For those of you whose imaginations were captured by the article in the current issue of Dumbo feather (Issue 21) about Lenka & Michael who wrote letters to every person in a small town in Northern Ireland … here’s your chance to be involved in the next stage of their gorgeous project – ‘Mysterious Letters‘. You see, Michael and Lenka would still like to write a letter to every person in the world, one town at a time. They have their next town pinpointed, but need to raise some $ to get started. Here’s where you come in. In return for a pledge via Kickstarter, they will write you a letter with a difference …

[*Spoiler warning* If you want the five people in Issue 21 to remain a surprise until you receive your copy - read no further]

Photography by Marije Vogelzang

Marije Vogelzang
We all eat, but very few of us really stop to think about why or how. Marije Vogelzang does. She is an ‘eating designer’ and you’re forgiven for not knowing exactly what that might be, because you see, she practically invented the term herself, or at least it was invented for her. During the course of Marije’s design training in The Netherlands she began asking questions like; Why don’t we like blue tomatoes? Can you actually taste it if food is made with love? How big is the maximum size of a spoon? When was the last time someone fed you? Despite numerous challenges she has gone on to open a restaurant in Rotterdam and another restaurant/studio in Amsterdam, both called Proef. Marije is now one of the most exciting and sought-after designers in Europe today with museums, galleries, public and private companies and individuals all wanting to experience first-hand one of her meals, workshops or installations … Df

Photography by Julie Maher for the WCS

Julian Fennessy
Julian Fennessy loves Africa and its extraordinary wildlife and is determined not to let one of its most iconic, and yet understood, species become extinct. It defies belief, but several sub-species of giraffe – yes, it’s giraffe (plural) not giraffes – are on the verge of extinction. While giraffe as a whole species are on endangered watchlists, Julian’s ground-breaking genetic research suggests that giraffe sub-species are so distinct that they need to be protected and conserved at that Julian is currently the Executive Director of the Kenya Land Conservation Trust, the current Chair (and founding member) of the International Giraffe Working Goup, and a founder and trustee of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation … Df

Kali Arulpragasam
Now this is a girl who has been places and is ‘going places’ too. These days Kali Arulpragasam makes extraordinary collections of jewellery. They’re not everyone’s cuppa, but they’re not meant to be. They’re meant to stimulate conversation and thought around issues Kali feels passionate about. Being passionate about issues runs in her blood. Born into a Tamil family in Sri Lanka, her father went into politics when she was very young. It sent them into hiding during the civil war and eventually they had to leave, ending up in the UK where they finally found some stability. They are probably the most well-known expat Tamils in the world (Kali’s younger sister Maya is a very successful hip hop artist known by the name M.I.A.) and often speak up about the conflict still destroying their homeland and against wars all over the world … Df

Photograph by Tom Hunt

Jim Haynes
Jim Haynes loves people and he loves life. Now in his late 70s, he has served dinner to over 130,000 people in his Parisian home/atelier over the past 33 years. In 2005, 18 people got together and wrote a book in homage to their friend Jim who “has made getting to know people his life’s work.” In it publisher John Calder explains, “It is not so much that he is innocent – at his age and with his experiences he could hardly be that – but that he wills himself to be an optimist … He sees the world as he wants to see it and ignores all evidence to the contrary.” Jim was lucky enough to be a young adult in the ‘swinging’ ‘60s, a time and an attitude that seemed to suit him perfectly. Art and culture have been central to his life; he started the first paperback only bookstore in the UK in Edinburgh in the late ‘50s, closely followed by the Traverse Theatre, the Arts Lab in Covent Garden and ‘IT’ newspaper. He has authored a number of books and published several more, and then there are the dinners … Df

Photography by Kate Spence

Victoria Spence
When I sat down to interview Victoria Spence I had no idea that the very together, refined, warm woman before me had had such a rocky journey to this point – living testament to the old adage that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. What I knew about Victoria was what I’d jotted in my ‘editorial spreadsheet’; a web address and the recommendation I’d received from a subscriber, Dean Whittle. He mentioned her youth spent as an elite athlete and current vocation as a celebrant ‘with a difference’; with true passion and respect for the role of ceremony in our lives, particularly at their ends. I’d really just followed my gut to her door. It turns out that’s how Victoria lives her life too … Df

Order a copy of Issue 21 here.

