Sustainable Fashion, Clothing Exchange, Workshops

 Louise Falzon, director of A Pot of Tea, Under a Tree, is passionate about sustainable fashion and wants to share her
 knowledge through the Under a Tree Clothing Exchange and school-based workshops that help young people develop a sense of expression through fashion.

A Pot of Tea, Under a Tree is a sustainable fashion label that maintains accessibility for young people to interact and become more aware of minimising the impact of the fashion industry on the planet.

Under a Tree: Clothing Exchange is a quarterly clothes swap event where young women can come along and listen to young performers, drink tea and swap clothes for a cause. A Pot of Tea, Under a Tree chooses to support Project Futures: End Sex Trafficking as a positive way to take steps towards strengthening women’s environments throughout the world. The first Under a Tree: Clothing Exchange was held in March and was a lovely success, with Pot of Tea, Under a Tree able to raise the enough funds to free four young Cambodian girls from brothels.

A Pot of Tea, Under a Tree also offers school-based workshops on how to maintain sustainable fashion. These workshops are interactive as well as informative, providing high school students an opportunity to explore their identity through fashion as well as providing them with tools to create their own sustainable wardrobe.

“Before Louise came to speak at our school, I had absolutely no idea about what was going on in the world regarding the impact simply buying clothes has on the environment. She is an amazing person and I think she needs to go around to a lot more schools because I want people to experience what we did today. It was the most incredible lesson I’ve had in all high school and I want to thank her so much for everything.” K.M from Runcorn State

A Pot of Tea, Under a Tree
Louise Falzon
www.underatree.com.au

Young Blood Comics

Dreamwave have an established reputation in Ipswich and the Gold Coast and are working hard to expand intoBrisbane.  They are currently using Visible Ink resources on a regular basis to copy newsletters, create innovative posters and work on a business plan.

Dreamwave offer dance classes in multiple genres as well as singing and acting classes.  They have offered to run FREE classes here at Visible Ink over the next 6 months and will run intensive workshops over the September school holidays.  Dates and times will be put on the website soon.

In term 3 Dreamwave are offering classes at schools to promote an active and healthy approach to starting the school day. 

To find out more about Dreamwave Entertainment, please find them on Facebook (Dreamwave Entertainment) or http://www.dreamwaveentertainment.com/

Daniel and Gen are currently busy preparing for rehearsals inMelbournefor the May 2012 Nextwave Festival which supports young emerging artists.   They are also taking theirBrisbane‘Room 328’ production toMelbournefor the Fringe Festival from late September til early October.

Later this year Daniel and Gen will be supporting secondary school students in Toowoomba, primarily those affected by January’s floods, by facilitating workshops with the assistance from fellow peers and supported by Toowoomba’s  Empire Theatre.

In December they are excited to be performing ‘DJ while you Sleep’ at the Judith Wright Centre.  More information will come closer to the date. You can check out some of their work via their website http://www.danielsantangeli.com/

Daniel and Gen will also be running workshops at the Visible Ink space in November, focussed on auditioning and theatre specific skill development.  Details will be on the Visible Ink website as soon as dates are locked in.

Please feel free to drop and in and say hi to them!

 
Tashka recently attended the CONTACT ACADEMY: A multi-arts series of professional development workshops for emerging artists – run by Contact Inc and held at Visible Ink Valley. We asked a few questions about her experience.

Why did you come to the contact academy – what were you hoping to gain?
It was an amalgamation of Art forms.  A mix of great people.  A chance to try different things & meet new people.  Since I also conduct workshops for a living myself I am always interested in seeing how other’s are running & to open my mind to fresh ways of doing things.  This is the first time in my life I’ve spent time & lived in a City, with events & opportunities like these everywhere, so I’m lapping it up like crazy – soaking in as much as I can get!!!
I thought Contact Academy was one of the best run workshop serious I’ve ever been to… it’d be great to have an overview of the whole workshop timetable again & the names of all the facilitators who we worked with so we can look them up!

