Gemma Paintin, Performance artist, A Western
Beer, friends, a good book and fresh food ...
Stages and public spaces across Brisbane will be splashed with a wave of inspiration in September, as artists and musicians from around the world gather for Brisbane Festival. Bristol-based performance artist Gemma Paintin will take to the Metro Arts Basement bar stage with her creative counterpart James Stenhouse in the innovative, invigorating production A Western. The pair has been working together for the past eight years, focusing on projects that explore pop cultural mythologies with a lo-fi, DIY aesthetic. Gemma loves inviting her audience to take part – meaning the Brisbane crowd could find itself caught between a cowboy hat and some ketchup come September. Ahead of her Brisbane Festival performance, The Weekend Edition chatted to Gemma about her favourite way to spend a weekend.
How do you like to start your weekend?
My ideal morning is with croissants, tea and juice sitting outside in the sun with the weekend papers. That’s heaven.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Lie in! I can sleep for England.
How do you like to unwind?
By going out to eat or having a barbecue. My absolute favourite thing to do is go to the beach, but being British and living in a city, that’s a rare occurrence these days … I grew up on an island so beach life is in my DNA.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
Beer, friends, a good book and fresh food.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Well, this weekend I have a mountain of washing to get through, so I guess it’s that.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Watch a film.
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
I have two days off in a row, which is a bit of a novelty at the moment, so I might go to London to see my sister.
What are you reading at the moment?
Nothing – we’re making a new show and I can’t focus on anything except that. It occupies every single bit of brain space I have!
What inspires you?
The other artists in Bristol where I live. It’s such a brilliantly creative city.
What was your childhood dream?
I don’t think I really had one, I was usually thinking about the short term – going to the beach the next day, seeing my friends, the usual things kids think about. I had a pretty idyllic childhood.
What has been your greatest achievement?
Touring my work to five continents.
What is success to you?
Being inspired and excited by what you do every day, feeling like there’s always something new and brilliant on the horizon, and not feeling limited.
What are your words of wisdom?
Do something!
Only a local would know … well I’m not a Brisbane local, so I’ll take your advice.
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Philz Coffee, San Francisco.
Relax … Anywhere with sand.
Dine … Anywhere on the French Atlantic coast.
Indulge … A Sunday roast with my family.
Shop … Gloucester Road in Bristol, the UK’s longest line of independent shops.
Catch-up … At my house with everyone round for brekkie.
Be inspired … In Between Time festival in Bristol – a weekend of performance and craziness not to be missed!