Gardening leave

An elegant lunch in the Sydney showroom of outdoor furniture emporium Janus et Cie called for time-out to celebrate.

This page, clockwise from top left Joanna Daood from Janus et Cie. Polenta cakes with red onion relish,

gorgonzola spiced walnuts and sorrel. Con t ocean trout with burnt

mandarin, fennel, organic grains and sprouts. Designer Dylan Farrell. Belle’s Harry Roberts. Vanilla-bean

cultured-cream cheesecake with macadamia nut crumble, raspberries, cherries and passionfruit glaze. Belle’s Steve Cordony. Details in the Janus et Cie showroom at

Sydney’s Rushcutters Bay.

IT’S NOT OFTEN that multiple calendars sync up over Christmas and 40 of our design industry companions can take the time out of their busy schedules to join us for a celebratory summer lunch. But when it does occur, it’s an occasion to remember.

The elegant Belle event was held late last year within the Janus et Cie showroom in Sydney’s Rushcutters Bay, where Belle style-director-at-large Steve Cordony finessed two long tables with a festive twist to host invited guests among the showroom’s divine displays of outdoor furnishings. Chef Savva Savas of Plated was on hand to curate the day’s seasonal menu: polenta small cakes with red onion relish, dolce latte gorgonzola, spiced walnuts and red vein sorrel was a canapé highlight.

Guests heard amusing anecdotes and inspiring ideas from Steve about the near-completion of his Rosedale Farm estate – the subject of his Spy shoot in the December/January issue of Belle – before enjoying a selection of main courses from Savva: wagyu rump caps with poached leek and cabernet-sauvignon reduction or confit ocean trout with burnt mandarin, poached fennel, organic grains and new season sprouts.

Of course, matching wines were imbibed and, while dessert was served, conversation stretched long into the afternoon with tongues wagging over when the next lazy lunch should occur. Check your diaries. janusetcie.com

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR OFFICE? Minimal and uncluttered as I mostly work away from home. The palette is fairly neutral, but artworks by artists including Tom Cole, Jodie Whalen and Sean Rafferty inject splashes of colour and give me something to muse on. WHAT ARE YOUR DESK ESSENTIALS? Two computers so I can view a number of windows. Lots of under-desk space with deep drawers. A tape measure, spirit level, light meter and gloves. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR SPACE? While I do have an office, my ‘workspace’ is often in the homes and offices of art collectors where I’m consulting on installations or collecting information about their artworks. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY? I’m fortunate to work as manager of The Laverty Collection built by Liz and Colin Laverty, highly respected for their support and promotion of artists, gallerists and institutions alike. Colin died seven years ago, and I work with Liz managing loan requests, condition checking and occasional deaccessioning. My business, The Art Collection Manager, is more varied. I provide advice on best-practice methods to install and store artworks. I also document the purchases. HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE IN FILM AND INTERIOR DESIGN INFORM YOUR WORK? Film production gave me scheduling and organisational skills while interior design taught me spatial and colour awareness. I love to showcase artworks at their best while being mindful of conservation concerns. WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO CURATING AND COLLECTING? I like to familiarise myself with the artworks and listen to any stories behind them from the owners. I hone the selection depending on the mix and the space. My own collecting is random. I like to buy from Indigenous-owned art centres directly if possible. The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, and others like it, is good for this. TELL US ABOUT THIS YEAR’S COLLECTORS’ SPACE? The collectors come from various backgrounds, both within and outside the art world. Collecting for them is a step beyond simply acquiring art. The exhibition is titled ‘Finders Lovers Keepers’ because the collectors ‘work’ at finding pieces that speak to them, buy only artworks they love and stay loyal to and rarely release them. WHAT WAS YOUR APPROACH TO CURATING THE EXHIBITION? I aim to celebrate the spirit of the collectors and hope it will be a colourful and joyous hang. I’m trying to capture a sense of the individual feel of each collection. There will be a range of artists from lessrecognised names to the better-known such as Ben Quilty and Adam Cullen. The venue, Shapiro Auctioneers’ Annex Gallery in Chippendale, has lots of light and flexible walls so I can create different hangs for each. I’m lucky to be assisted by Paul Jarvis of Smartshift for the hang and the Art Van Go team to manage the art transport. WHAT ART MONTH SYDNEY EVENTS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? The Art At Night precinct tours are always fun and a great way to gallery hop! There are various openings with artists (I’m keen to see Katherine Hattam at Arthouse Gallery) and interesting talks (check out The Collectors panel on March 28). WHO OR WHAT ELSE IS INSPIRING YOU? Every visit to a gallery. Yioryios Papayioryiou’s calligraphic sculptures. Charlie Sofo’s show at Darren Knight Gallery revealed the beauty in the minutiae of life. I’ll head to Cement Fondu and Verge Gallery soon. I’m keen to see what Kylie Kwong will bring to the 22nd Sydney Biennale. I’m thrilled to see Alex Berlage’s American Psycho: The Musical is returning at the Opera House. Sydney Dance Company and Bangarra Dance Theatre. British singersongwriter Laura Marling at the Opera House in March should be a treat. Collectors’ Space will be open from March 7-30 at Shapiro Annex. artmonthsydney.com.au