MONTHLY MISSIVE

RADIO ROUND UP

So once again we've been off the radar for a few weeks, but this month we've actually been out and about learning more about making ceramics, seeing new exhibitions, launching new creative endevours and putting the finishing touches (at last) on the Craft Companion. We hope you're all looking forward to August which as usual promises to be THE BIG ONE for the Craft community in Melbourne with the launch of Craft Victoria's annual Craft Cubed festival. We're on The Grapevine RRR again this morning around 10:15 and we'll be bringing you a choice selection of what's happening in the craftiverse.

SoCa THE SCHOOL OF CLAY AND ART

Theres a new school in town. Shane Kent, one of Melbourne's premier ceramicists is quickly becoming the poster boy (man) for modern artisans - regularly collaborating with chefs on large commercial commissions, maintaing a vibrant personal artistic practice and encouraging and inspiring aspiring clay mavens through both formal educational settings and short courses in specialist clay centres and continually showcasing the kind of life that can be sustained through creative endeavour. The latest string to his bow is the new School of Clay and Art which is offering up a unique mix of wheel thrown and hand building classes as well as career advice and perceptual skill building. We're excited and we will be signing up.

MEREDITH TURNBULL

One of Melbourne's finest (the lovely Ms Meredith Turnbull) has curated a new show called Form and Flex which we are really looking forward to. Makers who create interactive wearables that examine the physical connection of body, ornament and environment really push our buttons, often literally, playing with notions of performance, functionality and adornment. In this exhibition the spotlight will be on the conceptual artistry and manual skill of Bridie Lunney, Sanne Mestom, Anna Varendorff and Benjamin Woods as they take centre stage. We can't wait.
Opens Tuesday July 28, 6-8pm
Pieces of Eight Gallery

DOMESTIC FRONTIER

This August will see the second iteration of this wonderfully curated temporary retail space that focuses on a select range of works that skilfully embody the skill and inherent beauty of purpose built functional objects. Baskets, ceramics, metal, wood and textiles come to life as hand dyed, hand sewn and hand wrought tableware, napery, aprons and utensils. This year sees the original collective of Sophie Moran, Bridget Bodenham, Sandra Bowkett, Adriana Christianson and Vic Pemberton expand to include a new list of makers joining the team presenting a selection of modern classics that will be seriously hard to resist. We highly recommend getting in early.

Opening night Wed August 5 6-8pm
466 Smith St. Collingwood
Runs from 5-16 August, Wednesday to Sunay 11-6pm.

POP CRAFT CAKE SALE

Northsiders with a liking for fibre arts and baking can combine their activities for a good cause this month. Pop Craft are hosting a cake sale to both raise money for their Craft Cubed chunky weaving public access project. The results from which will be auctioned off once complete to raise money for both The Lighthouse Foundation and the ASRC. Sign up your support here and get your apron on! We should also mention that the fabulous monthly feast has a Caribbean flavour this month and takes place THIS FRIDAY the 31st of July. We'll be there enjoying the festivities and no doubt drooling stoop idly at the deliciousness NOM NOM NOM.

AND NOW FOR THE BIGGEST SHOW IN TOWN...

CRAFT CUBED (the festivus for the restofus)

Make no mistake this festival is a big deal for anyone involved in the craft sector. This is sixth year Craft Victoria has presented Craft Cubed and it will bring together over 150 events all over Victoria during an extended 7 week schedule that starts on August 1 and finishes up on September 22. For a small arts organisation that literally runs on the smell of an oily rag, the scope of the festival is enormous and its impact profound. All media, all skill levels and all makers are celebrated and encouraged to participate in a program rich with exhibitions, open studios, public events, skill sharing, markets, open access activities, a curated window walk, Koori Showcase at Fed Square, collaborations with Radiant Pavilion and the inaugural Victorian Craft Award.

This year the festival finally has its own mobile friendly website making it even easier to work out your own program of must sees, which we advise doing in advance because the program is HUGE. It has been incredible to see the development of this event into one that is completely unique and that attracts an audience of over 150,000 visitors! It would be even more fantastic to see it receive a whopping great lump of cash (are you listening Mr. Brandis) to take it Australia wide in the future. But enough of our grandstanding… whats on!

THE VICTORIAN CRAFT AWARD
What can we say - this will be amazing. A selection of over 100 of Victoria's top craft works running at 4 different venues and featuring some of the most skilled craftspeople across all media. This is a unique event showcasing the best craft our state has to offer and is the first of what will become a biennial event. The prizes are big and the stakes are high. Unmissable. More information on the craft website here 1-15 August

WINDOW WALK

Fellow window shoppers rejoice! This years festival will feature a series of collaborations between leading artists and retailers to present site specific exhibitions and in-store events that showcase some of our favourite makers in some of our favourite spaces. Like The Golden Opportunity Shop (pictured above) which includes live gilding of op shop finds at Alpha 60, Volcanic Landscapes by the incredible Megan Nicholson at Print City (pictured below) and Dear Plastic's Peace Bunnies Victory Land  at new docklands book hub Library at the Dock.

