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Issue 14 * 2014
An art filled 2014 @ Burrinja Theatre Sampler Package
Rod Moss - The Disrobing of Adrian Hayes
This awesome Sampler Package includes a ticket for the musical comedy, Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow and the raucous collision of cabaret, comedy and burlesque that is The Travelling Medicine Show, all for the bargain price of $68! The travelling Medicine Show
Open Studios Weekend – 3 & 4 May For a single weekend this autumn, you are invited to experience the world that unfolds within the working studios of artists in the charming Dandenong Ranges. This Open Studios Weekend will feature 35 local hills studio locations. Open Studios Exhibition: Balance Jarmbi Gallery 22 April - 18 May Burrinja - Cnr Glenfern Rd & Matson Drive, Upwey ph: (03) 9754 8723 w: burrinja.org.au
Rod Moss: Whitegate Where Art and Life Collide 28 March - 22 June 2014 Free Entry Rod Moss has been a resident of Alice Springs since 1984. His paintings are a result of his unique and close relationship with the Arrente community of Whitegate, one of several town camps on the outskirts of Alice Springs.
burrinja - BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH ARTS
Summer is well and truly over and the new year is already old. Or maybe it just seems that way because so many things have already happened this year and I feel like it’s going to be a really big one for the hillscene. The first and most exciting news is a new addition to our team. Gareth Hart is joining us to produce hillsceneLIVE. As of our Winter issue he will be staging live events which will be launched in line with each issue. Gareth has worked as a choreographer and Artistic Director of CRACK festival so I’m very excited to see our very first hillsceneLIVE event. Gareth’s byline “If this magazine could act, sing, dance, play guitar...” sums it up beautifully, I think. Our blog is also extending our reach and challenging our creative juices with our weekly posts of all things hills. Not only profiling creative artists and interesting things happening in the community, but also giving a voice to our younger readers through the mentoring program. Allowing our contributors a bit of artistic licence to express their own ideas and reach beyond our little backyard. Our aim is to keep you in touch with anything we find that we just can’t wait to share. Whether that is something happening locally or one of our locals shining in other parts of the world. I feel the blog has potential to grow into a forum where people can explore and embrace a wider online connection. Making connections and building community is what the hillscene is all about. Here’s an example from John at DRERS who sent us this email. “The Hillscene article is doing good stuff for Vegan Hills and DRERS with the fundraiser tonight in Upwey. Nicole who is running it mentioned how she happened across the magazine edition I was in and it was lying open
on page 5 where my article was. She had a read about Vegan Hills, then contacted me and now the fundraiser is happening. So like she said, it was destined to be! Thanks.” With the coming of the colours of Autumn, I hope the hillscene will be able to add some colour of it’s own to our evolving creative scene.
Editor/Designer
Adriana Alvarez
Cover
Ches Mills
Editorial Committee Ross Farnell, Zac Exner, Amy Middleton, Gareth Hart Contributors Ches Mills, Gareth Hart, Tiffany Morris North, Jenny Angel, Brent Dakis, Cameron Semmens, Nadia Sirninger Rankin, Ram Welti, Amy Middleton, Kirsten Laken, Carolyn Oates, Rebeka Milikins, and Adriana Alvarez facebook: The Hillscene www.hillscene.com.au blog: hillsceneblog.wordpress.com/ For submission and advertising enquiries e: hillscene@westnet.com.au Printed by Ferntree Print on Envirocare 100gsm recycled paper. © Copyright 2014
The hillscene is created in partnership with Burrinja
Proudly sponsored by 3
WOW ! Great Cover. Words by Amy Middleton. Ches Mills is one of those fascinating folks that you’d happily sit drinking tea with and after a period of time, find that you have had the pleasure of getting to know a deeply creative individual. She has a gentle spirit and you feel a lightness in being around her. This should not however take away from what seems to be an inner strength that drives her to push boundaries, both personally and in her art practise. Through her acrylic paintings Ches is currently exploring themes of fragility, precariousness and interdependence that reflect her concern for the human condition and our environment. She especially enjoys using rock formations as a motif. Ches paints her “backyard” environment producing bold, colourful stylized images… and when your “backyard” boasts the incredible views that Ches’ does; it would be hard to find yourself anything short of inspired. Her home studio in Kallista is nestled in a lush landscape and Ches generously invites visitors to take a sneak peak into her creative life during Dandenong Ranges Open Studios each year in Autumn. Whilst Ches often exhibits overseas, she is currently preparing for a solo exhibition titled Gravitas at Steps Gallery in Carlton, taking place in April. Ches’ artwork is rich in personal interpretation and overlayed with deep emotion. She is not one for many words, but I do get the sense that each of her paintings grants us a small insight into who Ches Mills is and the courage she harnesses to make bold and honest art. To find out more about Ches and her art, go to chesart.com.au or openstudios.org.au.
