openings + exhibitions

Breathe by Helen Kontouris, Victoria Side Table by Kain Lucas (of UTE) and Carbonwood by Gary Galego - finalists in the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award 2009

Currently on display in the Gin Garden at Establishment are the works of 10 finalists in the 2009 Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award. The opening night was a buzz of design devotees, gin cocktails and inspiring design - much of which hung from the ceiling so that it could be admired above the crowd. With items such as the "Breathe" couch and the "Carbonwood" bicycle seeming to defy gravity, you could really appreciate the shapes and forms whilst removed from a 'functional' context. We were given a box of postcards, featuring each of the designs...

Peppered Sunlight by Rohan Nicol and other catalogue cards from the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award 2009

The winner was announced on 18.11.2009 and our congratulations to Rohan Nicol, whose "Peppered Sunlight" (pictured above) took out the honours. The work is a large pendant light with a choice of three patterned light diffusers. The light emitted is similar to sunlight as filtered through trees.

Victoria Side Table by Kain Lucas (of UTE) and Twist by Adam Cornish - catalogue cards from the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award 2009

We were thrilled to discover Kain Lucas had been selected as one of the finalists with his work "Victoria Side Table". Kain was inspired to design the piece whilst overlooking Hong Kong's iconic Victoria Harbour at night. Reminiscent of the movement of water, the Victoria Side Table is made from a single sheet of mild steel that is laser cut then stretched into its bell shape. Kain is the designer behind the rather brilliant products we featured earlier this year in our post titled "design that works". (Fans of UTE are in for a surprise next week on indie art & design - stay tuned!!)

Daily Grind by David Knott, Carbonwood by Gary Galego and Weddell by Marcel Sigel - catalogue cards from the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award 2009

Some of my favourites are pictured above. "The Daily Grind" by David Knott has such a sensual shape & feel. The curved shape of the base has an organic feel - perhaps representing the essence of the coffee beans it contains.

"Carbonwood" by Gary Galego is made from a composite of carbon fibre and wood. It is both environmentally responsible and highly innovative; the fibre cloth strengthens the wood to make a high-performance material. It looks sleek & chic too!

"Weddell" by Marcel Sigel takes inspiration from a liquid. The design mimics wave like structures, and the vertical and lateral ribs sweep and surge up from the floor. The name is derived from a certain type of seal found in the Weddell Sea in Antarctica.

I also really love the unbroken lines of "Breathe" by Helen Kontouris (pictured at the top). The base and "legs" are an integral part of the design, and they flow seamlessly into the arms and seating supports. It is constructed entirely of recyclable polyethylene and aluminium, providing an all-weather solution that is environmentally friendly and able to withstand the harsh Australian sun.

The Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award exhibition for 2009 is showing at the Gin Garden at Establishment, 252 George St, Sydney, until November 30th. It will then travel to Melbourne and Brisbane venues in early 2010.

Two exciting new shows have just opened - Catherine Campbell's solo show Tall Stories and Papercuts at Extended Play Gallery in Northcote, Melbourne, and Hip Pop, a group show presented by United Galleries at Saatchi & Saatchi in The Rocks, Sydney... Exhibiting artists at Hip Pop include David Disher, Stephen Dupont, Jane Fontane, Lee Grant, William Hold, Ben Ali Ong, Patricia Mado, Ben Rak and Kareena Zerefos.

Dressing for a Crescent Moon 4 - Print of an original ink, watercolour and collage drawing by Catherine Campbell (US $15)

For the Tall Stories and Papercuts exhibition, Catherine (whose studio is known as My Folk Lover) created a series of four long scroll type pieces based on some of her favourite female characters. She was drawn to the 'split nature' of each of these women, and found these intense opposing forces "quite inspiring for the basis of a few drawings"! The exhibition invitation (top) shows a detail of one of these works, and the entire piece is amazing! (You can see it on Catherine's Flickr site.)

These are on display, along with a selection of smaller works, at Extended Play Gallery which opened its doors in Northcote just last month. The gallery is in front of the studio space where Catherine now works alongside fellow artist Andy Lewis. If you're in Melbourne, make sure to get along! I adore Catherine's work - a mixture of delicate illustration, femininity and thoughtful, balanced composition... You can also visit her web site at www.catherinecampbell.net, follow her blog at www.myfolklover.typepad.com or shop for My Folk Lover prints at www.myfolklover.etsy.com.

Tall Stories and Papercuts
11 - 28 November 2009
Extended Play Gallery
547 High Street, Northcote, Melbourne
Gallery open: Wed - Sat, 11am - 5pm.

