Brisbane’s Queen of Colour, Rachel Burke and local Sewist of all Things, Shaye Hardisty, take a seat on the couch to chat about the importance of creative play, the resurgence of craft and the role of courage in building a successful and cross-disciplinary artistic career.

Facilitated by Laura Jackson, Sewing Co-ordinator for Peppermint Magazine, this lively panel discussion will celebrate the hand-made and unpack the role of textiles in individual expression and rebellion.

For lovers of fashion, fun and the feminine, our first RITalks for 2025 is the creative kick start you’ve been looking for.

Cash bar available.

Limited tickets - book early to avoid disappointment.

Event Details

Date:
Thursday 20 February
Time:
5.30pm for 6pm start

Location:
Light Industry Studio, Unit 2/11 Endeavour Dr, Kunda Park QLD 4556

Cost:

SCCA Members $10
Non SCCA members: $15

Parking Details:
Free onsite parking subject to availability
Street parking available on Endeavour Dr

About Rachel Burke

Rachel Burke is a practicing multidisciplinary artist, designer, and author based in Brisbane, Australia. Known for her vibrant, tactile wearable artworks and iconic tinsel creations, her work is inspired by a love for naive craft materials and transforming the mundane into the magical. Rachel has exhibited her work in many gallery spaces across Australia, including The Museum of Brisbane, Saint Cloche Gallery, Side Gallery, and The Australian Centre of the Moving Image. She is also the author of six books: including three craft books: Be Dazzling (2018), Pla Pla (2024) and the soon to be released Make It Up (2025).

Rachel has worked on creative collaborations with numerous global brands and celebrities including Harry Styles, Cate Blanchett, Disney, LEGO, Barbie, and many more. She has also freelanced as a fashion stylist, most notably for Frankie Magazine and Airbnb.

About Shaye Hardisty
Shaye Hardisty is a textile artist creating soft sculptures, garments, and installations that explore the body, mental health, and identity. Rooted in traditional techniques like sewing and quilting, her work embraces imperfection and fosters meaningful connections.

Shaye has exhibited collaboratively at venues including the Old Ambulance Station Gallery, Noosa Regional Gallery, Floating Land, and Caloundra Regional Gallery. Committed to sustainability, she uses second-hand and organic materials to minimise environmental impact.

About Laura Jackson
Laura is a creative force with a passion for individuality and a natural curiosity that leads her to explore a variety of artistic pursuits. Her life is guided by her core values of kindness and courage.

As Sewing Coordinator at Peppermint Magazine, she designs sewing patterns, writes engaging blog posts, and nurtures a vibrant community around style, sustainability, and substance. In addition, Laura designs and facilitates workplace training programs that focus on fostering positive team culture and driving high performance.

Image Credit: Images courtesy of Rachel Burke, Shaye Hardisty and Laura Jackson.

R|Masterclass is delivered as part of The Refinery, SCCA’s suite of professional development programs designed to support creative practitioners working at the intersection of art, technology, environment and design.

Supported through the Creative Industries Investment Program and is jointly funded by Sunshine Coast Council Arts and Heritage Levy and the Regional Arts Development Fund in partnership with the Queensland Government and Arts Queensland and the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster at UniSC.