no more wishing

the wish tree at LIVE FUTURES, harking back to our Lurkers event where hopeful for the Copenhagen summit, we hung wishes for those attending. it can be hard to not remain disempowered.

so you're going to start to notice a lot of permaculture related blogging on this site as its become one of my primary interests in the last year. ive found myself, in the city, longing for a need to connect to the origin of things- where things have come from and how they fit into my cycle of being. a growing concern for the state of the environment, ( i won't say "climate change" because it's time to say Ecological Crisis ), and the way the food industry impacts upon this has become predominant in my everyday life as i take on a number of gardens, start an interest in foraging and supporting "artists" and "activists" (because that's what organic permaculuralists and even vege gardeners are) in their endeavours to re-educate for the future. we need to look backwards in order to look forwards and become connected- grassroots stylez.

currently alexander and i are getting our first vege patch ready for spring. we are also (with our friend el) maintaining a balcony garden at COFA- even though I don't attend there. with our very close friend and fellow artist victoria we have been allowed as 'guardians' to some land in wombeyan caves where vic is hoping to start a journey to self-sustainability. we are weaving these ideas into our current artworks as they become entangled in our everyday lives..

that- is very briefly, an overview of where I am at right now. you will hear much more on the matter as i consolidate my ideas in post form.

no more wishing:

alex at LIVE FUTURES where we worked on the COFA permaculture patch (balcony vege container garden).

Lurker- isms

The Lurkers got together with Punk Monk Propaganda in October for a hoedown like no other. We're sending away the leafs hung on our tree sculpture to Copenhagen, zine- style. The leaves were wishes from the well of Lurkers fans for our world, dedicated to politicians in positions of power and also to humanity in general. Watch out for our leaves around the place in the lead up to the UN Climate Conference. We better get a move on- the count down is on tcktcktck....

Throwie-e-e-e-e-e-e

"Graffiti" art is about claiming back public space- it is about environmental and social change, however many different levels that exists on. Punk Monk trialled throwie making at Born in the Doorway after being inspired at TINA, by the Graffiti Research Lab (very cool, check this) dudes based around the world.

We are gearing up to take this project into public space for a communal/community cause- not going to reveal much in these early stages- but do you like gardens?

LurkED

Kate Taylor (Punk Monk) The Sleeper

(to be) Lurked:

Where an individual feels compelled to act on a political issue within his or her immediate community or global community as result of experiencing another individual(s) act of anti-humourless political activism/performance. Eg. 'I/they have been 'Lurked'.

Some punk monks and a bunch of others crammed into the Red Rattler last night and got lurkED for the launch of The Lurkers new album ‘Shoot to the Moon’ and to send them off to Germany and then to the UN Climate Conference and beyond!

They promised a mighty hoedown suitable for your grandmother, your sister, your lover and any other and a hoedown they certainly delivered on all fronts. Punk Monk featured some shorts from their collection and Kino friend’s selection and got every comfy for the first act Emma Davis. An uplifting and activating support act -though no-one was prompted to jump up and start booty shaking, there was a lulling quality to her vocals that allowed the audience to sit back and be drifted away into a comforting reverie.

The Lurkers took to the stage, double bass, banjo and guitars in hand, voices aready (although Martin forgot his, with his health) smiles upon their faces staring into a crowd of about 200 people who almost couldn’t contain themselves with excitement. These guys have a serious following of very cool, supportive and eclectic fans, friends or to-be’s of each. I haven’t been to many folk/bluegrass shows before but there is a particular presence in the room- an embracing openness and intimacy- I felt like I was hanging out with a huge family (and every generation was counted for from infants’ to grandpappas’).

In sing-a-long style, with interludes of folk jokes (!) and in-band banter, it was hard not to either clap, tap your foot or bop your head (or dance wildly beneath the stage). The Lurkers don’t take themselves too seriously, emphasizing which songs were about Climate Change ("yes, another about Climate Change!", they’d add cheekily) and attaching anecdotes to each song such as discovering that sulphur may be added to the air to counter "the bad stuff in the air" turning the now blue sky white and how that “scared the shit” out of them or how at a festival gig someone suggested, in the prelude to a song about Nick’s grandmothers Alzhiemers that perhaps each time she heard a joke she’d heard before she was just “being polite” and not mentioning it. These personal touches, really helped the audience to connect to the songs and added something special to the gig for people to relate to. They certainly put everything they have into their sets and then some, coming back after an already epic bill to give us more (more, more!)

At the end of the night, the beautiful vibe in the room was presented physically in the branches of leaves, scrawled with well wishes for The Lurkers for their journey to Copenhagen and hopes for the future of our planet written by those present. What better way to set off towards hectic Copenhagen (where a rumoured 30,000 youth climate activists will join Martin, Mithra and Nick) then with this group of Sydneysiders cheering you on all the way?

Look out for The Lurkers in Copenhagen with two giant blow up kangaroos and a lot of heart.

You can follow them here and here.

For more information or to get a copy of the to-be-zine created from the leaves of the wish tree or if you have photos/questions about/love letters regarding the night, we’d love to hear from you- give me a bell: clare@punk-monk.com

Photos: Clare and Alex.