Written by Montanna Macdonald

From the 1920s to the 2020s, from Blues, Jazz, swing, pop, rock, reggae, rap and everything in between, here at Ponderings we have brought together the generational hits of the western world in a three-part series.

Highlighting the political discourse and issues of the time, the art form of music as a communication platform for social change is evident throughout our history. These artists have succeeded and confronted the many facets of revolutionary, culturally challenging ideas and civil movements for the greater good of a collective human feeling. In Part 1, we will be exploring the 1920s to the 1950s and their music scenes. 

First, let’s take our Ponderer’s back to the 1920s, the roaring Gatsby era of speakeasies and the Harlem Renaissance. 

1920’s 

First, paint yourself a picture, immerse yourself into Bazz Luhrmann’s 2013 Great Gatsby to encapsulate what a liberating, radical age the roaring 20s were.  

As technological advancement changes the music industry forever, society can take music home via radio and vinyl. In 1919 America, the manufacturing and sale of alcohol is banned, resulting in the ‘prohibition era’ where many people were flocking to speakeasies jazz bars to listen to controversial revolutionary music and illicitly drink alcohol. 

Beginning in New Orleans in African-American communities, Jazz and Ragtime roots spread to Chicago and New York, with African American and European American jazz music colliding, transforming the social landscape. Famous artists that iconically represent this era include Bessie Smith, Cliff Edwards, Duke Ellington Orch, Louis Armstrong and one of the first famous European American white women recognised for singing Jazz, Marion Harris. We also cannot forget the slow emergence of southern country music.

Artists like Vernon Dalhart became the first national success country singer with the song ‘the wreck of the old 97’ about the derailment of the Southern Railway Fast Mail train No. 97 in Virginia after crashing into a ravine and killing nine people on board. 

This was the decade of artistic, intellectual and social African-American culture blossoming in Harlem, Manhattan, New York.

The birth of the American flapper girl also arises, inhabiting what was considered “male” like behaviour with short hair, smoking cigarettes and dancing in speakeasies. The roaring twenties generation came to a halt in 1929 on October 29 ‘Black Tuesday’ after the fall of Wall Street stock prices, leading to our next generation, the 1930’s and the Great Depression. 

1930’s – 1940’s 

The Jazz and blues era was influencing a new sound, swing music—a world puzzled by the losses and successes of war, the Great Depression and racial prejudice. The 1930s becomes the gateway platform for Old Hollywood romanticised swing music and communicating African-American generational pain. We see the birth of ‘pop stars’, mostly recognised as male blues singers such as Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby. 

With the emergence of Old Hollywood, film had a significant influence on music, creating global western world hits like Judy Garland’s 1939 Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the film The Wizard of Oz directed by Victor Fleming. 

However, the 1930s began to see music as an instrument for protest.

One of the most influential songs of the time includes Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit 1939, protesting the monstrosity lynching of African-Americans that were terrifyingly common at the time in Southern America. This song is considered the revolutionary beginning of the civil rights movement. 

The 1940s strives with Jazz, swing and blues, big band sounds but also the rise of country music.

With global communication in World War II, radio and recordings made artists’ as well as musical genres globally’ famous and influential in the western world between allies, even in Australia. As a sign of the times, music is primarily focused on producing war songs, but also becoming a propaganda tool, surrounding the want to end the war and bring soldiers home. 

Even after the war, the culture of Jazz from the west could not be ignored, with Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi’s Joseph Geobells, creating a Nazi swing band called Charlie and his Orchestra as a war tool to turn western music songs against itself. Songs were released called “let’s go bombing”, and “so you left me for the leader of the soviets” as mimics of popular American songs. They did not become a huge success. 

1950’s

Ahhh the age of rock and roll; not a lot of social change, but a whole lot upbeat post-war celebratory love making music. Welcome Baby Boomers. The 1950s were the parents to world-class Jazz, pop, rhythm and blues, swing, doo-wop, country and, American southern rockabilly. Elvis, Chuck Berry, Bill Hayley & His Comets, Louis Armstrong and more Elvis! 

To listen to many of the songs that rocked our world, you can listen to Pondering’s Music Playlist here! 

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Written by Renae Failla

Skyrocketing to fame only months ago,

Debb Oliver has become somewhat of a household name in the Australian digital illustration industry after one illustration, in particular, was brought to the attention of a very famous Family.

Debb modified the group photo of Chandler Powell, Bindi, mum Terri and brother Robert on Bindi’s wedding day by adding their dog Piggy, her father the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and his beloved dog Sui. Through social media and word of mouth, the family saw the heartwarming illustration in no time.

Originally from Brazil, Debb moved to Australia as a teenager and now resides in Sydney with her two boys and husband. Her personalised watercolour portraits are her speciality and almost every piece features nature, her second passion.

Now fully booked until 2021, we were lucky enough to snag an interview with the talented woman behind The Monkey Brush.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee before 11 am, and tea after 🙊

Dogs or cats?

Love cats, but, dogs

What is your perfect day?

Good food, family, good music and a pretty summer sunset 😍

Where does the name ‘The Monkey Brush’ come from?

I worked at a childcare centre teaching arts. There was this beautiful boy called Ethan, who was so sweet and curious. At the time I was also studying biology and we would spend a long time outside naming every bug and plant.

I told him possums loved eating the flower “bottle brush” and he loved hearing about how I’d collect them fresh every night for my rescued orphan baby possums. Every time he was cheeky, I’d affectionately call him monkey. And one day when he saw me, he asked me if I had found some “monkey brush” flowers for my possums. I thought it was the sweetest thing.

