Backing Cloth Artwork / Basil Sellers Art Prize

Still a great feeling to get a new set of backing cloth paintings into store on a Friday evening.

It's been a big week, Jon Campbell at the Art Fair on Wednesday then Basil Sellers Art Prize kicked off at Melbourne University on Thursday. Kate Daw and I are off to Yuendumu very soon as part of our residency at the MCG which is also funded by Basil Sellers.Picture above of Cecily and Elsie Granites at the MCG last month.

( see earlier post )

You sense some people from the art community don't like the "winner" format but I love the competitive nature of this prize. It creates a very different dynamic for the evening, something genuinely akin to a sporting event. Kate and I caught up with Basil, Stephen Gough from the MCC and Chris McCauliffe from Melbourne Uni. who've been the key people involved from the start of this ambitious idea.

Basil's aim is to attract ideas and new work discussing contemporary Australian society using sport as a starting point. Speaking to people on the night you begin to realise it's going to be amazingly significant legacy.

I'll post a blog from Yuendumu and discuss the development of project in more detail.

exhibition continues until Sunday 18th August

Finally photographs of the Aesthetics of Saving exhibition installed. These images by Melbourne photographer John Laurie.

We were planning to bring down this exhibition on Monday 9th August, after the Art Fair and Saturday in Design. But we have some visitors coming over, so will now stay up until Sunday 18th August.

Thanks to everyone who has made to the show, great feed-back.

Could have sold the transformed chairs three times over but have now definitely decided to hold on to them, sorry.

We've decided to continue in the backroom and the billboard with a programme of exhibitions and events. We need a name for the backroom space and billboard combination, I've come up with nothing, so any good ideas would be appreciated.

If you haven't had a chance to get to the show it's on at spacecraft store south,

572 Malvern Road, open 7 days, Mon - Sat 9.30 - 5.00, Sunday 10 - 4.00 till Sun 18th August.

fashion ideas

Just thought I'd post these images from fashion projects we're working on. The Le Corbusier print on the Margarita dress is amazing , just waiting for the weather and we'll be printing them.

The other images come the development of new jewellery.

Tokyo artwork leaves studio

Artwork left the studio for Tokyo today. Our latest project with Hitomi Iketani. Bright, fresh colour, the artwork has been uplifting, keeping our spirits high through the wintery conditions.

We love having regular projects in Japan, and great to have Hitomi looking after us over there.

The studio feels cold and very empty now it's all gone.

Onward and upward ! New projects waiting for room on the print tables, the walls will soon dancing to a new tune.

Jon Campbell photo session

We hung up some of the Jon Campbell work commissioned by the Melbourne Art Fair for a photo shoot last week.

Loved the images of the newspaper photographer getting Jon up on the printing tables for the shots, the photographer striking poses, everyone oblivious - getting on with their work, even Jon seems unimpressed.

An idea for an artwork there somewhere.

The Aesthetics of Saving workshop

Images from the studio recording the State of Design workshop to coincide with our current exhibition project the Aesthetics of Saving at spacecraft south.

Great group, very motivated to get their transformations completed. We could have done with a couple of dedicated screen washers, more time to talk about what was made, a bit more time for woodwork activities...

Very worthwhile experience, I feel the participants will have expanded their vocabulary in the area of print and would be able to return with more confidence when the idea / opportunity arises.

Fun to give spacecraft fans the opportunity to select their favourite designs and pull ink through screens like Peppercorn, architectural dots, St Marks... and to go home with a one off spacecraft object. Tess McCabe won a place on the workshop courtesy of the The Design Files, thanks Lucy.

I'm now looking at the feasibility / demand for regular workshops.

spacecraft - Gertrude Street Projection Festival

Photos sort of showing spacecraft's contribution to the Gertrude Street Projection Festival. I'll ask Clara to take some better images and perhaps a film documentation. That would mean I'd have to figure out how to put a film up on the blog. Watch this space.

Our short film has a punchline, worth having a look at the street, it's up until the 19th July.