Issue No. 08 March/April 2019 we are the lub dub potential of every super nova
am free
Waking to the power of our voice ...
Our Paradiso is a peaceful sandwich, green spaces, all of the flowers, flowing with the breath, poetry read out loud
Look Touch and Feel
Flowers are the things we know secrets are the things we grow
So many muses Stone and Wood, Tigmi Trading, Katerina Bak, Bank Australia, Mark Swivel, Olatundji Akpo-Sani
A travel and experience annual Northern NSW, Australia No.01, 2018-2019 OUT NOW – found at stockists throughout Northern NSW or buy online. Brought to you by Paradiso
Published annually, Take Away is an exploration of the unique creative consciousness thriving in Northern NSW, Australia and the key elements that support and sustain this community. Enjoy feature stories with local creatives, experiential essays, fashion editorial, photo essays and a curated selection of the area’s best food, drinks, retailers, experiences and accommodation.
thisisparadiso.com.au/takeaway
SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA Steeped in natural beauty, rugged, biodiverse and captivating. From salt flats to Inca palaces, the Akapana pyramid and Kalasasaya Temples,
Salar de Uyuni is extreme everything and endless starry skies. This issue Anna Hutchcroft inspires us with her visit to Salar de Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) the world’s largest salt flat. Situated
in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes Salar de Uyuni sits 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above sea level. Enjoy the journey.
POSTCARD
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FROM
Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
PARADISO
Postcard from Paradiso
WELCOME
ISSUE NO. 08 ~ MAR–APR 2019
THIS IS PARADISO
PHOTOS–
Anna Hutchcroft @annahutch_photo
Salar de
Bolivia 5
Take me to:
Uyuni,
+ WELCOME
Waking to the power of our voice ... Hello Paradiso 8 - you little miracle. She rides on the back of our new baby Take Away - a homage to the creative consciousness of Northern NSW. She is pretty as a picture and celebrates our community, its good people and all the bits in between. Team Paradiso ;) xx
To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful, freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. It’s freedom. – Pa tt i Sm i t h
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Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
WE ARE HERE
Hello– Issue No. 08: Waking to the power of our voice ... / Mar–Apr 2019
HELLO
Paradiso is so very proudly brought to you by: Beck Marshall, Co-Founder, Managing Editor @sixgallery_ Lila Theodoros, Co-Founder, Production Manager/Design @ohbabushka Aarna Hudson, Partnership Manager @aarnakristina Marty and Matt, Team Distribution Chris Theodoros, Accountant businessmatters.com.au Our Mums, Tania Theodoros and Lorraine Marshall, Proof Readers Thank you to our wonderful contributors– Ella McCabe Barton Isobel Hobbs Kat Bak Olatundji Akpo-Sani Anna Hutchcroft From the bottom of our hearts– thank you to our incredibly supportive families – we love you! xx Printed by Cornerstone Press, Northgate Qld. Published by This is Paradiso Trust. © This is Paradiso Trust 2019, all rights reserved. Disclaimer No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the publisher. The views expressed in Paradiso are those of the retrospective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the publisher. Contributions and submissions are welcome but no responsibility is taken. Information and credits are correct when going to print but may change afterwards. Paradiso is published six times a year and we are sorry for any mistakes :) thisisparadiso.com.au @paradiso_magazine_ Paradiso acknowledges the Bundjalung People of the Byron Shire as the traditional custodians of this land.
Club Paradiso Come for the fun, stay for the best membership in town. Join the club and receive our OUT NOW newsletter – you will be the first of your friends to find out when our latest issue is hitting the streets; you’ll get a mid-mag-month sneak peak at the amazing features we are putting together for your reading pleasure; AND you will be the first to be invited to all of the very exciting Paradiso events such as Breakfast Club. Sign up now. thisisparadiso.com.au/club
THIS IS PARADISO
Enjoy reading–
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–38
–58
Just a sandwich –10 A new spiritual home –12 Flowers for you –20 Kat Bak Draws –22 And her voice was like a bell –38 We are waking to the power of our voice – Olatundji Akpo-Sani –52 Uyuni, Bolivia –58
Food + Drink
10 Feature: Just a sandwich 12 Feature: A new spiritual home: Stone and Wood
Home + Design
16 How I live: Plant Life Balance 18 Me, my shop and I: Tigmi Trading 20 Photo essay: Flowers for you 22 Feature: Kat Bak Draws
Community
28 Good people: Bank Australia 30 Encounter: Mark Swivel 32 Centre Fold: Good morning star shine 7
Wellbeing
Travel
Fashion + Beauty
62 Crossword
34 Practice and all is coming: The moments between
58 Feature: Uyuni, Bolivia 60 Ten things I love about: Kingscliff
38 Feature: And her voice was like a bell
Arts + Events
50 Arts Guide 52 Current Muse: Olatundji Akpo-Sani
Cover image– Isobella Hobbs @izsea_
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Back cover image– Maggie Dylan @maggiedylan
HELLO
+ WELCOME
THE WARMEST OF WARM UPS
The Good News is—
March–April Top 5 to look out for: 01– Visit Polly & Esther A pinch of vintage, a hint of retro and a huge offering of unique modern clothing and homewares all squirrelled away behind an unassuming little red door. Coffee on hand next door at the Post Office Cafe. 5913 Tweed Valley Way, Mooball. @polly_and _esther
Locals to raise thousands of donation dollars by drinking Murbah Swamp Beer By enjoying a few Murbah Swamp Beers, Northern Rivers locals are set to help raise tens of thousands of dollars for local palliative care services at Stone and Wood’s third annual Murwillumbah Open Day, which last year raised more than $30,000 for the Wedgetail Retreat. Between 11am and 5pm on Saturday, 30 March at Stone and Wood’s Murwillumbah brewery, the annual ‘Murbah’ Open Day will again invite locals to an all-day, familyfriendly event of beer, food and music, complete with market stalls, food trucks, a kids’ area and brewery tours for those keen to get behind the scenes. For Murbah Open Day updates and information visit stoneandwood.com.au
Rise & Resist: How to Change the World with Clare Press
Byron Writers Festival and Dumbo Feather invite you to a free talk with writer and sustainability expert Clare Press about her recent book Rise & Resist. Rise & Resist takes a wild trip through the new activism sweeping the world. The political march is back in a big way, as communities rally to build movements for environmental and social justice. But today’s context calls for increasingly creative strategies to make our voices heard. Crossing the globe, Clare Press meets passionate change makers who believe in the power of the positive. From eco-warriors and zero-wasters to knitting nannas, introvert craftivists to intersectional feminists, they’re all up for a revolution of sorts. Are you? Join Press as she discusses the formation of a new counterculture, united by a grand purpose: to rethink how we live today to build a more sustainable tomorrow. When: Friday 5 April, 10–11am Where: Beach Hotel, 1 Bay St, Byron Bay Tickets: FREE Bookings essential via byronwritersfestival.com/whats-on
Win! Win!! Win!!! Join Club Paradiso to win Join the Club to win a Box of Chocolates with Benefits kindly gifted from our friends at Loco Love. This is not just an everyday box of chocolate – each chocolate has been handcrafted with the addition of medicinal herbs, healing spices and therapeutic grade essential oils, to elevate your wellbeing. Eat chocolate and be healthy. To win – we’ve made it super easy – simply visit thisisparadiso. com.au/club and sign up to Club Paradiso. Thank you Loco Love! locolove.com
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02– Lunch Sweat at Nimbus & Co Welcome your wellbeing. Our good friends at Nimbus have introduced the lunch hour sweat. From 1 February, Nimbus will be offering $25 saunas between 12–2pm. Nourish and remedy your body and mind, then head back to work. Bookings are essential. nimbusco.com.au 03– Blues Festival We all know it – we live through it – so why not visit it? Hello Iggy Pop, Paul Kelly, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Be sure to make time to head over to Bundjalung country’s very own world-class Indigenous Arts & Culture Festival, Boomerang Festival – performing this year is a Paradiso favourite Tenzin Choegyal 18–22 April, Byron Bay. bluesfest.com.au 04– The Ocean Film Festival Inspiring and thought-provoking, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour is filled with moving footage, touching interviews and insightful narrations. 7–8 March, Byron Theatre, Byron Bay. oceanfilmfestivalaustralia.com.au 05– The Byron Flea The Byron Flea is a monthly market held at the Byron YAC (Byron Youth Service). The Flea provides a safe space for Byron youth to express themselves and empowers them by encouraging creative enterprise. Money raised through stall fees goes towards keeping Youth Enterprise Programs alive in the Byron Shire. Second Saturday of each Month. bys.org.au
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Waking to the power of our voice
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FOOD
+ DRINK
LET’S EAT WITH THE SEASONS
STYLING–
SETTING–
Beck Marshall
Joan & Olga @joan.and.olga
PHOTO & WORDS–
Lila Theodoros
Just a sandwich As the wise and sagacious role model of our age, Liz Lemon, once said, “I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich.” That time between each bite, chewing, savouring, swallowing. Oh, the sandwich. Oh, the fillings. Now, a sandwich is not just a sandwich. It is a unique combination of flavours, textures, smells and memories, all held together in a union of balance and complexity. Whether for basic convenience or gastronomic experimentation, a sandwich has purpose. The possibilities of ingredients is endless and our go to sandwich combos are usually drawn from personal family histories or our experience of popular culture in a certain time or place.
