Archive for November, 2012
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Coorabella Studio-photography in fashion
Coorabella Studio is Nyree Mackenzie – creative director, photographer, stylist and producer. Known for producing high quality fashion editorial work as well as numerous campaigns for Tree of Life fashion label, Nyree has set up in the Byron Hinterland taking on local clients such as Colin Heaney. Nyree’s photography combines pop colour with vintage glamour, artistic flair, a little bit of sass and a bohemian twist. Inspired by poetry, love, desire, art, fashion, innovation, red lipstick and music, artistic Nyree is also a singer/songwriter who has collaborated with producer/programmer Jochen Mueller to create their own […]
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Back to Our Roots
It’s been well over twenty years since Keven Oxford decided to put together a festival of blues acts and share his passion for music with Byron Bay locals. Since the late seventies, Keven Oxford, his wife Karin Woods, and their good mate Dan Doeppel were responsible for bringing an outstanding lineup of international and national touring artists to the north coast of NSW. Regular shows at The Lismore City Hall, Ballina Theatre and The Everglades (now Byron @ Byron) treated locals to a calibre of music usually reserved for Australian capital cities. In 1978 Keven […]
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Has Art Lost Its Way?
The ancient Greeks embraced great philosophies and guiding principles in their art and culture. This gave birth to democratic concepts for the world and laid the foundations of maths and science. They developed a balancing philosophy of the “infinite” as well as a mechanical reality, saying, beauty is in the infinite. They invented the terminology Phi (the golden ratio) and the Pi mathematical term to demonstrate the mathematics of infinity, which associate the concept of infinite vanishing points used in arts for perspective. Their unifying philosophies of reality were held to balance the concepts of […]
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Colouring with Water
Local watercolour artist John Lovett comes from an artistic family. Raised in Cooma, NSW, he attended Newcastle’s National Art School in the early seventies, before starting a family of his own. John is now based in Currumbin on the Gold Coast and makes a living painting and teaching others at workshops in his studio, as well as in Europe and America. Interview by Christopher King How did you first become involved with watercolours? I first became involved with watercolour about 30 years ago. I used it more as a way of recording information – pen […]
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Manipulating Traditional Practices
Working with word, textile, installation and recycled materials, Lucille Martin is a nationally recognised contemporary artist who has been exhibiting and included in curatorial shows for more than twenty years. Lucille’s work moves audiences and stimulates strong emotional response and she is often asked to speak about the issues raised. Lucille is a communicator using visual dialogue to take the viewer on an intimate journey that will resonate strongly with them for a long time to come. Lucille Martin provides a refreshing and honest insight into her life’s passion as an exhibiting artist. Inteviewed by […]
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Kingscliff Design Student Success
The Australian Museum has sponsored The Fashion Less Waste (FLW) design competition since 2009. The annual design event is open to both adults and high school students with the main aim of the competition to encourage a more sustainable fashion industry – to help to fashion a less wasteful world. Entrants were encouraged to use materials that are not curbside recyclable or notorious for harming animals as litter. Another purpose of the competition is to develop each entrant’s design skills and to foster an appreciation for natural history and encourage further research. This year’s theme […]
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Making Art out of Plastic
Narani Henson was born in New Zealand, where a love for the ocean was instilled at an early age. Always endowed with a creative intensity across many different genres, Narani’s talents have been strengthened by formal training at Sydney Gallery School, where she completed a Diploma Of Fine Arts, and through a Degree Of Fine Arts at Curtin University. Now based in Byron Bay and working from her private studio, Narani’s focus is to connect the viewer with the beauty of the ocean to provide a positive experience. Narani aims to create a feeling of ownership of […]
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Swell Sculpture Festival-Review in photos
Every year in September, the sandy strip along the foreshore at Currumbin Beach comes alive in a visual spectacular of form, colour and movement. Celebrating its tenth year, the Swell Sculpture Festival showcases sculpture in all shapes and sizes made from a diverse range of materials and entices hundreds of thousands of visitors to attend this popular coastal community event. Swell has become a leading artistic event with artworks from both local and international artists and is now the largest sculpture exhibition in Queensland. Director of the Swell Festival , Natasha Edwards worked closely this […]
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Behind the Curtain
The theatre can be a magical place. Whether observing a group of retired thespians reading Shakespeare in the local church hall, witnessing a sultry cabaret show or enjoying a glitzy production on the Great White Way, show business has something to offer everyone. What the audience doesn’t see, however, is all the work that happens behind the scenes. For many of us, working in the theatre is a labour of love. Every production is part of a unique art form that exists only for the time it plays, similar to Nicholas Cook’s view of classical […]
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Karma Kids Build Calmer Adults
Currumbin Beach Queensland – where families frolic on golden sands. Home of dolphins playing in crystal clear waters, pumping surf breaks, iconic rocks, cafes and shops, a wildlife sanctuary and Karma Kids Club. In the peaceful environment of Currumbin Beach, Karma Kids are introduced to calmness techniques, mindfulness and creative play which encourages them to a potential lifelong relationship with the wisdom of yoga. Talking to Angela Fitriadi, co-founder of Karma Kids Club Australia, I discover that she has a vision to build a healthy society, not just for her own children and their future, […]
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As Clear As Mud
Isn’t it true that at times we like to run away and hide in our caves just like ancient man? Today our need for shelter and security, remain vital elements in our bid to survive in this tenuous world and during our time on planet earth we should stop every now and then to reflect. Our reality is that we are living on the edge. Well…on the crust really. Subject to the fierce elements of nature as well as the terrifying prospect of facing each other in conflict, no wonder we want to bunker down, […]
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Bleach 2013
The Gold Coast has long been renowned as the global home of surf and beach culture and the Bleach* Festival was created to celebrate this culture in all its forms. With over forty events and across sixteen days, the Bleach* Festival features art, music, theatre, food, fashion, lifestyle and surf. Held annually in February and launched before the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro, the 2012 opening event saw the streets lined with fashion market stalls, a stage with tunes rocking all day, street theatre and workshops. It also featured the world premiere performance of The Surfer […]
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Creative Hotspot – Cafe D’bar
Cafe D’bar at Point Danger is the perfect spot to chill out on the southern end of the Gold Coast. Situated high on a hill, right on the QLD and NSW border, this delightful Cafe boasts panoramic views of the entire coast, overlooking iconic surfing location ‘D’bah’ through to Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay. Among the fishing boats and freighters, patient Cafe D’Bar patrons might also spy the humpback whales passing between June and November. The D’bar is a café and art gallery situated in a circa 1925 three bedroom home built in the ‘Queenslander’ […]
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The Gold Behind the Glitter
Tucked away behind the glitter of the Gold Coast, Rabbit + Cocoon is a not-for profit initiative providing artists with affordable workspace rent and incredible opportunities to connect, collaborate, market and show their artwork. Fiona Munro talks with Creative Directors Emma Milikins, Jolie Hertzberg and Mariam Arcilla. FM:How did you develop the idea of a creative precinct? EM: The precinct idea is ever evolving and the idea of what the space is and will be is always changing. It begun with one of the directors being offered the physical space by a friend, who then […]