The Why We Create Launch

Guests start to arrive for the launch of the Why We Create series within TRACE at Pin-Up Project Space, Melbourne. Photography James Braund.

Invited guests from a diverse range of fields including Art, Design, IT, Engineering, Law, Media and Education joined the How We Create team for the Lunchtime Launch of the Why We Create Series.

The Why We Create initiative (founded by How We Create and I) seeks to spark a wider conversation about the process and value of design-led thinking in Australia. Interviews, discussions and public forums are occurring parallel to events that will take place across Australia over the next 12 months. The Launch of this series was held within TRACE at Pin-Up Project Space in Melbourne, on 16 May 2012, and marked the close of the exhibition.

Yes that’s me passionately speaking at the event. Photography James Braund.

Norman Johnson from How We Create and Palamont: art in manufacturing launched the series. I gave an intimate presentation into why I create, and the importance of creatives engaging with the wider business community.

Nicholas Rogers (Parameter Space) and Alexi Freeman (Alexi Freeman). Photography James Braund.

Fleur Watson in conversation (Pin-Up Project Space). Photography James Braund.

Gini Lee (Melbourne University) through Scale Screen. Photography James Braund.

Matt Ward with Martyn Hook (background). Photography James Braund.

Joanna Bosse, Gini Lee (Back) and Christina Waterson. Photography James Braund.

Simone LeAmon in focus. Photography James Braund.

Patricia Lee (Back)( Palamont), Alexi Freeman (Alexi Freeman), Norman Johnson (Back) (Palamont and How We Create) and Nicholas Rogers (Parameter Space). Photography James Braund.

Guests enjoyed good conversation and a beautiful selection of light tastes created by our special local friends Cibi (head, hands, heart) accompanied by refreshing organic apple juice and Pimms cocktails all served by the fabulous Boys and Girls team.

Special Thanks to Melbourne based photographer James Braund who documented the event exquisitely and of course to the team at How We Create.

TRACE BID Details

Sugar Cane Country

South Johnstone Mill, South of Cairns, Queensland.

I grew up in Bundaberg sugar cane country. Bundaberg is defined by its rich red volcanic soil and endless sugar cane fields. Millaquin and Bingera Mill process sugar cane within the Bundaberg district. I have many vivid memories of cane burning, sheds filled with piles of raw sugar, giant rum vats and rich sweet smells experienced during countless school excursions to these mills. It left a lasting imprint in my memory.

While travelling from Cairns to Mission Beach I had the chance to revisit two of my favourite North Queensland Mills: South Johnstone and Babinda Mill.

 The scale of industry and the honesty of the construction.

Process dynamism uncontrived composition.

The mills were very quiet during my visit. The crushing season is June/July and November/December. A hive of activity occurs during crushing and still guides the cycle of life within these communities.

Locomotives now transport tonnes of freshly cut cane to the mills via hundreds of kilometres of cane train tracks. Cane harvesters cut the cane green now. Gone are the days when the sky would be filled with the glow of afternoon cane fires.

Cane train crossing sign near Babinda Mill.

Before the invention of the cane harvester the cane was cut by hand. Many of the early cane cutters would build houses (The Queenslanders) in the off-season. The Queenslanders that are dotted around Northern Queensland are testimony to their labour and the plentiful supply of timber in the area. Queenslanders were built entirely of native timbers.

Babinda Mill, South of Cairns.

Their form reminds me of large boats!

I know it must sound strange ‘A girl like me completely moved by places like this’. But there are things I find in these places that speak to me directly. They remind me of my home town and childhood summers. These industrial spaces have dramatic volume and light; almost like the cathedrals and mosques I have since visited in my adult life. They also have an honesty in material and planning that respond to the process, scale of industry and function.

The patina of time, season and use.

Brisbane Sydney Cairns

James Street Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.

It’s been another world-wind week of site visits, travel, more site visits and a bit of R&R in North Queensland. Early in the week, Norman Johnson (from How We Create and Palamont) and I hit the pavement to check out potential spaces for the upcoming Brisbane Indesign installation of TRACE. And yes we might have found one…

TRACE Potential Space! Joy!

Next it was onto Sydney to site inspect Palamont’s latest project…One Central Park.

Palamont – Art in Manufacturing is currently involved in this major construction project designed by Jean Nouvel and Sir Norman Foster.

On Site: One Central Park Apartments, Sydney.

Inside the Atrium

Palamont has been instrumental in designing, manufacturing and delivering external planters for the ground breaking vertical gardens that distinguish this project.

Norman inspects the site.

And then it was on to Cairns… Expression of Interest… Mission Beach… breath…rest… and relax.

Sunrise over Mission Beach.

What a great way to wake up…

Powered by Kevin and Esther

Each morning as I start my day I head down to Boundary Road, West End and have a coffee. Anyone who truly knows me knows that I am not a morning person.

First port of call is always Kerith Brook Cafe to visit Kevin and Esther. I am literally powered by Kevin’s great kick-start coffee and Esther’s delicious breakfast. I usually blog for tracepattern from their cafe. (Yes I am there now!) Kerith Brook Cafe is more like a spacious living room than just a cafe. It is always a pleasure to hang out in their peaceful environment.

