VICTORIA

GRAMPIANS TEXTURE, 21-26 February 2009. Set in the beautiful Halls Gap and Wartook Valley in the Grampians National Park of western Victoira. Two-day or four-day workshops available from tutors like India Flint, Wendy Lugg, Ruth Hadlow, Keith Lo Bue, Rose Kingsmill, Liz Evans, Jan Irvine-Nealie, Jude Skeers, Colleen Weste, Jane Siddall, Yvonne Twining, Mary French, Susan Mathews and Ilka White. Bookings and further information from grampianstextue@gmail.com Phone (03) 5356.4616. www.visithallsgap.com.au/grampianstexture

TIMOR LESTE TEXTILES Exhibition Forum and Market. Exploring meanings, makers and markets of Tais the hand–woven textiles of East Timor. Exhibition Launch Fri 05 Sep 2008 6pm – Exhibition runs the month of September. Forum ($20 & $12)  & Market Sat 06 September 10 am – 5 pm At St Kilda Town Hall and The Gallery 99a Carlisle St, St Kilda. RSVP to assist@portphillip.vic.gov.au or 03 9209 6777. Sponsors include Alola Foundation, City of Port Phillip, East Timor Women’s Association, International Women’s Development Agency, Monash University, and Melbourne East Timor Association.

Tapestry Exhibition by JENNIFER SHARPE: My back fence. From 10 Dec 2008 – 7 January 2009 with an opening by Cresside Collette on Sunday, 14^th December at 12noon – all welcome. The Venue is the Castlemaine Phee Broadway Theatre Foyer, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine. Hours are Mon-Wed, 10am-6pm; Thurs 10am-7pm; Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 9:30am-12:30pm. There will be an Artist’s talk on Sunday, 21^st Dec at 11am. This exhibition has been supported by The Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Clothing becomes Communication’ Workshops - Register on-line in August for two workshops in Melbourne exploring textile design, innovation and production etc. The workshops for craftspeople, designers/makers, textile designers, industrial and product designer and researchers in design, will include an illustrated lecture, demonstrations, group and individual discussion and a hands-on project. Participants will work in project teams of two people. Chiara Colombi Phd  (Victorian Government/ISS Institute Design Fellow ) will share her research and methods and approaches for values definition, knowledge creation and design process in fashion design during two workshops: Forces and Desires 1 on 15, 16 August and Forces and Desires 2 on 22, 23 August. Giovanni Conti will present (re)configuration Workshop 1 on 8, 9 August and (re)configuration Workshop 2 on 15, 16 August. Workshops will be held at Box Hill Institute of TAFE, Box Hill, Victoria. Further information and registration form: www.issinstitute.org.au

Quilting Competition: Australian Patchwork & Quilting and the Australasian Quilt Convention, in conjunction with Expertise Events, are hosting a quilt competition with three cash prizes ($5,000 first prize, $2,000 runner-up and $500 under eighteen years of age). Entrants may choose a traditional or contemporary approach to their quilt and will be judged on their interpretation of the theme, excellence in design and craftsmanship. The theme for this year’s challenge is FANTASY. A selection of up to thirty finalists will be chosen to form the FANTASY exhibition displayed over four days, February 26 – March 1 2009, at the Australasian Quilt Convention at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. The exhibition of quilts will then embark on a nationwide tour throughout 2009, travelling exclusively with the Craft & Quilt Fairs. Further information and entry forms: http://www.aqc.com.au/melbourne08.php?module=articles&id=1220 or ring 02 9452 7575

