Nostalgia for Old Buenos Aires

In the first few decades of the twentieth century, Argentina’s capital city was celebrated for its affluence, elegance and movie-style glamour, the ‘Paris of South America’. Buenos Aires has been the subject of months of research and writing for this photographer, as well as the inspiration for street photographs in Argentina and a fashion shoot in Australia.

Of course, there is a lot more to the turbulent history of this place, evident in some of the journalistic-style shots I took on my travels. However, for the Perth-studio and Melbourne-location fashion shoots, I wanted to remain ‘nostalgic’ for the classic beauty I saw in Buenos Aires… even if it’s somewhat faded in the 21^st century.

Thanks to my beautiful models Rhyannin and Andy for their hours of work with me on these and other shoots, and to talented artist Laura, who assisted in the Melbourne shoot.

See more of our art photography

From classic to kitsch – Perth Stores we love!

We interviewed the owners of some Perth stores we love. Here are their stories…

Ruck Rover General Store

(We love them because they are two sisters doing it for themselves.)

Back in 2005 sisters (and best friends) Claire and Isabelle had one of those wouldn’t-it-be-fun-if-we-opened-a-shop conversations. I’m sure you know the kind… gushing comments like ‘we could work for ourselves and do whatever we want!’, ‘we could play any music that takes our fancy all day long!’, ‘we could buy everything that we love for our store and get to play with the coolest products around!’. Then they started planning it. You know, just for fun. And then, all of a sudden, they realised that this pipe dream was actually achievable, and if they were going to do it they should do it right away.

Ruck Rover is one of Mt Lawley's cool hangouts

In October 2006 their little shop opened its doors, bringing in a host of lovely customers who have, over the last two years, also become their friends.

While their list of suppliers has grown over that time they have remained true to their aim of supporting small, independent designers from all over the world and offering the folk of Perth, Western Australia something unique.

After two years, and many phone orders from people around the globe wanting to get their hands on particular items, Claire and Isabelle thought it was time they made it easier for interstate and international shoppers, and busy locals, to buy their wares through an online store.

While starting as primarily a clothing store, with jewellery, bags and wallets and some other accessories on the side, as well as baby clothes, the sisters have slowly expanded their wares to include stationery, zines, other publications, scarves, sneakers and homewares.

Their love of Polaroid and instant photography meant that they became Polaroid stockists some years ago. Mainly as a way to have a steady supply of film for themselves and their friends! After Polaroid ceased production of many of the films, they picked up the Impossible brand films for those that just cannot do without. We still have some expired Polaroid film in stock, too!

This month, Ruck Rover are teaming up with Outré gallery for a special gocco print demonstration as part of Outskirts. To mark the occasion, they have printed a limited edition tee shirt featuring a design by Perth artist Creepy, who is part of a gocco print exhibition at Outré and also in Ruck Rover’s little art space, during late September / early October.

They are doing a special run of their own men’s tee shirts in time for Christmas, with some fun designs.

Facade Boutique

(We love what they’ve done with their website and we love that Rosie the owner’s dog visits the boutique!)

1. Have you always worked in fashion?

No!!  I lived and worked in Melbourne for 25 years and flew as air crew for Ansett for 23 years. Always had an interest in fashion and also exposed to fashion on my world travels.

2. How did Facade come about?

The business opportunity presented itself when I returned to Perth to live after being in the East.

3. What are the things you value most in your business? What makes Façade special?

My wonderful staff and our beautiful customers.  Façade is special as we form a personal relationship with our customers as personalised service is our priority.  Being a small business and all staff involved with the buying we have the opportunity in selecting specific garments and key pieces for our customers.

Inside Facade's Bayview Terrace store

4. Who are your favourite designers/features in your stores?

Mela Purdie for our Travel Wear

Brax, Betty Barclay and Michelle – all labels from Germany

Frank Lyman who is a French Canadian designer

And of course we offer quite a few more labels in store

5. Any plans/events/projects coming up?

We have just had a Mela Purdie workshop but we do have our Annual Fashion Parade in April every year and all proceeds collected are donated to the Cancer Council of WA.

We have a Spring Market Day coming up in Old Theatre Lane and is being held on Saturday 8th October in Old Theatre Lane and all the shops are participating in some way.

Bluebird Vintage

(We love this Aladdin’s cave of vintage wonders.)

My partner Steven and I have been hunting and collecting for almost 10 years now, and we finally decided last year to hang up our shingle as Bluebird Vintage, purveyors of vintage goodness! We called the shop Bluebird because of my penchant for enamel bluebird jewellery, and it’s also a sailor tattoo to symbolise distance travelled .. which I like, seeing as we procure unique items from near and far.