Fox and Feathers - original artwork by Kareena Zerefos

We have featured Kareena Zerefos' work a number of times on indie art & design (May 08, Nov 08, Nov 08 & Feb 08!), and we had to share these new works with you! They were created with pencil & oils on wood, and they're incredible.

Kareena describes this series as "exploring childhood fears of an isolated, dystopian 'Australia'. The imagery is based on my memories growing up in the rural outskirts of sydney, surrounded by bush dwelling animals... foxes that would stare hauntingly through the trees (and would get into our chicken pen), possums sometimes comforting but at other times terrifying and reptiles that creep around like alien creatures of another time."

The girl and the possum - original artwork by Kareena Zerefos

I'm looking forward to seeing these soon... There are a few more images on Kareena's blog at www.kareenazerefos.com. So beautiful!

12 - 27 November 2009
United Galleries presents Hip Pop
at Saatchi & Saatchi
70 George St, The Rocks, Sydney
Gallery open: Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm.

"Druantia and Ava" by Nadia Turner (Wayward Harper)

Illustrators are, by their very nature, storytellers, and a trio of Melbourne-based artists (whose paintings I love) currently have their work on show at the GASWORKS Arts Park.

"Creature" detail by Nadia Turner (Wayward Harper)

Titled "Stories To Tell", the exhibition showcases the work of Nadia Turner, Rhiannon Mowat and Alisha Ball. Each artist has their own unique painting style, but all of their images offer a window to an imaginary world. The works draw inspiration from many sources: from classic fairytales and folklore; to Shakespeare; to the darker myths and legends that form part of our cultural consciousness.

Mixed works by Nadia Turner (Wayward Harper)

Nadia Turner's work is incredible. Intricate detail, and the very way she paints each stroke contributes to each character possessing a real presence. They step into our space and silently suggest that they were here first.

Combining fine detail with decorative elements, Nadia's paintings evoke a sense of otherworldliness.

Nadia draws inspiration from many sources, including the art of the Surrealists, the Pre-Raphaelites, traditional folk art, various children's books, and music - more specifically the music of the Celtic Harp and all the mythology and folklore associated with it. For "Stories To Tell", you can expect lots of beautiful fairytale and myth inspired work! Nadia says she's discovered "a definite gypsy theme" running throughout her work.

"Tea and Sympathy" by Rhiannon Mowat

The three artists met when they studied illustration together at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, graduating in 2005. They had a lot of fun and have remained friends since. Rhiannon and Nadia have exhibited together before, but this is the first time all three girls have shown their work together.

The paintings revolve around what they love best, which of course is illustrating. In particular they tend to be drawn towards themes of fairytales or myth and folklore.

For this exhibition, Rhiannon draws her inspiration from the plays of Shakespeare, using his words and themes throughout her work.

"What White Rabbit?" by Rhiannon Mowat

Rhiannon Mowat's paintings are full of drama & whimsy. Her characters are wide-eyed & quirky, drawn from dark worlds and spooky tales.

I especially love Rhiannon's works pictured above, "Tea and Sympathy" and "What White Rabbit?". The clever composition (in the latter) teases us with the mystery of what lies further down the rabbit hole.

Painting by Alisha Ball

Alisha Ball has been traveling for the past few years and a lot of her work is directly influenced by her travels and the cultures of the countries she passed through.

I love the colours in Alisha's painting (above). The rich, pinks & golds in the woman's scarf and skintones against the cool pastel tones in the background. The palette itself gives this beautiful image a spiritual feel.

Stories To Tell officially opens this Thursday night at the Angela Robarts-Bird Gallery in the GASWORKS Arts Park, but you can visit the exhibition any time from yesterday! The show continues until 14th June 2009.

Date: 25 May to 14 June 2009
Venue: Angela Robarts-Bird Gallery
Time: Opening Thursday 28 May, 6pm to 8pm
Gallery Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm, daily
Enquiries: 03 8606 4200

Amanda McKenzie, Untitled, detail from The Decay Of Life series, 2008.

The incredible work pictured above is The Decay of Life - glass castings of fruit in various stages of the decaying process. Designer Amanda McKenzie describes her inspiration as "traditional Baroque still life oil paintings (especially Caravaggio) and the different interpretations of its symbology. Symbology and meaning in the still life has changed over the centuries and have been phased out in contemporary art. The introduction of a new model of the still life in a modern and relevant style which can be interpreted in a society of materialistic values."

