Don't Miss: Canning Stock Route exhibition

On now at the National Museum of Australia, and showing until January, this free exhibition is one not to be missed. I took my little guy along yesterday and neither of us wanted to leave! Here's a sneak peak at some of the amazing artworks in the exhibition - keep in mind, they are in huge scale... they take my breath away...

Nada Rawlins, Ngurra Artists

Left: Jan Billycan, Yulparija Artists Right: Jakayu Biljabu, Martumili Artists

Jukuja Dolly Snell, Mangkaja Arts

Don't forget to check out the interactive computers and squash a few virtual ants!

A little exhibition...

A little exhibition I've been meaning to see, open until May 31st at the Jas Hugonnet gallery, is work by Natalie Mather - also known as Pony on her gorgeous blog Pony & Pink.

Natalie Mather
Knot
2010, Spray paint, synthetic polymer on plywood
60 x 60cm

Natalie Mather
Jurassic
2010, Spray paint, synthetic polymer and pencil on plywood
90 x 60cm

See more of her work here.

Interesting and colourful, like the girl.

Make, Believe

Gorgeous... An exhibition by Canberra artists Amelia Thompson (of local fashion label, Grazed Youth) and Anna Madeleine, featuring fashion design, mixed media and animation.

The guiding inspiration behind this collaborative work is the artist’s shared experience as young women at significant junctions in their artistic pursuits. Together they have explored ideas of growing up and being lost in an unknown world, and conceptually drawn parallels of their experiences to those encountered by the heroines of classic fairytales.

Make, Believe looks at the notion behind the games we play as children and the role that they play in us now.

The exhibition plays on contradictory references to the traditional, nostalgic form of the fairytale in contrast to the new and the modern. The artists aesthetically reference this through the use of a sepia verses technicolour, using the visual form of old-fashioned games in a new, digital way, mixing the familiar with the unexpected. This collaboration has seen the creation of a refined collection of original pieces which push the boundaries of individual mediums. The outcome of this is an exciting and dynamic collection of work.

The exhibition will officially open at 6pm Friday 16 April and will treat guests to a fashion parade and live music. Make, Believe will run from Friday 16 April- Sunday 25 April 2010 at ANCA Gallery: Rosevar pl, Dickson.

Sculpture: Skylen Dall

CCAS: Exibition opening

On show: Imaginary Fairytales

Loving the looks of this upcoming exhibition featuring Claire Cimbora of Schmooks (I blogged about here) with Lisa Falzon and Marion Jones...

Above: "Around her finger" by Lisa Falzon; "The Garden Chair" by Schmooks

Imaginary Fairytales opens on Thursday October 8 at The Front Gallery in Lyneham. Gorgeous!

Handmade: In Bloom

Handmade Market is on again soon... and now in a fabulous new location. Following the recent surprise closure of Albert Hall (presumably for restoration), the next installment of Handmade will be bigger and better at the Yarralumla Woolshed - a fabulous rustic space with room to move.

Handmade: In Bloom will be brimming with our ever talented Handmade favourites (including yours truly) and many more emerging Canberran artists, designers, crafters and foodies and makers to bring you the best of Canberra... and some pretty spring things...

1. Mooza wall art 2. The Owls Are Hunting table lamp
3. Tango & James Flutter Mobile 4. Look Mamma Gift Card
5. Annie Pritchard Wren original painting 6.Grace Designs flower brooch
7. Tango & James Table lamps 8. Tango & James printed cushion
9. Flat Bird blossom wall decal 10. Prim & Pretty brooch

6-9pm Friday Sept 11 (50 sellers) twilight market
10-4 Saturday Sept 12th (100+ sellers) in full bloom
Now at Yarralumla Woolshed
off Cotter Road, near Lady Denman Drive, kinda near the zoo and gorgeous Government House

Squishy Love: Soft Sculpture

Here's an exhibition I wont be missing, playful and fun, I have the distinct feeling my kids are going to LOOOOOOOOVE this...

