We’re constantly seeking new inspiration and to invigorate our imagination and lives with the weird, the logical, the old and new. In a world of hurriedness, trends and marketing pollution we still want to be able to dream, change and stretch our creative practices to new spaces.
Reading is all time – a way to both disconnect and reconnect to different parts of life. Find eight of our favourite things to read, that have drawn us away from work tangents and back to the foundations that drive the dream.
Donald Judd Writings
The perfect book. Bright red and exquisite to hold, this is a book filled with previously unpublished essays, notes and letters, making it the most comprehensive collection of Donald Judd’s writing to date. Judd was an American artist and art critic associated with minimalism. In his work, Judd sought autonomy and clarity for the constructed art object and the space created by it, moving away from expressive creative outcomes.
Throughout his career he investigated “real space”, penning his renowned essay, Specific Objects, exploring his diversion from painting and sculpture to commercial materials to works that defined post-war art making. His essays are succinct, considered and critically assess the existentialism of art and meaning in medium. Judd is still helping contemporary artists question and push the boundaries of their creative practice.
Image: David Zwirner, Twitter
Whitechapel Documents of Art – The Studio
What is the studio? For the creation of contemporary art, is the studio even necessary? For many of us, the studio can mean different things… such as a laptop, public space, the mind or the well-recognised physical space for making. While the traditional studio might gradually become more obsolete, new studio sites and formats have emerged, engaging the idea of “post-studio” creative practice.
In this collection of critical essays, published by Whitechapel Gallery and edited by Jens Hoffman, dives deep and deeper into the realities of contemporary studios and the different studio iterations that have come to be in recent times. Learn about the issues of production and situation, participation, operation and spatial interaction from the viewpoint of writers, artists and curators from the 1960’s through to now. It’s a slow burn, but a must-read for any contemporary artist who wishes to examine their creative process and think broadly about the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of art making.
Image: Laurie Oxenford
A Designer’s Manifesto
A reminder of the values we hold close. It’s fascinating to think of designers and the design world as an art or expansive creative collective. By definition we pretty much are (indulge us this one time, please): we share a philosophy that outlines visual rules or goals and loosely a creative process, and we rely on common materials i.e. digital technology to create a range of outcomes.
The digital document by Joao Verissimo and Teresa Rodrigues, explores the values and ideas that define our shared methods of operation, uniting and setting a precedent for quality and community behaviour.We’re constantly traversing and blurring the line and dialogue that is the line between design and art, so this is just another interesting train of thought to get you started.
Image: A Designer’s Manifesto
It’s Always There, Lille Madden in RUSSH Magazine COURAGE Issue
We can’t stop thinking about the discussion between climate activist Lille Madden and her mother, curator Hetti Perkins in the latest issue of RUSSH Magazine. Together they unpack the role of art in activism, cultural responsibility and advocacy for climate change. Along with Madden’s sister, Madeleine Madden, the three incredible women are a part of Seed Mob, the Indigenous youth climate justice organisation.
With her powerful background in Climate Change advocacy and empowering First Nations voices, Madden interviews Perkins about her thoughts on art and its role in amplifying Country, culture and community through the lens of climate justice. Perkins raises the role of nature in First Nations creative practices, both as key tools, medium and inspiration, and the ways in which climate change may permanently alter Country, changing First Nations lives in incomprehensible ways.
Art has the potential to ensure everyone living on Australian land learns to love and respect Country “in a familial and deeply respectful way”. The article highlights the cultural and creative injustices taking place everyday in Australia, such as the lack of representation of First Nations creatives in national galleries, Australian contemporary culture and, as a result of this, public interest. It is clear that First Nations peoples need a seat at the table where the big decisions are made regarding all things that happen in Australia, including country, energy, culture and community.
Both Madden and Perkins speak with articulation, urgency and charge, bearing the emotional toll of reviving dark histories while triumphing at the strength of First Nations peoples and the changes they’re making by advocating for climate through creative practice.
P.S. Watch Madden’s new webinar series, Climate + Change, created through Groundswell Giving. She presents a series of First Nations voices from across Australia discussing their varying creative practices and how art is contributing to climate change dialogue.
