Edition 04. Josh Gooley
I first spotted the artworks of Josh Gooley on the walls of a local café and was instantly drawn to their unique designs. His light box style works are an eclectic union of materials sourced from local trades, with Josh’s distinct primary-coloured artworks illuminated and encased in a hand-built frame.
Each element is assembled by hand in Gooley’s Mullumbimby studio. Shared with several other multidisciplinary creatives, the camaraderie of a communal space alongside regular Friday night visits from friends gives him the motivation needed to create and share ideas.
“Getting to work amongst creatives you truly adore, gives me the push to create stuff I’m excited to show them.”
Gooley is as charismatic as he is creative. Alongside creating in the studio he is also a talented chef and jack of all trades, currently building a studio on his property in Clunes for his growing family. Creating with his hands has been a natural progression for Gooley. From café ownership to experimenting with glass remnants in the garage, we love his down to earth and joyous approach to creativity and craftsmanship.
It was a pleasure to spend time with Josh and watch his creative process come to life in the studio.
MM. What is your background and how did you land on creating light box artworks as a creative pursuit?
JG. After a big accident eleven years ago that landed me in the hospital for weeks, I moved down to Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula. Together with my folks we started a cafe. The cafe had a massive garage at the back chokers with stuff from the previous owners. In its back corner I found a wee pile of glass pains.
In between trying to perfect hollandaise, I was thinking about an artist I had once seen on Youtube. Bruce Riley, an American painter who did the most vivid and otherworldly paintings. One night I tried to copy his process. The results were horrendous, but through the lamp light in the garage something inside me was switched on.
MM. Can you walk us through the process of creating each piece?
JG. I start by ordering glass from Gareth down stairs. Then use my favourite three colours. Primary. Once the paint is dry I trace the outline onto a second pane of glass. I send the piece of glass to the mirror craftsmen to work their magic. Once it comes back, and I have made the perfect frame. It's time to put everything together, the lights. the frame and the glass. Fingers crossed my idea along with the process has come together cohesively.
MM. A lot goes into the planning and physical creation of each piece. Does the final product always turn out the way you envisioned?
JG. Rarely! It's ok though. The sting of a failed attempt wears off quickly and I manage to find something I like.
MM. You are also a talented chef (can confirm – food is delish)! What does creating with your hands mean to you?
JG. It's all I have. I can clearly see the upside of using technology. I’m thirty eight now and if I dedicated as much time to learning how to use a computer instead of making food and art. I would be building a data centre instead of a studio on the property.
MM. Are there any parallels between creating in the kitchen and creating in the studio?
JG. I think being organised is important in my practice, in the kitchen and in the studio. I work with glass, and everything turns up. In the kitchen, if you are messy it shows up in the end result too.
MM. Can you tell us about the studio you share with other creatives? Does having a designated studio space help with motivation?
JG. The real reason anything gets done. For me anyway. Getting to work amongst creatives you truly adore, gives me the push to create stuff I’m excited to show them.
MM. What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your work?
JG. Marketing! What a nightmare. Coming up with the ideas is the rewarding part.
MM. What/who is catching your eye in the creative world at the moment?
JG. My partner Aso is currently creating our daughter. Which is so cool…. and my dear Friday night dates at the studio in Mullum. Coco, Chloe, Jesse , Jake , Vivienne, Nonni, Myles and Pickle. This lot are always cookin up something real special.
MM. Is there anything you are looking forward to creatively or in life?
JG. There is always something brewing. The ideas keep me going just as much as finishing a piece does.
MM. Lastly, can you tell us what’s behind the Bernie Gooley alias?
JG. My middle name is Bernie. Bernie was my paternal grandfather's name. During the war he was an editor of the national newspaper for the RAAF. His most iconic moment was when Queen Elizabeth once visited Sydney.
The headline was meant to read "Queen Elizabeth passed over the Sydney Harbour bridge.” Instead it was printed “Queen Elizabeth pissed over the Sydney Harbour bridge.” Don’t fact check this. It could be a Gooley family pork pie.