with a big cup of black earl grey. Note: You can purchase cinnamon sugar from the store, but you can easily make a batch at home by mixing 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup raw sugar and 2 tbls cinnamon.
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Bird’s nest soup India McDonough takes a look at a questionable Chinese delicacy. People eat some pretty weird things. I personally have eaten deep fried chicken cartilage, chicken feet, raw beef, pig cheek, and, apparently, I used to be quite fond of eating lamb brains when I was a baby. (Although if I was too young to do it by choice, I’m not sure it counts.) We humans basically have the idea that if it’s part of an animal, we can and should eat it. Look at Bear Grylls for christ’s sake. He’ll bite the head of anything, alive or dead, if it means he’ll have the energy to continue trudging through the Amazon or the Himalayas or wherever. And whose idea was it to stuff the innards of a sheep into its own stomach, boil it and then eat it? Not the most appetizing image, but if the sheep’s already dead waste not want not I guess. But what about when a whole family of tiny birds has to lose their home- sometimes three times in a single season- and often their lives, just so that their nests can be eaten? Nests made out of the delicious (?) hardened threads of their saliva. The male cave swiftlets of south-eastern Asia build their nests over a period of 35 days, using nothing but their saliva, which hardens when exposed to air. They attach these to the steep walls of the caves they live in, tucked into crevices and far away from their predators. Most of them anyway. These nests have been well loved by the Chinese for centuries, because of the belief that eating them promotes health and longevity. It’s this belief that has sky rocketed the price of the nests; in 1975 a kilo was sold for $10 in Hong Kong, by 1995 this figure was $400, shooting up to $1600 by 2002. Harvesting nests is a risky job, and many harvesters have fallen to their deaths searching for and collecting this commodity. The nests can be built as high as 200 to 300 feet above the cave floor, and the only ladders the harvesters use, due to respect for the ‘cave gods’, are made of flimsy bamboo and vines. They climb these
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makeshift ladders at dawn and only come down at night, spending this entire time with torches clenched between their teeth, just so they can scrape 50 or 60 tiny spit nests off the cave walls, so they can be made into soup. Totally understandable, right? When the swiftlet’s nests are first stolen, they are usually empty and can be rebuilt quickly on the same spot. These replacement nests are lost again, before eggs can even be produced. When the third nests are built, eggs have been laid and the nests have become home to the tiny, helpless hatchlings. Many harvesters will wait until the hatchlings have left their nests before stealing them, however it’s easier to reach your quota of nests when you have no scruples, so many birds lose their lives along with their homes. The birds aren’t worth money, but their nests are. When dissolved in water, the nests form a gelatinous substance used to make a soup that is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine, going for about $60 a bowl. Some are adulterated with chicken stock, but with a little more cashola you can indulge in “Phoenix Swallowing the Swallow”. It’s about as appetizing as it’s name suggests- it’s a clear soup made from the liquid extracted from a chicken after it’s been ‘impregnated’ with bird nests. Delicious. I like to think I’ll try anything once. Why not - if it’s food and people eat it, it won’t kill me, right? I might not like it, but I’ll never know until I summon the courage to try it. But I’m pretty sure I’m never going to pay 60 bucks for a bowl of dissolved bird saliva, no matter what the health benefits are. I don’t know why, centuries ago, someone took a look at one of these nests and thought ‘hey, bet I can eat that thing’, but it’s a little too weird for me. I think I’ll stick to trying unconventional parts of animals to broaden my culinary horizons, and leave their houses alone.
innaturale Toby Marosszeky - Photographer www.tobymphoto.com Model - Chelsea - EMG Models Stylist - Elaine Laurel Make up - Bonita Chan Hair - Natalie Anne Ayoub Assistant - Dan Hilburn Props - Newtown Old Wares Garments - Phoenix Keating, Staple Shoes - Dan Yelle
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A powerful and beautifully woven documentary about the revered artist and icon Jean-Michel Basquiat.
OUT NOW
www.hopscotchfilms.com.au
“Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child is a remarkably rich documentary possessing depth, range, insight and compassion.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES “A fine, visually handsome biographical documentary about the brief life and even briefer career of the great 20th Century artist.” THE – SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com BOX OFFICE MAGAZINE| ISSUE 6 | 39
Dominic proust Dominic Proust is a Sydney based artist whose work focuses on small natural occurrences. Inspired by the idea of a cabinet of curiosities, he blends both fiction and scientific fact in his work. He works in traditional print media; primarily wood block, lino, and lithography, also illustrating with watercolour and gauche. His work blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, creating images that are at once childlike and oddly sinister. He’s working towards a solo exhibition of illustrations, which will show at the Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, Chippendale, running from the 1st until the 14th of March 2011. Can’t wait that long? Head to www.domproust.com to tide you over.
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FACES
What was the best advice Mama Bird gave you when you left the nest?
Sarah Luckey: “Check out if your neighbours are hot before you hang your undies on the line.”
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Andrea Stauber: “Cook up one big meal a week and freeze the leftovers.”
Genna Isabel Alexopolous: Waterhouse: “Make sure you do a good grocery shop when you get there. Avocados are in season at the moment. Call home and don’t drink too much!”
“Don’t think things will be like in the movies, they romanticize mistakes.” To be honest I assume that was just euphemistic for ‘don’t get pregnant’.
David Smith: Jenna Turner: Glenn Wolter: Matt Byrne: “Get rich or die tryin.”
