Craft Masters of the South Pacific 2023
World Crafts Council Asia Pacific called for applications from the South Pacific sub-region to the Craft Master Program. The aim is to recognise and honour masters in their chosen craft form.
Initiated in 2008, the Asia Pacific Region Craft Master program has organized three evaluations respectively in 2008, 2012 and 2016. It is organized every 4 years. Due to the pandemic, the 4th evaluation has been postponed to the year 2023.
60 finalists from the Asia Pacific Region will be nominated by their respective regions (10 from our region the South Pacific) and 30 finalists will be flown to Donyang China for the Awards Ceremony.
The 43 entries from the South Pacific region revealed an extraordinary group of craftspersons whose careers combine artistic success and leadership through education and mentoring. Unfortunately, our quota was limited to ten for this program.
The ten finalists from the South Pacific region selected by our judging panel are:
- Greg Daly
- Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello
- Kaetaeta Watson & Louisa Humphry
- Kirstie Rea
- Liz Williamson
- Marian Hosking
- Mary Dhapalany
- Prue Venables
- Rangi Kipa
- Sandra Black
We’re thrilled that our region is represented on the world stage but such an impressive group of craft masters. We respectfully acknowledge their significant contribution to our vibrant craft scene.
We will keep you updated about the outcome of the judging of world craft masters in China. And we look forward to a new crop of masters in the next iteration of this program in 2027.
Chair of the judging panel Jude van der Merwe comments, “I recently had the honour and privilege of being part of a skilled panel appointed to review nominations for the World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Craft Masters Award 2023. 43 nominations were received from Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and South Pacific islands. The quality and breadth of practice was astonishing and we are so grateful to all those skilled people who took the time and trouble to participate.”
We’re thrilled that our region is represented on the world stage but such an impressive group of craft masters. We respectfully acknowledge their significant contribution to our vibrant craft scene.
Ten finalists have been forwarded to the main panel in China and we look forward to seeing how the program unfolds over the next few months.
The World of Hiroe Swen’s ceramic art: Educational resources and a digital archive
Please find the information on the public launch as the following.
When: Saturday, May 13, 2-4 pm
Link to reserve online
Where: Drill Hall Gallery, ANU
Kingsley St, Acton ACT 2601
There will be presentations by the following guests: Grace Cochrane – independent curator, writer, and historian of contemporary crafts and design; Meghen Jones, Associate Professor of Art History, New York State College of Ceramics of Alfred University (participating with a recorded message); Paul Davis, ceramicist; and Jacqueline Clayton, ceramicist and teacher.
This digital archive emerged from a desire to document Hiroe’s creative practice in the studio through a series of technical demonstrations. The edited film captures a step-by-step process of how the magic happens and is augmented by an interview with Hiroe, adding further insight into her methods. The online archive documents over 210 ceramic works accompanied by essays from Grace Cochrane AM, Dr Chiaki Ajioka, Meredith Hinchliffe AM, and Alan Watt.
Drill Hall Gallery kindly offers to hold the public launch and the pop-up exhibition.
The pop-up exhibition will showcase the artworks featured in the video on the digital archive website and Hiroe Swen’s artwork in the ANU Art Collection.
ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Wednesday, 3 May to Sunday, 21 May.
The world of Hiroe Swen digital archive is supported by the ACT Government through ArtsACT funding and the NSW Government through Create NSW:
Cultural agencies who have assisted the project include the ANU Drill Hall Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and 14 other art galleries in Australia.
Who are the craft masters of our region?
A successful craft nation depends on those who have fulfilled a successful career and are able to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation. A program to recognise these “masters” aims to support these senior makers as models to which younger makers can aspire. This recognition offers a base on which to build support for the mentorship of those who are early in their career.
There are so many ways we celebrate our master sportsmen and women, as well as film actors. It’s important we also recognise those whose beautiful and skillfully made works will be enjoyed by future generations.
World Crafts Council Asia Pacific is calling for applications from the South Pacific sub-region to the Craft Master Program. The aim is to recognise and honour masters in their chosen craft form.
Initiated in 2008, the Asia Pacific Region Craft Master program has organized three evaluations respectively in 2008, 2012 and 2016. It is organized every 4 years. Due to the pandemic, the 4th evaluation has been postponed to the year of 2023.
This program was proposed to
- honour the craftspeople who have made outstanding contributions to the development of crafts in the region, and to promote their social status in local society
- to provide opportunities for craftspeople from different countries of the region to exchange ideas and experiences, and to enhance international awareness of craft tradition in the Asia Pacific Region
- to encourage more talented people to join in the work of passing on, promoting, and developing the handicraft tradition in the region.
