Upcoming Craft Workshops, News and more.

The momentum is building. Over 400 people have shared their views on New Zealand craft by going online and taking the 2012 New Zealand Craft Survey, and over 370 individuals and organisations have 'liked' our Facebook page, in order to access the latest national craft news, opportunities, workshops, events and photos, and to network with others.

Since May 22nd, we have promoted the work of over 130 organisations and individuals involved in the New Zealand craft sector on our Facebook page and provided links to a further 25 international craft organisations. For those that have yet to view our Facebook page, we thought we would whet your appetite by sharing some of our Facebook page content in this blog. Head to www.facebook.com/CraftAotearoa if you would like to view photos of work, access links and find out more.

Upcoming workshops

Mide Hindmarsh furniture weekend workshop

 *  Would you like to learn how to make your own furniture in a weekend workshop? Learn how to create stylish plywood furniture by laminating and constructing interlocking panels to create an attractive stool and table set. More information at http://www.mikehindmarsh.co.nz/

*  Check out the range of craft and art workshops on at the Lake House Arts Centre in Takapuna, Auckland. This woodcut printing workshop continues for eight weeks and there are lots more too including a one day calligraphy course with Jan Leonard on 12 August. 

*  For all those interested in working with wood, the 2013 course Centre for Fine Woodworking course details have been released. 

*  Registrations are open for this fun and exciting course in claymation, just for teenagers aged 13 – 17 years on at Mangere Arts Centre. 

*  Workspace Studios, Wellington, is a hub for jewellers and small object makers and has grown into a bustling studio with jewellery classes almost every day, one-on-one tuition, short courses and bench hire for students and professionals. Everyone from professional to complete beginner is welcome to utilise the fully equipped studio.

*  Creative play day Saturday 28th July! Learn how to make a book and bind it using the Coptic Binding method. Come and experiment, learn new skills, enjoy being around other creative souls. What a great way to spend a winters day. $95 per person - includes all the materials needed to create one book. For more details contact liz@bookartstudios.co.nz

*  Two masterclass workshops are offered as part of this year's Wanganui Glass Festival. The first is with acclaimed English glass artist Galia Amsel who will also present a public lecture and the second is with acclaimed  Australian glass artist Clare Belfrage who will also present a public lecture and demonstrations. Further details at http://wanganuiglass.co.nz/

Welcome 

*  Introducing Wanaka based Andi Regan Art, also a finalist in the World of Wearable Art (WOW) Awards for the third year running. We will never look at zip ties the same again after perusing your beautiful photo albums!

*  Welcome to Darren Hunter Furniture Designs, one of our newest 'likes.'

*  Introducing contemporary New Zealand needlepoint and cross stitch design kits available from Auckland based The Stitchsmith.

*  Introducing Louise Douglas Jewellery, whose new retail store opens 1st August in Nelson.

*  Introducing colourful and fashionable statement pieces from Wellington based Shh By Sadie Handmade Jewellery using vintage and new materials.

*  Welcome to one of our newest 'likes' Marker Creative Workshops, an innovative public programme of hands-on, design and technology focused workshops based at AUT University’s City Campus.

*   Delighted to welcome Hocken Collections as one of our newest 'likes.' They have a wealth of archives including over 200,000 books and 2 million photos!

*  Welcome to one of our 'likes', a traditional bookbinder Tingle Vision Designs from Christchurch. 

*  Welcome to our latest 'like' White Heat; contemporary australian ceramic jewellery exhibition.

Galleries

'Nudge' by Tony Bond at The National gallery.

 *  Only four days left to see “Nudge” by Tony Bond at The National gallery in Christchurch. The 27 works, entitled “Formunculae”, vary in dimension from 85mm up to 200mm wide for larger works. A review of “Nudge” written by Craft Aotearoa Trustee Dr. Warren Feeney can be read here. 

 

*  Introducing Cromwell's hullabaloo art space. This work by Odelle Morshuis features discarded shotgun shells, a wide variety of coloured plastic cartridges as well as brass shells cut and curled into configurations resembling flora.

*  How much thread does it take to cover 192 treadle sewing machines in the new Govett-Brewster Gallery exhibition? Come and see N S Harsha's work 'Nations' this opening weekend in 'Sub-Topical Heat: New art from South Asia.'

