Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER artist Denise Pepper isn’t one to cry over breakages—which is just as well given her chosen medium.

She recreates beautiful fabrics in glass and sometimes there are mishaps: “I have a graveyard of glass in my studio,” she tells the Voice.

But Pepper is not one to shed tears, even when a piece that could sell for $20,000 is dropped and shattered.

“I have a placid attitude,” she says.

Looking at a recreated antique piano shawl, it’s hard to comprehend it’s not a delicate piece of heavily embroidered material, its dainty pinks and blues a solid piece of glass.

With light behind it it’s a gorgeous piece to hang on the wall, Pepper says.

“You can see all the beautiful tapestry stitching work.”

Using the ancient technique of pate de verre (paste of glass), the artist makes a mould of the fabric then painstakingly fills in the contours with coloured, crushed glass in a binding medium, a bit like sugar used in cake decorating.

The piece is then coated in clear glass for strength, and baked in a kiln at 720 degrees, fusing the glass.

Most other pate de verre artists make small pieces, such as delicate little boxes, but Pepper prefers the dramatic impact of her larger works, including pieces of 1200x500cm

Cut From the Same Cloth is her first solo exhibition in Perth and features ornate, antique lace collars, frozen forever in glass.

Pepper finished an art degree at Edith Cowan University in 2004, where she was offered a job, “so I never left”.

She was invited to exhibit at Sculptures by the Sea in 2009 and 2010 and won the prestigious national Ranamok Art Glass prize in 2012, the only WA-based artist to have won the prize.

She exhibits her glass art in the UK, Japan and the US, with baggage handlers no doubt under orders to take more care than usual.

Cut From the Same Cloth is on at Emerge Art Space, 827 Beaufort Street, Inglewood, October 15 to November 8.

by JENNY D’ANGER

LOCAL Liberal MP Michael Keenan has played a key role in the passage of new laws that dramatically increase ASIO’s powers and allow journalists to be jailed for up to 10 years.

As federal justice minister the Stirling MP was responsible for shepherding the bill through the House of Representatives on Wednesday. It had already been approved by the Senate, where it had been introduced by attorney-general George Brandis.

Mr Keenan says the new law is necessary to tackle emerging security threats.

“The government’s number one priority is to keep Australia safe…from those who would do us harm,” he told parliament.

Labor’s support for the bill assured its speedy passage through the parliament, but it did not get through unscathed.

Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie, formerly a defence intelligence whistleblower, spoke passionately against it, as did Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt and conservative independent Cathy McGowan.

Fremantle Labor MP Melissa Parke broke ranks with her party leadership to publicly criticise the bill and, when it came to a vote—with Labor and Liberal MPs crowding one side of the chamber and just Wilkie, Bandt and McGowan on the other, Ms Parke was conspicuously not present.

The MPs’ concerns centred on provisions that allow journalists to be jailed for reporting on matters relating to “special intelligence operations” (SIOs), even if those reports do not hamper operations or place agents at risk, on sweeping new powers to spy on computers, and on immunities for ASIO officers to break the law while on SIOs.

Former independent national security legislation monitor Bret Walker SC last week told Fairfax media the new laws are so powerful they prevent anyone, including journalists, from ever disclosing the death of anyone during an SIO, even if the death is accidental and the person killed is not suspected of any illegal activity (eg, a child).

Perth Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan, however, is comfortable the new laws strike the right balance between national security and civil rights.

“Listen, this bill was the subject of strong internal debates in the party,” she says.

“I cannot categorically say we have got the balance absolutely right but the position we have adopted is not unreasonable.

“The government has not done a good job of explaining the rationale behind the bill and the class of powers approved is a lot more limited than people believe—it only applies to special intelligence operations.” She is preparing a letter to Perth constituents to explain her reasons for backing the bill.

by TEAM VOICE

PERTH city council will press on with plans to create a sculpture park at Heirisson Island, despite the WA government refusing to spend $10 million on a pedestrian bridge to improve access.

