Out of the crowd

My last post was a review of the Kane Cornes biography and it has kept me thinking. While reading the books there were situations and feelings that I could identify with; being part of a cheering crowd, celebrating your teams win, ripping up pages of the telephone book, but where our experiences obviously diverge is that Kane went on to be a 300 game AFL player for Port Adelaide.

I'm still the fan in the crowd, passionate observer. My role hasn't shifted.

My childhood in the 1980s and early 90s was spent at Alberton Oval or various other suburban football grounds. I went to all the Magpies Grand Finals wearing my black and white, dutifully filling in my Footy Record and cheering on my favourite players. At home with my two brothers we would play kick-to-kick, replicating the play of Scott Hodges, Tim Giniver or Gavin Wanganeen. At Primary School I would be called on by our teacher to demonstrate to the class how to take a speccy or kick the ball correctly. But actually playing for a local club or, to dream bigger and play for an elite club was never going to happen. I was on the girls cricket and soccer teams, however I don't recall the School ever having a girls football team.

This is why I am so encouraged by the recent decision by the AFL to establish a women's league competition. This week my team, Port Adelaide, announced that they will focus on a "grassroots" approach to building a team rather then enter the competition in its inaugural year. Although I am disappointed that Port Adelaide Football Club will not be fielding a team as I always like a bit of "history in the making", concentrating on grassroots could turn out in the long run to be the way to the best option. It would be good to build the playing of football by girls in schools or at clubs to the levels experience in cricket, soccer and basketball.

Erin Phillips, Olympian and WNBA basketballer and future Port Adelaide Women's League player (image: PAFC website)

I am hopeful that the inception of the Women's League will also help to breakdown barriers in the area of coaching, journalism, Board Membership and Club Presidentship. Women's inclusion needs to be about more than the AFL and Clubs being happy to take our Membership and merchandise money. Women need to be an equal part for the future development and growth of the game. 

Amanda Vanstone: Port Adelaide Football Club Board Member

It will be a great day when the women's league is celebrating it's first 300 game player.

Review: Kane Cornes autobiography

This will not be an unbiased or impartial review, as it is too difficult for me to separate my love for the Port Adelaide Football Club and critiquing this book. Just putting that out there at the start.

In his autobiography Kane Cornes, the first 300 game player for Port Adelaide, details the extraordinary drive he had as a child and through his football playing career. The name Cornes is obviously synonymous with South Australian football, father Graham Cornes is a former Glenelg player, captain, inaugural Adelaide Crows coach and media commentator. Chad Cornes, played for Port Adelaide alongside his brother Kane and was renowned for his aggressive playing style and giving it his all on the field.

The book focuses on Kane’s journey from passionate football follower to professional athlete. My impressions of Kane, as an observer of the game, were as someone who was a natural footballer, gifted with talent and growing up in and around football.  Interestingly in the book he mentions how things did not come as easily as one would imagine. Slower than his brother Chad, dropped from games, compared to his father (and dealing with his father’s dislike of Port Adelaide) but with the burning passion to succeed. I especially loved Kane’s description of being part of the Glenelg cheer squad as a child, ripping up phone books and making banners – it was very reminiscent of my own childhood, only I was dressed in black and white rather than black and gold.

I am particularly admiring of the determination shown by Kane in pursuing his career. It becomes quite apparent that no-one is tougher on a professional sportsperson than them. As much as supporters love to bray from the sidelines and offer opinions about selections and who is on form or not, it doesn’t seem to compare to the sportsperson being their own harshest critic. Of course, they do get paid a lot of money, but as Kane points out social media and the limitations on a future after sport have changed expectations. 

Kane’s book also gives candid insights into a modern day football club. Alongside Kane’s book I have also been reading ‘Time and Space’ by James Coventry, which plots the very beginnings of what has become Australian Rules Football and the influence of coaches on shaping the game. With the insider’s eye, Kane critiques the leadership style of Matthew Primus when he became head coach halfway through 2010 through to 2012. With my own interest in what makes high performing teams function, there seemed to be a lack of communication from Primus and perhaps a lack of support from those around him at the Club. All this certainly changed with the appointment of Keith Thomas, new board members and Coach Ken Hinkley.

This is the first football, heck even 'sport', biography that I have read. I wasn’t expecting so much candour on life within the Port Adelaide Football Club, and I really admire Kane for telling it like it is and being open with his thoughts and experiences of his time with the Club. From the heartbreaks on the field (lost premierships, playing dissatisfaction) to those that diminish the importance of football (the death of John McCarthy and Phil Walsh) and his own family – this book is a must read for those who want to get an insight into the drive of a great player and the inner workings of the best football club in the world*. (warned you about that bias)

sport and art - review of the Basil Sellers Art Prize

I’ve always loved sport and art. I was the girl who wanted to be both, an Olympic Athlete and Andy Warhol. What I love about sport is the competing against self, trying to attain a ‘personal best’. I love the feeling of discipline; an slight change might result in the incremental betterment of a certain shot or faster time on the clock.

