Talking craft and repair June 27 2016

It's been a busy week, Nora has been out and about talking about craft and repair.

Image: Artisan.

The Apprenticeship exhibition

To close The Apprenticeship exhibition, Nora joined Artisan's panel discussion about new learning pathways to craft skills. In an interesting dialogue with the panel and an engaged audience, the concensus was that the future is bright for craft given the renewed interest and developing momentum in craft and maker culture. However, it is only possible if craft is able to garner mass support from industry, government, patrons and the public. Given that some craft disciplines are facing skills shortages and many masters are approaching retirement, there is an urgency to formulate an understanding of what we need to sustain for the future viability of these practices. As was proposed on the night, perhaps it is time to introduce guilds in a re-imagined form that not only direct the development of the discipline but also provide support to the diverse ways that craft practitioners make a living out of what they do. At a time when government spending of the arts is decreasing, any long-term stability for craft will depend on grass-root actions that push the agenda of craft as a sustaining and sustainable mode of production and a significant contributor to local culture. Each of us share in that responsibility!  

Panelists: Roy Schack, Aaron Barton, Clare Kennedy and Nora Kinnunen, and chaired by Richard Stride.Thank you Artisan and all the artisans part of this valuable exhibition!

Furniture restoration demonstration
Nora's other interest is in cultures of repair, working towards ways of dealing with what we already have.

 
Work in progress.

Nora was joined by Rebecca Barnett at the Brisbane City Council's Acacia Ridge Tip Shop for a furniture restoration and upholstery demonstration. Onlookers asked about their own restoration projects and were given tips on how to do basic re-upholstery and restoration. There are many valuable pieces that make their way to the tip shops, and can be easily repaired, re-upholstered or restored. On Saturday 2 July, Nora and Rebecca will be at the Geebung Tip Shop working on completing this chair restoration. Come along to discuss restoration and browse the shop for your next little restoration project!

The Brisbane City Counci Tip Shops at Acacia Ridge and Geebung are the retail face of the Brisbane City Council's resource recovery initiatives, and are operated by the Endeavour Foundation to support their important work providing opportunities for people with a disability. More information about the tip shops here.

Artisan: The Apprenticeship panel discussion June 13 2016

The Apprenticeship exhibition at Artisan is an important look into the tradition of crafts skills which have been in steady decline due to external forces of mass production. Thirteen artisans tell a story of how they have pioneered their own pathways to gaining craft skills, and by doing so, asking us to re-imagine how we may be able to preserve them into the future. To close this exhibition, Nora will be joining a panel discussion that explores how new learning pathways may better serve craft practice in the future. The panel, chaired by Richard Stride, also includes woodworker Roy Schack, furniture maker Aaron Barton and brick maker Clare Kennedy.

The Apprenticeship panel discussion
At Artisan, 381 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
Friday 24 June 2016, 6 - 7.30pm
More info on Artisan's website.