Inside 'RUSSH's debut book launch at the Art Gallery of NSW

WORDS Cassandra Dimitroff PHOTOGRAPHY Kitty Callaghan and Olivia Repaci PUBLISHED Fri, 20 Dec 2024 - 9:30 am

Under the golden hues of a sunlit December morning, RUSSH marked its 20th anniversary with quiet grandeur at Meers Hall, nestled within Naala Badu, the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ striking new north building. With its soaring glass windows framing a lush green garden in perpetual bloom, the venue became a sanctuary where art, fashion, and words wove together in celebration. The gentle strains of a grand piano, played by Jack Ladder, infused the morning with a sense of intimacy. Champagne flutes sparkled, beet juice offered a jewel-toned refreshment, and trays of miniature cinnamon donuts circulated.

It was a moment to thank more than two hundred of our key stakeholders, who gathered to mark two decades of independent storytelling through RUSSH's pages. But beyond that, it was also a moment to reflect on what this milestone signified for everyone in the room, striving to build something that endures.

The morning also celebrated the launch of RUSSH's first-ever limited-edition book, Try To Catch It: Voices of Australian Creative Minds, a compendium sharing wisdom from RUSSH interviews over the last 20 years. The book stands as a tribute to the voices of Australian creative minds, threading together the diverse perspectives and poignant reflections that have shaped RUSSH’s legacy so far. It's a tactile reminder of the enduring power of words, and those within it are the creative heartbeat of our generation and community. They are united in their courage to take up space and hold a power in being able to connect and tell stories, but often do so without any guarantees of recognition; a radical optimism to which we dedicate this book.

By that same thread, the morning's program opened with a profound moment of quiet reverence, setting a tone of reflection. Poet and model Nyaluak Leth took centre stage, her presence both poised and magnetic, commanding the room's attention with an air of undeniable charm. She shared two deeply moving pieces of spoken word poetry — Tamed and KEEP ON, KEEP ON — each one a testament to her ability to weave raw emotion with lyrical precision. Her voice rippled through the space like a current of energy and, at her request, a chorus of voices joined her, mirroring her rhythm and cadence, the call-and-response – "keep on, keep on" – echoing like a heartbeat; a reminder of the potency of shared voice and communal storytelling.

It was a fitting prelude to the words of Editor-in-Chief Jess Blanch, who reflected on the publication's storied past. Blanch spoke to the heart of RUSSH's ethos — its unwavering commitment to independence and its role as a platform for both emerging and established creative minds – and acknowledged the magazine’s legacy as a space where artistic risk is not only encouraged but essential; a crucible for bold voices and fresh perspectives.

“We can feel kind of hemmed in, here in Australia," Blanch remarked. "I know we have felt small at RUSSH due to our geography and where that puts us in the global scene – but we are finally starting to see a shift.”

“And we need to get behind this and be generous with each other in how we actively shape culture,” Blanch continued. “We have so much talent in this room and there is a lot of hope. We just need to trust our voices and commune. The world is intent on measuring our success on how big we become, or how much we achieve, but there is no reason it can’t be based on the connection we have with those around us."

As Blanch's words settled, the room rose in a collective toast – a gesture both celebratory and sacred. Glasses clinked against the backdrop of sunlight and dulcet piano tones, a symphony of gratitude for what has been and what is yet to come.