Vivian Maier: Street Photographer
A professional nanny and photographer, Vivian Maier is a marvel, having captured over 100,000 photographs in her lifetime. From New York to France and various other locations across the world her eye for the nuanced, moving and raw images of city life is impeccable and grounding. In 2007 street photographer and historian, John Maloof happened to buy a box of Maiers’ negatives and other paraphernalia at a Chicago auction on a whim. Years of her archives, preserved as negatives, that had never been seen before. Incredibly, her work was never shown during her lifetime and her post-humous journey into contemporary art fame has been shadowed by the disputed ownership of her work.
We were deeply moved by the fact that Maier spent her entire life creating these images and artworks for her own pleasure and satisfaction, reminding us that art and creative practice is, and must always be, an act for the self before the masses.
Image: Vivian Maier
The Yield, Tara June Winch
The latest novel from Wiradjuri author, Tara June Winch explores the experiences of August Gondiwindi as she returns home from her life abroad to Australia after her grandfather’s death. Filled with grief and carrying the weight of her past, she returns to mourn with her family and is overwhelmed with their love and welcoming. Faced with news that Prosperous is to be repossessed by a mining company she is determined to save their land however she can.
On this journey August discovers the voice of her grandfather and stories of generations past – the secrets of the river. Winch turns the spotlight on indigenous storytelling and language – a story about stories,Winch’s first novel, Swallow the Air is also an exquisitely moving read which has since added momentum to the wider movement to reclaim indigenous languages. Using language can and will renew connection to country, for everyone who learns. Winch’s second book reminds us to open our hearts to learning and growing and deepening our respect for First Nations narratives and histories.
Image: The Yield by Tara June Winch, Booktopia
Copywrong to Copywriter by Tait Ischia
Every day it becomes more obvious that language is key to surviving in the modern world, particularly as a creative where it’s essential that you can clearly articulate ideas and communicate well. Delivered with humour and, of course, succinct prose, Ischia has created something incredible.
Grow more confident in your knowledge and writing skills with this guide, which we’ve turned to many times to ensure that we don’t sound like idiots. The book takes you through the fundamentals of good writing, including strategy, audience and grammar as well as navigating how to work as a writer.
Image: Copywrong to Copywriter, Tait Ischia
Stranger than Kindness, Nick Cave
Stranger Than Kindness is a journey in images and words into the creative world of musician, storyteller and cultural icon Nick Cave. While we were unable to cross the globe to see the exhibition, we made do with purchasing the book and imagining ourselves amongst it all at the Royal Danish Library.
As big fans of Nick Cave as both a creative and a musician, we couldn’t resist this beautiful publication, featuring the incredible painting by Ben Smith on the cover. This highly collectable book invites the reader into the innermost core of the creative process and paves the way for an entirely new and intimate meeting with the artist, presenting Cave’s life, work and inspiration and exploring his many real and imagined universes.
Explore full colour reproductions of original artworks, handwritten lyrics, photographs and collected personal artefacts along with commentary and meditations from Nick Cave, Janine Barrand and Darcey Steinke. Stranger Than Kindness asks what shapes our lives and makes us who we are, and celebrates the curiosity and power of the creative spirit – something we are determined to continue exploring throughout our careers and lives.
The book has been developed and curated by Nick Cave in collaboration with Christina Back. The images were selected from ‘Stranger Than Kindness: The Nick Cave Exhibition’, opening at the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen in March 2020.
Image: ‘Stranger than Kindness’ Nick Cave
Frankie Magazine – Dear strictly business: how should I price my goods?
What am I worth? How do you get the price right without undervaluing your work or overcharging your clients? Well, to answer this question Frankie Magazine created a panel of small business owners to break it down with simplicity and logic. When setting up your business, applying psychology to your pricing process is essential, making sure your key customer demographic and the wider competitive market are considered.
Frankie interviewed Elisha Watson – CEO and founder of Nisa; Karyn Parkinson, Co-Director of Unstoppable eCommerce and Waan Pivasiri, owner of You, Me & Bones and yes buddy reusable bags to get the inside know-how.
Is there something you think we might enjoy but don’t know about yet? Please tell us.