It’s about time we featured the one and only Stormie Mills as our Creative, don’t you think? When you think of people making a difference to the art and culture of our city, Stormie is regularly towards the top of the list. Along with his wife Melissa Lekias, Stormie has opened a new gallery space in Northbridge called There Is, which is how hosting an exhibition of Stormie’s latest work entitled Things That Go Bump in the Night. It is showing now until 8 November, so get down and see it. We have popped a few sneak peeks through this interview, too!
Stormie at work in Bunbury as part of Re.Discover 2014.
Photo by Drea Frazer, courtesy of SixTwoThreeZero.
Official job title: Painter
When did you know that you wanted to make a career out of your art?
I narrowed my options down over a period of time, to the point where I had no other choice but to be an artist because basically I’m unemployable.
Fifteen years ago was the last time I worked for somebody in a salary scenario, I made a decision to leave that role with a lot of support and encouragement from a variety of people to pursue my own thing, of course the primary support for this was and is Melissa.
Stormie Mills
Two Things / JMB
Acrylic, dirt, spray paint, graffiti remover and oil on canvas
910mm x 910mm
How has your style evolved over the years?
I think that a lot of people look for major quantum leaps within their work or have that expectation of themselves, but I found that it’s better to be introspective and to look for incremental developments because they will become milestones in the evolution of the process.
Then at some point, throw all that stuff in the bin, technique wise and just concentrate on the feeling.
What has been your proudest achievement through your career?
Every success should be celebrated. It would be a bit too difficult, I think, to define which one is the proudest. I guess it goes back to the question about the evolution of style – there are obviously a lot of things that I’ve done that I’m really proud of but that sense of pride comes from a lot of different places, or is derived from one small component of that work For example The Swing Overlooking The Field means a lot to me, not only because it was a difficult spot to work with, but it was a turning point I think in really going for what I wanted to do and I’m still really proud of that piece.
Which other local artists do you admire?
I’m obviously a huge supporter of the late Matt Doust but have always liked the works of Robert Juniper and Paul Caporn.
Stormie Mills
We Are All Dust
Acrylic, dirt, spray paint, graffiti remover and oil on canvas.
1010mm x 1010mm
What is your opinion of the art scene in WA right now?
I think it’s very vibrant; particularly because of people like the team at FORM and what they’ve done with PUBLIC has contributed massively to the vibrancy of our city.
I think that unfortunately with such huge successes we can be the architects of our own destruction because for reasons I’m yet to understand we have tall poppy syndrome in our city. I have hope that this will disappear when we start to rediscover our compassion and support of each other creatively.
Tell us about your exhibition, Things That Go Bump in the Night, what can visitors expect from this show?
It’s a variety of work from a variety of tangents that I went down – it all started with the premise of working with only what I had on hand. I had to look at it almost full circle when I started painting – not having access to a wide variety of materials or colours or any of that other stuff. I had to make do, which forced me to make decisions about the work I was creating at the time due to constrictions, but the creative process becomes greater than the technical process, so within the body of work there’s several pieces that go off on slightly different tangents.
Other than that, there are themes of monsters, commonality, humanity and understanding.
Stormie Mills
Distant Lands
Acrylic, dirt, spray paint, graffiti remover and oil on canvas.
1010mm x 1010mm.
What else have you and Melissa got in store for There Is gallery?
We’re just working on a programme for 2016, we’re very excited about it and look forward to a bunch of interesting collaborations.
Describe your studio:
Dusty, eclectic, functional… a bit like someone with ADD blindfolded in a roller disco.
Can you take us through a typical working day for you:
There isn’t a typical day. Usually what happens is that I come to the studio thinking that I am going to achieve one certain thing and then I end up leaving at 8 o’clock that night wondering why I never got to that thing but I did a whole bunch of other stuff.
The consistencies are coffee, and getting paint on my clothes.
What is the best part of your job?
My good friend Reg Bolton years ago said, love what you do, do what you love, the money will follow. And for the most part, he’s correct but what he didn’t necessarily communicate in that quote was that if you love what you do, the money is not really important, and it becomes less like a job – so having said that, I guess the best part of my job is that I don’t really feel like I have one.
And the worst?
The worst would be that you never stop really thinking about the thing you do. There’s no off button. It becomes an intrinsic part of who you are and can leave people thinking that you’re perhaps less engaged then you actually are.
Stormie Mills, Perth (2014).
Photo by Bewley Shaylor, courtesy of FORM.
Best place to grab a coffee?
There’s lots of places. I guess it would depend on what sort of coffee you’re after. I know good places to get a flat white, a short macchiato, an espresso martini, café patron. So having said that, I would suggest Milk’d, Sayers Sister, Boo Espresso, Babooshka, The Engine Room, Aunty Yiota’s, and Enrique’s – but that’s only because they’re within my usual goat trail for the day.
Best live music venue?
Astor Theatre.
Favourite place to spend a day off?
At home. Stormie
You can see Stomie’s latest show, Things That Go Bump in the Night, at the new There Is gallery, 49 Stuart St, Perth. It’s just across from Robertson Park, near the corner of Fitzgerald Street. The show is on now and runs until 8 November.