What is your arts practice interest and what would you like to be doing with it in Brisbane?
My Arts practice in short is music, but I’d say it is more about facilitating others to channel themselves through creative expression.  I teach piano/singing during the week & travel conducting workshops for projects a few times a year.  For example, I have been working in Indigenous communities facilitating story through singing/recording/filmmaking workshops since 2006.  In 2 weeks I am in remote north QLD with the J.A.M crew (Join Australian Music) in a great collective of muso’s facilitating songwriting, instrument making & industry development to remote schools, some of which don’t even have a music teacher!

After moving from Alice Springs to Brisbane, really what I’d like to be doing here is exactly what I’m doing, but more of it!  Immersing myself & immersing others.  I am hoping to step it up a notch & get more work on more projects & events.  I love working with other amazing people & arts collectives towards shared vision.  I have a lot to share & can add many levels to projects.  I am very interested in how we can be doing things differently & actually engage with each other & community in a way that not only makes it sustainable but also puts it into the people’s hands so they themselves become the art. Contact Tashka   tashka@humancanvas.net

Finn recently attended the CONTACT ACADEMY: A series of workshops hosted by CONTACT INC for young emerging artists to grow their skills. We asked Finn a couple of questions.

Why did you come to the contact academy – what were you hoping to gain?
I came to Contact Academy to meet new people to work with – I have just moved from Darwin, and am keen to find motivated and talented people!
I also thought it would be a fantastic way to get to know companies – what they are about, who they are interested in working with, what kind of art they make. I had a fantastic time. Contact Inc did a wonderful job!

What is your arts practice interest and what would you like to be doing with it in Brisbane?
I am a writer- plays, poetry, short films. I also act and direct, and do little drawings and paintings when no one is looking.
In Brisbane, I would love to get involved in regular readings of plays and poetry, and of course production! I am interested in physical Theatre, and devised collaborative work. I am excited by innovative use of media, and finding ways to make magic happen on stage.

Do you have a website or facebook profile ?
You can find me on twitter @finnobranagain

2011 JUMP Mentee
2011 National Young Writers Month Ambassador, NT
2011 Backbone Ensemble Member

twitter: finnobranagain
blogs: http://theillustratedbookoffairytales.blogspot.com/
http://abeetleaday.blogspot.com/
http://finnobranagain.blogspot.com/

“I am not a food expert- I am just a food lover, and so want to share my love of food with you.”

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I’m a 23 year old girl living in Qld, my adoptive State. I’ve been in BrisVegas for 5 years after moving here from my cute country hometown in NSW. I work in Communications/PR and write my own food blog. I also write columns for an online magazine.  I’m pretty infactuated with all things food (hence the food blog) and spend much of my time trawling around restaurants/providores/food festivals/wine & cocktail bars in Brisbane looking for awesome food and wine to blog about. I also blog about the occasional horrible experience too! Whilst I love eating out, I love cooking in my tiny kitchen with one of my many cooking appliances, re-planting my herb garden after it is inevitably eaten by possums, and reading one of my new books or old vogue, delicious or gourmet traveller magazines.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!
It’s great to see that Brisbane is really surging ahead in the food stakes. It’s no secret that we have been about 20 years behind the other states but we are starting to catch up. I’m really happy to report on all the triumphs happening in QLD – be it restaurants, produce, wineries or anything food related. We are now represented by a small but savvy contingent of food bloggers and people are starting to understand the value of good food. It’s also fabulous to see such a young element to the dining/food scene- lots of enthusiasm and vigour which is really shining through.

Check out the Gastronomy Gal blog at http://gastronomy-gal.blogspot.com/

Jaleesa Pon holding the first issue of M.A.D4Teens

• Jaleesa Pon. 20 year-old Brisbane local.
• A Multicultural girl of PNG/Chinese heritage.
• The oldest of 4 kids.
• Love food and spending time with family and friends.
• Huge fan of the arts – I enjoy the theatre, ballroom dancing, playing piano and singing.
• Travel rocks my world! One of my life missions is to travel overseas at least once a year every year … that’s how much I love it!
• A broadcaster on the multicultural youth radio show “Oxygen” (Radio 4EB 98.1FM).
• I work in the finance industry and am revelling in the challenges.
• And I also work with like-minded young people who are committed to the same things.

What are you working on right now?

