Amber Cronin: Making time

Story by Kate LeGallez.

Above: Detail from ‘Ark’ exhibition at The Mill, Kaurna Land. Photo courtesy of Tom Borgas.

Time is one of those things that we humans cannot change. Still, we try. We want to slow it down, speed it up, manage it. In 2020, we wallowed in it, sometimes joyfully, sometimes despairingly. For Adelaide-based artist Amber Cronin, the enforced stillness of the past twelve months has brought renewed awareness to the value of time, both in the meditative nature of her own artistic practice and in her efforts to build and energise local communities.

The daughter of a textile artist and a playwright, Amber’s earliest memories of art are inseparable from community. Her childhood was spent at folk festivals, where craft, production, theatre and music came together through the hard work of many different people. ‘I grew up in a world where people did creative things and could pursue these things and that was a reality,’ says Amber. Following her own creative path, she intuitively conceptualised art as a collaborative experience, ‘I just feel naturally connected to communities of people and supporting them.’

‘I think about my own practice as being an ecology of different things,’ continues Amber, whose work wraps around sculpture, drawing, installation and performance. Whether through her sociallyengaged practice or her gallery-directed practice, she seeks to bring people into connection – with the natural world, with other communities and with themselves.

Above left and right: Detail from ‘In preservation I walk’ from Amber’s 2020 Honours graduate show. Photos courtesy of Tom Borgas. Bottom left: ‘WIP’ Studio progress shot. Photo by Amber Cronin.

Making art takes time – hours and minutes – but it’s also an element of the work itself in many cases. This is particularly so in Amber’s mould-making and casting work. ‘It’s like a framework to spend time. To look at those things, and ultimately the artwork that I make, obviously I want it to contain that special, almost sacred reverence for the thing that I’ve spent time thinking about.’

At thirty Amber can explain this philosophy articulately, though she’s often grappled with the breadth of her interests. It’s something the twenty-two year old Amber might have appreciated, when she cofounded The Mill with friend Erin Fowler. The Mill, a multidisciplinary arts space, combines arts programming with the physical space for its resident artists to work and collaborate. Hindsight reveals it as a microcosm of Amber’s artistic philosophy. Since resigning from The Mill’s board in 2018, Amber has balanced her programming role at a yoga organisation with her studio practice and freelance work. It’s in these latter capacities that Amber has been drawn down to the Fleurieu more and more over the past year. And that’s set to continue with a new collaboration with Jess and Surahn Sidhu at Papershell Farm near Willunga beginning in March and an exhibition at Port Noarlunga’s Sauerbier House in August.

Amber and Surahn knew of each other through various mutual friends, but only met for the first time last year, connecting at a festival as they discussed ‘ideas to save the world.’ Their social frisson led to Amber and her partner Tom visiting Papershell ‘and we’ve been there as much as possible ever since,’ smiles Amber. ‘It’s just been an amazing friendship that’s been made possible by us being brought into some stillness from last year.’ >

Top: ‘Caudeux’ from On Being an Artist, Praxis Gallery. Bottom left: Detail from ‘Room for the Hunter’ exhibition 2019. Photos courtesy of Tom Borgas. Bottom right: Amber Cronin at Papershell Farm where she is helping plan a series of workshops and events for 2021.

The past year also gave Amber a chance to reflect on where she was expending her artistic energy. Her involvement in the national Australian arts community, which had been so fierce in her early twenties as she established The Mill, had been diluted in the intervening years and she realised she wanted to redouble her local commitment. She recognised the same purpose in Jess and Surahn’s work at Papershell and their mutual fire was lit. Together, they’ve designed a program of workshops and events centred around art, conversations and lectures, leaning on experts and encouraging engagement with the big ideas and challenges we face socially and environmentally.

The space at Papershell is as important as the events themselves, the peaceful environment offering the chance for people to feel grounded and open to new ideas. Community doesn’t just happen, it requires this sort of conscious effort alongside time and space to explore and connect. Amber, together with Jess and Surahn, are making that time.