[*Spoiler warning* If you want the five people in Issue 20 to remain a surprise until you receive your copy - read no further]

Photography by Daniel Guerra

Aaron Blabley
To most it would have appeared that Aaron Blabey was a pretty successful Australian actor. He’d won an AFI award for Best Actor and had a couple of other nominations. He’d had parts in tv shows like ’The Damnation of Harvey McHugh’, ‘Stingers’, ‘Crashburn’, ‘All Saints’, ‘Wildside’ and ‘Phoenix’, and movies like ‘Mullet’ and ‘The Human Touch’. He had an agent, fans … but inside he felt like a fraud. A chance encounter with some paints on a theatre stage gave him the impetus he needed to leave acting and start painting. Painting led him to making children’s books and again he’s winning awards, this time doing what he genuinely adores. But life twists and turns and once more Aaron’s at a crossroad. We met him there …

Margaret Wertheim
Margaret Wertheim is the first to admit that for the better part of her life she’s missed the mark and been “out of sync with the times”. Her books, ‘Pythagoras’ Trousers’ and ‘The Pearly Gates of Cyberspace’, delved into themes of science and religion, well before the topic became fodder for mainstream press. She has also written and produced a dozen television documentaries and most recently she founded The Institute for Figuring (IFF), an organisation to further her life’s work of “bringing science to the other 90%.” This time, Margaret seems to have tapped into the zeitgeist. The IFF’s Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project has captured the world’s imagination. It has been shown in some of the most prestigious galleries and exhibition centres and Margaret has been invited to give workshops and talks (including the TED conference in 2009) the world over. Now this Brisbane-girl talks to us …

Photograph by Joseph Brown

Nicholas Rowe
A young(er) Nicholas Rowe had the world at the tips of his ballet shoes. He had danced with the Sydney Dance Company and the Australian, Royal New Zealand and Finnish Ballets. Then an epic bike journey through Europe, Africa and India shifted his outlook and ever since he’s been working within the world’s most traumatised communities, helping to foster communication and story-telling through dance. During the eight years he spent in Ramallah, Palestine, he not only helped hundreds of children to cope with their suffering, but also had two of his own with wife Maysoun. They now live in New Zealand where Nicholas has taken a position as Associate Dean (Postgraduate) National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries of Auckland University. We spoke with him there …

Photograph by Andrew Lehmann

Saskia Havekes
The other day, Saskia Havekes and I sat, perched on a corner of the massive workbench which dominates her tiny shop called Grandiflora. Dwarfed by the most amazing blooms and battling sensory overload we chatted while her helpers whipped thousands of thorns from the stems of roses. Just as we were finishing up, chef Damien Pignolet arrived with the most divine cake, fresh from the oven, (apparently he bakes the Grandiflora team one every week) and left with an armful of flowers. I did likewise. It’s easy to see that it’s Saskia’s extraordinarily generous spirit and down-to-earthness, as much as her talent, that have led her to become Australia’s most sought-after florist …

Photography by Sean Fennessy

David Trubridge
In 1981, David Trubridge and his wife Linda sold all their worldly possessions, bought a yacht called Hornpipe, and set sail from England. David left behind a budding career as a furniture designer – he’d recently fulfilled commissions for the Victoria & Albert Museum and St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh. They took with them their two small boys and a desire for adventure. For five years they sailed through the Caribbean and Pacific, eventually landing in New Zealand where they’ve been ever since, and where David has managed to carve out an extraordinary reputation as a furniture and lighting designer. His immediately recognisable lights adorn the chicest of cafes, homes and offices. Here David shares with us his story and ground-breaking ideas that could revolutionise the way we buy and consume design, and in turn significantly lighten the load on our environment …

Order a copy of Issue 20 here.