Dreams are bigger than where they come from

You may be just passing through some small town. 
 Just passing slowly or quickly through some small town. 
On first glance it doesn't look so special, not too memorable. 
You couldn't remember its name, or describe any one thing about the place. 
But it is full of people who live there, who dream and hope of small and big things that bring contented smiles to their faces, and a laugh to their day. 
The town is not so special immediately, but if you look a little deeper, you will find it is full of beauty unrecognized. 
Its not obvious but it is there for those who shift their view of life.

Several year ago photographer Harold David jumped into his beautiful Mini and went for a bit of a drive. 
He drove along the south coast of New South Wales and he took photos of what surrounded him. 
Basically lots of photos of the small towns that dot the coast line. 
They are not of glamorous things or places, or buildings, but they are about the things that make up peoples' lives.

Red

Wonderment

In July 2010 Shiftazine shifted its world view and spent the month in the ancient lands of Crete. 
The Sun and the water were constant in their gifts of beauty. 
But what I really loved the most in spending time there was the opportunity to observe the motion of the astral bodies_ 
the Sun, the Moon and the stars.

It sounds glib but these are our orginial and formative wonderments. 
 When you are immersed in the urban landscape you become detached from these heavenly bodies_
these things of beauty, of dreams, of joy.

Shifting Possibilities

Regardless of your political persuasions the swearing in of the Honorable Ms Julia Gillard on the 24th of June 2010 sees Australia consider a shift in possibilities of problem solving. Now an individual will not be firstly measured or defined by their genre's characteristics but rather by their own talents, persona and their ability to solved what problems are before them.

A shift has occurred, lets build on it. Well done!

Painting the Upholstery

A canvas is not necessarily a flat, almost 2 D object found hanging on a wall. A chair, a table top, a fire screen, even a wardrobe lends it's surfaces to the artist to fill and stroke and create images that can and will enliven your life, every day.

The idea of painting furniture is not a new idea. The Bloomsbury group of the early part of the 20th century turned their all ready creative and productive minds and eyes to the endeavour. Painted furniture is about you looking differently at the flat or not so flat surfaces that you find in your immediate surroundings. The surfaces do not even have to be hard. As you can see from the images of the first spread, you can happily and successfully paint the padded seat of a chair.

This type of art is empowering, as this is your chance to create art which is approachable, accessible and charming. It is from the school of live and love art, and make it a part of your every day rountine.

JoyDay_Geraniums

JoyDay is on its way. 
Remember the 25th of November and remember to celebrate the joyful things in your life. 
They can be a simple as a geranium flower shining with rain drops or as great as a big blue sky. 
Just remember to always have some joy in each and every day of your life. 
It is good for your body and soul.

Orange_sooo tangy

There is more to a magazine than meets the eye.

Sometimes you can’t sleep at night. You lie in bed, waiting for dreams to begin, but they don’t arrive.

So what do you do? Well, you could count sheep, or you could think about all the things you were meant to do at work that day, but didn’t. Or you could get out of bed and pull all the pages out of your two favorite 1985 ‘Interview’ magazines and glue them all over your kitchen and dining room walls which is exactly what photographer and my friend, Harold David did last week.

The result is so exciting, so typically inventive of Harry and very SHIFTAZINE.

Go get your magazines, carefully tear those favorite images out and start changing your living space!Put those paint brushes down. No more need for a thousand colour swatches. All you need is a pot of wall paper glue, a fairly smooth wall, some loved images and courage. You’re set. Enjoy!

Enduring

How strange, and yet compellingly, a sight to see all those caged dolls. 

What fate had befallen them. 
I was confused and concerned for these little objects of my childhood affection. 
It made me reflect that we may grow up and get older but we never really grow away
from the notion of connection we have with our toys.

The concept of these endearing little objects, who sort of look like us but not really. 
Who were there to listen to every thought we had, they always had a smile on their face and were always up for a hug. 

I think we should honour our toys, as they are apart of our own story.

Altitude Attitude

Cool both aesthetically and functionally

Freeze right there

If you know of any great examples of this brave new art, let SHIFTAZINE know about it.