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Story by Winnie Pelz. Photography by Lydie Paton and Keith Rudkin.

There are places in the world where the site of Turtle Rock would be covered in high-rise glass towers, dripping ostentation and opulence. But this is South Australia and instead we find a modest and charming 1950s beach house and garden held by the one family for forty years – much used and much loved.

Turtle Rock overlooks the Southern Ocean right on the shoreline at Hayborough. While the views are spectacular, this humble home is further elevated through a skillful marriage of internal and external art and design. It certainly helps to have a designer and artist in the family and owners Keith and Glenda Rudkin have been fortunate indeed to have found this in their daughter-in-law Lydia, or Lydie as she prefers to be known, Paton. A qualified landscape architect, talented designer and painter, and someone who grew up in a family of ecologists and ornithologists, Lydie’s garden design and paintings at Turtle Rock are a testament to her creativity.

The development of the Turtle Rock garden has been a family affair with Lydie at the helm. With the south winds roaring straight off the sea during winter, and baking heat on sandy soil in summer, it’s not an easy site on which to establish a garden. Early plantings based around the endemic eucalypts and melaleucas have since been pruned and shaped to fit a more ‘designed’ landscape. More recent plantings include Banksias, Proteas, Alyogynes, woolly bush and Geraldton wax, which provide contrast foliage and an amazing show of spring colour.

Page left: A view of the garden looking out toward Victor Harbor. This page top left: Details like this planted shell feature prominently amongst the garden. Bottom left: Cotyledon Silver Waves in copper bowl. Above right: Another view of the garden on the south side.

To keep the local birds happy, Keith has set up a watering system that ensures bird baths stay fresh and full, while a series of bird boxes encourage the local avian population of red-rump parrots, rainbow lorikeets and grey shrike thrushes to make themselves at home. New Holland honeyeaters can also be found flitting about this dense, nectar-rich territory.

The garden in front of the house is a small gem of clever, well designed planting. A base palette of greens, blues, silvers and greys provided by Cotyledons, Aeoniums and Senecio is punctuated with bright contrasting pink geraniums and yellow calendula. Beautiful Mount Gambier sandstone walls hold planting beds, and pathways feature large granite pavers as well as simple sand paths and pebbled areas. Although the garden is small, there is detail to catch the eye at every turn. Quirky bowls, sieves and colanders, collected over the years, are now filled with delightful small succulents and tough little plants that provide splashes of unexpected colour and texture. Fences feature vintage rusted galvanised iron, and an old concrete laundry trough has been set on stones to create a piece of very striking, practical sculpture, filled with succulents.

Inside the house, a different side of Lydie’s creativity is revealed. One of her large paintings hangs inside, a skill she developed while accompanying her husband, Victor Harbor ophthalmologist Adam Rudkin, on a two-year surgical fellowship in Canada. The change of pace gave Lydie the chance to explore her art and develop her skills as a printmaker while living in Toronto. On returning to Australia, the arrival of twins, Ida and Rufus, three years ago has stretched her flexibility, resourcefulness and creativity even further. This painting >

Top left: Banksia menziesii (Firewood Banksia). Top right: King Proteas paintings by Lydie Paton. Bottom left: Spring flowering protea. Bottom right: Artist and avid gardener Lydie Paton.

is a strong layered geometric composition; simple shapes provide a layered background to a foreground of stylised banksias, while outside their real-life counterparts thrive in the garden.

Lydie now juggles her time between being a mother to exuberant twins, running a design business and maintaining her own practice as an artist. ‘My art practice has always been very varied and I oscillate between taking a realist approach to painting in oils, to the opposite extreme of abstract or highly stylised pieces in acrylics or mixed media. I find both equally enjoyable and it keeps the inspiration and excitement fresh about starting new works,’ she says. Her technical approach to large-scale works brings together the skillsets Lydie has developed as both an artist and an architect. She drafts background shapes and the botanical outlines on her computer. She prints out these preliminary shapes and does her initial colour planning using Photoshop, though this is always just a starting point. ‘Rarely do these guides last long as it is nearly always impossible to mix colours that match,’ she happily admits. ‘As soon as a few colours are on the canvas, these dictate what will work alongside them and then the initial plan goes out the window.’ As with most art, the work takes on a life and momentum of its own.

