This October, Boroondara Arts presents Craft Contemporary, an entire month of online events, workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions to celebrate the art of craft. The program boasts events for all ages and experience levels, presenting an online program with something for everyone.
Craft Contemporary celebrates the multifaceted art of craft. The program invites guests to make, create, see and do, with guidance from some of Australia’s most revered crafters and experts.
Highlights include interactive, hands-on workshops with Minna Gilligan (collage), Abbey Rich (Fabric printing), Kylie Stillman (paper sewing), Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald (visible mending), Cassie Leatham (weaving), Lou Hubbard (sculpture making), Lyn Guy (quilted textiles) as well as Sai-Wai Foo, Aaron Billings, Tantri Mustika, Chenai Mupotsa-Russell who will participate in a panel discussion asking what does our craft-making say about us? What does our creative practice allow us to express? How does this form our individual identity in society?
APOMAWISH, a bright, pom pom inspired art installation (pictured right) by Rachel Burke serves as both a feature of the exhibition and interactive event.
Over the last few months, Burke and members of the Boroondara community have made pom poms that are paired with a wish for the future. The pom poms and wishes will be collected and made into a large community art installation. Everyone is invited to make their own APOMAWISH and send them in to be included in the installation.
Send them via mail (Boroondara Arts, Attention: Bridget, Private Bag 1, Camberwell, VIC 3124), or drop them off to one of Boroondara libraries in a sealed bag or envelope.
Please visit
www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/libraries for up-to-date library opening times. Rachel Burke says of the participatory exhibition: “I am hoping APOMAWISH presents an opportunity for the community to get creative, reflective and expressive by utilising some super simple materials and crafty techniques. I love making pom poms and I am so excited to share that passion with the participants of this project.”
Minna Gilligan invites guests to learn traditional and contemporary collage techniques over two hours on Tuesday 5 October. Gilligan’s works (pictured below) use abstract mark-making techniques to set the scene for abstract composition, drawn from imagery of the 60s and 70s. Guests will be guided through the process of creating their own personalised mixed media artwork.
Kylie Stillman will guide an online workshop in creating handmade gift cards and small art works using a needle and thread on Tuesday 19 October. Guests will explore ways of creating simple and personal imagery to create works that will be ready to frame and hang at home.
Online events:
• Online Open Studio: Artist Lou Hubbard, Saturday 2 October, 2 pm – 3 pm, free event
• Workshop: Collage with Minna Gilligan, Tuesday 5 October, 7 pm-8:30 pm, Adult $50, Concession $45
• Workshop: Fabric printing with Abbey Rich – Clothes Revival. Wednesday 13 October, 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm,Adult $50, Concession $45
• Online Open Studio: Artist Lyn Guy, Thursday 14 October, 10 am-12 pm, 12 pm-2 pm, free event
• Panel Talk: Craft, Expression, Identity, Saturday 16 October, 2 pm-3 pm, free event
• Workshop: Paper Sewing with Kylie Stillman, Tuesday 19 October, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm, Adult $50, Concession$45
• Online Workshop: Mon Mungun – Woven Healing Bracelets with Cassie Leatham, Friday 22 October, 1 pm to 2.30 pm, Adult $50, Concession $45, materials will be provided to attendees via post in advance of the online workshop
• Workshop: Visible Mending – sock darning, Wednesday 27 October, 10:30 am-1:30 pm, Adult $50, Concession $45
Boroondara Arts delivers a curated collection of exhibitions, live music performances, workshops and screenings at Hawthorn Arts Centre, Town Hall Gallery and throughout Boroondara. So many reasons to stay connected, spark your imagination and enjoy the arts in Boroondara. For more information about our upcoming opportunities, activities and events, please visit boroondara.vic.gov.au/arts.
Craft Contemporary
1-31 October 2021
Image Credit:
Rachel Burke, ‘APOMAWISH’, 2021. Image courtesy of the artist.
Minna Gilligan, image courtesy of the artist.
