ALLY + GIMMY
Images + Words by Scout.
Written + Published for Northern Rivers Independent Press.
They are the post punk lovers of the century whose individualised fashion sense, skilful application of paint-on-canvas and nuanced voices have taken this region by surprise. These motorbike riding banshees have almost certainly caught your eye, captivated your gaze and infiltrated your mind without you even knowing it.
A contemporary Adam and Eve except they are both taking bites from the from the forbidden fruit; defying societies norms and running their own course on life. What can't these two do? Not much, let me tell you. I have watched these two from afar for years and the ways in which they express themselves through the means of different creative outlets.
They have seamlessly mastered the art of exploration. It's impressive to say the least. Northern Rivers based lovers Alexandra and Gimmy alongside their very much-loved Cockaspaniel, Darling, have together set up the basis of their home on the banks of Mullumbimby, Northern NSW. A modern-day Bonnie and Clyde love story; minus the crime (we hope).
This time round heading North of home I found myself in the front yard of these two’s beautiful Queenslander. Before I have even entered the property, I can hear the giggle of New Zealand born Ally and fast passed heavy footsteps coming from inside – almost as if the two are dancing to the rythm of their own beat. This home is the kind you want to come home to; it is as if I had been living abroad for years and returning to my family home for the first time. The warmth shines through the cracks in the floorboards.
Darling is first to greet me. He rolls playfully at my feet. I do the same, immediately on the same level as this post-bath ball of fur. The chicks roll playfully out of the front door and all a sudden, we are all on Darling's level. Greeting each other in a houndlike way as if it were the appropriate human greeting. Thats what I love about these two; conforming is not outlined in their rule books. Whilst the daily grind of being artists is a hard-hit reality, they continue to play, encouraging each other each step of the way.
I am ushered inside shortly after, following the sounds of The Clash that plays subtly on Vinyl in the dim lit lounge room. Ally slumps into the baby pink leather couch as Gimmy returns to the scene holding a vintage green jug set. We sip ginger nectar from antique glasses and get down to the nitty gritty details of love, creativity and home life in this beautiful region...
SCOUT:
Tell me how the both of you met
Ally:
What story are you going to tell…
Gimmy:
I'll go first you are stuttering away…
Ally:
No, no, no I'm going first. So...
Scout:
I like this; the bickering is good insight into your relationship...
Gimmy:
It's the realness of our relationship really.
Ally:
I had just moved here, I was at the Eltham to see Caitlin Harnett and the Pony Boys, and I just saw this chick move and I was like ‘Awe fuck yeah I want to be her friend, what a legend’. She was with her partner at the time, we had a good chat briefly and then I don’t think I saw you guys again. They broke up and we started to salvage a nice friendship. It was after New Years, and I was just being a scaly wag (and so was she probably) we were dancing, and I took her into a tipi and pashed her.
Gimmy:
We talked about tounged scraping, and it just got me going. I don’t know how people do without it honestly.
Gimmy:
I obviously remember meeting Ally at The Eltham; it was the first time. Her energy and her spirit were so there. I remember acknowledging how beautiful her spirit was. I was obviously with somebody at the time so there wasn’t any slippery business going on. We broke up shortly after that. I was sleeping in my van for a month at the Byron house - classic 70’s commune vibe and Ally was coming over heaps because she was friends with the guys there. She wanted to come sleep in my van one night, I dismissed her and said I was still healing.
I played at the Northern, the week before she had died her hair black and I saw her in a different light, I don’t know why because the bleached hair just captivates me so much. But for some reason the black hair on that night - something shifted in me a little bit. That night she just confidently grabbed my face and kissed me square on the lips out of nowhere. I had to remind myself not to freak out because she just wants to be friends.
I played at Falls, and we were sitting on these hay bales, and she just again leant over and gave me the most beautiful pash. I honestly have never felt such peace and calmness in a first kiss before.
Scout:
and before each other where were you in your life?
Ally:
Heaps of different versions of myself; Sydney scaly wag stage; art school, it was a good time I smoked too much weed. I was probably more social than making art. I was painting on my clothes, wielding bronze and then took it to performance art around the streets of Sydney.
Gimmy:
Kissing all the girls and boys…
Ally:
I went back to NZ and did some reconsolidating with the family.
Gimmy:
I did a lot of travelling; I wanted to learn a lot about the world and gain inspiration that way. I've always been doing music since I was young. I was travelling heaps; Mexico, South America, Asia. Just before covid hit I wanted to lay foundations and stopped travelling. I joined a girl band, we had a great time, toured around Spain. It unfortunately ended. Everyone needed different things. I travelled up and down the coast doing gigs, learning about myself through different relationships and experiences and that's when I started painting.
Scout:
You have dabbled in a lot of different things.
Ally:
Painting is where it is for me at the moment. Only because I don’t have the equipment for welding. It’s fun to have different outlets of expression. The world can put so much pressure on reining in and mastering one art which is a huge shame because it takes the play out of creating.
Scout:
Okay, well that covered what can’t you two do. Because you are good at everything you invest your time into.
Gimmy:
I can't!
Ally:
You can do anything!
Gimmy:
Music and painting are all the expressions I need. It’s the silence and the chaos at once. I can’t not do both; its ying and yang. Chaos is music, I actually get really over stimulated easily. I don’t actually listen to music often; I sit in silence more often than not. I think painting for me is like mediation; you drop into and space where you are just focusing on something and there is no sound.
