CHAT UP OF THE WEEK - RRR GRAPEVINE

great heads for radio

Its that time of the month again people. Ramona and I will be joining the Grapevine around 10:15 to talk up all that is crafty. We've both been battling bugs and mid winter blues - although those familiar with Ramona and my own instagram feed will note that we've both just as busy! It will be very good to get behind the mic with the lovely Grapeviners and talk up some exciting ways to make the most of the time indoors. 

We'll also be waxing lyrical about the new Gallery Oh retrospective show at Mr. Kitly which features the work one of our all time craft crushes, Bertjan Pot amongst others. Ramona and I have literally been waiting years to see Bertjan's rope masks and are still pinching ourselves that they're available for viewing now as part of Annexe Oh only one suburb away!

We've got two shows of the week to bring to your attention - Super ace DJ, painter, craftster, curator and all round legend Gemma Jones has a new shop How Am I Not Myself opening at Outré Gallery this Thursday night and the equally awesome Anita Cummins  is also opening her new show Quick Copy on Wednesday night at Bus Gallery. Gemma's latest collection of paintings, prints and wearables all featuring her signature sharp mod stylings and super pop girl groups straight outta Carnaby street, and just to up the multi dimensional craft action she's also collaborated with the equally talented and lovely jeweller Victoria Mason on enamel flags and banners.  We're excited. Anita on the other hand blew us away with her pom pom show a few years back and is continuing her own prismatic exploration of the spaces between knowing and unknowing via texta drawings and artfully arranged colour assemblages. we're pretty sure it's gonna be awesome.

This month however is really all about getting ready for Australia's biggest Craft Festival, Melbourne's own Craft Cubed which takes place right across Victoria throughout August. Last year there were over 120 satellite events and this year's even bigger so there'll be plenty of banter about what to book in for, what to save your pennies for, what to learn and what to see. Over the years we've seen and learnt some incredible things at this festival and we couldn't recommend it more highly.

Highlights for us so far include CulturalThreads  featuring a stack of amazing textile artists including HML favourites Eddy Carroll and Kate Just just to name a few.

And there's a brand spanking addition to the festival consisting of an entire week o free atrium activities at Fed Square from craftivism to ceramics, markets, makers, demonstrations, workshops and amazing Lost Trades. 

As usual there's a slew of killer workshops and events with some of Melbourne's finest makers covering everything from the ancient art of darning to a pom-pom and Pimms party, open studios a plenty and a long awaited and highly anticipated new exhibition by master gold and silversmith Vito Bila.

Also we'd be remiss not to mention the best and most inspiring annual seminar for craft makers Craft and Design as a Career which this year features jeweller Natalia Milosz- Piekarska, Melbourne Fashion icons Georgie and Alex of Alpha 60, the team behind the amazingLost Trades Fair, Artist and illustrator Jane Laver from Chapel Tattoos, Irene Grishin-Selzer of Iggy and LouLou fame....

And just announced as a speaker at CDAC is super cool graphic and textile designer Alice Oehr who's work pretty much blows our minds and who we cannot wait to hear speak. It always blows our mind just how incredibly talented, energetic and diverse our local craft scene is. Thankfully during August there's pretty much no craft stone left unturned so if you're interested in exploring we're giving the heads up now so you do not miss out! 

Oh and before we forget... Clear the decks this weekend people for the most hotly anticipated studio sale of the year as Craft Queen Penelope Durston of Cottage Industry opens her doors to the public. Seriously you will not believe what is in the offing. We've had some inside insights into what's on offer and we can tell you YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS IT... we're actually kind of hyperventilating already. As always folks, plenty of craft to see, make and do! BECK

BROADCAST OF THE WEEK - LYNDA DRAPER, WHITE NIGHT, VAMFF, CHELA EDMUNDS TKAWEI, CHICKS ON SPEED

ON AIR AGAIN

Today I'll be flying solo today on the RRR airwaves around 10.15 in the am on the first HML radio spot for 2014, courtesy of the lovely Kulja Coulston which will of course be a bonus but I will be without my super-star sparring partner Ramona which of course will be a bummer. However whether we're both on air or not there's no stopping the mother load of stuff on at the moment so expect to hear me racing through the multitude of craft related activities, festivals and events on in our town over the next month, possibly without taking a breath.

