so(hot)right(now)

#NAIDOC in the City was so much fun today! It was an honour to represent the Lord Mayor and speak on behalf of the City, and to explore the markets, healing and elders’ tent with the new NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Cr Philip Thalis. Great to meet Jarin from @jarin_street_ too, they’re making beautiful products with Indigenous design right in the heart of Redfern, check them out!This event just gets bigger and more exciting every year, it’s a wonderful way to connect with and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in our city.

Published on July 13, 2019 4:52 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

I was excited to join @gooddesignaus 61st Awards night tonight, to present the *first ever* #WomenInDesign Award. As a member of the jury, I got to see the work of the brilliant nominees, all leaders across the design realm. Congrats to Sharon Gauchi, Executive Director of Industrial Design for General Motors, for winning the inaugural Women in Design Award. The other 4 finalists were also extraordinary: Sydney sustainability guru Liane Rossler, RMIT design & sexual health lead Judith Glover, Vanessa Bird, an architect shaping inclusive community housing, & Ros Moriaty of Balarinji, creating commercial opportunities & visibility for Indigenous design.What a list! Honoured to be a judge & to present this Award: thanks for putting gender on the agenda in the creative industries, Good Design Australia.

Published on July 11, 2019 12:59 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Congrats Glebe Public School on a deadly #NAIDOC celebration today! Fantastic performances and art from students, and from rising star Rebecca Hatch. There are tons of wonderful NAIDOC events in the week ahead, including the Weave Woolloomooloo NAIDOC festival tomorrow from 11am, the huge NAIDOC in the City event in Hyde Park next Saturday 13th. Come on down, everyone is welcome, and I always learn something new about First Nations culture and meet new people.

Published on July 5, 2019 3:55 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

TFW u really think you’re connecting with the youth… (hehe thx @rebeccayang_ for always keeping it )

Published on June 25, 2019 12:47 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

I’m so glad the City of Sydney declared a #ClimateEmergency tonight. We have a responsibility to the people of Greater Sydney (at a 525-650% increased risk of heatwave deaths), our neighbours in the Asia Pacific, & our residents (97% of whom want #ClimateAction) to take #ClimateEmergency seriously. It was great to stand with local reps from #ExtinctionRebellion before Council to reaffirm our solidarity with them & commitment to #ClimateAction

Published on June 24, 2019 10:17 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

“We could give our depression depression,” says Frances Rush, CEO of Sydney’s amazing #AsylumSeekersCentre, if we get caught up in the hopelessness of Australia’s cruel response to the global refugee crisis. But we don’t.We take action instead. It was wonderful to MC their #WorldRefugeeDay event tonight, with a keynote from @amnesty Sec General (& rockstar) @kuminaidoo. Special shout out to my mum @trishscullydesigns for trekking down from the mountains (sorry I didn’t mention you)… if you can, pls donate to ASC, link in my bio.

Published on June 20, 2019 11:13 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Thxxxx for baby’s first baby rave @nicolasjaar @dark_mofo

Published on June 15, 2019 12:37 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Worshipping at the altar of @paul.yore rnnnn, It’s All Wrong But It’s Alright ️

Published on June 15, 2019 10:06 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Published on June 14, 2019 1:02 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

I loved this Shilpa Gupta work: For, In Your Tongue I Cannot Hide, at A Forest #DarkMofo. A soundscape and installation giving voice to 100 poets imprisoned or executed for their work. I wish I’d captured the audio… definitely seek this one out if you’re able.

Published on June 13, 2019 12:25 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Having a very literal time in lovely Tassie rn featuring @poisontofu

Published on June 12, 2019 9:32 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Yesterday’s highlight was discovering the #TassieNannas in Hobart’s Elizabeth Street Mall. They meet to knit & call for Australia to #closethecamps at 11am every Friday. Nanna power!

