Thursday, February 24, 2011

Sustainability for woodwork and furniture: adjusting and growing


























February’s newsletter looks at timber usage for furniture and object design. The articles and interviews cover issues such as adjusting to changes in market demand and growing local markets, core skills in woodwork, benefits from mentoring programs in transforming the creative process as well as key issues for sustainable timber usage.

February issue of ca enews
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Jeff Mincham: Ceramics


































Jeff Mincham: Ceramics is a national touring exhibition presented as part of the Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft series. This program is an initiative of Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design, and is promoted by Craft Australia. Mincham preferring clay as his medium, explores and develops his techniques and processes for his arts practice, using natural elements to inspire and inform his work.

The exhibition is showing at the following venues.

Tamworth Regional Art Gallery
5 February - 19 March 2011

Dubbo Regional Gallery
Mid April - Mid July 2011


Image top: Jeff Mincham 

Image middle: Jeff Mincham, ceramics 

Image bottom: Jeff Mincham, ceramics

Liz Williamson: Textiles















































Liz Williamson: Textiles is a national touring exhibition presented as part of the Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft series. This program is an initiative of Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design, and is promoted by Craft Australia.  Williamson's fine handwoven textiles display her characteristic interest in the construction of cloth, with a unique surface appearance created through the interlacing of threads of different fibre content.

The exhibition is showing at the following venue.
Sturt Gallery
20 March - 1 May 2011



Image top: Liz Williamson 

Image Bottom: Liaz Williamson, Loop series 

Robert Baines: Metal













































Robert Baines: Metal is a national touring exhibition presented as part of the Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft series. This program is an initiative of Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design, and is promoted by Craft Australia. Baines is one of Australia's most influential and prominent jewellers and displays extraordinary artistic range and exceptional craft skills in this new body of work. 

The exhibition is showing at the following venues.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery 
28 January - 13 March 2011

Geelong Regional Art Gallery 
16 April - 26 June 2011


Image top  
Robert Baines 

Image bottom 
Robert Baines, Redder than Green, Neckpiece 2009 Silver, powdercoat, paint, electroplate Silver, powdercoat, paint, electroplate 69H x 105W x 4260D

Monday, February 21, 2011

right way: the future of Indigenous craft and design




















 Craft Australia has created this hub for Indigenous craft and design across the country.

Using right way is easy. Start by posting a reply to a forum or blog post, or upload photos, by following the prompts.

You can start your own group, blog or album where you can talk about your particular work or project.

Introduce yourself to other right way members!

Once you have joined up just edit your profile, add a photo (save one on your computer 250x300dpi) and tell us about you or your organisation.

Image Pandanas weaving workshop at Selling Yarns Conference 2006  Photograpger Fiona Hooton

Call for Papers







Relational Craft and Design - Issue #4 Current Call for papers

Relational Craft and Design

craft +design enquiry is currently calling for papers that relate to the theme of 'relational craft and design'.

Despite the vigorous debate surrounding the disciplinary parameters and practice roles for craft and design in recent years, their relationship is characterised by wildly divergent interpretations. 'Craft' has become a significant and weighty word again at a time when the meaning of 'design' is shifting both within and outside the visual arts. Today we note everything from drug design to policy design, where 'design' indicates a higher level of consideration, conceptual and strategic thinking. Within this context, contemporary craft might appear as specific and cultural, while design's seeming ubiquity carries certain risks.

Call for papers information 

Monday, February 14, 2011

Catrina Vignando opens the National Contemporary Jewellery Award



















Images provided by Sturt Gallery

The National Contemporary Jewellery Award 2010 exhibition features work by 33 contemporary Australian jewellery designers.  The Award is sponsored by Griffith City Council, Charles Sturt University and Metalab and has been held biennially at Griffith Regional Art Gallery since 1988.

The exhibition brings together contemporary applied arts, visual arts and design practice into one innovative exhibition. 
Sturt is a very appropriate venue for such an exhibition given Sturt’s role in nurturing and supporting the work of many of Australia’s best known jewellery and metalwork artists.

Craft Australia
Sturt Gallery 
Metalab 
Griffith Regional Art Gallery 

Monday, February 7, 2011

CA enews


ca enews is emailed to subscribers every month. It presents information and news relating to the contemporary craft and design sector from a national perspective. Distribution within the sector is encouraged and new readers can subscribe at no charge. Condensed versions of each issue are also available in the Newsroom.

Current issue of ca enews focuses on contemporary studio glass


  












Image: Christine Cathie O-Void Red 2010 Cast and cold worked glass

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Craft Australia's Top Ten Library Articles

 About the Craft Australia library

The Craft Australia Library was established in the 1970s as an educational resource to support and facilitate growth in the Australian craft and design sector. Along with a library of books, magazines and catalogues a slide collection documenting the work of contemporary Australian craft and design artists was established. This unique, specialist research Library is located in Canberra and remains accessible to the public. Craft Australia Library
 
The ten most visited pages in the Craft Australia Library over the last 30 days.



  







Image L to R Koskela lights, Danie Mellor, Evelyn Dunston and Richard Whiteley

Design Files interviews Australian contemporary Jeweller : Julie Blyfield

Adelaide-based Julie Blyfield is one of Australia’s most respected and celebrated jewellers, with a career spanning over twenty years – after originally training as a secondary school art teacher!   Julie’s work is highly collectible these days, and is held in many of the most prestigious museums in the world, including  The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the National Gallery of Australia Canberra, and the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Design Files

  























Image: Works in progress on Julie’s workbench

artisan - idea:skill:product: TOP DESIGN - Jamie Durie's new design reality show...

artisan - idea:skill:product: TOP DESIGN - Jamie Durie's new design reality show...: "Calling all designers, artists, creatives and decorators ! A casting producer for Granada Media in Sydney has contacted artisan to assi..."

About Craft Australia

 

 

 

 





Craft Australia is the nation's peak advocacy organisation for Australian contemporary craft and design. We actively promote and provide access to Australian contemporary practice through advocacy, communication and research. 

All our details are on our website www.craftaustralia.org.au

Craft Australia platforms the outstanding achievements of Australian contemporary craft and design practice including the influence of new technologies, hybrid artworks and links with industry as a growth area for Australian craft and design.

Some of the programs we are working on include:
  • The provision of a free, monthly, online publication ca enews that showcases the national sector

  • The promotion of nationally celebrated artists through the Living Treasures program
  • The gathering of national data on issues that affect the sector through the online forums conducted biennially.



    Craft Australia is a registered charity and has approved deductible gift recipient status from the Commonwealth Government and attracts philanthropic support.