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Every time I eat a peanut butter sandwich, I want it with a glass of milk, courtesy of a 1980s Sesame Street episode. Somedays my European heritage longs for a simple sweet and sour rye sandwich with thick slices of vintage cheese and polski ogorki. And, as much as we may want to deny it, who doesn’t love the salty pleasure of a vegemite sanga? Talk to anyone and they have a favourite – a secret sandwich recipe handed down through generations. Learning about a new sandwich can stir some serious emotions – confusion, anger, revelation, joy etc. Upon hearing your friend confess that they mix tahini with a spicy chutney and slices of strawberry, take a moment to consider a new idea – it might just change your world. Here are some sandwich talking points to get you started – try them out and discuss:
Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
Sandwich 1 (pictured): Pear, Vintage Cheddar, Pocket Herbs Micro Herb Mix, and Pickled Onion Relish Sandwich 2: Sweet Ricotta, Grilled Peach and Watercress Sandwich 3: Prosciutto, Double Brie and Pickled Fennel Sandwich 4: Cashew Cream, Apple and Micro Chives Sandwich 5: For a really indulgent sandwich, we would recommend: The Four Cheese and Four Onion (just think about it!) Select your ingredients, find somewhere quiet, sit in peace and enjoy your sandwich.
ING REDIENTS–
Eden’s Landing @edenslandings
JUST A SANDWICH
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FOOD
+ DRINK
VISIT
WORDS–
PHOTOS–
Beck Marshall
Lila Theodoros
A new spiritual home
Team Paradiso have been eager to check out the new ‘spiritual home’ of Stone and Wood since we got wind of its conception. In the architectural hands of Harley Graham, it was guaranteed to be a space we would absolutely enjoy. This issue we threw on our high-vis jackets and got ourselves an intimate tour of the new brewery with Creative & Community Team Leader/Manager and long-time Paradiso friend, Jasmin Daly.
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Entering through the breezy doors of the Brewery, you are immediately welcomed with that down to earth Stone and Wood charm. It is something I can’t put my finger on but it’s just there. Friendly and accessible. This new space houses the Stone and Wood team as well as functioning as a working brewery – a pilot plant for their experimental ales dubbed Counter Culture – beers that go against the grain. This limited release range see Stone and Wood explore a new terrain, beyond the tried and tested. Jasmin explains it’s all about having a bit of fun – Counter Culture will inspire possibility, create curiosity and invite conversation, maybe even encourage you to see beer a little differently. And why not. If experimental ales aren’t your thing,
A NEW SPIRITUAL HOME
the old favourites are there for the tasting, including the Original Pacific Ale, Jasper Ale and the new Cloud Catcher. The brewery is open seven days a week, running tastings through its cellar door, where you can also purchase a carton or grab some merchandise. Stone and Wood are well known for their community spirit. You will find hints of this throughout the new space. Adorning the main wall is a collaboration with local artist Paul McNeil, featuring his signature flair. Step back and enjoy his painting of a line up of colourful waves.
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Local food legends behind 100 Mile Table man The Canteen, serving up bar snacks and lunch, marrying beer and brewers boards with local cheese, sourdough, pickles and olives. For me the finest detail is in the brewing process itself. There is a whole lot more to beer than beer. From the initial stages of malting to the final product – it’s actual bloody fascinating. Science may be the last thing on your mind while enjoying a cold one, but it’s always good to know just how what you’re enjoying was made. @stoneandwood
FOOD
+ DRINK
TASTE
All about that Stone and Wood taste
Paddle One (from right to left)
Paddle Two (from right to left)
GREEN COAST LAGER Beer style: Based on a Munich Helles lager (pale lager) Story: Green Coast captures the green rolling hills of the hinterland as they meet the coast. In a nutshell: Crisp, clean, unfiltered, naturally refreshing. Ingredients: Hops: Tettnan, Hersbrucke and Spalt Malt: Pale malt, Munich malt, Vienna malt Yeast: German lager yeast ABV (alcohol by volume): 4.7% Aroma: Subtle malt, subtle hop Flavour: Clean lager
HAUS BIER Our Haus Bier presents with a light golden appearance, a clean and biscuity pils malt backbone, and satisfying floral and herbal Tettnang and Saplt hop notes. This beer is pouring for a limited time at the Tasting Room in our Byron brewery. ABV: 5%
THE ORIGINAL PACIFIC ALE Beer style: Australian summer ale (not yet formally recognised as a style) Story: After a day at the beach – with salt drying on your hair and skin, hot sand under your toes. You wander over to the Beach Hotel, the time and place this beer was made for … In a nutshell: Byron Bay in a glass; tropical fruit aromas with a refreshing finish. Ingredients: Hops: Galaxy Malt: Pale malt and wheat Yeast: House ale yeast ABV: 4.4% Aroma: Tropical fruit (passionfruit, pineapple) Flavour: Fruity JASPER ALE Beer style: Hoppy red ale Story: Homage to the small local village once known as Jasper, now called Federal; the colour reflects the hinterland’s volcanic red soil. In a nutshell: Perfect cooler weather beer, malty, hoppy and warming. Ingredients: Hops: Galaxy, Enigma and Mosaic Malt: Pale malt, crystal malt and roasted malt Yeast: House ale yeast ABV: 5.4% Aroma: Roasted malts, pine and fruit Flavour: Toffee and caramel balanced with firm bitterness
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CLOUD CATCHER Beer style: Australia pale ale Story: Celebrates our Murwullimbah brewery opening; named after Mt Warning whose local Indigenous name is Wollumbin, meaning ‘cloud catcher’. After the beer became a hit, we continued brewing it and added it to our core beers. In a nutshell: The perfect step-up with an increase in flavour, alcohol and bitterness. Ingredients: Hops: Galaxy, Enigma and Ella Malt: Pale malt, wheat malt and crystal malts Yeast: House ale yeast ABV: 5% Aroma: Tropical fruit and apricot Flavour: Stone fruits and citrus TREEHOUSE CIDER Beer style: Medium-dry cider Story: The most local cider to the Northern Rivers, Treehouse Cider is made with Granite Belt apples. In a nutshell: Award-winning handcrafted cider that balances red and green apples – not too sweet. Ingredients: Apples: 70% red; 30% green, gluten-free Yeast: Champagne ABV: 4.8% Aroma: Crisp apple Flavour: Simply tastes like apple
Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
BELGIAN QUAD Beer style: Belgian quad In a nutshell: Bold and rich, our quad pours a velvety brown and coats the palate with sweet fruits; has aged in port barrels. Aroma and flavour: Sweet, dark cherry, raisin and plum ABV: 10.2% MIGALOO WHITE STOUT Beer style: Stout Story: We named our white stout ‘Migaloo’ after Australia’s well-known humpback whale. Every year, we can track the Migaloo’s migration as it makes its way up the east coast from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Northern NSW. In a nutshell: Sweet and velvety, with a gorgeous golden hue, this the perfect beer to pair with your favourite dessert. Aroma and flavour: While it’s rich in aroma from the additions of cacao nibs and roasted coffee, the lactose we added in the kettle and the generous amounts of rolled wheat in the brew lend a soft and creamy mouthfeel, with hints of vanilla. ABV: 4.5%
LOCAL & FRESH PLANT BASED MILKS
Byron Bay Milk Company PROFESSIONAL BOOKKEEPING SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS
Offering efficiency, organisation and modern systems to take the weight off your shoulders so you can concentrate on your business. Please call or email Nea for a free quote and consultation: 0417 660 793 / nea@neaalexandra.com
Freshly made plant based milks, produced using organic and spray-free ingredients. Offering almond and coconut – with macadamia coming soon. Locally made in Byron Bay. Wholesale available now. Retail on its way. @byronbaymilkcompany byronbaymilkcompany.com.au
loftbyronbay.com.au @loftbyronbay
HOME
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WHERE THE HEART IS — IS HOW WE LIVE
Plant Life Balance
INTERIOR DESIG N K EY T H E M E S : LIG HT B R E EZ Y C OASTA L
CHILLED OUT
L A I D BAC K
B L E AC H E D C O LO U R
T E XT U R E DREAMY
Byron Bay enjoys an eclectic collection of creative home styles, from classic beach vibes to modern design aesthetics to indoor plant forests. We talk to Britte Sunde – owner and director of Beautifloria – and Shannon Fricke – Co-director at Newrybar Merchants – about a growing design style that is quickly becoming a Byron Bay-based and now national trend, dubbed the ‘Beachy Green’ look. Britte, what’s informed and inspired your style? I’ve been inspired by the beautiful and natural surroundings in the Byron area. With all its coastal looks and lush rainforests, the rolling hills of Newrybar too.
