2025 right here right now 2025
DEATH: The Departure is now a dedicated website for my death work at: thedeparture.com.au. This ‘Hayley West’ website is devoted to my socially engaged art practice, including uploaded episodes from my radio show DEAD AIR. My business mentor suggested I separate art and business for clarity :)
WORK: I’m now working in Visual Arts at LTU, and it’s been great so far. I have missed my colleagues in the academic library, but they’re just in the building next door and I pop in unannounced every now and again to check on the plants and nick good stationery. I’m also still working at my local public library on occasion, so not giving up 9 years of #librarylyfe just yet.
RADIO: My live radio show DEAD AIR Mondays 10-11 am AEST 94.9MainFM is still receiving fantastic feedback, which makes me very happy :) All current episodes have their own page here on this website: DEAD AIR episodes Way earlier episodes (1-48) are on my MixCloud page here - DEAD AIR episodes 1-48.
WRITING: I had the pleasure of being photographed by artist Tina FiveAsh recently in Sydney. You can now read my letter that’s just been published for her amazing The Death Letter Project. Other readings include: The Art of Healing magazine (Winter edition, 2024), That’s Life! magazine (issue no.46, 2024), Peppermint Magazine (issue 58, Winter 2023) and the Bendigo Magazine (issue 48, Spring 2017).
ART: exciting info coming soon…
PRESENTATIONS: exciting info coming soon…
TRIPS: exciting info coming soon…
RANDO: I did one of those 16 Personalities tests, I’m a Campaigner (ENFP-T) apparently, not sure what to do with this information, but it sounds pretty spot on… “As an ENFP (Campaigner), you are a vibrant force of enthusiasm, creativity, and idealism. Your mind is a constant whirlwind of ideas and possibilities, each more exciting than the last. You approach life with an infectious energy that draws others to you, your charisma and genuine interest in people making you a natural connector and inspirational force. Your curiosity knows no bounds, and you have an insatiable appetite for new experiences and perspectives. This openness, combined with your vivid imagination, allows you to see potential and opportunity where others might not. You’re not just a dreamer, though – you’re a dreamer with a mission, driven by a deep-seated desire to make the world a better place.”
MUSIC: Seeing live music is one of my joys, and our little town (population 9000) has so many incredible venues we’re so lucky to have such a vibrant music scene in Castlemaine. If you’re ever here, check out who’s playing at the Bridge Hotel, Theatre Royal, Taproom (Shedshaker Brewery), Red Hill Hotel, and Trash Cult further up the road in Eaglehawk. Live music in country Vic woop! You can support Australian artists by buying their music on Bandcamp, especially my fave Castlemaine bands K5 and DEAD and internationally acclaimed Anthony Pateras x