SALA Podcast

SALA Forum with 2024 Feature Artist Julia Robinson, and monograph writers Hannah Kent, Leigh Robb, and Jess Taylor

In this special episode recorded at the Adelaide Central School of Art, Andrew Purvis talks to 2024 SALA Feature Artist Julia Robinson, and her monograph writers Hannah Kent, Leigh Robb, and Jess Taylor.
They discuss the collaborative process that brought the book to fruition, and how each of the writers used Julia’s work as inspiration for their pieces, particularly her interest in folklore, horror themes and feminism. Julia also delves into working with designer Rachel Harris on the visual representation of the monograph.
In the Q&A section, Julia explains how the book was structured around each of the writer’s interests; the process for creating her sculptures; and the significance of dark themes in her art. Finally, Julia discusses the impact of receiving the Feature Artist award, and the influence and importance of SALA Festival on her career and the opportunities it affords all artists.
Show notes:
JuliaRobinson.net
Hannah Kent
Leigh Robb – Instagram
Jess Taylor
Satanic Panic
Tilberi – Icelandic Folklore
The Wicker Man (film, 1973, directed by Robin Hardy)
The Song of Master John Goodfellow
gourd (fruit)
The Gourdfather
Beatrice in the 2020 Adelaide Biennial at Museum of Economic Botany
Rappaccini’s Daughter
Scylla – Greek mythology
Adelaide Central School of Art
Julia’s monograph at Wakefield Press

Artist Interview: Claire Foord

For this special Science Week podcast, presented in partnership with Inspiring SA, SALA talks to Willunga-based artist Claire Foord.
Claire talks about her artistic journey, her inspiration, and the profound impact of her personal experiences on her art.
She delves into how her work has been influenced by a spontaneous bilateral cerebral arterial dissection she suffered three years ago, which serves as the basis for her SALA exhibition 'Occipital’. Claire also shares the story of the stillbirth of her daughter Alfie, and the charity called Still Aware she founded to raise awareness around stillbirth in Australia.
Claire is a finalist in the SALA Inspiring SA Science in Art Award, and The Advertiser Contemporary Art Award.

Artist Interview: Cheryl Bridgart

In this episode, Eugene chats with freestyle embroidery artist Cheryl Bridgart. Cheryl talks about the history of her home/studio at Beltana House on Carrington St in the city, and how her work is inspired by her dreams and her love of the natural world. She shares her excitement at being part of the Lunar Codex program, which will see her work travelling to the moon early next year. Finally, Cheryl speaks of her love of working as a South Australian artist, especially during SALA Festival. 
 
Cheryl's biography
History of Beltana Station.
Guildhouse & Guildhouse Greets
Adelaide Zoo
‘Lose Yourself in Melbourne’ ad
More about the Lunar Codex program
Doctor Samuel Peralta
SpaceX
Cheryl’s episode on Colour in Your Life.
Goolwa, South Australia
Cheryl on Instagram
Cheryl on Facebook
Cheryl’s SALA exhibition
 
Music: Dark Water by Xylo-Ziko
Photo by Jack Fenby

2023 SALA Feature Artist: Helen Fuller

In this episode, Steph catches up with Helen Fuller in the artist’s home studio. Steph asks Helen about the range of mediums she has used over the years, what it’s like to have a book published about her career, and Helen gives context to the artwork that featured on the 2023 SALA Poster & program. They also chat about the influence of family on her artmaking, and the joy of coming home from walks with a pocket full of curiosities. Her exhibition Shedding is on at Adelaide Central Gallery until 27 October 2023.
 
Show notes
Interview Transcript (PDF)
Helen Fuller, Samstag Museum of Art, UniSA, Adelaide Festival 2022 / catalogue
Helen Fuller (book) Wakefield press
SALA Feature Artist: Info / Archive
South Australian Living Artist Publication
Shedding, at Adelaide Central Gallery (until 27 October 2023)
 
Music: Raven Warble - Chad Crouch

Artist Interview: Monika Morgenstern

In this episode, Steph catches up with artist Monika Morgenstern. They chat about the overarching theme of mysticism in her work, and what kind of materials she uses to explore something so intangible. They trace spiritual moments across her life, from childhood awe at Europe’s cathedrals, to the natural splendour of Lake Tyrrell in Australia.
 
Monika.Morgenstern.com/biography
Adelaide Central School of Art
ArtsSA fellowship / Arts & Culture Grants Program
Erni Tinesz (glass artist)
Numinous encounter
Wordless Silence at Barossa Regional Gallery, Mon-Sun 11am-4pm, 26 July – 2 October 2023.
Prima materia [wikipedia]
Jerome Lyons / Cheese Factory Studio Gallery, Meadows SA
Strathalbyn, South Australia
Sea Lake, Victoria
Masonic lodge
THRFG - Creative Health Art Prize 2023
@MonikaMorgensternArt
MonikaMorgenstern.com
Monika on Facebook & YouTube
Monika's work on Shop SALA
 
Music: Dark Water by Xylo-Ziko

Artist Interview: Ian Gibbins

Steph catches up with artist Ian Gibbins in this special science-themed episode presented in partnership with Inspiring SA. They chat about Ian's work as scientist and how it informs his art, and some surprising parallels between the fields of science and art – from the urge to show your work to others to the tedium of failed experiments.
 