SATELLITE EVENTS and OPEN STUDIOS
The list is long and pretty much everyone in the community has something on or is opening their doors. If you've ever had even the slightest interest in finding out more about anything about local craft nows your chance.

Some of our top pics include Wild Weaving at Pop Craft and Twilight Textiles at the Handspinners and Weavers Guild and the welcome-home weaving project at Home Work in brunswick.

Newcomers Handmakers Factory  are putting on some Mini Workshops  that have us hooked as well as the Upcycling jewellery class with the Ethical Makers Movement at Radiant Pavillion.

For clay lovers the best known learning centres Northcote Potters, Carlton Ceramics and Slow Clay Centre but a raft of smaller studios as well as the new School of Clay and Art in Brunswick are also opening up for public viewing.

EXHIBITIONS

Too many to mention. Just go on the website and look - we're not kidding we couldn't possibly fit them all in. Collage, books, photography, jewellery, ornaments, glass, ceramics, jewellery, wood, mixed media, jewellery, ceramics and textiles, textiles textiles. Emerging makers to the most revered masters of their craft offer up works showing the diversity of concerns and skills present in todays contemporary craft landscape.

Our short list already includes Electric, Elise Sheehan, Anna Varendorf and Meredith Turnbull, Roseanne Bartley, Surface and Structure, Illuminate, Multiple Signatures and Hothouse. The list is sure to grow as our families become festival orphans once again.

TALKS

As part of the festival there is also a flurry of discussion groups from small highly specific round tables to key note day long seminars (our top pick - Craft and Design as a Career), and Craft The Australian Story presented by the World Crafts Council at which our very own Ramona will be speaking. Scan the festival guide and find your topic or people and get on board. Nothing like being among like minded people discussing the intricacies of your favourite hobby or profession. There is also the super expensive and highly contentious Parallells gab fest at NGV timed to coincide with Craft Cubed but presented by the NGV and the National Craft Initiative that is causing conversation ripples (make that tidal waves) of its own... But that's a whole other story we'll get to next month!

Don't take our word for it though, head over to the website and see for yourself.
BECK and RAMONA

BROADCAST OF THE MONTH

long time no see!

What must you think of us dear readers? We say we are back when clearly we are not. We seem to be popping in here only to coincide with radio appearances (this morning 10:30am on RRR FM!). Truth is even though we said the book is finished, it's never really finished. There is the painstaking and painful editing and proofing, the publicity planning, all at the same time as trying to get things on an even keel on the home front - which for us is quite the challenge! That said we have started leaving the house/studio/writing bunker more and more we've found some fantastic things out there in the world to see

EXHIBITIONS 

Hello Play!

We admit to being a little biased when it comes to artist/designer/coolguy Spencer Harrison. He designed our book and let us tell you a little secret - it looks beautiful! Somewhere between wrangling our craft tome, creating the Rhythm and Repeat Project, painting epic murals and hosting one of the best Instagram accounts ever, Spencer has created an amazing new body of work. 

No Vacancy Gallery has never been more fun, with a magical selfie wall complete with props, painting, sculptures, ceramics,  works on paper and super cool merch (we love our squiggle socks!). Better get in quick, five more days of delight to go.

No Vacancy Gallery 

Until June 21

Surfacing

Portuguese artist Patrícia Correia Domingues and Polish artist Sara Gackowska were joint winners of the 2014 Gallery Funaki Emerging Artist award. This combined exhibition showcases both old and new work from both makers and is both gutsy and austere, earthy and futuristic. Like sci fi props from Prometheus (we loved that crazy film).  It's a treat to see international work in such an intimate scale. Gallery Funaki remains one of the most important fine art jewellery galleries in the world, lucky for us it's only a tram ride away.

Gallery Funaki

Until June 20

Field Libraries

Yes you may have to brush your hair and shine your shoes to feel comfortable going into the Anna Schwartz gallery but don't let their retro snobbery put you off. We've told you how much we love Emily Floyd before, especially following her epic show at Heide last year. An injection of colour into this dreary Melbourne winter is just what we need, so we'll take our chances with this Slaves of New York style of gallery. 

Anna Schwartz Gallery

until 11 July

Group Exchange

When you can't go the mountain its great when the mountain can come to you. When it comes to local textiles the Tamworth show is the biggest in the business, and while we've been waiting to see one for years now but never managed to pull it off. How fabulous to find a collection of the best in the business in Hawthorn at the Town Hall Gallery.