On at the National Gallery of Australia until July 12. Details here... love it!

The sculpture of Bert Flugelman

Don't miss this...

This exhibition is a major survey of the recent work of distinguished Austrian-born painter, printmaker and sculptor Bert Flugelman.

He is best known for his huge geometric public sculptures in stainless steel, such as his Spheres in Adelaide, the Dobell Memorial in Sydney and The Cones in the National Gallery of Australia's Sculpture Garden (pictured above).

Many generations of ANU students are affectionately familiar with his fountain sculpture Untitled in front of the Bruce Hall of Residence. This exhibition focuses on Flugelman's recent maquettes and medium scale sculptures.

Above: Bert Flugelman, Tetrapus, 2007, stainless steel, 325 x 360 x 120 cm. Photo by David Perry. Image supplied by ANU Drill Hall Gallery

BERT FLUGELMAN: NOW SHOWING Until 5 April
ANU Drill Hall Gallery. Kingsley Street, off Barry Drive, Acton.
Open: Wed. – Sun. (12noon – 5 pm) Free entry

Cosmetic: Tiffany Parbs

As a jeweller working in close connection with the body, Tiffany Parbs is fascinated with the changing narrative of the skin’s surface and embellishment that the body absorbs over time.

Left: Tiffany Parbs , extension, 2008, Hair, digital print. Photo by Terence Bogue
Right: Tiffany Parbs, bake, 2008, sunburn, digital print. Photo by Terence Bogue

Cosmetic explores the way cosmetic surgery nullifies distinguishing marks, creating new social and cultural monikers for an individual; a false constructed memory that belies the natural journey skin experiences through time and environment. The work developed as part of this series is ephemeral, challenging the permanence of a surgical presence on the skin.

6 March – 2 May at Craft ACT in Gallery 1.

I Die: Living art... beautiful

I Die is a tableau vivant, a living picture created by Min Mae in collaboration with twelve writers, one musician, twelve muses, and their loved ones.

I Die is born of the desire for understanding the impact of death, of dying, of loss, of change. It offers no answers, but lays bare the questionings of it's seventy or more contributors.

Words by; Maria Fleming, Monica Carroll, Hal Judge, Emma Gibson, Nat Burke, Chanel Cole, Anne-Maree Author, Joan Cornish, David Finigan, Adam Hadley, Andrew Galan, and Naomi Milthorpe.
Music by; Grahame Thompson
Muses; will remain unnamed til the event.

Friday March 20, at 7pm, then again at 8pm. Tickets are available at the door $15.
I Die is presented as part of the CCAS performance program. Contains nudity.

Elevate your childs art

My gorgeous friend, and fellow mummy, Monique told me about her brilliant solution to the great influx of works produced by her budding artists, aged 4 and 2. With too many to display and too precious to throw away, I'm loving this idea...

Totally inspired by the lack of space on the fridge closely followed by the desire to record those gorgeous creative milestones before they reach the bin, Monique has flexed her photoshopping skills and created these amazing collaborative digital collages of her favourite pieces which she has printed onto canvas and stretched ready to hang!

Instant art and priceless memories! It's brilliant Monique, thankyou for sharing these with us,

Love Nina xxx

Benedict House: Arthouse

Written By Emma Davidson

Over the border in Queanbeyan lies a treasure trove of beads, art, and vintage fashion. Benedict House is a former convent, turned into a hub for great design and art by its new owners around 2005-06. The building has been part of local culture for a very long time, with former Prime Minister Ben Chifley named after it. Paul Keating, another former PM, was the building's owner during the 1980's.

So I trekked out there on Saturday morning with my four and three year old girls to check out the art:house exhibition. Despite feeling like a broken record (“it's just for looking – don't touch”), we managed to spot some interesting and inspiring new works.

