textile design. clothing. illustration.
Collection story
It is the tale of three hairy creatures, all different and unique, who strike up a strong and unexpected friendship. They live in an eden- fresh fruit, flowers flourishing and lush vegetation, and they spend their days climbing, fishing, fort building and burrowing networks under the ground. Every day they meet atop the tallest mountain in the land. That is until one day, a disastrous moment occurs! As they frolic in the field, the ground beneath their feet begins to tremble and shake! Before their very eyes the land on which they are standing moves apart. Far far apart, until each land disappears off the horizon. Each are determined to find their way back to the mountain and back to their friends, but a long journey lies ahead, and the creatures find that they may need some help along the way, and make some friends on the road. The story is about a common goal to bring people together, to support and create dynamic networks, and most importantly, the joys of sharing life with others.
The Tee-pee project began with drawing to-scale illustrations day and night for the tee pee, painting side by side on the 2 metre wide butchers paper. The illustrations were translated to screen and over 12 metres of cloth was hand screen printed and then sewn into large tee-pee panels. Their home now ready to be inhabited, we gave our three creatures a life through costume. Featuring wuzzy hand knitted balaclavas and hand screenprinted dresses we worked by hand from nature and our imaginations so every stroke and stitch had to be made with confidence.
Photography : http://aaphundies.tumblr.com/
Make up : Katie Winkler
Models : Ella Bourne, Toni Doderico, Rowena Wise
Tee-pee, costumes and pillow, PINKEYsquare.
ROO:
With a stampede of flies and sand in her eyes
she leaps through the bleak bleached land.
The land full of drought, her head full of doubt ;
as she craves the warmth of their hands.
Every jump is a pest, every breath is a test
as she now feels the stress of her plight.
Through the bush laced with heat hear her wild old heart beat
for those lost and far from her sight.
EMU:
Through the sweeping plains and the shivering plains
you run through the slippery mud.
The dark shadows that the moon borrows has begun to thicken your blood.
Swim through the lakes, grieve with the quakes
and dream of the mountains you seek.
And then in the sun will your ancestry run
to your friends in the perilous peaks.
POSSUM:
When the first bird calls and the sunlight falls
you wake to a cold barren scope.
the wind became thieves of the eucalypt leaves
and the sight drained your soul of all hope.
Now call on the birds who float in the lofts,
old eagles and gentle black kites.
For they killed the storm and kept your heart warm
as you wake with your friends in their heights.
(Eddie Alexander, 2012)
Tara Whalley, Edith Barrett and Stephanie Rushworth grew up surrounded by Australian bushland. They sparked a friendship over their love of Textiles, Australian flora and fauna and keen sense of fun! The PINKEY square collaboration formed in a makeshift tee pee on the banks of the Murray River. The group consists of two screen printers and a knitter. Their current project revolves around three Australian animals and their adventures through a fantastical landscape. They hand screen printed 12 meters of cloth to create a beautifully illustrated tee pee, and knitted/printed costumes to complete the tale. PINKEY Square then collaborated with local poet, musicians and film maker to create “The Tee Pee Project”.
Popcraft Interview.
Australiana is an unusual aesthetic in the textile world at the moment. Do you think it is making a comeback?
We are so obsessed with Australiana! I think we are attracted to the unusualness of our own surroundings.. European plants and animals have been so popular in the past few years that the wuzzy kookyness of Australia is exactly the breath of fresh air that we need.
Are your balaclavas a funky woollen take on the Ned Kelly headgear?
Haha! That is fantastic! They are actually three Australian “animals”, but I would love to see a modern day Kelly gang donning my loopy balaclavas.
Have you set up your Tee Pee at any bush doofs?
We pitched our first tee pee at a small Echuca festival, and we plan to take them to a few more festivals over summer. In November we will be decorating a mini festival with our tee pees we now have three tee pees and plan to keep expanding- keep an eye on our blog for details.
Two of you are graduating at the end of the year, what does the future hold for Pinkey Square?
We are really excited to take our paints, pens and knitting needles on the road this summer and take some time to make some more artwork together. We will then set ourselves to work creating more happy products. For now we are really excited for our Grad show to be held at No Vacancy Gallery from December 4th, leading up until Christmas.