Kevin and Esther are such lovely, kind and sincere people! Thank you Kevin and Esther!

TRACE comes home for BID!!!

I am so excited! My solo exhibition TRACE will return home for Brisbane Indesign (BID).

What is BID?

“…an ultimate event for design lovers … showcasing over 150 of the best local and international design brands in an exciting festival atmosphere…and takes place over two days (Friday 25 May and Saturday 26 May 2012) within showrooms and temporary locations.” www.brisbaneindesign.com.au

I spent part of yesterday checking out the venue on James Street in Fortitude Valley. Things are really heating up with only 24 Days to go until the event!!!

TRACE returning home to Brisbane will see a greater selection of my new work on show and the production of Tracelet. Stay tuned for the finer details…

Thank you again How We Create.

The Swap Table

In the foyer of Torbreck, my apartment building, there is a table. This is where you can pick up a newspaper or The Brisbane News as you arrive home.

Over the last few months something special has happened to the table. It has become the Residents’ Swap Table.

Books, magazines, outgrown children’s clothes, interesting utensils, dressmaker’s patterns, shoes, toys all sorts of things have stated arriving on the table.

The best thing is that you can pick up a book for the afternoon, have a little read, and if it’s not your thing you simply put it back on the table for someone else.

There is one rule I do keep. You must put something on the table to be able to pick an item up. I have placed Architecture Magazines, books and dress up clothes on the table, so I feel A-Ok about the odds and ends I have picked up.

Such a joy each morning to walk through the foyer and see what has arrived on the table overnight.

I do love the community at Torbreck! Thank you!

TRACE The Work = Where We Live

Thread Screen 2009. Photography by Tobias Titz. This screen was inspired by the pattern of western light passing through foliage, lattice, across a verandah finally resting on a speckled glass window pane.

Mapping Occupation 2009. Photography by Jon Linkins. It is a record of the occupation of a verandah over the course of a day.

These two works included in Trace at Pin-Up Project Space were selected from the Where We Live Collection, made with the assistance of a 2008/2009 Creative Sparks Grant. These studies aimed to capture the qualities that enrich our lives in Brisbane and define the special places where we live. Many were informed by our unique light and use of space specific to our climate, views and places within the city.

TRACE FLASHBACK

A large part of the initial research for the  Where We Live project was photographic. In all, seven different places or ‘typologies’ were selected and researched for the project including ‘Up High’, ‘By the River,  ’In the Centre’ and ‘Living Rough’. Only one of these ‘Living at the Edge’ was selected for final exhibition at Raw Space Gallery.

A Sister Work to Thread Screen is Light Study 2009. Photography by Christina Waterson.

Where We Live Installation at Raw Space Gallery 2010. Photography by Jon Linkins.

Raw Space Gallery located on Melbourne Street (South Brisbane) allowed 24 hour viewing of the works. This meant they were readily accessible to a wide diversity of people who both worked and passed through the area on a daily basis.

Both Thread Screen and Mapping Occupation 2009 were selected for TRACE because they are yet to be realised to their true potential. They are in waiting to still evolve and become fully.

Where We Live was a Creative Sparks Grant Project. Creative Sparks is a joint initiative of Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Where We Live at Raw Space Gallery was an Official Associated Event of 2010 Unlimited: Designing for the Asia Pacific.

Thoughts of my home at Easter

By the time Easter arrives the nights are cooler and so, in the mornings

Dew rests thickly on the ground tracing the spider webs through the grass and onto the fence line,

Upstairs Dad is making another cup of tea and listening to the radio,

The parrots arrive at the kitchen window… tap tap tap.

Dad rests a spoonful of honey on the verandah railing and leaves them to enjoy it,

Mum is out in the garden picking Rocket, Cilantro and Lettuce for lunch,

Butcher Birds and Kookaburras keep an eager eye on her action that may flush out a juicy insect,

The Hares have been munching on the garden greens poking through the mesh,

As I come down the stairs from the house I see them skipping off across the paddock

Every so often they pause before bounding away again.

Soon it will be time for a walk through the bush past the wild lemon tree and

Bush orchids nestled in the widowers where the eagles dry their wings,

Past the undergrowth where the Willy Wagtails dance and vines grow across the gullies

down to the edge of the river.

My thoughts are with my family and my home because I didn’t make it there for Easter…

Brisbane Insiders

Brisbane Insider

With Brisbane Indesign (BID) only 53 Days away, creatives all ’round town are abuzz with planning, making, and collaborating to ensure it is an event to remember!

I was invited by Indesign to be a Brisbane Insider, that is, share my personal experience of Brisbane including places I like to snack, hangout etc. in a cool one page format.

I especially liked Designer Surya Graf's Insider Substation love...I often run into him at Cup...

... I enjoyed the perspective of Interior Designer Erin Dore (I would like to meet Erin...Maybe at BID!)...

...and always Architect Robert Riddel's eloquence and beautiful handwriting.

RESPECT!

Check out all of the Brisbane Insiders and their unique insights at Brisbane Indesign!