The 2006 Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia (JMGA) conference aimed to "take makers, collectors, critics and thinkers out of the comfort zone of their normal environments and place them 'on location'; a hypothetical site where speculation, inspiration and the accidental can emerge and diverge, questioning the place of the production of meaning". In conjunction with the conference entitled On Location: Making Stories: siting, citing, sighting a total of nineteen exhibitions were organised by different public and private galleries and museums around Sydney.
» A review by Lyndel Wischer
Accessible through the Craft Australia website, the Craft Australia Research Centre is an online program that contains critical and scholarly writing on Australian contemporary craft·design practice. The articles present current issues in the sector and have been commissioned or written within the past 5 years.
The following links are an entry to key papers delivered at recent craft ·design conferences in Australia. Collectively they demonstrate the reach of this sector and the breadth of discussion in the field. Take the time to engage with the conversations and be transported into new ways of thinking about the world of objects.
Featured papers
Cultural Strands/Woven Visions by Virginia Kaiser
Cultural Strands/Woven Visions conference
Host: FORM: Contemporary Craft and Design
Mercury re: P on Location by Margaret West
Conference keynote address
on Location: Making stories conference
Host: JMGA-NSW Inc.
Reading ceramics after Modernism by Tanya Harrod
Interpreting Contemporary Craft forum
Host: Australian Craft and Design Organisations
How to change the world without making too much noise by Kevin Murray
Interpreting Contemporary Craft forum
Host: Australian Craft and Design Organisations
Australian contemporary craft, an innovative player in the creative industries by Christine Ballinger
Interpreting Contemporary Craft forum
Host: Australian Craft and Design Organisations
Craft Australia has, as its mandate, a goal to promote and advocate for Australian contemporary craft·design practice. An outcome of this goal is to encourage more writing about craft·design practice and related issues. To achieve this, Craft Australia has initiated the Emerging Writers’ Program, (EWP), an online publishing program for writers from all over the country. The Craft Australia online news 716 craft·design is the vehicle for this program, a catalyst for the voice of divergent Australia practice. If you would like to publish your writing as part of the EWP, please contact craft@craftaustralia.com.au for details.
Megan Bottari, a Canberra based artist, writer, curator starts the ball rolling with the following offering.
Counterpose: fresh directions in Australian studio glass
Subscribe to Craft Australia's 716 craft·design and know what's happening in Australian and international craft and design.
Subscribe to Craft Australia's Export discussion list.
To advertise in 716 craft·design, please contact Avi Amesbury at Craft Australia on 02 6273 0088 or avi.amesbury@craftaustralia.com.au
It has been twelve to eighteen months since the increase in funding to the visual art and craft sector has been made available. Affectionately referred to as VACS funding, this initiative of the current Government and delivered through the Australia Council, was a result of the recommendations by Rupert Meyer following the inquiry into the health and status of the visual art sector.
This month in Adelaide, as a precursor to the Adelaide Festival, all the protagonists and recipients of the VACS initiative met for a one day meeting. The aim was to discuss the outcomes of this strategy, its impact on the sector and the way forward with VACS to ensure sustained growth and development for Australian visual arts and craft practice. Catrina Vignando, the General Manager of Craft Australia attended this meeting and will present a full report in the April issue of 716 craft·design.
Forget the rose is a rose business by Shakespeare, now a days, the name is everything, brand is critical, market share imperative. Following the latest network meeting of the directors of Craft Organisations Australia, referred to as COA, a decision was made to revise the name of the network. This decision follows new developments in Australian contemporary craft·design practice; it reflects the hybrid nature of practice and is in keeping with the areas of focus by the organisations’ members and artistic community. The name to watch out for is ACDO, Australian Craft and Design Organisations.
Advertisement
Position vacant
To provide vision, leadership and business management in leading the Canberra Glassworks, through the pre-launch and early establishment years, as a viable business and highly regarded centre for contemporary glass practice.
To provide artistic vision and leadership for the creative profile and programming of the Canberra Glassworks, and manage artistic and public programs and activities for the centre, including access facilities, exhibitions, workshops, residencies and glass production.