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My style was greatly inspired by the natural, abundant, unique and organic look by the work of Australia’s leading floral designer Saskia Havekes from Potts Point in Sydney and Andrew Burley who’s style is very European and structural. I grew up in Byron and went to Sydney to become a florist when I was 18 and then came back to the Byron area. Explain your space at Newrybar ... Newrybar is a collective business – my department is flowers. We do events, deliveries, cut flowers and bouquet, and specialise in plants. How do we recreate the Beachy Green look? It’s a relaxed and casual look – so I would use whites and lots of open space. Some of the characteristics of the coastal look are ocean hues, sunbleached white, natural materials and fabrics, and a celebration of natural light.
PLANT LIFE BALANCE
Are there any trends you’re noticing with your customers? Tailing plants and hanging plants are so popular. Everyone’s relationships with plants has changed – a lot more people know plant types and want to have them in their home. People are recognising which plants work well in their space and are getting more confident looking after them. How would you rate your plant life balance? I would rate it as 10/10 – it’s excellent. I have plants all around me – in my home, in my workspaces. I’m looking at them every day and living and breathing them. If you could be a flower what would you be? Magnolia Grandiflora – perfect creamy white and attractive to bees. When they are in flower they are just stunning. How does interior design and plants work together? They set everything off and bring a space to life. I can’t imagine doing any sort of interior styling without plants. Plants bring a space together. What advice would you give to aspiring floral designers? Work with someone who inspires you – it’s a lot of physical labour. Get your hands dirty. Shannon, what has informed and inspired your interior design style, and has this evolved over time? My style is shaped by the desire to create a home that inspires balance and wellness for the people living there. It’s not so much about what’s stylish or in fashion – it’s about digging deeper to the core of the soul of the person and then matching design and living concepts to support their life. Ultimately home for me is a place you can be your authentic self and the real purpose of design is to support your authenticity. What is the Beachy Green look? And how do we create this look at home? It’s laid back, breezy, casual and without pretence. A coastal look reflects these concepts with washed out colour and texture. If you forage around the coast you will find beautiful textures everywhere – from grasses through to branches. Everything is worn and reflects a lived-in feeling. What are the key characteristics of the Beachy Green look? There are many coasts in Australia and each have their own distinctive colour palette and flavour. The light reflects the colour very differently depending on where you are. Some coasts have a dark and deep steely blue hue. Other coasts are very bright and aqua. The essence though is the ease in how we collect the pieces and the way we throw them together. The design process is all about reflecting these pieces and the colours – nothing is too torched, nothing is too laboured over. It’s all very relaxed. What are some consumer trends you’re noticing? Consumers are very design savvy. Our customers at Newrybar Merchants are very layered and sophisticated. What we’re seeing is a confidence to express themselves and with this confidence comes some very interesting interiors. We are seeing a lot of tribal pieces, neutral and washed out tones and textures. Australian’s are travellers and we love to bring the world home with us. The result is very evolved, one of a kind interiors. How would you rate your plant life balance? I live on a farm and am surrounded by the natural world. I moved from Sydney to Byron 13 years ago because I had the desire for more ‘air’. By air, I mean trees and plants. Living, breathing organisms. For me, there’s no disconnection from a tree to a plant to a human – we are all the same, we’re one. In terms of wellness and balance it’s vital to be surrounded by nature. It’s what keeps us running as our best selves. 17
Shannon Fricke and Britte Sunde
How do we link greenery and design into an interior? Plants are a reflection of the design ethos of the home. So if you have a tribal look in your home, it makes sense to link it in with desert plant life – there’s a rational connection. Think shape, colour tone, texture of the plant in the same way you would your fabrics or furniture. Can you explain Newrybar Merchants ... Newrybar Merchants is a platform that supports collective retailers. Based in Newrybar in the Byron Bay Hinterland, we strive to create an environment of creativity, individuality and flourishing business. The concept is very unique. It’s all about combining connection, support and beauty. What are your tips to create our own Beachy Green look? The first thing is to think about how you want to live in your house, especially for a relaxed coastal vibe. Always start with your big pieces – sofas, chairs, rugs – make sure your fabrics are bleached out, your timbers are blonde and nothing is too intense in terms of a colour palate. Build in your detail. This look doesn’t require much in terms of furnishing. Four to five main pieces is enough to create a beautiful and simple, laid-back look. Never over style. If you could be a plant, what would you be? I’ve spent so much time in the desert in the USA. It’s very dear to my heart and so the ancient Yucca tree would be my choice. They rise out the tortured earth and look like they are dancing. How should we care for coastal types of plants? As a general rule, your coastal plants should be watered at least once a week and more during summer. Pruning always helps with new foliage in winter to spring. Anything else to add? Tibouchina plants are amazing – both the bambino and larger variety are perfect for harsh environments – as they flower almost all year, giving your garden a colour palette to rely on. @newrybarmerchants @beautiflora @shannonfricke
HOME
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ME, MY SHOP AND I
Meaning ’my home’ in the Berber dialect, Tigmi Trading sources and curates timeless, artisan made rugs, textiles, objects, lighting and art from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco to the Black Sea and far flung places in between.