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Each change of season brings with it new colours and aromas inspired by nature. Embrace the milder weather with these autumn inspired goods and soak up some of the Fleurieu’s most inspiring spaces while you’re at it.

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Story by Poppy Fitzpatrick

‘Noarlunga’ is derived from the Kaurna word Nurlongga, meaning ‘curve place.’ It refers to the horseshoe bend of the fertile Onkaparinga River where it meets with the crystal blue waters of the coast, but it could just as easily apply to the historic township, where every twist and turn offers a new burst of flavour, glimpse of art, or the next salt-crusted aquatic adventure. Eat, see, shop and play in this relaxed seaside town.

Page left: The Port Noarlunga ‘Goggles’ sculpture by Anna Small and Warren Pickering, photographed at sunset by Jason Porter. Above left: Delicious modern Australian dishes at Agatha’s. Right: The Fleurieu Pantry is proudly creating delicious 100% gluten-free food. Photo by Loki Hall.

When it comes to coffee and brunch, Port Noarlunga has choices aplenty, but there’s no safer option than to pull up a seat at Agatha’s. This licensed cafe has been serving up their colourful menu for over twenty years and welcomes everyone, including the littlest of diners.

If you can’t find a seat here among the ravenous crowds, fear not. One of the area’s newest installments Cheffy Chelby’s can pack you up a takeaway brekky burger. Wash down ‘The Hangover’ burger with a locally roasted Dal Mare coffee and you might have just cured all of last night’s mistakes.

Nearby is The Fleurieu Pantry, a proudly 100% gluten-free eatery, with a focus on delicious and nutritious fodder. Without a single deep fryer or crumb of gluten in sight, this is the perfect place to bring your coeliac pal or treat your tum to something truly nourishing. After working up an appetite out on the water, Becks Bakehouse is a sure-fire way to please your crowd. This go-to meeting place is famous for its hearty tuna pies and vegan donuts. Grab some pastries and take the short walk to Jubilee Park, where the kids can run amok on the widely loved wooden playground.

For something a little more indulgent, grab your mates and claim a patch of grass in the sunshine at Port Burger. Order a juicy burger with loaded fries and explore their selection of craft beers. Try their loaded salads and vegetarian options for something a little lighter.

As the sun starts to work its way down towards the horizon, a hard decision must be made – where to head for dinner? You might head for the shore, picking up a seafood pack from Jimmy’s Port Noarlunga Fish & Chips. This iconic family-owned and operated restaurant has been serving classic seaside eats since 1991, so you know your chunky chips will be cooked to perfection. >

Above left: A delicious array of burgers, including the classics as well as gluten-free, vegan and vego options at Port Burger. Right: Thai food with a view at Ampika’s. Bottom: The deck at Horta’s has it all – a great wine list, award-winning seafood and fantastic views. Bottom left: Keg & Barrel – Steakhouse Bar & Grill has the meat eaters covered with a menu of steak, ribs and burgers.

A trip to Ampika’s will trick your taste buds into believing you’ve made a brief escape to Thailand. Sip on a cocktail, craft beer or a big steaming bowl of laksa as you listen to the waves roll in.

Keg & Barrel – Steakhouse Bar & Grill has the meat eaters covered with a menu of steak, ribs and burgers. Build your own beer paddle to sample the rotating selection of local and interstate handcrafted brews and have a hit of pool while the kitchen gets the grill cranking.

Catch the last glimpse of the sun as it descends over the jetty, while you graze a fresh seafood platter at Horta’s. Offering both á la carte and tapas-style menus with a mixture of Portuguese and modern Australian influences, there’s no better place to end your day.

Top: Elyas Alavi’s neon work ‘Where is homeland’ will be part of the fine print exhibition – ‘Field Notes.’ Photo courtesy of the artist. Bottom: The Arts Centre’s Art Shop at Port Noarlunga.