CRAFT VICTORIA has A Month about Making which has the dates of 7 August – 6 September 2008 – ‘a festival of public events focusing on the making process.’ There is an associated In the Making Exhibition at their premises, 31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne; there are Saturday Meet the Makers opportunities; there is a seminar for students and emerging designer-makers, Craft and Design as a Career on 29 August at The Age Theatrette, Melbourne Museum (only $35 to attend). As well, Julie Monro-Allison a textile weaver and Recipient of the 2007 Emerging Artist Initiative will be part of an Open Bench Residency from 12-16 August at Craft Victoria (and Emma Greenwood, leather, follows from 26-30 August). The combined exhibition of works produced from Open Bench takes place 2-6 September. There’s much more to this well conceived month-long event incluing satellite exhibitions, workshops and forums (Working with Words is one); Open Studies and the Annual Lecture by Geoffrey Edwards: Glass Friggers to Freeways on 20 August. Details from www.craftvic.asn.au

The VERY STUFF will be exhibiting their latest mixed media work "Exploring 4 Letter Words" at Manningham Gallery, 600 Doncaster Road Doncaster 3108 (Mel. ref. 33 F12) from 25th February to 14th March 2009. Meet the artists Carolyn Holt, Jo Horswill, Leah Femann-Jones, Janette Kearns Wilson, Cathie Millar and Trish Sidway on Wednesdays and Saturdays when they will be demonstrating their techniques.

JULIA ROBINSON has a major exhibition coming up, "Here's To My Sweet Satan" (3-31 October) at Über Gallery in Melbourne. Robinson lectures in Visual Language at the Adelaide Central School of Art in Norwood. She is inspired by medieval manuscripts, heraldry, and challenging the perception of sewing/embroidery as 'genteel' by the often graphic content of her imagery, and the somewhat mutant structure of her animal sculptures. www.ubergallery.com

HURRAH! 2008 will be held at Steps Gallery, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton (Melbourne) from 27 Sept – 12 October 2008 with opening hours being Tues-Sun, 11am-6pm (closed Mondays). There is a Preview Weekend on Sat/Sun, September 27/28 from 11am-6pm each day. The official opening is Tuesday evening, 30^th September from 6-8pm. Enquiries to Gabriella Verstraeten 0414 860 685 gab.verstraeten@thomascarr.vic.edu.au or Nola Bailey 0419 588 114 nbobdes@bigpond.com

EARTH COVERINGS II Fibre as Metaphor is a master class being held by Glenys Mann at Cave Hill Creek, Beaufort Victoria from 11-17 January 2009. “A workshop designed for feltmakers and textiles artists, this is an extension of the mini-masterclass held at Hartwell in 2008. www.mannmaid.com.au
IT’S ONLY A PAPER MOON Exhibition: work from the Papermakers of Victoria, to be shown at Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station Street, Box Hill from 20 July – 2 August 2008. The gallery is open Tues-Fri, 10am-5pm and Saturday 11am-3pm. The official opening features Tony Dyer and takes plae Sunday, July 20 from 3-5pm. A Free Activities Day will be held on Saturday, 26th July from 104pmn. www.papermakers.org.au

autumn2spring: The Phoenix textile group will be exhibiting at the Charles Smith Gallery from 2^nd - 28^th September 2008. The Gallery is located at 65 Smith Street Fitzroy (Melbourne) 3065.  Melways 2C D12 Phone (03) 9419 0880 www.charlesmithgallery.com.au Open 11am-6pm Monday-Saturday. (closed Sundays) 

FIBRES BALLARAT, owned and operated by Glenys Mann, has the dates of 12-18 April 2009 with a collection of 15 fantastic tutors including many internationals. Through G Mann you can also consider an Odyssey to Broken Hill and Beyond from 25 April to 2 May with Liz Jeneid as Artistic Coordinator. Details from www.mannmaid.com.au or email mannmaid@northnet.com.au

A SPLASH OF COLOUR- Exhibition of Textiles, Prints & Watercolours. The inaugural exhibition of exquisite work produced by central Victorian artists covering hand and tapestry weaving, printmaking and watercolour pieces. With colours splashing across the exhibition space from floor to ceiling, viewers will be tantalised and tempted. This celebration of Spring's arrival runs from 10th October until 6th November 2008, 10 am - 5 pm daily at MAD Gallery, 19 High St., LANCEFIELD, Victoria. Opening event Sunday October 12th at 2pm. Further details are available on 0427 056 678

Coming up at the Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre in October 2008, the 3^rd Annual wearable art exhibition & sale. itsartwearit@hotmail.com Phon e(03) 9398.2511. The gallery is located at 5 Sargood Street, Altona, VIC 3018. “A great way to promote your textile art.” There are 3 categories: wearable art, beanies and tea cosies. Entries close 1^st October.

