‘Signature Style’ @ Craft

The flu has had me in its grip for so long now that I nearly missed ‘Signature Style‘ at Craft, only catching it on the last day.

exhibition media

Exhibition media: “Signature Style is a major group exhibition exploring models of collaborative practice in contemporary jewellery. Featuring the work of some of Melbourne’s most exciting artists and jewellery practitioners Signature Style will be a significant addition to the emerging discourse around collaboration and contemporary craft. Collaboration poses a very different method of working – by its very nature, collaboration eschews individual artistic identity in favour of some kind of ‘third’ position. Signature Style will examine new methodologies of working and ‘work’, thinking through the potentials of collaboration within craft and design.“

Meredith Turnbull & Manon van Kouwijk

The combination of pieces by Meredith Turnbull and Manon van Kouswijk is stunning; their display gorgeous and sympathetic. I noticed though that their collaboration was more a conversation, as there didn’t seem to be any pieces with both of their names against them. This differed from other artists collaborations, as most of these were attributed to both artists.

installation; Katherine Wheeler & Polly van der Glas

I also loved the work by Katherine Wheeler and Polly van der Glas. Even though hair and teeth are not really my thing, and the fingers freaked me out initially, it must be said that their materials seemed well-matched. Katherine has written on her blog about the collaboration, with some lovely images; I especially enjoyed reading that: “We have both found the most successful pieces within our installation are the ones that have been made together- and taken on the 3rd entity through the collaborative process- not entirely either artist’s signature style, but a successful merge of the two.“

Tessa Blazey & Alexi Freeman

Thirdly, the dress by Tessa Blazey and Alexi Freeman is arresting. The shadow it creates on the wall is too beautiful.

Participating artists are:

• Nicholas Bastin [site] & Matthew Dux
• Dan Bell, Bianca Hester, Charlie Sofo, Nathan Gray, Christopher LG Hill, Liang Luscombe & Oliver van der Lugt
• Tessa Blazey [site] & Alexi Freeman [site]
• Michaela Bruton & Kane Ikin [site]
• Milly Flemming [site] & Dani Maugeri [site]
• Natalia Milosz-Piekarska [site] & Katherine Doube
• Nina Oikawa & Bridget Bodenham [site]
• Meredith Turnbull & Manon van Kouswijk
• Karla Way [site] & Dylan Martorell [site]
• Katherine Wheeler [site] & Polly van der Glas [site]

installation

Karla Way has written about her work on her blog too, and has some amazing images of her incredible work with Dylan; while I found the sheer number of objects to look at a little overwhelming, my friend loved LOVED it [see her blog post here].

Natalia Milosz-Piekarska has also written about her work on her blog too. Her body piece is incredibly beautiful and the video shown alongside it, worn by dancer Katherine Doube is mesmerising.
Update (30th April): also see VettiLiveinNorthcote’s post for some lovely images of the installation.

Bridget Bodenham has also shared an image of her work with Nina.

‘Signature Style‘ was at Craft 8th March – 27th April 2013.

Phoebe Porter ‘Unfold’ @ Craft

More magic at Craft (formerly Craft Victoria): Phoebe Porter‘s ‘Unfold‘.

I absolutely loved this collection – their arrangement, their stark minimal contrast to the magnificent colour explosion in the adjacent rooms, their fineness, order and formality.

photograph taken with gallery permission

The inclusion of the making video and two large pieces of working equipment made it an informative visit too (especially fabulous for non-makers; giving a context that isn’t often seen).

Exhibition media: “The title Unfold has a dual meaning that alludes to both Porter’s technique of folding sheet metal to create jewellery pieces and her attempt to reveal the making process to the audience. Connections and joins in the pieces are clearly expressed, highlighting the methods of construction used in each design. Porter’s making process is revealed to the audience by this expression of construction within the pieces themselves as well as through the inclusion of video documentation in the exhibition alongside the finished works.“

photograph taken with gallery permission

I was tempted to take one home with me (well, when the exhibition is over of course!) … I’m still considering it …

Phoebe Porter ‘Unfold‘ is at Craft until 1st December 2012.

‘unnatural acts’ & ‘unnatural tendencies’ @ Craft

The bonanza of awesomeness at Craft (formerly Craft Victoria) continues with ‘unnatural tendencies‘ and ‘unnatural acts‘.

The first, ‘unnatural tendencies‘, is a collection by Melinda Young and Lauren Simeoni.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Exhibition media: “unnatural tendencies is the latest incarnation of Simeoni and Young’s collaboration and draws inspiration from a shared unnatural materials and the imagined narratives that they suggest. unnatural Tendancies is also informed by the subtle, unnatural shifts between the inner suburbs of Adelaide and Sydney, particularly in relation to the areas’ botany, architecture, people and sensibilities at once so similar, yet slightly strange. the works in Simeoni and Young exhibition are distillations of conversations, drawings and the time spent exploring the backways and byways of their inner suburbias. Their work reveals things that are both natural and unnatural, where there is a sensory shift in place. The duo has created strangely beautiful wearable objects, inspired by their surroundings then filtered through time and space.“

The second, ‘unnatural acts‘, is curated by Melinda and Lauren.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Exhibition media: “Each artist in unnatural acts was sent a bag of materials consisting of an odd collection of fake fruits, vegetables and other plant matter. Their brief was simply to make a small collection of wearable jewellery using or responding to the contents of the bag. For most of the participants the brief required an ‘unnatural act’ to be performed outside of the comfort zone of their usual making. The results are diverse and exciting.“

Participating jewellers are:

• Anna Davern [site]
• Caz Guiney [site]
• Kath Inglis [site]
• Bridget Kennedy [site]
• Peta Kruger [site]
• Sim Luttin  [site]
• Natalia Milosz-Piekarska [blog]
• Mark Vaarwerk [site]

Such a gorgeous room of colour! The arrangement of the work by colour is especially lovely.