The work is currently on show at Object as part of Design Now! 2009, Australia's only touring exhibition of student design. Now in its ninth year, Design Now! is a launching pad for young designers, and the exhibition showcases innovative work from 18 graduates of 2008. These finalists were chosen from over 200 nominations by Heads of Departments and lecturers from university art & design schools across Australia.

Lucy Simpson, Gaawaa Miyay collection, 2008. Photo courtesy the artist.

This year, Design Now! was divided into 6 categories: Design for the Built Environment; Design for the Body; Design for Communication; Design for Studio Production; Design for the Home; and Design for Industry.

We've chosen some of our favourite pieces to share with you, such as Lucy Simpson's Gaawaa Miyay, pictured above. The work is a collection of textiles featuring four prints: Gaawaa, Dhinawan, Walgett and Barigan. Each pattern holds a memory and tells the stories of family and country on cloth. The stories are told in a contemporary context, through the use of Yuwaalaraay language (an Aboriginal nation in Northwest NSW - her country) The incorporation of Indigenous language into the project is a reflection of the language revival currently happening across the country. The designer aims to contribute to this revival, bringing Yuwaalaraay and the stories of her family and country to new lips and ears.

The Object Award for Creative Innovation was jointly awarded to RMIT graduate Anthony Hamilton Smith and UTS graduate Michael Anderson whose winning works are pictured below.

Anthony Hamilton Smith, Slow Kitchen, 2008. Image courtesy the artist.

Anthony Hamilton Smith has used locally & sustainably produced ply wood, traditional wood crafting methods, and the principles of Slow design to create his Slow Kitchen, a vehicle (in both a metaphorical and physical sense) to advocate the ideas and philosophy of the Slow Movement. This modular, bicycle-led trailer "transforms into a working kitchen interior, within or adjacent to the primary production site of a chosen slow food ingredient(s)". (Anthony Hamilton Smith)

Michael Anderson, The Arborist's Blocking Crane, 2008. Image courtesy the artist.

The Arborist's Blocking Crane by Michael Anderson is a fantastic example of design being a mechanism to create clever, pragmatic solutions to specific problems - in this case, the precarious and dangerous process of lowering sections of tree trunks being removed by an arborist.

Kali Norman, Untitled 14 (set of 4), 2008. Work courtesy of Curtin University of Technology Art Collection. Photo: Christiane Keller.

I adore these hand-cut metal tree sculptures by Kali Norman. Each of the four pieces have been blackened with patina, so that the viewer's focus is on the shapes & shadows rather than the metal surface. The branches and leaves are bent and curved to reflect the organic nature of the subject and retain a sense of movement.

"My body of work is a study of shadow play and light through the seasons. The idea of light and shadow appeals to me, as it so influential on our mood and state of mind, in particular the effects of dappled light." (Kali Norman)

Kim Wong, Three Greedy Pigs from the Bedtime Stories collection, 2008. Photo: Kim Wong

Isn't Three Greedy Pigs cute?! The ring is from the Bedtime Stories collection comprising of jewellery made from semi-precious stone and "something fun" - plastic animals from a toy store of course!

Krista Lindegger, Breeze Way, 2008, image courtesy the artist, and Eric Ng, Scenarios of a Sustainable Future, 2008, image courtesy the artist.

The two designs above each take a very different approach to sustainable design. On the left is Breeze Way by Krista Lindegger - a revolutionary way of drying clothes naturally. On the right is Scenarios of a Sustainable Future - a series of 7 booklets that communicate everyday scenarios in a fictional but feasible near future. The project illustrates the potential well-being and unconsidered benefits of a future which is disassociated with materialism.

Design Now! 2009 will be showing at Object until 12th June 2009, then at the Melbourne Museum from 14th August - 22nd November 2009.

By the way, the new "Wood" issue of Object magazine came out last week!

Starting with a colour or pattern, Moon-age loses herself in the creative process. This was the case with "Kaleidoscope Siren" - "a creature who flies through the air in a blur of colour, twigs and feathers."

Opening this week at Palmer Projects, Darlinghurst, is Alex Moon-age's first solo exhibition. We are thrilled to be supporting "OTHER WORLDS (they have not told you of)" and hope that many of our Sydney readers will be able to attend the opening night this Thursday or visit the exhibition during the following week. Alex's drawings & collages possess a rawness and energy that bring them to life. With their strong hand-drawn lines, vibrant colours and anamorphic figures, these works inhabit spaces between imagination and reality. Edgy & exciting, emerging artist Moon-age is one to watch!