So, strange as it may seem, I never really thought about how I could combine my love of sport and art. 

Last week I had some time between work meetings, so I popped into the Samstag Gallery at the University of South Australia. Showing was the Basil Sellers Art Prize exhibition, and as it turned out, a bit of an “a-ha” moment for me.

With an unfortunate sense of history repeating, the work ‘Once upon a time…” (2013- 2014) by Tony Albert is made up of small, portrait style illustrations of  St Kilda footballer Nicky Winmar, holding up his football jumper to point proudly at his black skin. The work also features Sydney footballer Adam Goodes, referencing the incident when he was called an 'ape' by a young fan. The tragic timing of me seeing this exhibition was due to yet another incident with Goodes, this time booed by the crowd for his post-goal kicking celebration dance.This ugly, racist side of the AFL – a game I love to watch, doesn’t sit comfortably with me. And nor should it. Football is made better by the indigenous footballers who have shown their skills on the field; Gavin Wanganeen, Shaun Burgoyne, Peter Burgoyne, Chad Wingard, Brendon Ah Chee, Jarman Impey, Jake Neade, Karl Amon (and these are just current and ex Port players).

The power of this work by Albert is that it uses victorious images we are used to with sport, and then throws them back in the viewers face by showing the racism that has become an unfortunate part of the game. 

"Once upon a time..." Tony Albert, (2013-2014)

The abstract photographs by Zoe Croggan were another stand out for me in this exhibition. The colours were instantly recognisable as those of the tennis court, the basketball court. Arms, legs, glimpses of a ball, sport abstracted to it's elements and looking Modernist. Reading about the work in the exhibition catalogue, I was surprised that Croggon uses images from magazines and catalogues as I had imagined the images were photographs taken from unusual vantage points.

 "Both flesh and not #2" Zoe Croggon, 2014

The video work ‘Wonderland’ by Khaled Sasabi was quite confronting. Playing on two screens, the viewer stands between to experience the chanting by fans of the Sydney Wanderers Football Club. Staring intently is someone who appears to be the leader of the chant, while other fans wait intently for the call of ‘1, 2, 3’ before they shout ‘Sydney’. As someone who is usually part of the performance (when Port Power run onto the ground), it was interesting experience for me to be on the other side. It is passionate, but there is also an element that feels rehearsed. There is little room for the individual, and perhaps that is the power in the group chant. While the club, the sport is the focus, belonging and showing this through singing songs, chanting and cheering helps the feeling of belonging and inclusion.

The Basil Sellers Art Prize exhibition ends on the 3^rd July – try and get along to see it in Adelaide at the Samstag Gallery, 55 North Terrace 

Thoughts on art studio v craft studio

In my thesis I made the analogy between the craft website as a form of ‘open studio’. By sharing the process of making the work online, or the ‘work in progress’ (WIP)

To extend the analogy, could the move of crafters taking their work from online to real world be seen as the exhibition? The current trend for online craft makers to take their work offline and into Pop-Up shops could be seen as a way to test markets and gain customer feedback.

This has also got me further thinking about the function and historical role of the artist’s studio and the similarities and differences between the traditional studio and the online studio.

Similarities

·         Place to make work

·         To try out ideas

·         Feedback on work in progress

Squalor and creative mess are the aesthetics of the artist’s studio. The haphazard detritus of creation spills onto every available surface. These images are for consumption and appeal to a general desire of seeing the artist as their physical nature, the visceral paint, life – the feeling of this being the space where creation happens.

The images shared by crafters online generally lack this chaos. There is order and composition in the images of work in progress shared, and as I have argued, bears similarities to the genre of still life. The angles of the images are tightly cropped, rather than the wide view of studio making, what is often presented is the work presented with other markers of taste; a chair, book, vase or other arrangement.

Images of the artist studio and the online craft ‘studio’ are both formalised in images to show taste. The viewer hopes to see the mythical site of creation (mess) and the composed images of craft (order).

The online craft website is always ‘open’ and therefore, needs to share the making of work with their audience. There is little point in making craft for sale online if the making cannot be shared and seen. Important to craft is the hand of the maker.

At the exhibition of new art, we don’t see the making. The art is removed from the studio context. Craft is valued when we see the process of how it was made.

 

Barbara Hepworth's studio, via TATE

creative industries, should we all be entrepreneurs

Last week the Creative Futures ReportSouth Australia produced by Service Skills SA was published. It looked at the current labour and industry trends for the creative industries in South Australia.

Key messages from the Report:

The creative industries are a significant employer with capacity for further growth.

..the industry requires support to develop critical entrepreneurial skills and increase the capability of the workforce.

…a ‘skills set’ covering strategic business, marketing, financial and use of new technologies

The Reports focus on training and skills is to be expected due to the report producer being Service Skills SA and with input from the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.

