Obsessed: Compelled to make presents the work of 14 artists from across Australia, delving beyond the finished object, beyond the personality of the maker, into the fundamental conceptual framework of their creations.
An accompanying series of talks and events allows visitors to immerse themselves into the complexities of making - materials and processes, the realities of their day-to-day studio routine and unravel what compels each maker to create over the course of their personal career.
Artists Talk: Obsessed: Compelled to make
With Lorraine Connelly-Northey, Kath Inglis, Louise Weaver
Saturday 10 February 1 - 2.30pm
Mixed media artist Lorraine Connelly-Northey, contemporary artist Louise Weaver and jewellery maker Kath Inglis discuss their practice, the act of making and their work for the exhibition Obsessed: Compelled to make.
Lorraine Connelly-Northey is a Waradgerie mixed media artist who has become known for her oversized woven installations of fibre vessels. Her work reflects the practices of her Aboriginal mother’s Waradgerie country and other tribal boundaries, where people, still today, use fibre vessels to collect and carry in their daily lives.
Kath Inglis is a jeweller who has honed her craft through decades of practice working with one material – PVC. The artist expertly dyes, carves and/or fuses this seemingly ordinary sheet plastic to create jewellery pieces with a particular luminosity.
Louise Weaver is a Melbourne-based contemporary artist whose experimental approach sees her working across a range of different materials and mediums. While she is methodical in her process, spending concentrated periods of time mastering material processes and techniques, these are always secondary to the concepts that frame the work.
When: Saturday 10 February, 1 - 2.30pm
Where: Australian Design Centre, 113 -115 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Free events but bookings preferred. Book here
Creative concepts: Conceptual thinking for designers and artists
Interactive talk by Dr Sarah Rice
Thursday 15 February 6-8pm
Canberra poet and art theory lecturer Dr Sarah Rice presents an interactive lecture about what concepts motivate and activate art creation. How can concepts drawn from philosophy, literature and creative writing for example inspire a creative practice in the arts? The talk is suitable for artists, craftspeople, designers, and hobbyists at any stage of their practice, and anyone interested in thinking about how artists think with their hands.
When: Thursday 15 February, 6-8pm
Where: Australian Design Centre, 113 -115 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Free events but bookings preferred. Book here
Making meaning: A workshop for creating poetry in response to visual art, craft and design by Sarah Rice
Saturday 17 February 1 -4pm
Canberra poet Dr Sarah Rice leads a poetry workshop encouraging participants to write creatively in response to the objects and designs in Obsessed: Compelled to make (Australian Design Centre). Focusing on the materials, processes, and motivations behind the artworks, Sarah will take participants through her approach to ekphrasis – writing about art – and read her poem You – Matter, created in response to the exhibition. All abilities and experiences welcome.
This workshop is generously supported by Red Room Poetry.
Workshop participants capped at 15.
When: Saturday 17 February, 1 - 4pm
Where: Australian Design Centre, 113 -115 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Cost: $45.97 book here
Artist talk with Liz Williamson and Oliver Smith
Wednesday 21 February 6-8pm
Weaver and textile artist Liz Williamson and jeweller and metalsmith Oliver Smith discuss their practice, the act of making and their work for the exhibition Obsessed: Compelled to make.
Liz Williamson is a weaver based in Sydney. Creating woven structures has been a fascination, passion and creative practice for her since taking a weaving course in the late 1970s. She is highly accomplished as a weaver, maker, artist, researcher and designer who has her own studio practice alongside her position at UNSW Art & Design and her role advising artisan groups in India.
Oliver Smith is an innovative and skilled silversmith who comes, perhaps not coincidentally, from generations of jewellers and metalsmiths, including makers of armour. A deep understanding of metallurgy is pivotal to Oliver’s practice, built on a working knowledge of gold and silver and expanding to encompass toolmaking and particularly the composition and historical use of steel.
When: Wednesday 21 February, 6-8pm
Where: Australian Design Centre, 113 -115 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Free event but bookings preferred. Book here.
Makers Markets
Saturday 10 March 10-4pm
Australian Design Centre's boutique outdoor Makers Market is back for the first time in 2018!
With a distinctly Darlinghurst vibe this is a friendly local street market that emerges in the morning and is gone by nightfall returning the streets to local people.
Alongside the blockbuster exhibition 'Obsessed: Compelled to make', the Makers Market features more than 20 local Sydney artists that have been selected for their exceptional work. Handmade, designed and collectible pieces including textiles, jewellery, ceramics and homewares will be for sale by the makers.
Come and enjoy the market atmosphere under the big marquee as we close off Palmer Street and invite Sydney's most talented creators to showcase their work.
The Design Centre will open all day so you can catch the latest exhibitions, try your hand at making and check out all the new makers in Object Shop - the Design Centre's retail space supporting makers and designers. There will also be delicious food on site to help sustain the shopping!
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to mingle with the makers, hear the stories about why and how they make and perhaps take a little bit of their work home to enjoy.
When: Saturday 10 March, 10-4pm
Where: Australian Design Centre, corner William and Palmer Streets Darlinghurst
Free event
Follow our Facebook event for all market updates here
Obsessed: In the Making
Wednesday 7 March 6-8pm
Come along and hear some of the designers involved in the making of the exhibition Obsessed: Compelled to make discuss their creative input to this project. Hear from designers Stephen Goddard, Michael Donohue and filmmaker Angus Lee Forbes along with curators Lisa Cahill and Penny Craswell. They will discuss how each element of the project was conceived to build a compelling portrait of making in Australia today. This will be an illuminating conversation for everyone interested in the behind-the-scenes of designing for exhibitions, films and books.
When: Wednesday 7 March 6-8pm
Where: Australian Design Centre, 113 -115 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Free events but bookings preferred. Book here
Explore the exhibition Obsessed: Compelled to make here
Image: Lorraine Connelly Northey 2017, photo Jules Boag.