Exhibition flyer featuring "Other Worlds", a self portrait by Moon-age. She created the costume and head piece, took photos and added collage. The skirt (or floating cloud) is created from strange patterns and various organic matter.

Psychedelic princess Alex Moon-age graduated from COFA (College of Fine Arts) last year. At 21, she is already one of Sydney's most exciting emerging artists. Obsessed by the theatrical, and renowned for her outrageous wardrobe, Moon-age's creative process extends into fashion and music. In addition to drawings, photos, mixed media works & collages, Alex will be exhibiting flamboyant wearable fashion creations as part of a performance art piece. There will also be a short animation projection and sound installation.

"Noodle Horse" by Moon-age.

Alex works impulsively, aiming to engage with the subconscious mind. She creates mythical histories for imagined worlds, then translates them into distorted, wildly colourful images. Visual patterns tend to emerge - references to nature, animal-human transfiguration and androgynous, imaginary creatures.

"Angry Spirit" by Moon-age.

Influenced by the surreal nature of illustration in underground 1960s publications such as 'Oz' magazine, Alex's artworks appear simultaneously nostalgic and contemporary, beautiful and morbid. Her collages hark back to the Dada collages of Raol Hausmann, and contain pages of books, newspapers, sewing patterns and patterned paper which have been reinvigorated and reconstructed within the frame of her work.

"The Birds and the Bees" by Moon-age. Collage, paint, pen, & old sewing pattern.

Moon-age embodies a Surrealist sensibility - drawing on the tools of psychoanalysis and meditation. With heightened tension between reality and illusion, her artworks show a deep understanding of the abstract reality of the subconscious.

"Rainbow Ghost" by Moon-age. Mixed media.

Alex feels inspired & unrestricted when working with mixed media, creating different textures from pen, pencil, paint, pastel & collage. She hopes that each viewer sees something a little different in the subject matter as various creatures and faces make up the larger image. She also loves to lose herself in a piece of music and see where it leads her image making - Frank Zappa is especially great for this!

Rainbow Monster by Moon-age

"Rainbow Monster" (above) is one of my favourites from the artworks we've pictured. The areas of intricate detail contrasting with heavier, rough lines... and the colours!! The blue background works so well and there is a sense of constant movement & energy. Love it. We're so excited about Alex's exhibition & can't wait to get along to Palmer Projects. At first sight, her vivid, detailed works grabbed our attention... they really are something!

OTHER WORLDS (they have not told you of) by Moon-age opens at Palmer Projects Gallery Space on Thursday evening, May 7th 2009. If you're in Sydney, come along to the opening from 6.30 - 9.30pm. It continues until 14th May at 2/238 Palmer St, Darlinghurst, 2010. Gallery opening hours are:
Friday 12-5pm
Saturday 12-4pm
Tuesday 12-5pm
Wednesday 12-5pm

Oh Dear by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Zoo Tomorrow exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.

I was swept away last night when I discovered the work of Australian contemporary artist Karlee Rawkins. Her current exhibition, Zoo Tomorrow is showing at Iain Dawson Gallery in Paddington (Sydney). It will be finishing this Saturday (18.4.2009) so Sydneysiders will have to be quick to see these works in person!

Janis by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Zoo Tomorrow exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney. (Sold)

Karlee's paintings demonstrate a long running interest in animal imagery. Zoo Tomorrow focuses on animals that are traditionally hunted, for example bears, deer and game birds. Through these works, she hopes to achieve a sense of vulnerability and explore the contradictory romance and status involved with the hunt.

Forget The Sun by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Zoo Tomorrow exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.

Karlee studied Visual Arts at the Southern Cross University in Lismore (NSW) in the late 90s. She has since exhibited in numerous group and solo shows and has had artist residencies in Darwin, North India and Nepal, & Paris.

Ewe by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Zoo Tomorrow exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.

I love pretty much everything about these paintings - the high key colours, painted textures, seemingly quiet animal subjects and areas of detail. Karlee takes inspiration from medieval tapestries and the forest scenes of traditional Middle Eastern imagery, and is interested in devices used to signify sacredness. She sees the circular repeated motif in these latest works as "part arrow and part tree, sprouting like foliage from the figure". Through this imagery she hopes to express a sense of ritual.

