News from Craft Victoria, Australia
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< CURRENT HARVEST >
JOIN THE DOTS
CIRCLING THE SQUARE until 12 April
< COMING INTO BLOOM >
RIPPED AND REFINED 19 April to 12 May
PUBLICATIONS
ELSEWHERE
< SEEDLINGS >
ANNUAL CRAFT LECTURE 25 July 8pm
RELOCATION
GUILD UNLIMITED
< IN THE POTTING SHED >
SOUTH
CRAFTSPEAK
CRAFT LINKS
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< CURRENT HARVEST >
JOIN THE DOTS
More than 200 filled the auditorium at Storey Hall to hear a discussion
about the current state of patterns in design. Vera Möller spoke about her
passion for the stripe. Anthony Knight praised the high taste of regency
interiors. Neil Masterton explained the National Museum of Australia as an
example of 'pattern book' architecture. And 'fashion guru' David Shah gave a
spiel about the demise of pattern in today's fearful world. A general theme
was the use of pattern as a form of prestige, used by royalty, celebrities
and architects to impress their worth. The role of pattern as an enjoyment
of nature and tribal loyalty was overlooked. There's certainly room for more
pattern talk.
CIRCLING THE SQUARE until 12 April
The RMIT forum was followed by a popular opening of the Gray Street workshop
exhibition. All four artists-Julie Blyfield, Sue Lorraine, Leslie Matthews
and Catherine Truman-were in attendance and spoke during the floor talk.
Images of the opening are at www.craftvic.asn.au/behscen.htm
< COMING INTO BLOOM >
RIPPED AND REFINED 19 April to 12 May
Mary-Louise Edwards curates an exhibition of artists using recycled
textiles. Local artists include Chaco Kato, Sophie Knezic, Jennifer
Bartholemew and Stephan Gevers. The exhibition will also include 'ledras'
from the Bihar Tribal Women's Artist Co-operative. 'Ledras' are quilts made
from old saris. The new lord mayor of Yarra will open the show.
PUBLICATIONS
The Outlets issue of Craft Bulletin is out. The database of craft outlets is
currently online, so if you are looking to find craft for sale in Australia
you might want to visit www.craftvic.asn.au/info/outlets.asp. The issue of
the Craft Magazine on textiles is currently in editing process and is due
out at the beginning of June. The next issue of Craft Bulletin will be the
first in a series on skills, focusing on Japanese techniques and how to
obtain experience in them.
ELSEWHERE
Current Craft Victoria members and friends activities include 'Look See' at
Monash University Gallery until 5 May and 'In the Bag' at Platform Flinders
Street until 5 April (both curated by Sarah Bond and Natasha Bullock);
Almost Black - Sally Marsland (Gallery Funaki until 7 April); Water Medicine
(University South Australia Art Museum, 19 April- 26 May, curated by Kevin
Murray with 11 artists including craftspersons Robert Baines, Clare
Belfrage, Jacqui Gropp, Liz Williamson, Janie Matthews and Bronwyn Goss);
David Ray at Haeccity Gallery until 21 April and Fiona Kwong at Studio Ingot
from 1 - 14 April.
< SEEDLINGS >
ANNUAL CRAFT LECTURE 25 July 8pm
The Annual Craft Victoria Lecture will be given this year by Louise Lemieux
Bérubé, Director of the Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles, who will
be in Australia for an exhibition and conference 'e-textiles' featuring new
technologies in weaving on the Jacquard loom.
RELOCATION
We are currently developing plans for the design of our future premises in
31 Flinders Lane, which includes gallery, shop, library, offices and
storage. At this stage, we expect our first exhibition to open there on 7
September 2001-a spring opening.
GUILD UNLIMITED
We have now developed a list of artists with their nominated guilds. The
exhibition includes Brendon Adair-Smith (Office cleaners), Roseanne Bartley
(Ghost writers), Pierre Cavalan (Body Assayers & Refiners), Tracey Clement
(Leg waxers), Marcus Davidson (DJs), Deborah Fiori (Call centre operators),
Barbara Heath (Tree planters), Shaelene Murray (Housewives), Sarah Jane Ross
(Barristas) and Blanche Tilden (Bicycle mechanics). The fate of Guild
Unlimited now rests in the hands of participating metalsmiths and the heads
of funding bodies.
