Australian business “Third Drawer Down” create art with domestic products as their chosen vehicle.
Their mission statement:
“By placing art into the most domestic of circumstances, Third Drawer Down® products promote an ongoing dialogue between art and everyday life, whilst promoting the work of International Artists and Designers.
Third Drawer Down® reproduces artwork by contemporary Australian and International Artists as Limited Edition screen prints onto 100% finest quality materials. This ongoing project explores the multiplicity of domestic items, and the long history of Linen as a cherished gift and souvenir. Their ubiquitous nature in our domestic lives and personal histories provide a rich ground for a Napery renaissance, where contemporary artists and designers can re-establish and explore the full potential that this humble linen canvas has to offer.
Third Drawer Down® is not a product of art inherent or reliant upon a specific territory, patronage or souvenir jurisdiction. These visual dialogues are created by Artists and Designers who believe in a global Third Drawer Down® that is not categorised by colour, creed or domestic ritual.
We want to engage in a positive and innovative way with the wider community to promote and discuss art and it’s place in everyday life. Third Drawer Down® provides the consumer with all the necessary activities and functions that educated Napery can contribute to it’s new household. (Have a look at the things to do list).
All Third Drawer Down® products are packaged in sustainable pouches, colour coded, and with the artist’s provenance and details of the Third Drawer Down® project on the back.”
Personally, I’m a sucker for intelligent, fun design and TDD doesn’t disappoint. I first came across their tea towels. Their products are innovative and inspiring. With names like lapkin, bubkin, artpron and artkerchief who wouldn’t be curious. Unfortunately I can’t link to individual pages so you’ll just need to head on over and check out the site.
They also promote a product called “Magnart“, a system that allows the hanging of artwork without nails or wire! Great idea.
Audrey Boyle currently practices in Auckland working in installation/sculpture and printmaking, working intuitively with found objects. Kerri-Ann Abbott works in porcelain to achieve the fragility and translucency required to create patterns and textures found in textile crafts.
Victoria (Australia) Craft council has a new exhibition showing ‘common goods’ cultures meet through crafts.
is a Craft Victoria residency program, exhibition and publication. The process is as important as the result. Makers from eight Commonwealth countries have been selected as representatives of a craft particular to their culture. They will arrive in Melbourne and meet a local ‘welcome’ artist who introduces them to current practice. Works from visiting and local artists go on display at the Melbourne Museum from 6 February. Then visitors spend the month of February in residence producing a work of art especially for the Games. These works then join the initial pieces for an opening at Melbourne Museum on 28 February. Through Common Goods, many different cultures coming to Victoria will find a way to work together.
There is a blog for the February residency
Thank you bugheart for the info on the Baltimore craft council show – some great craft artists exhibited – I particularly loved Lynn Whipple and her mixed media art, and Jacqueline Sanchez and her puzzle jewellery.
In the bakery led me to Jessica Smiths fabric designs “domestic element” – I give you some images of her wonderful fabrics – some are hand printed others digitally printed.
katy hackney
oxidised silver & cellulose acetate
Katy’s work evokes words such as ‘sensuous seduction’ and ‘tactile enticement’, her jewellery has been called ‘extra-terrestrial cartoon abstractions’ and ‘retro, pop and future graphics’, it has been suggested that her work be ‘adopted as contemporary talismans’. (from CAA)
“Katy Hackney combines gold and silver, cellulose acetate and wood with such dexterity that it makes pieces that seduce the wearer with their charming quirkiness”. (from CAA london)
vintage formica, plywood, silver, enamel
velvet davinci
at alternatives
lesley craze gallery
crochet super heroes and embroidered comic books by Mark Newport.
“Newport works in and around an arena which, no matter how hip, still must be considered under the particular jurisdiction of the adolescent male: comics and the comic-book hero. … The artist’s use of needle craft, typically considered well within the realm of “women’s work,” establishes a challenging relationship between the young man implied by these works, the voice of popular culture/media”
(from Greg Kucera Gallery)
pics at greg kucera gallery (via slashdot) (next exhibition at greg kucera gallery may18 06)
good article at ASU art museum
also at moco loco
article at knitty
I’ve read and admired Brandy Agerbeck/Loosetooth.com for a long time. Her artwork, jewelry, sewing, and overall cheery disposition make her several blogs a joy to read. Lately she’s been working on perhaps my favorite stuff, some really neat octopus, lady, and dress prints posted at her Art/Work one.
Other favorite parts of her site: calendar collages and Craft Show 101 guide.