Cam’s Poetry Patch
poetry
This season’s new growth… a concrete poem called The Watch Pines three pine trees – huge hairy hounds with deep rough barks watch over our humble timber home; nipping the heels of sheepish clouds, moulting all over the roof yet I fear the flames that could turn our dogs against us transform their shade into an orange glow convert every placid twig and needle into rabid, biting embers
and I fear the thunderous winds that would push their huge muscle-branched bodies onto our fragile frame with love and fear’s twisted leashes I behold our three pine trees
n poem:
Grow your ow
specific memory 1. Focus on one and give tre to do with a e, to write es ut in m 5 lf yourse e might be the about it (the tre ment of ele focus, or just an happened). something that it, t over-thinking 2. Write withou just let it flow. nses – capture 3. Use all your se sounds. an s those smell d c details 4. Add in specifi believable). ore m it es ak m (it t a page of raw 5. Once you’ve go of the best text, choose 5-10 together to em lines, and put th rience, rework pe ex ur yo e captur to, but avoid ed them if you ne e whole story. the urge to tell th e, arrange your 6. Then, as abov propriate shape an words into ap lled a is ca (i.e. tree)… this ’ em ‘concrete po
Cameron Semmens Poet entertainer and Poetry educator offering meaningful entertainment and thoughtful inspiration in performance and workshops; on the stage and the page since 1991. www.webcameron.com 5
Photos courtesy of Mater Christi
Kirsten Laken (in green) at Mater Christi
A h i gh e r s p i r it Words by Kirsten Laken Mater Christi College, Belgrave celebrated its 50th year during 2013 and commissioned me to create a commemorative window for their Arts Courtyard.
The base represents the hills we live in, our community and includes words from the song “You lift me up� written in gold lustre through it.
The College asked for the window to represent life in Good Samaritan Community and to fill an impressive space - 8.5 m long by 2.5 m high.
Above the base is the green representing growth, our forests and our nurturing nature. While the orange and yellow represent our selves, our vibrancy and our inner golden light.
I began by inviting the girls from Mater to gather their ideas and feelings about what a Good Samaritan is and how they would like their window to portray their ideas. I collated their ideas and put the design together with layers of meaning. 6
The circles have many meanings; they are our souls, our communities and our individuality. They represent how individually we are powerful and together we are a community of strength. Each individual circle/bubble is able to expand and blend with another or lift up to a greater height. Circles
within circles are those we love, and care about, all those that we wish to let into our circle to enjoy our being and share each other’s light. Near the top of the window, the large blue circles have vast wings painted in gold lustre, representing not only the heavens, but also ourselves as we reach for greater heights. The wings are painted at shoulder height so that each girl can stand in front, hold her arms wide and be part of the window, giving them the golden wings to soar. We all have wings and can use these to lift others along with ourselves. Blue represents the ethereal, the higher spirit and a calm state of mind. Passages from the Bible relevant to the Good Samaritan are also written in gold lustre throughout the blue.
All students and Staff members were invited to create a small section for the window, so that they were a part of its making, putting themselves and their talent into the window for the future. It was a pure joy to work on this project, inspirational and rewarding. Working with Mater Chisti has been a source of pleasure and through this we have created a window to uplift others for generations to come.
Spirit of Glass Kirsten Laken runs classes in all things glass from her new studio in Ferny Creek with 3 studios and a kiln room to run amok in. Visit her during OPEN STUDIOS weekend 4th and 5th of May. mob: 0431 969 431 www.spiritofglass.com.au email: kirsten@spiritofglass.com.au 7
youth Seeing past the rainbow There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home! We all know it. It is the one place you can always rely on, for getting all the love and support you need. A place where someone is always there to give you a hug and tell you that it’s all right, no matter what… or is it? In this day and age, homosexuality is no longer ‘taboo’. They are accepted by more everyday, they are prouder then ever and the rainbow flag is presented, sailing all over Australia. So why are teenagers still so afraid of coming out to their parents? Everyday at high school, I am surrounded by many students who are openly gay during school time, but when they go home, they crawl back into the closet, they will go to any lengths to make sure their family don’t find out. Is it possible there are still parents who would disown their kids or is it that they don’t have a strong enough relationship with them to talk about their sexuality. If parents are against their children being gay, then I would like to know why. No one changes who they are, depending on their sexual orientation, people have so many contributing factors that make up their character and which gender you find yourself attracted to is not one of them. Honestly, I’m not sure who is to blame, for the teenagers who don’t have a strong enough relationship with their parents to be proud and ‘fabulous’ at home. But parents have got to stop assuming that their child is straight and teenagers, who are going through such a tough time coming to terms with themselves, should put the discomfort behind them and realize that their sexuality, by far, does not define them. Nadia Sirninger Rankin Nadia is currently studying for VCE
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Carnival Appeal I love the way people in this community are willing to get out there and get involved. They start up festivals, community groups and support worthwhile causes. Take Rebeka Milikins from Hug for Kids in Belgrave for instance, here she tells us about her initiave, Belgrave Carnival, and why she decided to organised this event.
