Was it the little grey typewriter in the window or just Venessa’s uniquely ebullient laugh? Whatever it was that enchanted me outside of Creative Lab...
Inviting Introductions
I’d explored the Quayside Shopping Centre a thousand times before. But something about trip 1001 just felt…different.
Was it the striking murals or the diverse mix of artists lining the workstations? Was it the little grey typewriter in the window or just Venessa’s uniquely ebullient laugh? Whatever it was that enchanted me outside of Creative Lab, I’m so grateful it did.
Hilariously, I couldn’t actually tell you what I said on that first day if I tried. I’ve always been a little intimidated by traditional galleries and those artsy NQ cafes, so who knows if I approached out of some sporadic burst of bravery or whether my artistic curiosity simply got the better of me.
Probably a bit both - but Creative Lab is one of those spaces that just invites introductions.
The Great Imposter.
Since opening its doors in early 2024, Creative Lab has developed into its own artistic microclimate; cultivating a vibrant community of painters, craftspeople, writers, hobbyists and everyone in between. Whatever their medium, Creative Lab seems to grow with it’s community, symbiotically breathing life into each other through their shared desire to see one another bloom. The artists love the Lab, and the Lab loves them right back.
This was very clear, even from behind the invisible barrier I’d created to stop me from inviting myself in. But as daunting as it was to dip a toe in, I was unashamedly desperate to dive in and learn more.
a canvas illuminated by beautiful colours and lines...
It had been about three years since I last created… well, anything. Ignoring the countless crafts decaying in my hobby-graveyard of a desk, I couldn’t tell you the last time I truly enjoyed making something. After graduating in Journalism back in 2020, the rose-tinted ideals I had about a career in writing professionally had well and truly shattered. Everything I thought I knew about fusing passion and profession seemed wrong and naive, and I’d succumbed to the idea that if the two were to co-exist, they were unlikely to share a source.
Despite stepping away from my creative side, I still held a deep love for poetry, story-telling and experimenting with new crafts. But regardless of the longevity of these passions and my literal Bachelor or Arts qualification, I simply refused to identify as a ‘creative’. A creative person? Sure, I dabble. But an artist? Never.
To me, an artist was a profession; a canvas illuminated by beautiful colours and lines my hands could never create. If I were really an artist, wouldn’t I have a poetry book? Or at least an etsy store?
It turns out, all I needed to become an artist were some Thursday evenings with the Creative Lab community.
Breaking Barriers.
Within minutes of meeting, Venessa had me questioning these misconceptions. Within the hour, I was introducing myself to other creatives; sharing projects and socials. What came next though was arguably the most remarkable. I picked up a pen and I wrote a poem.
And then another. And then two more - all of which were later lovingly typed up on a vintage typewriter Venessa had introduced me to. I even got one of my own.
I was buying notepads and actually filling them. Limitlessly, honestly and passionately. I was creating again.
And what’s even more beautiful was that I was not on this journey alone. From local artists on creative residency programmes to other walk-ins, we were all on this journey together.
For some, they embraced the simple pleasures of working in a communal workspace. For others, a collaborative hive mind began to form, with artists of all disciplines cross-pollinating with skills and playing with paints, clay and little scraps of paper. No one was making it out of the lab with clean hands. No one even wanted to.
The Ripples.
But why does any of this matter? We could all just write at home, right? We could do all of it at home really. But we don’t. For a city that prides itself on its bountiful supply of arts and culture, there’s a huge number of people out there just like me that have no idea where to invest their creative energy. Maybe they’re overcome with the idea of committing to a craft, or simply too intimidated by one of the many barriers we put up for ourselves.
For me it all comes down to the ripples. Because it’s these ripples that have not only reignited my creativity but also kept it afloat.
For me it all comes down to the ripples. Because it’s these ripples that have not only reignited my creativity but also kept it afloat.
So each visit is a ripple. Each familiar face and project update is a ripple. Each inspiring story and small success of those around you is a ripple.
Every ripple is a reminder that my motivation and passion can be as temperamental as the tides, but that even the smallest ripple is enough to disrupt the flow and redirect my energy.
So if you’re reading this as a complete outsider, I challenge you to try and walk past Creative Lab and not stop to look at what’s happening inside. It’s getting harder every day.
- RG
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