Ally:
What’s more of the heart zone for you.
Gimmy:
Song writing.
Ally:
Painting is something I use for myself. If it makes some else happy that's great but it's something I really need to do for my mental health and my heart. Caring for my human I suppose. I don’t listen to too much music as well. I do need a space where I can express myself and push the boundaries because the world can be so boring. A space where you can leave all judgement. It’s kind of funny learning about the awkwardness and feelings in doing that (painting).
Scout:
Where did you grow up?
Gimmy:
I grew up in the south side of Brissy. It never felt like home; it is a beautiful place but conservative. Mullum is home; you can be who you want to be, it is celebrated here.
Scout:
Where do you both think your source of creativity comes from?
Gimmy:
Probably honestly, just the feelings of being human; I feel so sensitively. I think emotion base. Allowing my inner child to be alive is a balance between feeling the seriousness of life but also allowing myself to play.
Ally:
Mine is probably internal dialogue with myself; seeing the things in my heart that need comforting. I use art for this. It comes through a real layered process.
Scout:
Is anyone's family creative?
Gimmy:
My family is really rigid. Irish culture is a lot about song and dance so dad would play music; Eric Clapton, the Clash, The Smiths. We were always singing and playing together. Mum the poor thing doesn’t have a creative bone in her body, but they focused not on the creativity but maybe more on structure and money because they came from poverty in Northern Island and wanted to make something of themselves and the great land of Australia when they moved here at 25.
So they focused on that, and I saw the tax it did on the human spirit, I don’t know how they would feel about hearing that, but I saw them follow structure and money and it kind of sucked the life out of them. I think I have taken the opposite approach; money is money. I think as you get older you realize you need more; you do need money to survive but I was so repulsed that I decided to follow my dreams and do what makes me feel alive and purposeful in this short blimp of on earth.
Ally:
I think for me my parents have always been kind of excepting in what I do. Creatively, how I dress, musically. I think the creativity comes through my grandmother. She is a really talented water painter; nan went to art school and is into sewing as well. My uncle is also the most amazing painter; realism and insane. There is definitely creativity that runs all through my family. I have had the freedom to do whatever I want to do and am supported in whatever brings me joy.
Scout:
How do you both work collaborating together?
Gimmy:
Good. Just like our relationship we are fucking honest which works really well for us; we are just no bullshit kind of people. Which I see as true love baby...
Ally:
We will paint over each other's stuff happily …
Gimmy:
If we do a co-lab, I will take my time painting something I really care about, and she will just go and paint over it. It’s humorous when we work together because we are so similar but so different in how we express ourselves.
Scout:
Is there any friendly competition that goes on?
Ally:
I think the only time there is with that is if I've got my personalized red jacket and she wants to wear it.
Gimmy:
That is so bull - honestly. She has such a last child syndrome with her clothes.
Ally:
Fashion is the main competitive thing. If I want to wear a suit because I always wear suits, she wants to wear a suit. Someone usually has to back down.
Gimmy:
But sometimes we both agree to match.
Ally:
It's awkward sometimes we will both rock up to coffee at 8 in the morning in like matching shirts, jeans and a tie and it is the most cringe thing.
Scout:
I mean you live together, sleep together and are in a relationship with one another… there is going to be some synchronicity...
Scout:
Talk to me about your backyard studio?
Both:
It's where we create.
Gimmy:
It is honestly one of the most inspiring things watching Ally Painting. Honestly, I could sit there all day watching her; her process is messy. I'll be wearing my favorite shirt, and she will just peg a pit of paint at her artwork, and it will splatter over me. It’s literally a work of art watching her paint; she doesn’t give a shit; she isn’t judging herself; she is in total flow.
Scout:
How long have you both been in the Northern Rivers?
Ally:
Two years.
Gimmy:
I've been in this whole stretch like seven years.
Scout:
Do you think it's home?
Both:
Yup.
Scout:
How do you find practicing in the Northern Rivers?
Ally:
I feel like I prefer the stimulation from the cities. But there is such a contrast from going from Sydney to New Zealand where I am in such total isolation. Being here, it feels breathable. I miss the art culture in the cities, but I enjoy having the space to create.
Gimmy:
iIt's a fantastic place to create, there is not too much to overwhelm you. Creatively you have to find it yourself. The music scene is good, and it is full of creatives, but I wish there was just unity with the creatives around here. It feels quite far and wide, and everyone is just in their own bubble. Let's all talk. Let's all talk about the struggles and the triumphs and the processes. Sometimes it feels isolated in the process of it sometimes.
Scout:
What’s your favorite thing you own? Come show me?
Ally:
This! This is my barbie doll. I created her in covid. I think she is really cool. She is me.
Gimmy:
This is mine! *Holds up Darling* (the dog).
Scout:
and something of each other's that you don’t like - not personal more tangible…
*Walks into bedroom*
Gimmy:
Alright Scout, I’ve got it!
Ally:
Nothing! I’M PERFECT!
Gimmy:
Come here Scout! This! *Points to clothes spilling out of wardrobe* it's actually looking good, its usually spewing out everywhere but look at that chaos in there!
Ally:
*whispers* there is nothing I don’t like about her...
*Gimmy leaves room*
Ally:
Okay now she is gone it's this *points to kettle in wardrobe*.
She leaves her kettle next to my shoes.
Scout:
Why is there a kettle in your bedroom?
Ally:
it's her handbag…
* Opens kettle lid and exposes a combination of money, lipstick and cigarette remnants*