 22 Australian artists were invited to explore the theme of collaboration. This of course mean many different things to different artists and we think in this case the word 'dialogue' is most appropriate. We'll be doing a full review of this show next  Monday, one not to be missed

Town Hall Gallery

Until July 26

Hold Me Tight

Brunswick's home of workshops, studios and hand made retail, Home-Work, is now adding an exhibition program to their bow. The inaugural show Hold Me Tight  features a fabulous collection of vessels from vases to modular shelving made by a great collection of artists, artisans and makers. One of the most refreshing things we've noticed so far this year is the number of new spaces that have opened their doors to  new and emerging makers. Closing this weekend so get in quick!

Home-Work studio and shop

Until June 21

WORKSHOPS

Clay Social

There's a new kid on the block in North Melbourne and its a cracker! Guild of Objects is the brainchild of three small batch potters - Brooke thorn, Chela Edmunds and tao Oudomvilay. Think super cool ceramic, metal and textile objects made by small scale independent artist as well as a workshop and exhibition space, Guild of Objects is dedicated to presenting the work of emerging artists, fostering neighbourhood interaction, presenting fun and accessible classes, artist experimentation and a love of the handmade. Winning combination if you ask us, and they're conveniently located right next door to one of the best cake shops in town Beatrix! Their first workshop - a ceramic cup building workshop with Chela sold out in hours, but we've managed to snaffle a class in their second session next week YAY. 

Guild of Objects

690 Queensbury Street

North Melbourne

Thinking in Three Dimensions with Felt

On June 27, authors, artists and felt wranglers Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles have an uncanny knack of turning two dimensional ideas into three dimensional wonders. Pop Craft is presenting a brilliant opportunity to learn some key tricks of the trade with these two magical makers. Basic sewing knowledge is essential but everything else is provided. Learn Pattern making, planning, cutting, stuffing and sewing in this hands on workshop. More details here

Shaping and Texture for Woven Tapestry with Sara Lindsay

This July Pop Craft is presenting a very exciting opportunity for weavers to work with one of one of the masters of the craft. Sara Lindsay, a founder of the Australian Tapestry Workshop, knows more about tapestry than the rest of us combined and then some. Simply put, her knowledge and teaching skills are legendary. This extraordinary pair of classes will see you learn some seriously impressive skills to build your textile repertoire over two consecutive weekends. One not to miss out on. More details here Pop Craft

SHOW OF THE WEEK - TIM GRESHAM

warp speed

the installation is so precise and considered

We are so excited to see a new body of work from master tapestry weaver Tim Gresham. Even more interesting in the partnership between his photography and weaving, two strings to his arts practice that play harmoniously in this very clean controlled and distilled work.

the scale is perfect for the instagram age

The work suits the Edmund Pearce Gallery, in the Nicholas building, perfectly. A space primarily exhibiting photographic work, there is a serenity to the classic white box that showcases these pieces to their best advantage.

changes are subtle with light and dark taking turns as focus

I see Gresham's work as quite musical, all about rhythms and syncopation. He captures with the eye in the photos what many a tapestry weaver trains to capture with the hand - a concise order that doesn't defy nature but reflects it's 'neater' qualities.

colour is minimal and muted but adds punctuation

 There is a trend currently for the wild and woolly fibre art style of weaving which we here at HML love.It's what we grew up on and it is expansive and playful. This pulls you to the other end of the spectrum of weaving practice. As modern as Gresham's pieces are their lineage really stretch way back to an age of master weaving when tapestry was employed as a form of documentation.

it's always interesting when nature makes and appearance between the architecture

 I imagine now Gresham being commissioned to create work to document new public spaces, weather patterns, advances in technology. This is our ideal world where professional craft still carries that same cache in recording or commemorating major events.

Many moons ago I interviewed Gresham in his Collingwood studio. You'll have to excuse my early foray into arts writing was a little clunky but he had some great things to say about his practice. You can read it here.

REFLECT by Tim Gresham
Edmund Pearce Gallery
Nicholas Building
OPEN WED SAT 12-5 until June 28

BROADCAST OF THE WEEK

old school new school

Ramona will be flying solo this morning on the RRR's at 10:45 am while i'm stuck at the office writing grant applications... you don't need three guesses to know that i'd rather be behind with her the mike than on my lonesome in front of the computer today! As per usual the news and reviews on current craft around town will be served up fresh with a healthy dose of handmadelife special sauce - yes, bad puns, mediocre gags and lots and lots of opinion!

Sheila Hicks... look her up.

While researching for this months radio spot we discovered there has definitely been a resurgence in some of what we would call old school craft. While we are just as susceptible to the lure of the new, and certainly champion new makers and techniques, we are really excited to see both craft masters and master crafts finally starting to be given their due by a new generation discovering them for the first time. 