Yumiko Starke grew up in rural Japan, and now lives in Canberra. She creates delicately stylised images that often feature her two children. Check out the showreel in her online portfolio – very creative!
Claire Cimbora has a lovely selection of her very etsy, and a little Lauren Childs-ish pictures. I'll be looking out for her first children's book, which she's just completed. Find her here on Canberra's Got Style and on etsy.
A quick trip into the cafe and I spotted a stunning large piece by Payal Sehgal Mahajan. Is it a ghost, or someone in a transient moment? I don't know, but I love that I can't quite tell. More work online.

In the hallway near the bead room is a little domestic moment, captured by the camera of Amanda Hardwick. Interesting colour and line in an everyday object – fabulous eye, and she's only 21 years old. See her work before she disappears to “see more of the world”.

While you're at Benedict House, you can stop for coffee and cake at The Refectory. The courtyard is lovely on a sunny day. And have a squizz at the vintage fashions in the front room before you leave – the Eliza Clare bags caught four year old Sophia's eye as well as mine.

Benedict House is now showing art and design festival Art:House a month long summer festival celebrating art + design in the local region. From visual art, photography, illustration and graphic design- the art:house festival aims to bring together emerging artists and designers in a program that will showcase and celebrate our regions creative talents. On until Feb 28th, check out the website for full details.

ADORABLE: Schmooks illustrated

She's just opened a brand new Etsy store, I spoke with Claire Cimbora, talented Canberran designer and busy mum about her ADORABLE illustrations. Have you seen Schmooks? I'm sooo in love {sigh}...

Claire, how would you describe your personal style? Textured, layered, on the simple side, awkward, design driven, bright, and a little quirky.

Above: "In the Woods"

Where does the name Schmooks come from? A little embarrassing really… It’s a name I called my husband when we were dating, it just kind of stuck around after that!

Who or what influences inspires your work? I find inspiration from the world around me. My influences mainly come from looking at other designers and artists. I do a lot of collecting of magazines, photographs, images etc, anything I like the look of, or gives me an idea.

I never really plan what I am going to illustrate. I usually, find an idea, play with it and see where it takes me. Sometimes its a success and sometimes not.

Above left: "To The Moon", right: "Zoo"

Tell us about the techniques you use in your work? My computer is my best friend, well sometimes! I illustrate using Photoshop.

I do a lot of scanning of fabrics, textures, images and anything that I find interesting. I try to keep my designs simple. If I start fiddling I always end up going back to the original. I’m too much of a perfectionist, which is bad news!

Above: "Emily And Her Owls"

Have you studied design? Yes. I've loved art since I can remember and always wanted to be a artist when I was little. I used to spend endless hours drawing and crafting. It was in high school that Graphic Design grabbed my attention. I studied design in college and then spent the next few years in uni finishing my degree.

What other creative talents do you have? Well I work as graphic designer, which I love to bits! I then spend my spare time illustrating, mainly late into the night as I have a little 19 month old who takes up my day. He’s very cute, by the way!

I have recently finished illustrating an older children’s book, which looks at addressing homelessness and mental illness. The book is being distributed throughout schools and proceeds are going towards a new homeless housing project in Queanbeyan called HOME.

I am also trying to work on cooking as a talent, however I’m a long way off. I would call it a love/hate relationship at the moment!

Above "Her Red Shoes"

Where can we see more of your work? You can view and purchase my work on Etsy. I am also looking at getting a website up and running in the very near future.
* And Claire has just secure a spot exhibiting as part of the Art:House art and design festival on now at Benedict House in Queanbeyan.

And what do you hope for the future in terms of your work? To be able to create, create, create!

Above left: "May", right:"Neville's Friends"
"As long as I’m illustrating and designing I’ll be happy"

I strongly believe that if you love what your doing, it doesn’t matter if you are successful or not, as long as you feel good doing it!

Design for yourself and everything will fall into place– and if it doesn’t who cares, as long as you’re having a great time!

You really must see the rest of Claire's collection of work, it's absolutely guaranteed to make you smile. Schmooks on Etsy is right here {sigh}.