Kimberley Duband: actress, writer, film maker and braveheart. The huge amount of talent packed into the small package that is Kimberley, is astounding. She always has several projects on the boil, but this week she is talking to The Scout about her documentary The Road to Tumaini.

So, you're a writer, actor and filmmaker? How do you put food on the table?

How do any of us do it? ...With a lot of hard work and perseverance. When you decide to make a life living off the things you create, you discover that working isn’t a 9 to 5 Monday to Friday gig… and that no one is going to just hand you your dreams on a golden platter!  ‘Making-it’ in this industry demands dedication even when there seems to be no payoff in sight, taking every “No” and turning it into a “Yes” and making a concerted effort to not just talk about your great ideas, but to take action and turn those ideas into something tangible.

It’s a feast or famine industry, the tough part is staying at the top of the food chain.

Tell me about The Road to Tumaini?  

Tumaini is the Kiswahili word for ‘hope’ and The Road to Tumaini is a documentary that follows four Australian architects, passionate about the education of girls in the third world, who respond to a request from a remote Kenyan community to help them build a girls school. After years of careful planning and fundraising, the architects arrive in Kenya excited and ready to start work. But things don’t go to plan, and when their lives are threatened, they have no choice but to leave Kenya with their dream unrealized.

It was a bizarre turn of events that lead me to discover this story.  I happened to meet one of the architects a couple of weeks before she went to Kenya. She told me about the non-profit organization bricks+cartwheels and their upcoming adventure. I was really inspired by their courage and asked if I could go along to document their journey and help them raise awareness. They agreed, and I set off with them, excited by the prospect of following the process over a 6 year period; from the initial building, to seeing the first grade of girls go through the school and graduate.

The hope that everyone had, from the Kenyan girls and women in the community, to the architects in Australia and all their supporters worldwide, was infectious. However, when things didn’t go as planned, and they saw their dream of creating the school crumble before their eyes, I too saw my documentary going to pieces. Life rarely goes to plan, and this was one of those moments that no one could have predicted. But I believe it’s how you recover from those unexpected bumps in the road that matters. And so, The Road to Tumaini was born. A story now, that is more exciting and more real than anything I had originally planned. On the surface, it still highlights the plight of the girl child and how important education is in bringing a people out of poverty, but it also shows how helping others is often much more complex than it seems.

I am currently in post production on The Road to Tumaini, which is scheduled to be completed this year. 

What other projects are you working on at the moment?

A couple of really exciting projects are in the pipeline at the moment, I have just come back from Los Angeles where I have been talking with a couple of production companies about a television series I have co-written with an incredible young Australian writer by the name of Anthony Roberts. The script and concept were received really well over there, so hopefully it wont be too long until I am back over there for development season. The other project is a feature film which I won't talk about now, it’s very much in it’s early stages, so that will have to wait a while.

How do you find time to create?

I just have to be focused and schedule it into my day. Just like making time for lunch, or yoga or facebook! I schedule in time to create. A wise man told me once that anyone can be a writer, or an actor or a filmmaker, the hardest job is staying one. I always feel that my greatest limitations are fear and time, and they are also my greatest gifts because they propel me forward. Sometimes life is that thing you get bogged down in whilst you’re procrastinating the life you really want to have, and so the daily struggle is being mindful of this and just committing to making the time, or push through the fear barriers in order to pursue the thing that you love most. 

What inspires you?

So many things inspire me, and it’s not always the obvious things that have the greatest impact. A conversation with a friend, watching other films, spending time with motivated dedicated people (who help you strive harder) walking the dogs, other people’s stories (never be too busy to listen to someone if they are prepared to tell you something...you never know where you’re next great idea will strike), traveling, running on the beach, horse riding, books, being in love…the list goes on. They all inspire me in one way or another to do better, think more creatively, challenge the boundaries of what I think I can and can’t achieve, and remind me that it is the journey that is just as important as the destination.  

Kimberley is still taking donations for the final stages of post-production and release on The Road to Tumaini. The project is approved through Documentary Australia Philanthropic Foundation to accept tax deductible grants and donations. If you want to contribute visit: 

http://www.documentaryaustralia.com.au/films/details/828/the-road-to-tumaini-hope  

or contact The Scout to get a direct line to Kimberley. And pass this on to anyone else you know who might be interested - its a project worth helping from a director worth admiring.

(photos of Kimberley by Asia Upward)

Thanks Kimberley, your energy is always inspiring.... The Scout.

living consciously: marie-nicole

This week The Scout talks to Marie-Nicole, an artisan creating incredibly beautiful things out of … well, anything. She is a writer, a photographer and her mantra 'live consciously' is inspiring. I first met her back in university and we’ve kept in touch online. I had loved watching her creative journey and any of you who think crafting can only ever be a hobby, need to meet her too…

How would you describe yourself?