An interesting comment regards respondents wanting to gain skills in marketing, social media, arts and business management as part of their creative arts degree. This is something that I have argued for, along with many of my peers in the visual arts degree. There is a concern that creative arts degrees do not adequately prepare students to articulate the skills they have gained through their degree to an employer. Perhaps the problem is not so much with the degree but in the ability to feel confident to “sell” our skills and knowledge. In a case of being our own worst enemy there can be a tendency to use the line “it’s only a visual arts degree” to peers, family and friends.

Teaching professional skills as part of a creative arts degree is important. However, there is a tendency that graduates from these degree areas should have a ‘portfolio career’ or be ‘entrepreneurial’.

The Report suggests a ‘Creative Entrepreneurial’ Skill Set should consist of the following components:

·         Business Development

·         Marketing

·         Finance and Taxation

·         Project and Self-Management

·         Digital Literacy

 

Not much there then.

Is it the responsibility of the university to ensure that their graduates are equipped with not only their knowledge of painting, acting, drawing, design etc. but also to be a master of all trades? Should business and marketing become a core topic of any creative industries course?

It would be great to see employers take on more responsibility for the training and professional development of their staff. Instead of expecting graduates and new employees to have their degree, plus business knowledge, plus marketing knowledge, plus digital literacy employers should look at how they can access the already existing Skills For All courses to deliver a structured career and training progression for creative industries workers.

 

 

 

 

New job - skills development

I have recently begun a new position as the graduate skills development coordinator at Flinders University. It has been a new challenge for me to get to my head into the space of careers and has involved plenty of reading of government and higher education policy and frameworks. Most of my work day is spent running graduate skills workshops for students and I really enjoy the contact with students. The graduate skills are based on government framework, which was written after consultation with various Australian business and employer groups. The workshops I run are designed to assist students to think about developing their employability skills including; time management, project management, working in teams, critical thinking, report writing, workplace etiquette among others.

With Australia’s unemployment rate rising and graduate positions becoming harder to gain, students are finding that they need to be competitive and differentiate themselves in the employment market. That many students are willing to spend their time developing their skills is really encouraging and reflective of their awareness that they need to gain employability skills.

The two pieces of advice which are repeated by every graduate recruiter I meet is – network – and be able to best answer the “tell us something about yourself” question. Networking can be difficult for some; the advice I give in my workshops is to set a networking goal and research ahead who is going to be in attendance. Someone recently told me they had set themselves a networking goal of twenty coffee meet-ups per week! I do believe that goal setting is really important in approaching networking with purpose.

The “tell us something about yourself” question was a surprise to me, as I thought recent graduates would be able to articulate an answer to this quite well – and I am sure many can. However, in an interview situation what many expect is to be asked questions about their degree or technical knowledge and as one recruiter put it to me “I trust the university has awarded you the degree correctly, I want to know what else are you going to bring?” It can be hard to put aside all the degree related stuff that you have spent at least three years head down working hard towards gaining. However it is really important to set yourself apart from other candidates and by understanding your own skills it can help you to best articulate them to employers.

* image - Morrissey gets a job by Brian Brooks, http://brian-brooks.tumblr.com/post/5752722983/morrissey-gets-a-job-by-brian-brooks-1999

'Craft/Work' exhibition round-up

I recently curated an exhibition of craft work at the South West Community Centre. It was great to exhibit the work of Adelaide based artists; Mekeda Duong, nonna reckless, Brooke Haba and Robyn Finlay. The exhibition opened on June 13th 2013 and it was a very happy moment to see people come out and support the exhibition.

I really wanted to do it because after writing my thesis by research, there was still this desire in me to show contemporary craft work. As part of the publicity for the exhibition I was interviewed by a local radio arts show, in which the focus of the interview was on how the work is made and isn't craft 'old-fashioned'. I kind of expected the second question, however I still always get surprised by the first. There is so much interest in the how of making and therein lies the contention with this second question. These handicraft skills would not have been so difficult to imagine being made a generation ago. As the general skills of knitting, crochet, embroidery are no longer in the skill-set of most there comes an amazement that people have actually made these objects.

Below is the exhibition statement:

Craft and work fit hand in glove. Time spent learning how to knit or crochet, time spent making  for the self, or somebody else. The labour of (hand) crafts is usually a labour of love. A jumper knitted to keep someone warm or the sharing between generations of skills and technique.

The feminist history of craft as told in the seminal book ‘The Subversive Stitch’ by Rozsika Parker, traced the thread of women’s making. From making out of necessity to subversion within the stitches. Contemporary craft; guerrilla knitting and ‘craftivism’ carries the continuation of this history. Weaved into the thread are the political and personal stories and messages of the artist as record of the times.

