Backstory

Raindrops keep falling…

philippa — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:07:11 +0000

Thought we’d share some exciting images of the The Music Wheel as it now stands. The images don’t really do it justice - it’s the sound that makes it. When it spins it is just lovely.

It will be painted yellow in the next few days. Our manufacturer has done a superb job and we’re very pleased. Can’t wait to install at the end of the month.

Courtesy Brian Edmunds

A small update

Fred — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:39:08 +0000

We’ve been busy with a lot of behind-the-scenes work lately, working on new commissions and projects. Through April, Fred will be producing the sound and music for a new Terrapin show, while Philippa will be developing a new show to be produced at the Moonah Arts Centre in May. In the meantime, we thought we’d share some previous work.

These abstract videos and their music were created by Fred in 2006 as a re-telling of Axel Munthe’s The Story of San Michele, and were shown at CAST Gallery in Hobart the same year.

The Story of San Michele, Chapter I: Youth.

The Story of San Michele, Chapter II: Ave de Villiers

The Music Wheel

philippa — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:43:02 +0000

The redevelopment of Rocherlea Primary School in Tasmania’s North will be home to a number of new public art works when it opens in mid-2009. Backstory has been commissioned to create an art work which combines large yellow umbrella-shaped water wheel with a small music box that plays the familiar Hal David and Burt Bacharach tune, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head.

Be sure to keep an eye out for updates on the The Music Wheel before it gets installed this May!

Seconds, sweets and snacks

philippa — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:33:51 +0000

After a few too many fruit mince tarts, Backstory is entering its first New Year. Considering it is the United Nations Year of Natural Fibres—and in Chinese astrology, it’s the Year of the earthly Ox—we feel that 2009 urges a down-to-earth sense of hard work, patience and prosperity. We look forward to a steady year of positive achievements after our swift introduction into business.

In mid-December we presented our final report for Launceston’s Living Laneways. You can download a PDF of Diversions here, with a map detailing the laneways available here.

Living Laneways

Fred — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:01:36 +0000

Hello, and welcome to any ABC Northern Tasmania listeners!

Fred spoke with Penny Marshall on Drive this afternoon about our work with the Launceston Living Laneways project group — please feel free to share any stories, memories or photos you may have about any of Launceston’s laneways with us by dropping an email to mail@backstory.com.au, or giving Fred a call on 0400 511 103. We’re particularly interested in hearing more about:

Ingles Lane
Dicky White’s Lane
George’s Lane
Trustee’s Court
Bender’s Lane

We’re really excited about this project, and look forward to sharing our findings here on the website in mid-December.

10×10x10 talk

Fred — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:26:12 +0000

Last night Philippa presented a talk at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 10×10x10 series as a part of Architecture Week 2008. You can check out what she had to say here.

November Lanes

philippa — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:58:08 +0000

We’re very excited to be scoping out a community arts and heritage project in Launceston. The Launceston Living Laneways project group (comprising members of CityProm, National Trust, Launceston City Council and Tasmanian Regional Arts) has commissioned us to investigate the histories and possibilities of the lanes in Launceston’s inner city. We were up North for two weeks, checking out the lanes and we found great historical architecture combined with overwhelming potential and support — these spaces host a wealth of creative opportunities. Now we’re singing…

Awash with Architecture…

philippa — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:55:37 +0000

Peta Heffernan has organised a program for Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at this year’s 10×10x10 Architecture Week in Hobart. Ten artists show ten images of their work and talk for ten minutes, starting from 6pm. Each presenter has been asked to give a very succinct talk about the creative process ‘From Inception to Realisation’.

Philippa will be talking about White Wash Hobart — an installation that was exhibited in July for four weeks, at Inflight Artist Run Initiative in North Hobart. There is a little background information about the show at philippasteele.net and you can find out more about the 10X10X10 Achitecture Week here.

The sound of a silent hello…

Fred — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:20:09 +0000

Meanwhile our website has taken some time to get up. The last couple of weeks we suddenly found ourselves full to the brim with exciting jobs and new projects. We are very pleased to present you with some snippets of Fred’s latest sound work, for Terrapin Puppet Theatre’s new show Helena and the Journey of the Hello. These tracks, along with the story, tell a little something about phones, family and folktales in our digital age…

Image courtesy of Tim Schultz.

A short history of what red is

Madeline’s song

Helena and the Journey of the Hello runs until Sunday the 19th of October, tickets are available at theatreroyal.com.au