A monthly newsletter from Craft Australia - Australia's craft & design network

Issue #68 - September 2011 Special Edition    
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1 Editorial

Craft Research - Launch of 'Sustainability in Craft and Design', CDE volume 3

This month sees the launch of craft+design enquiry Volume 3, Sustainability in Craft and Design, edited by Kevin Murray. As many authors in this issue acknowledge, the particular role of craft in sustainability is broader than a series of discrete energy-saving acts. The question of sustainabilty is not limited to the immediate environmental impact of craft production. Rather, it extends to the symbolic value of craft as an alternative way of being in the world.

Murray notes the papers in this volume can be read in the context of recent critical writing about approaches to sustainability which reflect a more caring relation to materials. 'An iconic work of sustainability, such as the Lepidoptera chair by Simone Le Amon, not only takes credit for its thrifty use of scrap car upholstery, it also attempts to change our aesthetic of furniture as a sealed unit'.

The papers range over discussions of craft as 'an endangered subject' at the same time as being an alternative to the rapid turnover of fashion and technology. Other papers explore the role of craft in higher education in England, projects in Australian Indigenous communities, environmental goals in craft projects in India and sustainable development for the craft sector in Scotland.

2 Feature Articles

supporting craft research
For 40 years, Craft Australia has promoted the craft and design sector through significant periodicals and publications. The development of the craft + design enquiry journal continues this tradition and draws attention to the increasing academic rese...
read more

sustainability thinking
This month sees the launch of craft+design enquiry Volume 3, 'Sustainability in Craft and Design', edited by Kevin Murray. As many authors in this issue acknowledge, the particular role of craft in sustainability is broader than a series of discrete e...
read more

top 10 library articles this month

3 craft+design enquiry, volume 3 - journal articles

4 News from the sector

National Cultural Policy discussion paper
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Office for the Arts has released a discussion paper as part of the development towards a new National Cultural Policy. The discussion paper, outlines the goals and strategies for the new National Cultural Policy and is informed by consultation begun in 2009 with the arts and culture sector, creative industries, the public at large and government. There is an open invitation to comment thorugh a survey or formal submission.

Australia Council funded report, Arts and creative industries, 2011.
The report, funded by the Australia Council for the Arts and prepared by Professor Justin O'Connor of the Creative Industries Faculty at Queensland University of Technology, looks at the often polarised sectors of arts and creative industries and their 'triple bottom line'sustainability. The report suggests that the agencies concerned will need to collaborate closely with one another as well as for in increasing set of sophisticated set of policy tools. Comments encouraged.

Craft Research - A new journal out of the UK
The aim of Craft Research is to advocate and promote current and emerging craft research, including research into materials, processes, methods, concepts, aesthetic and style. The journal will portray and build the crafts as a vital and viable modern discipline that has a vision for the future. A free first issue looked at community sustainability in India, music and textiles, craft education, contemporary jewellery, laser innovation and included reviews and a calendar. The second issue, available through subscription, is now available.

5 Calendar - exhibitions

Sentinels - Virginia Kaiser and Nikki Main

15 September - 4 October 2011
Beaver Galleries, Canberra
Though strikingly different, Virginia Kaiser's woven fibre forms and Nikki Main's blown and polished glass objects share a tactile and intuitive connection to landscape and water. Independent of each other, but with a common inspiration, the artists explore the Australian terrain and environment through their work.
more exhibitions

Places and Spaces

2 September - 17 October 2011
Cudgegong Gallery , Gulgong
Exhibition shortens the space between places bringing together the worlds of 14 individual object makers living and working in inner city studios in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and transport them to regional New South Wales.
more exhibitions

Creative Alchemy II - Julie Ryder

23 September - 23 October 2011
Belconnen Arts Centre , Canberra
Julie Ryder combines the arts practice of printmaking with the impact of chemical reaction and transformation. Ryder's early science training and study working in a veterinary research lab have translated into her science-based arts practice; her research and investigation led her to an ongoing fascination with the micro and the macro in nature.
more exhibitions