Spider Catcher by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Zoo Tomorrow exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney. (Sold)

Zoo Tomorrow is showing until Saturday 18.4.2009 at:
Iain Dawson Gallery
72a Windsor Street, Paddington, NSW 2021.
Phone (02) 9358 4337

Karlee's artworks range in price up to about AUD $3500. I would dearly love "Oh Dear" (pictured at top) - which one(s) are your favourites? (Tell us by leaving a comment!) You can also see many more of Karlee's paintings and mixed media works at www.karleerawkins.com.

Flynn 2 by me! (Non-Fiction) On exhibition at Bob Boutique, Bendigo. (AUD $245)

I've been dying to share these with you! They are photos of my own artworks, currently on show as part of our Non-Fiction "Family Portrait" exhibition at Bob Boutique, Bendigo, Victoria.

Many of you probably know that Martin & I have our own design label,Non-Fiction, through which we make screen printed tees & greeting cards featuring our cute & quirky illustrations. When we met Sonia from Bob Boutique, she loved our "Family Portrait" card designs, and invited us to exhibit prints of the 12 colourful animal characters in her gallery space (adjacent to the boutique). The prints were made using archival inks and Hahnemühle's Bamboo fine art paper, then mounted onto black matt board with cute paper photo corners. Measuring 30x40cm, they fit straight into a standard sized frame.

To accompany the prints, I painted a series of 9 portraits of my little guys, and have pictured a few of them here. (Please send me an email if you'd like to see more!) The exhibition opened at Bob Boutique in February and will be finishing on Friday (10.4.2009).

Toby 2 by me! (Non-Fiction) On exhibition at Bob Boutique, Bendigo. (AUD $245)

We had the frames laser cut from aircraft ply (which has a fine grain finish & is gorgeous to paint onto), then mounted onto black perspex. Then I held my breath while I painted! There's no going back when working on a raw wooden surface... The final pieces are a mix of gouache and charcoal - I love the white highlights against the wood.

I would love to hear your comments!! Can you guess what (mixed) breeds Flynn & Toby are? Leave a comment & there will be a set of 12 Family Portrait greeting cards waiting the person whose answer is closest.

Henry the rabbit and Arthur the zebra finch archival prints by us... (Non-Fiction) On exhibition at Bob Boutique, Bendigo. (AUD $44.95 each)

Since I'm chatting about myself, I also thought I'd share a little interview I did recently for Peppermint Magazine. It appears in the BLOGROLE section on p88 of the brand new issue. (I received my copy today, so you will be hearing more about it very soon!)

Why did you decide to start your blog?
Like most of my projects, I jumped in without giving it too much thought (at the end of 2006). I had discovered so many beautiful American design blogs and I wanted to be a part of what seemed like such a vibrant community. At the time there were only a few Australian design blogs and I wanted a place to feature all the things that I loved. After indie art & design became popular, we started thinking much harder about ways in which to promote Australian labels.
What do you blog about?
Art, design & craft by independent Australian designers/labels. We place an emphasis on contemporary, quirky design, and our posts on illustration are some of the most popular.

Toby archival print by us... (Non-Fiction) On exhibition at Bob Boutique, Bendigo. (AUD $44.95)

How often do you update it?
I'd like to say 3 or 4 times a week, but at the moment it would usually be once or twice a week. I like to spend lots of time poring over a designer's work / web site / blog before writing the post and then include a range of images & details.
Do your searches or entries have criteria?
indie art & design is essentially a shopping blog - we feature art, design & craft products which are available to purchase, and we include pricing whenever possible. Everything we feature is designed by Australians. Our content also includes art exhibition launches, retailers who stock indie labels and design-related events such as trade fairs & designer markets.

Flynn 3 by me! (Non-Fiction) On exhibition at Bob Boutique, Bendigo. (AUD $245)

Have you found there is a strong blogging community?
Definitely - I've had the opportunity to meet so many talented people through indie, and it's great to meet fellow designers as you tend to have so much in common. It's nice to know lots of people are quietly following along too. (I'm pretty shy about commenting when I'm not wearing my 'indie hat'...)
Latest fave find?
I've been enjoying watching the ink & spindle story unfold (www.inkandspindle.blogspot.com). Have you seen their workspace? I'm so jealous!
What's next?
We have so many plans for new features in the works... Can't wait to see them online - soon I hope!

Forest Fungi by Shannon Garson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

An exhibition of gorgeous small ceramic works will be opening tomorrow (Friday 3rd April, 2009) at Pomme on the Mornington Peninsula. Appropriately titled "Little Uns", the show will feature the work of three ceramic artists from Queensland - Shannon Garson, Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

The brief for this group show was 'keep it small' and the artists were only too happy to oblige with a series of exquisite, but perfectly functional cups, jugs and vessels. (By the way, sorry for the lengthy post but it's really 4 posts in 1!)

