Tell us about what led you to creating the Leftover Lovers project. It started back in 2014 in Melbourne/Naarm, when two things collided at once. Me, rummaging through a bin, and the sustainability manager approaching me and asking what on earth I was up to. I explained that I was dumpster diving for perfectly good produce. Her response was to ask if I could organise a series of workshops at the market to teach people how to reduce food waste. And that’s exactly what I did. 

How did the photographs come together? The shoot came together organically, pardon the pun. All of the outfits were styled by Melinda Cluer. Chosen from both my existing wardrobe, her styling wardrobe (she works in TV and film), jewellery loaned from a friend, plus a dress I scored from Depop. The piece I loved wearing the most is Mindy’s mum’s belt, styled with the red dress. It’s a family heirloom and wearing it felt like being adorned with a piece of family treasure.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jessie Alice (@theleftoverlover)

Who did you collaborate with to bring these images to life? I collaborated with two incredible women to bring these images to life – my longtime friend Melinda, who styled all the looks, and Anthea Christie, who captured the shoot on film.

Melinda and I have been friends for over a decade. We met in Melbourne when I was catering an event and she was part of the organising team at School House Studios in Collingwood, a creative co-working space with an open kitchen. I still remember being head down, full gas, pulling together appetisers for thirty-odd guests when Melinda offered to help. She didn’t flinch at my slightly unhinged creations, strawberry bruschetta and pickled zucchini toasts with blueberries, and I think that’s when I knew we’d be friends. We both live in Sydney/Warrane now, and food is still how we spend time together.

These days I’m based on the South Coast of NSW, in a little town called Scarborough (look it up – there’s more than one). That’s where I met Anthea, one of the first people I connected with at Franks in Thirroul, a bar-slash-record store and community hub. She’s rarely without her film camera and is the maker of Zephyr zines, capturing local stories and creative life along the coast. The location was a no brainer – Leisure Coast fruit and veg market – all the staff there knew Anthea and happily welcomed us into their space.

What themes were you hoping to explore in the creation of these snaps? I wanted to explore the contrast between beauty and waste, to show that what’s discarded can be reimagined and given new value. There’s a subversive edge to that idea that really speaks to me.

On a personal level, it also connects to times in my life when I’ve felt discarded, especially in relationships. Creating these images was a way to reclaim that feeling and turn it into something beautiful. And on a lighter note, it was also about revisiting a past chapter. A time when I quite literally performed getting into bins, and documenting that with humour and heart.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jessie Alice (@theleftoverlover)

How will Leftover Lovers live on? When I hit pause on Leftover Lovers, it was because I felt I’d taken it as far as I could. At the same time, imposter syndrome had crept in. I’d open up cookbooks to be greeted with a warm and fuzzy family story, and that wasn’t my experience. I felt like I didn’t belong in that world. Now, looking back, it feels almost poetic that someone estranged from family would be drawn to what’s discarded. Creating new traditions and recipes from what others overlook.

With more clarity and a deeper understanding of my own story, I’m returning to Leftover Lovers with a fresh appetite to talk about waste and my many adventures dumpster diving. On a practical level, I want to explore teaching a new style that I’m coining “intuitive cooking” – helping people to build confidence in the kitchen and connect with food in a way that naturally reduces waste.