Swatch - Clare Belfrage

1 November - 26 November 2011
Sabbia Gallery , Sydney
Belfrage continues to explore her cane drawings onto and underneath the surface of glass and continues to perfect this elaborate technique. The works in Swatch are drawn from rhythm, patterns and details found in the natural world.
more exhibitions

6 Research Centre

craft + design enquiry - call for papers

Guest Editor, Suzie Attiwill is calling for papers for Volume 5 on the theme of A World in Making: Cities Craft Design.This issue of craft + design enquiry will be published in 2013 - 100 years after a naming ceremony for the city of Canberra and when, for the first time in history, more than half the world's population live in cities. The call closes on 30 June 2012..

7 National Forums and Projects

An online forum addressing sustainability issues is planned for October where online discussions about models of sustainable practice will take place. Check out case studies to date.

Choosing Craft - Vicki Halper Speaking Tour

American curator, writer and historian, Vicki Halper visited Australia in April 2011 as an expert in contemporary craft and visual arts practice. Read her lecture 'Makers and Designers: Collisions and Intersections and her essay on Australian craft impressions.

8 Opportunities

Creative Australia Fellowships
Early career artists working in visual or media arts, community arts and cultural development, performance, writing or music with a track record of significant achievement are invited to submit a proposal for this Australia Council Creative Australia Fellowship.
Closing date: Tuesday, 31 January 2012   more opportunities

9 Conferences

ACUADS 2011 Annual Conference
21 - 23 September 2011     Canberra
Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools (ACUADS)
The 2011 ACUADS conference will be hosted by the School of Art at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra. The theme is Creativity: brain-mind-body. Registrations are now open for the 2011 ACUADS Conference in Canberra. more conferences

Artsummit   the 5th world summit on arts and culture
3 - 6 October 2011     Melbourne
Australia Council for the Arts
The Summit will bring together government and cultural leaders from over 80 countries to explore how artists can give voice to diverse communities and concerns through collaborations with experts in health and well-being, the environment, education, business, new technologies, cultural identity and more. more conferences

10 Workshops

CHASS, Communicating Big Ideas, Connecting the Arts  
9 November 2011     Fremantle, Western Australia
Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
This workshop is for those people who have an interest in a wide range of art practices including design and craft, visual and performing arts. It will bring together people from WA, and the national arts and cultural scene, CHASS membership and government officials. To register please email membership@chass.org.au. more workshops

ARC Excellence in Research for Australia 2012 guidelines released   Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences workshop
7 - 7 October 2011     Brisbane
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has released its 2012 Excellence in Research for Australia guidelines. CHASS will convene a workshop to assist institutions in preparation for Round 2. The workshop will be led by Distinguished Professor Stuart Cunningham, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation and includes a focus on the built environment and design. Workshop 7 October at QUT. more workshops

11 Connect News: Craft Australia has a new blogging site

Visit:

• Craft Australia blogspot.- to follow regular updates on Craft Australia's projects
• Facebook - become part of our online community
• Twitter - follow us for short text updates and links to our activities
• Flickr site - view images of Australian craft and design online including the National Historical Collection of over 25000 slides which are part of the Craft Australia Image Bank
• RSS feeds will allow you to receive all updates to the website into your browser

12 Support us

The Craft Australia Image Bank aims to represent an historic slide collection of over 25,000 colour slides. Craft Australia is preserving these slides by digitising them and making them accessible online.

Craft Australia is a not-for-profit organisation and has been an advocate for the craft and design sector for 40 years. Your donation will assist us in continuing to promote and support the sector. Tax deductible donations can be made on-line.

Stephen Weinberg, untitled, Glass,1986, Image No 1002020
Craft Australia Image Bank Historical Collection

Craft Australia gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance it receives from the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian government's arts funding and advisory body. Craft Australia is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian government and all state and territory governments.

ISSN: 1838-0433

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