Big Ideas and Beyond
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In 2014 we heard from creative makers, managers, innovators, movers and shakers. Here's a ‘creative cracker’ of the highlights.
Thanks to our contributors, with a relentless lust for talking to their peers and sharing their tips and inspiration, we've interviewed about 100 people this year (many from Renee Liang)! We've heard from everyone from BATS theatre team in Wellington returning to their newly strengthened building, DigitalNZ on collecting and curating NZ’s digital ‘treasure and Adrian Kinnard on New Zealand comics.
We started the year off with a bang at the NZ International Arts Festival in Wellington, with a festival digest from Renee Gerlich and some reflections from Mark Amery.
While we love championing our creative kiwis, we’re always keen to get a global view and this year heard from the likes of CEO of QUT Creative Enterprise Australia Anna Rooke, Grammy award winning composer Burkhard Dallwitz, Tribeca Film Institute digital Initiatives director Ingrid Kopp and fantasy author Cornelia Funk.
You can read more wraps-ups from the year that was from Anna Jackson and Fiona Milburn, Ande Schurr, Mark Amery, Mike and Barney Chunn and Renee Liang.
We also followed the largest contingent of NZ creatives to Edinburgh, made possible by globe-trotting writer Dione Joseph on a mission to tell their stories from the international stage. We heard about future visions from The Generation of Z team (a force field where money is creative energy), musings with Lemi Ponifasio, festival business from director Jonathan Mills and the international ‘currency of trust’ from Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Lewis Holden who said “As the last stop on the global bus-route we often struggle with certain questions back home and a perennial for us as New Zealanders is how do we describe, maximize and measure the value of culture."
We look forward to bringing you more interviews in 2015. This would not be possible without everyone who takes the time to share their stories, and the creative community on The Big Idea who read them. Thank you.
Lastly we have an oldie but a goodie, some inspiring answers to this year’s TBI QnAs.
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During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
Maori artist/designer Johnson Witehira
Either really early or really late. When your brain is half asleep and you don’t really question the weird thoughts that come into your head.
Performance artist/choreographer Alexa Wilson
Most of the day!
I heard someone say sensory deprivation helps with inspiration or ideas. Something about the sound of the water distracting you which allows your mind to wander. Short answer: In the shower.
5am-10am
Inspiration can hit at any time of the day, usually in response to seeing or hearing something that captures your attention. It can also come through going to a good movie, listening to someone who is inspirational but in reality it mainly comes about when you have to deliver something to deadline.
Director of outreach at the Wellington Makerspace Trust Jess Weichler
It's less about the time of the day and more about the weather. If it's a day that I deem to be beautiful, then I am more inspired to be creative and get stuff done
Actor and dancer/choreographer Lara Fischel-Chisholm
Morning.
9-11am and 9-11pm
How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?
Performance artist and choreographer Alexa Wilson
Emotional roller coaster, bold. Complex, intelligent. Fearless, political. Exciting?
What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?
I write down the ideas that I’d love to make happen – I always get a thrill when that idea, that flimsy starting point, is transformed into something concrete, something that often takes hundreds of people to make and is complete only when its audience responds to it. Everyone in the business of ideas is familiar with this thrill and the risk inherent in it. The idea you chose has to be strong enough to go through months of the writing process and then more months of the funding process before it can be shot, edited and delivered to its intended audience.
How does your environment affect your work?
Actor and dancer/choreographer Lara Fischel-Chisholm
Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
Start with the big picture, then find the details while I work, and come back to the big picture again as the work reaches completion.
What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?
Artist/curator Artweek Auckland programme facilitator Marlaina Key
Winston Churchill once said, “The first quality that is needed is audacity”. Followed by Jay-Z with “I’m not afraid of dying, I’m afraid of not trying.” Don’t be afraid to take risks. If you always play it safe, you will never get anywhere. Wise men.
Oh and don’t be a jerk.
Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?
Maori artist/designer Johnson Witehira
Who or what has inspired you recently?
I love what I do and who I do it with. I love connecting with an audience whether it be onstage singing directly to them or writing a song that might resonate with someone. I’m inspired by my friends around me, strong women with attitude and vision – as well as my children, particularly my 5-year-old. I’m lucky that my kind of music leads me to meet inspirational people from fascinating parts of the world. I’m stimulated by stories, encounters, songs, films, events and conversations. They absolutely inform my work and my life. And I have a fantastic manager with Sol – he definitely is key to keeping me going.
Nelson based artist Nic Moon
The uprising of creative projects that are a response to the challenges of the Christchurch earthquakes. One example is the Whole House Reuse Project.
If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
Wellington Makerspace - Jess Weichler
I have always wanted to run away and join the circus. I've been practicing my hula hooping and adagio skills as of late so I'm still not ruling it out as a future career path.
You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
Jess Weichler
First, I would fold the fabric in half so it resembled a long rectangle and sew both sides together. Then I would fasten the string to both the fabric and the stick, creating kinetic art that you can spin to create a design. Does that make sense? Do I need to draw a diagram?
What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?
Performance artist/choreographer Alexa Wilson
Cuppa tea and a lie down. Seriously? MEDITATE!!!! Free yourself through self awareness.
What’s your big idea for 2015?
Maori artist/designer Johnson Witehira
A playable art work which will be first shown at Paul Nache next year. I hope it’s gonna break the mould a little, annoy some people, and give us different perspective on our history.
Performance artist and choreographer Alexa Wilson
Either a PhD in Vienna or writing/publishing a book and or a film (could all be combined). I already have an edited book waiting for me to publish, but haven't had time yet! Plus a video to finish up in my Beijing residency in 2015. I have so many stories, boy do I have stories. Any publishers out there? “Too many big ideas.” That's me. I'd like to create hope and activate empowerment through self responsibility and questions. That's my big idea for 2015.
Artist and curator Marlaina Key
Artweek Auckland 2015!
Nelson based artist Nic Moon
Watch out for it: www.whitespace.co.nz
Film producer Robin Scholes
Working with a small group of inspiring people to make a lot more film and television happen.
Wellington Makerspace - Jess Weichler
Community. Uniting people and creating a passion for education through immersive, hands-on experiences. Working together towards the same goal I think we can empower our youth to be future leaders, creators, and innovators resulting in a better, stronger Aotearoa.
Actor and dancer/choreographer Lara Fischel-Chisholm
Find the balance between parenting and becoming an unstoppable creative hurricane.
Musician Moana Maniapoto
Write a song for an international collaboration and call it Water People. Ask my co-writer Scotty to compose a rousing haka that can be performed halfway through, then follow that up with marching drums, bring in blistering bagpipes over the top and layer with sweet vocal harmonies singing ‘Calling…’
I did just that in the first week of this month. It works. Oh man, does it work