Owner Danielle McEwan Unit 10-11, B1, 1 Porter St, Byron Bay, NSW @tigmitrading
Tigmi Trading Can you describe the concept behind Tigmi Trading? Tigmi Trading was born from my life long love of design and a desire to honour the skills and craftsmanship of our artisan cultures within a modern environment. The ethos of Tigmi Trading is to evoke and inspire by curating a unique mix of the best traditional and contemporary design from all around the globe. We believe in conceptual storytelling through design along with the immense aesthetic and functional value of everyday objects and carefully curate a selection of design led, artisan made pieces that inspire escape, spark conversation and have a rich story to tell. What beauty will we discover in your store? We always have a carefully considered selection of treasures that embody our ethos. From our unique collection of nomadic rugs from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, to one 18
of a kind cushions made from vintage fabrics, to Moroccan or Italian ceramics, contemporary lighting made using traditional techniques, the beautifully crafted and iconic Pierre Jeanneret chairs, to contemporary artwork and items that inspire an element of escape for the everyday – including sustainably handmade jewellery and bags. Why did you choose Habitat for your store location? I had been searching for a space in the Arts and Industry estate for our showroom for over a year when I had heard about Habitat. I was immediately drawn to the concept and the idea that we could set up a studio showroom whilst connecting with a likeminded community of businesses. I love that our space is so open and light and we have everything we need right on our doorstep, including the beach. What do you love about working in your community?
Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
The sense of community is so strong here. It’s wonderful to be part of a creative community of people that share the same goals and values and are willing to support one another in our achievements. We’ve created a place that locals and visitors want to connect with. Where do you find your inspiration? Art, design, travel, culture. I am a very visual person so I’m inspired by exploration – whether scrolling the internet, visiting a gallery, or meeting with our artisans and producers on my travels. What’s your favourite item in store at the moment? We have just received a new collection of incredible vintage Berber rugs from Morocco. There are some exceptional pieces in this collection, with so much history and soul. I am really drawn to the history and stories that are passed on with our vintage pieces.
Welcome to The Loft 2482.
– a modern salon space designed to offer clients a relaxed and soothing experience. Owner of The Loft, Ashley Tyalor, has created her dream salon space for clients to enjoy. Ashley’s confidence, experience and passion for hairdressing has been perfected over her 14 year career, making her one of the region’s most sought-after stylists and specialists in hair colour.
SPACE FOR RENT – CHAIR FOR HIRE We are seeking a full-time hairdresser with an established clientele list. Please send enquiries and your resume to mail@theloft2482.com.au
Book an appointment: T 0473 373 740 1/121 Dalley street, Mullumbimby
@theloft2482 theloft2482.com.au
Image: Kate Holmes
NO RPA P RE S E NTS
Joyful and poignant and potent … a richly engaging and cleverly crafted work. Arts Hub
DREAMLAND
A NORPA PRODUCTION
OUR HIT SHOW REIMAGINED FOR BANGALOW WED 15 – SAT 25 MAY 7:30pm, Bangalow A&I Hall TICKETS
norpa.org.au | 1300 066 772
FLOWER HOME
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ENJOY
Haven Botanical The Laneway, 59A Burringbar St, Mullumbimby NSW @havenbotanical The Nook 65 Burringbar St, Mullumbimby NSW
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RS FOR FLOWERS FOR YOU
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ART
WORDS–
MUSE–
Sapodia Lindley @sapodia
Katerina Bak @katbakboogie PHOTOS OF ARTIST–
Holly Graham @siystudio
Kat Bak draws In a time where the female form is globally empowered and women are reclaiming ownership of their own story, artists like Kat Bak are sharing their experiences of the body in all its purest form. We chat to Kat about honouring our bodies, modern feminism and her ultimate creative boogie. 22
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KAT BAK
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ART
KAT BAK
If you think it’s a trend or are fearful of feminism then I lovingly recommend you open your heart and do your research.
There are many conflicting messages that women receive about what the female experience is, or should be. Why do you feel that focusing on the female form in your art is important and how do you approach representing it? My work derives from my own experience of being female and becoming better acquainted with my own body. After a life change (which I like to call my nebular collapse) I went on a journey to re-connect with myself and understand my own story and landscape through art, which touchingly and surprisingly seemed to resonate with so many others. This added an ingredient in my artistic drive to discover, develop and listen to the undercurrent of what being female is and the beautiful power we hold within ourselves. My approach is kind, raw, considerate and honest. The journey to honouring our bodies is empowering and allows women to reclaim authorship of their own story. What are your thoughts on the beauty of the feminine? Do you have any practices that help you devote yourself to your body? Oh well I just love how soft yet strong we are. We are beautiful and intuitive creatures. It’s just so great what we can achieve when we find the strength within ourselves and truly admire our individual uniqueness. I started life modeling because I would always attend classes and be blown away by the nude model standing in front of me, whether she was slender or curvaceous, if she had a funny bone sticking out, or had cellulite. I admired these women’s bodies so much so it made me reflect on my own inner dialogue. I thought to myself “if I can see the beauty in these bodies, why can’t I see it within myself”. Life modeling is a great way to see how artists differently represent the maps of your body, it really is liberating and helpful in overcoming any shame you have of your own skin. I try to make sure I am kind to myself, I am not superhuman to ill thoughts that disempower me, but I have my mothers wise words in my head when they do arise, she always taught me to be thankful my body works and is healthy. If I take care of my health, then I am happy. What does it mean for you personally to be able to share your admiration and love of the body? Something internally drives me to explore the human figure. I think because it is relatable to all of us. It is my way of understanding our entire existence. If we simplify it we are basically all made up of the same thing. When we strip back everything we are left with ourselves naked and raw in our purest form. My line 25
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work is derived from and compliments this concept. My work, at the end of the day, it’s all about the love for each other and ourselves and if someone finds inspiration from this then I am very very honoured. Modern feminism is going through another wave of change, highlighting the importance of intersectionality and continuing the fight for equality on many levels. What is feminisms place in the current state of the world and how do you feel towards it? I strongly believe in equality and I deeply admire the women before me and in this present day who have/ are still fighting so hard for equality and respect. I think we have to remember there are still circumstances where women are still being misheard, mistreated and misrepresented and are unable to have the voice. If you think it’s a trend or are fearful of feminism then I lovingly recommend you open your heart and do your research. As well as being an artist, you also run life drawing classes! Tell us about what happens in these classes, and how it creates a safe space for women to express themselves. Oh I LOVE my life drawing sessions. They are untutored and safe space for anyone to come and express themselves creatively through the process of drawing from the nude. It’s an ego free zone, where people can tap out of their everyday, switch off their phone and drop into the right side of their brain which is where creativity thrives. To allow this we start off each session with a minute meditation where the models disrobe whilst everyone has their eyes closed, this is a beautiful journey of when they open their eyes again the model is in their first pose. I design playlists for the night, which encourage your energetic flow alongside timed poses. The whole point of it is to look beyond what you see and I hope by doing this the viewer experiences the body in all its beauty and abstraction. It doesn’t matter if you can’t draw that’s not the point, we can all draw, we’ve been told along the way that something has to represent itself to its true form and that has scared a lot of people from ever picking up a pencil since they were children! Breaks my heart! If you can put a pen to paper you can explore and therefore you can draw. We have a mini break where attendees meet and connect and by the end of the night everyone is leaving on a high. All this just by allowing yourself time to create! It’s wonderful! I make sure my models are treated with love and respect and 26
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ART
paid fairly, they are the star of the show after all and its so nice having women and men contacting me afterwards expressing interest in modeling for the first time. When they do, their feeling of empowerment and joy is incredible! I’ve been running these sessions for more than a year and still every week I get blown away by this wonderful and nurturing community. We collectively have created a space where there are no expectations, if there are no expectations you can’t be disappointed and that’s why I think it works well. Do you have any fantasies for future projects or exhibitions? What does your dream female worshiping art project look like? I think I nailed one of my dream female worshipping art projects this year when I designed and illustrated my friend Catie Gett’s book NOTES TO MY FUTURE DAUGHTER. It is a book on empowerment, love and health by Catie who is a naturopath and health food shop owner. This partnership was a beautiful alignment as I previously worked for Catie in her shop The Staple Store and myself have a passion for natural health and healing. It was a project I 100% believe in and will continue working on. I have also created SIDE SEAM art space in my local denim store. This features a local artist monthly to allow exposure and showcase the incredible talent in the area. It has been a lot of fun curating it! I have a couple of solo exhibition in the works and I also have a pipeline dream but that vision is still being developed. Other then line drawings, what else is your boogie? Painting. I love painting that’s my real jam, if I had all the time in the world I would paint and read art books. I have a strong passion for art history and I am hoping to study it overseas one day (and recommendations would be grand). I am also a graphic designer however music is my second love, I like to hit the drums when possible and dance until my feet are bruised from the boogie! See Kat’s exhibiton Romantica at Newrybar Merchants, opening 8 March. For more information visit newrybarmerchants.com katbakcreativeboogie.com
KAT BAK
The whole point of it is to look beyond what you see and I hope by doing this the viewer experiences the body in all its beauty and abstraction.