Tell us about the upcoming Belgrave Carnival The Carnival is supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday appeal. It will be at St Thomas More’s Primary School on Good Friday April 18th from 10 – 2pm.
What sort of activities, entertainment or special guests will be involved? We have numerous rides, a Kite flyer, merry go round, jumping castle, giant slide, spinning wheel, reptile petting zoo, farm animals, easter egg hunt, face painting and roving entertainment, food such as sushi, coffee, fairy floss, fresh fruit, sausage sizzle etc….
community What does the money raised go towards? All proceeds are going to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday appeal.
Why did you decide to put on this event? I had a heart condition when I was born, the Royal Children’s Hospital fixed me up. I went there into my teenage years for annual check ups and tests. They touch the lives of just about every family I know in some way, big or small. There wasn’t anything to do near Belgrave on Good Friday so I thought I had the means to do something special with the shop. My customers are going to benefit from the carnival and having something to do on Good Friday to have fun and contribute to the appeal.
How can people get involved if they want to help? They can email me on carnival@hugsforkids. com.au or call 9754 1122 and speak with me about any ideas they can contribute from their business or we still have sponsorships available or if they would like to volunteer their time to help on the day and planning the weeks before. Our website is www.belgravecarnival.org and www.facebook.com/BelgraveCarnival
PAVE festival, garden dancing, and being ‘on the brink’ Interview by Gareth Hart PAVE (Performing And Visual arts in Emerald) festival is quickly becoming one of the highlights in the hills cultural calendar. PAVE’s highly dedicated committee of management define some of their goals as: providing an outlet for local artists to display their talents; promoting Emerald as a town of cultural significance; promoting partnerships and cooperation between small community organisations; and celebrating Emerald venues and spaces. I met with Vivienne Rogis (professional choreographer, PAVE secretary and co-ordinator of Dance) to talk about ‘Circling the Brink’, a dance project she has pioneered, and inadvertently how this project addresses many of PAVE’s goals. The project is taking place in the beautiful Telopea Gardens: a 10 acre garden property of trees and natural landscapes.
In essence, what is ‘Circling the Brink’? It’s become three different projects in one! It’s a dance workshop series, an artisticcommunity development process, and a [sitespecific] curated performance. 10
Why ‘circling the brink’ as a title? When I moved here [Emerald], I thought I was moving to Melbourne. And I wasn’t! I realised I was moving somewhere between Melbourne and regional Victoria, and for a little while there it felt like no man’s land. So I had the sense of circling going on….and then I thought, actually it’s about boundaries as well: between artists, the body and landscape, or between different art forms. Through thesaurus searching, the word ‘brink’ came up and I really liked it. That’s how that came about: on my back deck with a notepad and a computer….
Probably a pot of tea as well. Definitely. And no children!
Is that ‘brinky’ for you as well? Artist v’s mother? Absolutely. I was so focused before I had kids, there was nothing else. Anyone who wanted to come into my life had to become part of the dance. You actually lose your autonomy a little, have to subsume yourself in some context to the needs of this being.
festival Why Telopea Gardens for ‘Circling the Brink’? David Hoskins (owner of Telopea) mentioned that he loved the arts. He is an artist himself: a musician. He has people coming to the gardens that might not normally see contemporary dance, and we draw people to his gardens that might not normally come. So we have this symbiotic relationship that I see as quite valuable.
What has this relationship meant? It provided that stability and support of a location, with a person who is open to almost anything and really enthusiastic to help make it happen.
Hypothetically, what do you think it means to David? He likes seeing people enjoy his gardens. He didn’t know what to expect [last year] but really enjoyed it, he saw his gardens in a different way. An inspirational, creative way.
What can audiences expect? A structured experience of incredibly diverse practice…diversity in action really! That’s why I called it a Gallery initially…a Garden Gallery. Like seeing lots of different things, and putting them together in your own way. I felt like ‘Gallery’ exploded the need for narrative that an audience might feel when they come to see a performance.
