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indie art & design blog
big rock candy mountain
Elk by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Big Rock Candy Mountain exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.
Big Rock Candy Mountain seems to me the perfect title for the latest exhibition of works by Karlee Rawkins, which officially opens tonight (26.8.2010, from 6-8pm) at the Iain Dawson Gallery in Paddington (Sydney). The show is in fact named after a 1920s bluegrass song by Harry McClintock, "about a fantasy place with trees full of birds, streams of alcohol and chickens that lay soft boiled eggs" (Karlee Rawkins).
Puma by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Big Rock Candy Mountain exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.
Using high key colours in large blocks, thick brushstrokes and small areas of patterned detail, Karlee's works take on a bold, graphic quality. Since her April 2009 exhibition, Zoo Tomorrow, Karlee has developed an interest in traditional native American art and spiritual totems. The animal subjects are isolated on the canvas and are "metaphors for emotions and experiences".
Spirit Bird by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Big Rock Candy Mountain exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.
Karlee's original paintings sell quickly, so if you're thinking of making a purchase, get along to the Iain Dawson Gallery post-haste! I hope to own one of her works one day... though this time I'm not sure if I could choose between Elk with its lovely textures (at top, sold) or Puma with its curious, vibrating colour palette (second from top, still available). Hope you love her works as much as I do!
Pink Wolf by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Big Rock Candy Mountain exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.
Big Rock Candy Mountain opens tonight (26.8.2010) and continues until Saturday 11.9.2010 at:
Iain Dawson Gallery
443 Oxford Street, Paddington, NSW 2021.
Phone (02) 9358 4337
To see more of Karlee Rawkins' artwork, visit her web site at www.karleerawkins.com or see our Zoo Tomorrow post from April 2009.
Coyote by Karlee Rawkins - on display at the Big Rock Candy Mountain exhibition at Iain Dawson Gallery, Paddington, Sydney.
40 years for craft victoria
'holding hands', designed by Dell Stewart and Adam Cruickshank (image courtesy of Craft Victoria)
Craft Victoria turns 40 this year. From their early days at the Meat Market Craft Centre (now Arts House) in North Melbourne, Craft Victoria have been a constant supporter of emerging and established artists while helping keep the Australian creative spirit alive. They've been nestled in the lower ground floor of 31 Flinders Lane since moving from their Gertrude St, Fitzroy locale back in 2002. And with three gallery spaces, a shoppers' heaven for lovers of craft & design and a 24 hour window gallery, there's much to be loved about this Melbourne institution.
As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, artists Dell Stewart and Adam Cruickshank designed the limited edition Holding Hands Commemorative Tote. Only 200 of these hand-numbered calico bags were made and they're still available at Counter, Craft Victoria's shop.
COUNTER, has been running for nearly a decade and carries an exciting range of Australian design and contemporary craft. If you're not local, just visit the online store.
Detail of Marcus O'Reilly's Flotsam and Jetsam Dining Table
New exhibitions are showcased monthly at enCOUNTER - Craft Victoria's street-front window and 24 hour gallery space. Coming up in September, in conjunction with Fringe Furniture (part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival), is work by Marcus O'Reilly, winner of Craft Victoria’s "Innovation in Crafted design" award in 2009. (His Flotsam and Jetsam Dining Table is pictured above.)
Check out Cindy-Lee Davies' sustainable seating - chunky-crocheted recycled car tyres. Her Tis Knot collection was on show at enCOUNTER during July 2010 in conjunction with the State of Design festival. Photos by Emma Starr.
Craft Hatch is Craft Victoria's incubator market and runs on the second Saturday of the month, 11-4. To discover the latest handmade craft and design from students and emerging designers, visit the City Library Gallery, 1/253 Flinders Lane. The September Craft Hatch celebrates the work of graduation students, and there is an extra market being held on September 5th as part of the Writers' Festival. October also sees a special market gig at the State Library. If you would like a chance to sell your creative wares at a future Craft Hatch, applications are available online.