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Beck Marshall
Good People Bank Australia We are ... Australia’s first customer-owned bank championing responsible banking. Find us ... bankaust.com.au
This issue Paradiso are proud to talk to Fiona Nixon, Head of Corporate Affairs Bank Australia, about the bank dedicated to seeing Australians thrive in a fair, just and progressive society, share in a sustainable economy, and live in a safe and healthy environment. We also ask long time Paradiso friend Nat Woods – Breakfast Club partner, founder of the Corner Palm and Clean Coast Collective, and our go to All Things Good Champion – why she chooses to bank with the cleanest and fairest bank in Australia.
Fiona, Bank Australia is owned by its customers – can you tell us more about how this works? Bank Australia is a cooperative, which means that when you open a bank account you also receive a share in the bank. Each customer has one share and they can’t be bought or sold so every customer is equal. A share gives you a right to vote for our board of directors and on other specific issues. What it really means is that we can make decisions in the best interests of our customers and take a longer term view because they are our owners. What does responsible banking mean? Responsible banking is a way of doing business that respects and looks after our customers’ financial well-being while at the same time having a positive impact on people and the planet. We work hard to put our customers first and we offer products and services that support their daily lives and help them achieve their financial goals. For example, we offer customers a pause on their home loan repayments to help them pay for ecoupgrades like solar panels or rain water tanks. We also recently introduced a lower rate car loan for electric and hybrid cars to encourage our customers to consider more sustainable choices. Can you tell us a little more about what Bank Australia’s money supports – and 28
how Bank Australia is working to create a positive future? The money that we lend or invest comes primarily from the money our customers put into their savings accounts. The majority of this is loaned to other customers who are wanting to buy a house or potentially a car. We work hard to make sure we only lend people what they can afford to repay so they don’t get into financial stress. Our commercial loans are screened against what we call our Responsible Banking Policy, which outlines the industries that we want to lend to because they create positive impact such as housing for people living with a disability and community renewable energy. On the flip side it also lists the industries we won’t lend to like fossil fuels, weapons and live animal export. In this way we are trying to do good rather than harm with the money that customers entrust us to look after for them. We also put 4% of profits towards projects that are having a positive impact such as our Conservation Reserve where for the past 10 years we have restored habitat on the 927 hectare property that is home to a number of endangered species. We are now working with the local Aboriginal community to incorporate traditional land management practices on the reserve and we are using cutting edge conservation science to play a part
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in protecting the critically endangered southeastern red tailed black cockatoo. What is Clean Money? Most simply, clean money is money that does good rather than harm in the world. If you’re someone who cares about things like social or gender equality; or climate change and you’re making changes in your own life to align your behavior to your values, it’s likely that you’d rather your money support positive action and not contribute to the problem. Clean money is really about securing a sustainable long-term future for all of us. As individuals, we all need a healthy planet that can feed and shelter us and we all benefit from a more peaceful, equal society. We strongly believe in the power of grassroots activism, however as a society we also need to address the systemic issues that are leading to the large global issues in our world – how is Bank Australia shifting the banking industry from bad to good? At Bank Australia we want to see banking put people first and we’re part of a global movement of more than 50 banks that are all working to use the business of banking to create a positive future. All members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values believe money and finance should be used to solve problems such as climate change and poverty. Here in Australia we focus on responding to
GOOD PEOPLE
Each Bank Australia customer is part-owner of a 927 hectare Conservation Reserve. The reserve is a group of three properties on biodiverse Australian bushland which is protected from development forever.
the issues that our customers tell us are important. At the top of their list are climate change, the transition of our energy to renewable sources and social equality. By doing this we aim to show that there is a different way of providing the banking services that we all need while at the same time securing a sustainable future. What can we all do today to make a difference when it comes to our finances? The first step is to think about what you’d like your money to be doing when you put it in your bank account. It doesn’t sit waiting for you to take it out or to make a purchase. Your bank uses that money for its business activities, which could include funding things that you don’t agree with. We’d like to encourage Australians to think about it and ask some questions if what their money does is important to them. Nat, as a consumer, what do you see as Bank Australia’s finest qualities? I switched my personal banking to Bank Australia about a year ago – our Big 4 banks are failing to take important stands on issues that affect our planet and our global community. My old bank refused to rule out funding the Carmichael Mine by Adani, a project that will have disastrous effects on our global climate (not to mention the myriad of human rights issues involved with regard to the Wangan and Jagalingou Native Title application), so I switched to Bank Australia who are 100% fossil fuel free. At the end of the day, I can’t petition government to stop Adani while my interest rates and fees are potentially being invested in the fossil fuel industry. Bank Australia’s values align with 29
my values, and that’s a huge thing when your money is involved. How important is transparency in banking? My general rule is that if you can’t be transparent, you’re up to something shady. My partner and I run Clean Coast Collective, a not-for-profit ocean conservation organisation and we are held to such a high standard of transparency – it’s crazy that people are more concerned about what their donations are being spent on, than they are about the projects that their bank balances are being invested in. In Australia, we seem to have such a mistrust of charities, people doing their best to create positive change, but then we trust big financial organisations who blatantly admit to doing the wrong thing. Clean money – how reassuring is it to have a financial institution doing its bit to create positive change? I think it’s about time! Thankfully there are more and more banks, credit unions, and super funds coming out and saying ‘we won’t invest in unethical or environmentally destructive’ projects and companies – divestment (the shifting of your banking or superannuation) is THE biggest way to vote with your dollar. I think our generation has become quite disillusioned with our political system, so now we’re looking to how we can create the world we need through good corporations and through the economy.