Qualifications of applicants
- Handicrafts practitioner
- The person must have a minimum of 30-year experience in handicrafts production
- Applicants must be above the age of 50 (including 50), are still able to create and teach artworks
Judging criteria
- Applicant must be an experienced and accomplished craft practitioner.
- Applicant made excellent achievements and earned a high reputation at home and abroad.
- Applicant’s work/s must have been acknowledged and received awards for works in national craft competitions or exhibitions.
- Applicant’s work/s must have been selected to be displayed in national-level museums and galleries or at international exhibitions.
- Applicant must show proof of teaching and training the skills of their craft.
60 finalists from the Asia Pacific Region will be nominated by their respective regions (10 from our region the South Pacific) and 30 finalists will be flown to Donyang China for the Awards Ceremony. Applications for consideration by the Jury are due by 5 April 2023. A jury will be formed comprising suitably qualified experts to select ten finalists.
China will host accommodation and airfares for 30 masters to Dongyang, China plus several artworks and necessary tools submitted for final evaluation for the awards ceremony. Selected artists are requested to do some live demonstrations (details worked out following selection). Invitations will go out by April 16 for a ceremony in early June.
You can find the form here.
Enquiries to Lindy Joubert or Jude van der Merwe
WoCCA Craft Cooee: Contemporary jewellery in Australasia on 11 April
Join the board of the World Crafts Council – Australia to hear from the organisers of three major events that build and maintain community in the contemporary jewellery field. New Zealand’s Nelson Jewellery week organisers will speak alongside Australian speakers from JMGA WA (Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group) and Radiant Pavilion about the aims, logistics and outcomes of pulling together these important large-scale events.
Speakers:
- Chloe Powell – Radiant Pavilion
- Kay van Dyk and Katie Pascoe – Nelson Jewellery Week
- Robin Wells and Claire Townsend – JMGA WA conference
Tuesday 11 April 6-7pm (AEST)
Register on Zoom here.
Heart, Head and Hand – the 21st century premiere
Join us to celebrate the recovery of a precious moment in Australian craft history.
In the late 1970s, the Crafts Council of Australia commissioned a series of extraordinary short films about Australian craftspersons. These included leading directors of the time, such as Peter Weir and Gillian Armstrong. These are currently stored in the National Film and Sound Archive. World Crafts Council – Australia is seeking your support to help digitise these so they can be seen by us today and for future generations. These films are a powerful testament to the value of craft in Australian culture.
“Heart, Head and Hand” (1979) is 20-minute documentary featuring scenes from the life and work of potter Peter Rushforth. “This film shows how Rushforth’s philosophy and strong belief in craft as a way of life has reached all those with whom he had been in contact, and the respect and admiration in which he is held both personally and professionally by students, colleagues and friends.”
The screening will be followed by a discussion including Janet DeBoos, who features in the film.
Join us to witness the recovery of this magical history and help support our craft heritage.
WoCCA conversation: Putting craft on the map
As part of the Australian Craft Map project, we crowdsourced nearly 300 different craft associations throughout the country. The next phase is to make this map accessible so that anyone can know where they can find local and beautiful craft.
In our next WoCCA Conversation, we will launch our first Google Map: Australian Craft Destinations. But this is only one part of the process. For the benefits of this map to be realised, craft galleries, workshops and retail outlets need to ensure that they have an entry in Google Maps. Once this entry is made, it is not only a way for the craft destination to be found, it can also be a way for visitors to share their experiences.
The conversation will be led by WoCCA’s map expert, Sandra Simmons. We will also hear from a variety of enterprises across the country about their experience in managing their Google Maps entry.
Let’s rise up. It’s time for craft to be visible.
Tuesday 6 September 2022, 17:00 (AEST)
Zoom registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvceCtqDIpE9Oa8JSNtmJ-Q9hp7-S8Gjqy
WoCCA July Conversation – How can we preserve our future heirlooms?
Join a discussion with those responsible for the important collections that ensure our wonderful craft works are enjoyed by future generations. We consider key questions:
- What are the criteria for acquisitions?
- What kinds of craft is of interest and value for particular collections?
- What are the challenges faced by a curator involved in collecting craft?
- Which acquisitions are you particularly proud of?
- How can craft organisations promote and encourage the collecting of craft?
- What impact does the acquisition have on the artist?
