Andrew Kidman

Jane & Jeremy got in touch some time back and asked if they could use some polaroids they took from Litmus in a project the were working on. I had no idea what they were doing, but said yes. Sea Journeys - a hand sewn book they made with the polaroids turned up this week. It’s is incredible beautiful. They make their books in editions. In the first edition of Sea Journeys there are 60 copies. Click here to what they do. It’s beautiful stuff.

Back in the shaping bay this week. First one in a while. 6 7 single fin.

This photo reminds me of a quote from the Dave Parmenter interview that features in
Lost in the Ether

“He came around to my shaping room and it was dark, but the door was open and he looked in there. He just went, “ohh, just to see that board like that again, the way you used to see it on the North Shore, looking in and seeing a board sitting there, a foil—you just don’t see this anymore,” he was just like ‘ohhh chicken skin’. And all the hairs were standing up on his arm…he was all emotional about it—just the love that he had for it, it really touched me.” - Dave Parmenter

Proofs arrived for the Lost in the Ether book this morning. Kind of old school, but also kind of fun and exciting checking proofs and getting them ready for printing. Arena Printing - the printing company I’m working with is based down in Victoria. It’s a very small print house, devoted to quality and sustainability. You can check it out here if anyone is interested in the process and their ethics.

www.arenaprinting.com.au

I’ll keep you posted on further developments. Still aiming for early December release of the new film and book.

The Lost in the Ether book is at the printers & the film has been put to bed and is at the replicators. On target for early December release. Checking proofs of the book next week. Pre-order is avaiable in the shop for anyone interested. There’s only going to 1000 copies of the book/film made with 131 sold already. Time to have a surf! Dreamboard still from the film by Mick Waters.

In the spirit of Nick Drake and his parents dubbing his home recordings to cassette tape for people who loved his music. It’s a wonderful piece of work on a wonderful musician.

Click this link to listen now.

Tracks was first publsihed in 1970 by Albert Falzon, David Elfick and Paul Witzig.

“The magazine they created was all surfing, leavened with a bit of cynicism, anti-Vietnam War polemic, dope, swearing, naked women with brown shopping bags over their heads, and recipes. Witzig says his inspiration came from Rolling Stone magazine, the Whole Earth Catalog and London Oz.” - Extract from the Sydney Morning Herald

Shown here a few tracks after an east coast snowstorm.

Garth: Peak moments he calls them, “I’m always looking for Peak moments,” he says. I think the other thing that’s unreal is; having a shaper that lives around the corner and he’s your mate and he sees you surf all the time. I think that’s a real privilege to have that kind of situation. Also he’s such a great surfer, he’s just a classic guy to hang out with. 

Excerpt from “Lost in The Ether” Dave Parmenter and Wayne Lynch interview.

Andrew: It’s pretty challenging.

Wayne: It’s incredibly challenging.

Dave: Every time it’s an adventure. You just want to get it to that meditative process. That’s why I don’t do shaping appointments, because the guy is just not going to get a better board. If I have to narrate it, be a tour guide and a be stand up comedian all at once while I’m shaping and talking through a mask so I end up with a sore throat, then I’m not in the board, I’m dealing with all this and then the guy stands in my light and I go, “Fuck it, I don’t even care anymore.” If the guy is gonna stand in my light then he’s going to get this rail.

Wayne: You should just fart a lot.

Dave: I used to do that to Rusty.

Wayne: (laughs)

Andrew: What? Stand in his light?

Dave: No, pass gas. When you pass gas in a shaping room it’s really bad, but the mask makes it worse.

Wayne: Especially wearing that thing I wear because it sucks it up and delivers to you - no one else. (laughing)

Dave: It just clarifies it.

Thanks for taking the time to visit the new website. It’s been a mammoth exercise compiling my work for this project. Hopefully it gives you some kind of understanding of what I’m trying to articulate. I’ll continue to update this ‘News’ section, much like a Blog. I’m very close to finishing my latest film ‘Lost in the Ether’. The film will be released with a book so you can have a better understanding of the concepts and subjects that are featured within the film. Books and films are very different mediums, though I believe they compliment each other beautifully -  a book answers many of the questions that are left unanswered by a film.

On the music front: ‘The Windy Hills’ (the band I play in) are putting the finishing touches on their debut record due out in December.

It’s interesting times out there for creators of my ilk. Much of what I do these days has been devalued by the immediacy and free content that’s available on the Internet. It has become increasingly difficult to make a living as an independent artist. It poses many questions: How much do I give away? Will people continue to support what I do if they have to pay for it? One thing I have realised is the things that I produce have to be unique. They have to contain more information, information that can’t be found on the web. Hence the production of a book to be released with the new film. This is a lot more work for me and a massive production cost, as printing books is one of the most expensive ways of releasing information. But I believe in books - they can be beautiful. I believe in the time one allocates to sitting down and consuming something that is not on a computer. I believe in a person turning a page and showing it to a friend. I still believe in the smell of paper and the romance of books. Over the years I have tried to make things that I like for other people to enjoy. Have fun looking around andrewkidman.com and once again, thanks for your support in the past.
Sincerely, Andrew