REFLECT WITH TIM GRESHAM

While new school lap weaving and wall hangings take over Instagram and Pinterest there are a number of old school true tapestry artists who are finally starting to be recognised for their skill and craft knowledge. One of these such artists is Tim Gresham, whose subtle graphic works have been spellbinding us for years now. Tim has a new show called Reflect opening at Edmund Pearce Gallery on June 5, which we're very excited about. Featuring blindingly beautiful abstract photography and tapestries this show promises a brilliantly realised insight into the nexus where creative inspiration and technical skill meet. In addition he'll be holding a Masterclass (and we mean master) at the Australian Tapestry Workshop on the 25-29 August on advanced techniques and alternative inspirations to designing for tapestries. This is definitely one for experienced tapestry weavers but an amazing opportunity to work with one of the best. 

45 YEARS OF FRESH CLAY

Another craft that has seen a phenomenal resurgence over the past 18 months is ceramics. Earlier this year ceramicist Ruby Pilven won the position of curatorial intern at Ceramics Victoria and has put together Still Firing at 45 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Ceramics Victoria and the permanent collection housed by the City of Whitehorse. As part of this is an exhibition of 10 emerging artists selected by Ruby titled Fresh Clay is being launched by Heide director Jason Smith at the Box Hill Town Hall on June 26. A great celebration of a great and living legacy of craft.

AT HOME WITH MIRKA MORA and OVER THE RAINBOW WITH EMILY FLOYD

Ramona and her boys made the trek to Heide last weekend and were blown away with the new show by Emily Floyd. To be honest i'm very jealous I didn't hide in the picnic basket because this show is an absolute cracker. Ramona will no doubt talk it up today but if you want to read her review head here. While you're there also make time for national treasure Mirka Mora. Look we love her, and her work, so there's not much more to say but if you are like us, go. Have a sneak peak at what a wonderful world she inhabits through the objects she chooses to surround herself with, drawn from her private collection of paintings, soft sculpture dolls, tapestries and sketchbooks there is a whole lot of craft, endless inspiration and boundless spirit on show. A great combination of old meets new.

KIRSTEN HAYDON'S ICE STORM
Another artist we've been following for a while is Kirsten Haydon, and we are eagerly anticipating her new show Ice storeroom at Craft opening on June 20. Following on from her long exploration of Antarctica as a repository for environmental and cultural knowledge . If her past work is anything to go by this will be anything but frostily received.  (yes we told you we made bad puns) .

THE DELL AND ADAM SHOW
We also have to mention two of our favourite makers, partners in crime and life Dell Stewart and Adam Cruickshank who also have a new video work on show at C3 Contemporary Art Space on now. This ones called Small Time/True Belief and we really love and admire their ongoing commitment to hand crafting multi media. Totally rad.

Then of course theres also Mid Century Modern open at NGV which pretty much is a radio show in itself as well as a raft of other markets coming up and being reviewed (Markit and New Craft @ Queen Vic over the last two weekends) as well as craft-centric articles popping up in print in the most unexpected places - Virgin inflight magazine anyone? Whew! Happy Listening people! BECK

SHOW OF THE WEEK - AUSTRALIAN TAPESTRY WORKSHOP

Wild and Woolly

I snuck a look at the back for you all!

There is the most extraordinary tapestry on display at the wondrous Australian Tapestry Workshop that the ladies of HML are kind of in love with (both the place and the tapestry). Large Tree Group (based on a 1975 painting by Victoria Crowe) was chosen by Dovecot Studios in Scotland to be translated into a large scale tapestry. With over 70 producers across Great Britain contributing you can view the work and also learn about the process of bringing the tapestry to life from Fleece to Fibre.

How beautiful are these photos?

Weavers used undyed wool to recreate the painting and the effect is quite moving. By showing the beautiful portrait photographs of the rare breed sheep whose yarn contributed to the making of this amazing work you are aware of the beautiful palette nature provides. these portraits give them such gorgeous nobility you spend as much time looking into their big brown eyes as the tapestry itself

the workshop has a great shop where you can buy their full palette of yarns

Truth be told  we don't visit the Workshop very often, which is crazy because it is the most inspiring and energising space. We urge you to make a day of it. There is a fantastic project space there and if you take a tour you can up close to the working weavers and marvel at their skill and sensitivity at interpreting images. In a world awash with simple graphic interior design weaving (which we also love when done well) it is so extraordinary to see how complex artwork and photography can be translated into weaving. RAMONA

Fleece to Fibre: the Making of the Large Tree Group Tapestry
runs until June 6
Australian Tapestry Workshop
262 Park Street South Melbourne