The council’s urban development committee last week considered three options, considered so sensitive they were hidden from public view and discussed behind closed doors.

One option was to “abandon the project and surrender the $5 million potential funding” and concede that without a bridge the project was “unjustifiable”.

But lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi and councillors James Limnios and Judy McEvoy were adamant on pressing ahead. They voted to send CEO Gary Stevenson off to meet with the WA government, hoping he can secure $5 million as a first step and then keep negotiating for a footbridge.

by DAVID BELL

“I DON’T want Bayswater to be known as the rubbish dump of Perth!” blared Cr Barry McKenna.

The council has voted to refuse an application to build a waste transfer facility in Bayswater that accepts class 2 type waste, which includes putrescible waste (food), green waste and building site rubble.

Instant Waste Management wanted to build the facility beside its existing waste transfer facility on Clune Street, next to Tonkin Highway.

The extension would have seen the site process an extra 60,000 tonnes of material a year, pushing it up to 270,000 tonnes per annum.

The area is already home to a Cleanaway transfer facility, Pure Earth recycling facility, a bin transfer station, a concrete recycling plant and a proposed concrete batching plant.

Cr McKenna was concerned about the number of extra trucks.

“Inspections by the city’s planning and technical services officers have revealed that the site is currently experiencing difficulties accommodating heavy vehicle traffic accessing the site with trucks often stacked up to three vehicles on Clune Street,” wrote council staff.

Cr Terry Kenyon said he’d received complaints from locals about dust on cars and in swimming pools.

“We have a responsibility to stand-up for our ratepayers,” he said. “Even if the applicant appeals to the state administrative tribunal and it costs us money, we should reject this application.”

Deputy mayor Mike Sabatino said the council was being inconsistent as it had approved waste transfer stations in the past and the area was an established site for this type of industry.

Cr Mike Anderton said he had visited the existing facility and described it as “state-of-the-art” with no smells or odours.

The Voice contacted Instant Waste, but it didn’t get back to us.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

STARVING artists, cash-strapped novelists and musicians with well-worn heels have all turned to crowdfunding to raise cash for their projects, but now local foodies are also trying their hand.

The guys from North Perth’s The Classroom have put out their hat, testing the waters to raise a cool hundred grand for their new noodle bar, Lucky Chan’s. The actual cost of setting up a restaurant is a long ways north of that sum, but if they don’t reach the $100,000 all the raised money gets refunded.

Crowdfunding was initially populated by arty types without two bob to rub together. When already-popular singer Amanda Palmer turned to Kickstarter to raise cash for her new album, there was a backlash. Many asked why an established muso needed $1.2 million from the public to put out an album.

Scrubs dude Zach Braff suffered a similar wave of negativity when he asked the public for $2 million to help make the Veronica Mars movie with his missus, Kate Bell.

Palmer said crowdfunding let her escape the grasp of record company investors and, since her fans got the record as a reward anyway, it was effectively a pre-order system.

Lucky Chan’s doing something similar, letting punters pre-purchase meals for two, or more elaborate bookings for high-rolling donors. But Andy Bennett (pictured, above) says surprisingly some of the rewards people select are the less tangible ones. For $145 people can have their name on a chair, and that has been popular.

“There’s good crowdfunding and bad crowdfunding,” Mr Bennett says. “I’ve seen a lot of projects rise and fall on the quality of the rewards they offer.

“I’ve seen projects where it’s been handled with not a lot of care and consideration for people funding you along the way. Art projects and great creative endeavours are where [crowdfunding] should have started… but now as small business operators start to see it succeed, I’m not going to be surprised if we’re not the last to do this.”

Earlier this year a new mixed cafe/motorbike repair joint called Spadille Garage on a quiet West Perth street attempted to crowdfund $30,000 to get off the ground. At the end of the funding period it raised just $5845, but still managed to push ahead and open (without the cash, which was refunded).

As for Lucky Chan’s—a laundry-themed noodle bar given the history of that part of William Street—Mr Bennett says the campaign’s also been a good promotional tool.