Nests by Shannon Garson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Shannon Garson is a contemporary ceramicist who has been exhibiting her porcelain works since 1990. Her aim is to explore ceramics and life through the synthesis of surface decoration and form. By transforming everyday objects such as cups and bowls into works of art, she strives to connect the visible world, gardens and plants with the intangible and the mysterious.

Shannon was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2005 and spent 3 months travelling in Europe studying the art of the medieval and Renaissance periods. She has just completed a major new body of work based on the magnolia tree with the assistance of an Australia Council New Works Grant.

"Pale Yellow Magnolia" photograph by Shannon Garson

Above is one of the gorgeous reference photos taken by Shannon in the magnolia orchard. (You can view more on Shannon's Flickr page.) Unlike previous work, she describes "these flowers were not about the body at all. They are about the triumph of hope, about creativity, the resonance for me lies in the knobbly, gnarled magnolia branches putting forth fragile, fragrant blossoms, the deception of appearances. The unstoppable, reassuring rhythm of reproduction is a powerful metaphor for the well-spring of creativity. Sleep-deprived, time deprived, worn out, the driest twig still produces a blossom in Spring."

Magnolia pieces in the kiln by Shannon Garson

This is one of my favourite photos ever to appear on indie art & design! The quiet candle light gives us a glimpse through the artist's eye - a sense of anticipation, satisfaction & nervousness... that breath-catching "almost finished" feeling.

Magnolia Spring Family by Shannon Garson

Shannon Garson works from her studio in Maleny, a small rural town in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. Her ceramic pieces can be found online at http://shannongarson.com and also on her blog Strange Fragments. She is also part of the Umbrella Collective of 6 female artists from Queensland.

Shannon's ceramics are also stocked in the following galleries:
QLD: Cairns Regional Gallery, Manly Gallery, Marks and Gardner (Tambourine), Maleny Artworks, BrisbaneFusions Gallery (Fortitude Valley)
NSW: Planet Commonwealth (Surry Hills), Salmon Galleries (Sydney), Sturt Contemporary Craft (Mittagong)
VIC: Craft Victoria (Melbourne), Crowded House Designs (Malvern), Pomme (Mornington)
ACT: Beaver Galleries (Canberra)

AND she has her own book, "Shannon Garson Porcelain"! Available here.

Little Uns (polka dot), 2007, slipcast porcelain with inlay, 5cm x 7cm each by Mel Robson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Mel Robson's work is contemporary and diverse. I've been following her blog for a couple of years now and during this time, she has created a wide range of vessels and objects using a variety of techniques - including new processes such as waterjet cutting (as seen in Home-ing Pigeon, pictured further down this post). Her latest creations have an organic feel - using muted earth colours and soft uneven shapes.

Little Uns (polka dot & natural), 2007, slipcast porcelain with inlay, 5cm x 7cm each by Mel Robson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

I love the contrast of the small polka dots pattern with the otherwise smooth matt finish. It gives the sets a sense of energy & movement.

Recipe Bowl, 2007, slipcast porcelain with decals by Mel Robson.

The Recipe Bowl (pictured above) is part of Mel's "Precious Little" collection. (Selected pieces were exhibited in the 4th World Ceramic Biennale in South Korea, 2007.) These works are feather weight, paper fine and entirely sculptural. Mel has upturned the concept of surface decoration by allowing decals applied to the interior of her vessels to show through the translucent ceramic. The effect is both stunning & engaging. After the original forms are thrown on the wheel, a plaster mould is made, from which the actual pieces are slipcast in porcelain. The pieces are fired, sanded & polished, then fired again before the imagery is applied using ceramic details and they enter the kiln for one last time. Pieces that survive this lengthy process end up quite strong!

The Absence of Objects (detail), 2006, slipcast porcelain with decals, 6cm x 14cmby Mel Robson.

I love the works pictured above, part of Mel's "Absence of Objects" collection. She describes finding inspiration in libraries' heritage collections - wearing white gloves while poring over old manuscripts and diaries and photographs and records and documents. "So often when we talk or think or make things about the past it is about remembering - what we remember, and the ways we remember. But what I find more fascinating is the forgetting, the process by which things get forgotten and how, in the absence of objects, whole lives and stories can just disappear. These collections fascinate me because they are little doorways into the past, little repositories of near-forgotten things, without which countless stories would have completely disappeared."

Home-ing Pigeon, 2008, found ceramic plates (water jet cut) 10 x 13cm by Mel Robson.