I often wonder where he is in life, and when it came time to choose a business name, I thought of that special little boy.

Tell us a bit more about the portrait of Bindi Irwin, her family and her late father Steve Irwin.

As I said, I have a diploma in Biology and I must say Steve and Terri were my biggest inspiration alongside Dr Jane Goodall. I cried for days when he passed, and I kept loving his family. I’m a huge animal lover, and the work they do is just unbelievable. When Bindi got married, I had this mix of emotions.

I was so happy for her but so sad that Steve didn’t get to walk her down the aisle. I decided to draw the portrait of her family on her wedding day and include Steve and Sui. I posted on my social media, she saw it, thanked me, sent me gifts, made it her profile picture on Facebook, posted it on her social media and I flew to QLD to personally give it to her on her birthday.

I met all the Irwins and they were more amazing then I could ever have imagined. The story was featured in 17 different papers and it’s been the highlight of my career. Can’t wait to draw them again when Bindi has her baby.

How did Bindi find out about the piece?

A lot of people tagged her on my posts.

What inspired you to paint this portrait?

My immense love for them and the wonderful work they do.

Describe your encounter with the Irwin Family.

It was unbelievable. Due to COVID, we couldn’t get too close to them, but Bindi kept saying she wished we could hug and I had to contain myself lol. I got to share that amazing experience with my two kids and they loved it as much as I did. It was incredibly special.

Describe 3 of your favourite pieces.

1. The Irwin portrait.
2. One called “to parish in paradise” where I illustrated how difficult but fulfilling motherhood is.
3. And One called ’empty arms ‘ where I honour mothers who have lost babies or couldn’t conceive. I lost 4 babies and it’s a very important theme for me, and I’m glad I can use my art to bring some healing to others.

4. What advice would you give any budding artists out there who are either looking to start their own businesses or to have their artwork displayed in galleries?

   Work hard, value your work, practice every single day, be kind to people and trust the process.

   
   

   How old were you when you started drawing?

   I can’t remember. My mum is sure I came out of the womb holding a pencil. Lol

   
   

   Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you?

   I’m firstly a mum, trying to juggle life, family, work, etc. I sleep 4 hours a night on average and I draw around 8-9 hours a day, and I still have to do admin and maintain social media. I also have an autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia. People assume working with art is easy. It’s not! It’s hard, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m grateful for the support I receive, and the privilege of working with what I love.

   
   

   How can Ponderers get their own portrait?

   I’m fully booked at the moment for the next 12 months, but people can subscribe to be notified when I’m available for commissions again by clicking on a link on my Instagram bio or my website which I’ll be launching towards the end of September 🥳

   
   

   You can add your name to the 2021 waitlist here.

   
   

   To check out an array of Debb’s inspiring artworks, head to her Instagram page.

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Written by Cassidy Krygger

From a small country town in New South Wales to dressing Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and designing costumes for some of the biggest movies on the silver screen, Orry-Kelly’s rise to success was astounding. 

He was once the most famous Australian in Hollywood and was the Aussie with the most Academy Awards to his name until 2014, having won three over his thirty year career. And yet, in his home country, barely anyone knew about him and after his death in 1964, he became virtually forgotten. So who is Orry-Kelly, Australia’s first Hollywood legend?

Orry George Kelly was born in 1897 in Kiama, New South Wales and from a young age, had aspirations to be on the stage. 

To divert him to something more respectable, his mother sent a 17 year old Orry to Sydney to study banking. This wasn’t a wise move on Mrs Kelly’s part, because his love for the theatre only flourished more in the Harbour City.

Orry inserted the hyphen and removed the George and became the glamourous Orry-Kelly when he moved to New York in 1922 to finally pursue a career in acting. 

He shared an apartment with a handsome young man who had just arrived from the UK by the name of Archie Leach who also had aspirations to be a star. The pair, according to Kelly, shared an on and off relationship for the next few years until Archie Leach was shipped off to Hollywood to become Cary Grant. 

Meanwhile, his acting career wasn’t fairing much better. 

After literally dropping a few chorus girls during a dance number (he admitted to having weak arms), it was decided he was best to do something behind the scenes.  Kelly began to work on the costumes and designing stage sets, gaining notice of some Hollywood heavyweights such as Warner Bros. executive Jack Warner. 

Hollywood beckoned in 1932 and Orry-Kelly found himself moving to the West Coast where he was hired by Warner Bros as a chief costume designer. 

Orry-Kelly finally hit his stride and he found where he belonged. He designed the costumes for almost 300 films including for iconic movies such as Casablanca, An American in Paris and Some Like it Hot where he designed one of Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic and sexy outfits. He became Bette Davis’ most relied upon costume designer early on in her career, she would refuse to do a film if he wasn’t designing her costumes. What made Orry-Kelly extraordinary and forward thinking was that while most studios at the time reused costumes to save money, he created costumes for the characters and the actors who were portraying them. 

One to never forget his roots,  Orry-Kelly visited Australia as often as he could and kept his thick Aussie accent, which must have seemed alien to the Old Hollywood elite.

Throughout his time in Hollywood, Orry-Kelly spent his time writing a memoir of his experiences. Something that put Cary Grant on edge, who ended up being able to block the publication in the 1960s.

An alcoholic for many years, Orry-Kelly passed away from liver cancer in 1964. Cary Grant was a pallbearer at his funeral. May we never forget him, a boy with a dream who lived life to the absolute Hollywood hilt. 

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