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E-box from Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre
Volume 3   Number 3   April 2012   ISSN 2200-1972

Interpreting heritage

The ACT Heritage Unit called for expressions of interest from artists to creatively interpret two heritage-listed places, the Ginninderra Blacksmith's Workshop in Gold Creek and The Valley Ruin in Palmerston. The artists were required to base their work on rigorous research and engage with community as part of the 2012 Heritage Festival. Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre congratulates Accredited Professional Member Annie Trevillian who was successful in her submission. Annie's work, Remnants: the layering of time, memory and place in a landscape encompassing family and community, will be on display at The Valley Ruin, Gungahlin Drive, Gungahlin (beside Burgmann Anglican School) between 8.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday 28 April. Janice Kuczowski's work engages with the Ginninderra Blacksmith's Workshop and a video presentation of Canberrans bringing to life the characters from the Workshop in an ephemeral interpretation of history, identity and place will be screened at the Workshop at 5.00pm on Saturday 28 April.

We also congratulate artists Antonia Aitken, Christine Atkins, Marily Cintra and Marian Hosking selected for the Centre's Talking water: artists-in-residence program. These residencies are offered in historic locations within Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park. You can visit Antonia Aitken at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage this Saturday 28 April between 10.00am to 12.00noon. Hear directly from her about the project and view the works in progress.

The Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage is an early example of a ready-cut or prefabricated Hudson's kit home purchased and constructed by its original owner A W Bootes in the Gudgenby Valley in 1927. Talking water builds on two previous projects bringing together the environment, heritage and the arts. The significance of these projects is the way people of different ideas and cultures come together and change through expression and exchange. Audiences are delighted through their passion and love for the environment, our heritage and expression through craft, design and the visual arts.

Avi Amesbury, Executive Director

Notes

Come in, we're hiring. We are seeking an energetic Communication and Event Manager to join our dynamic team. This position offers opportunities to flourish in a creative environment. Download selection criteria and information package.

Amy Kerr-Menz is leaving the Centre to take up a full time position with the ANU School of Art as Student Administrator. The Centre acknowledges her achievements over the past 2 years and thanks her for her commitment to the organisation. We wish her the very best in her new position.

National Design Policy for Australia. The Australian Design Alliance (AdA) is the alliance of peak professional organisations that represent designers across all aspects of Australia's design industry. The AdA has launched a campaign on Pozible to help fund their advocacy for a national design policy and are calling for support.

Professional members

Joy McDonald, exhibition
McDonald exhibits in Sacred and Illuminated at The Crisp Galleries, Bowning until Sunday 6 May 2012

Barbara Rogers, international purchase
Congratulations to Rogers, whose work Black Magic was purchased by Hong Kong Design Institute for their Fashion Archive

The Centre warmly welcomes Al Munro as our newest Accredited Professional Member.

Visit our Professional Members calendar

Current exhibitions

Current exhibitions continue until Saturday 12 May 2012.

Emerging Contemporaries
An exhibition representing award winning graduating students and selected national emerging craft practitioners and designer makers who demonstrate exceptional talent in their chosen field.

The Experience of Beauty - Brook Morgan
Morgan's work addresses the intimate relationship between artist, material and technique. Her body of work incorporates natural materials which resonate with the characteristics of beauty.

Elements: leather - Colin Lee and Judy Parker
The sixth and final group exhibition in the dynamic Elements series celebrating the Centre's 40th birthday highlights invited artists Colin Lee and Judy Parker in the Crucible and Foyer Showcases.

Craft ACT Shop

It's that time of year again. The days are getting cooler and the heating is being turned up in houses all around the city. Autumn is definitely here and Mother's Day is just around the corner on Sunday 13 May 2012. Have you found the perfect gift for Mum? Not yet? What a good reason to come in and see the gorgeous new hand-crafted products arriving in store. With the wonderful range to choose from, you're sure to find that perfect something to spoil Mum on her special day.

Some of the new products in store right now include beautifully crafted paper creations by hideyo - pictured right; colourful, contemporary jewellery by inSync design; and ceramic jewellery by Accredited Professional Member Linda Davy.

View a selection of products available in the Craft ACT Shop

Opportunities

ACT Creative Arts Fellowship
Entries close 21 May 2012
One ACT Creative Arts Fellowship is available to an established artist who can demonstrate a level of expertise and excellence in their practice and potential for further growth and career advancement.

Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship
Entries close 15 June 2012
This scholarship is awarded to a talented young artist with an established body of work, who is best able to demonstrate the use and benefit of the scholarship to further their art education in Europe.

28th Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award
Entries close 15 June 2012
The Gold Coast International Ceramic Art Award is an acquisitive art award and exhibition, open to all ceramic art forms. Independent Writer and Curator Kevin Murray will judge the 2012 award.

More opportunities Member's login

Industry news

Australia Council for the Arts publishes monthly newsletter
The Australia Council recently published the first edition of a monthly newsletter. You can sign up to keep abreast of what's happening inside and outside of the Australia Council on the new Artery website.

Fitter's Workshop inquiry report tabled
The ACT Legislative Assembly inquiry into the future use of the Fitter's Workshop in Kingston has found and reports that the building should be kept as a multipurpose arts venue.

Canberra Museum and Gallery Cafe
Did you know that Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) have a cafe? It is open 8.00am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday and offers free wifi, thanks to TransACT, as well as great coffee.

Australian art galleries join the Google Art Project
Six Australian art galleries have joined 145 other cultural institutions from across 40 countries to provide access to their collections online as part of Google Art Project.

Brodburger Cafe re-opens
The iconic Brodburger Cafe has re-opened in its new location at the Canberra Glassworks and now offers indoor and outdoor seating, a liquor licence, extended opening hours and a new breakfast menu.

Also showing

A Common Thread
Australian master weaver Kay Faulkner's new solo exhibition continues at Sturt Gallery until 13 May 2012.

Hyperclay: Contemporary Ceramics
An exhibition of eight artists who are taking ceramics into bold new territory. Exhibited at Watson Art Centre until 29 April 2012.

Women with Clever Hands: Gapuwiyak Miyalkurruwurr Gong Djambatjmala
A survey of fibre work by women artists from Gapuwiyak in northeast Arnhem Land. Exhibited at Object until 9 June 2012.

Warped and Twisted
Canberra Spinners and Weavers 2012 exhibition and sale will take place from 4-6 May 2012 at CSIRO Discovery, Clunies Ross Street, Black Mountain ACT. Open 10am-4pm each day. For further information contact (02) 6231 9211 or (02) 6295 7313.

• Banner: Brook Morgan, Untitled (grass circle) (detail), 2010, woven grass, horsehair, cotton thread. Photographer: Andy Stevens
• Annie Trevillian, ephemeral artwork installed at The Valley Ruin, 2012. Photograph: courtesy of Nigel Featherstone
• Barbara Rogers, Black Magic (detail), 2010, silk, leather, shibori, de-coloured.
  Photographer: Creative Image Photography
• Tom Skeehan, Hashi, 2012, anodized aluminium. Photographer: Creative Image Photography
• hideyo, kusudama, $150.00. Photographer: Michelle Du Pont
• Paul Wood, Guardians of a Goddess (detail), 2011, re-fired ceramics and glass.
  Photographer: Siri Hayes