Studio Update: May
I wanted to make these a monthly thing as I hope updating people about what I'm working on is interesting. I always find the behind the scenes look at other artists/professionals really engaging. Something about seeing what they are trying to do and what that looks like day-to-day just makes me very curious.
My art practice
Last month I was able to make some big headway with my own art practice. I went to Sturt National Park for 10 days and took a LOT of photographs. I was looking at the Dingo Proof Fence the land 'inside' the fence that's 'protected' is essentially cleared, desiccated and home to abundant feral species (and little native species). I'm really interested in sharing with people through this work WHAT we protect and WHY that's a problem.
Failed geoengineering continually propped up by vain hopes for control.
In June I'm planning on photographing some dingos - the criminal animal this 5500km fence aims to keep out (and whose absence the landscape clearly craves). I also want to photograph some goats and other ferals.
In a few months I'll head to Sydney to do the next stage of work (meet with a professor and photograph a lot of his materials relating to this super structure).
In summer I'm going to head to the Great Australian Bight to shoot the end of the fence (it actually continues INTO the ocean). Yes, in summer I'll be in the desert, yes it's insane.
Here are some photos, the colours are wonky and everything's exported sort of in an ugly way. Image compression is a bit of a complex subject, but then I'm also trying to think less about how the surface of the image looks and more about what I can say with the photos I did take.
I also have been renewing my book binding skills - I've taught a few workshops recently and seeing the possibilities for additional teaching has led me to want to refine my skillset. I used to do book binding classes and have some competence in the area, but there's a lot more to re-learn and improve. I'd love to eventually teach a 'book binding for artists' workshop.
Actually my plan is to practice a different form of binding each month culminating in one hand made book that I share online. I have so much work in the pipeline that won't ever be a big exhibition or anything, and this is one way to build those photos into something that's practice, that helps me grow.
2. Tall Poppy Press
With my last week off work at the tail end of April I had the chance to really think more concretely about what I want Tall Poppy to be. I'll be honest, I'd had a few comments through the grapevine that made me wonder if I was doing a good job. A few people basically saying our books weren't "elevated" and feeling a bit worried about that was a good point from which to have a think.
Where I got to was:
Tall Poppy should make books that aren't that expensive nor that fancy, generally speaking, I like and want to make things that feel a bit more unique and weird, which will throw some people. That's ok.
I really want to build a stronger graphic component to the marketing of what Tall Poppy does - I want the business to be creative and look creative, and I'm really enjoying making posters and different graphics as a part of that - this sounds like a small thing but I envisage it as a really large change in what we present outwards - more playful and more polished at the same time
I'd like to also make Tall Poppy's reputation built around book making and craft, especially the workshops I run - as such expect a lot more book binding content over the next 6 months.
Gently, I can see a future where teaching workshops and selling things through Tall Poppy becomes most of my yearly income. That excites me tremendously.
Next week, I'll be at the Melbourne Art Book Fair (Australia's largest) and am hoping to sell lots of books, posters and t shirts. It'll be the last fair I attend for maybe 6 months so it'll be good to just enjoy it.
I recently also released a t shirt. Merch is something I've wanted to try for a while and this is a first small step in that direction. Although so far I've not sold any so maybe it wasn't the right product. That's always an interesting thing as a customer-facing business is just when things don't quite go to plan you have a good opportunity to ask yourself 'why?'. Some of the best learning comes in this way.
We also opened a publishing prize recently. This is a year 1 experiment but I hope it's something that goes well enough for us to do yearly. It's a good way to publicly find good work and award a community member rather than just someone I've been admiring for years.
In July we'll release our next book (with Morganna Magee), which is mostly done. Then two more, one in October (with Rebecca Najdowski) and another in November (with Rochelle Marie Adam & Sophie Schwartz). Those are starting work in earnest this month. It's fun stuff.
The next round of workshops I run will also be announced soon. I'll be doing some in Melbourne and some in Sydney, these are getting a little refresh and an update which I think will make them feel a lot more cohesive and considered. I'm really excited about the workshop space, I have some longer term plans to run some good workshops that really interest and excite people and become part of the Australia/Pacific's opportunities.
3. Day job
I started a new job last week and it's ... ... great? I feel like I'm excited about my day job for the first time in many, many years. It's a great spot to be.
It's also a lot more demanding than previous roles, already the time I have to bunk around and do art shit is changing, lessened. I think that's ok but it's just something to monitor.
I don't want to say too much more because it's still so new - but I can see this job being a great fit for a few years and also providing me the flexibility to take time off to attend more book fairs, etc, really consistently and explicitly. It's the first job I've told the boss and my colleagues 'hey I'm an artist and a publisher too'.
My boss asked me 'what's your plan? do you want to just be an artist?', it was good to be able to say 'I'd love to work for myself but that's 3-5 years away, but this job is great and I want to do well and enjoy it'. It's good to work for a manager who asks the big questions and wants to chat openly about these things. It means I can say 'I'm taking some time off to attend a book fair' rather than hide that.
4. Writing
I almost forgot!
Australian Geographic commissioned an article from me, which I hope comes out soon. I'm also trying to pitch some more articles to them as well. I like to write, and I enjoy being paid for it.