Mel Robson's Home-ing Pigeons (one pictured above) have been cut by waterjet from either side of found vintage plates & saucers. Exhibited at Redland Art Gallery as part of the "Bird Watching" group show, the pigeons symbolise a war-time transformation from apparently mundane to extraordinary. She was inspired by stories of their survival against incredible odds to deliver life-saving messages. "Robson's ceramic works take old domestic objects of that time, imbued with the traces of their day-to-day existence, and recasts them in the shapes of these birds." (Redland Art Gallery)

You can discover more of Mel Robson's work via her blog, Feffakookan.

Tiny vessels by Kenji Uranishi - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Kenji Uranishi was born in Japan and studied ceramics at the Nara College of Fine Arts before moving to Brisbane in 2004. Living in Australia "provides an environment for more objective study of my own country and culture, as well as an element of freedom from historical and cultural constraints... I'm also interested in how these experiences will encourage some self-discovery and provide me with a new perspective on my relationship with Japanese culture."

Tiny vessels by Kenji Uranishi - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Kenji draws inspiration from the surrounding built and social environment. He is interested in and influenced by architecture and nature, and how people interact with both. His works include installation and functional objects, and the materials he uses are embedded in the history of Japanese pottery.

Ceramic works by Kenji Uranishi made during his artist residency at ANU.

Selected new sculptural works by Kenji Uranishi will be exhibited later this year as part of the Australian Ceramics Triennale 09. "Encircle" open on 8.7.2009 at the Helen Stephens Gallery, All Hand Made in Bronte (Sydney).

Ceramic works by Kenji Uranishi made during his artist residency at ANU.

I love the delicate surface drawings on Kenji's pieces for "Little Uns", don't you? The sculptural works are something I wouldn't have expected in ceramics - beautiful & amazing. You can discover more about Kenji's work at his blog, http://kamenendo.blogspot.com

The Little People at the beach by Sandwich Mountain, a collaboration between Brisbane-based ceramicists Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi have also collaborated to create Sandwich Mountain - the adventures of the Little People!

The Little People in the surf by Sandwich Mountain, a collaboration between Brisbane-based ceramicists Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

Kenji loves hand building and first made the Little People to experiment with slip casting. When they emerged from the kiln, Mel was overcome by an incredible urge to "change the colour of THEIR day"... (Remember the 80s TV jingle for the honeycomb chocolate bar?!) Since then, the Little People have been on lots of adventures, as documented at http://sandwichmountain.blogspot.com. They've even been featured in a Brazilian magazine called GLOSS. The Little People have absolutely no idea what it says about them, and they're thinking they may have to travel to Brazil to find out...

The Little People go to the moon by Sandwich Mountain, a collaboration between Brisbane-based ceramicists Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

Little Uns opens tomorrow, on Friday 3rd April, and continues until 24th April 2009. Pomme is located on the Mornington Peninsula at:
Rear 138 Main Street
Mornington, Victoria. 3931.
phone: 03 59 76 3000

Pomme is open Monday to Saturday but advise you to call to check opening hours, as they might be at the beach!

Ontario Apartments, Chicago by Frank Minnaërt
Photo: Sally Cohen. Model: University of Technology, Sydney.

Abundant is an exhibition of Australian architectural models shown at the 11th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice, Italy, 2008, which is currently on display at Object (in Surry Hills, Sydney).

100 models are showcased in a reinstallation of the original garden of architectural 'sculpture' that was organised by the Australian Institute of Architects and developed by a creative team including Neil Durback, Vince Frost, Wendy Lewin, Kerstin Thompson and Gary Warner.

Pitched Roof House by Chenchow Little Architects
Photo: Phillip Hayson. Model: Chenchow Little.

The exhibition highlights the breadth and creativity of Australia's architectural practice. Architects were asked to create interpretive models based on the theme: 'Out there: architecture beyond building'. The small scale of the models gives us a completely different way of viewing architecture. We can see more of the structure & form from a single viewpoint, and the detail in each model looks incredible.

Cubby Conglomerate by Super Colossal
Photo: Super Colossal.

From these images, I'm particularly drawn to Cubby Conglomorate by Super Colossal - (above, those shapes demand attention!), and New Holland Folly by Studio505 - (below, I love the unusual shape and intricate detail).

Cubby Conglomorate is actually a plywood version of a cardboard cubbby house, "re-imagined as an apartment building" (Super Colossal). The original version was designed as a 'Sustainable Room' for the tradeshow 'Design and Decoration Sydney', then reused the following weekend for a family member's 3rd birthday - where it remained a play thing until heavy rain turned it back into pulp and it was recycled.

