Some news on craft developments in Victoria, Australia, for July:

OF LATE
Thread and Two Sticks 6-29 July
Craft: Glass
Shelf
Mentorship
Sponsorship
New Board

THIS MONTH
        Craft Victoria Lecture - 25 July

OPPORTUNITIES
Darkroom
Magazine
Window competition

IN THE WINGS
Bejewelled visit - 21 August
        30th anniversary party - 19 September
Auction - 10 October
        King Billy on Trial - 21 October

SIDELINES
Screen pottery
Blanche Tilden


< OF LATE >

THREAD AND TWO STICKS
Lorinda Grant's opening warmed the Craft Victoria audience in a mid-winter
opening, Thursday night. In the centre of the gallery is a phalanx of
garments, knitted from undyed wool, and circumscribed by the Victorian place
names that figured in its production. In his opening speech, Dr David
Grounds spoke proudly of Lorinda's achievement in turning her condition to
such a pitch of creativity. The evening ended with a try-out of the knits
supplied by Lorinda for audience wear. Images at
www.craftvic.asn.au/exhibit/lgrant.htm. Lorinda's work will also be shown on
ABC Television (Snapshot, 6:55pm Wednesday 12 July).

CRAFT: GLASS
The first issue of Craft for 2000 is now out. It focuses on the material of
glass and contains thoughts from five collectors, Ivana Jirasek, Richard
Whiteley, Geoffrey Edwards and Klaus Moje in talking with Jacqui Gropp about
the 'international language' of colour in glass. This is Suzie Attiwill's
last issue as editor and features her review of the Melbourne Fashion
Festival. Copies are available from Craft Victoria and outlets at $7.70
(incl. GST).

SHELF
The new curator for shelf is Nadine Christensen. Nadine will be organising
works for the Craft Victoria window in the time between exhibitions in the
main gallery. Her theme is fantastic landscapes and should be worth more
than a passing glance throughout the year.

MENTORSHIP
Craft Victoria dispenses a VACF mentorship grant to support recent craft
graduates in spending time with a elder. This year's successful applicant is
Stephen Gallagher, a metalsmith who plans to work with an established
embroiderer. The work will feature in a Warrnambool exhibition, later in the
year and will hopefully be seen in Melbourne too.

SPONSORSHIP
After considerable effort, Craft Victoria were finally successful in winning
sponsorship for their future move into CBD premises. Tattersalls have
offered $30,000 to the establishment of new offices in the city.
Negotiations for a potential move into Federation Square are dragging on,
but hope springs eternal.

NEW BOARD
Marian Hosking is the new president of Craft Victoria. Marian was co-founder
of Workshop 3000 and is now co-ordinator Metals and Jewellery at Monash
University. Ceramicist Fiona Hiscock and glassmaker Maureen Williams team up
as co-vice-presidents. Director of Northcote Pottery Chayle Timbs and
metalsmith Pearl Gillies also join the board with Bill Russell, Chris Arnold
and Andrea Hylands.

< THIS MONTH >

CRAFT VICTORIA LECTURE - 25 July
Just a reminder about the annual Craft Victoria lecture, to be delivered by
Paola Antonelli, curator of design at the Museum of Modern Art (New York).
Her lecture on Mutant Materials will be at RMIT Storey Hall, Tuesday 25
July, 8pm ($12, $10 concessions).

(In July, Craft Victoria will also be hosting the national Craft
Organisation Association meeting and organising a Craftmark seminar for
Craft Australia).

< OPPORTUNITIES >

DARKROOM
To nurture the development of new trends in craft practice, the web site
will feature 'Incubator', a series of themes that touch on emerging
paradigms. The first of these is DARKROOM (www.craftvic.asn.au/darkroom),
which reflects the development of works both inside and outside photography
that explore the world of the darkroom now that many of its inhabitants have
migrated to the computer screen. Photographers include Harry Nankin, Susan
Purdy and Jo Scicluna, whose work featured in Shelf in July. Material
artists include Janie Matthews and Edwina Kearney. This site is open to
contributions.

MAGAZINE
The next issue of Craft will focus on metal, most particularly the idea of
perfection in working with metal. This idea provides a context for thinking
about the newly evolving CAD technologies being used by metalsmiths here and
there. If you have thoughts along these lines, the editor Kevin Murray would
be very interested to hear them ([log in to unmask]).

WINDOW COMPETITION
The Vestry of St Philip's Collingwood wishes to commission an artist to
design and fabricate windows in their new church buildings. Registrations of
interest for a competition to determine the successful designer are due on
23 July. There is an information evening planned for 9 July. For further
information, contact Susan North (9419 4681, [log in to unmask]).

< UPCOMING >

BEJEWELLED - 21 August
Craft Victoria has organised a special viewing to the exhibition Be
Bejewelled at Monash Gallery of Art. This selection from the NGV jewellery
collection has not been displayed for 10 years. Also at the gallery is
Reclaimed, a touring exhibition of contemporary British artists using
recycled materials. The viewing is on Monday 21 August evening, $10
admission and refreshments.

CRAFT IS A CAREER - 25 August
The annual Craft is a Career seminar is planned for 25 August at Monash
University. Speakers include Bianca Wiergard, Andrew Wood, Caz Guiney &
Nicola Cerini. The seminar provides information about professional practice
for graduating students.

30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - 19 September
Craft Victoria will be hosting a celebration of its 30 year history and
hopefully long future. The exhibition _From Eltham to Memphis_ will contain
a selection from the State Craft Collection, which is still held at the Meat
Market Craft Centre. It focuses on the shift from the authentic 1970s to the
baroque 1980s. The exhibition opens on 7 September and a collective
celebration is planned for 19 September (old and new friends of Craft
Victoria should make contact for details 9417 3111).

AUCTION - 10 October
This year's fund-raising auction is scheduled for Tuesday 10 October.
Proceeds from sales will be shared between artists and Craft Victoria.

KING BILLY ON TRIAL - 21 October
Violin making is a craft steeped in tradition. Source of many jokes, like
'How many luthiers does it take to change a light bulb? Five. One to change
the bulb while the other four contemplate how Stradivari would have done
it.' Some local luthiers are challenging this by introducing Australian
timbers, such as King William Pine from Tasmania. This will be the subject
of a public inquiry to coincide with the exhibition _Instrumental: An
Exhibition of Australian Luthiers_. The public has an opportunity to listen
to our King Billy on trial at St John's Church, Southgate, 20 City Road
Southbank, Saturday 21 October, 4-6pm.

< SIDELINES >

For a very strange use of computers in ceramics, try the Electronic Pottery
International Centre at www.pavu.com/epic/. Also, jeweller Blanche Tilden
now has hear own screen estate at www.blanchetilden.com.au.

=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=:-:=

Craft Victoria
114 Gertrude Street
FITZROY VIC 3065
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 3 9417 3111
fax +61 3 9419 7295
www.craftvic.asn.au
[log in to unmask]

Executive Director Margaret Harkness
Artistic Director Kevin Murray
Program Manager Robyn Phelan
Gallery Officer Sarah Bond.

Subscribe to Craft Victoria News by sending email to
[log in to unmask]



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%