Published on June 8, 2019 4:17 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

The Museo Aero Solar by Tomas Saraceno – @poisontofu & I adding to it in Singapore, and I remember Freda & Elliot @em a_scottchild adding their patches to the ever-expanding patchwork balloon a few years back in London. Can’t wait for it to finally set sail & transport us all in the Aerocene age to come. #floatingworlds

Published on May 27, 2019 12:10 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

De Relaxerette by Arjan Kruidhof & Explore the North, a dreamy, meditative participatory experience as part of #SIFA2019 #publicart

Published on May 26, 2019 2:39 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

#ClosedWorlds at UTS Gallery is an exhibition exploring the history of buildings & projects that aimed to create closed loop, self-sustaining systems. One of the most interesting projects is Climatron from 1960: a data centre in St Louis, Missouri, which inhabited a dome filled with 15,000 tropical plants, not your usual Missouri flora, warmed by its heat output. Think about how many data centres we have in our city alone & how many more are coming: anyone is working on a contemporary update or creating ecosystems around the energy-hungry physical infrastructure of our digital world?

Published on May 23, 2019 4:45 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

It’s been a very long time coming, but the light rail *finally* took its first test run through the streets of Surry Hills late last night! This gorgeous video was made by local legends @jjsplicefilms who stayed up late to capture the first tram journey – can you tell that they’re excited?! #NUMTOT #sydneylocal #bringonthetram #Sydney

Published on May 22, 2019 7:23 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

This beautiful image is by @beciorpin, reposted by my friend @mel_adjusted While I’m all about structural-change-rather-than-individual-action, and I don’t think we can recycle our way outta the environmental and social reckoning ahead, there’s some good ideas in here. I’ve been broken since Saturday night. We didn’t reveal ourselves to be a generous, daring Australia. But we have to understand people are hurting and are afraid of change, of a future that doesn’t seem to include them. Can those of us who tell stories, make art, advocate for change or do research, do a better job at telling a story that is inclusive, that shows that there can be a #justtransition to a more sustainable and fair world? We have to improve our message and extend our reach beyond our lovely, comfortable bubbles. And, like Beci says, we have to be kind and not lose heart.

Published on May 20, 2019 1:10 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Imagine an Australia that is principled, compassionate and generous, recognising our responsibilities to the world, to each other and to the planet. That was us once, and could be again. #RIPHawkie

Published on May 16, 2019 11:09 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Watch this space. It doesn’t look like much right now, but thanks to the #LateNightPremises DCP changes passed by @cityofsydney Council last night, the stage is set for this slice of Alexandria to become a performance, creative & nightlife district like we’ve never seen before in this city. Biggest props to our amazing staff who worked on this for over a year, my partner in the nightlife crusade @jessmillersydney, our brilliant Nightlife & Creative Sector Advisory Panel, & every one of you who filled in a survey, shared a link, or made a submission. #itwonthappenovernightbutitwillhappen #Sydney

Published on May 14, 2019 5:05 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Such a beautiful @tompolo show at @roslynoxley9 – give yourself an Easter treat n go see it

Published on April 18, 2019 12:11 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way

Thanks for having me -#MusicCitiesChengdu! It’s was wonderful to meet music advocates & city champions from all over the world, especially this wonderful crew from Denver, Cardiff, Vancouver & Melbourne, to talk about the challenges we all face & the great things everyone is going to support creative, inclusive cities.

Published on April 13, 2019 9:04 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

What’s not to love about #pottersinprotest?! Head down to @jointhedotsworkshop tomorrow, eat ice cream, get beautiful ceramics, support inclusion & justice.

Published on April 13, 2019 3:16 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

The second-best thing I’ve seen in the public realm on this visit #DeRucci

Published on April 12, 2019 5:46 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

This morning I saw two women in aprons playing badminton on a busy street corner, and then drove past this magic. Having a big #publicspacelove moment in #Chengdu rnnnn

Published on April 12, 2019 2:33 am.
Filed under: stuff along the way

An epic day in an epic city: Chongqing highlights included visiting #Testbed2, a 30,000m2 creative precinct built through adaptive reuse of CQ’s industrial past, thanks to artistic director Yizhong Chen for the tour! Then a walk up the ancient, restored Mountain City Alley with CQ chief planner Mr Yu (aka my new CQ PT @hillthalisaup) including glimpses of the Ming era city walls aaaaand a metro line running through apartment buildings (!?!). Next, to Huangjueping for a visit to the Dimensions Art Center, a social-practice focused ARI & studios… followed by official diplomatic meetings with the CQ govt & Aus consul general. Now, back to Chengdu on the high speed train! Whatta day! CQ, I’ll be back!

Published on April 10, 2019 12:23 pm.
Filed under: stuff along the way