Bunny Biz

Watercolour: Talia Griffin

I have been busy girl which should mean lots to blog about. I have been pre-occupied as I have embarked on a mission for animals. You can see the blog that I have begun to help save the bunnies here.

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).

TYPOGRAFFITI, What went down?

A.R O.O6 TYPOGRAFFITI, our last ALGAE RHYTHM of the year and the best way to finish off a fantastic creative year for Punk Monk Propaganda.

Our beautiful German interns Felix and Michael curated a night full of energy, activity and creative vibes- an art free- for-all with no adherence to previous skill sets- just freedom. We kicked off with a bang, The Cornershop at capacity (despite drizzly weather overfilling our tarps), for a Graffiti art basic how-to by "real" street artists and then creative atmos and great people mingling and jamming for the rest of the night. Font love inside with text design wowing especially for those that never considered its extrapolations- who knew there was such fanaticism surrounding Helvetica?

As we are about to hit off a New Year for the very young and fresh ALGAE RHYTHM, do we have takers for curating? Do we have takers for participating?

ALGAE is the future.

ALGAE RHYTHM 0.05: portals from punk monk propaganda on Vimeo.

(last A.R 0.05: PORTALS curated by myself with Alex Papasavvas at my side)

A.R 0.06: TYPOGRAFFITI

Culture Jammers, Graffiti artists, Typophiles, street artists and wannabes/ dabblers/ appreciators of all of the above: let's get together and enjoy each others company (this coming Monday 30/11). Punk Monk's newest member Felix Pflieger is curating this months ALGAE RHYTHM. With the help of Mr. Pretzel (our other Bavarian colleague) and the rest of the Punk Monk crew, he will be executing a live art event in the spirit of interactivity and open canvas collaborating.

With restrictions tightening on how we are allowed to use public space and new policy coming into place to make it harder to reclaim that "communal" space as our own (rather than at the corporate advertisers grubby disposal) we'd like to come together and spray, tag and beautify some removable wallspace and engage in some giant infra red temporary tattoo scribbling on our infamous stolen wall over the shed.

Our trusty overhead projectors (plus our new shiny addition) will be available for texta projection as well as all the supplies you'll need to make tag textas and spray yourself giddy. It's all for fun- no competition and no ego required. There will also be artworks and video to peer at for inspiration and contemplation of what you can do with the written word, the designed text and whatever canvas you can find.

Come along- it's to be held at The Cornershop (Punk Monk headquarters in Alexandria) and costs a teeny $5 donation for supplies. In return, besides all the WOWs already mentioned, Ginger Rhythm (alcoholic ginger beer) will be poured out by the cup full (courtesy of Civilised Pig) and the event specific zine will be supplied for you to add to your collection. Details here.

This will be the last algae hoe down of the year, so if you haven't been to one yet because you always think, "well there'll be another next month", you better make this that one!

These little mushrooms make us very proud. (Faversham St, Marrickville)

Kino Feels Like Home Again #Kino31

What went down at Kino #31?, these are just the photos.

Have you figured out what Kino is all about yet?

Riverbeats beats Halloween

All Hallows' Eve and the contemplation of which costume party or musical monster mash gig to attend, to dress up or to reject the tradition, to spend lots of money or take it easy on the drinks, and then to end up abandoning all fronts and heading off towards neither, nor.

Who knew that the best thing happening in Sydney on a Saturday, more so Halloween Saturday, would be happening in Parramatta, at a family oriented cultural festival celebrating water, music, sound and light?

Over the river, immediate awe strikes as giant spheres and light towers of moving light and projected images reflect into the water and dominate in a kaleidoscopic wonderland. Masses of comparatively tiny people mill around the area, their shadows multiplying against the usually ugly and oppressive apartment blocks towering borders on either side of the channel, now with swirling rainbow skins in constant transition.

Trees illuminate as if the etchings of fairy tales and magic spills out of each person in green, blue, yellow and red hues as they collectively gaze wonder- filled into giant balls of light that look about to take off like hot air balloons into the glittery night sky where beams of light waver and intersect rhythmically.

Young and old feast their ears upon a fusion of different cultural beats from the far away stage, blown up and projected with shadow puppet accompaniment and poetry dedications and overall sensory bliss.
Not long after our arrival onto the grass, mythical monster creatures enter the crowd with stakes of fire as another, string operated and with a dragon paddles upstream in a fire lit wooden boat. Decoder Ring enter the stage for an ambient instrumental set of dreamy but epic soundscapes putting us in just the place we wanted to be in whilst peering into the hypnotic stimulus I can only assume they must have brought with them- dividing cells, haunting sea life, fluttering eyelids and beautiful passing landscapes.


The musical grand finale features a brew of prior opposing forces starting with the vibrations of one didgeridoo spilling into every empty pocket of the space, then joined by all earlier performers to combine streams of jazz melodies with energetic African beats, flamenco jives and psychedelic electronic undertones for one massive multicultural jam sesh .

The awe is then brought to climax in a spectacular fireworks display from atop a neighbouring building into the clearing directly above us, showering us in speckled bursts of ear splitting glee!


All this and we still managed to be home before midnight ready to pass out from the inebriating effect of tasty tasty stimulus. Riverbeats: take the ride next year.

First two and last picture courtesy of Alexander (a much worthier photography than I- check out his blog, he may delight you with some moving riverbeat images sometime soon!)

Where are all the filmmakers? Kino #31

I can't really put into words how Kino has changed my life. I was first encouraged to come along by one Kate Taylor, who I'd worked with on one infamous film set in early 2008. It took a few Kino's before I decided to take up the recommendation, the constant talk of it whirring through my new set of, what is now known as Punk Monk, pals. I didn't know what to expect of this "Kino" constantly reiterated as, "no, not Keno, KINO!" It certainly wasn't a bunch of old gamblers sitting in a stinky pub watching numbers come up on a screen and drinking away another loss.

No, Kino doesn't take that risk- a good time is always guaranteed. Kino does have drinks however, and a crowd and a big screen. Held in the cool, underground Fraser Studios, behind the Clare, Kino is a night of open mic film screenings, friendly film makers or at least film-friendly folk who enjoy hanging out in a warm, creative atmosphere where a cover charge gets you whisky or beer all night and crepes assembled on the spot by awesome volunteers like myself. You can bring a film you've made or just come hang out, and though there are rules, most people almost want to break them with the punishment a challenge film to be delivered at the next event.

With film culture and most of what is cool, so underground here in Sydney, groups such as Kino (which operates in cells internationally) are so important in helping people connect to like- minded folk. Kino has given me what are now my best friends and colleagues and motivated me to make my own films and run events. It really is a fabulous vibe! Come along (the next one is next Mon) and see what its all about- it's a Monday well spent indeed!

Photos of Kinos past by Victoria Waghorn and the Kino tribe.