Jewellery by Naoko Inuzuka, photo by Emma Starr.
Designer stalls at Craft Hatch, photo by Emma Starr.
Craft Cubed is the annual month-long festival that engages artists and the public through a range of events in Melbourne and Victoria. This years theme is 'childhood' and runs from August 5 to September 4. There are more than 30 different workshops, open studios, exhibitions and community events during the festival. Check out the Professional Development programs on offer: Craft & Design as a Career; Maket It, Design It, Fund It; Craft Online: websites & blogs made easy.
Keep in the Craft Victoria loop via their crafty clog (blog). With all this and more, you have no excuse not to get crafty!
Craft Victoria
31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Open Monday to Saturday 10-5
http://craftvic.org.au
bilingual contemporary wedding bands
This season's sleek, shiny offering from indie fave Bilingual is an intimate collection of contemporary wedding bands. Inspired by what a wedding ring can represent, "the journey that two people share", these new designs are subtle and so beautiful. Sydney-based designer Marta Niegowska has explored the multi-sided potential of the classic ring shape, producing three unique interpretations.
"Union" wedding band by Sydney jewellery designer Bilingual
The Union Wedding Band is a dual-sided design representing the symbolic nature of the union between two people. The organic curved shape is stunning, especially when admired while being worn! The two sides also allow for dual engraved messages on the inside. I think this is my favourite of the three... which is yours?
"Momento" wedding band by Sydney jewellery designer Bilingual
The Momento Wedding Band features a simple round outer shape enriched with a date embossed internally in roman numerals. Your special day is captured in a way that just the two of you will share.
"Facet" wedding band by Sydney jewellery designer Bilingual
The Facet Wedding Band symbolises the many sides to a relationship. Sculptured to mould to the contour of your hand, this design captures & reflects light off each facet in movement - constant but ever-changing.
As with all Bilingual designs, the wedding bands are unisex enabling matching rings to unite a partnership for an eternity. Each ring is customised for the wearer with your chosen metal (silver, gold, white gold + platinum) and finger size, and Bilingual are more than happy to provide an obligation-free quote upon request. Their custom wedding band service is also very popular and Bilingual post out wedding info packs to those who are interested. To request a quote or wedding pack, visit www.bilingual.com.au.
"Open" limited edition silver ring by Bilingual (AU $185 - reduced to just $138.75 until 31.7.2010). One of my all-time favourite Bilingual designs, which was inspired by the beauty, texture and form of a Sydney Rock Oyster shell...
CURRENT DISCOUNT OFFER: To celebrate "Christmas in July", Bilingual are also offering 25% off when you place an order at www.bilingual.com.au. Don't be slow - offer ends 31st July 2010. (PLEASE NOTE: this offer does not include the Wedding Band Collection. If you've had your eye on a piece from their timeless "Think of Me", "Back 2 Basics", "Stopover", "Cirque" or "Limited Edition" collections, now's your chance to make a real saving!)
rob yee - illustration solo show
"Scarf" by Sydney-based illustrator Rob Yee
I discovered the work of Rob Yee via his sister's blog for shelf / life - her design store in Sydney's Surry Hills. I was captivated...
"Friend" by Sydney-based illustrator Rob Yee
Rob is a recent graduate of Design & Illustration at Enmore Design Centre and showcases his work through his blog, The Avocado Moshpit. His first solo exhibition opens tomorrow night at TIGHT: Project Space in Kings Cross. The doors open at 6pm, and as Rob says "if you're more interested in alcohol than art, there will be free drinks too"...
"Birdman" by Sydney-based illustrator Rob Yee
Rob's watercolours posses an effortless quality. His portraits are emotionally charged. Vibrant or moody, he conveys his characters' feelings with a minimum of brushstrokes. I'm not sure which works will be included in the exhibition, but his blog is full of intriguing images...
"Funeral" by Sydney-based illustrator Rob Yee
Some of my favourite illustrations of Rob's are pages from his sketchbook full of strange sea creature / botanical hybrids. I love the twists & turns as one form morphs into another...