THIS COMMUNITY
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Beck Marshall
Mark Swivel @thetogetherparty
ENCOUNTER
Mark Swivel Byron Bay This issue Paradiso chats to Mark Swivel – lawyer, performer, writer, and the force behind TOGETHER, a party dedicated to rebuilding our Common Wealth. Making Australia slightly better than averageTM is Mark Swivel’s sound bite manifesto as he embarks on a bid for the Senate in 2019. Mark, you are a lawyer, performer and writer, you run the law firm and legal clinic Barefoot Law, and you are company secretary at Enova Energy. You also founded the new political party Together and are embarking on your bid for the senate. Quite the resume. We would love to talk more about Together! Great. Together is about politics that starts in the heart. It’s not left or right. It’s about the good people doing good things in our communities. We want to link all that good stuff back into politics. Cos the ‘phone line’ has been down for some time now. There’s an appetite for real change. A politics that’s more like us and less like the major parties. We have members in every state in Australia and territory. Barefoot Law tries to do the same thing – we listen to clients, help people make decisions and solve problems. Low cost, high impact. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done as a lawyer. By miles. Together is a party dedicated to Rebuilding our Common Wealth. Can you tell us more about the ‘minifesto’? We need to rebuild our common wealth – the things we all own and share and do … together. For the last generation the major parties have allowed the market to run the country, privatising as much as they can. We need to remember that governments have achieved amazing things: the Opera House, the Ghan, Medicare, public school, the Snowy Hydro. Our banks, the cost of electricity and the disaster of our rivers shows that the market lets business look after itself and not the majority of people. If we’re ever going to solve climate change, government needs to lead. We’re about treaties and a republic, flag fall taxes for corporates and the well-off, a government owned bank and power company and doubling the budget of the ABC. We want an inclusive society that starts in the hearts of our communities. Literally. How can we join, donate and support Together? Easy. Jump on our website and become a member and donor. It’s tax deductible. We have loads of
events and heaps of work to do. From helping campaign online to building our network. You can hold a Together event at your home or join in our Social Media Hub. Politics is hard work and fun, too. Honest! I promise you. That’s a core promise, by the way. And if you can’t give your time and skills, we’d love to take your money to make cool vids and do great events. You recently held the first Together party conference. What did you learn? What do people want from a politics? There’s a thirst for intelligent politics driven by smart people. The soap opera slanging match of our political class is over. Together attracts a broad spectrum of supporters from disillusioned Turnbull fans to off-thegrid anarchists. People are tired of politics and a media that is bought and sold. They are tired of the lack of real choice. They want real action on climate change and energy – right now. They want a fairer society where wealth is distributed more equally. They want an end to the politics of division and fear. They want a politics focussed on the future powered by good people doing good things, people with good ideas who can make a difference. Mark Swivel's top 5 tips to Making Australia Slightly Better Than Average Again? Public is Good: invest in public schools, education and transport – the heart of a better society. Budget Reboot: we need to shake up how we spend our money, moving cash from defence to our communities. Tax is the new black: tax is an investment in our common wealth, and companies and the better off need to pay more. Double the Budget of the ABC: a budget of just over $1bil out of a budget of nearly half a trillion for our ABC is a joke. Stop Corporate Donations: only individuals or the public purse should fund parties and campaigns. No exceptions. thetogetherparty.org.au
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The earth says hello
Good in star s
mornng shine
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Practice and all is coming
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YOGA IN PICTURES
A vinyasa is the smooth transition between asanas where focus is given to breath paired with movement. We celebrate the moments between – the flow, the sound of the breath, the transition – with the graceful Ella McCabe Barton.
PRACTICE AND ALL IS COMING
YOG INI–
Ella McCabe Barton @ellamccabebarton
STYLING–
Beck Marshall PHOTOS–
Lila Theodoros
The moments between
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YOGA IN PICTURES
PRACTICE AND ALL IS COMING
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THE GOOD LIFE
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Isobel Hobbs @izsea STYLE–
Beck Marshall @sixgallery_
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Matilda and Kat Bak @katbakboogie FILMED AT–
Studio Tropico @studio_tropico
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AND HER VOICE WAS LIKE A BELL
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Kat wears stylist’s own blouse.
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THE GOOD LIFE
AND HER VOICE WAS LIKE A BELL
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Kat wears stylist’s own blouse.
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THE GOOD LIFE
AND HER VOICE WAS LIKE A BELL
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Kat wears stylist’s own blouse and her mum’s vintage jeans.
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THE GOOD LIFE
AND HER VOICE WAS LIKE A BELL
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Matilda wears blouse stylist’s own and suit by SYBIL AND JOHNNY.
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THE GOOD LIFE
AND HER VOICE WAS LIKE A BELL
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Matilda wears vintage red pantsuit from Aarna.
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THE GOOD LIFE
AND HER VOICE WAS LIKE A BELL
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Matilda wears vintage red pantsuit from Aarna.
ARTS
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“Relations with the police were largely cordial as protestors were determined to uphold principles of non-violence. In this photo Linette Pyke massages a police officer while wearing his cap.” Hugh Nicholson
ARTS GUIDE
“The protest camp occurred spontaneously and was established quickly despite the lack of advance planning. Scores of small tents were scattered round large ex-army tents. The camp was supported by donations of food from many individuals and from businesses in Lismore.” Hugh Nicholson
Terania Creek Protest 1979 – Photographer: David Kemp Terania Creek Protest 1979 – Photographer: David Kemp
The Terania Creek Protest An exhibition of photographs by David Kemp and other photographers who documented the action – The Terania Creek Protest – will be on show from 16 February at the Lismore Regional Gallery. In 1979 Terania Creek became the focus of a landmark environmental protest as people formed a human shield to protect an environmental wonder. The protest was the first time citizens physically defended a rainforest by placing themselves in front of police and loggers, spawning an entire new generation of forest activists and environmental defenders. David Kemp, a keen amateur photographer, had recently arrived in the area and was captivated by the beauty of the Terania forest. He was appalled at the possibility of it being lost, and determined to join the protest with his young family. The photographs are among the few surviving images from this historical event and act as a time capsule for remembering it. The exhibition will also include archival material such as signs and banners, and music generated to protect the rainforest at Terania Creek. Give Trees a Chance: The Story of Terania Creek (1980), which tells to story of the Protest (narrated by Jack Thompson), has been restored for the exhibition. The 16mm original film print has been re-scanned digitally with modern equipment to produce a copy at the highest resolution that can be achieved for a 40 year old film.
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The battle for Terania Creek became one of Australia’s best-known actions against the destruction of native forest, and the non-violent direct action technique developed by the protesters influenced environmental campaigns locally and internationally. The legacy of this action is the Nightcap National Park, which is valued for its natural heritage and is now World Heritage-listed. In January this year, the Terania Creek forest blockaders won the 2019 Australia Day Award for ‘Services in the Community (Group)’ for their pioneering efforts to save a pristine rainforest. The Terania Creek Protest is on show at the Lismore Regional Gallery from 16 February to 7 April. The Lismore Regional Gallery is located next to The Quad in the heart of Lismore and entry is free. It is open Tuesday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm and Thursday 10am to 6pm. It is closed Mondays. lismore.nsw.gov.au
TO INSPIRE
Get inspired— March and April is a great time for ... MUSIC The Vampires Pacifica Australia Tour. The Vampires will be touring in March to launch Pacifica, 15 March, Byron Theatre, Byron Bay THEATRE The Gruffalo The worldwide favourite tale and musical adaptation of The Gruffalo, 8–9 March, HOTA, Gold Coast hota.com.au I Want To Know What Love Is – presented by NORPA, 29–30 March, NORPA, Lismore norpa.org.au All About Women – presented by Byron Writers Festival – Live Stream from Sydney Opera House, 10 March, SAE Theatre, SAE, Byron Bay ART Jacob Boylan – Solo show, 15 March, Yeah Nice Gallery, Mullumbimby yeah-nice.com Michelle Dawson – The art of illustration short course, 7 March to 11 April byronschoolofart.com Commodity Fetish & the Gods: Charlotte Haywood & Edward Horne 8–26 March byronschoolofart.com Self-made: zines and artist books 1 March to 19 May artgallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au Hey, Listen Up – Amanda Bromfield 16 February to 31 March www.lismoregallery.org
"Music played a large part in the protest and many songs were written during the event. Musicians Lisa Yeates and Brenda Liddiard lead the blockaders into the forest.” Hugh Nicholson Terania Creek Protest 1979 – Photographer: David Kemp
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Beck Marshall @sixgallery_
Olatundji Akpo-Sani @olatundji_akposani
We are waking to the power of our voice Olatundji Akpo-Sani – poet, writer, editor, teacher and performer. In this issue we chat the exchange of ideas, the encouragement of community and the power of language. We discuss being aware of our own threads and of how and where we weave it. Olatundji explains, in poetry, sometimes you just have to let it mellow for the night. And then, always, read it out loud. 52
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CURRENT MUSE
