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Tapescape a hit at Ipswich Art Gallery

PACKING TAPE CREATES A TWO-STOREY PLAYGROUND INSIDE IPSWICH ART GALLERY

American artist Eric Lennartson has again brought something special to the Art Gallery with his latest exhibition, TapeScape. The artwork features 115,000 metres of packing tape constructed into a multi-sensory experience, where children can climb inside the structure and understand how it works, from the inside out.

Lennartson began the project at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota in 2011, which at the time was an emerging museum that didn’t even have a building to be housed in. He and his team purchased an empty retail space near a shopping centre and, after seeing photos from Architectural Record Magazine of a similar installation in Europe by Numen For Use, decided to fill the space with an interactive, hands on exhibit designed for children.

Lennartson and the museum had no budget and no team, but thanks to the power of community generosity and effort, amassed a totally donated foundation of materials and manpower.

The 3M company donated the tape, Jones Metal donated the steel pipes and over the next few months each member of the community pitched in, hand to tape, to personally construct the awe inspiring installation.

Lennartson attributes the birth of TapeScape to the efforts of those around him, stating that it couldn’t have come to life by him alone.

“I had family, friends, co-workers, fellow board members and students from Minnesota State University Mankato’s engineering and construction management programs.

“They would later tell all their friends and would bring them to the museum to show them what they helped build.

That became the model of building almost all of the future TapeScape projects- community connections and engagement.”

14 LifeStyle | February 2020 This is Lennartson’s second exhibition at the Ipswich Art Gallery. The first time in 2011 was the largest installation he had created to date so his return to IAG was marked by a desire to drive the collaboration deeper and build bigger and better.

“For this TapeScape we had a team of about 12 to 15 each day for around three weeks consisting of IAG staff along with a team from All City Arts. Maintenance for the installation requires cutting out some of the tape that might get dirty and sometimes adding more tape to areas that get a lot of traffic or might stretch out over months of play.

People of all ages and professions come to see Lennartson’s work. What began as an exercise

in community building, artistic expression and engineering has transpired into a tangible message of the importance of valuing the arts in conjunction with STEM learning and how they can compliment and strengthen one another. This is exemplified in the reception to the piece, which Lennartson remarked upon for it’s unique perception and creativity.

“I’ve heard people say that the spiralling construction reminded them of a surgical fibre optic scope camera or a scene in a Magic School Bus book, where they were travelling though the vascular or nervous system. Engineers see the bridges and forces at play to how the tunnel systems can support thousands of pounds or kilograms of weight.

Some think it looks like a crazy and gigantic spider web system or from Tolkien’s Hobbit. It also can look like a galactic wormhole, Dr Who’s space time vortex, or from Norse Mythology Bifrost when we add the LED Lighting to the tunnels.”

The most important aspect of the work is the delightfully intense focus on childs play and the way it opens a door for everyone to experience and interact with something bigger than themselves, built on community.

While TapeScape has left the IAG for now, Lennartson says he is already working on some new pieces that intersect with science and art, and he hopes to bring them back to the space in the next few years. Images: Ipswich Art Gallery

Discover your Ipswich

Ipswich has some great places to spend some time away from the February heat and humidity. Here are four places to cool off. Orion Lagoon in Springfield The Orion Lagoon in Springfield is a free, glorious water playground that caters for all age groups and abilities. The network is made up of interconnected pools of varying depth, that hug the grassy shore, giving off a beach like feel and making it easy for everyone from toddlers to adults to splash around. There is an interactive water feature section with squirting spouts, stepping stones and sunbathing platforms. Shade is provided by colourful sails that sit over grassy areas and there are free barbeques and picnic tables for you to kick back and enjoy lunch. If you can’t be bothered cooking after all that swimming, head on over to the nearby cafes and bars. Best of all? Orion Lagoon offers night time swims until nine! The Cottage Restaurant There’s a new place to be in town, The Cottage Restaurant in the Ipswich CBD. The menu features modern dining with a French and Mediterranean twist that sees it offering up dishes like ‘Rolled rabbit with wood mushrooms , braised fennel, cauliflower puree, heirloom baby carrots and red currants’ and ‘Smoked duck breast, faro and rocket risotto, parfait cromesquis and toasted walnut and creamed corn’ while desserts include ‘Hazelnut and white chocolate mousse with mandarin ice, vanilla bean cake and spiced cherry sauce’ and a ‘Lavender crème brulée’. Nab a seat on the verandah to enjoy the breeze and escape the heat of a balmy evening. Ipswich Antique Centre If you’ve got some shopping in mind but can’t bear to face the shopping centre, the Ipswich Antique Centre is the place for you. The heritage-listed Uniting Church Central Memorial Hall, built in 1895 (and now thankfully air conditioned), boasts a beautiful range of vintage jewellery and clothing, movie memorabilia, kitsch 1950s and ‘60s items, as well as larger items such as Australian Colonial and Victorian English furniture. You’re sure to stay sweat free while you find your treasures. The Soul Cauldron Tucked away in the depths below the Old Flour Mill, there lays a bookshop called the Soul Cauldron. It’s another world down those wooden steps, and if you’re looking for something a little different, you’ll be delighted to feast your eyes on books relating to the mind, body and the metaphysical. You’ll find tomes on the faerie world, buddhism, positive affirmations and wikka, and everything in between. Adding to mystical, magical ambience is the scent of incense in the air (and for sale) as well as candles, crystals, jewellery and even little steel cauldrons. Built on the remnants of the old mill, you’ll stay cool below ground while you soak up the loveliness of the old beams and bare bricks. For more ideas on what to see and do in Ipswich, go to discoveripswich.com.au.

Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ on show at Ipswich Little Theatre

This magical play, directed by Kate Mallory, with assistant director Chris Greenhill is a joyful experience as part of the Ipswich Little Theatre’s 2020 season.

Public performances are nights on 29 February, 6,7,13 and 14 March at 8pm and Sunday matinees are 1 and 8 March at 2pm

Writer Charles Condomine invites local eccentric medium, Madame Arcati, to hold a séance at his house and asks along his friends, Dr and Mrs Bradman. His intention is to gather character inspiration from Madame Arcati for his latest book. Despite initially thinking the séance has been a failure, it soon becomes clear that Madame Arcati has unwittingly brought back Charles’ first wife, Elvira. Once in the house, Elvira is unable to leave, and, as she cannot be seen or heard by Condamine’s second wife, Ruth, she begins to create all kinds of mischief and trouble between the married couple.

When Elvira unwittingly causes Ruth’s death in her attempts to bring Charles over to be with her, Charles becomes haunted by both of his now-deceased wives. Frustrated by their odd situation, the threesome call on Madame Arcati once more to send Elvira and Ruth back to the other side.

Legendary British playwright, Noel Coward’s comic plays continue to delight audiences all over the world.

Look into the crystal ball and enjoy the wit, fun and farcical situations as this twentieth century classic sparkles on the Incinerator stage. It is rated PG with mild adult themes.

This classic comedy is the first season for Ipswich Little Theatre Society for 2020. We are giving away 2 adult tickets worth $44 for Friday night 13 March.

Head to @lifestyleqld on Facebook to enter.

This play will be performed at the historic Incinerator Theatre, Burley Griffin Drive, Queens Park Ipswich. Gates open at 7.15 pm and 1.15 pm with the licensed bar serving hot and cold beverages and light snacks. Bookings online www.ilt.org.au or at the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre, Queens Park phone 3281 0555 or in person.

Have you been dreaming of a herb garden of your own? It’s much easier than you think!

Mr Fothergills in partnership with LifeStyleQ Magazine are giving away two seed packs containing basil, parsley and coriander, to two lucky winners!

Enter through the competitions page at www.lifestyleqld.com.au using the codeword ‘HERBS’ or, mail to LifeStyleQ Magazine, PO Box 555, Ipswich 4305. Entries close February 29.

All the seeds require for planting are moist or warm, well drained soil in a small pot. Pots work best as each herb has different requirements for sun exposure, so make sure you can move them around with ease.

The seedlings will begin to emerge after 7-20 days after which you can transplant them to a herb garden or larger pot.

To speed up growing and support healthy growth, use a liquid fertiliser and make sure to remember to water regularly. Consuming herbs may help to prevent and manage heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It may also help to reduce blood clots and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties. Research is ongoing but studies have shown that: garlic, linseed, fenugreek and lemongrass may help lower cholesterol.

Fresh herbs often contain higher antioxidant levels compared to processed or dried herbs but if you are using herbs in order to harness their health-promoting aspects first and foremost, aim to add your fresh herbs at the end of cooking or as you serve to preserve these properties.

It’s worth checking out the health giving properties of herbs. Win seeds for your herb garden

cool down IN STYLE With Australia’s largest range of fans

TAKEKO

Hydrophobic soil and how to fix it - with Mr Fothergill’s The hot Australian climate and unreliable rainfall can cause havoc with our soil, including Hydrophobic soil. This condition occurs when a waxy residue builds up on the soil particles, resulting in it repelling water rather than absorbing it.

The problem is most common in sandy soils and dried out potting mix and soils containing unrotted organic matter.

You can easily identify hydrophobic soil simply by watering it. If water runs off or pools on the surface leaving the soil underneath dry, you’ve got Hydrophobic soil.

Luckily, it is not too hard to fix, here’s a few common ways you can make your soil water loving, or ‘hydrophilic’. Wetting Agents Soil wetting agents are a great quick fix, although not a long term solution. They work by breaking down waxy residues and breaking the surface tension in the water, making it easier to penetrate the soil.

Commercial wetting agents are available at garden centres, or you can make one at home using agar (see the Mr Fothergill’s website for details). You can also use diluted dishwashing detergent as a soil wetter, but be sure to use environmentally friendly options and check their suitability for your plants. Improving the Soil A long-term way to improve your soil is to add well-rotted organic matter, then mulching over the top. This will help prevent the soil from drying out, introduce microorganisms to your soil which will break down the waxy residues and also improve your soil biology. When using mulches, be wary of continuously using pine bark or eucalypt woodchip mulches. Varying the mulch type at each application is best. Note that more is not always better – a three to five centimetre layer is ideal. Potted plants Plants in pots need special treatment. You can hydrate pot plant soil by soaking the pot in a tub of water for at least 10 to 20 minutes. Adding half-strength liquid fertiliser to the water will also help replenish nutrients in the soil. When repotting plants, add fresh potting mix to boost moisture levels and provide fresh nutrients. Water crystals can also boost the soil water retention capacity.

Prevention is always better than cure with pot plants as they can fail quickly in hot weather, so it’s a good idea when buying potting mix to choose one containing granular fertiliser and a wetting agent. This may be more costly at the outset but may save your expensive plant while you aren’t watching.