Wow, is this the most ambitious PAVE ever? It’s certainly up there with them! Audiences at PAVE 2014 can enjoy a few of their favourite events (Women in Song, Burlesque, Storytelling for adults), as well as a few curve balls: a day of dance for young people, a family fiesta night and a literary day with poetry over dinner. Circling the Brink will be performed on Saturday April 12th, with PAVE running from April 6th – 13th. More information via: www.pave.org.au or www.facebook.com/circlingthebrink
cafe tarts Sooki Lounge - Belgrave This cafe review is a little different because I am not actually reviewing a cafe. Instead I am reviewing the food at Sooki Lounge, the latest (re) incarnation of, what was once, Ruby’s in Belgrave. I also feel really torn writing this review. So many great things, but a couple of let downs too. It has a great atmosphere and décor with lots of comfy couches to recline in plus they have live music and comedy nights. Sooki has a good selection of tapas on the menu, some shared platters and soft tacos along with a fantastic cocktail list. Also available were glasses of Pimms or Sangria. A delicious addition to a summer bar list. We ordered some tapas. The stuffed piquillo pepper was char-grilled, oozed with goats cheese, drizzled with balsamic glaze and tasted divine. The salt and pepper calamari came tossed in a rocket salad with a sweet chilli dressing and was deliciously tender. Garbanzos con Espinacas, chickpeas cooked in a slightly curried, buttery sauce served with flat bread on the side was also a hit. We also ordered the panzanella salad. Unfortunatey what we received was not that! Instead the rocket salad we got had more than we bargained for. It tasted fine but towards the
end of the dish we found a dead bug! When we informed the staff we were told it sometimes happened because they use organic leaves. Somehow, I don’t think washing the rocket leaves more thoroughly makes them any less organic! On to dessert. We ordered a Tira mi su which came in a small glass, and tasted deliciously of strong coffee. No skimping on flavour there and the portion size was perfect. As well as that we tasted the Eton mess, which consisted of meringue, marshmallows, macerated strawberries, cream and fairy floss served in a martini glass. This was a bit disappointing. While the flavours were there, there was just way too much cream compared to the other ingredients and we got too many spoonfuls consisting of cream alone. You could also have one of their cocktails as a desert, I had the espresso martini the last time I was there and it was delicious. So, all in all, I have mixed feelings. I would definitely go back for the peppers, chickpeas and calamari. And am looking forward to tasting a few more of the tapas menu items and cocktails but I will be looking really carefully at every mouthful I’m about to put in my mouth! 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave facebook - Sooki Lounge
Tiffany Morris-North Tiffany is a passionate artist/crafter/foodie living with her family in the beautiful and inspiring Dandenong Ranges. Follow her adventures on her blog tiffanymorrisnorth.wordpress.com
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Kallista Chinese Medicine Serving the community since 2006
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Photos by Jenny Angel m:0412 475 562
Stylishly worn in time Words by Adriana Alvarez. In the heart of Olinda, sits a typical hills cottage with a lovely garden that looks a bit parched by the latest heat wave. At least that’s how it looks from the outside but inside it hides a visual feast of nostalgic treasures. This is the family home of Alicia Geikowski who runs ‘Time Worn Style’, an online store of vintage homewares. After seven years of renovating she’s finally getting the home where she wants it to be. Built around 1925-1930 it’s one of the first homes in Olinda and the front is very typical of these early hills homes. “When we first moved in I wanted to restore it as original as I could but then realised that was impossible because it had been modified so much over the years,” says Alicia. Inside it’s humble exterior are so many interesting vintage details. Every corner seems to be filled with some charming object that’s begging for it’s story to be told. That’s just what you would expect from someone who runs a vintage store from a showroom downstairs. Alicia started ‘Time Worn Style’ about 15 years ago in the early days of ebay as a way of selling the overflow of things that she had bought for her home. But she is also passionate about recycling and giving things a new life. “I’ve just always liked old stuff and I like reusing it. I don’t have anything against buying things new if that’s what you like. But I think it’s a bit wasteful to not keep recycling old things. The beauty of it is that old stuff is just made so well, it lasts and lasts.” Although she studied printmaking Alicia hasn’t practised it for many years, instead turning her business into her creative outlet. The showroom reflects a flair for colourful and interesting pieces beautifully arranged. Her artists eye has definitely not been lost and is evident in the creative touches she’s added to her stylish home. www.time-worn-style.com facebook Time Worn Style
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street life
Big Dreams market Words by Adriana Alvarez Some people like to dream big. When Dee Wall started doing markets with her label ‘I love this’, she kept trying to find her market, one that felt like home to her but couldn’t. So her dream of ‘doing something awesome’ led her to start up her own market and make it just the way she wanted it. Luckily for us she had her sights set on Belgrave and that’s how Belgrave Big Dreams markets was formed. “I love Belgrave but I do feel like it could do with more life, there’s lots of good things happening but I really thought that a market would be a really nice focal point for all the hills area,” says Dee. It started at Belgrave Lake Park but from this month it will be moving to Hayes carpark and Blacksmith Way for a trial period. The market is already starting to gather momentum and get some interesting stall holders. It’s going to be a mixture of craft, design, produce and some fair trade and ethically sourced products. There’s a very cute Franklin coffee caravan that makes good coffee and a lot of good quality food stalls. And soon it will include some vintage records and more stalls that appeal to the guys. And that’s just the stalls, Dee’s got some big plans to develop some workshops which can be run at the market. Like food workshops or singing and even yoga. “I’d love to have a little crafty workshop, with maybe a bit of knitting or crocheting or yarn bombing. You just rock up and do it. It would just be another thing to get people wandering around 16
