THANK YOU to You!

Lately people have asked me why I don’t include more posts about me or my current work. They ask “Isn’t it your blog? Shouldn’t you just use your blog to present your work?”

Maybe! Sometimes my blog does include posts about my latest projects, media reviews, events, exhibitions, awards or successes. But you know as well as I do that creative people do not live in an isolated bubble. We are in the world and are informed by the things around us – the people we meet and the places we visit.

I find joy when I shine the light on other people’s creative pursuits – be it within Australia or further afield overseas. I openly share my moments of inspiration – personal meetings with gifted people and experiences in unique and moving places.

Toto guides me through the beautiful process of Karakami at Karacho.

Delicate pressure applied by Toto to Washi and wood block.

Special people like Aiko and Toto from Karacho in Kyoto. Never a day goes by that I do not think of my experience with them and the personal feeling of Karakami with Karacho.

Mr Ohashi San weaving in his studio, Beppu (Japan).

Keiji at his Bunkyo-ku Studio, Tokyo.

Eastern Weft Textiles shared with me by Samorn Sanixay, Sydney.

I treasure being welcomed into Mr Ohashi San’s practice and the process of weaving bamboo. Meeting inspiring practitioners like Japanese Architect and Designer Keiji Ashizawa, and Australian based Samorn Sanixay co-founder of Eastern Weft was very special.

The beautiful Arda Gokger guided me through Istanbul.

Bruce Lepere and I talked surrounded by colour and pattern (London).

Designer John Quan, Jam Factory (Adelaide).

I was transformed through unique experiences like those with Arda Gokger at The Rustem Pasha Mosque (Turkey); Conversations with Bruce Lepere from Oriental Rugs at Liberty of London or more recently visiting JamFactory and spending Sunday afternoon with Designer John Quan.

Byon Temple, Siem Reap (Cambodia).

Hagia Sophia (Turkey).

An amazing sunset at my place!

There are personal moments at Byon Temple and Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Hagia Sophia (Turkey), or simply sunset at my place and moments of nature. I can share these moments through a personal frame. It means the world is a richer place through further cross-pollination.

The key thing that I learnt through my Winston Churchill Fellowship Travels was that creatives across the globe have similar challenges and joys. We use a common language of making that transcends cultural borders. We are all part of a creative tribe.

Think of the special people who have inspired you in your life or work. Get in touch with them. Write them an email, a postcard or message on Facebook. Say hello and thank them in your own special way! It will keep the creative energy flowing and growing and make a positive difference to their day!

My list of inspiring people gets longer with every day. When I get in touch with them, often they are unaware of the difference they have made and just how much they have affected me!

I cannot say THANK YOU enough!

Siem Reap Arrival

Siem Reap (Cambodia) in the wet season – an amazing experience that I will cherish forever. As we flew over Siem Reap I glanced out across the country below – there appeared to be more water than land!

From the airport to the city the roads were full of a constant stream of tuk tuks, motorbikes and mini buses.  Along these water lined roads you could find cattle, families fishing, water birds, men resting in the shade, and market stalls.

As we came closer to the city centre it became more dense – with people, movement and life.

We had journeyed to Siem Reap to experience the Angkor Ruins and Temples. From the moment we landed it was the people of Cambodia with their generous spirit, happiness, beautiful way and enthusiasm that became our true life changing experience.

SHANGHAI – Being in the World

I can not believe another month or maybe two months have passed! Oops! There was so much to do and so little time! In September I loved being in Shanghai again. I stayed at The Waterhouse Hotel – my favourite place to stay when in Shanghai. I wrote about how it had matured and grown since my last visit around the same time last year. My experiences were posted at Howwecreate.com Website.

View from The Waterhouse Hotel’s Rooftop Bar with Garden.

I stayed in a different room this time – The River Suite. Lush!

Exceptional fresh flavours at the Hotel’s restaurant One. HWC.com’s Norman Johnson tucks in to a Beetroot and Goats Cheese Salad Starter!

I took to my preferred mode of transport-the bike and hit Shanghai Streets! It was great to see what had changed and what had remained constant at street level.

On my bike and loving Shanghai Streets

As part of howwecreate.com I attended D.A.F.F. – The Design Art and Fashion Fair. There were some great local participants, and things to see and do.

A lesson in guerrilla marketing by fashion label Minirine – “the fashion-side expression of globetrotting mixed-media artist Marine Bigo”.

Close Up! Too Close!

So cute!

So cool!

As the sun sets on a glorious day in Shanghai!

Next Stop Cambodia!

ONE BUSY MONTH

Yes I know its been some time since I last blogged! In fact its been just over a month. Whats been going on? ALOT…so to bring you up to date here is a summary of my month!

As the Creative Director of Howecreate.com I spent quite some time in Melbourne installing the ‘MAKE it’ Precinct for Saturday Indesign 2012.

The Precinct was massive and spanned three blocks in Richmond. On the day it was abuzz with people, conversation and creative sparks.

On-site were special artisans wood turning, rotational moulding and metal spinning alongside the fruits of their labour – beautifully made objects designed by some of Australia’s hottest talent! Check out the ‘MAKE it’ Precinct events and people who made it so very special...

…especially the announcement of the Joint Winners of the Design a Cup Competition; Henry Hidayat and Adele Del Signore along with the Top 10 Competition Entries.

