neither an end nor a beginning but a going on
Now Playing: david gray - say hello wave goodbye
Topic: self-portraiture
Well, here we are. The end of another year, another decade. Out with the old, in with the new, eh?
The past year has been none too shabby; the past decade was a mixed bag. The next year and decade are bound to be full of ups and downs, but if I have anything to say about it, they'll be full of adventures, creativity, travel, new experiences, and more photography than you can poke a stick at.
Some "fast" facts about the last decade for me:
I opened this decade (and the new millenium) in "style" (okay, Liverpool, rain, port-a-loos with busted doors and illicit drugs might not equate to everyone's idea of "style"!) at
Cream 2000 at Pier Head in Leeds, after a wonderful few weeks exploring the UK and catching up with friends and family, local and imported. Orbital brought us into the new millennium with the theme from Doctor Who at midnight, and a mash-up of popular music from the past decade and beyond.
I spent the first 2 years and 4 months of the noughties living in the UK. I lived in 4 different homes during my time there: Bracknell, Reading, Clapham and Croydon.
In that time I traversed much of England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Spent parts of two summers at the Edinburgh festivals: film, book, fringe, T at the Fringe, Edinburgh Festival proper; never made it to the military tattoo. Visited Copenhagen, Carcassonne and Toulouse (where I saw The Cure live), Frankfurt and Berlin (where I saw Radiohead play two nights in a row), Barcelona, and Paris (totally kicked arse over paint-balling as a team-building exercise!)
I seem to have left an important part of my brain somewhere, somewhere in a field in Hampshire, alright...
I took not nearly enough photographs, but did work experience at Hot Dog Magazine and was told I should show my portfolio to Dazed & Confused Magazine, though I never did.
I worked with some awesome folk at a photo library in Farringdon, then Camden, for most of my time in the UK. In fact, I spent far too much time in all working whilst living over there, but I did squeeze in time to scan photos and set up the early incarnations of
my website.
My last new year's eve in the UK we became yet another statistic: "victims of crime"; with one of our crew being held up at gunpoint a mere 5 minute walk from our home. Thankfully the friend in question was treated, scalp glued, and back at ours in time for the countdown to 2002; though neither myself nor my housemate ever walked along that street at night again.
I met some absolutely wonderful people, artists and otherwise, developing strong and inspiring friendships, locally and virtually. Some friendships became even stronger. Other "friendships" I severed, or "friends" I distanced myself from.
I visited New Zealand's North Island to visit friends and family and take many photographs.
I said farewell to both of my mother's parents; that was hard.
I spent the first half of the decade in relationships. The second half of the decade I spent happily single. I proved I can be more than a little romantic and spontaneous when I traveled to Hong Kong on a whim to meet someone. The romance only blossomed to friendship, but I did take many photographs in Hong Kong City, on Lamma Island, and in Macau.
At the current moment I'm on the verge of paying off my credit card debt for the third time within the decade. Though I was fastidious in paying the full balance off each month until April 2002, past years have not been so disciplined.
I started my own business, which I still run, but which consists more of being an artist than a photographer-for-hire these days.
I sold numerous
prints and books to some wonderful people, and completed commissioned portrait shoots with some other wonderful folk. I thank you profusely for your continuing support, it means more to me than you will ever know.
I had eleven different residential addresses and one postal address in the past decade. This year I moved from Melbourne to Brisbane, which has turned out to be a refreshingly positive decision.
I had fifteen different employers, and in 2008 finally streamlined my superannuation down to one account from about six.
I staged my debut solo exhibition,
Alternate Worlds, in August 2007 at Brunswick Street Gallery; and had my work included in numerous exhibitions in Melbourne and surrounds, and in LA.
I was shortlisted for the
Toyota Community Spirit Artist Travel Award in 2009; and the Corangamarah Art Prize in both 2008 and 2009.
I saw my photography in print for the first time (and more), including two book covers and 10 short story covers, and collaborated with publishers, writers, other photographers, and even made my first doll. I self-published three books of my photography, and wrote about 700 words of prose in NaNoWriMo 2009. I also performed on stage in a public venue outside of a school recital or inter-school competition, playing glockenspiel, egg-shaker and singing (not all at the same time) in a then-boyfriend's band, The Toys.
This year closes on some wonderful and not-so-wonderful moments and experiences, and the decade ahead holds many surprises and dreams to be fulfilled.
Although I'd intended to travel overseas in 2010, and initially had hoped to relocate permanently to the UK, I've made a tough decision in the past few weeks that I need to postpone those travels until 2011 and close off some personal stuff in Australia during 2010 (nothing bad, just closing some chapters in my life).
I'll still be taking a ten-day road trip from Melbourne to Brisbane with Phil Ivens in March and April 2010. I'll still be upgrading my D50 to a D700 or similar during the course of the year.
I'll also be meeting with a Melbourne gallery in March to discuss a potential exhibition of my
interior / exterior work in November 2010.
However, for now I will remain in Brisbane, and part-way through next year I'll no doubt end up looking for a place of my own here.
I have a list as long as your arm (my arms are short, so your arms are likely to be of a length more fitting to the extent of my list!) of projects, goals, dreams, intentions and resolutions that I hope to see to fruition and bring to reality in 2010.
I hope you'll stick around and see how it all turns out, and perhaps some of you will play a part in those projects and dreams.
Words can't even begin to describe how appreciative I've been of all the support I've received in the past decade. Whether personal, emotional, creative, inspirational or financial, or a mixture of the above. I have astoundingly generous, inspiring, encouraging and loving friends and family, and for that I am ever thankful.
I'd love to hear about your past decade, and your plans for the coming year and decade; and see and be a part of your futures.
I hope you have a wonderful closing of the old year, and welcoming of the new year, and I raise my glass to every one of you.