SALA Podcast

Artist Interview: Shirley Wu

Steph catches up with artist Shirley Wu, who is known for her glass sculptures containing coloured oils. They chat about how her work is informed by previous training in aromatherapy and bodywork, and ultimately underpinned by mindfulness. Shirley is currently an artist-in-residence at Nexus Arts and gives us some insight into her upcoming exhibition Find that Pace as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2023. 
 
Show Notes
Interview Transcript (PDF)
Nexus Arts
bodywork (noun): therapiesand techniques in complementary medicine that involve touching or manipulating the body.
aromatherapy (noun): the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils for healing and cosmetic purposes.
Shirley Wu, Holistic Therapy 3, 2019, Blown glass filled with essential oil, cork. 30cm x 20cm x 15cm
City Rural Emerging Artist Award: a SALA Award sponsored by City Rural Insurance. See past winners.
Peter Minson
FELTspace – Artist-Run-Initiative / Gallery in Adelaide
Ursula Halpin
Canberra Glassworks
Chinese calligraphy [wikipedia]
joss house (noun): a Chinese temple
Kuan Ti Temple [sa.gov.au]
Architecture Museum – UniSA
Out of Site, curated by Melinda Rankin at the Lounge Gallery (SASA Gallery) in 2006, featuring Stephanie Radok, Annalise Rees and Qi Zhang. [PDF]
Find that Pace as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival
ShirleyWuJianzhen.com
@ShirleyWu.Jewellery
 
Shirley would like to acknowledge Bridget Currie and Jingwei Bu, her mentors for her current project; Dr Christine Garnaut and Dr Julie Collins from the Architecture Museum at UniSA; and Dr Eleen Deprez who is writing the essay for Find that Pace.
Main image by Juan Van Staden courtesy of the artist and the University of South Australia

Artist Interview: Caitlin Möhr

Steph catches up with self-taught painter Caitlin Möhr after a busy year that included her debut solo exhibition ‘An Introspective Journey’ at Collective Haunt.
Transcript of this episode [PDF]
Show Notes
cadaver (noun) a deceased human body that is used to study anatomy
introspection (noun) the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes
breathwork (noun) conscious, controlled breathing done especially for relaxation, meditation, or therapeutic purposes
mindfulness (noun) 1. the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. 2. a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
Viewpoint, 2022, Caitlin Möhr and Miles Dunne at The Lab
An Introspective Journey [image gallery] [Essay by Connor Foley]
Caitlin Möhr, Embracing, 2022, oil, googly-eyes and gap filler on canvas, 122x91cm. Accompanying floor-text: Love yourself. Truly. Wholly. Deeply. The earth is crying for it. To resist yourself is to resist existence. Resist resistance?
Solomon Kammer [website] [painting workshops]
down pat (adjective) learned, mastered, or understood perfectly
Floating Goose Studios & Gallery
caitlinmohr.com.au
@cait.lin.mohr

Artist Interview: Ash Tower

Steph catches up with artist Ash Tower during the exhibition Studios 2022 at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE). 
They wax poetic about knowledge systems – from library shelves and scientific journals to the honor board at the RSL – which may sound like a dry subject, but Ash’s work reveals a contagious reverence for the humanness that surrounds the growing and organising of knowledge. There’s also talk of architecture, gaming, Baz Luhrmann film trivia, and coffins.
Transcript of this episode (PDF)
Show Notes
www.ash-tower.com
Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE)
Postcards from the Bibliopolis, 2013
Barr Smith Library, Adelaide
Studies of Nature, 2017
Nature (journal)
RSL: The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force.
The Burning of Vision, 2021
Baroque architecture
Via Purifico, 2021
Romeo + Juliet (film), 1996, Baz Luhrmann
Final Fantasy X (game), 2001, Squaresoft
… underneath the grove of sycamore that westward rooteth from the city’s side, so early walking did I see your son. (Romeo and Juliet 1.1.119-121)
14 Things You Didn’t Know About Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet [cosmo article]
underneath the grove of sycamore, 2021, ink on paper. 760 x 560mm
ACE Studio Program
Studios 2022 exhibition at ACE

Artist Interview: Ruby Allegra

Steph catches up with Ruby Allegra ahead of their solo exhibition ‘From My Room’ at Newmarch Gallery. Fittingly, their chat takes place in Ruby’s room, where they discuss the concept of the bed as a workspace, (a key theme of the exhibition), accessibility in the arts, and a love of Matisse. See also: blanket forts, and what spoons have to do with anything.
Transcript of this interview (PDF)
Show Notes
@RvbyTheArtist on Instagram
‘From My Room’ by Ruby Allegra at Newmarch Gallery
@NewmarchGallery on Instagram
From My Room Opening Night, Friday 4 November, RSVP for physical attendance or keep an eye out for online attendance option. [Eventbrite link]
What is Spoon Theory? – Happiful article
Post Office Projects Gallery & Studios [website][Instagram]
‘Only use your bed for sex and sleep’ [Guardian article]
‘White cube gallery’ [Wikipedia]
‘Visibility’ at Wyndham Art Gallery [Exhibition Catalogue as PDF]
POC [person/s of colour]
Ruby Allegra, Disabled Nudes
‘The Blue Nudes’ by Matisse [Wikipedia]
Frida Kahlo [Wikipedia]
Photo of Matisse in bed
 