Fibre as Artform was one of 14 projects funded by Regional Arts Victoria during 2008. At the conclusion of the workshop sessions, work representing all participants has been chosen for exhibition at several venues: Meeniyan Gallery, July 2008, Sale Regional Gallery, September 2008 and hopefully Ararat Gallery after that. Selected participants were: Chris Beehag, Pat Butinar, Maureen Collins-Binsol, Susan Ferres, Carolyn Lewens, Angelika Lieshout, Bee Mellor, Winsome Richards, Elizabeth Shaw and Joanne Stewart.

An exhibition [but not the workshops] of Fibre as Artform will be held again in 2009. Applications will be accepted from all fibre artists, and must be received by March 1, 2009, for an exhibition in July 2009. Contact Meg, the Curator of Meeniyan Art Gallery, website http://meeniyangallery.com.au/ for further details.

Textile artists and facilitators, Mandy Gunn and Meg Viney engaged Gippsland craft practitioners in a series of intensive workshops and discussions around textiles as a legitimate form of contemporary art.  Utilising art and writing workshops to facilitate artistic and professional development, participants were exposed to contemporary issues and concerns in art-making, resulting in a cognitive and conceptual shift. 

The International BACK TO BACK Wool Challenge took place on 14 June with teams competing in their own vicinities. ‘From Nova Scotia to Kurrajong, Tokyo to Thunder Bay, teams consisting of a blade shearer, a sheep and seven handspinners and knitters, followed the Challenge rules and pattern to complete an adult size jumper in one day. Last year’s winning team from Canada was out to break the Guinness World Record’s time of 4 hours, 51 minutes and 14 seconds, held by The Merriwa Jumbucks of New South Wales. All funds raised were donated to Cancer Research. AND THE WINNER IS: The Toronto Spiders from Toronto, Canada WERE the fastest, coming in just under 6 hours, not enough to break the Guinness world record time but faster than the Thunder Bay team from Ontario as they took 18 hours to finish their jumper. A total of 18 teams competed from 13 different venues around the world. For next year (June 2009), get further information from Wendy Dennis on phone (03) 5233.6241 of fax (03) 5233.6338. Email backtoback@iprimus.com.au Website: www.tarndwarncoort.com

ARTISAN BOOKS, 159 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy (Melbourne) announces a series of exhibitions to be held in their bookstore. From the 2^nd until the 30^th of August they will be holding their 4^th Annual ARTIST BOOKS Exhibition. “The theme for this year will be ‘Into The Fold.’ We are really looking to push the boundaries of how a book is defined and focus on the book as sculptural form. Last years entries may be viewed on our website. If anyone is interested please let us know and we will send you out an entry form. Last year’s BASKETRY Exhibition was once again a wonderful success with well over a hundred baskets being sent in of every possible material and technique. This year the exhibition will run from the 11^th of October until the 8^th of November. Previous entries may be viewed in the exhibitions section on the website.” Once again, if you would like to get involved please contact Daniel at the shop: phone (03) 9416.4805; Email artisan@alphalink.com.au

  The Basketmakers of Victoria (BOV) will be part of BLEND Basketry in a Contemporary Setting - at the Blend Design shop, 323 Smith Street, Collingwood from 8^th Nov - 12 Dec. This is ‘a large shop with quality furniture and interior styling and the premises are most suitable for displaying BOV work in a practical setting. This showing comprises the group’s Biennial Exhibition which is titled Living with Baskets. This interesting group offers workshops from time to time at their premises, The Stables, Wattle Park, 1012 Riversdale Road, Burwood Melourne; some coming up: Stitched Basketry Workshop, with Margaret Balfe, 6/7 September; Make a Melon Basket with Edit Meaklim, 16/17 August. Details from www.basketmakersofvictoria.com.au or the cottage phone is listed as 0409 023 029.

