Stories from the Studio
Exploring conversations from our podcast, Everyone Has a Story, Georgia Beard reveals how local creatives embrace community as a foundation for the arts industry, subverting the myth of the isolated artist.
Withdrawing to the country estate or the cramped attic for weeks on end; smearing paint across the canvas as if laying bare the deepest parts of their soul; tormented by artistic visions the average person could never hope to understand – this is the reclusive artist.
Historically, they’ve been portrayed as antisocial, elusive and anonymous, preferring the company of their own minds to any outside influence. Truthful or not, this legacy follows artists of all époques, from the old masters to the contemporary radicals.
Vincent van Gogh’s body of work flourished after he sought seclusion in Southern France and later checked into an asylum in Provence, cut off from his artistic community.
Although known among artists like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí, surrealist Joseph Cornell buried himself in his New York basement to assemble whimsical shadow boxes of bric-a-brac.
Even in our post-privacy society, notorious street artist Banksy obscures his identity when he tags a wall with subversive messages – both a marketing strategy and a safety measure against arrest.
The mystery of the artist’s life captivates us because we’re so desperate to solve it. We don’t want to know about them – we want to know them.
What passes through their minds when they paint? How do their experiences shape their self-expression? Who are they when they’re not creating?
Since we launched the Everyone Has a Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa podcast, host John ‘JC’ Caruso has sat down with a diverse palette of local artists and art curators.
John draws on more than 30 years of broadcast experience, including his roles as Regional Manager and drive presenter for ABC Sunshine Coast, breakfast host for SeaFM and currently as presenter for Resonate Radio Network’s Queensland Drive program.
As Everyone Has a Story amasses over 38,000 downloads locally and internationally, he meets with community members from all walks of life.
His conversations with the likes of Helen Peel, Ryhia Dank and Juan Ford immerse us in the minds and lives of creative personalities from all corners of the regional arts scene.
Unlike the long-departed legends whose lives are pieced together with second-hand accounts and fragments from letters and journals, the podcast medium preserves the legacies of our artists in their own words.
As they retrace their journeys through life and work, they no longer seem inaccessible. In fact, if the venerated painters of the past sought obscurity and isolation, our homegrown creatives do anything but.
“There is a thriving community of artists on the Sunshine Coast, irrespective of how much art they’re moving or reasons why they’re doing it,” John said.
Each conversation reveals a new perspective on the artist’s role in our culture and the important contribution they make to society.
Landscape artist Julia Carter explores her decision to combine her art studio and gallery, simultaneously creating work and connecting with visitors.
Nature-based artist Anne Harris reflects on uniting the community with the environment through art workshops and festivals.
Noosa Regional Gallery Director Michael Brennan talks about enriching the local art sector as both artist and art curator in Melbourne and Noosa.
Amplifying the artist’s voice is a staple of storytelling at IN Noosa Magazine.
We meet a new artist in every issue, exploring their inspiration and showcasing their finest work on our cover. Beyond the front pages, we preview seasonal exhibitions and arts festivals, putting local creatives front and centre.
As economic downturns and advancing technologies disturb the foundations of the arts industry, local artists have turned to each other for support more than ever.
They attend exhibitions and collaborate on projects while festivals like Noosa Open Studios, Floating Land and Horizon Festival encourage artists to come together and elevate one another’s work in the community.
As we listen to the struggles, achievements and passions of our local artists, we get to share in that connection. We come to know them both as friends and as pillars of the community.
We recognise them beyond the mask or myth! Tune in and find out more.
WANT MORE? TUNE IN TODAY!
We’ve collated a list of arts-focused episodes from our podcast, unearthing tales from prolific exhibitors, casual hobbyists, new generations of indigenous artists and so much more. Tune in to inspiring voices from our local artistic community and connect with artists like you never have before!
Julia Carter: “I never felt like I fitted in”
Juan Ford: “The goal isn’t as important as the journey”
Pete Goodlet: Painting, Places & Peace
Helen Peel: A Story of Courage, Determination, Success
Michael Brennan: Meeting the Director
Lew Brennan: “People kept telling me that I was different”
Everyone has a Story: Conversations from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa is free and available on all good podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts and Stitcher. You can also find them on our website www.innoosamagazine.com.au