Show Notes
IanGibbins.com.au
Chris Wallace-Crabbe
Vincent Buckley
Urban Biology
The Joinery
Ian Gibbins, Beyond the Floodtide
Conservation Council South Australia
Catherine Truman
A Partnership for Uncertain Times: Art + Science + Technology [catalogue]
ANAT / the Australian Network for Art & Technology
Ian Gibbins, dog daze, 2017
 
Image: lo
Music: Ian Gibbins (used with permission)

Artist Interview: Kaspar Schmidt Mumm

In this episode, Steph catches up with multidisciplinary artist Kaspar Schmidt Mumm. They throw back to his mother's artistic influence, and trace that framing of art as a vehicle for bigger things through to his latest exhibition, Rockamora. Tune in to hear why participatory sculpture isn't at all like sitting in the front row of a comedy show, and what Ursula Le Guin has to do with offering chips to bullies.
 
Show Notes:
Interview Transcript (PDF)
KasparSchmidtMumm.com
@Kaspartness (Instagram)
Koruna Schmidt Mumm
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Kaspar’s Painting works
Kaspar’s Paper works
IMMI / IMEMI
Humboldt Forum
Berlin’s bizarre new museum (Guardian article)
ROCKAMORA over the years
ROCKAMORA at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE)10 June – 12 August 2023, 11am-4pm Tues-Sat, free entry
Porter Street Commission
The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction – Ursula K. Le Guin
The Bait Fridge
Slowmango.com /  @Slowmango_
 
See also: ABC Art Works Series 3, Episode 19
 
Image: photo of Kaspar by Emmaline Zanelli, courtesy of ACE
Music: Blob Funk – Slowmango, 2023, Hypercolour Miscellaneous, courtesy of Kaspar
 

Artist Interview: Kasia Tons

In this episode, Steph catches up with artist Kasia Tons in her cosy Adelaide Hills studio. They talk about her early days in the textile industry, the labour-intensive nature of her work, and how her work calls for a re-examining of the human relationship to nature.
 
Show notes:
Transcript (pending)
One Year Dress project
Guildhouse Collections Project
Biotic Commune at the Museum of Economic Botany
@PussyRiot
GuerrillaGirls.com
Future Materials Bank
@fashion_for_bank_robbers
@Kasia.Tons on Instagram
kasiarosetons.com

Artist Interview: Chris De Rosa

In this episode, Steph catches up with artist Chris De Rosa in her home studio in Port Elliot. They chat about how she found her way to art-making, the versatility of paper as a material, her recent exhibition Seaweeding, and how living on the coast informs her practice.
 
Show Notes
Transcript of this interview [PDF]
Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec – French painter, printmaker, illustrator
JamFactory
Paper Mache / Papier Mache
flora (noun): the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
Seaweeding exhibition [art almanac] [inDaily]
beachcombing (noun): an activity that consists of an individual “combing” (or searching) the beach and the intertidal zone, looking for things of value, interest, or utility.
Museum of Economic Botany
Jessie Hussey
Spongia: a genus of marine sponges in the family Spongiidae containing more than 60 species.
Porifera: the phylum that sponges belong to.
Taxonomic rank (phylum, class, order, family, genus, species)
The Drowned World, JG Ballard, 1962
Sea Tulip
bust (noun): a sculpture of a person’s head, shoulders, and chest.
Honor Freeman: artist, performer
Mickey Mason: artist & filmmaker
Susi Benger: eco-conscious swimwear designer @CocoAndShy
Horseshoe Bay, Port Elliot
Super 8: type of film camera
Giuseppe Faraone: sound designer
Cath Kenneally: writer, poet.
Rosina Possingham: artist, graphic designerGuildhouse Catapult mentorship program
Trent Walter & Stuart Geddes [artguide interview]
Good Bank Gallery, McLaren Vale
Valerie Taylor: artist, filmmaker, marine conservationist
‘Water People’ exhibition (28 May - 31 July 2023) at Coral St Art Space, Victor Harbor
Flinders University Museum of Art
@Chris_DeRosa on Instagram
 
Music: Monplaisir - The Rise The Walk The Hope via FMA.

Artist Interview: Anna Horne

Steph catches up with sculpture artist Anna Horne ahead of her exhibition Colour Me Soft at Hugo Michell Gallery. A bit of reminiscing about her first outdoor exhibition reveals how Anna found her way to using concrete in her work - which she is now known for using. They chat about the dynamics of being an artist driven by material and process (rather than pre-visualised ideas), and the influence of current issues on Anna’s artmaking.
 
Show Notes
Interview Transcript (PDF)
Adelaide Central School of Art
Anna Horne, Weigh Down, 2014, rope, concrete, dimensions variable, installed in Rymill Park as part of FELTnatural 2014
Jimmy Dodd / Double Diamond art fabrication
Art 21
‘A World Of One’s Own’ (podcast) conversations between Tai Snaith and a diverse group of different female-identifying and non-binary artists.
Phyllida Barlow [wiki]
Alison Wilding [wiki]
Neoteric exhibition, 2022, Adelaide Train Station [catalogue]
Shifting exhibition by Centre for Creative Health at Dentons [catalogue]
Colour Me Soft at Hugo Michell Gallery
‘colour me [something]’ (idiom): An exclamation used to indicate some particular emotion or condition. ‘You did the dishes and cleaned your room? Well, colour me amazed—I never thought the day would come!’
AnnaHorne.com.au
@Anna_Horne