Emily Ferretti is a Melbourne-based artist. I was introduced to her by my dear friend Andrzej Nowicki when she was in New York, finishing up her residency at the Greene St Studio which is run by the Australia Council. The program has been on offer since the mid-1970s but funding for this amazing loft space in Soho has now been terminated and Emily is one of the last artists to use this space. We visited her in Melbourne upon her return to Australia at her studio in Northcote, which is shared by other artists and was an old furniture factory. I really love her work.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND IN YOUR SPACE?
This is a hard to answer uniquely as I feel that most objects in my space are just usual studio tools and inspiration etc……. What i wish i could say that I had though was a basketball ring, dart board or exercise bike. I have always wanted more games around that I could play in between concentrated painting sets. Something physical that gets me engaging my body differently.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL WORKSPACE IN THREE WORDS…
Natural Light, Big and Warm.
FAVOURITE SONG/BAND WHILE WORKING?
I don’t listen to music while I work. I listen to podcasts consistently though as I like hearing interesting stories and learning while I work. They also makes me feel like i have company.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN AND FROM WHOM?
My motto is just simply ‘work hard and be nice’. It’s something I have learned from my parents.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST’S TOOL?
My hands, eyes and heart.
WHAT MINDSET/MOOD DO YOU MAKE YOUR BEST ART/WORK?
I make the best work when I am happy and content. If I am nervous or angry then I lose the head space that I need to let my imagination engage. It’s best when I am feeling open.
DOES THE SPACE YOU WORK IN HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY?
My space is in a big old factory in Northcote Melbourne. I have been there for at least 10 years now and the studio complex has been running for more like thirty years. Before it was studios it was an old furniture factory. My studio is at the front and still has the old original sliding door.
DO YOU WORK AND LIVE IN THE SAME SPACE, IF SO HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR WORK?
No I don’t because If I did I would find it hard to ever stop working.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM PROJECT?
To have a big retrospective exhibition held at a major Australian Museum when I am an old old lady…. or held at MOMA come to think of it.
Where They’ is a visual documentation of the creative environments of artist & people, that meet during my travels, of homes and studios.
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