object eye
Make.Play underway at Object Gallery
Wednesday March 13 2013
The MAKE.PLAY workshops are off to a great start already! Super stylist Stefanie Ingram kicked them off, teaching a workshop of green-fingered folks to make their own mini terrarium. The workshop, on Saturday 9th March, was held upstairs in the Object Gallery in the studio space, which has been transformed to a craft and design wonderland.
Under Stef’s expert guidance, a host of greenery and funky ornaments where arranged carefully and creatively in glass containers, creating little ‘indoor gardens’ for participants to take home. It was a fun group of students, from old to young, all getting dirty with soil & plants. One proud participant (the lovely little Charlotte) left us a cute message that made us smile….’I had a great time’ with a colourful rainbow drawn underneath. Charlotte may have been the youngest in the class but she was probably the most enthusiastic!
101 Contemporary Australian Artists
Wednesday March 13 2013
Recently while perusing the shelves of the AGNSW bookshop I came across a new NGV publication titled 101 Contemporary Australian Artists. It’s a compendium of Australian artists working in all disciplines who are making a contribution to our contemporary art scene.
No sooner had I opened the book than several of Object’s friends popped out! The well-known Janet Laurence is featured, as is MATERIALBYPRODUCT one of the designers in CUSP: Designing into the Next Decade, our next big creative program.
There’s also an entry on Robert Baines, of Object’s Living Treasures fame. Baines is a master of re-interpreting stylistic and manufacturing traditions of jewelry and decorative arts and reflecting those in his wildly exciting jewelry.
Making a Zero-Waste Three Piece Suit—Part 2.
Tuesday March 12 2013
Yesterday, Object Eye posted a Q&A with Sally Colebatch, who recently created a zero-waste three piece suit based on an original open source design by Jennifer Whitty (see Part 1 here.) Today, Jennifer Whitty discusses zero-waste design, and the process of watching her design come to life from across the Tasman Sea.
What drove you to originally create this garment, and what was your reasoning behind making it an open-source pattern, freely available to anyone?
I feel we are on the threshold of a new era for fashion design as Web 2.0 has opened up a rediscovery of natural, human, social modes of creative endeavors that have been somewhat marginalised in an era of passive consumption. I have always been fascinated with the notion of an evolving garment, that morphs and changes with the wearer/maker to extend its lifespan and create new engagement/interaction with the wearer/maker. (Continued after the jump.)
Making a Zero-Waste Three Piece Suit—Part 1.
Monday March 11 2013
Last year, when I was in Wellington for the fab8nz conference (which you can read about in Object magazine 63), I saw and fell in love with a three piece suit designed with zero-waste principles by Jennifer Whitty, which she had made available as an open-source design. With no real sewing skills of my own, my mother, Sally Colebatch, volunteered to make it with me. About six weeks ago we began the process, with a little under two weeks to get it ready for a wedding in February—and it was quite the experience.
Today, Sally answers some questions on the process of making this suit, something that was quite a new experience for her, and tomorrow Jennifer talks about the creation of the design and what it was like watching it come to life across the Tasman Sea.
Anish Kapoor at the MCA, Sydney
Friday March 08 2013
Recently the Object team visited the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia to see the greatly anticipated survey exhibition, Anish Kapoor. Judith Blackall, Head of Artistic Programs, and Megan Robson, Curatorial Assistant, kindly introduced us to the show, providing first-hand, behind-the-scenes insights into coordinating the museum’s most ‘colossal’ exhibition to date.
The group was told all about the enormous logistical feat that Anish Kapoor demanded. Realising this project, described by Robson as the museum’s most ambitious exhibition yet, required the biggest budget the MCA has acquired, largely due to the unique freight and installation requirements of Kapoor’s work. Comprised of 22 containers worth of sculptural works shipped directly from the artist’s studio in London, the sheer weight of his work meant engaging external contractors, including structural engineers and heavy lifting specialists, was a necessity throughout freight and installation. This involved not only closing off streets, but also removing whole walls and ceilings to accommodate the large-scale works.
On the cusp of CUSP!
Thursday March 07 2013
After months and months of researching, planning, negotiating and budgeting for CUSP: Designing into the Next Decade, it’s terribly exciting when lofty ideas start to become tangible realities.
Once such happy moment came last week when Patrick Abboud the talented (and rather handsome) filmmaker creating a twelve part micro-documentary series about the CUSP exhibitors, emailed through a few behind-the-scenes snaps from his first Melbourne shoot. Deliciously cinematic and emotive, the teaser images you can see in the image gallery left us champing at the bit to see more.
Benvenuto! The Italians have arrived!
Thursday March 07 2013
Sleek, sensual and oozing sophisticated charm, this trio of beauties is sitting glamourously in the Gallery, waiting for you to come and say ‘Ciao’.
These jetsetting pieces have only just arrived from Avenza Carrara, Italy, via London by express air freight; the original goal being to present them at the Interpretations llll Opening Night event last Tuesday. Upon finding out they’d arrive fashionably late (typical!), designer Charles Wilson presented in their place a wonderful postcard, the front emblazoned with ‘Saluti da Carrara’, the back inscription cheekily saying ‘Running a little late, can’t wait to see you! Ciao Ragazzi! xo’
‘Ay Madonna!’... if you are this beautiful you could get away with anything! ...
But I tell you now, signore e signori, it has been well worth the wait.
Design Emergency at Fort Street Public
Wednesday March 06 2013
Annette Mauer is Object’s Head of Learning, and is currently heavily involved in the creation, prototyping and development of Design Emergency.
The children in Mr Larba Sarkis’s class at Fort Street Public have embarked on a Design Emergency journey. The students are using design thinking to find creative solutions to improve the learning experience in the their classroom.
Fort Street students come from all parts of the world and from many different suburbs in Sydney so their experiences are quite diverse. In the last 2 weeks, the students have used many design thinking techniques such as creating personas and observing their environment. After they have completed their investigations the students will be working with both me and an established designer to help them reframe their issues and prototype their ideas.
Selling Yarns Conference 2013
Thursday February 28 2013
Sandra Brown is Object’s Touring Programs Coordinator.
Here I am at the Selling Yarns 2013 conference at the National Museum of Australia here in Canberra, where they are celebrating the centenary of our nation’s capital.
This is the second conference I have attended and it is always wonderful to meet up with colleagues and our touring venues. It is a great opportunity to see what is happening in Indigenous crafts with attendees from every state.
First presentations covered the importance of the possum cloaks in eastern Australia and keeping the traditions and history alive. A presentation on the Tjumpi weavers from central Australia highlighted their use of the senses when making their works and harvesting the grasses around their homes.
Make.Play Workshops—Coming up in March/April!
Tuesday February 19 2013
During March & April, inside a specially created studio space inside Object Gallery, Object will be hosting a number of great workshops for adults & kids, called Make.Play.
The workshops are part of the many ways that Object supports local & emerging designers & creatives as well as nurturing the local community. Each workshop aims to share skills and encourage us all to become a little more ‘hands on’.
Facilitated by some of Australia’s design elite, the workshops include: terrarium making; card creating; floral masterpieces; macramé goodies; junk jewellery, and many more. You can learn how to weave with plastic bags, create a Mexican God’s Eye, learn how to maintain your trusty bike or even weave a basket.
Visiting Object
St. Margarets, 417 Bourke St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Gallery:
11am to 5pm
Wednesday to Saturday
Object Ground Floor:
11am to 5pm
Wednesday to Saturday
+61 2 9361 4511
object@object.com.au