Olatundji, when did you realise that you were a poet? There wasn’t a particular moment when I realised I was a poet. I think being a poet is something more than just putting words on paper in a lyrical fashion. It is a way of perceiving the world that eventually becomes a lifestyle, a way of operating within the world. Being a Poet has more to do with how one perceives and expresses their life than what one puts down on the page. One does need to put something down on the page as well though. The more honestly and creatively one can do this the better they are at the craft of poetry. For me poetry became a habit over time. I was living in Boulder, Colorado USA, which had become a home for the Beats in the 70’s when Alan Ginsberg and Anne Waldman were asked by an exiled Buddhist monk, Chogyam Trungpa, to found a poetics department at Naropa Institute, which they called The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics. So the area had this deep literary tradition that marvelled in poetic experimentation. When I got there in the 90’s I was looking for ways to express myself and, at one of the many weekly open mics in the area that was devoted to poetry, I found myself on stage reading my journal to an attentive and appreciative crowd. Now, back then I was just beginning to write, still just dipping my toes in the water, but the encouragement of the community kept me coming back. The more I heard, the more I began to experiment with language sound and poetics. It became fun. I met amazing souls. I witnessed bravery, success and defeat. It was great – so I kept doing it. What do you love about the power of language? Language is the tool we use to create our surroundings. We use it to apply meaning to our perceptions. I love language because of the way it sounds and the things that it can make us do and feel. I love it because it can be so very malleable. The French linguist Ferdinand de Saussure postulated that signs (words) are made up of two parts – the signifier (the form or sound) and the signified (the meaning or object). There is a whole history of experiences and stories wrapped up in how each and every one of us understand the connection between that signified and this signifier. When you understand that, you can begin telling deeper stories, truer stories. The power of language is one of connection because we connect over these nuances. We connect over shared history expressed in a syllable or a twang. What do you consider the role of a poet? I have heard it said, I don’t remember by whom, that the role of a poet is to be the conscience of society. I think we are supposed to be mirrors, light bringers, examples that aren’t always good examples, but honest in our foibles – owning our life and then artfully, yet unabashedly putting it down on the page. When I was studying poetry in college there was this debate within the poetic halls of academia as to whether poetry should be
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political – this debate may still rage on for all I know. It’s not that poetry was supposed to be devoid of a political message. There was just a question about whether it should be overtly political. That maybe the politics of the personal was more potent when trying to sway the heart strings of one’s fellow man. My voice definitely comes down on the side of the overtly political, but I can appreciate the other take as well. I certainly can’t say it doesn’t hold sway. Regardless of where you sit on the spectrum you are still attempting to affect hearts and minds. The role of a poet is to share a bit of oneself in the hopes that it makes the world a slightly better place. How do you balance being bold and speaking truth and at the same time being mindful about the kind of energy you’re engaging in? I try to remember that being bold and speaking my truth does not have to be aggressive or presumptive. I try to remember that not only can I express anger and frustration boldly. I can also express love and forgiveness boldly. I completely understand that sometimes you gotta let go and howl. Sometimes you gotta curse and rail against injustice just to feel human, but you also have to always be able to come back to love. That particular journey is not always an easy one, but it is worthwhile and the only way forward. How does your poetry develop? Guide us through the stages of a poem? Stage 1) Inspiration tickles the recesses of my mind. It’s usually a word or a phrase. Sometimes it sounds good to my ear, more than it means anything. Other times it means something good but sounds flat. Stage 2) Write it down. Stage 3) Write down whatever else pops in your head. Keep going until the poetic energy dissipates. Stage 4) Decide whether it’s worth keeping. Stage 5) Edit – editing is where the poem is crafted. I start by reading it through out loud to myself and wherever my ear takes me, I follow. If lines need to be added, then I add them. If something feels repetitious, I delete it. If something feels off, I change it. I try to exchange broad strokes for fine lines. Add linguistic surprise. Try to exchange ideas and concepts for things wherever plausible. I also pay attention to the thread of the poem and try to make sure that there is a thread that winds all the way through. I try to ensure that the poem comprises a complete idea, not just poignant bits of separate ideas, or if it is that, that those ideas wrap in such a way as to intersect interestingly. Then, I read it through out loud again and repeat the process. And again and again until it feels complete enough, until the poetic energy is exhausted, or until the ending presents itself. Stage 8) I let it mellow for the night or longer depending on the
OLATUNDJI AKPO-SANI
I try to remember that being bold and speaking my truth does not have to be aggressive or presumptive. I try to remember that not only can I express anger and frustration boldly. I can also express love and forgiveness boldly. I completely understand that sometimes you gotta let go and howl. Sometimes you gotta curse and rail against injustice just to feel human, but you also have to always be able to come back to love. That particular journey is not always an easy one, but it is worthwhile and the only way forward.
piece. I have poems that have been “mellowing” for years. Stage 9) Edit again. Read it through out loud. Now though I usually begin thinking about line breaks. Trying to emphasise and punctuate meaning. Adding layers, and in this way, building a rhythm allowing it to swing the poem when necessary. Stage 10) Read it to an audience. Pay attention to what words you say, they’re not always the same as what is on the page. Make any changes that feel appropriate. This process can take a day, a week or years. It really depends on the piece and what is happening in my life – how much poetic energy I can generate. I must put a caveat here at the bottom that most poems aren’t finished. I may get one or two just right, but most are just as good as they’re gonna get, and there are plenty more to write. What kind of organisation do you use in your poetry? How do you think you’ve evolved as a writer over the years? I let my instinct organise my poetry. I have honed it over the years through trial and error. It’s not always perfect but I have learned to trust it. As for evolution, I think it would be more accurate to say that my voice hasn’t evolved so much as I have learned to hear it better. I believe that each writer has a voice, a style, a unique imprint that makes a poem or piece of writing yours. After enough time you recognise it more and trust it more and use it more and the work gets better. Easier in some ways. Harder in others. I have noticed themes throughout the years though. I started out writing romantic love poems and tomes of heart break. I used to write haikus. I don’t write many romantic poems these days and the haikus are few and far between, even though I still enjoy them. I am currently fascinated with the idea of a surrealist poetics. What would a poem look, sound, and feel like with the aesthetic of a Salvador Dali? What does it mean to create surrealist poems in this manner? There’s a little of this at work in Polka Dots (see p.17), but I decided to keep that fairly linear in the end. Tell us more about this work? Polka Dots is a call to arms. It is a call to not give up in the face of all that seems to be going wrong. It is a call to withhold power from those that wish to hold power. But also a call to do it playfully, creatively, embracing our cosmic origins and taking the mantle of responsibility back from those who would use it as either a carrot or a stick. A good friend and amazing singer/songwriter in the Northern Rivers region, Sali Bracewell, sent me a track – I don’t’ remember what it was – but there was this poetic interlude in the song that I tried to emulate. I think it turned out pretty well. What’s the best experience you’ve gained through your writing? I don’t think I could name a best per se. Throughout my life I’ve been blessed to have a lot of amazing experiences and most of them
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have either been directly involved with writing and writers or have been written about at some point in time. I’ve had the experience of hearing how my writing has affected people’s minds and hearts. It always feels good to hear that your art has created a connection with someone else. During the four years I spent hosting the Speakeasy open mic in Boulder, CO, I had the opportunity to experience writers emerge and grow. I saw the effect that a writing community can have on kids and young adults dealing with, at times, very traumatic truths. I heard people confess that it was writing and sharing that pulled them through some of their darkest moments. It made me realize how important this work of artistic community creation can be. But the one that tops the list most times is that writing brought me across the pond to Australia. Through writing and my other various charms I met and fell in love with my wife and moved to Australia. Other than a few minor hiccups here and there, I am living my best life yet. Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice? Writing is communing with the divine. That certainly means it can be a spiritual practice, but I try not to create too much dogma around it. The last thing the world needs is another religion, even if it is one that only I follow. What literary pilgrimages have you gone on? I haven’t really done literary pilgrimages in my life. I’ve travelled a fair amount, mostly through the U.S. I’ve done pilgrimages and walkabouts throughout my life. In the end, they always inform my life and my writing so in a sense they are all literary. One poet nobody knows but should ... There are loads of talented writers and poets in Australia and particularly the Byron region. It’s been a pleasure to hear and perform with them. Check out Sarah Temporal and her new reading series in Murwillumbah – Poets Out Loud. Also if you get a chance, there’s The Live at the Hive reading series and the Temple of Words reading series in the Byron Arts and Industry Estate. You’ll hear some great work there too. But one of my all time favourite writers that no one knows on these shores is Rob Geisen. AKA Get in the car, Helen. AKA GITCH. Not only is he a fantastic human being, he is an incredible writer, voracious reader, and great friend. He’s a classic romantic with a pop culture tongue and a Charles Bukowski wit. I would definitely check out anything he has written on line and if you can get your hands on a copy of Beautiful Graveyards – you will not be disappointed. More recently though he has turned his poetic eye on the farce that surrounds him in those United States of America. It’s tragic, it’s hilarious, it’s beautiful. And if you ever get your hands on a recording of Girls Just Wanna Have Us – his side project with Jonathon Montgomery – The Reality Traveler, it’s well worth the price of admission.