and then promoting people’s businesses because there’s lots of people doing cute, lovely stuff that needs to be out there. It would be lovely for them to get more exposure.” Her vision for the new space is to get a pile of the crates from the back of the shops put down some fake grass and have a little seating area, add some music and even get tiffaneybishopCollective involved painting some murals to get a really good atmosphere happening. Making it a market that is good for stall holders as well is another of her aims. This is where her experience as a stall holder gives her a unique insight. Her plan is build bonds and connections between them so there is a sense of closeness. Making it a ‘joyful’ experience for everyone from customers to makers and even pets and kids. It’s all part of the master plan for the market to have a real longevity. “I want it to be a bit of an institution so that in 20 years it’s still happening, and it’s something that everybody knows about.” adds Dee “Like St Andrews, Camberwell, and Rose St. That people know about and city people will come out because they know it’s on and they know it has a good vibe and good quality stalls. That’s the vision for it.” If dreaming big helps you achieve your goals I think this one’s in the bag.
For more information on market dates go to www.belgravebigdreamsmarket.com or facebook Belgrave Big Dreams Market
Blackdown Shepherds Huts Words by Adriana Alvarez In a large tin shed in Monbulk sits a gorgeous wooden cabin on cast iron wheels. It’s a Blackdown Shepherd’s hut and it’s the latest way you can extend your living space without even touching your home. The huts are built by Caroline Drury and Gareth Doran as a unique way to get that extra office or guest room for your home. They first became interested in them when Gareth’s father suggested it would be perfect as extra accomodation for the B&B they run from home. After doing some further research they decided to start manufacturing them here. The Blackdown huts are based on a traditional UK design so they have a lot of original features. Stable doors, cast iron wheels and the rig at the front which would have originally been attached to a horse. “They’ve got quite a history to them,” says Caroline “so we’ve really tried to keep them as traditional as possible.” Each model is bespoke and made to the clients specifications but has some standard features. They have a bathroom with toilet and shower, a built in or fold down bed and can have a kitchenette installed and other features you might need. Extra windows can be added or shelves, even a split system air conditioner. “They’re a real labour of love, a lot of work goes into them, they take a lot of time to put together.” The opposite of a flatpack, the quality of the finished product shows in the attention to detail. They’re surprisingly spacious inside and are so easy to set up. You plug it into electricity with an extension cable and plug in a normal hose for the water which runs through a hot water system for the shower. The shower drains away as grey water to a sink away trench or with a long hose into your garden. “Unlike a home extension you can take it with you when you move.” They also have many sustainable features. They are fully insulated with recycled earth wool, painted with low VOC paints and the cedar cladding is durable, known for it’s insulating
properties and is a sustainable timber. You can even have a composting toilet installed which uses no water and can be used on your garden. “The response has been amazing.” adds Caroline “we get so many positive comments from people out there and it’s really nice to have something that’s just hopefully unique.” To find out more go to www.blackdownshepherdhuts.com.au/
Lisa Hass
Images courtesy of Lisa Hass and Open Studios
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Words by Adriana Alvarez In a quiet cul-de-sac in Upwey sits an unassuming seventies brick home. It’s going through some transformations, just like it’s owner who is working on a new direction of her own. I’ve come here to speak with Lisa Hass who makes porcelain jewellery and homewares. She’s elegant and understated just like her partly renovated home and has a quiet, calm about her. She has a downstairs studio which she is opening up to the public for the first time during Open Studios in May. It’s something she’s always dreamed of doing, but never had work of her own to show, now with the porcelain jewellery and homewares she has a chance to live that dream. She’s been an art and design teacher for the last four years and has a graphic design background but took a break from teaching because of some back problems. That’s when she started working more seriously with porcelain. “Last year I went on leave from school so I started to really get into the porcelain.” says Lisa. “ I did a porcelain jewellery workshop a year and a half ago and loved it. Then as soon as I finished some work, a friend of mine asked me to put some of my work in an exhibition so that sort of got me started”. The jewellery pieces are all individually made and painted, with sterling silver and genuine leather components so that they are a high quality and will last. She’s trying different styles, designs and colours and is experimenting with new techniques she’s learned at workshops and by asking people lots of questions. The pristine white of the porcelain is enhanced by the individual slightly organic form and the simplicity of the painted design gives it a contemporary feel. When she was doing graphics computers were only just being introduced so evertthing in the industry was done by hand. That’s where the fine brush work comes from. Although she likes working on computers and teaching visual communication design she does miss the tactile feel of doing things by hand. “And that’s what I love about the ceramics being able to work through the whole process,