*  This Saturday in Christchurch see the launch of Form Gallery's exciting new exhibition featuring the work of six contemporary New Zealand carvers.

National craft news and events

*  The last remaining blacksmithing course in Australasia has just been reduced to one day a week. Check out the 60 Minutes interview with Greeny on TVNZ.

*  New Zealand Olympians are the first recipients to be given a special gift of "Tahutahi" pounamu from Ngai Tahu, but if anyone else has it, then it is stolen and Ngai Tahu want it back.

*  Entries for the Portage Ceramic Awards close 1st August. The Awards, totaling $22,000 in prize money will be presented at a special opening function on Thursday 11 October 2012.

* First guitars, and now furniture recycled from the wood of earthquake damaged homes. Craft sustainability at its best.

*  Are you interested in becoming part of the Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aoteaora - the National Maori Weavers Collective? Sign up now. Biennial hui, magazine subscription and much more.

*  Would you like to create new work from these locations? Malaysia, India, Korea, Taiwan, or Japan? Check out the arts residencies organised by Asia New Zealand.

*  Hugh Bannerman from Dilana will give a talk at Objectspace at 11am on Saturday 4th August as part of the second public programme for Ubiquitous: Aspects of Contemporary Pattern.

*  Policy update: Local Government reforms. What does it mean for your community?

2011 Wanganui Festival of Glass

*  Fancy watching the Glass Olympics? Or demonstrations of glass blowing in the dark? Then head along to the Wanganui Festival of Glass this October. Lots more happening as well.  http://wanganuiglass.co.nz/

*  "Jewellery’s intrinsic value relates to a sacred (personal) memory, projected through transcendence" says Peter Deckers of 'The See Here' - a group of artists and jewellers whose practice occupies the border between fine and applied art.

*  Entries are now open for the Woodturning NZ International Symposium run by South Auckland Woodturners Guild Inc. from 4-7 October. Detailed programme on their website.

* First guitars, and now furniture recycled from the wood of earthquake damaged homes. Craft sustainability at its best.

*  Are you interested in becoming part of the Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aoteaora - the National Maori Weavers Collective? Sign up now. Biennial hui, magazine subscription and much more.

*  Would you like to create new work from these locations? Malaysia, India, Korea, Taiwan, or Japan? Check out the arts residencies organised by Asia New Zealand.

*  Hugh Bannerman from Dilana will give a talk at Objectspace at 11am on Saturday 4th August as part of the second public programme for Ubiquitous: Aspects of Contemporary Pattern.

*  Policy update: Local Government reforms. What does it mean for your community? 

*  "Jewellery’s intrinsic value relates to a sacred (personal) memory, projected through transcendence" says Peter Deckers of 'The See Here' - a group of artists and jewellers whose practice occupies the border between fine and applied art.

*  Entries are now open for the Woodturning NZ International Symposium run by South Auckland Woodturners Guild Inc. from 4-7 October. Detailed programme on their website.

International news

*  A Cooper is a maker or repairer of casks and barrels and this craft can be traced back thousands of years. Read more about how the Scottish whiskey industry relies on these craft skills in the present day.

*  Pottery skills are in decline in the UK. Dr Herhoffer said: "At primary and secondary level the focus is on digital skills and working with computers – pupils don't get their hands dirty anymore."

*  San Francisco based kiwi designer Sam O'Leary has been busy developing a fabulous new craft website. It has a broad range of craft video tutorials so you can learn in the comfort of your home day or night.

Dunedin Craft Research Meeting Invitation

Mandoria pendants by Anna Claire Thompson. Photo courtesy of Quadrant Gallery, Dunedin.

Craft Aotearoa Charitable Trust and the Dunedin School of Art at Otago Polytechnic - Te Kura Matatini ki Otago are delighted to invite all those interested in New Zealand craft to the Dunedin launch of the 2012 National Craft Research Project.

This is rare opportunity to share your views on craft practice in New Zealand, and it is the first major craft research project to be undertaken in recent years. The research project aims to identify how the wider public engages in craft activities as well as profiling the craft sector itself. A broad range of views are sought from members of the public interested in craft, craft practitioners, students, teachers, craft industry groups and organisations, craft galleries and retailers, curators, online craft communities and more.

