THE INSIDE WORD
NO SLOWING DOWN FOR KEN
KEN Done is renowned for painting uniquely colourful artworks in a way that depicts the startlingly clear light and vivid colours of Australia.
On Friday he flew up from Sydney to open his latest exhibition at Gallery One in The Brickworks, Southport and spoke about his continuing passion for creating memorable artworks.
“I’m 82 and I am better now than I have ever been,” he said.
“It’s a journey and I should be e i mprov- ing. My y b a s i c theme hasn ’ t changed d and that is to create works that give people pleasure, last and are as beautiful as possible.”
During his long career he has won many awards – art prizes, advertising, Rotary, an Order of Australia – but there is one in particular that gives him the most pride.
“Being named Father of the Year was amazing and my grandchildren were also impressed that I was on Play School,” he laughed.
When Royal Pines Resort opened, the walls were adorned with giant canvases he was commissioned to create by the Japanese owners at the time.
“That was an incredible time. They were huge but they related to the area around the resort, the parrots and the landscape. It was a great thing to do although it was a lot of work to get them finished in time.”
He also has a surprising memory of the Gold Coast.
“I grew up in Maclean and would accompany my Dad in his truck when he would deliver a load of fish to Brisbane. It was always a straight run until on one trip we drove through Surfers Paradise and there was a new traffic light – we thought then it was the end of the little village with its fibro houses.”
And for a New South Welshman he really gets Queenslanders.
“I was asked by Michael Bryce, the late husband of Dame Quentin Bryce, to help design a symbol for Queensland and he asked me how to get the colour maroon just right. My answer was that whatever Wally Lewis thought was maroon was it.” Got it in one.
His tireless work ethic shows no sign of slowing down and he has enjoyed recent collaborations with fashion label Romance is Born and the Sydney Dance Company.
“It is a huge compliment to be asked but it also shows that good design has legs. I’ve never gone away from what I love and I’ve been getting more and more requests like that which is fantastic.”
The exhibition runs at Gallery One until November 26.
BEAU TAKING CENTRE STAGE
BEAU Young has many strings to his bow being a star in surfing, board shaping and music.
The son of two-time world surfing champion Nat, his path to the beach was prede- termined but it is music c he feels gives him the e creative diversity in life.
“I think they go o hand in glove. It’s a bit t of a cliche but music c and surfing having a synergy. Paddling out, , writing and playing g music feed my soul in a unique way.
“Both are processes and I have spent a lot of time working on them. Neither came easily but it was just the sheer love of doing both that drove me.
“It has been a progression – get to one benchmark and then move on to another.”
His sound is based around the music of another generation – Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Paul Simon – which he heard in the house growing up.
Beau has twice been named world longboard champion but dropped out of competitive surfing for a simple reason.
“I really didn’t like competing against my friends,” he explains.
“Surfing is to me is a spiritual pursuit p and doing it for f money and then trying to forget the competitive side afterwards didn’t feel right.”
He is preparing to head h over to England to spend time with his daughter. “England in a list of 50 countries to visit in winter would rank number 49,” he laughed. “But she is my world and I want to be part of her life. “There are some gigs lined up in England and Europe as well which will be interesting.”
If you want to catch Beau before he heads overseas he will be playing at the Iron and Resin and then The Scottish Prince on Sunday. Check with the venues for details.
FLOWER POWER PUSH
AWARD-WINNING floral designer Julia Rose (pictured with Rod Wyatt) is not someone who ever asks for help but in this case the situation is dire.
Two years ago she was invited to create an exhibit at the famous Chelsea Flower Show in London.
For an Aussie working away on the other side of the world, it was a huge honour but sadly Covid caused her to miss her big chance to bloom (sorry) at a global event.
In this her birthday week she has just received the best possible present – an invite to next year’s event in May.
The bad news is that organisers need her to confirm that her tickets are booked by December otherwise they will have to cancel l the invite.
Times s have been n tough due e to Covid d and she is s struggling g to raise e the funds.
But having i endured the heartbreak of 2020, to have the opportunity taken away again would be too cruel.
If you can help Julia get to London to represent the Gold Coast and Australia, go to her Gofundme page titled The Royal Chelsea Flower Show Dream. Every bit helps.
FORMER LEADING LADY WATCHES ON
MARISSA Burgess spent 18 years of her life as the showstopping, leading light centre stage at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
Returning to see the show, for the first time in years, it is understandable that she would be nervous. Had Covid affected the production? Would it have the same effervescence?
“I actually felt like an eisteddfod mum,” she said with a laugh. I had sweaty palms which I never had when I performed there.
“But there was no need to worry because the 60 gorgeous dancers love their job and their joy in n perform- ing is in- fectious.
“The show has s been up- da ted with new w technology but t the pace and energy was so vibrant and the costumes were sumptuous.
“It was packed out and the tradition of the greatest music hall in the world lives on.”
One other concern for Marissa was she wouldn’t be remembered.
“I know it was silly but the welcome was amazing. They organised a VIP seat and it was
wonderful having so many friends from long ago come over to say hello and chat.”
My concerns about the show losing some of its lustre due to Covid restrictions were illfounded because every one of the dancers is living their dream by being on stage at Moulin Rouge.
“If anything the lockdowns have given people more reason to celebrate. After the show was over, I sat there still and quiet to let the emotions wash over me. I wanted that glorious night to be an inspiration for years to come.”
The show goes on but the memories last a lifetime.