Mekeda Duong’s work in this exhibition ‘Textiles has got the chop!’ is a sharp comment on the closure of university textiles departments and points to the continual low-status of handicrafts. The pink acrylic yarn and inherent softness and warmth of the yarn belies the dangerous intent of the axe falling down on the teaching of textiles. Her embroidered cushion, with it’s popular cultural saying ‘Bitch Please’, uses the technique of knitting as a twist on the stereotypical stitched sampler messages like ‘Home Sweet Home’. The phrase is often used as a marker of increduality in another’s words.

nonna reckless works in the form of street art and guerilla knitting. Her work is made to be part of the streetscape and ephemeral like graffiti. However, in this context the yarn provides a stability to the graffiti inspired work and has the opportunity to become lasting. The large knitted and crocheted cloak which was made to keep the statute of Queen Victoria warm, was part ‘Trojan Horse’ with it’s coded messages weaved into the design. The work ‘Homage to Peter Drew’ takes  the widely recognizable smiling pixel face and re-interprets in yarn. Crocheting has given extra warmth to the spraypaint. The piece in the street is hard to touch, however this piece is tactile and seems made for touching. By knitting and crocheting the names of Adelaide graffiti artists and pieces, the history of this ephemeral practice can be recorded via the stitch and memorialise the anonymous street artists.

Brooke Haba has used hammer, nails and string to weave the words ‘Ashes/Dust’. Unlike the softer, knitted work in the exhibition, this piece is pointed. The words as reminder of our mortal selves. ‘Bees’ is an example of exemplary technique used to crochet anthropomorphic insects. The soft shapes in pastel colours make these  bees more like a childhood toy of comfort, rather than a buzzing swarm with the potential to sting.

Robyn Finlay uses familiar domestic materials in unconventional contexts. Just the thought of human hair off the head has the ability to cause revulsion. However this work is delicate and tiny, associations with an object of tenderness. In other work the humble tea bag has been given an upcylce. From something which would be used once and thrown away, to an object with permanence, and yet an ethereal ghost-like quality.

As our lives become increasingly dependent on the new technologie and the lure of the glass screen; textiles and crafting offer ways for a reconnection with a tactile experience. Crafting does not mean a negation of technology or speed, as blogging and social media have presented new modes for collaboration and sharing of skills. The history of textiles as a means of making for others, recording memories, making political statements and the labour of time, love and technqiue is continual in the work of these artists in this exhibition.

Melissa Connor, June 2013

The Messenger also wrote about the exhibition here

'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' criticism roundtable

On Wednesday evening I attended an Early Career Researcher roundtable at the Hawke Research Institute, University of South Australia. The roundtable had the title of ‘See No Evil, hear no evil,speak no evil’ and had the aim of discussing “the past, present and future of “criticism” in art, architecture and design”. The roundtable was convened by Dr Chris Brisbin and the panellists were Dr Alexandra Lange, Professor Ian McDougall, Andrew McKenzie, Dr Naomi Stead and Robert Leonard.

After introductions the roundtable began by discussing the current state of criticism in art, architecture and design and there was an early need to separate ‘bad’ criticism from ‘good’ criticism and to define the meaning of criticism as being not opinion, but writing coming from an authoritative voice. My initial concerns were that this might result in a negative view of social media as the vehicle for criticism and the gatekeeper model. With much of design and art now being shared on the internet, it would make sense that criticism also appears online rather than only in the traditional mainstream media.

As someone from the visual arts the differences between art and architecture practices of criticism were interesting. From the panel, there was a sense that the visual arts are written about more than architecture. Dr Alexandra Lange (from Brooklyn, NY) described how in the US architectural critique is moving away from ‘starchitects’ and big iconic projects to writing about local communities, streets and bike lanes. I found this interesting as it parallels with current discussions about urban living in Adelaide, what we want our cities to do, the lived experience of people and how they use the city. Architecture criticism seems to only come after the building, the vision, has been realised. As Dr Lange pointed out, the feedback loop should come earlier in the design process to make a difference to the plans of the building and the needs of the people using it. This method would also call for thick skin by the designer.

Robert Leonard spoke mostly about visual arts and the lineage of writing about art from the moment of Duchamp’s “Fountain” in 1917. Discourse became the “stuff of art”, with the writing about the art object being equally important as the artwork. With my training in art theory and history and an arts writer, this really stood out for me. A common complaint is that too often artists write their own criticism. As Robert alluded to, the cause of this is the university and the need for the visual arts to conform and fit the mould of research. Can the painting (or sculpture, or photograph, etc.) exist and be judged as good or bad on its own, or does it need the exegesis (the writing) to support and provide the research context for the making of the work. In my own experience the studio artists were often more interested in making art, rather than writing about it. As a theorist I wish there was linkage between the studio artists and the history and theory students. It would have been mutually beneficial for me to write about the work other post-grads were making and for my writing to be used by them in the promotion of their work (another point by Robert, art only exists when it is written about).