including the packaging solutions and logo design. It’s been fun being able to combine the graphics with the ceramics,” she says. Her homewear cups and jars are made in plaster molds. The porcelain gives them a beautiful smooth finish which is a lot stronger than clay since it can be fired at a higher temperature. The cups she started making about four or five years ago. “A teacher showed me the process of making a mold and it just happened to be a cup. I like functional design. I guess that’s from my graphics background where I like to find a use for something, and I just love the look of the take away cups so I continued making different molds of take away cups and only just recently started doing the jars.” Some of the jars are made from a French porcelain and are so perfectly white they look like they’re made from a rich, creamy solid milk. Her plan for these jars is to fire them again. This will make them translucent allowing them to glow when there’s a tea light inside them. Other plans on the horizon following Open Studios are to run some workshops from her dowstairs workspace and since she loves teaching I’m sure she’ll have no problem finding lots of eager students. Whether she’s experimenting with colour, different materials or different types of designs her functional and beautiful works present a contemporary feel of luxury with a matt and smooth finish that echoes Lisa’s own calm confidence. To see more of her work visit her during Open Studios www.openstudios.org.au or go to www.facebook.com/lisadhass
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Biodynamic soil Words by Ram Welti
You may have noticed some fruit trees looking dried up & dishevelled during the summer season past. Even after thoroughly watering before a hot spell, they still seem to look un-cared for. The reason is almost certainly because the soil which their roots inhabit is lacking or even devoid of ‘life’. Biodynamic gardening addresses this problem. Worms, Microbial Critters, Bacteria and Fungi are life forms, which are necessary if a plant is to feed naturally through the soil moisture. Watering alone cannot nurse them to health. But before rushing out to purchase a quick-fix remedy, be aware that there is no magic button to obtain the right soil conditions and perhaps the worst action is applying toxic sprays and fertilisers, because of the risk that they irreversibly contaminate your land for years to come. Now is the right time to prepare for the next summer season and see a completely different scenario – with a biodynamic compost heap. What all plants, especially those ending up as our food, really need is an appropriately considered climatic position and the right soil environment which includes plenty of good quality fully matured compost high in humus content. Then the plant can flourish. The right soil quality and moisture will allow plants to endure any onslaught by the sun and most other extreme weather conditions too. Healthy plants also have the strength & integrity to better resist parasitic pests & disease. The plants’ fine feeder roots release an enzyme which attracts microbial life, who in turn release minerals by breaking down rock on which the plant can feed. A biodynamic compost will intenisfy this process. Simply directly feeding plants such as by applying manure, is in no way as ideal. 20
Many easily collected materials can be used to make the compost heap. Some of the best are Hay, Green Garden Waste, Kitchen Scraps and Cow manure. One of the most important ingredients from the garden is leaf debris especially that produced from the site in which the compost will eventually be used. This material provides the greatest volume of freely available organic matter that is already specifically localised to replenish last seasons lost energy. The biodynamic preparations will further enhance a composts’ potential. Another important factor in compost making is to complete at least one compost heap during autumn when leaf debris is most readily available and also because it is during winter when the earth does all its best work. Just in time to be fully matured for spring when you can add the valuable result of the compost heap into your gardens soil. We all have busy lives and preparing good compost can seem like extra work. However, if you are focused on the rewards that are possible, it should be well worth the effort. A healthy fruit tree, once well established, will yield some of the best fruit you can get. The fruit will be easily available at no cost, 24 hours a day, that’s true convenience. When it comes to an all year round kitchen garden bed, vegetables act in just the same way. Leafy green vegetables such as Kale, Cabbage & Lettuce provide outstanding properties for our health and grow easily almost all year round. Health wise, you can’t really over do it with home grown fruit and vegatables in your diet, and the proper biodynamic preparation of your soil can help you achieve this natural aim. Ram Welti Is a Biodynamic Gardener passionate about quality home grown food and can get you started growing your own applying biodynamic principals. www.getgoinggrowing.com
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VCE Shines Words by Amy Middleton The VCE Creative Showcase is an exhibition which celebrates the talents of our best and brightest VCE art students from across the Yarra Ranges Council area, providing them with an opportunity to present their work in a professional context as part of a high profile event. The exhibition is challenging, insightful, beautiful and moving. It offers audiences a unique and creative perspective on life through the eyes of the next generation, often exploring a wide range of media from sculpture to photography, stop motion animation and ceramics. In March 2014 the seventh Showcase will be presented at the Upper Yarra Arts Centre in Warburton, The Jarmbi Gallery at Burrinja Cultural Centre and The Red Earth Gallery at Mooroolbark Community Centre in Mooroolbark. For more information, go to www.burrinja.org.au.