To provide technical service advice for the Canberra Glassworks and its users, manage the workshops, infrastructure and technical supplies for the centre and undertake fabrication and maintenance of equipment.
The Canberra Glassworks, opening in December 2006, is seeking applications for three key staff positions to oversee the pre-opening phase and put in place the necessary programs, administrative structures, and equipment that will be required for this new glass centre.
Closing date for applications: 5pm Tuesday 21 March 2006
The Canberra Glassworks is an initiative of the ACT Government.
For further information on the Canberra Glassworks Project go to www.arts.act.gov.au/glass
Did you see this exhibition when it was on at the National Gallery of Australia? Transformations: The language of craft, like many good contemporary features, comes complete with its own book and website. But what a website! Whether you saw the show or not you must take a moment to down load macromedia, unless you have it already, and listen to the artists live on your computer talking about their work, inspirations and motivations. The show might be over, but the story continues.
Robert Bell, the curator of Transformations and Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the NGA introduces the program with an overview of the show. In addition you have the option of twelve different artists to listen to.
Transformations website
But wait there is more. Did you know about the Transformations conference and forum organised by the Australian Craft and Design Organisations (ACDO) in collaboration with the National Gallery? Read some of the key papers presented at the forum by national and international speakers elaborating on the current state of craft·design practice.
Craft Australia Research Centre
The final of the Jubilee Tapestries, gifted from the Vice-Chancellor, Ian Chubb, on behalf of The Australian National University to University House for the Jubilee Year was unveiled.
Valerie Kirk who was commissioned to undertake the making of the three tapestries introduces her work at the unveiling.
Congratulations to Margie West, Curator Emeritus MAGNT, on her Member of the Order of Australia award. ABC news online
Ana Rosenzweig from Spain won the The Sydney Myer Fund Premier Ceramic Award for her work, Portrait, and Vida Sobott and Lynda Draper from Australia received the Friends of the Shepparton Art Gallery Society Award of Merit and Special acquisitions to the Shepparton Art Gallery collection. Details
Blurring the boundaries: Fashion design innovation in contemporary knitting. A cutting edge exhibition that showcases an exciting new generation of national and international artists and designers who explore the ancient art of knitting and whose work blur the boundaries between art, fashion, craft, design and technology. The Fairfierld City Museum and Gallery will host the exhibition in Sydney from 24 June -13 August and events will include workshops by national and international artists. Email shutchinson@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au for details.
The Hon Bob McMullan has announced he would introduce a private member's bill into Parliament that would grant artists an entitlement to a share of the resale price each time their art is resold. A similar bill was introduced last year by Senator Kate Lundy, but it lapsed before it was debated in Parliament. Australia Copyright Council
NAVA will be lodging a submission with the Australian Law Reform Commission when the Inquiry announced by the Attorney General Phillip Ruddock gets underway. NAVA has been working with others in the arts, media and film sectors to secure changes to the recently legislated Sedition Clause included as part of the Anti-terrorism Bill passed by federal parliament in December 2005.
Expanding Horizons is for early career researchers and professionals. The event will be held in Canberra on the 28 - 29 March and aims to open new horizons for young researchers and professionals, and participants will discuss their work with MPs, with colleagues from other disciplines, and with industry.
How can early career researchers and professionals talk to Parliamentarians and influence policy? What possibilities does industry hold? And which new industries or problem areas in Australia would benefit from a cross-disciplinary approach?
The peak national regional arts agency, Regional Arts Australia (RAA) presented the findings from its recent national community consultation program in a book titled 2006 National Directions: Regional Arts. The publication is available on the RAA website
The University of Melbourne has launched two sets of guidelines relating to digitisation and copyright law. Both are available for free online or can be purchased in hard copy. Guidelines
The NSW Ministry for the Arts will be merged into a new Department of the Arts, Sport and Recreation under a plan announced by the NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, last Thursday to merge fourteen Government agencies into two larger Departments as part of the Government's plan to cut jobs and balance the State budget.
Craft Australia is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.
Craft Australia is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
Copyright © 2005 