                                      Marcel Duchamp, 1917, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The panel agreed on the need for better criticism and perhaps even a new model for critique such as using Tumblr or Pinterest as a form of visual criticism (Dr Stead and Dr Lange mentioned Unhappy Hipsters as an example of this). Professor Ian McDougall made the analogy between the niche publications of performance arts criticism and described it as a “pathological” need to write. This goes to the core of the issue, why do we need to write about art, architecture and design? Is it to make a historical record of the event, of writing the object into history? Or is to also provide informed criticism as a dialogue with broader cultural values?

Britpop

Is it coincidence that I am writing this reflection of Emily Andersen’s ‘Love in the Key of Britpop’ while Blur’s ‘Girls and Boys’ shuffles randomly on my ipod?

‘Love in the Key of Britpop’ is a one woman spoken word performance by Melbourne/London writer, Emily Andersen. I had decided to buy tickets for the show (playing as part of the Adelaide Fringe) because of the Patsy Kensit/Liam Gallagher referencing publicity image (hello, Union Jack bed cover) and because nothing gets me to a venue sooner than the still tantalising to me word, ‘Britpop’. I was 16 in 1995; I remember buying Oasis’s very first single, I remember the release of ‘Girls and Boys’, my love for Elastica still remains as strong as ever, Jarvis Cocker asking if we remembered the first time, seeing Suede perform on the Brit Awards on television and then listening to the CD over and over. Back then, I was Justine Frischmann and my boyfriend, a Damon Albarn look-a-like.

Aww, Justine & Damon back in the heyday

 

The thing is I thought I was the only one who still yearned to dance to the early hours on a Britpop dance floor somewhere and still cared about the cultural and historical importance of this, now historical, musical genre.

In ‘Love in the Key of Britpop’ Andersen artfully merges the importance of music, as cultural taste marker with the heady ruse of a newly formed relationship. Her words have the tempo and rhythm of poetry and beautifully detail the heady rush of love for music and sharing that love with someone special. I also admired the way Andersen used location as a theme in her story; both the real and the imagined space of song. I was able to situate myself on the 96 tram and the London locations that only really exist for me through the lyrics of Blur and Morrissey. Music has the ability to take us somewhere else and I guess, what this show and my love of Britpop has reminded me of, is my daydream desire to at times return to my youth. To relive those wild youthful nights and return to a place when I had time to care about the nuances and intricacies of lyrics and debate how much better Elastica are compared to Sleeper.

Since seeing the show on Friday night I have had The Smiths ‘Rubber Ring’ going around in my head:

“Don’t forget the songs that made you cry

And the songs that saved your life

Yes you’re older now and a clever swine

But they’re the only ones who ever stood by you”

 

 

** Love in the Key of Britpop is now playing at Tuxedo Cat during the Adelaide Fringe Festival until the 26th February. Tickets available at the door or book online http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/Love-in-the-Key-of-Britpop/8822762b-6594-451e-9672-6dafd4ba01e5

 

 

On returning

My story about living on Rundle Street was published today on the 'Already Home' blog, and can be found here:

http://alreadyhome.com.au/written/flights-and-friendship/Already Home

It was great to be given the opportunity to write about my time living in the heart of the city. I can highly recommend city living.

::

Last December I had two wonderful experiences, all in the space of a few days. The first was presenting my paper at the Celebrity Conference at Deakin University. My paper is titled "Can You Delve So Low? Morrissey versus Morrissey-Solo" and is an analysis of the tension between celebrity and the management (or not) of online fandom. There is a special conference journal coming out and I really hope my paper gets published.

Overall, the Celebrity Studies conference was fantastic and was a great opportunity to listen to other papers (especially when the content is Lindsay Lohan, Dlisted, Lana Del Ray and Antoine Dodson). Like other conferences I have attended I returned home full of ideas and a list of scribbled notes which I must extend into full outlines.

The second experience was seeing Morrissey! He seems to have a habit of playing a concert just days after I have presented a paper on him. Well, I'm counting twice as a habit anyway. After getting over the drama of my flight being cancelled and managing to wangle a seat on a later flight, seeing Morrissey live was,yet again amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hii-IDA1H0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Shop local

This past week The Advertiser and Messenger newspapers (published by News Ltd) have begun their own initiative 'Shop in SA' and have used the Twitter hashtag #shopinsa to allow businesses to promote and for Twitter users to tweet about their favourite local shops.

On the Adelaide Now website 838 shops have so far registered and their are links to their websites, which is fantastic for promotion and customers to be able to click on the link.

 

With numerous reports about the retail sector being in trouble from increased competition from online retailers (usually reported as overseas retailers) this would seem an attempt to encourage consumers to spend their Chrismas gift giving dollars at local shops instead of online. I think howeveer, there are larger problems in the retail sector than internet shopping (customer service, opening hours...but I won't go into that today).

