Meet Katie Pye | Friend mother artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Pye and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, how do you think about risk?
Uncertainty,doubt a passion and creative spirit don’t follow constructs of authority and conventional thinking .becoming yourself set’s you up for trusting and believing in your vision and it demands risk if that implies uncertainty difference to be original .the need to believe in our selves is a journey that unfolds when we take a risk because we have a longing to do or achieve something that take us out of our comfort and might no unfold as we hoped or imagined but its the knowledge that we gain from the experience that’s teachers us to have more confidence in taking risks ,

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Painting is my first love from childhood But I made my living and supported my art practice by designing and manufacturing clothes that were provoking and not always that wearable sometimes challenging from the poetry of textiles to the androgynous parodoxical breaking down of social identity storytelling in how we dress , strong need to voice how I felt about social conformity and gender conformity. This was a play and social commentary that bridged the boundaries between Art and fashion … I liked what Picasso said about fashion “ fashion is what happened yesterday “ I also like what Oscar Wilde said about about art “ if you can’t make a work of art at lest wear one “
Back to painting I have painted and had a solo exhibition of painting but I just really paint for myself my other art work is in instillation work and something that I have achieved with public works “ Mantel of Beauty “ looked at the transcendent nature of beauty across four major religious paths it took 4 years in the making collaboration with craft persons to make a multi media instillation with its own sound scape of sacred music the exhibition was instilled in Brisbane performing arts complex and the public could be interactive with it over 3 months
Seven years ago after living overseas in India for 5 years I returned to Australia and found a old hotel in the hinterland on the far south coast of New South Wales the building all wood the original hard wood dating back to mid 1800 was neglected the vision was to honour it with bring it back to life this now has become my canvas laying up from the hand cut floor boards to delicate painted details of some walls lots of painting colour fabrics and a large collection of artwork furniture that does not speak of taste so much of comfort and memory something loved or found maybe something that was hidden like old Lino under layers of old carpet that now makes the top of a table interesting and unexpected ….How fortunate to been able to have followed my dreams and wake up to believing that collaboration playing not working but enjoying the journey is what makes life meaningful when I started out I planned to work for 5 years and my partner at the time agreed so we worked 14 hours 7 days a week and partied hard I feel their is no right way to life until you find your way the beauty is everyone is his own book and is the script writer and then if you are graced to discover that your best friend and partner is God or the essence of oneness in consciousness what ever you which to call that effulgence of infinite eternal presence that we are in and then the play changes completely and you give up thinking me and respect the power that is unfolding in
everything

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The forest pristine coastline with deserted beaches picnics and walks to local waterfalls . The local line caught fish for cooking up on the back deck barque with Oysters local best here this is oyster heaven .
Candelo across the mountain village to cafe with great friendly people and food
I would organise an event with some of my musicians friend to come play under the stars with the fires burning
Also the indigenous community to visited with our local elder uncle Ossie Cruse to here stories and walk the land to some of the sites to hear more stories camp out up on the Monaro towards the snowy mountains it’s big sky country
The Robbie Burns hotel is the place to stay atmosphere charming so relaxing you would want to curl up on the tree house stage an watch the clouds drift by .
Maybe break in a horse and go for a big ride or back down to the ocean for a swim

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother instilled in me the patience’skill and respect for a dress well made my father loved architecture landscape gardens and art he took me to galleries when I was young both my parents encouraged my creativity. The knowledge of Eastern Mystic path and going to India my first teach Gurumayi took me to a place of discovery beyound my mental habits and story’s and opened up infinite possibilities. Also the community and my relationship with Bhau Kalchuri who was in Meher Baba’s inner circle who was my teacher for 23 years till then end of his life . All the great Mystics of the past are inspiring. ,

Website: www.Robbieburnshotel.com

Other: I am not into social media … but their quiet a lot on the internet I have been include in published Books and film

Image Credits
Katie Pye, John Lethbridge, Geoff Kleem, Peter Mclean One room in the Robbie Burns hotel. The tree of all seasons painting. My tree house instillation. From my label Katie Pye the symbol I use and catalogs. The Robbie Burns hotel lounging room.