Also check out their blog.

‘unnatural tendencies‘ and ‘unnatural acts‘ are at Craft until 1st December 2012.

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Update [3rd November]: some more beautiful images and text just now published on Melinda’s blog here; PLUS Zoe Brand has published her opening speech too!

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‘The Lost Voyage of Captain Foley and the HMS Laburnum’ @ Craft

You must immediately stop what you’re doing and race down to Craft (formerly Craft Victoria). It is imperative. [Unless of course it's not within their opening hours, or you have children to tend, and so forth ... you know, be sensible and stuff!]

Anyhoo, it is a veritable bonanza of awesomeness at Craft.
There are three magnificent exhibitions you simply must see.

In gallery three is ‘The Lost Voyage of Captain Foley and the HMS Laburnum‘ by Lucy James and Anna Davern.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Have you ever walked into a gallery space and just smiled with delight? My friend and I did just that with this exhibition. It is an absolute joy.

photograph taken with gallery permission

Exhibition media: “The Lost Voyage of Captain Foley and the HMS Laburnum taps into the mysteries of ‘under the sea’ and ‘into the woods’ and explores and exploits the unknown, the uncanny and the unbelievable.

Artists Anna Davern and Lucy James will combine their shared obsessions of collage, composition and storytelling to present a tongue-in-cheek perspective of colonialism and the 18th Century fascination for the bizarre creatures that were brought back from the strange new continent of Australia.

Referencing the sea and the voyages taken by these creatures, Davern and James propose an alternative result of these expeditions: a ship loaded with live specimens is overwhelmed by a large mythological wave which changes things: koalas find homes in over-sized seashells; sea bass snuggle in wallaby pouches; hybridised creatures gain super powers from their new environments, and animals gain the use of opposable thumbs.“

photograph taken with gallery permission

There is so much to enjoy here. I especially loved the piece called ‘I forgot my lunch‘ (I think that was its name). It’s possible I may have skipped just a little bit with joy.

Others who have loved this exhibition include VettiLiveinNorthcote, Lucy James has some beautiful images on her blog, as has Anna Davern on Northcity4′s blog.

‘The Lost Voyage of Captain Foley and the HMS Laburnum‘ is at Craft until 1st December 2012.

Peaches + Keen ‘The Hanging Garden’ @ Craft Vic

Peaches + Keen latest show, ‘The Hanging Garden‘, in the window of Craft Victoria, is gorgeous.

Joyful. Colourful.

The Hanging Garden

There are enamelled vessels and hama-bead jewellery from Lucy Hearn.
There are embellished prints from Lily Daley.
There is a large terrarium; crocheted hanging planters; and new beaded hanging planters (I loved them!!).

The Hanging Garden

I only managed to see the window on a public holiday, and so wasn’t able to pop inside – which I really want to do soon, as I want to see the book they’ve made too (the open pages in the window are lovely!).

The Hanging Garden

Make sure you check out their blogs … so much to love.

‘The Hanging Garden‘ is at Craft Victoria until 5th May 2012.

A few more images below….

Nicholas Bastin ‘The Sleepless Hero’ @ Craft Victoria

My first impression, upon walking into Nicholas Bastin’s ‘The Sleepless Hero‘ exhibition at Craft Victoria [link], was ‘wow’.

The exhibition design is fabulous – “the jewellery objects are installed on diagrammatic depictions of the body. The original characters have long gone – dead, and all that remains are the remnants that ‘recount’ these characters …” [exhibition media]

image taken with gallery permission

The pieces I enjoyed the most were those made for “The Time Traveller” – especially ‘Emblem‘ and ‘Round Container with Mountain and Colour‘, left and right respectively in the image below. The scale is powerful and the colours, though riotous, are perfectly balanced.

image taken with gallery permission

Nicholas has also made collections of remnants for four other characters:

• “Wolfe”: four buttons and a lucky foot charm
• “Styromancer”: strange pieces … including one ‘Styrene Behemoth‘, a title which made sense given its scale
• “Black Sparrow”: pieces with mostly feather iconography
• “The Hidden Princess”: again, feathers; though also including the ‘Painted Mountain with Hidden Dragon Egg‘ (as seen in much of the exhibition media)

The drawn linear personalities on the wall certainly put the pieces into a context and tell an extra part of their story – I thought it was a brilliant presentation idea.

Nicholas Bastin’s ‘The Sleepless Hero‘ is at Craft Victoria until 21st April.

‘Fresh!’ 2011 @ Craft Victoria

It’s that time of year again – time to visit Craft Victoria to see the selected art graduate works at ‘Fresh!’.

photograph with permission

The aesthetic was quite different to last year – there seemed more installation focussed work, and much less colour than I would have expected of a group exhibition. It was surprising to me actually.

image with permission

Artists selected to participate are (alphabetically):

• Matthew Benjamin (VCA, Photography)
• Dan Bowran (Monash, Glass)
• Hannah Chamley (RMIT, Fashion)
• Jia Jia Ji Chen (RMIT, Ceramics); right below
• Allona Goren (RMIT, Gold & Silversmithing); left above
• John Gosper (RMIT, Fashion)
• Elly Hall (Monash, Photomedia)
• Lisa Imai (VCA, Sculpture / Spatial practice)
• Wendy Korol (RMIT, Gold & Silversmithing); right above – overall winner
• Sophie Moorhouse Morris (RMIT, Ceramics); left below
• Rosina Prestia (Monash, Sculpture)
• Nellie Rogerson (Monash, Painting)

image with permission

Last year’s exhibition post is here.

‘Fresh!‘ 2011 is at Craft Victoria until 23rd December 2011.