 

This is a commendable idea and it is encouraging to see local shops given profiles in the printed newspaper and online. My weekly copy of The Messenger this week featured the shop Vintage Carousel, which began as an online store in 2003 before becoming a 'bricks and mortar' shop in 2009. It is important to remember that online shops can also be 'local' and support for these businesses does not have to be seen as being to the detriment of physical shops. The US campaign from a few Christmas' ago 'Buy Handmade' had it's focus on getting people to buy only handmade gifts to support local craft makers. This campaign was also able to link in with Etsy and independent craft bloggers.

 

Each weekday over this past week The Advertiser have been printing a list of 'Best 50 shops' in different Adelaide suburbs. The paper states that the list is a result of a "call out to our readers...which nearly 1000 people responded to", no information is given on age, gender of the people surveyed or if they could nominate a shop more than once. What disappointed me about this list - and do I blame those responding or the criteria? - is the inclusion of big store retailers including; Coles, Myer, Target, Sussan, Jeanswest, Bakers Delight, Neds, Betts in the '50 shops' list which covered the Northern suburbs of Adelaide. (15 could be considered chainstores/large retailers)

 

The 'Best 50' list for the Western suburbs was more encouraging with nine shops which could be counted as chainstores/large retailers which operate nationally. When consumers purchase from chain stores there are extra considerations to take into account; including the shipping of the product and while they do employ local staff, money also does flow out of the state to pay for transport, head office staff, administration and profit sharing.

 

While the Shop in SA campaign is commendable and has provided publicity to small, Adelaide based businesses such as Vintage Carousel, Naomi Murrell, Greenhill Galleries, By Blackbird - I feel there this could have been more of an opportunity to promote only independent retailers, those who are based in Adelaide in terms of their 'head office/administration' and those who are making their product in SA. I would have liked to see The Advertiser/Messenger also connect with Renew Adelaide and Renew Port Adelaide to link in with an existing urban regeneration project and to provide promotion to the shops, which are SA based, independent and shopping in them would mean dollars that are spent in businesses which need foot traffic and word of mouth to keep them going.

 

Running a successful business requires customers to know that your business exists (sorry for being obvious) and buy local or Shop in SA campaigns are positive in that they raise awareness and let customers know the shops in their suburbs - and hopefully they will go and visit and purchase. Shops allow for a community to develop- and this can also be seen online. Farmers markets bring people to a local area to buy from the growers and makers, to talk about produce and buying local has the advantage of lessening transport of fruit and vegetables. Often it is seen, when a new cafe opens up, so to will a couple of shops (see Queen St, Croydon as an example).

 

This article from Time discusses how buying locally has an effect on how money stays within a community - "by shopping at the corner store instead of the big box, consumers keep their communities from becoming what the NEF call "ghost towns" and this is why it is so important to support Shops in SA, whether online or bricks and mortar - because it supports communites and helps money stay within that local community and that should make us feel good.

weekend to-do

It's been a mostly succesful weekend, lots of small tasks achieved. Number one on my list was to complete marking my student's final assessments - so glad to have got that all done and the grades entered. Now, on to getting ready for the next semester's lectures.

We had friends over for lunch on Saturday and with the weather being cold I made a nice tomato soup.

At the beginning of this year we became mortgage holders for the first time! Buying a block of land just down the street from where we are now. We have lived in the suburb for nine years and I am so happy that we can build in our lovely community. I love living here, it is so close to the city, work and school. Because of it's industrial hisory it is often over-looked as a desirable suburb to live in - but those in the know, just think how lucky we are. There is the best pub (The Wheatsheaf), cool cafes nearby, free tramline, good restaurants and clothes shops opening up - plus plenty of young families, so the kids have plenty of friends close by to play with.

Designing a house that will suit us for (many) years to come is slightly daunting! I walk past the vacant piece of land and try to imagine what our house will look like, what impression it will make on the landscape. At the moment I am 'sourcing' images, sketching and trying to create a list of the type of things that would make me happy in a home - top of my list is always 'light'.

This weekend I have also been working on some freelance work for clients. I have three clients at the moment in Adelaide that I am helping with their social media strategy, branding and websites. It's enjoyable work, I love the chance to help them get the look they are hoping for and help with knowing how to engage with social media. I look forward to sharing their websites when they are finished.

Home styling

Bad blogger

I'm back!
Again, with not really a lot to say. I've been lecturing and tutoring the past few months, which has a way of keeping me busy. I've really enjoyed teaching this Semester, as I think I pushed myself out of my comfort zone a bit and had some of those lovely 'learning experiences' myself.

My thesis is still in the no-where zone of nobody being certain of what they should be doing with it at the moment. It has been stressing me, causing migraines which last for days - I am being pro-active now about getting something happening with it.

On the weekend I went for a quick trip to Melbourne. I love being in Melbourne and spending my time walking without a plan - just seeing what catches my eye and doing loads of walking.