ARTS
+ CULTURE
CURRENT MUSE
Polka Dots
by Olatundji Akpo-Sani
To those who can hear me – I say Do not despair! This torrid ineptitude of political quagmires that the world finds itself goose stepping towards is merely the death throw of power’s hungry hungry hippo mentality consuming itself We are waking to the power of our voice a power of choice to extend a hand a heart If you can help just one soul It’s a start We are not purse strings or puppets We are the lub dub potential of every super nova We are our own shining suns pulsing rays of cosmic light across the infinite spaces that seem to separate you and I So go out and stomp your feet in the early morning sun Dance to welcome the day Scrawl your unique aptitudes on the canvas of reality Jackson Pollack that shit Paint polka dots every where
And don’t worry about the stares Don’t succumb to ne’er do wells Don’t shade your light just because others are afraid of their own
You have a gift I mean You are a gift The future swims across the dreamscape of my mind and there you are
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Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
MARTIN – AYURVEDIC PRACTITIONER OFFERING AYURVEDIC CONSULTATIONS AND TREATMENTS AVAILABLE AT THE MUDITA INSTITUTE 55 STUART ST, MULLUMBIMBY
PHONE: 0413 865 368
@lightayurveda
EMAIL: martin@lightayurveda.com.au
lightayurveda.com.au
TRAVEL
+ ADVENTURE
I WANT TO GO TO THERE
WORDS & PHOTOS–
Anna Hutchcroft @annahutch_photo
This issue Anna Hutchcroft inspires us with her visit to Salar de Uyuni the largest salt flat in Bolivia. Known as the “world’s largest mirror”, we marvel in the incredible vastness and a neverending sea of white.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
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Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA
I’m in San Pedro de Atacama and the dry whirlwinds that swirl around me almost sweep me up with their illuminated particles of dirt. Stay here long enough and you begin to sweat dust, the colour of your skin transforming to emulate the ochre tones of the scorched earth. This the last Chilean town on the road north to Bolivia, stripped-back and slightly disheveled, perched precariously on the northern tip of Chile’s skinny silhouette. Tomorrow we begin the wild yet frequently traveled journey across a barren land that continues to successfully resist human settlement. As the blood red sun crests over the horizon, the contours of the landscape become imprinted into a crisp, pale blue sky. The minibus that takes us to the border lurches and weaves over cavernous craters in the sand, the heads of drowsy tourists bouncing in unison atop drooping shoulders. I’m not sure if there’s paved road under all of this dust, or whether it’s just been reclaimed by the desert, but the landscape is flat, stark, and dry, and as the road approaches the border, the one-room checkpoint comes into view. After a perfunctory glance at my passport, the border officials usher me on into the weathered Land Cruiser that will be taking us across to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. Once everyone is in, the car sputters to a start, and heaves forward, like a reluctant and lethargic beast freshly roused from slumber. It takes us three days to cross the salt flats, and each day is full with belief-defying terrain: absurdly technicolour mountains hover over 59
rippling pools of mirage, the sky refracted into a thousand shades of blue. Vast, bird-filled lakes boast vibrant flocks of flamingos that take flight into the gusts of wild air. From behind the wheel, our guide has his eyes peeled for faint tracks in the muted and sun-bleached surface of the earth, signifying progress in the right direction. The environment feels at once more alive and ruthless up here. The geysers coughing up steaming globs of their own composition, manifesting nature in the most unnatural colour incarnations. Your senses fall all over each other trying to grasp the incomprehensibly austere horizon. Red lakes, pink birds, and a cool slant of sky gives way to a vastness you could fall into: encircling, majestic, terrifying. It seems the sky itself has fallen to earth, the rigid terrain of the mountains surrendering to a soft silken curvature of dusty pink swirls, grey-blue tendrils, and bone-white salt crunching under each footfall. The earth, in turn, hurls itself in liquid bullets towards the sky, bursting violently upwards from stinking cavities in the ground. The flexible edges of earth and sky, liquid and dust, bird and air, draw the mind to the interconnected nature of our life on this planet. The way we move through it, the way it moves us, and the way it moves through us, speaks of a deeply ingrained capacity for awe. An awe that mobilises our love for the planet we inhabit, a love that inspires us to tread lightly and with curiosity.
TRAVEL
+ EXPLORE
TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT
GUIDE–
Lila Theodoros
PHOTO & LOCATION–
Taverna @tavernakingscliff
Kingscliff 2487
Kingscliff is a beautiful gem, where old surf town meets new, pristine beaches and creeks abound and delicious foodie experiences are waiting to be savoured. 01 Greek Island dream TAVERNA is a dining paradise. The menu changes seasonally but – thank the Greek Gods – the haloumi with local bush honey and rosemary is a staple. Eat it all. Enjoy this delight with a lychee martini or Elderflower and Lavender Spritzer. 02 For perfect Allpress coffee, açai bowls, smoothies and local homewares, stop at THE SALT MILL. 03 Take a dip in the pristine beauty of the CUDGEN CREEK ESTUARY. Load up on some classic takeaway fish and chips from one of the many cafes in town and fight off some seagulls while you enjoy the river view – you may even be lucky enough to spot a dolphin! 04 If you’re around for high tide, check out WATERSPORTS GURU for stand up paddle boarding or kayaking adventures through the creek system. 05 Make your visit super memorable and let BLUE GINGER PICNICS organise a luxury picnic for you and someone special. 06 Visit the BOMBAY CRICKETER’S CLUB for a very special plant based banquet on Sundays. 07 No visit to the area would be complete without a slight detour to the magical TROPICAL FRUIT WORLD. Enjoy a tractor ride through acres of tropical fruit plantations, taste test the most exotic fruits and ride a miniature train. Need we say more. 08 On Saturday mornings, grab your best basket and head on down to the FARMER’S MARKET at Kingscliff TAFE. 09 Enjoy local food stores MATE & MATT’S, PALMERS VEGGIE SHACK or FARM & CO for amazing produce. 10 Make Saturday night Pizza Night at the OSTERIA PIZZERIA. 60
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Home of @the_hills_emporium @kultchacollective @fallenbrokenstreet 441 Federal Drive, Federal, Byron Bay
THIS COMMUNITY
OF OURS
SMARTY PANTS
Partner up or go solo with this puzzling puzzle.
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AC ROSS 1 Producing 8 “___ It Romantic?” 9 Proclamations 10 Doodle 11 Consumed 12 Magnitude 14 Moving vehicles 15 Valves 16 Opposed 20 Farm Machinery
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21 Tenseness 23 Pleasing 24 Dribble 25 Institutions
Paradiso ~ Mar—Apr 2019 ~ Waking to the power of our voice ...
D OW N 1 Objective 2 Eminent 3 Tightens 4 Attributes 5 Apprehensive 6 Frozen Desserts 7 Accumulates 13 Awaiting 15 Transport to Oz 17 This Evening
18 Foes 19 Casket 22 AM/FM
BREAD & PIES COFFEE & SMILES
BAKER & DAUGHTERS
@BAKERANDDAUGHTERS
L OV E is all around