Spotlight | Jade Courtney, Videographer
A local artist on how she found a home.
Published on 21 March 2019
Photography by Morgan Smith
Local artist Jade Courtney is always warm and generous with her knowledge and skills. Our latest project – CreativeMornings/Toowoomba – wouldn’t even exist without her giving her time to create the application video. Jade works out of First Coat Studios, where she is a resident artist, and you’ll also find her out and about creating videos for cool local businesses like Bar Wunder. We couldn’t wait to introduce you to her.
We met up with Jade to talk about finding a home in Toowoomba, what an ideal weekend looks like, and making it as an artist.
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Have you always lived in Toowoomba?
I was born in Sydney but grew up in Tamworth NSW. In my teens, I became quite unsettled in such a small regional town and moved around a lot between there and Sydney until I was in my 20s. I eventually found my feet back in Tamworth, and in 2011 I had my son, Archie. I thought we would stay in Tamworth, but four years later love called to me; I followed my heart and moved to Toowoomba to be with my former partner – although we have parted ways, Toowoomba still owns my heart. I finally found a space where I can pursue my passions, surrounded by like minded creatives that continually inspire me every day. The universe is funny like that.
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What do you do?
I work independently as a videographer and photographer, predominantly documenting arts practices and arts events. I enjoy taking on work that gives me the freedom to be a little bit quirky. In terms of my arts practice, I focus on self portraiture presented with a palette of bright colours to transform narratives to a more surreal dialogue about my experience of the world.
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What have you learned about running a business in Toowoomba?
Toowoomba has such a fantastic creative community that I feel will only continue to grow. That in itself is full of possibility and opportunities (and challenges) for art workers like me to work to create the kind of community I want Archie to grow up in; creating access to a culture that would normally be sought out in the city.
What does an average day look like for you?
An average day usually begins with me running late to get Archie to school, then most days I'm off to a shift at my day job as a disability support worker. On my days off, or in between shifts I usually spend time working out of First Coat Studios editing or planning a film project… or sipping coffee and chatting with the other studio residents about all the exciting creative things!
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What does your ideal Toowoomba weekend look like?
Saturday morning coffee at Bunker and a flick through some records, Sunday morning markets, and if I’m lucky, I try to get along to an arts event. My most favourite thing is spending time with Archie having adventures. He’s actually the coolest kid around.
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Only a Toowoomba local would know…
If you get caught waiting at the Margaret/Ruthven Street traffic lights in the CBD, you will have enough time to read the entire series of Harry Potter before the lights turn green.
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FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
PERK UP: Bunker Records is definitely my favourite perk up place. Beautiful coffee, great tunes, and so many interesting conversations.
RELAX: A patch of grass with my boy and a cup of earl grey while he shows me some skateboard “tricks”.
EAT: If there’s feta cheese, I’m in. The share platters at Sofra are my favourite.
INDULGE: The Baker’s Duck. Best pastries I have ever had. Personal fave: Strawberry Cheesecake. A very indulgent Sunday morning treat.
SHOP: You can usually find me in the vintage section of any op-shop.
CATCH UP: Bar Wunder for chilled out catch up times, especially on a Sunday afternoon.
BE INSPIRED: Anywhere and everywhere! Conversations over coffee and pastry, buying records, going to the PCYC markets on a Sunday morning, talking to my son in the car, people watching... I am inspired everywhere I go.
