‘Unapologetically Dressed’ Exhibition captures Nambour’s fashion sense: Q&A

Unapologetically Dressed is an exhibition that is part of the Horizon Festival. The idea was was born out of Mill Street Fashion Walk — an Instagram page that documents fashion on the streets of Nambour.

It is the brainchild of Ketakii Jewson-Brown and Shaye Hardsity of ShayeKet Productions. They began scoping out the street style of Nambour back in 2019. As the tongue-in-cheek “fashion capital of the Sunshine Coast”, Nambour’s streets showcase a visual smorgasbord of eclectic, unapologetic and unique offerings daily.

Through sideways glances and “Excuse me” moments, and thanks to obliging members of the public, Unapologetically Dressed is to Nambour what Vogue is to New York.

The following is an interview with Ketakii and Shaye.

Q. If you had to describe this project to someone you didn’t know, what would you say? A. A dive into Nambour Street fashions and the people behind them.

Q. How would you ‘sell’ the experience? A. Love fashion, street style and the grit and glamour of Nambour? Come along to The Old Ambulance Station and check out ShayeKet Productions’ video piece highlighting all the above and more.

Q. Who will love your project? A. Anyone who wears clothes

Q. What are you looking forward to most about Horizon Festival? A. The lip synch battle that’s part of Glambour and Blak Laundry in Maleny.

Q. Where do you live? A. Both of us are hinterland dwellers, Shaye in Mapleton and Ketakii lives in Maleny

Q. Where do you work? A. Out of a shared studio space in Nambour called 2nd space

Q. Why do you personally choose to create on the Sunshine Coast? A. Because we live here and we love it!

Q. Favourite Sunshine Coast location? A. One of the beautiful lookouts along the hinterland where you are surrounded by nature with a killer view or one of Nambour’s side streets covered in street art

Q. How would you describe yourself as an artist? A. Eclectic, playful, deep

Q. How would you describe your work / practice to others? A. Our collaborative work is a mash up of Ket’s photography and Shaye’s textile art with an accent of street fashion and videography

Q. How would those closest describe you in 1 sentence? A. Kind, fun, creative

Q. What changes in the SC art landscape have you noticed in the past few years that you’re excited by? A. It feels like the arts and culture sector on the coast is growing and strengthening. We have made a lot of connections and love the sense of belonging we feel here.

Q. As a regional location, how does it compare to the rest of Australia and/or overseas? A. We may be lacking in great public transport but we make up for it in almost every other aspect – pristine natural surroundings, great food and coffee, fantastic arts scene and galleries, community feel and relaxed atmosphere

Q. What or who is the most exciting act you’ve experienced on the Sunshine Coast in the past year? A. Randy Feltface at Woodford Folk Festival – Ket had the realisation that he is her father’s purple, puppet doppelganger…

Q. What support have you received locally, especially in the past couple of years? A. We were both a part of The Refinery in 2021, Ketakii took part in the Path with Kellie O’Dempsey that year also. We have secured 2 RADF grants and a RAF grant for our project “The Sunshine Coat”.

Q. Which Sunshine Coast artist are you most inspired by? A. Very much inspired by the lovely Fiona Harding aka Spirit You. She is a bright beam of pure sunshine. Also inspired by the unapologetic and authentic approach to photography of both Kim Guthrie and Warwick Gow.

• Unapologetically Dressed runs from Saturday 26 August to Sunday 3 September at the Old Ambo from 10am–3pm. There will be a free Artist Talk at 10am on Saturday 26 August.