< IN THE POTTING SHED >
SOUTH
John Kean from Melbourne Museum recently lent Craft Victoria his copy of
'Mau Mahara: Our Stories in Craft'. Produced by the Crafts Council of New
Zealand, the book includes profiles of individuals who had a custodian
relationship with a particular object or skill, such as crayfish pot,
kahawai lure, and kauri chain. Published in 1990, it suggests that
responsibility for material culture might be a force for bringing Pakeha and
Maori together. So where are things now?
Craft Victoria recently received support through the Australia Council's
Craft Leadership fund to develop a network of craft practitioners and
organisations interested to develop a focus on craft in the southern
hemisphere.
CRAFTSPEAK
# Recent additions to our database of craftspeak
Do all artists enjoy 'craft' talk?
[Describing conversation with Harold Pinter] "Careful with his words, he
often paused for a time before stating his opinion. He had an artist's
caution about summing up or explaining his plays and an artist's enjoyment
of craft talk." The Progressive (Anne-Marie Cusac)
Should Craft Victoria represent broadcasting?
[Comment from Graeme Thomson (secretary of the CPSU)] "Loyal staff have been
disaffected by a closed and autocratic style ... and by the growing
realisation that excellence in programming and dedication to the various
crafts upon which the ABC's high reputation has been based are no longer
valued."
Does craft give scientists a conscience?
"Scientists who present their subject as a set of arcane mysteries betray
their own craft, argues Colin Tudge" [From New Statesman
http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/200102260015.htm]
Craft makes a better world…
"With the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people at stake,
not to mention the health and functioning of our aquatic environment, there
is little time to waste in crafting a more productive and sustainable form
of irrigated agriculture - one that can last for centuries." 'River of
Sand', WW Norton & Co, New York (S. Postel)
# Add your own quote at www.craftvic.asn.au/info/craftspeak.asp
CRAFT LINKS
# Recent additions to our database of craft links include:
Art and Landliteracy forum
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/carts/alf/Index_alf.html
A network of activities involved in place-marking around Australia, awaiting
contributions
Adopt a Tree http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/carts/alf/Index_adotatree.html
Project for gathering details of individual trees that carry special
meaning. It includes the Red Tree project in the Tasmanian midlands.
Contemporary Art Centre of South Australia discussion on Adelaide Festival
Artist's Week http://www.cacsa.org.au/cacsa/dialogue/index_frames.html
An important discussion about the future of Australia's most important
gathering of visual arts and crafts.
Sue Walters Pyrography http://web.one.net.au/~suewalters/
Fine realism pyrography and woodburning on wood, paper and leather by
Australian artists, Sue Walters.
Australian Store http://www.australianastore.com
Australiana Store showcases an extensive range of quality Australian made
handcrafts, glass, ceramics, wood, bronze, aboriginal art, souvenirs and
gifts. Located in Melbourne, Australia.
Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council http://www.nsdcc.ns.ca
Julie Gibbons http://athene.riv.csu.edu.au/~jgibbo03/hammers/hammers.html
Metalsmith from Wagga Wagga with interesting writing about zen and craft
New possibilities for paper http://www.noosaregionalgallery.org/paper
Program of conference and exhibitions looking an new developments in paper,
organised by Noosa Regional Art Gallery.
Alice Springs Beanie Festival http://www.beaniefest.calliejo.com/
Annual festival of beanies, the clothing signature of Central Australia,
featuring fashion parades and exhibitions in Alice Springs
# If you have a link that you would like to contribute, please go to
http://www.craftvic.asn.au/info/addlink.htm
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Craft Victoria
114 Gertrude Street
FITZROY VIC 3065
Melbourne, Australia
ph +61 3 9417 3111
fax +61 3 9419 7295
www.craftvic.asn.au
Executive Director Margaret Harkness ([log in to unmask])
Artistic Director Kevin Murray ([log in to unmask])
Program Manager Robyn Phelan ([log in to unmask])
Gallery Officer Sarah Bond ([log in to unmask])
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