I have also been spending more time on my children's art class teaching. It can be hard work in terms of setting up and planning but once in the classroom with the kids - I love it! I've been in touch with some people about possibly holding events in school holidays.
Another unexpected thing keeping me busy at the moment is I have been asked by friends to help them set up websites, blogs, pages for their small businesses. This too is enjoyable - as it reminds me - that not everyone is into social networking platforms as I am. It's interesting to listen to my friends as they explain what they want and my role in helping them.

and to finish on a positive, a nice image from the top of the Lighthouse at Port Adelaide

"and the wild regrets"

Like a few posts that I've seen around at the start of the New Year, I am wondering if it time here for a blog re-design. Or perhaps, re-purpose. With my thesis back from the examiner's and that part of my life nearly finished with, I have been wondering what will happen with the under-used blog of mine.

My thesis came back with two wildly different reports. To add yet another complicated layer to this journey I suppose. I felt really upset and let down by my Supervisor, so many things went wrong and this is the result I was expecting. It has been hard to remain 'up' and to not worry when I feel that it is my future which is being played with and disregarded. A wise friend emailed and I am taking her advice of just doing what needs to be done. Write the edits, get it done and not worry about the behind scenes machinations. I felt so proud when the thesis was heat bound and while I don't think I will ever feel happy with my experience at that certain University, to treat this as a chance to learn from can only be a good thing.

Cherry cake made by my daughter for a Christmas party

favourite view in my lounge room

So, what will be next for me? I'm thinking that I will use this stretch of extremely hot weather to daydream and plan. Happy New Year everyone and thanks for reading.

markets

This time of year is great for craft, with so many markets on it becomes easier to go out and see what is new. While also indulging in buying something nice. I always have good intentions of buying with others in mind, but quite often I buy for myself.
In my thesis there is a chapter regarding the burgeoning 'indie craft market' scene and the, in my mind, delicate balance between fitting within a certain 'look' or indie aesthetic. Taste cultures and trends play an important part. I am also very curious about the creative process, seeing how the object is made. That's why blogs act as such a useful portal into the 'work in progress' and I liken them to a form of online artists studio. It's so exciting to see intial prepatory sketches, notebooks, experimentation with form, colour and design and then - the final crafted item!

Recently in my hunt for the handmade gift I have been to a few local markets. First up was Bowerbird, which caters to the 'top end' of the handmade market. Things are a little more pricey than other craft markets. This year on my 'must see' list was the work of Handmade Love, a blog I have been reading and admring for a few years now it seems. I knew a print for a special someone was the way to go. I only wish I had bought one for myself too - luckily, the shoppe is having 20% off at the moment, very tempting.


Image - copyright Dawn Tan, Handmade Love

I absolutely love it and I'm hoping the person who is receiving it will feel the same. The recipe has special memories for me.

The next market I went to was the Box Factory Christmas market, this being the venue where the Red Thread Collective meetings are also held. So, I was looking forward to seeing members of the Collective as I have been missing out on meetings due to work. The market was nice, with plenty of second hand stalls and cakes to be bought. I got a nice woolen jumper for H, a 'Pains of Being Pure at Heart' CD, Martin Amis novel and then went to the Red Thread stall where I bought a lovely mug, bottle opener and wooden Christmas tree decoration from Luka. All for me! I really love her work and could quite easily have my house full of her drawings.

these things really do take time

I took some time out after submitting my thesis to not looking at craft blogs, not spending much time on the computer at all, absolutely not going into the post-grad office, not bundling up my notes and print outs. Instead I spent a week luxuriating in the feeling of not having 'anything' to really do. It was bliss! I woke up in the morning with the strange sensation of smiling (ok, perhaps a tad dramatic) but it did feel as thought a weight had been indeed lifted.

So, then after that lovely, indulgent week I started my first tutoring position at the University. In a different School, different campus. For all intents and purposes it felt fresh and new. I found I enjoyed working with the students and fellow students. Explaining concepts, thinking of ways to make the two hours 'fun'. An especially interesting part was the students asking me about my background "you wrote a  thesis on craft blogs!", "you write about Morrissey, wasn't he a singer from the 80s?!" (better than not knowing who he is at all I guess....). At times I found it a struggle to explain why what I do matters (not that it hugely matters) but I wanted to overcome this stigma surrounding research/writing on popular culture. Particularly interesting as they are media studies students. As soon as I got over my own apologising - see fashademic's recent post for another example of this feeling - I found that it became easier to elucidate just why it is worthy. This made me feel more positive about my work, as I think I had been suffering post-submission blues. The examiners will hate it! It's the least needed thesis ever! You know, those kinds of feelings...

This weekend I am re-engaging with indie craft at the local Bowerbird Bazaar. A few of the bloggers I wrote about will be there and it will be great to meet some of them for the first time.

keeping calm

I just had a little chuckle to myself at the description on the right "zooming towards the end". Speed, yes, at times it feels like I have been writing the thesis for an age! Other times...it....feels...so....slow. I spent the weekend preparing the document, tidying sentences, fixing references and don't get me started on my missing images. I am going to keep calm, carry on and deal with them tomorrow. Now is not the time to stress out.