Share the joy.

Recycling is not a new concept

The Great Depression of the 1930s was a terrible time for millions of ordinary people just trying to get by. The world was not so materialist then with consumerism as the new religion of the masses. And yet with very little to lose, most lost the lot.

The current exhibition 'Skint' on at the Museum of Sydney, shows how wonderfully inventive and resilient the Aussie spirit is. When times were tough a fruit packing crate became the frame work for a settee; a bit of heavy wire and a pole became a rake.

This is a good exhibition and it has a lot to teach us, if only we are ready to learn from the past.

Blue

Art for art sake

Art form or vandalism?

There is something truly incredible happening in the side streets and lane ways of our urban areas. 
 Aerosol art, stencil art, art for the sake of creating something wonderful, creative and visual is happening.

It costs nothing to see, it costs nothing to enjoy and it breaths life into our dull and boring urban landscape. 
The current attitude towards aerosol art, within some areas of society, is strongly reflective of the art establishment of the 19th century, 
who 'dissed' the Impressionists and their new way of playing with colour and form.

When will this exercise in creativity become seen as an art form and not as vandalism? When will this art practice be given the credit it deserves? When will the SHIFT occur?

Plastic Fantastic

These familiar verstatile objects with a subtle waxy touch typify a streamlined machine made aesthetic. 
Constantly finding new ways to use plastic in homewares and art alike, the material has become an icon of suburban living, 
 an embodiment of the modernist maxim of 'form follows function'.

It is in all of our lives, everywhere we look, in most things we touch. 

Originally envisioned as an emblem of household cleanliness and thrift, 
plastic is constantly re-evolving in the manner in which it is utilized in homewares and kitchenware.

Many cultures remain truly fascinated by the bright glowing colours of polyethylene.
 These versatile objects are durable, flexible and lightweight, possessing a simplicity of form coupled with a certain substance. 
 Plastics seem to retain an inherent playfulness and spareness in their coupling of unfussy shapes, clean lines and bold colours; 
eminently practical and functional.

Recycle and edit.

Everything has been edited at EDIT, like moulded Depression glass, often found in the back of nanna’s bureau that has been transformed into beautiful assemblages in the form of delightful lamps and objects. And the stacks of old encyclopaedias that have been bolted together to become witty side tables. The 1970s vases and bowls placed on top of each other become amusing table and side lamps. In these, one can see the play of scale that is present in so many of the clever objects created for this store.

The original and exciting fabric designs, driven by Sharyn Storrier Lyneham's love of fabrics, are in someway the backbone of the EDIT vision. Jewels, hedgerows, chandleries, old shutters, and funky fifty style patterns are all inspirations for the fabric range, which is digitally printed on silk, hemp, velvet, and linen. The fabrics are found on lampshades, furniture, cushions, and even mannequins.

Hand painted plates, by Susan Hipgrave, hand painted chairs, screens and cushions created by Nina Davies, ceramics with the theme of marine life created by Luke Scibberas, watercolours by artist Matthew Lander and photography by Ben Storrier fill the bright space of EDIT. There is a sense of fission when you enter this store, because these art pieces, as well as the furniture and other witty objects, generate a feeling of geniune creativity.

I discovered EDIT one Saturday morning, just wandering around Sydney’s Surry Hills.
It is a delight and adventure for those who walk through the front door. It deserves to be supported as Sharyn's aim is to recycle and reinvent from what already exists.
It is yet another example of SHIFTAZINE thinking. Well done!

Contact EDIT -T:02 9358 5806 E: inge@edit-group.com.au W: www.edit-group.com.au

Green is a state of mind, heart and soul

Everything has a second use

Living in Greece, I noticed how inventive the older people were with their reuse of almost everything. 
Nothing was wasted. 
I guess they had lived through some hard times, so they looked at everything with a lateral eye. 
Love that! 
So here are some empty olive oil tins that have been made into garden beds, growing herbs. 
A win, win result. 
Recycling is good for the soul and your planet. Using fresh herbs is good for the soul and your body. 
ENJOY.