NADINE INGRAM
NADINE INGRAM
BAKER
Sydney, Australia
Not many people have accessed the holy ground where Nadine Ingram's home kitchen stands in Newtown, Sydney. As I unload my cinema gear in the hallway, I feel intimidated. And then the warm glow of the lamp, the sensational upholstered sofa, the books… her smile, and I'm wrapped in the blanket of a real home. Nadine's interior is the reflection of her personality: poetic, generous, beautiful. Read More
Bits of the filmed footage…
I don't want to be too chatty here. All I'd love is for you to read Nadine's words. Her personality shines through her answers. She's a fantastic addition to my "collection" of artists and artisans' interviews. Her sense of family and community are some of the strongest I've seen in my creative encounters. Meeting Nadine is like meeting a whole village. Oh, and I can't believe the tart story! A woman after my own heart.
Getting to know Nadine: @nadineingram @flourandstone
INTERVIEW
ORIGIN & IDENTITY
What's the story of your name? A friend of mine once told me 'Nadine' represents abundance and blessings. It's also French for hope, which Nick Cave says is 'the warrior emotion'. Everything makes complete sense in all of these meanings and I live and feel all of it. This gratitude shows up time and time again in my life. My family name that I was born with is Baxter which is Scottish for Baker. I believe when you're born, your life has already been lived.
Where were you born, and where do you live now? I was born in country NSW in Singleton surrounded by coal mines, an army camp base and a sprawling farming community. As you do, when you leave home, I tried to find a place that I felt was more me so I moved to London to be closer to who I felt I was. For a long time I thought I had moved home. I eventually moved back to Sydney and feel the city life suits my personality more though I appreciate the grounding that a country bringing instilled in me. It's funny how we leave home to try and develop our identity, often abandoning the ideas that made us who we are but then at a certain age we spend the rest of our life trying to find our way back home.
What language do you speak at home? What other languages do you speak? English. The other language spoken is a hybrid of the generational 'speak' of my daughters who keep me young in the process.
As a child, did you know you wanted to do this work? I've always been creative with my hands, I just hadn't found the medium for that expression yet.
CRAFT & PRACTICE
Please describe what you do. I bind meaning and intentions together through the medium of cake. In doing so, I am able to connect through my heart with 'my people' and a broader community.
What do you love to do so much that it makes you lose all sense of time and place? Weaving. With paper, yarn or whatever material I am attracted to at that particular moment. Through this practice I lose track of time while thinking (usually about the person I'm weaving for) and these feelings are transported into the piece. I've experienced splitting yarn while making a piece for someone I have a tumultuous relationship with. I try to repair as I weave.
What was your big break — the moment that changed everything for your practice? When I was just approaching the end of my apprenticeship (as a 19 year old) my head chef inspired the idea of going to learn further in London. It was there I honed my craft, met my husband and had my first child. It was a big bend in the road that led to where I am today.
What's the most difficult hurdle you've overcome in your work? As I've got older—trying to figure out what my part is in my business when I can't physically keep up with the young kids! Trying to harness what it is I have to offer my team is a constant mystery to me because it requires me to delve deep and discover gifts I didn't know I had...then develop them so I can continue with purpose, meaning and the equivalent impact I've always had as a baker. It's a struggle because it doesn't look the same but I've discovered maybe it's a quieter more subtle approach.
What does a perfect working day look like for you? Having meaningful interactions throughout the day, making things with my hands that challenge me and sitting down at the end of the day to debrief with my family.
INFLUENCES & MASTERS
What artwork, object, or piece of craft had the most impact on you? I couldn't say that there has ever been one piece but art appreciation is all about finding yourself in something. Sheila Hicks' weaving is one of the first moments I've seen myself in another artist's work.
Name the absolute master of your craft. Probably someone's grandmother, but she doesn't know it. Professionally I think Gillian Bell is up there for cake master. She makes cake look like angels have made it. Or Guy Mirabella whose cakes look like they emerged from nature.
Name an emerging artist or maker you're excited about right now. Samantha Mackie and her ceramics. She is known as a photographer, stylist and book binder but I think clay is going to shine the light on her truest self.
Who taught you something essential that you still carry with you? Pema Chodron said "fear stops the energy from getting to your heart".
VALUES, FEARS & PERSONALITY
What are your three most important values? Wholeheartedness, honesty, perseverance.
What is your greatest fear? My children being harmed.
What do you most value in your friends? Their acceptance.
QUIRKS & TREASURES
What is the most extravagant thing you've done? I went to Tasmania to bake an apple tart with my friend Jane. We both live in NSW and just stayed overnight at our friend Michelle's house. Michelle's husband came in to ask us what the purpose of our trip was and we said we just came to bake an apple tart! He laughed because he thought we were joking but we were serious!
What is your most treasured possession, and why? Probably a crystal powder dish given to me by my grandfather on my wedding day. It belonged to his sister, aunty Edna who was the only girl of 7 siblings! I have it filled with moonflower powder.
What sound or noise do you love? The indistinguishable conversation, a murmur really, of my daughters talking passionately about something that is important to them. Like when they are putting the world to rights. When my eldest daughter moved out from home this sound disappeared but when we are on holidays all together I soak up this sound and store it away. When they were small and we went to visit my grandparents with them my grandfather would say upon us leaving "it's going to be quiet around here". I didn't understand the significance of that until now.
What's a small luxury you couldn't live without? A bathtub.
TASTES & CULTURE
What's your favourite dish? Steak frites.
Latest book you loved. Graft by Maggie McKellar.
Latest film that made you love cinema all over again. The Taste of Things with Juliette Binoche.
Latest TV show you binged on. Legends.
What music are you listening to right now? Donny Hathaway. He has so many layers to his voice. I hear hope, faith, love and soul.
FUTURE & DREAMS
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? I always say I couldn't leave Newtown, but a townhouse in Notting Hill would be nice :)
Tell me about your most exciting current or dream project. I'm currently resting. But I would love to do cake pop ups in all the wonderful cities of the world. To take a team (front and back of house) with me and share my cakes with everyone. Kind of like Flour and Stone on tour.
What do you hope your work will be remembered for? A contribution to the baking universe by equipping my team with skills that they will take with them all over the world and share with people through education.
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Jon Batiste.
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Baker
Sydney, NSW, Australia