… and that’s a wrap.
Joy comes in many forms, notably the ones we’ve collated here. The silly season is about giving and sharing beautiful experiences with the ones you love.
We found a sense of happiness and elation with these 5 delightful things and we hope you do too.
Help save the platypus
Become a volunteer with the Australian Platypus Monitoring Network (APMN) and help save one of Australia’s most vulnerable (and adorable) species.
These little guys are at risk of extinction as a result of climate change and habitat destruction! If you volunteer for this flexible program all you need to do is keep your eyes out on your walks, hikes, jogs or rides alongside rivers and creeks in key areas. Record any platypus sightings online through the APC website Report a Sighting.
APMN is an innovative Citizen Science approach to monitoring the platypus. Volunteers record platypus sightings at one or more sites using a standard visual survey method. This information is then analysed to see whether platypus activity is trending up or down or remaining steady over time.
If you think you might like to become an APMN volunteer, first go to Things to Consider before You Join APMN and then register.
Image: Hobart Rivulet Platypus
It takes a town
Working together to strengthen the culture of generosity and to create opportunities for everyone to thrive.
In collaboration with Murwillumbah’s freshest space Small Works Gallery, It Takes a Town (ITAT) facilitated a community project to help reduce landfill and bring joy this Christmas. Community members were invited to contribute any quality items to a Christmas Switch! It’s all about sharing the joy around and living with less stuff.
It Takes a Town is a community-owned initiative operating in Murwillumbah and surrounding villages. They are here to activate a shared focus on creating more opportunities and ‘good stuff’ for children and their families. We believe that everyone has a role to play.
Image: It Takes a Town
Indisposable Concept
Humans of Planet Earth. Capturing life on film, one roll at a time. A film inspired project. Est. 2012. 4,100+ rolls (100,000+ photos) and counting.
We’re long time lovers of the film camera. The joy of receiving a roll of film developed; being able to relive and share your treasured moments or experiences is incomparable.
A recent discovery of ours is Indisposable Concept, a platform where everyone is encouraged to share their life and journey through the lens of spontaneity and creativity that is film.
The film camera is the weapon of choice to allow anyone and everyone the opportunity to participate regardless of age or ability. All film is welcome, from all film cameras. We aim to eliminate the restrictions and technicalities when it comes to shooting with film and embrace the raw art of capturing the moment in its purest form with one single click of a film camera.
Image: Shot by David V – Roll 3
Camera used: Canon AE-1
Film type: Agfa 100 APX
Location: Koksijde, Charleroi (Belgium)
Website: lonerist.com
Pot Studios
AW crew Emma Van Zaane, Tamika Keioskie and Laura Strange recently completed at teapot making workshop at Pot Studios! The tranquil studio is filled with natural light and a sense of calm – the perfect space to let go and become immersed in making.
It was exciting and inspiring to begin understanding the clay as an artistic material, building something functional that can be used again and again. We highly recommend sharing a workshop experience with friends or your significant other.
POT studios is owned by potter Cindy Hamrey. Cindy honed her pottery craft in South Korea under living national treasure, pottery master Kwak Kyung Tae where she learnt traditional Korean wheel throwing techniques. Along with her expertise in hand building pottery, Cindy's passionate about helping others find their inner-creativity.
Image: Laura Strange
Louise Zhang
We’re in love. If we weren’t tempted to indulge ourselves at Mecca before, we certainly are now.
Louise Zhang has brought an intensity of colour and movement that is energising and uplifting, adding a whole new dimension to the Mecca experience.
In support of Mecca’s annual efforts to elevate and empower women achieving in the arts, they have partnered with the National Gallery of Victoria to collaborate with exceptionally talented Chinese-Australian artist, Louise Zhang. Figurative yet fantastical, Zhang's multidisciplinary practice draws upon her modern identity and emotions, as well as traditional Chinese mythology and botany. Her captivating use of colour graces the limited-edition holiday packaging this year.
“The paintings come from my explorations into my culture,” says Zhang of her art. “I’m inspired by landscape, botany, folklore and particularly symbolism and art motifs in Chinese culture.” For her, the organic evolution of her artworks – changing, and transforming as she progresses – is what thrills her. “You might have an idea in your head of what something might look like, but when you start painting it ends up quite different. That’s the really exciting part.”
Is there something you think we might enjoy but don’t know about yet? Please tell us.