| Maria Lesley Tonks Editor and Originator at Brindle Style |
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The mission at Brindle Style remains the same as it was at the beginning of the century. 
RERESENTATIVE CULTURE.
I've been around Australia four times over four decades. I've spoken with tens of thousands of authors and artists and creators. Ive taken tens of thousands of photograhs. Worked in supporting Youngers and elders. Black, white and brindle. Bringing HeART to Healing.
An Artists Narrative.
A Community Conversation.
BRINDLE STYLE comes from the saying - It doesn't matter if you're black, white or brindle.
The fabric of this project is woven from many threads. Loss and grief. Smiles and tears.
This project is also inspired by Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora - the Maori Women's Welfare League.
Education is fundamental, and this project is deeply inspired by the Aotearoa immersive language programme Kohangareo. Pathways to belonging. A supportive family-like 'nest' for growing in, that is based in emotional and social literacy that prepares infants. Before -we enter institutional 'care'.
During the early 1970s the Pauly family from Colorado (USA) ran a homeschool program for music, dance, visual arts and communty. PICTURE Above: Acton House
"Homeschool was pretty much unknown at the time, but it produced amazing results. The theory was borne out by examples in sports. Children trained in gymnastics from infancy was a popular example.
By studying in depth from early childhood. My two friends who lived there at Acton House, went on to the join the National Ballet and the New Zealand Opera Company.
I've been captivated by Creation and reCreation ever since. Humanising and hot housing the arts, is not a luxury, it ought to roductive and fruitful endeavour. YET - Here we ARE. ---------------------------------
"I developed the love of photography and documentation using my older sister's a 'Box Brownie'. This was one of the first ever affordable mass produced cameras. The Brownie camera produced 8 photos per roll of FILM.
The limitations presented by 8 photos per roll of film was a crash course in developing a good eye. Every shot was pre-calculated for perfection. The technology of the 1970s and 80s expanded to SLRs and 32 photos per roll of film - Absolute LUXURY!!
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In 1981 I was creating narrative art for early readers at Waikirikiri School.
Unfortunately globalisation set to undermine . It remains to this day one of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in New Zealand.
Through the decades I've been involved in community writers groups and indymedia projects, including working with humour.
Working with the complex elements of genius and outsider artists is a particular privelage. I also enjoy working with individuals and small groups, for project and professional development skills; or for enjoyment, self expression, and esteem that creativity enables.
Through the years I've held dozens of solo and group exhibitions and installations. Creating and installing performance and stage space for celebrations and community events is rewarding, I like to donate work and time to various good causes like the West Papua freedom movement and have produced tens of thousands of photographs.
Print trials of Brindle Style began at the end of 2001. In March of 2003 to coincide with International Womens Day we launched our first online edition. Friendship Book - as we called it, was the logical, next step - a community conversation and recognition feature that combined digital photography, hyperlinked with community profiles. - Friendship Book coulda been a contender! Having already touched the lives and hearts of millions of people around the world. In 2007 when we began to build this more modern website - and incorporating farcebook in 2008. Providing digital media content free of charge for many not for profit groups, community and musical events, individuals and small business ventures. A highlight and delight was the Bridging Heaven & Earth television show that was broadcast on 200 channels throughout the U.S for 19 years out of Santa Barbara California.
Our interest in cohousing, sovereignty and intentional community begin with Stover Art in 2009. This was a commercial space where I ran weekend painting workshops, focused on my personal arts practice, and continued to produce new monthly features and content for this website as well as 50 page print edition. We moved from there to a larger five house youth arts and community project. The Green Room Crew
2012 we moved offices again to The PEACE ROOM going over the tracks to the troubled Cairns West community to join forces with prominent social and environmental justice workers and the NONVIOLENCE group Cairns PEACE By PEACE founded by Margaret Pestorius and the late great ploughshare activist Bryan Law.
I think being both immigrant and native in the southern hemisphere, observing and navigating multiple simultaneously operating, often contradictory worlds-views and honouring each, is an interesting grounding. Te Punga - The Anchor
Framing Brindle Style is quite a task. An interdimensional dream library with pictures on the walls. Context that brings life to Art. That illuminates both the form and the fire.
Brindle Style offers on site art installations including extra large murals.
Staging and sets for festivals and community events,
Paintings, menus, chalkboards, whiteboards,
stationary, table settings for cafes, restaurants
and human resource activities in corporate settings
Workshops and activities for markets and merch. |