Come along and share your views and then take the online survey at:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/CraftAotearoa2012

Sticatto sake cups bt John Paxie. Quadrant Gallery. 

Public Meeting:
 Friday 13 July, 4-6pm.
Dunedin School of Art Lecture Theatre - P152 Ground Floor
Entry from Reigo Street, Dunedin

Expected meeting format:
4 - 4:30pm: Networking.
4:30p - 5pm: Craft and Sustainability Discussion
5 - 6pm: Launch of the 2012 NZ Craft Research Project and facilitated discussion

Announcing Craft Aotearoa Charitable Trust

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Craft Aotearoa has been approved as a Charitable Trust and is now registered with the Charities Commission. Our registeration number is CC47849.

We are grateful for the support of Phillippa Wilkie of Chapman Tripp and also the support of our friends, craft practitioners and those organisations who have contributed advice and support to date - thank you for walking this journey with us.

As a demand-led organisation, we are looking forward to delivering projects as per our charitable objectives and proposed activities, and in response to the results of the current 2012 New Zealand Craft Survey.

Our charitable purposes are to:

• advance and encourage the exercise/practice of craftsmanship and the continued creation of craft work of a high standard in New Zealand;
• preserve and improve craftsmanship in New Zealand; 
• foster, promote and increase the understanding, knowledge and interest of the New Zealand public about craft and craftsmanship; 
• advance the education and development of children and young people in schools and tertiary institutes in craft and craftsmanship; 
• advance education and learning opportunities for the New Zealand public in craft and craftsmanship;
• undertake research into the craft sector and its profile in New Zealand and make the results available to inform business planning, education programs and employment services; 
• encourage employment into the craft sector including through facilitating careers advice to potential candidates and facilitating apprenticeships; 
• for any other purposes within New Zealand (whether relating to the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or religion or any other matter beneficial to the community) which are charitable according to the laws of New Zealand.

In order to achieve the charitable purposes, it is proposed that the Trust undertakes the following activities:

• facilitate craft artist residences, scholarships and awards and other learning opportunities relating to craft and craftmanship in schools and tertiary institutes;
• facilitate craft master-classes, workshops, lectures and seminars;
• develop a craft research library and collection of craft resources and craft objects open to the public;
• develop craft exhibition and touring opportunities throughout New Zealand and internationally;
• develop a regular programme of craft events in New Zealand; 
• encourage community craft projects; 
• develop a national network and contact point of reference for craftmakers and those interested in craft.

The following diagram outlines how we intend to work across the craft sector and wider economy, in order to deliver benefits to the wider New Zealand public.
Other News
It has been a very busy time of late for Craft Aotearoa with presentations in Wellington at Handmade 2012 and in Auckland at Objectspace's 7UP Talkfest. We have also been busy meeting with Statistics New Zealand, various craft practitioners, Form Gallery, The Big Idea and craft organisations, and we have launched New Zealand's first major craft research project.

2012 New Zealand Craft Survey
Over 170 people have so far shared their views on New Zealand craft. Don't miss this rare opportunity to contribute your thoughts - we are seeking a broad range of views from both the wider public and those engaged in craft practice including students, teachers, practitioners, curators, researchers, industry groups, galleries, craft organisations and more. To share your views just fill in our online survey questionnaire:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/CraftAotearoa2012   

It is vital that we receive as many responses as possible so please email the survey link to your friends and colleagues. The consultation ends on 19 August, and we will then begin the process of analysing the results and working with others in the craft sector to contextualise these results in a report that will be published for the benefit of the wider public at a later date. The diagram above outlines how our our project delivery will be led by the responses received in the 2012 New Zealand Craft Survey.

Receive national craft news direct

Contemporary jewellery by Jeremy Leeming.

Just over a month ago, we launched our Craft Aotearoa Facebook page and it has quickly become a central place to network with others, to access national and international craft news, upcoming workshop listings, events, links, stories, and photos.

Over 300 individuals and organisations have 'liked' our page. This is the best way to receive our posts. Even if you are not on facebook you can still have a look by copying this link: www.facebook.com/CraftAotearoa