The Get Your Arts Into Gear podcast wrapped up its final episode for 2025 with an energetic celebration of local creativity, heartfelt personal stories, and a preview of the long-awaited Off The Wall exhibition opening this weekend. Hosts DJ Sparky and Glenn Smith were joined by artist Erin and musician Nik Hamby, offering listeners a vibrant blend of art, music, and candid conversation.
Arts Connect, the long-standing Ipswich arts group now in its 65th year, is preparing to showcase more than 150 pieces from 40 local artists at the Ipswich Community Gallery in D’Arcy Doyle Place. The exhibition opens to the public on December 12, with the official launch on December 14 at 2pm.
One of the featured artists is Erin, who brings a quirky collection of hand-knitted “chooks” — individually crafted decorative tea cozies that have become a hit among locals. She explained that creating the colourful birds began as a way to cope with the loss of her beloved bearded dragon. Since then, she’s knitted around 70 to 80 of them, each made from op-shop yarns, many of which are discontinued, making every piece unique.
Joining Erin was her father, Ipswich musician Nik Hamby, who will perform at the exhibition’s opening. Hamby shared the deeply personal journey behind his songwriting — from childhood trauma to navigating mental health challenges in adulthood. After rediscovering music in 2019, he began writing songs that evolved from stories about others to reflections of his own life. His work has since gained steady recognition, with airplay on Melbourne radio during the COVID lockdowns and a growing international following online.
Hamby performed “Starry Night” live on the podcast, chosen by the hosts for its emotional resonance and connection to the arts theme. He encouraged listeners to find his music online, noting that a search of his name brings up “about 40 pages” of results.
Before signing off, the hosts reminded listeners about the Get Your Arts Into Gear Awards happening this Saturday, celebrating achievements across Ipswich’s creative community.
The podcast closed with gratitude to its guests and a farewell to fans until the next season, marking the end of a year filled with artistic storytelling and community connection.
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