T. J. Eckleberg

T. J. Eckleberg is the Artistic Director at Shopfront, an Australian contemporary arts centre.

His projects fuse technology and multi-media across disciplines, with an immersive approach to theatre – incorporating sound design, organic approaches to lighting, design and movement. In 1999 his experiences with Welfare State International led him to create two large-scale site specific performances with boys at Birrong Boys High School – one of Sydney’s tougher schools. In his time at Shopfront he has directed CODA (2003) with residents of the Juvenile Justice system; How Sachi Lost Hs Leg (2004 - a site specific spectacular combining puppetry and Capoeira); Wadya Call Me? (2004 – in a back lane, incorporating a 4 x 4m rolling screen, puppetry, live radio broadcast, and 19m graffiti wall created during the performance). In 2005, he directed "Angels in the Architecture" – creating an aerial urban ghetto and song cycle with an integrated ensemble of performers with and without disabilities. In 2006 he directed "POP UP!" an interactive three-dimensional multimedia pop up book, in and around the Shopfront complex. He is also a producer, poet and musician. His new album,"When You Get Down To It", is a fresh take on new soul and is due for release in October 2007.

The director's name comes from Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, a fictional oculist in The Great Gatsby. He has long since left the scene, but he left behind a faded billboard on which is a massive pair of blue eyes with half spectacles, which watch over the "valley of ashes" in between New York and the newfound riches in the West Egg. The eyes symbolize God lamenting the moral decay and the hope and hopelessness of the American Dream in the 1920s.

Past Albums

*"Illumineon, 2003"
*"SUPERHYDRATED, 2000"
*"Waiting Room (EP), 1997"