My experience is predominantly antiques and collectables, but my love for vintage fashion has taken over the shop, so Bluebird has ended up an eclectic mix of pretty frocks, retro homewares, old world curios and pop culture kitsch. We don’t have a great deal of space, but I think the stock is really well-selected, with emphasis on sought after items like1950′s dresses, 1950′s Ray-Ban cat’s eye sunglasses, deco lucite bags and costume jewellery.

What I love about vintage clothing is not just the sustainability and recycling aspect, but the fun and romance attached to finding and adapting these one-of-a-kind gems to your wardrobe. It’s like the clothes themselves take a little trip, changing along the way with different owners. There’s such nostalgic charm in the tailoring, fabulous fabrics and also provenance of vintage clothing, from a delicate beaded 1930′s gown to a bedazzled denim 80′s playsuit. It’s awesome, and if the fashion industry’s current love affair with retro-styling is any indication, old is the new new!

Tiny wonders at Bluebird Vintage

Adventures in the city

One photographer’s wanderings in Melbourne

My Melbourne holiday was a chance to switch off, hang out with family and friends, spend time wandering alone and going on little creative adventures! While there I did a lot of journal writing in cafes, research at the beautiful State Library and the Immigration Museum, sipping wine at tapas bars and reading or just daydreaming, visiting art exhibitions and of course… a lot of walking and photographing!

Here are some street shots, as well as shots from visual artist Laura Delaney’s Post-Grad exhibition opening, taken during my Melbourne trip.

Opening the kiln is like unwrapping a gift

We love letting our readers know about amazing Perth artists. Here, Tina from Serendipity by Design introduces herself and tells us the meaning behind the business name.

My name is Tina Coppola and I would like to welcome you to Serendipity by Design. The name “Serendipity” comes from my curious love for the word Serendipity – definition being “unexpected and delightful discoveries”. Serendipity seemed to embrace many aspects of myself and my creativity. Firstly, being my initial encounter with fused glass, which was to enhance 3 dimensional art that I was working on at the time. This then opened the door to making exquisite glass jewellery and further fuelled the fire for the sheer passion and obsession that I now hold for glass and the amazing things I can manipulate glass to do. Never did I envisage that I would one day be where I am today. 

Secondly, the way I seem to work holds true to the definition of serendipity – as more often than not, I start to create a piece with a design in mind – however, throughout the process of designing and creating, somehow the finished piece results in being quite different to the initial outline in my mind (more often than not for the better – hence y decision for Serendipity by Design as a business name). Quite often I say to family and friends that “opening my kiln is like once again being a child opening presents on Christmas day” – sometimes you have an idea of what surprises are in store and other times you are blown away by what lays before you. 

I have now been working with the glass medium for approximately four and a half years – spending 40-60 hours per week on average in my home studio either researching or designing or creating. I have attended numerous intensive workshops to further both my technical and creative knowledge of both art glass and dichroic glass so as to further enhance my ever growing curiosity and hunger to learn all I can about this amazing medium. These workshops include fusing and slumping (working with warm glass), cold working, dichroic glass and art glass jewellery making and design, glass casting, creative mold making, imagery in glass and chemical reactions and boiling glass. 

I spend my days (and quite a few of my nights – some into the wee hours of a new day) working in my studio creating jewellery, fused glass and slumped plates, clocks and glass wall art, some of which is combined with metal and copper. Basically, if it can be created in glass, then my aim is to create it – with perfection. 

I am blessed with a wonderful husband, Domenic, who helps me in every aspect of my life, whether it is with our 3 gorgeous children (Jasmine 17, Shenae 15 and Jacob 12) or in the studio with me. There has been many a time that we have been standing at the sink washing and reassembling glass at one in the morning so that the kiln can be switched on, before collapsing in a state of exhaustion into bed. The late nights and early mornings are all well worth it as it is such a pleasure to watch the expression on someone’s face as they view my creations, small or large and to receive the many compliments regarding my work. 

2011 brings with it high expectations as I am contemplating an exhibition in mid 2012. I am currently underway with designing and creating with this vision in mind. I am also undertaking several more workshops throughout the year under the tutelage of interstate and international glass artists which is always very exciting. 

My jewellery creations can be viewed online at www.dichroicglassdesigns.com   or for further information regarding larger works of art I can be contacted by emailing serendipitybydesign@iinet.net.au

Jewellery by Serendipity by Design

Exploring the dark side

We recently completed an art photography shoot with the lovely model Rhyannin. This shoot was the first in a series of a black and white study inspired by watching crows in the suburban landscape. The shoot was a combination of fashion and art photographs.

Shot in black and white in bright sunlight and often purposely under- or over-exposed, these images hold an elusive quality hinting at darkness or displacement.

Limited-edition prints of art photographs not available online will be sold at the NW Fashion & Photo Night to raise money for the Global Good Foundation, empowering women from backgrounds of domestic violence.