Hayley James AM. Tell me a little bit about the work that will be shown in the group show. HJ. It is called Illumina Tenebra and it is made from paper, card, electrical light and split pins. Light, or the absence of light, holds the ability to create or bring out particular sensations. You do not know darkness without the light. This combined with the large scale of my work aims to create a sense of allure to the audience when in its presence and forces them to be taken by the sheer size. The shadows cast upon the walls by using a strong, manufactured light in the centre was created to produce a more 22
‘Illumina Tenebra’ by Hayley James
encapsulating feeling for the viewers. When in its presence they become a part of the work, as the patterns of light are cast upon their bodies.
AM. What does being part of the VCE Creative Showcase mean to you? HJ. I am very excited and thankful for this opportunity the Showcase has given me to display the work I created last year. The piece is by far the hardest piece of work I have ever decided to make and took a lot of patience on my behalf and I love that my hard work has paid off and that others are also able to appreciate this piece of work I am proud of. I feel very, very lucky to have been chosen for this show and I am also very grateful to be seen alongside the other wonderful artists accepted in the Showcase.
art life AM. What are you doing this year, now that you have finished school? HJ. This year I have decided to defer my Visual Merchandising course. I decided this because I need the time to find a job and earn money, to help me with the fees of the course. As well as this I am spending the time creating artworks for myself and to allow me the opportunity to experiment and help my art to grow and improve.
Zahara Lingard-Coe AM. What was the inspiration behind your artwork last year? ZLC. In my last two years of school I found myself intrigued by the interactions between the people who surrounded me. I watched as my peers evolved in a time that called for instant maturation. I saw strong relationships falter and weak relationships bloom. Witnessing who was carried on the journey, and who was left behind on the road. In my series of prints, I have tried to capture some of these moments and the emotions collectively experienced in our final years of schooling.
AM. What does being part of the VCE Creative Showcase mean to you? ZLC. I was very honoured to be selected to be a part of the VCE Creative Showcase. I think this showcase will really bring to light the tremendous amounts of time and effort that students put into our folios and our work in VCE. It’s also fantastic to have my work displayed in my local community alongside my peers and the neighbouring schools.
AM. What are you doing this year, now that you have finished school? ZLC. This year I am excited to be continuing my studies at Deakin University. Undertaking a Bachelor of Arts means I am able to continue fuelling my passion for the visual arts, whilst also branching out to investigate other areas of interest. I hope also to utilise my semester breaks to travel. Works by Zahara Lingard-Coe
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Staying Safe ’n’ Sound Words by Carolyn Oates. After working on a day long songwriting workshop with the Dandenong Ranges Music Council, I was approached by the council about an initiative to find an effective way to communicate messages about personal safety to the community. The idea was to see if this could be achieved through the songwriting medium. Over a few meetings we fleshed out the idea and 4 community groups were approached to take part. We worked with Upwey High School, Monbulk Primary School, FREEZA and an open community workshop for the people of Monbulk. We planned a series of workshops with each group. Over the course of these workshops we looked at songwriting technique, coming up with melodic ideas and lyric ideas and the message we wanted to communicate in each song and the Safety CD is the result of those songwriting workshops. The idea behind this project was to raise awareness and find a way to communicate an effective message through music about personal safety to peers in each of the 4 groups. Each group headed in their own direction and chose their own theme. We have addressed issues of train and party safety, cyber safety, neighbourhood safety, and safety during bush fire season. I met with each group 4 times writing words around their chosen safety theme and eventually co-created the songs on this CD. The second workshop with each group included a visit from local Victorian Police representatives who offered practical advice to participants. There were common solutions across many of the issues raised including; be aware of your surroundings, and know how to describe them and the people in them to authorities, be mindful of the wellbeing of your friends and dialing triple 0 is ALWAYS a good idea because the most important thing is that someone who is in danger gets help. 24
It has been a beautiful thing to see people’s ideas blossom, and it’s always a surprise to find what lyric gems come from the workshops. Stylistically we have covered comedy, folk, rock and pop. All these styles present their own challenges to writing and each group rose to the challenge to create the core of each song. This has been a valuable lesson for me in songwriting and safety awareness and I hope each of the groups involved has found the same. The Safe ‘n’ Sound CD will be launched on Sunday March 30 , 2.00 - 3.00pm at Burrinja Cafe, Upwey. The Dandenong Ranges Music Council is proudly partnered by Yarra Ranges Council. This program has been funded as part of the Victorian Government’s community crime prevention program.
