There’s no shortage of creativity in Perth with younger members of the GLBTI community developing successful careers in a wide variety of creative endeavours. So for National Youth Week happening this month, OUTinPerth unearthed some of Perth’s creative talent.
Tom Penney
New Media Performance Artist
Tom Penney describes his artistic explorations in new media as spitefully ironic and admits he has a love of cheeky humour. Working across video, live performance, photography and digital image manipulation, Penney is both the artist and subject of most of his work whether it is dressing up as each character of the tarot, channeling a grizzly bear or literally staring at his own navel. Penney’s work has been included in a bunch of exhibitions including the national graduate show Hatched. Later this year Penney is set to collaborate with dance maestro Chrissie Parrott.
www.tompenney.com.au
Elizabeth Marpole
Artist and Performer
Elizabeth Marpole’s work was a standout attraction at the TAFE Graduate Art Exhibition last year. Her suits and balaclavas knitted from paper and plastic are tactile and tempting to touch. Marpole tells us that she’s always intrigued by the bizarre. Alongside her tailored creations she presents ink drawings, photographs and performance based pieces. Last year Marpole was included in several group exhibitions and in 2011 has presented at the prestigious Sculpture by the Sea. Since graduating from TAFE last year Marpole has leapfrogged into the second year of an arts degree at Curtin University.
www.elizabethmarpole.oniemy.org
Will Faulkner
Filmmaker
When choosing projects, good stories with strong characters that have something to say is what Will Faulkner looks for. Jackhammer, the next short film from Faulkner is all ready to shoot. All the up and coming producer needs to do is raise enough money for the independent production. Jackhammer will see Will continue his professional relationship with Nathan Keene. The pair’s 2009 film Disarm won the Sydney Mardi Gras My Queer Career film festival and went on to be included in over 15 national and international festivals. A website has been set up and the filmmakers are appealing to potential investors.
www.jackhammer.pozible.com
Jacqueline Jane
Photographer
Jacqueline Jane can most often be found taking photographs in Perth’s popular night spots for club owners and street press. Always taking a creative approach, Jane encourages her subjects to get a little crazy so that every image has a unique look. Alongside her work as a social photographer Jane has captured friends, local musicians and personalities with her distinctive style. Jane confesses an attraction to dark and moody but beautiful subjects. Most recently Jane has been photographing a promotional campaign for Rose, a new underground night.
www.jacquelinejane.wordpress.com
Ian Sinclair
Playwright and Performer
As part of one of Perth’s most interesting theatre groups The Wet Weather Ensemble Ian Sinclair has been earning praise as both a playwright and actor. Sinclair’s 2009 play The Bearskinner, a reimagining of Grimm’s Fairytales, and was awarded Best Production at The Blue Room. Later this year the show will be restaged in Melbourne at St Kilda’s Theatreworks. Sinclair has also been capturing audience’s attention as an actor, last year who took on the title role in Sam Shephard’s Red Cross. Later this year, Sinclair hopes to bring a queer version of the Adam and Eve story to the stage.
Russell Phillips
Pole Dancer
You would expect that Russell Phillips would have come from a formal dance background, but the teacher of pole dancing for men classes explains that it was his career as a personal trainer that led him to the art of pole dancing. He tells us that he’s always like the idea of a sexual art. Phillips encourages guys to try out the erotic performance that requires some serious fitness though fun classes. In 2011 Phillips expects to develop more techniques and looks forwards to performing more.