Determined, passionate, organised, dedicated and friendly... beware anyone that stands in the same queue as me at a café, I may just strike up a conversation with you and before you know we’d be sitting down together chatting over the our freshly brewed espresso! That is if I am not deep in thought about an idea, in which case I may not even notice you’re there until I almost bump into you after the barista hands me my soy latté and I make my way to my seat to scribble down with pencil in my journal this lightning strike idea that has just come to mind.

You have a blog and an etsy store - what you do create and share?

My blog is where I share the experiences I have had on my creative journey as an artisan, those which our family have had with our tree change as well as where I share projects such as my DIY Design column for ‘Living Magazine’ and my regular article contributions to the ARTshine blog. Sometimes I just share things that simply inspire me.

The blog:

http://bymarienicole.blogspot.com.au/

The items I create to sell are based on embracing traditional artisan techniques using eco-friendly materials and methods, as well as transforming the old and discarded into statement pieces. This started with using off-cuts and scraps of my screen printed designs to make brooches & little cases. It has since evolved into using kangaroo leather off-cuts to make straps or embellishments for tote bags, which are made from repurposed wool blankets or premium linen screen printed with my hand cut designs. My creations are about extending art practices into everyday living products, it is my endeavour to encourage people to take more pleasure in the little things, stop and lose themselves in my designs, even if just for a moment. We all lead such busy lives these days I think it’s important not to lose sight of the beauty that surrounds us and include beautiful items in our everyday activities to add to the atmosphere of our lives.

The store:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ByMarieNicole?ref=si_shop

How do you come up with your ideas and designs?

Personal experiences - an idea often evolves based on a need or desire to improve a situation. They also come from simply seeing the possibility in the use of an item, an item that would be considered junk by others. I don’t see junk - I see character in the craftsmanship of the item. The story behind it intrigues me and an item such as this often triggers a thought of a way in which I can enhance it’s beauty and the process of turning it into a functional but beautiful product then begins.

How do you find a marketplace for your designs and how do you connect your art with the world?

I think it’s becoming easier to connect what I do with potential customers as there are more and more people who are wanting to live a considered life and are actively seeking out quality handcrafted items that are ethically made on a smaller scale with passion. The internet has definitely been a big part of getting my products out into the market place – a big advantage when you live and work in a rural location. Being passionate about what I do and living the lifestyle that I believe in and just chatting to anyone and everyone about what I do and why has also created opportunities that I never expected to happen. Lastly, and more recently putting myself out there in front of customers by selling my wares at a market selected based on it being well suited to my wares - one that attracts my target market. It has been a fantastic way of reaffirming that what I am doing sits well with many and that the person in my mind that I set as my target market is not just a figment of my imagination!

How does having a family impact your creative life?

It’s been the best thing for my creative journey, as it has really made me stop and think about things on a deeper level... I also believe when you are determined to do something being busy just makes you achieve more and having a family certainly keeps me busy. It’s been a slow process to get to where I am now, but growing this business organically was what I was aspiring towards and working within the constraints of a family has made me take things a lot slower and be much more considered in my decisions.

What inspires you?

So many things, some may seem small and insignificant to others but I get inspired by the simplest of things like a divine cup of coffee made with precision and passion, a flavoursome wholesome sourdough, clothing or homewares made with the finest details considered.

There is also my family and the activities we engage in as a family. We take pleasure in the simplest of acts like a meal made with fresh home-grown ingredients or a drive through the countryside absorbing as much of the beauty that surrounds us.

Other passionate people who also focus on just doing what they love. I love talking to passionate people about their craft, their processes, their way of living. This can be anyone from a primary producer, to a passionate gardener, artist or shoemaker! Lastly, inanimate objects that have a hidden story, a history, a past life that then becomes a part of the present through my creations. I am intrigued by the stories behind items of furniture, a suitcase, a blanket... these objects cannot tell us the story of their journey with words but they do have traces of their past visible on them and discovering as much as I can about them is something I love to do.

Like I said; so many things inspire... living the best life I can is all the inspiration I need really, we only get one shot at living!

What advice do you have to artists and creatives trying to find their place in the world (and still make a living!)?

