4ZzZ interview - Art to Lunch

I've just been interviewed by Jo-anne at 4ZzZ radio for the Art to Lunch arts program that's aired every Sunday lunch time. Wowee, what an interesting experience! What a great program for the arts!

I was invited as part of the Queensland Independent Education Union (QIEU) Art Awards 2009 (now in its 15th year), which are held at the Bardon Centre on 9th September 2009. Judging by previous years, the standard of art is extremely high.

QIEU sponsors the Awards for Excellence in Art Design, and is a co-sponsor of a state-wide literary competition. QIEU sponsors the Art Awards to promote the artistic endeavour of students, teachers and school officers in the non-government sector.

Closing Date for Applications: 31st July 09
Entry forms can be got from your teachers or from:

QIEU Art Design Awards
P O Box 418
Fortitude Valley
QLD 4006



The Interview
4ZzZ

Throughout its history, 4ZzZ has been renowned for supporting local music and artists, putting on great events, presenting news and opinions not found in mainstream media and providing support to our local community.

When tuning into 102.1fm you will hear many musical genres including rock, hip hop, indie, dancehall, punk, dub, reggae, noise, electronica, ska and drum & bass.

4ZzZ is unique in that we don't use playlists to control what music hits the airwaves.

Here are some of the pix.

The Old Communist Party Headquarters,
St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley that is now 4ZzZ

And this is Jo-anne
Thank you Jo-anne and Hollywood (not his real name) for steering a very nervous artist through a very harrowing interview.

Guard dog

There was a sign in the paper today that read:

Attention Dog Guardians
Pick up after your dog.
Thank you.

Attention Dogs
Grrrrr, bark, woof.
Good Boy

Horrocks Beach Ratepayers

Here's another I came across recently...

The Dog

Working hard? Good boy.

Creating an Artful Curriculum

Art should never be ignored in schools in my opinion. Art may seem less useful to some people than say, maths, science and language (the more quantifiable disciplines) but it is not. There is now, a growing opinion that art is essential for rounded development and is fundamental to problem-solving. Doing art awakens parts of the mind that would otherwise lay dormant.

The book ‘Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain’, by Betty Edwards is an excellent learning-to-draw book and suggests that art uses the right side of the brain and analytical-type activities, the left. The one aspect I know intuitively from being an artist and running a business is, not to use one or other, but both. By doing art, you stimulate the side of the brain not often used well from the age of about eight, and by combining the two side, you literally become smarter, I think... twice the grey matter as it were. It is also a great way of learning problem solving skills, and if you are already pretty good at solving problems, it keeps you good at it. There is no CTRL Z in the artist's pallet.

Sir Ken Robinson sums it up in his talk at the conference 'Do schools kill creativity?' Feb 2006. I urge you to watch this... "Do schools kill creativity" it is hysterically funny and gets the message across brilliantly.

New Artwork and Leaf Blowers

Red Bath Tub by Banx - Acrylic - 850 x 1000mm

Catwalk by Banx - 1200 x 900mm

and just for a bit of fun...

Art Work Ahead by Banx - Acrylic - 600 x 750mm

Also, like everyone, I have the occasional gripe! My latest, apart from the state of the world economy, dodgy council policies, the state of the road traffic control system i.e. traffic light synchronisation, etc., etc., etc., is the use of leaf blowers. We have a throughway under our bedroom window and every Wednesday morning, a man starts up a leaf blower and redistributes the leaves and dust there. Quite apart from the appalling noise, nothing really worthwhile is achieved by the practice, leaves are blown around a bit, and so is the dust, and five minutes after the man has left, everything returns to exactly as it was before he arrived. The only change being that I am now awake and cranky.

So here is my protest against the use of leaf blowers...

No Leaf Blowers by Banx - Acrylic on Canvas - 600 x 750mm

Mind you, I put up one of these signs a while back and talked to the man nicely about it and so far he hasn't returned.