  An exhibition titled THREE BY SEVEN and will run from the 6^th September until the 18^th September at the Highway Gallery, 14 The Highway, Mount Waverley. 3149  Melway ref. 70 F2.  This is the third exhibition held by a group of talented textile artists using a range of varied techniques.  The exhibition will be opened by Esther Holland on Sunday the 7^th September at 3.00pm.  Admission to the gallery is free.  Gallery hours are Tues-Sat 11am – 5pm and Sun 1 – 5pm  9807 7261.  All welcome. Those exhibiting include Fhonda Justus, Sarah Simcock, Helen McHenry, Sue Martin, June Ryan, Bev Lane and Dell Collins.

"The Travelling Show" (woven tapestry by JOY SMITH) is at the Geelong FORUM 2008 from 21-27 September in Hirschfield-Mack Gallery, Geelong Grammar School, and then it will be at Newnorth Gallery, 15A Railway Place, Fairfield (Vic) from 6-27 August.

“Joy has distilled her vision into a clever postcard format, taking the scenes that have most resonated with her over years and working them into small graphic gems. Some chosen images are very personal snapshots of the familiar, others a play on popular coastal icons such as the Twelve Apostles that will be displayed on a revolving postcard stand. Of these she says: "I like the idea of presenting a piece of work that is labour intensive to produce as an inexpensive, almost throw away item. In reality, postcards often turn into long term fridge art." Time is the essence of this exhibition - time spent traveling, time spent both away from the familiar and rediscovering its potential, and, above all, time spent weaving her ideas into reality.” (Cresside Collette). Also showing at The Geelong FORUM from 21-27 September in the Sinclaire Gallery, Geelong Grammar School: AFTER INDIA curated by Dana McCown, and Telia Rumal An Endangered Species also curated by Dana McCown (Hirschfield-Mack Gallery space). All welcome.

BLACK IS BACK: “BLACK IN FASHION” is at the NGV International in Melbourne until 31 August and The Ian Potter Centre until 24 August – the display ranges from lavish 17^th century designs to innovative (and Melbourne-focused) local talent.www.ngv.vic.gov.au

FABRICATE the Contemporary Textile Art Prize (which was an annual event in 2006 & 2007) is becoming BIENNIAL, running in odd-numbered years starting with 2009. This is an initiative of TAG, the Textile Art @ the Guild Group of the Embroiderers’ Guild of Victoria. In even-numbered years, starting in 2008, TAG will be involved in Fabricate Invitational Exhibitions. TAG also has a monthly speaker program (usually the first Monday of the month; talks are usually $5.00 each). Coming up at 170 Wattletree Road, Malvenr: there will be a special dinner meeting on Sept 1 with Shelley Foster talking on A Textile Tour in Peru. Then on Monday, 29^th September, Jane DUNNEWOLD from the USA will speak - all welcome; there will be a charge at the door ($8 for non-EGV members and $5 for EGV members) - starting time of 7:30pm. The speaker for November 3 is Tiffany Bishop, Photographic Artist and on December 1 it’s Marianne Little, Artist and Book Maker. On February 2^nd it’s Kim Simon FibreRed garments and accessories; and on March 2 it’s Dragana Edwards Patternmaker. www.embroiderersguildvic.org/tag.htm

The BEAD SOCIETY of VICTORIA has been growing! The increasing attendance at meetings sees them moving to the Carnegie Library. 7 Shepparton Avenue, Carnegie (Melbourne). Find out about meeting dates and future workshops via www.beadsociety.com.au (info@beadsociety.com.au ). Their next Bead Challenge sees work being judged by public vote at the Bead Expo in Melbourne, Nov 14-16. There will also be a Guest Judge for a prize of $500. Works to be submitted no later than 12 October, 2008. The Bead Society has an active and on-going workshop program too. Check their website for details.