Perhaps strangely I don't mind this last part - whether thesis, essay or any other long piece of writing. My particular way of working is to go through the document, make a list, cross them off. It helps me feel like I am making tangible achievements.

I remember a talk we had as Honours students about always having in mind the question "why does this matter?" - meaning, I think, keep sight of the central issue/s, remember the reader. At times I have said "why is this important? who cares?". Today I came across this article in The Age titled "World at their Tweet" (cute). It reminded me that what I am writing about does have wider implications, it is happening. I felt better.

endings and beginnings (maybe)

I'm taking a break from tidying up my paper for the upcoming Console-ing Passions conference (and also glued to the Murdoch hearing currently showing live on TV). This could be true for most people, I find that I always go through a 'cycle' (of pain?) in the lead up to presenting a paper. It starts with a sore throat which lasts about a day, then terrible fear and then the stage where I am now - excitement! Every word starts to flow on the page and I begin to imagine myself 'speaking' the words. In my own opinion I believe that I am a better speaker than writer....but perhaps I am wrong on that one. Either way, I do enjoy public speaking.

The other exciting event happening is the publication of the Morrissey book, with my chapter in it! I think the book is a fantastic collection of writing on the subject. The editors did a wonderful job. Although I have read each chapter, it will be even better when the 'real' copy lands in my letterbox. I'd also like to read any reviews, they probably will appear overseas,so forward them to me if anyone out there happens to see one.

My thesis is still chugging along. About a month ago I had this terrible feeling towards finishing it. I found it very difficult to verbalise. Many people want me to finish! I think I was nervous about being launched back into the real world (eek!), the safety of the university felt very comforting. It is a routine, I turn up to the same desk, the cafe staff know my name and drink preference. Also, strangely in my mind, I feel that the thesis is 'done' : I've lived it for so long it begins to feel as though I have finished (I haven't!). Recently though I have become very happy to FINISH! I'm beginning to see other options out there for me, outside the university. Places where I can further use my "graduate qualities".

I took a walking break last week from my desk, I have the good fortune to pick from at least four galleries on campus. I walked without really planning where I was going and arrived at the Jam Factory and saw the exhibition "Imagining Interiors" - I just had a look for it on their site and there is no information. It took as its starting point the "gothic" and in some cases, artists paired with another artist. I've noted a return to gothic recently in the work of artists within my post-grad cohort. A painting by Mary Jean Richardson of a woman with her back to the viewer, seated on a large chair, hair plaited locking her to the chair. It was beautiful, strange and haunting. The chair was also featured in the exhibition as made by Adelaide based craftsman Khai Liew.

Plenty of inspiration out there and now I might finally have time to get out there and see what is happening.

winter writing

This wintery weather we have been having in the last few days has been great. Definitely makes me want to be inside, at my desk, rather than outside.
The thesis has been progressing very nicely. I have been working to shape it towards the Final Document. Making sure the references are correct, giving a title to each chapter, even writing the acknowledgement section. At the moment I am working on my final chapter - which sadly, just isn't taking shape for me at present. It doesn't seem to have the 'flow' yet. Embarassingly, in some ways I still don't even know what this chapter is about yet. Is it to be a summing up? One of my supervisors said it could be 'future predictions' for indie craft blogging.

I know it has some comments on the aesthetics of blogging. Which, I have found, there has not been that much research on. What makes a 'good looking blog?'. How do 'we' know?

For some reason I am unable to post images today...this is very annoying!

on the horizon

Recently I went along to the exhibition 'Ornate' (it just closed on the 22nd). It was an exhibition by a group of emerging artists who all use textiles within their arts practice. While not 'themed' as such, I think the idea of 'pattern' was a guide to the artists in making their work for the exhibition. In the catalogue Sera Waters describes the process of finding pattern in everyday life - something which I think we can all relate to. It seems human nature to want to find repition and order within our surroundings.
I felt really moved by the work of Ali Carpenter - and would like to see more of her work - it featured text, with embroidery in the spaces around it. Reminding me of stars on the night sky.

Also, I have been continuing to attend the Red Thread Collective meetings where we are working on a project in response to our favourite book/s. I am thinking of doing either Madam Bovary or Wuthering Heights. It is hard for me to pick a 'favourite' book but I think I could make an embroidered piece from either of these. I've been sketching and feel ready to start when I can manage a spare few hours.
A new member to the RTC does the most beautiful drawings! A link to her website. Immediately I fell in love with her illustrations - I'd love it if she published a book!

How cool is that rabbit?

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The thesis deadline is obviously approaching with each day/hour/minute...whenever I work out what my actual 'word per day' target is I break into a cold sweat! Easier to just keep going I think, even fifty words feels like an accomplishment at the moment. My reward of course is getting it done and then moving on to, well who know where.