Neil Erasmus is already well known to you if you work in wood because he has probably taught you or you've read one of his many articles on the craft.

Neil is a 3rd generation crafts-person. He grew up in South Africa during the last decades of Apartheid and emigrated to Australia with his wife Pam (also a amazing crafts-person) about 40 years ago.

We discuss growing up in South Africa and Neil's feelings about it (compare and contrast with Will Matthysen's episode).

Neil has recently "retired" and moved closer to Perth, Australia. We discuss the idea of retirement and what that might entail.

Neil is a beautiful human being and it was a pleasure talking with him about his life.

Please enjoy this episode.

Shima Gholami Scholar

Shima is a lifelong scholar specializing in cultural stuff. She was born and raised in Iran and was a curator at the Golestan Palace in Tehran before emigrating to Australia where she is completing a PhD.

We talk about what it is like growing up in Iran and the cultural similarities/differences between Australia and Iran.

Our news, media feeds and presidents indicate that Iran is our enemy. Except Iran has maintained an extremely rich and sophisticated culture for many thousands of years.

For context we discuss the history of Iran / Persia. Very basically: pre-Islam and post-Islam..... More importantly for our Western interests: pre and post WW2, and especially post Islamic Revolution.

Shima and I were introduced to each other by Guildhouse for a project connecting migrant craftspeople with Australian artists. We ran a wood inlay workshop together and created SUN: an artwork neither of us could have produced alone. Collaborations are awesome! SUN is for sale at Bungendore Wood Works Gallery NSW, Australia. https://bwoodworks.com.au/

Shima is totally gentle and is not political. We didn't discuss politics. This podcast is about bringing people and cultures together.

Shima and I have never discussed this, but I personally encourage everyone to check out Mohammad Mosaddegh's story. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Mosaddegh

At the end of our conversation you can enjoy some Iranian music: 2 contemporary and 2 traditional pieces.

Music: 1. Salar Aghili - Sarve Zire Ab 2. Homayoun Shajarian - Sarnevesht 3. Kayhan Kalhor & M.R. Shajarian - Festive Occasion 4. Kayhan Kalhor & M.R. Shajarian - Instrument and Vocal (Poem by Baba Tahor) More Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_SSrzMBHCA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siskYo3PozI Guitarists take note!!!

Golestan palace: Images UNESCO official website archived

Persian Rug collection example image

The book we discuss from Manus Island:

Behrouz Boochani "No Friend but the Mountains"

A Separation - a movie we discuss https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_separation_2011

Guildhouse https://guildhouse.org.au/the-third-space-intercultural-crafting/ https://guildhouse.org.au/

SUN. Colaboration: Shima Gholami and Adrian Potter

Golestan Palace - Mirror Room

Margaret Dodd is an artist well known for her ceramic cars. She graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1968. Margaret is also a movie maker and her film "This Woman is Not a Car" has been recently acquired by the Art Gallery of South Australia. We talk about the meanings behind her work and why she does it. Margaret has a strong political outlook and we talk about that too. Margaret Dodd is one of our wise elders. Check out her exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia if you can. https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/margaret-dodd-new-acquisitions/

www.adrianpotter.net.au

Thank you Andrew Bunney for connecting Margaret to the Revolution.

Margaret Dodd and her work The Fossil, Greg Weight, 2002 ©

Reproduction of This Woman is Not a Car screenprint poster, Jan Mackay, 1981

Holden with Hair Curlers, Bridal Holden, Ravaged Holden from This Woman is Not a Car series, Margaret Dodd, 1977

Hoon Holden, ceramic car, Margaret Dodd, 1977