Focus on doing what you love, not just trying to make money... if you stick to your passion, earning an income from what you do will come easier than pushing yourself to do what you think you should in order to make money. Lay down a solid foundation for yourself, know who you are and the message you wish to deliver to the world. Don’t compromise on what you believe in for the sake of making a dollar. As well as practicing your craft, practice running your business by setting up methods and systems that will prepare you for a time when you really will need them in place. Lastly, engage with people who will encourage you to pursue your dreams and block out the negativity of those who think it’s not possible to earn a living from your art or craft. You can!

MarieNicole’s Website: http://www.ByMarieNicole.com/

Thanks Marie-Nicole …

- the Scout. x

out of africa: vanessa reynolds

In The Scout this week, I talk with artist Vanessa Reynolds from Newcastle, Australia. Her art is a reflection of her work as a humanitarian in Africa. I met her when she took a couple of my classes. Its not always easy to get to know all of your students, so when she invited me to her art exhibition I was truly disappointed that I couldn't make it. She showed me her art anyway and it is incredible. I bought one. And I'm waiting for more...

Vanessa, what are you doing with yourself right now?

I'm currently in my last year of a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Poverty and Development Studies, Visual Arts and Communication. 

But I'm also working with Kisaru Entito Project. It's a garden project in Maasailand, Kenya designed to assist the Maasai people to have healthy dietary options, to live longer and stronger by helping them not only be self-sufficient but being able to have a small industry to support their families.  It is also about raising awareness of issues such as HIV and AIDS. 

 I am working as support and help with fundraising ideas, networking with appropriate Government Departments as well as providing culturally sensitive insight in the setting up of a school and rescue home. I also participate in Amnesty International local action group. Any spare moment these days is spent painting and exploring art. 

Tell me about your art?

Future Reflection/acrylic on canvas

There is something so exciting and refreshing about creating art. I am inspired by things I see, life events and my own identity. I see many parallels between life and art, both of which are processes to be embraced and lessons to be learned. No experience in life and no brush mark are without a purpose in the big picture. The last few years I have been inspired by African art. I've also been working with stylized, abstract, fauve and pop art ideas. 

I enjoy working with oil and acrylic paint, mixed media and collage. I especially love painting with a pallet knife, as the end result can’t always be controlled, but provides interesting textures and a decorative surface. Being a florist I am also inspired by flowers and the beauty of nature. My art has a conceptual basis too – my recent exhibition was based on issues of poverty, the conditions of childbirth, importance of education and the impact of globalization for people living in developing countries. My love for travel, culture, adventure and art now have a way to inspire each other.

Tell me a little about the experience in Africa that inspired these works.

After living and working in Kenya for a year as a volunteer, my life was impacted in many ways as I began to see the world through new eyes. I worked as an assistant girls dean at a boarding school and took every opportunity I could to go on outreach trips to orphanages, the Kibera slums and to deliver water to Maasai villages during the months of drought. I came home determined not to forget things that I had experienced and wanted to give a voice to the suffering that often goes unnoticed. My passion for advocacy is now influencing my art. I want to provide opportunities for voices of poverty to be heard as well as the joys and positive things that are happening in developing countries.

Kibera Track/acrylic on canvas

Where have been exhibiting?

My first exhibition was held earlier this year at Ground Up, a gallery Café in Carrington, just outside of Newcastle.

My aim is to have my art hanging in public spaces to raise awareness of the need for protection of human rights and share the importance of empowerment in reducing levels of poverty around the world. 

What's next?

In the future I would love to be able to study art therapy for use when working with refugees and asylum seekers. Art is a powerful tool of expression and therapy. No matter what culture we belong to, art is a form of communication used where verbal communication is not always a possibility.  I hope to be something of a leader in raising awareness of human rights issues, with a passion for being out there amongst it the action. I want to be hands-on helping those who are underprivileged and exploited.

How can we find your art? 

Family Portrait/
acrylic and mixed
media on board

There are still some pieces hanging at Ground Up Espresso which is at 87 Young Street, Carrington (Newcastle). Open 7am-3pm weekdays and 8am-3pm weekends.

And I have a facebook page called Nomadic Art and a blog - Nomadic ArtyNess.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nomadic-Art/186360774824987 

http://nomadicartyness.wordpress.com/ 

Thanks Vanessa - a talented artist, ready to get more than paint on her hands.

- the Scout. x

a beginning

I'm a writer. And I lecture. And I make things. And I play childish games with my small boys. But my greatest talent is that I seem to be a magnet for incredibly talented, even gifted creative people. I meet them everywhere I go. So it seems only fair to share this talent and chronicle the people I have found so that others can see what they do, be inspired by their work, buy a piece of their art, read their books and maybe - create something of their own.


I am open to suggestions to - if you find a brilliant person who's talent must be shared, give me an intro. I'm always looking.


x The Scout.