July 2010
Text: Gabriel Knowles Images: Amiel Courtin-Wilson
“It’s double jeopardy when you’re black and you’re homosexual mate – and you’re a bloody thief and a thespian too.”
Jack Charles is a junkie, cat burglar and a regular behind bars. Funnily enough he’s also an Aboriginal elder and one of Australia’s most critically acclaimed actors who’s work with the likes of Bill Hunter, Geoffrey Rush, Neil Armfield, Bruce Spence and David Field left a lasting impression according to Amiel Courtin-Wilson, the director of Bastardy. Continue reading…
Text & Images: Tristan Ceddia
Jonathan Zawada would have to be of the most celebrated graphic designer/artists working in Australia right now. With an ARIA under his belt and a folio of work looking more like a back catalogue than the work of one man, Tristan Ceddia caught up with him at his home for some words on design and a glass of water. Continue reading…
Text: Tristan Ceddia Images: Tristan Ceddia & Jesse Marlow
This July sees the release of Melbourne’s inaugural graffiti book Kings Way. Already causing a stir in the mainstream media, the book is set to be Australia’s equivalent to New York’s Subway Art (1982). Tristan Ceddia caught up with the books co-author Duro Cubrillo at his Melbourne home last week for a sneak preview of the book. Continue reading…
Text: Gabriel Knowles Images: Carine Thevenau
In Australia we don’t always like to admit it but sometimes we find out about things a little later than other parts of the world. Canyons are one of those such things, which is odd because while they were planting themselves on the radar in New York and London in 2007 they were still holed up in Perth with the local industry none the wiser. “It’s interesting how people in Australia picked up on our stuff, we had a whole lot of interest from overseas first.” Continue reading…
Text: Caroline Clements Images: Tristan Ceddia
Now I am of the opinion that every man should, at some point, have a tailor-made suit. For it is not the man that makes the suit, but the fine suit that makes the man look devilishly handsome, especially one that fits him perfectly. It’s a bit like Cindarella – he will become a prince of course – only he won’t turn into a pumpkin if he’s not home by midnight wearing it.
There is something quite charming about a bespoke suit, and a tailor who will measure you up and down. The Blackmail speaks to a cavalier young chap who does just this, Patrick Johnson of Suit Shop. Continue reading…
Text: Amanda Maxwell & Sarah Larnach Images: Sarah Lanarch & Milos Mali
Amanda Maxwell and Sarah Larnach met in Vancouver out the back of an art gallery in the early thousands. They bonded over skateboarding, riding ten speed bikes and drinking beer. Both hailing from New Zealand, the couldn’t understand how the hadn’t met earlier. Post Vancouver, Amanda and Sarah migrated to Melbourne and then to Sydney and whilst living in the same Kings Cross building they penned and inked Nobody Told Me There Would Be Days Like These. The Blackmail couldn’t think of anyone better to interview them, than themselves. Continue reading…
Text: Joseph Allen Shea Images: doingbird # fourteen
Biannual fashion and culture periodical doingbird is in a unique position. Independent, far from the fashion capitals and without a concrete staff, founders Malcolm Watt and Max Doyle make room within the pages of their book-like quality driven publication for this earth’s most forward thinking and renowned creators, fashionable iconoclasts such as Ann Demeulemeester, Hedi Slimane, Helmut Lang, Lee Ranaldo, Bruce Labruce and Nobuyoshi Araki. Between navigating technological advances to retain only the most important aspects of the printed format, avoiding the constraints of clocks and locating the cultural cartographers, editor Malcolm Watt gave The Blackmail an insight into creating from the clink. Continue reading…
Text: Adriana Giuffrida Images: Stephanie Downey & Saskia Wilson
I like clothes, and I mean I really like clothes, but nothing gets me more excited than seeing Dress Up by Stephanie Downey each season. It does make me sad that when collections come out and are shared with the public, that you don’t often get to see the thought process behind what inspired the designer, that it’s all left to interpretation. Stephanie’s latest collection is based on the concept of old horror films, the colour palette is strong to reflect upon this inspiration, she uses silver leather inserts to insinuate the gentle sheen of a knife on the garment, these ideas are what fascinate me about Stephanie’s thought process. Her clothes are so rich in concept and make you feel so special, that I felt it was necessary to ask her how she creates such beautiful garments. That and just how she manages to take you to another time and place and help you to remember what it truly is to dress up after all. Continue reading…
Text: Gabriel Knowles Images: SPR/PPLl
The sophomore album is a tough nut to crack. Play it too safe and you’re accused of not developing musically – but take a risk by branching out and all your old fans are up in arms. You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. Wolf & Cub know the feeling all too well having just released their second album Science & Sorcery nearly three years after their first, Vessels. Continue reading…
Text: Tristan Ceddia Images: Martin Bell
I met Martin one night in a bush near North Melbourne around eight years ago. We became friends immediately and soon he showed me his caravan which was parked at a squat where he and another friend were living. They had a chicken coop and a kitchen sink with an ice cream bucket attached as a shower. Since then, Martin has shown work in Canberra with the National Gallery of Australia, been in numerous group shows around the country, and in 2007 released his first book, My Birthday Party. Continue reading…
