Lighting Decor – A day in the life of…

We met Jane at Finders Keepers in Sydney last year and just loved what she was doing. She is creative and has been successful in inspiring children with her DIY Lamp kits. Definitely a fun activity for kids.

Please tell us a little about your lighting products ‘Two layers of cells’? The products I make under the label ‘two layers of cells’ include a Draw Your Own lamp shade kit, a range of limited edition lamp shades (called Lightwraps) and limited edition light boxes. Each line has a slightly different focus … the Draw Your Own Kit is a blank lamp shade ‘canvas’ for kids to draw directly onto and have fun making their own lamp; the limited edition. Lightwraps are a range of lamps featuring original artworks which I make in small editions; the light boxes are all one-off unique pieces made from selected re-purposed and/or recycled

Materials…The main idea behind the label was to design a range of lighting products that people could add their own creativity and personal expression to and share their stories through the medium of light.

Where do you get your inspiration? I draw inspiration from all over the place… a lot from science and technology, experience design, electronics…as well as art and architecture… I’m really interested in cells and molecules and how we see and experience space and how light affects us at a cellular level.

What made you move from art into lighting products? I had been working with light in some of my art projects for a while… but on a larger scale… playing around with sensor technology, Arduino boards, LED’s and fibre optics to create interactive installations. I’ve always had a multi-disciplinary focus, which has grown across art, design, technology and business, so the development of lighting products was a natural stream to come from my overall creative practice. I still continue my art practice and do the occasional exhibition or commission for a public art work.

We loved your one off recycled light boxes. Could you tell us more about them? Each one of the light boxes is made from vintage, recycled or repurposed materials, boxes or tins found and chosen for their particular story. I then create or choose a unique artwork to go with each one and fit them out with new lamp fittings or LED’s.  I recently made some from beautiful original vintage tins that in their previous life were used to store replacement bulbs for long range signaling lamps.  I’m currently creating a set of eight light boxes from gorgeous microscope boxes from the 1960ís. Each box has its own past story and the art works created or chosen specifically for each one add another dimension to the story, to continue it or re-create it. A lot of time, thought and care goes into creating each one.

While also working as an artist what does a typical day of yours involve? A typical day usually starts with a late morning coffee from the cafe down stairs before I can do anything! I work from home so I will admit to staying in my pj’s for a ‘significant part of the day’. Then I normally work through my list which might consist of updating my website, getting orders together for my customers, coordinating more stock or getting in touch with suppliers, making new light boxes, writing submissions for public art commissions or funding, working on design concepts, research… lots of thinking…basically just chipping away at the plan one little bit at a time in as much of a leisurely way as possible!

As you are based in Melbourne tell us what you think Melbourne’s best-kept secret is? ‘Women of Letters’ at the Thornbury Theatre is my newest discovery.

www.twolayersofcells.com