“Marry for money because “Try not to let the little love tires.” Clearly a things get you down and romantic! live like your inheritance will cover the damage.
“Go find some honey and rock out until the day they call reality, or your days are wasted.”
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Nestled Up Away from Home Caitlyn Adamson writes about the joys of finding a nest away from your own.
While at some bizarre points in our lives we may be caught in drastic crossroads where we are poor, soaked with regret and homeless with our bags in the rain, I take firm solace in the fact that while my own private paradise might be pending, there are different nests I can nuzzle in until I’m ready to take flight once again. There’s always an upside to friends, lovers and casual acquaintances. Like money for the bus when you’ve spent your last three bucks on a chai latte frappuccinno, or jackets on a cold walk home from some distant location. But the greatest upside of all is probably the under-appreciated comfort of their living room couch or left hand side of the bed. Too often I find myself stumbling away from home with no mode of legitimate and/or reasonably priced transportation to take me back and – instead of wandering aimlessly into the dreary, dark, ominous nightmare which is walking and public transport – I simply rely on the kind and supple hearts of my other little nest birds. In fact I recently found myself in a situation where sleeping in my parked car outside my friend’s house at 3am seemed like a better idea than waking her up. But as much as my ideas are almost always a great plan of mastermind proportions, the kindness of my friend in her half awakened state steered me into the direction of the warmth of her couch and away from the shame of waking up to joggers tapping on my window. But as far as homes away from home go, finding another nest isn’t always a favour in waiting. Most times the desperation to crash
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is just a freak occurrence. For me, the places I cherish the most are the places that feel like home even when you could be a million miles away from your very own bed. What I love about these special nests aren’t just the details like the colour of walls or the view from the window or even the softness of a bed. It’s the people inside that make it something good to come home to. The people who would hold your hair back while you’re sick from a big night out and won’t be totally pissed off with you in the morning. The people you could come home to after a long day of work and nap with for 2 hours while Angus & Julia Stone play in the background. The people that you talk to in your own language of personal jokes and grunts which leave outsiders thinking to themselves “wtf?”. The people you can make a feast sized dinner with before you sit down on a Wednesday night and watch The Good Wife. The people who open their doors when you have no place else to go. Even though there might not be anything quite like your own bed; nesting and watching rain through your window while you read hardback copies of your favourite novels, your homes away from home are a close second place. The friends you know so well that you know where they keep their spare key, or how they take their tea, what they like for breakfast in the morning and their TV schedule on everyday of the week. There are always perks in friendship, but when it comes to the facing the cold and having no place to go the best nests are always warmer + 1.
Creative Profile: NATALIE DUFTON Many of us spend most of our time at work, whether by choice or necessity, so it’s nice to feel as at home as possible in our workplace. India McDonough spoke to Natalie Dufton, a commercial interior designer, whose job it is to make sure this is possible. I: What made you want to get into this industry?
I: Why is it important to create personalised spaces for your clients?
N: I’ve always been very sensitive to my surroundings and extremely observant as to how things can create an atmosphere or vibe. My father is an engineer/ builder so I have always been immersed in the construction industry. When I discovered that there was a career path I could follow that combined my creative flair and also my love for built form, I knew it was the right path for me to take.
The working environment is paramount to a person’s life, career and well being. We spend most of our lives in an office environment so it’s important to make sure staff are energised and invigorated. Whether this is encouraging people to move around the space through careful planning of the area, or using finishes and textures that are tactile and interactive, it all ultimately needs to make the working space somewhere people want to be.
I: How did you get started? N: After high school, I immediately began studying a Diploma of Interior Design at a private college. Part of the course was carrying out two weeks work experience in the industry. I was lucky enough to be offered a job after my two week stint, which was a fantastic head start for me, and the amazing offers I’ve had since then have got me where I am now. I: What’s the most satisfying thing about your job? N: I love a challenge, and there is nothing more satisfying to me than designing a space to suit a tricky brief and having an outcome you are proud of and that the client loves. The client satisfaction is my number one priority when designing a space, so if the project finishes with a smiling client, then I know I’ve done a good job. Another wonderful thing about my job is being able to physically experience something you have created and have spent a lot of time designing.
I: How is designing for residential spaces different to designing for commercial spaces? Residential design is catered for a specific client/ individual. Everything is custom to a certain person’s tastes and requirements. Commercial design needs to take into account various people’s needs and how groups of people experience spaces, as opposed to the individual, that’s what makes it more challenging. Structurally speaking, there are strict requirements that you need to adhere to in commercial design to ensure everything is in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards and Building Codes. I: What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow the same path as you?
N: The best thing you can do if you think Interior Design is the right career choice for you is to get experience. Volunteer to do some work experience in design firms and gain contacts. It doesn’t matter where I: What are the biggest challenges you face? you study, or whether you have an honours degree versus a diploma; if you have experience in the industry then that is the most valuable N: Budget, time and space are the three biggest design constraints that tool. Getting your foot in the door is the hardest part. There are many I deal with on a daily basis. It’s one thing to create a beautiful space, Interior Architecture and Interior Design courses available these days but if it’s not practical, cost effective and quickly managed then the end at University, TAFE and Private Colleges, it’s just a matter of finding result is pointless. Creating a space that takes into account all of the the right one for you that will enable you to have hands on experience parameters of a brief is what separates design from art. throughout your studies. THE SPIT PRESS | www.spitpress.com | ISSUE 6 | 47
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