M.A.D4Teens Magazine – the magazine that is Making A Difference.
It’s a magazine that is independently created and publised by a team of young people for other young people to enjoy. It exists to give youth opportunities to:

1. gain work experience in working behind the scenes of a publication;
2. be featured in the magazine and be recognised for their talent(s)
3. form friendships with like-minded teens
4. & meet influential figures in the industry

I’m also working on the building of an educational, encouraging and interactive online community for youth.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do
you get through it?

I feel at my best when I honour my word and fulfill on the committments I’ve made AND
also when I know I’ve made a difference to another and left a smile on their face!

When I feel at my worst, I have a look for what happened that had me get down (the situation / event / circumstance).
Then I give myself the freedom to be upset/uncomfortable etc. and allow myself to be a ‘drama queen’.. BUT only for a few minutes!
Then I simply get back in action and get on with what needs to be done next. Nothing can be accomplished when you wallow in things that have already happened.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

In 5 years time I see myself as a bold entrepreneur; building businesses and working in/with various communities around the world, making a difference to them.

I also see myself married, in a healthy financial position, continuing to work with the team of M.A.D4Teens Magazine, learning another language and still travelling… of course!

Why do you do what you do?

What I’m committed to is transforming the world through empowering and enabling young people.  I want to make a difference to the youth community.

WHY?
Because youth are the leaders of our future and are the people who will be responsible for what happens in the world… and when I turn on the news, I want to see a world that works. Not one that is full of pain; poverty and wars.

How have you been able to do what you love?

By managing my time and by always taking the next steps.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

To find out more visit www.mad4teens.com.
You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mad4teens

We caught up with 23 year old founder of Neu Creative, Yarron Frauenfelder, who works to create appealing designs and promo art in Brisbane.

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I’m a locally based Brisbane graphic designer, with projects in music, fashion & cultural industries.
I have started Neu Creative; a is graphic design platform that allows me to explore a double sided approach to design. The first allows me to work as a designer, creating company identities and print material for promotion and products. The second allows me to explore design on a more personal level, working on projects and ideas to develop a greater portfolio through creative passion.

What are you working on right now?

At the moment I am working with clients in the music industry. Projects Include a logo for a club & record label, as well as motion graphics for a festival in Los Angels.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do you get through it?

As any freelancer will know, there are always the slow and busy times. I find that when I am busiest… I am the most happy. Sometimes the slow times can get you down, but its all about soldering on and generating work for yourself, self promotion can sometimes be very difficult.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I would love to transform Neu Creative into a small studio, expanding and collecting a passionate team of people, and keep creating great work.

Why do you do what you do?

I love being creative for a living, Its great to work at something your passionate about – Fusing design and music really hits the spot for me.

How have you been able to do what you love?

Being active and persistent in learning the skills I need to get to where I am.
Networking in the right industries helps generate talk, and in turn bring jobs.
I think the key is to keep creating consistent good work so to keep your clients talking about you in a positive way.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

www.neucreative.com
http://neucreative.bigcartel.com/

http://twitter.com/neucreative
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brisbane-Australia/neu-creative/80446959788?ref=ts

Who are you? Give a complete stranger a brief snapshot into your world…

I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters (all their names start with K!) and I enjoy hanging out with my friends, taking photos and I’m always on my computer.

What are you working on right now?

Taking photos for Breaking Ground to be showcased Zillmere Multicultural Festival on May 22. I’m also working on the Sandgate High School magazine and I’m one of the two photographers.

When do you feel at your best and when you feel at your worst how do you get through it?

I always feel good! I love listening to music, going to the city and being with my friends. I talk to my friends when I’m feeling down instead of bottling it all up.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

I have no idea. I wanna do wedding photography because I like taking photos of people dressed up pretty and looking at their best.

Why do you do what you do?

It’s fun! It’s interesting because you can take a photo of something and then it might not be there next time. It’s like memories – you can take photos and save the memory even after the moment has gone.

How have you been able to do what you love?

I spoke to Roger from Respec and he helped me get the opportunity to take photos of Breaking Ground. You can do anything if you set your mind to it. You tell someone what you want to do, and then they’ll tell something and it will come your way.

Get Visible: if there’s anything else you’d like to add, speak now or forever hold your peace!

Come and see the photos at Zillmere Multicultural Festival! Here’s a sample if you can’t wait…