"Fish 1" by Sydney-based illustrator Rob Yee
The chalkboard mural pictured below is from the walls of shelf / life - the slinky white lines are perfect for the space!
Chalkboard at the shelf / life store in Surry Hills by Sydney-based illustrator Rob Yee
Rob's exhibition opening is from 6pm - 8pm Tuesday evening (tomorrow), 20th July 2010. The show continues until 7th August at:
TIGHT: Project Space
33 Roslyn Street, Kings Cross, 2011.
http://tightprojects.wordpress.com
You can see more of Rob Yee's work at http://theavocadomoshpit.blogspot.com
i threw a kiss in the ocean
Winter Swan by Irene Grishin-Selzer from the I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean exhibition at Outré Gallery, Melbourne, July 2010. (AUD $520)
Showing now at Outré Gallery (Melbourne) is Irene Grishin-Selzer's "I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean" exhibition. We adore Irene's work - most often seen in the form of Iggy and Lou Lou porcelain jewellery treasures, (a selection of which we have in stock in the indie art & design store!), and featured on our blog last year when she participated in the "Three of a Kind" group show with fellow artists Beci Orpin and Madeleine Stamer.
High Seas by Irene Grishin-Selzer from the I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean exhibition at Outré Gallery, Melbourne, July 2010. (AUD $490)
The Outré show brings together a delicate mix of the best of Irene's one-of-a-kind artworks, her limited edition sculptures and her Iggy and Lou Lou range to really show the breadth of what makes this amazing artist tick. We've chosen a selection of Irene's newest pieces to showcase in this post - works for which she took a deep breath and descended into an aquatic world populated by surprising characters and monsters from the deep.
Hunter by Irene Grishin-Selzer from the I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean exhibition at Outré Gallery, Melbourne, July 2010. (AUD $490)
Irene's characters emerge from a world where the passing of time is measured only by an ever-growing number of barnacles collecting around sunken vessels. Familiar species have morphed into strange hybrids, and terrestrial creatures are juxtaposed in sculpted scenes of marine colonies. Irene has given each piece unique detailing such as the coral in "Hunter" (above) and the beautiful lace patterning which has grown over the shell surface of "Winter Swan" (pictured at top).
King and Queen by Irene Grishin-Selzer from the I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean exhibition at Outré Gallery, Melbourne, July 2010. (AUD $190ea)
Certainly, "King" and "Queen" have inhabited Irene's otherworldly dreams for some time... Their hollow faces contrast with the rich tapestry of royal robes and decoration, exploring Irene's recurring themes of beauty & death... Each of Irene's porcelain sculptures is kiln-fired up to four times to achieve the patina of buried treasure, in this case, evoking a sense of dark nostalgia.
Queen of All the Seas by Irene Grishin-Selzer from the I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean exhibition at Outré Gallery, Melbourne, July 2010. (AUD $690)
Irene uses colour sparsely, highlighting unusual surface decoration, (patterns you might expect to find in textile design), or unexpected elements. Her limited edition and one-off artworks are sure to become collector's items, as well as personal treasures for those lucky enough to take one home.
Desert Ship Wreck by Irene Grishin-Selzer from the I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean exhibition at Outré Gallery, Melbourne, July 2010. (AUD $450)
The "I Threw a Kiss in the Ocean" exhibition continues at Outré Gallery until Sunday, 18 July 2010, so if you're in Melbourne, get along to see these works in person at:
Outré Gallery
249-251 Elizabeth St,
Melbourne 3000.
Gallery hours are as follows:
Monday–Thursday 10:30am–5.30pm
Friday 10:30am–7:00pm
Saturday 10:30am –5:00pm
Sunday 12noon–4:00pm
Outré can be contacted on 03 9642 5455 and further exhibition details and images can be found at www.outregallery.com/browse.aspx?Category=219.
Irene's artworks and Iggy and Lou Lou jewellery designs can also be found at www.iggyandloulou.com and you can browse our selection of Iggy and Lou Lou pieces right here in the indie art & design store.