 
 
Main image: A person with brown hair in a pink jumper holds a gray short-haired cat and looks at the camera. Photo of Ruby Allegra by Sia Duff.
Music: Siddharta Corsus - Star of David via FreeMusicArchive.org

ACSA Artspeak: Julia Robinson

Andrew Purvis sits down with Julia Robinson to discuss her exhibition The Beckoning Blade at Hugo Michell Gallery during SALA Festival. From scythes to smocks, the Burry Man to the Wicker Man, witchfinders and gourdfathers; tune in to hear about the cultural, conceptual, and material considerations that drive Julia’s practice.
 
Show Notes
JuliaRobinson.net
The Beckoning Blade at Hugo Michell Gallery
Matthew Hopkins - Witchfinder General
The Burryman
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
The Names of the Hare (poem, translated by Seamus Heaney)
Transcript of this episode (PDF)
Image: Julia Robinson by Sam Roberts.Julia Robinson is represented by Hugo Michell Gallery. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Arts South Australia, its art funding and advisory body.

2022 SALA Feature Artist: Mark Valenzuela

Andrew Purvis chats with Mark Valenzuela about his journey as an artist and his current exhibition, 'Still Tied to a Tree' at Adelaide Central Gallery. Tune in to hear about his influences and connections to his practice – from Filipino culture, to chess, to the fictitious villain General Zod.
 
Show Notes
2022 SALA Feature Artist
Still Tied to a Tree at Adelaide Central Gallery
Book: Mark Valenzuela by Belinda Howden, Anna O’Loughlin [Wakefield Press]
Paul Pfieffer
Cristina Taniguchi, Maria Taniguchi
General Zod [Wikipedia]
Terraforming
Agimat (amulet) [Wikipedia
Opposition (direct opposition) in chess [Wikipedia]
 
Further Reading:
Meet your Maker: Mark Valenzuela - The Adelaide Review [article]

Artist Interview: Josh Juett

In this episode, Steph catches up with painter Josh Juett (and Winsor the lorikeet) at his homestudio ahead of his show LOST IN THOUGHT at Praxis Artspace. They chat about the early days of his practice (including his first sale, a seascape for $1 in primary school) and through various artistic and musical influences that Steph definitely had to google later. Tune in to hear about his new work that broaches new mediums and the rationale behind the exhibition.
 
Show Notes
Greg Simkins  / @Craola
Alex Pardee  / @AlexPardee
Ron English  / @RonEnglish
Pop surrealism
Robin Eley  / @RobinEleyArtist
Otto Marseus van Schrieck
Aesop Rock
‘colonize Mars on Earth Day’ (Tetra - Aesop Rock)
LOST IN THOUGH at praxis ARTSPACE / @praxisARTSPACE
@JoshJvett

Artist Interview: Carly Snoswell

Steph catches up with Carly Snoswell to talk about her practice and her new show, Day One, at Post Office Projects. They trace the development of her practice from learning to sew as a kid, through art school, residencies, and studios - shoutout to the 'art wives'! Tune in for some lovely musings on fandom, textile practice, and too many sewing puns!
 
Show Notes
Helpmann Academy Sanskriti Kendra Residency in New Delhi, India
Jenna Pippett
Kate Kurucz
Roy Ananda
Feelin’ Fine at CACSA Project Space
Why artist Carly Snoswell thinks Beyonce is a Port Supporter – [Adelaide Review article]
Crochet your Character
Steph Cibich
Rosina Possingham
Since 1989 (Port Banner artwork) at Floating Goose Studios
Day One, at Post Office Projects, Port Adelaide.
CarlySnoswell.com
 

25 Years of SALA Festival

To celebrate this anniversary year, we handed the microphone over to you! Hear from people who have connected with SALA Festival over its 25 years and what it means to them.

ACSA Artspeak: Catherine Truman

Catherine Truman joins Andrew Purvis to discuss the dynamics of artist residencies, the importance of a self-imposed 'pause', the desire to artistically locate the person behind their research, and the beginnings of her work from her time in residency at Carrick Hill. This episode was recorded as part of the Adelaide Central School of Art's ArtSpeak Program.
 
Show Notes
Gray Street Workshop
Ian Gibbins
Carrick Hill
Flinders Centre for Opthalmology and Vision Research
'Epithelium' Film
Catherine Truman - website
Catherine Truman - Instagram