“The money will be great, obviously, it will be a key part to realise the financial obligation of starting a new venue. We think what’s more interesting is the ability to go out and interact with a whole bunch of people… every time we get a pledge we repost that to social networks with the person’s name and how much they’ve contributed.

“We want to give them a little electronic pat on the back. We’ve had people interstate and overseas fund the project so it’s been great to sell the stories.”

With 44 days to go, they’re just about to reach $23,000, with the average supporter pitching in $123.

by DAVID BELL

AUSTRALIA’S competition watchdog has ruled Coles’ proposed takeover of the Supa IGA in Dianella is not anti-competitive.

If the takeover goes ahead—which now seems certain—Coles will own half the 10 supermarkets within 3km of the store. The Dianella store was one of four WA Supa IGAs in Coles’ sights to be scrutinised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

“The ACCC considered that in the absence of the proposed acquisition…no alternative purchasers were likely to acquire the store before the expiry of the lease; and no other independent supermarket was likely to be established at the target site once Progressive’s existing lease expired.” The ACCC deemed none of the proposed takeovers would “substantially lessen competition”.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

TWO Tibetan Buddhist monks are in Perth this month to spend hours painstakingly creating an intricate mandala with coloured sand, which they’ll then destroy and return to the earth as a contemplation of the impermanence of life. Voice readers can see the monks in action and join in meditative chants, for free. The event runs Saturday October 11 to October 17 at Gallery Central, 12 Aberdeen Street, Northbridge. For more info, call 9427 1318.

A DECISION made behind closed doors to relocate Morley library has infuriated the Bayswater City Residents’ Association.

In a meeting closed to the public, Bayswater council voted to shift the library from the Galleria to the Morley sport and recreation centre before 2016.

BCRA president Tony Green says the public was bypassed.

“City of Bayswater should have formed a working committee with community members at least, to determine the relocation of the library,” he says.

“There was absolutely no reason for this meeting to be held behind closed doors either.

“The only time I have seen a councillor in the library is when the bloody thing was opened.”

The peppercorn lease for the library expired September 30, prompting the decision to shift.

Mayor Sylvan Albert says the lease has been extended to the end of next year, but he refused to say how much rent the city is now paying.

“An interim agreement has been put in place that extends the lease for the library through to the end of 2015. The meeting was closed because it involved disclosure of information that has commercial value regarding negotiations of the lease agreement.

“We are currently in the very early stages of this project and consultation will be undertaken as the project develops.”

Cr Albert says the council will prepare a relocation report, including costs.

The Galleria is also home to the council-owned Max Tulley Centre and a child care centre.

Earlier this year, it was mooted the facilities could be relocated to a new multi-million dollar Les Hansman Community Centre in Morley.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK

AMIDST the flurry of patriotic flag waving in the lead up to the centenary of the Great War, a local theatre company is taking a more critical look at the conflict.

The WA Young Theatre Co’s play The Dreaming Hill tells the tale of Australian soldiers on the Greek Isle of Lemnos. Writer Hellie Turner’s play takes place the night before the dawn landing at Gallipoli, their innocent bravado wrestling with fear as the sunrise edges closer.

Director Renato Fabretti says sometimes the bravery of individual soldiers gets conflated with war, and by extension the war gets seen as a good thing.

“It’s tricky in Australia, because for us it’s a defining moment in our identity,” he says.

“The danger is that turns into a positive view of war.”

Company manager James Nerva says “this is a commemoration of the people, not a celebration of the war”.
The troupe’s federal MP Alannah MacTiernan has been lobbying for funding for the project, fearing a critical look at the war is being drowned out by the celebratory atmosphere.

The company has now secured a $15,000 grant, meaning pre-production can begin in earnest. Mr Nerva says they’ll be searching out actors from Perth and Albany (Southern Edge Arts is copresenting), choosing people of a similar age to the young troops. They’re planning to perform the play in both cities in April next year, marking 100 years since the Gallipoli landing.

by DAVID BELL