LEAH JONES organizes Textile and Art Tours of Melbourne on a regular basis (tour days are usually Thursdays although another day that suits your Melbourne visit can be chosen). This can include some of ‘the best textile spots, fabric shops, galleries and eateries with an experienced textile junkie and guide.” Cost, and a full program available on request; maximum of 3 people for each made-to-measure tour! or phone (03) 5795.1040 or Email leah@wisewomanwearables.com.au Workshops by Leah Jones, and more tour information from www.wisewomanwearables.com.au

At the Ararat Art Gallery: from 18 September to 26 October, Flossie Peitsch: “The Immortal Now.” And in 2009, during February and March, INDIA FLINT will exhibit with ANETTE OROM from Denmark in a show titled planeta (you can see Anette’s work at www.aborom.dk ). The exhibition title is a latin word embracing both ’journey’ and ‘world’. After its Australian showing, the exhibition work willl be at the Mostings Hus gallery at Frederiksberg in Copenhagen, Denmark from September 12 – October 13, 2009.

The BEAUTIFUL SILKS warehouse in Fitzroy (Melbourne) is open for business! Visit the premises on SUNDAYS, 1-5pm; Monday-Thursday, 11am-4pm, and other times by appointment. In addition to the vast amount of quality silk sold by Marion Hera-Gorr, you can buy Mohair curls, top and yarns from Pam Goble of Lara Downs, and splendidly dyed yarns from Gill Venn of Fibreworks.

The next Biennial Exhibition from The Bendigo Branch of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria will be held on November 14/15/16 at St Andrews Hall, Myers Street, Bendigo Victoria – more information from Maggie on (03) 5446.7047 or from Glenys on (03) 5439.5002. The theme is From a Thread Sew it Grows. Beautiful handmade articles on sale – in good time for Christmas – all welcome.

From here to Eternity - a travelling exhibition: The Victorian Tapestry Workshop is delighted to be showing this exhibition of exemplary tapestries from its Exhibition Collection to new tapestry audiences. The works which comprise From here to Eternity: contemporary tapestries from the Victorian Tapestry Workshop span the last 20 years and are indicative of the range of artists with whom the Workshop has collaborated over this period.
Exhibition Collection tapestries are woven because of the Workshop’s interest in working with a specific artist, as exhibition pieces, as promotional vehicles for the Workshop, and to meet the Workshop’s need to have available a selection of works to attract new commissions. The comparative freedom that is inherent in this scenario has tremendous positives for the Workshop. In addition to being selected on the basis of their artistic merit, artists are chosen because of their interest in the collaborative process, so essential to the Workshop’s ethos, and because the Workshop has a clear interest in their intrinsic contribution.
From here to Eternity presents tapestries which encompass only a fraction of the hundreds of works produced by the Victorian Tapestry Workshop since its inception. The majority of these commissioned works are, of course, woven for specific public spaces, and the most well-known of these are invariably monumental in scale. The Exhibition Collection, on the other hand, allows for a flexibility of approach to scale and subject which enormously extends the weavers’ role and opportunities. One-on-one engagement between the artists and the weavers is critical to this experience, and the weavers will testify to the joy and exuberance which derives from the development of the special relationships with many of the artists in this exhibition. The Workshop gratefully acknowledges the Tapestry Foundation of Victoria’s support in producing the catalogue for this exhibition. 
Exhibition dates
Hamilton Art Gallery     To 17 August 2008
Castlemaine Art Gallery     6 – 28 September 2008
A catalogue is available from participating galleries and the Victorian Tapestry Workshop.

www.victapestry.com.au To find out about workshops, tours, artists-in-residence and other initiatives of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop, enquire about their eNews page www.victapestry.com.au

The Friends of the VICTORIAN TAPESTRY WORKSHOP is staging a tram tour on October 13. Details from the VTW (Lily Fraser) on (03) 9699.7855.