In between stops on your culinary exploration of Port Noarlunga, keep an eye out for the public artworks scattered throughout the township. A mosaic wave wall ripples across the roundabout, a colourful mural faces the outdoor seating at Becks, while ‘The Bend’ sculpture invites you through its steel arch into the grounds of the historic Sauerbier House. Built in 1897 by sheep grazier Charles Sauerbier, the house now aims to showcase and foster contemporary artists from various backgrounds. Between Sauerbier House and the Arts Centre, you can pop in to explore the work on display from rotating artist residencies and local creatives. The two destinations combine to create the Onkaparinga Arts Precinct and offer opportunities to not only view and purchase art works but to experience live performances, interact with working artists or take a workshop.

Be sure to explore the arts trail on the Onkaparinga website so you don’t miss a thing – especially ‘The Goggles’, with its detailed copper and steel layering that depicts the rich aquatic life of the reef through the frame of a giant snorkel mask. >

Page left: The jetty and the reef at Port Noarlunga are huge drawcords for the township with one of the best spots for snorkelling in South Australia. Photo by Jason Porter. Top left: Botanista is full of great gifts, plants and terrariums to name a few. Check out their workshops! Top right: Patricia’s is a treasure trove of homewares, clothing and gifts. Bottom left: Made of Stars boasts a large selection of house-made soy candles, jewellery, and uniquely South Australian made craft and design. Bottom right: At Earth Magic – a colourful array of clothing, homewares and gifts as well as crystals, buddhas and incense. All photos thois page (except Botanista) by Loki Hall.

Take your newfound artistic inspiration along with you into Botanista. Browse a unique selection of plants and botanicals, terrariums, gifts and teas, join in for a weekend workshop, or even build your own botanical masterpiece in Australia’s only DIY terrarium bar.

Move along next door to admire some unique, handcrafted jewellery, homewares, clothing and more at Made of Stars. Indulge your senses with their locally poured soy candles, boasting over 50 different fragrances.

A few more steps and you’ll find yourself engulfed in the stylish home, lifestyle and gift wares inside Patricia’s. Explore this treasure trove of unique items as they guide you through to The Fleurieu Pantry hidden out the back. While you’re sipping a coffee, you can decide whether you really need that beautiful ceramic bowl you saw in the corner on your way in. You do. Grab it on your way out.

Find your inner goddess inside the bohemian oasis that is Sound of White. Offering a range of Australian labels including Kivari, Arnhem, House of Skye, Indian Summer Co, Lost Lover and Gaia Soul, you’re sure to emerge with the perfect frock for your next beachside stroll.

Let the lure of incense guide you through an eclectic range of clothing, crystals, home decor, jewellery, oils and giftwares at Earth Magic. This familiar fixture always has something colourful and unexpected to offer. >

Top:The boho look has never been as well curated than at the Sound of White. Photo by Loki Hall. Bottom: Kayaking the mouth of the Onkaparinga River with rentals from Easy Kayaks.

Easy Kayaks can set you up to paddle yourself along the Onkaparinga River as it meets Southport Beach. Sit back in a kayak, throw a line in and you might catch one of twenty different fish species recorded in the river. Or maybe test your balance and explore the Port Noarlunga reef from atop a stand-up paddle board. Confident paddlers can head off on a solo expedition, or newbies can find their flow with a guided tour.

If the weather is on your side, grab your snorkel and fins and dive down to get up close and personal with the reef’s scaly residents. On a wavy autumn day, join the surfers a little further south to ride the popular swell at the reef’s end. Appreciate the coastline from the Port Noarlunga jetty, which provides a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the blue below. Try your hand at some fishing and watch the thrill-seeking jetty jumpers, or simply stroll along with an ice cream and breathe in the salty air. Take in the view of the bay from one of the various boardwalks among the dunes, or follow the path back through the wetlands and keep an eye on the diverse birdlife throughout.

This township will keep you busy no matter the weather.

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