New Holland Folly by Studio505
Photo/Model: Studio505.

New Holland Folly is a present to the port city of Rotterdam from designers in Australia. It is actually a glasshouse containing Australian seedlings to be used in the development project to follow on the Heijploot site. "The folly draws upon the Port's past connection with the exploration of the new world and is the beginning of the future of the site. Its built language is inspired by Australian historical corrugated iron constructions, Victorian era cast iron lacework, and native Australian flora. These elements are then translated into contemporary ideas of form, material and process. It is a metaphorical seed, rich in the design DNA of our shared history, ready to catalyze the growth of the new world where it is planted." (Studio505)

I'm looking forward to visiting Object this weekend to see the exhibition in full and learn more about the designs pictured here...

Redfern Housing Prototype by Enter Architecture
Photo: Byron Keane. Model: Tom Spalding, Envizage Australia.

Abundant is showing at at Object until 5.4.2009. (St Margarets 417 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. T. 02 9361 4511)

Long Hexagonal Necklace (oxidised sterling silver, AUD $345) by Emma Sher

Melbourne jewellery designer Emma Sher currently has her work on display at the Charles Smith Gallery in Fitzroy (Melbourne). Emma's first solo exhibition is titled "Progression" and explores her gradual transformation from art & design student into professional jeweller. Each piece is a further refinement of what has been learnt from creating the piece that precedes it.

Triple Entwined Bangles (sterling silver, AUD $415) by Emma Sher

My favourite pieces from this collection use the geometric imagery of the crystal system of gems, along with facetted and flat stones. I love the play between 2D & 3D, and the delicate linework which sits beautifully within sterling silver.

Crystallized Cufflinks (AUD $245) by Emma Sher

Emma works from her studio in Collingwood (Melbourne), which she shares with three other jewellers. She first began designing jewellery in 2001, and studied Engineering Design (Jewellery) at TAFE before completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Gold & Silversmithing at RMIT in Melbourne. She has exhibited work both nationally and internationally and was a finalist in the Kaiserman Jewellery Prize.

My Etched Heart Necklace (AUD $345) by Emma Sher

All of Emma's works are handmade - either one-offs or limited edition pieces. If there's something special you have in mind, she can also custom make pieces to order. The silver limited edition works (many of which are pictured here) can be made with either an oxidised or unoxidised finish, and can be created from yellow or white gold. The agate and freshwater pearl pieces are one-of-a-kind, and can be made to order with preferred colours and styles.

Triple Geometric Necklace (AUD $345) by Emma Sher

I REALLY love this piece, the "Triple Geometric Necklace". The repeated shape has a wonderful sense of balance. Although each shape is essentially flat, each would appear slightly different to the others depending on the curve of the body and the angle of viewing - like glimpsing different facets of the gem all at the same time.

Ladybug and Rose studs (AUD $100 - $480) by Emma Sher

The studs pictured above have been especially popular at the Progression exhibition. Most are priced under $200 too...
Pictured left to right are:
Ladybug Studs #1 - Sterling silver sapphire, diamond, AUD $160
Ladybug Studs #2 - Sterling silver sapphire, diamond, AUD $180
Ladybug Studs #3 - Sterling silver, sapphires, AUD $200
Rose Stud Earrings - Sterling silver, AUD $100
Rose Stud Earrings - 18ct Yellow gold, AUD $480

Oval earrings - sterling silver, freshwater pearls (left, AUD $225) and Oval earrings - sterling silver, pink tourmaline, 18ct yellow gold (right, AUD $345) by Emma Sher

Emma finds inspiration in her collection of organic, man-made, modern & vintage materials and objects. She uses precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, gold and silver as core materials and focusses on how the elements relate to one another. I love the gradients of pink tourmaline!

Aqua Agate Necklace (long, AUD $895) and Mauve Agate Necklace (double, AUD $875) by Emma Sher

See more of Emma Sher's work at www.emmasherjewellery.com or check out her blog at www.emmasherjewellery.blogspot.com. Emma's jewellery pieces can be ordered online, but please note that all prices listed here are valid for the duration of the exhibition, March 3rd - April 4th, 2009. Please contact Emma with any enquiries.

If you're in Melbourne, get along to the exhibition! Progression continues until April 4, 2009 at Charles Smith Gallery - 65 Smith St, Fitzroy, Melbourne, 3065.