I released a new set of colours within the Tracelet Limited Edition Series. The new set includes Vanilla, Baby Blue and Scarlet colours. This was made possible with support from Howwecreate.com and PALAMONT- art in manufacturing.

Some lucky visitors who attended the ‘MAKE it ‘Precinct were given these in person and heard the story of Tracelet. Thanks again to Kevin Hopkinson from Ashden Industries for mixing the new colours and making the Tracelets exquisitely.

I gifted one of my sculptural wall works to my local coffee shop Rouge Coffee. I spend quite a lot of time at Rouge enjoying their coffee and and a chat with the friendly staff. The coffee is roasted on site and is delicious. I thought I would share some love and some art with them.

I attended the Annual Presentation of Churchill Medallions Dinner and received my Winston Churchill Medallion. Such a joyous occasion. Great to spend time with this inspirational group of people with amazing interests and diverse backgrounds! I can not believe it is a year since I undertook my Fellowship travels.

I visited Melbourne again to interview the beautiful Phoebe Porter (a Melbourne based Contemporary Jeweller)  and write the catalogue essay for her upcoming exhibition Unfold:  A solo exhibition investigating the bracelet form using cut and folded titanium sheet metal. The exhibition is not far away and launches on 18 October 2012, at Craft Victoria, Melbourne.

I have been working on the creative direction for ‘We Were Here’ the next of Howwecreate.com’s events happening in Singapore as part of Saturday Indesign, in early October.

I am presently in Shanghai with Howecreate.com, enroute to Saturday Indesign 2012 and WAF (World Architecture Festival) Singapore. With the events less than two weeks away I am getting pretty excited!

Its great to be in the present!

Images 2 – 8 and 12 Photographed by James Braund for Howwecreate.com

DESIGN a CUP Event

I have been working with Howwecreate.com on a special event for the ‘MAKE it’ Precinct. The event is called Design a Cup! Be there to see the winner of the Design a Cup Competition announced and drink from their cup made LIVE on site! The event is part of Saturday Indesign, Melbourne.

RSVP is absolutely essential!

‘MAKE it’ Precinct for SID

So yes, I have been very quiet on the blog front.

The main reason is because of my connection with howwecreate.com and our intense prep for a special event: The ’MAKE it’ Precinct for Saturday Indesign, Melbourne.

‘MAKE it’ is presented by howwecreate.com and PALAMONT- art in manufacturing. The Precinct will be the hub for Manufacturers, Designers and Architects to come together and see making LIVE! There will be celebrated designers and artists teaming up with wood turners, metal spinners and rotor moulders to make special gifts for visitors. Very Special!

 Check out full details at howwecreate.com

Kampong Glam Collage

Kampong Glam Collage 01

Kampong Glam Collage 02

Kampong Glam I love! Relaxed cooling oasis with colour, life and kindness! XXX

Singapore Arrival

Raffles Hotel Courtyard at night from Table Cam.

Arriving quite late in Singapore, I headed over to Raffles for a quick snack and a Singapore Sling, before retiring to bed. I am in Singapore for some recon for How We Create and to develop an exciting project!!! STAY TUNED!

‘Fractus’ at artisan by QUT Students

Fruit Pixels on Display (from the Bloom Series 2009) at artisan.

A set of Fruit Pixels from my Bloom Series 2009 were featured as part of The Window Project at artisan: idea skill product, in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

The Window Project is a partnership conceived by the QUT School of Design Interior Design discipline and artisan, to provide opportunities for students to work collaboratively on small scale retail and exhibition design projects. artisan

‘Fractus’ installation on Brunswick Street.

The display concept for Fractus was formulated by QUT School of Design students:

Inspired by Christina Waterson’s Bloom series, ‘Fractus’ is a celebration of geometry and nature, expressing the symbiotic relationship of intricate interlocking male and female pairings to make new forms.  Predominantly produced from corflute, a material used by the artist in prototyping, this installation highlights the beauty and complexities of repetition, patterning and layering created by the artist in her folding and weaving process.

Nice work and great to work with the QUT Students!

The ‘Fractus’ Design Team included Jonathan Morehen (Architecture student), Vanessa Parker (Interior Design student), Karlee Blackburn (Interior Design student), Rebecca Shaw (Interior Design student), Rachael Gwaro (Interior Design student) and Natalie Wright (Lecturer in Interior Design).

24 Hour Viewing on Brunswick Street.

Check out Reboot: Function, Fashion and the Sneaker a great exhibition that opened at artisan: idea skill product on the same night!

You can actually bid on the customised Converse Blank Canvas Project boots online. Special!

My Day at BID 2012

BID marked a very special day at TRACE. I personally met and spoke with hundreds of people from different streams and stages of design practice; including the inspired general community, design students, budding artists, architects, ‘Star Designers’ from Queensland and Interstate, and Creative Industry Reps.

Once the doors opened I did not have a minute to catch my breath. I personally shared Tracelet’s conceptual and manufacturing background and gave a set to each individual.  The enthusiasm of everyone I met through out the day was truly inspiring. The day was a beautiful gift!

Great photos by George Dedic from Palamont and How We Create. Thank you George!

I couldn’t have made it through the day without the kind assistance of KT Doyle and Karl Hilton. Thank you so much for being my rock on Saturday! You were both so amazing.

Check out KT Doyle’s review of BID and her beautiful work at ktdoyle.com