Our show of the week is Summon by Illawarra artist Lynda Draper and currently on display at North Melbourne's Gallerysmith until March 15 and is well worth a look. This collection of 'portrait' ceramic works is both masterful and hilarious, and everyone's going gaga for it. We'll be featuring more about this show tomorrow on HML.

WhiteNight also takes place this week on February 22 thats saturday night folks and this year loads of craft/design practitioners are involved in what we've dubbed version 2.0. Hopefully the temperature wont be quite as hot as last year, but the art will be – go early or late to get better views! Music, Art, performance, food, fashion and design in the mix – the website lets you make up and print out your own custom program which is unbelievably cool – or you can just head out and wing it land let the good stuff find you.

Virgin Melbourne Fashion Festival launches today, so expect to see lots and lots of garment and textile related craft on show as part of both the runway shows and cultural program. Always worth scouring the program to pick out your favourites – lots for free, lots at low cost – or splurge on good seats to the top runway shows or expert panels. Films. Window shows, off runway shows, talks, workshops, pop ups, exhibitions. We like to think of this festival as frequently exhausting, often amazing and always interesting. Check the website or our own annual must see list this week on hml.

Always on trend (yes I just did that) Craft Victoria will be opening three new shows as part of the fashion festival cultural program -  Solutions – a new exhibition by Melbourne based designers John Gosper, Hannah Chanley and Jarriet Barrile – conceptual wearable works have been created with the idea of water at their core from transportation to consumption. Collectively their work encompasses material manipulation, movement, process, form and function, and this exhibition will be no exception. Clearly the drought is over, in flinders lane at least.

AVogue Idea by multidisciplinary artist Matthew Linde and founder/curator of the Centre of Style. (Melbourne based hosts and home of the best, most engaging emerging and contemporary art fashion.) Matthew continues his body of work exploring and dissecting the use of fashion as a social statement through garment creation and durational performance work. A Vogue Idea will also have a public incarnation at White Night Melbourne – expect to be amazed - we are.

Namaste a collaborative exhibition by wonderful ceramicist and super ace making person Chela Edmunds and new Melbourne fashion label Dress Up.  Chela has drawn on her extensive background as a textile designer to create a 50's inspired graphic surface pattern based on yoga postures called Asana. The print has then been used across both her own ceramic works and clothing from the Dress Up 2014 Autumn/Winter range. Very Clever stuff - and this will no doubt sell out so if you want to get in and get some, get in early!

I'd also better remember the Chicks on Speed show Scream, currently on display and interface at RMIT Design Hub until March 8. Chicks on Spped re pretty much the perfect art/craft fusion of performance, politics and polemics, with all the best and most subversive elements of feminist DIY at their core. They call this particular outing 'an experiential interactive installation or GESAMTKUNSTWERK (‘total work of art’), we call it genius. 

Their collective output always features a heady mix of collage, music and objects, engaging and interactive, and this one features a ‘self made instrument’ that allows visitors to literally play artworks in an ongoing collective jam session. YEAH!!! The Chicks on Speed show at Craft Victoria a few years back was an absolute corker so Scream is an absolute not to be missed event, especially for those who missed the last one. Whew... here's hoping I remember all that! BECK

SEMINAR OF NEXT MONTH - NORTH CITY 4, SUSTAINABLE FASHION

green machines

The creative collective known as NorthCity 4 are starting their year off in a thoughtful an engaging way. Their contribution the Sustainability Festival is a terrific seminar that examines the nature of sustainable practice and the impact that has on communities. North City 4, from the outset have shown great commitment to sustainability. Just some of their studio strategies include using 100%  green gas, 25% green electricity and using recycled and reclaimed materials. You'll need to book HERE to secure your spot for the seminar.

Other highlights of the festival are the Create from a Crate design show hosted by the Victorian Woodworkers Association, the Undress Melbourne Sustainable Fashion show and the Bamboo Building Workshop. The Festival starts Feb 8, which is closer than you think people! RAMONA