Kate Crowley CD
music
Words by Carolyn Oates. Measured in Moons, is the second full length album from Kate Crowley and it has been two years in the making. The songs arrived first, and then the touching generosity of friends, family and strangers alike who all chipped in on a secret online callout for donations to get the album made. This is a collection of sea-shanty-esque songs, full of lost love, new love and melancholy perspective. Kate sings with hints of Celtic tradition, she deeply feels the songs and gives a spirit of urgency to each lyric. The album is chock full of pretty finger picking guitar and it sounds as if the album was essentially built around Kate’s beautiful voice and a solo guitar. It then has tastefully layered instrumentation, interchanging between guitars, percussion, cello, banjo, clarinet, piano and the list goes on. Stand out tracks for me were Marrar Moon, with a beautiful lilting number of happy memories. Lake Baikal has a catchy “let’s all join in” chorus, and End of the World Blues, is well …. blues, so lyrically it’s tragic, but boy, it’s a toe tapper.
Then there’s Little Activist, a short sweet little love ditty, and Tree Sit, which is another toe-tapper with a deeper message for us all to consider. Then nearing the end of the album is Whisper, which is a melancholy reflection of Ireland. Kate will launch the album Saturday 15 March 7:30pm at the Barn Gallery, Montsalvat. A collaborative feast, the evening will feature performances by the talented team that worked on the album, including: Michael Waugh, Coen Dixon, Daniela Lucchetti, Rob Moss and The April Maze (returning fresh from their tour of the UK and Canada). Each will play as support acts and in Kate’s performance. To find out more go to www.katecrowley.com.au Carolyn Oates Carolyn is a local singer/songwriter and also offers instrument tuition, for more information go to www.carolynoates.com
Photos courtesy of Kate Crowley
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hillsceneLIVE
hillsceneLIVE is a quarterly performance event showcasing artists from the Dandenong Ranges. The events will take the form of a ‘cabaret night’, where short and exciting pieces of theatre, dance, music and poetry (or indeed anything in between!) will occur. hillsceneLIVE will also actively seek to reinterpret and reimagine local venues and spaces. The events extend the Hillscene by bringing into focus a performing arts culture; an arranged marriage between printed and live art forms. hillsceneLIVE was originally proposed to me by Burrinja’s Ross Farnell. At the time, Burrinja had just partnered with Adriana Alvarez (whom you might recognise as the talented editor of this very magazine), to deliver the exciting Hillscene to its avid readers. Over the course of a latte, the seed of hillsceneLIVE bore its way deep into my psyche; the mere mention of ‘community, culture and environment’ made my ears stand. A performance project that partners with a culture zine, working closely with Burrinja and a chance to support the talented artists of the hills? Everything screamed “yes”. As a limb of the hillsceneLIVE project, Ross and I decided that creating a youth ensemble of local dance enthusiasts would also provide me the practical and creative outlet that my arts practice lends itself to. The ensemble will respond, through dance, to ideas and articles in the Hillscene magazine. So now I find myself in the position of overseeing the curation and design of these quarterly events, whilst about to embark on an ongoing workshop process with young dancers from the area. And the internal “yes” scream continues to get louder. For more information on the project, or the youth dance ensemble, please email Gareth Hart at hillscene@burrinja.org.au
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hillscene
LIVE
Gareth Hart
Gareth is a freelance artist and arts producer, living in Cockatoo, Victoria. Gareth’s highlights to date include a 2013 Australian Dance Award nomination for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance’, and a two year contract as Artistic Director of CRACK Theatre Festival (NSW). He is currently obsessed with his homegrown beans, vinyl record collection and all things hillscene. www.garethhart.net
(if this magazine could act, sing, dance, play guitar…)
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