Presenters include:
- Eva Czernis-Rhyl, Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (NSW)
- Tarun Nagesh, QAGOMA (QLD)
- Mel George, Bulabula Arts Centre (NT)
- Philip Clarke, Blumhardt Fund (NZ)
- Rebecca Edwards, National Gallery of Australia (ACT)
- Claire Liersch, Shepparton Art Museum (VIC)
- Sue Lostroh, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery (QLD)
- Peter Hughes, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TAS)
- Bin Dixon-Ward, Bluestone Collection (VIC)
Time: 26 July 2022 at 5pm (AEST) see link for time where you are.
Zoom registration link
Every two months, we seek views on the state of craft in Australia, including international exchanges. The conversation is rounded off with a cooee around the states to hear of recent news, events, projects, exhibitions and issues. This is a one-hour Zoom event open to WoCCA members through a registration link sent in our email newsletter.
Craft Cooee – Wood in Australia
Join the World Crafts Council – Australia board for a conversation about wood. We are blessed by some of the most beautiful timbers in the world. What we make of this gift is a sign of our national identity.
Australia has an incredibly wide range of wood crafts, including Aboriginal carving, fine woodworking, sculpture, guitar-making and boat building. Let’s think about how we might link all this together.
Speakers include Andrew Carvolth (JamFactory), Ashley Ericksmoen (ANU), Damien Wright (pictured above with Yolngu collaborator Bonhula Yunipingu), Andrew Denman (Tasmanian boatbuilder) and Linda Nathan (Australian Wood Review). The host is WoCCA board mamber Niklavs Rubenis (Uni Tas).
Tuesday 31 May 2023 at 5pm Eastern, 4:30pm Central, 3pm Western
Register on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsdu2qqj0qEtE6SxnxxiRN2bdx6siXqwCE
Vale Robyn Daw
One of many admirable qualities possessed by Robyn Daw was a generosity of spirit, a widely appreciated openness to give professional advice to anyone in the art world. There was also an ability to celebrate the success of others without prejudice. And it is certainly true to say that she had a broad range of rich experiences in the art world to draw upon, as an artist, arts writer, curator, art museum educator, program manager and policy developer.
Robyn had integrity and intelligence and she resisted compromise. You couldn’t easily get away with much with Robyn without, rightfully, the validity of what you were saying being questioned. In this way she invited responsibility and conversations were lively and enjoyable.
Robyn’s joy and enthusiasm for art and life were infectious, she was witty with a finely tuned sense of humour, she was a thoughtful leader and mentor, and she was elegant and stylish. (As we all noted: alluring jewellery and clothes, especially shoes.)
Many of us within and without the art world admired her for these professional and personal qualities. Women in particular say she gave them confidence when they were beginning in the arts. All of these attributes resulted in a wide circle of professional associates many of whom became close friends. In short, as colleagues have repeated, Robyn was a beautiful person.
We admire her for her exhibition curating in, and prolific writing on art, craft and design — contemporary and historical — and for her leadership roles at Craft Australia and Craft Queensland (now Artisan), and more recently at Arts Queensland (for five years).
For the last decade Robyn was Creative Industries Program Leader at Logan City Council, where she worked to invigorate cultural engagement and development in that community.
Previously, for a collective period of 10 years, Robyn worked in public programming and education at the National Gallery of Australia, QUT Art Museum and Queensland Art Gallery.
A strong interest in the art and culture of textiles led her to work as a weaver at the Australian Tapestry Workshop in Melbourne (city of her birth) from 1986 to ’89, followed by a French government scholarship to research textiles in France. In 2001 she curated the much respected ‘Material Witness: 15th Tamworth Fibre Textile Biennial’ for the Tamworth City Gallery. A large tapestry by her, Speed 2001, is held in the collection of Ararat Gallery/Textile Art Museum Australia.
While Robyn believed in the power of art for a better life, more broadly she was passionate about people, her garden, music and good food — the latter often supplied by her long-time partner and artist, Ian Friend.
It was with Ian that ‘ArtBunker’ was formed in 2006 and, working collaboratively, a range of projects were produced including a QUT billboard project, When I leave the clouds, and together with UK group Original Field of Architecture, ArtBunker’s Note to Architect was a finalist in Australian Tapestry Workshop’s ‘Tapestry Design Prize for Architects 2021’.
Robyn’s legacy to arts and culture in Australia lives on.
Ian Were, Brisbane, January 2022 (republished from his website)
Legends of Australian craft
We’ve just published a compilation of Wikipedia entries for Australian craftspersons here. Who’s missing?