Poetry

Samantha Lee Curran (she/her) is a queer poet, writer, and award-winning artist living on Dharug and Gundungurra land. She is the author of the poetry collection 'exposure to existence' (Alien Buddha Press, 2023) and her work has been published in several online and in print literary magazines. Samantha was chosen as a Vessels of Love poet for the inaugural City of Sydney poetry event in 2021 and was an Artist in Residence at Chateau d’Orquevaux in 2023, and exhibited her debut solo show ‘the rot and the raw’ at Gallery NWC, September 2024. Her upcoming poetry collection ‘blue is how I know you’ with Illographo Press will be released in April 2025 and she will be attending a residency at Studio Kura Japan in July 2025.

Born and raised in the Blue Mountains, Chandu started her career as a nurse but spent her mornings and evenings on cliff tops painting impressionist landscapes in oil. In her mid twenties Chandu set off on a 7 month trip overseas - she didn’t move home for 12 years. Chandu spent much of that time in a remote village in Tanzania. It was here she saw the great need and opportunities for women in arts and business. In 2001 she created an international business based on fair trade principles between East Africa and Australia. She supported the micro economy and the health and wellbeing of families in the remote region and also promoted the sustainability of local customs, arts and traditions among indigenous villagers and tribe’s people. Chandu's years in a mud hut without electricity, running water or transport, found her swapping her sable brushes for simple living. Her new art form became writing poetry and prose on dodgy notebooks by lantern light. For the last 20 years Chandu has been studying, teaching and mentoring organisations, groups and individuals in the business, leadership and creative industries. An avid writer and poet she has won a scholarship with the Faber Writing Academy, been awarded local prizes for her short stories and poems, has enjoyed 2 invited residencies at Varuna and been published in several anthologies. She is a sought after and inspiring public speaker and Emcee. Chandu dedicates her time between being a creative and actively supporting creatives to take their passion and practice out into the world. An inspiring and engaging facilitator and creative coach, Chandu offers bespoke group programs and one on one mentoring for artists and practitioners like you who wish to * step more fully onto your creative path * explore and clarify your talents, ideas and offerings * make your passion your profession or * explore and extend your creative and business offerings If you'd love more information and support book a complimentary Connection Conversation today. https://chandubickford.com/services/#holisticmentoring

Fiona Vaughan is a visual artist and writer living on Dharug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains. Her art practice mainly includes digital photography and alternative photographic processes and began in analogue black and white photography. Fiona is inspired by the beauty and intricacy of ‘nature’ and a sense of kinship. Learning about ecosystems through observation, conversations and 'desk' research is an integral part of her creative practice, as is the process of walking in the Blue Mountains National Park. Fiona recently exhibited in the environmental art show ‘Disruptor: for all that matters’ at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre. Previously, her photographs have appeared in group exhibitions at Articulate Project Space, Leichhardt, Point Light Gallery in Surry Hills, the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre in Blackheath, and in the #everydayclimatecrisis Visual Petition at Climarte Gallery, Richmond. They have also been shown in award finalist exhibitions, including the Olive Cotton Award for Photographic Portraiture and the Hazelhurst Art On Paper Award. Fiona took part in the post-bushfire ‘Recovery’ arts & ecology project and her photos and poems appear in the resulting online exhibition at ecoart.space/recovery. Her poems have been published in anthologies and one was broadcast on national radio in a documentary called 'Trees I've Loved'.