The first day of an Artist-in-residence (AIR) is like the first day of moving to a new town. It’s day one of my AIR at 2nd Space on Kabi Kabi & Jinibarra land (Nambour) as part of the Project Twenty-Four program. It’s also the first day of a QLD summer (IYKYK).
Off the back of a recent invitation back into commissioned writing, I’ve decided to write about the AIR as it unfolds as a way to continue exercising my very rusty thought-to-text neural pathways.
Roughly 3 hours drive from my home on Giabal, Jarowair and Western Wakka land (Toowoomba) I left early having packed the car the night before like a Dad taking his kids on school holidays. Note: I have done this before; it’s a time-saver.
Not trusting my sense of direction this early in the morning, I used Google maps like an unreliable crutch. Unreliable, because it took me down stretches of gravel roads. Unreliable morphed into unexpectedly beautiful as the roads cut through picture perfect, green, rolling Toogoolawah countryside complete with cows, granite boulders, and a teenager staring at me quizzically as they started their farm work duties for the day.
On arrival I was given a quick orientation of 2nd Space by arts worker (and photographer) Warwick Gow. 2nd Space is a creative co-working space funded and run by Arts Coast, Sunshine Coast Council. The building is also home to arts-adjacent startups, a recording studio, and gallery space.
On the drive I had noted at various stages the 30-ish degree temperature. I felt it immediately. Luckily, an artist friend familiar with the space told me to bring my own fan.
After unpacking my car’s cargo I decided to go in search of coldpress coffee, ice-blocks, and snacks. Like a ‘simple’ shop at Bunnings I came back with extras: a library card, a rough mud-map for op shops, and most importantly my bearings. Everything is perfectly located. I will need to remember to put this into my Tripadvisor review.
The rest of my day entails organising my thoughts on how the residency will play out. It’s valuable time and I want to maximise the opportunity.
