2024 Project Seed Artists
Based on Arrernte Country, Mparntwe – Alice Springs in central Australia, Stick Mob Studio are passionate about creating stories and supporting people to tell and illustrate their own stories. Stick Mob create visual stories and engage with people through a broad range of media, including graphic novels (comics), podcasts, storyboards and more.
Declan Miller (Graphic Novelist & Creative Director)
“On my dad’s side I am from the Arrernte and Anmatyerre Lands of central Australia. My mum was born in Scotland. I wrote the first volume in my graphic novel series, ‘Mixed Feelings’ to show the diversity of stories that make up my hometown, Alice Springs – Mparntwe.Writing graphic novels allows me to create different worlds through my imagination. I am passionate about inspiring people to tell their stories.”
Wendy Cowan (Artist / Educator & Strategic Director)
“I am an educator and artist-activist living in Mparntwe – Alice Springs. I have lived in the NT for over two decades. I was born in Enniscorthy (Inis Corthaidh), Ireland. I left Ireland in my early 20’s wanting to experience the world. I walked the Kokoda Trail and the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. I worked in Jerusalem, Berlin (before the wall came down), as a weaver in the Gaza Strip, and as a designer with an African dance company in North London. When I returned to Ireland in my late twenties I set up an artist co-operative to work on socio/political arts projects in the lead up to Good Friday Peace Agreement.”
Seraphina Newberry (Alyssa Mason)
“I grew up in a family of Pitjantjatjara artists. I am Arrernte and have lived in Alice Springs – Mparntwe all of my life. I have been painting since I was five. I love to read comics and watch thriller movies, especially those with a good plot twist. I create graphic novels because it makes me feel good and relaxed; they take my mind off things.”
Alyssa Mason (Graphic Novelist)
“I was born in Mparntwe – Alice Springs. My family is from the Pitjantjatjara Lands in Central Australia. I started to draw a lot when I was eight years of age. My love of Anime and Shōnen Manga, fantasy, comic books and movies influence how I write and draw. My family and friends support me to follow my dream, which is to create graphic novels and draw ‘amazing’ illustrations.”
Lauren Boyle (Script writer)
“My family is from Alice Springs – Mparntwe. I now live in Adelaide with my father and younger siblings. I love to write stories about dark fantasy/dystopian fiction and apocalyptic worlds. I have always loved reading and writing as it’s a good way to get my head off things and just relax. My family are from Arrernte and Jingili Lands in the Northern Territory.”
Image credit: Art by Declan, Wendy and Seraphina (Copyright Stick Mob 2024)
L-R Declan Miller, Wendy Cowan, Lauren Boyle, Seraphina Newberry, Alyssa Mason