Posted by Sam Hartmann on June 22, 2010
Vernon Treweeke’s personal and professional history - from his involvment in the art scene in London, the US and pioneering techniques in Australia in the 1960s, to working as a railway worker – has us captivated. Treweeke decision to distance himself from the art world in the 1970s, after making a name for himself internationally as something of a pioneer, shocked many. His artistic career could have taken a very different path, a path similar to that of his school friend and contemporary Brett Whiteley, but the products of his career are of his own selection and making and, by his own account, he does not regret a thing. These days the now-heralded ‘father of psychodelic art’ lives a rather reclusive life in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. He's just recently decided to venture into the world of exhibiting once again. A retrospective collection of Treweeke's work, 1966 - today is currently on display at CarriageWorks, Sydney.
Covered: creating 3D art in 1966, using weed to get out of work, deciding not to become a millionaire, exhibition again after all these years and taking his retrospective cross country.
You have a varied history genre wise, you seem to have tried many forms of painting and in the late 60’s you led the way in Australia for many contemporary artists in “new” genres. How would you classify yourself now?
Post modernists. I worked my way through from modernist to post modernist.
I would like to read you a quote “In the '60s, Vernon Treweeke was a radical psychedelic artist whose work was bought by the National Gallery of Australia, but a decade later, this emerging artist vanished overnight to become a recluse.” Tell me a bit more about this time.
I became disillusioned with the art scene. At the time legislation was passed that allowed art to become tax deductible. Wealthy people began to buy art to avoid paying tax. It didn’t sit well with me. I felt it was corrupt and didn’t want to be part of that so I decided to sell only to friends and people I knew who were not buying art for this reason. More...
vernon treweeke, carriage works, 3D art, psychodelic art
Posted by Sam Hartmann on January 29, 2010
Texan band Midlake are due to release their newest album, The Courage of Others, very shortly. Kluster’s Samantha Hartmann was lucky enough to not only hear an advance copy of this British-folk inspired album, but to also speak with band member Paul Alexander about their newest creation. The band has gone in a new direction, giving them the opportunity to explore different ways to create their music. Fans of Midlake will still recognise the haunting, rich sounds but the inspiration for this latest release was quite different to that of their previous works. This album was longer in the making due to this, but, as Paul explains, the band is happy with the evolution and are looking forward to taking it on the road.
Covered: crazy jazz, B-sides, U2 and British folk.
Samantha Hartmann: What makes this album different from your previous two?
Paul Alexander: It took a lot longer! This one took us about a year longer than the others but it was necessary to get the sound we wanted. We tried to focus more on arranging as a band rather than over-dubbing. For our previous albums we dubbed things together. This time we wanted to record more at once. This took us a while because we had not recorded in this way before. We had to grow as musicians.
SH: Are you happy with the outcome and your growth?
PA: Yes! It’s a good change musically for us. We think it is the beginning of something; we have not arrived at the end of this development. We have just started.More...
midlake
Posted by Sam Hartmann on October 22, 2009
By their own admission, Regular John, as they told Kluster’s Sam Hartmann, “play loud and [they] ain’t a fashion band”. Some find this a little intimidating and that’s fine by the band. Their debut album has come with high praise from audiences and critics alike and has received frequent airtime on Sydney radios. On top of supporting many well-known bands from different walks of the music life, Regular John completed their first tour as headliners mid way through this year and are pumped by audiences reactions, even when it’s negative. To experience Regular John for yourself, catch one of their support shows throughout October.
Covered: new age magazines, expanding the rock, studios sounds and how to win over an audience.
Sam Hartmann: Did your debut album live up to your expectations/hopes for it?
Regular John: Yeah I think it has. Musically we are pretty happy with it and how it came out considering it was our first album and we hadn't had much experience with it, I think we're happy that we captured the sound that we wanted. Critically the reviews have been really good; the response has exceeded our expectations. I think we are pretty happy with it; excited to have it out.
SH: Will you be quitting your day job soon?
RJ: Not for a while. I wish! Even if [the album] is really successful, I think it will take a bit of time before we can live off it, if at all. That may never happen. It's fun at least.
More...
regular john
Posted by Sam Hartmann on September 23, 2009
The Man Booker prize for Fiction 2009 shortlist has been announced. First awarded in 1969 this prize rewards the very best fiction book of the year. Having the power to transform the lives of it's winners, it is considered the world's most important literary award.
Enough background, down to the important stuff. The six books shortlisted from the longlist of 13 are:
• A S Byatt The Children's Book
• J M Coetzee Summertime
• Adam Foulds The Quickening Maze
• Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall
• Simon Mawer The Glass Room
• Sarah Waters The Little Stranger
More...
a s byatt, the children's book, j m coetzee, summertime, adam foulds, the quickening maze, hilary mawer, wolf hall, simon mawer, the glass room, sarah waters, the little stranger, man booker prize