O is for Single O, O’Brien and ‘Oh wow’, check out this art. And because Gemma's a typography artist, here's a few other letters to help tell her story.
FOUR ATE FIVE, at... well 485 Crown Street, is Gemma’s original Sydney hang. It’s a café with great food and coffee (Single O since its inception in 2009) and a magical doorway where swarming customers and staff somehow avoid collision. Tables are found, even for large groups, like the cyclist party Gemma first frequented with.
Which brings us to the pivotal letter B. Bikes are a thing for Gemma, including her current beloved pushie she found on Gumtree for a hundred bucks. Brisbane is where she grew up. Back-to-back espressos is her coffee order. They’re scoffed in between belly laughs. To borrow from the lettering world, this gal is just our type.
Bachelor of Law is what Gemma studied. Is this echoed in her lettering precision and principles? With the unconventional bold strokes representing her breakaway into art?
Are we allowed to be art critics now that we run the Art Bag Project?
Big murals under her belt include crackers for Nike, Google and Tiffany & Co.
Onto smaller (but hey, still significant) canvases, 20 years of Single O was the inspiration Gemma used for this bag artwork. She’s captured our wild and wicked ride with a mash up of coffee cherries and meteorites. Bean us up!
Gemma ethos to bring art beyond the traditional gallery space resonates with our Art Bag Project, which takes art to the street via cafes. Cheers Four Ate Five for the connection and thanks Gemma.
What’s your coffee order?
Double espresso please!
Is that your usual coffee order?
Double espresso or a 3/4 long black
We’re here at four ate five, what’s your connection to the cafe?
It’s one of my favourite spots in Sydney. Close to the Brett Whitely gallery and Title, an awesome book store.I used to come here when I first moved to Sydney after riding bikes as this meeting points between Redfern and the Beaches.
Can you tell us a bit about the process of creating the art bag?
Inspired by coffee, I found a coffee plant around the corner, took some photos of the berries, drew them, incorporated the Single O logo, sketched a black and white version with pen and paper, and then moved to colour. Combined all the elements together visually and voila, Single O art bag.
You’ve used an O for this work, obviously for Single O. What’s your process in deciding what letters or phrases to use in your work?
I’m a woman of words! I keep a record of random phrases from dreams or conversations or things I’ve overheard and then I like to select them based on how they look and what they mean.
Have you got a favourite piece of work?
Yes! My ultimate favourite is a mural I created that says Joy. Combines psychedelic elements, flowers, text to create this elevated dream world!
Who should do our next art bag?
Three options - Louise Zhang, Kris Andrew Small or Nadia Hernández. Take your pick.