More news about initiatives of The Victorian Tapestry Workshop: Stephen Wickham a past artist-in-residence the workshop, and VTW Studio Manager Sara Lindsay have curated a series of exhibitions titled BIAS BOUND which provide the VTW weavers with the opportunity to exhibit alongside artists whose work has been interpreted into tapestries at the VTW and/or who have participated in recent residency programs. Three venues will be used throughout August 2008: the Stephen McLaughlan Gallery in the Nicholas Building at 37 Swanston Street Melbourne (31 July – 23 August); VTW Workshop Gallery at 264 Park Street, South Melbourne (5-29 August) and Self Preservation at 70 Bourke Street Melbourne (6-31 August).

EXPRESSIONS 2008: The Wool Quilt Prize will be at the National Wool Museum, Geelong from 13 September 2008 to 1 February 2009. www.nwm.vic.gov.au or Email Lynette Christie: expressions2008@geelongcity.vic.gov.au. The exhibition advisor, Barbara Macey can also supply information: barbara.macey@hotmail.com The NWM, located at 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong and is open daily from 10am-5pm, general admission fees apply. Inquiries to (03) 5227.0701. Selection is juried, based on slides or electronic images provided with the entry form.

NATURAL DYEING – you can ask to be on a free email list to receive a regular e-newsletter produced by Pam Borchardt – contact her via pamborch@melbpc.org.au

The Members’ Annual Exhibition 2008 (Embroiderers’ Guild of Victoria) has the title SPRING FEVER and will be held from 6-21 September 2008 with an opening night party on September 5^th. Yvonne Walton is the exhibition convenor: 03.9571.2133.

PLANT CRAFT COTTAGE: The Cottage is a heritage listed building in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. The Plant Craft Cottage (near H Gate of the Royal Botanic Gardens) is open to the public, Mon-Fri from 10am-3pm daily (closed on public holidays), also the third Sunday of each month. ”The Plant Craft Cottage Inc. consists entirely of volunteers working to keep plant crafts alive and to maintain the heritage listed building situated in the Royal Botanic Gardens. New members are always welcome.” Phone (03) 9650.3235. Sunday open days: The cottage is open on the 3rd Sunday of each month for visitors to come and see the lovely building, craft displays and shop. Children’s programmes operate in the school holidays. There are craft demonstrations most Tuesdays throughout the year (coming up: September 2 Counterpart Craft; Sept 9 Fibre; Sept 23 Basketry; October 14 Fibre; Oct 28 Papermaking; November 4 Public Holiday; Nov11 Fibre; Nov 25 Natural Dye.

ADULT WORKSHOP Fibre Group – Crazy Patchwork Techniques – to make a small item e.g. purse or pincushion. Saturday 6th September 10am – 2.30pm. COST $50. FOR THIS WORKSHOP – All materials will be supplied and tea and coffee is provided. Bring your own lunch. BYO sewing needles, pins and scissors. For booking call Lorraine Anderson 9783 7687 or Nancy Price 9584 2777 No refund of fees for cancellations less than two weeks prior to workshop date.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME School Children’s Paper Workshop - Learn the art of papermaking and take home the paper made. Tuesday 30th September and Thursday 2nd October. Minimum age 8 years. 2 sessions per day and limit of 10 children per session. Either 10.30 am to 12noon or 1 pm to 2.30 pm. Booking is essential - call Jo Peake 9583 8376 or Margaret Eustace 9397 2107. COST $12 PER CHILD PAYABLE IN ADVANCE BYO waterproof smock/raincoat, towel and booking receipt to the session. All materials will be supplied and there will be no refund of fees for cancellations less than one week prior to the workshop.

17^th Tamworth Fibre/Textile Biennial (In the World: head, hand, heart) will show from 29 August to 12 October - 2008 at the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, Swan Hill, Victoria.

The National Design Centre is located in Federation Square, cnr Russell and Flinders streets. Open Monday – Friday, 10am-5pm and Saturday - Sunday, 12noon -5pm. Closed public holidays. Entry is free.