Peach House Writeup

Writing in the local park. Pic by me.

Hello there!

I’m sorry I have been so M.I.A recently, I’m busy writing essays and being a uni gurl! But my assignments are all done and so I promise I’ll have some really interesting writing to post here soon.

This post is a writeup about the house I’m living in, in Naarm. I recently created a zine for the sweetest Nini’s exhibition several weeks ago. Such a beautiful special night of meeting beautiful Naarm femme artists and drinking wine. It was my first art exhibition in Naarm too which makes it even more special I think! Within my zine I had interlaced images of me in my new home environment in Naarm with photos I took over last summer in Brissy too. There’s images in there from the whole time I lived in Brisbane as well, interlaced with tender words and lyrics about the complicated feelings of letting go and holding on when you leave somewhere you love. I am really focusing on the concepts of home within my art right now and it feels really lovely.

To the left, a self portrait in my Brisbane home. To the right, a self portrait a couple months ago in my Naarm home. Both in the bathroom, both topless!

Many of you might know but I’ve actually lived in Melbourne before, and the house I’m living in right now as well! This house is the original Peach House! The same peach house I’ve named exhibitions, and Instagram accounts about. And I think it’s lovely to reflect on the origins of Peach House and why it’s followed me for so long.

Claire in the local park, start of 2020, by me.

The front of this house, with my sweet dog standing inside. Taken by me.

This house came into our lives in 2019. We had moved all around Naarm for the first few months we lived here. Maybe in total 4 houses. The day we moved into Peach House we ate Indian food whilst we sat on the floor. It was so cold and rainy. We lived here through the summer, and then through covid in 2020. It was a beacon of safety during an uncertain time. During this time, it affectionately was given the name Peach House, due to a large peach tree sitting in the corner of our backyard.

Tree’s in the local park. On film by me.

The suburb we’re living in is so homey. Filled with fruit trees and kids riding their bikes. We’re not too close to main roads which feels so beautiful after living in the centre of Brisbane for so long. I love listening to the crickets and the birds. My neighbours drop over pistachios and grapes when they go to the market. I go and sit in the park nearby when I need some sun. And the houses are so lovely. Really nothing like a classic Queenslander which I am so used to. But they all have these beautiful shapes and wire signs displaying the house number so gorgeously.

Cleb a couple years ago with our dog, and the entrance of the same park. These pics were taken years apart. Both by me!

My hair in the sink, and the streets near the suburb after the 2020 fires. By me.

Our house is made of brick and all the doors are glass. With little motifs of birds all through the windows and wires. It’s been so lovely coming back here and making it our own again. I’m still in the process of setting up somewhere permanent to make art. But it’s happening and it’ll be so nice when it’s done!

Me in front of the house a couple years ago!

It might have just been a nickname for somewhere I lived and now live again. It’s winter now. It’s been f*cking cold! But it’s so lovely to live here again and settle into the peacefulness. Below is a playlist I have had on REPEAT over this time. I’m going into myself.

Thanks for reading luvers ~ see u again very soon!

-L