Brisbane Indesign at Gallery artisan

On Saturday 26 May, the Indesign conference hit Brisbane with a bang.

Attendees dropped by the gallery to see artist talks by Leo Yip and Steve Barry (Ellaspede), Stuart Tiainen (Commex), and designer Fukutoshi Ueno. The artisan team also sampled a few other Indesign tidbits throughout the day -see photographs from the day's adventures below!

All photographs taken by Andrea Higgins for artisan.

Steve Barry and Leo Yip of Ellaspede presenting their custom motorcycles and apparel.

Indesign guests at the artisan store.

artisan visiting Luxxbox at Indesign.

artisan visiting Space Furniture at Indesign.

artisan visiting Luxxbox at Indesign.

Norman Johnson with artisan's Liana Heath.

Steelcase consultant Matt Jeffers at Indesign.

Alexander Lotersztain and artisan's Liana Heath at Stylecraft.

Christina Waterson designs at Indesign.

Artisan visiting Christina Waterson at Indesign.

The artisan team with Christina Waterson.

Designer Fukutoshi Ueno and Stuart Tiainen of Commex discussing the making of the Bambi Frame Screens.

Indesign guests taking in the artist talks at Gallery artisan.

Thomas Mann masterclass - limited places available

In June 2012, Fio and the Sydney School of Jewellery will host master classes by international jeweller and entrepreneur Thomas Mann. The master class will be a rare opportunity for artists to be taught by an extremely creative and experienced jeweller who approaches jewellery design and teaching in a unique and innovative way. 

Thomas Mann is celebrating 40 years as a professional artist, but he’s been making jewellery since the early 60s. A high school art department student teacher conducted a jewellery making semester in 1963 and Tom’s experience in that class fueled an intense interest that continues till this day.

Take this Design Master Class with Tom and pump up your jewellery design skill set with a jam packed demo and hands-on jewellery design throwdown. Tom will demonstrate principle techniques and then assist participants in developing their personal approaches to the mission of the class.

It’s a 2 day intensive exploration of your design potential. So, get ready for design throwdown!

Where: Fio Studios, 6/65 James St Fortitude Valley
When: Saturday June 16 – Sunday June 17, 10-4.30pm daily
Skill Level: Intermediate – Advanced Length: 3 days 
Cost: $400 Standard, $370 Griffith University student or Fio enrolled student

While Thomas is here, Fio will be arranging a number of events to coincide with his stay.
These will include:

Saturday June 16: 6-8pm Q and A with Thomas, drinks and display of student work in progress in the Fio Shop
 

All events will take place at the Fio Shop. Please contact Matt Dwyer at matt@fio-contemporary.com for more information and enrolment details. Limited places available.

Free Workshop: First Class Artist Statements and Biographies

Visual artists and arts practitioners of all disciplines interested in learning how to write an effective, focused artist statement and bio should attend this tailor made two-part workshop series. 

Presented by arts writer/curator Kellee Uhr this workshop will guide participants through the step-by-step process of achieving a first class artist statement and biography suitable for professional use within the arts sector.

10.00am to 12 noon Wednesday 13 June (Part 1, Theory and Practice)

10.00am to 12 noon Wednesday 20 June (Part 2, Critique and Feedback)

Bribie Island Seaside Museum 1 South Esplanade, Apex Park, Bribie Island

Book your free place here: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/foodforthought  

This event is part of Food for Thought – a professional development program for artists and artsworkers held across cultural venues in the Moreton Bay region presented by Moreton Bay Regional Council  

Insurance for Artists Seminar & Webinar

Insurance for visual artists, crafts people and designers What is it? How does it work? Why should you have it?

Flying Arts are hosting a seminar and webinar where Greg Naulty of Local Community Insurance Services will explain the insurance cover available to Accredited members of Flying Arts and answer questions you may have on this and other insurance matters.
Cost: FREE – Limited Places booking essential*
Wednesday 23 May. Time: 2pm – 4pm
Location: Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts,
420 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
 
For more information go to the Flying Arts Website

Social pictures: Scott Street apartment opening

On Tuesday 3 April, a cocktail party marked the official opening of the Scott Street apartment. Interior decoration of the apartment was managed by artisan in partnership with local artists and designers. Gourmet nibblies, champagne, and the apartment's spectacular view all made the opening night one to remember. You can see some pictures from inside the apartment here or take a look at the apartment website. Photographs courtesy of Lindsay Bennett Marketing.

Brian Steendyk and Janet Hughes

Mary Dickinson and Liz Golding

Pamela Easton and Margie Fraser

Paul Hunt and Liana Heath

Suzi Vaughan and Gavan Ranger

Will Marx, Christina Waterson and Fukutoshi Ueno

Mother's Day at artisan

Have you organised your treats for mum on Sunday? 

If you're still a little behind in the gift department, our design stores are here to save your skin. We have some beautiful, unique pieces in-store right now, and we have included a few of our personal favourites here. Only the best for mother dearest!

Queensland Museum Medal 2012

As we've previously mentioned, the 2012 Queensland Museum medal is a little different to previous years. To celebrate the museum's 150th anniversary, artist Lincoln Austin has created two unique sculptures to be unveiled at the awards ceremony on 19 May.

Today, artisan and Lincoln delivered the completed works to the Queensland Museum Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ian Galloway. The sculptures must remain top secret until the awards ceremony, so we can't show you any photographs!

Stay tuned for pictures of the stunning sculptures once the big reveal has taken place...

Artist Lincoln Austin and QM Chief Executive Officer Dr Ian Galloway

. Photograph courtesy of Andrea Higgins.

Q&A with Steve Barry and Leo Yip of Ellaspede

The Ellaspede motorcycles in the artisan windows have been causing many a double-take over the last few weeks. We had a chat with Ellaspede co-founders Steve Barry and Leo Yip about motorcycles, design, and Brisbane.

What do motorcycles mean to you?

Steve: Motorcycles are a medium for me… a reasonably compact, cost efficient, self-satisfying but most importantly, usable medium. We can render our thoughts and expressions in their numerous components. The combinations of material, colour, texture finish and technique can make for a spectrum of possibilities.

Leo: Motorcycles represent freedom to me. When you are on a bike there is a sort of ‘zone’ you get into. It isn’t something that I can put into words.

What triggered your decision to go into business together building custom motorcycles?

Steve: We went into business together so we didn't have to work for someone else.

Leo: Yeah I think Steve sums it up well; we had a passion for motorcycles and are having a good crack at trying to turn our passions into a viable business.

How does your Ellaspede work fit together with your backgrounds in industrial design?

Steve: Using a 'design' approach to the bikes and soft goods helps control the process. It places parameters and measurable outcomes that could easily otherwise get out of hand. Of course art and design doesn't always like to be constrained so remaining open to where things may lead is necessary. We then just let the two trains of thought battle it out till the final outcome.

Leo: Our backgrounds as industrial designers allow us to have a unique perspective on things. We are able to not just piece together existing objects to create a desire shape or form but can conceive totally new ones and deploy a wide range of manufacturing techniques to have the part(s) made as economically and efficiently as possible.

You custom build your bikes according to the customer’s requirements. How do people usually react when they take their first ride on a motorcycle they have had a part in creating?
 
Steve: They probably feel like we do when we take our first ride on a self-initiated creation… they smile and take sneak peaks at their reflection in shop front windows. I'm guessing here, I don't really know, but the smile part does seem to be part and parcel.

Leo: Lots of smiles. I think one of our customers Tristan Schultz best sums this question up in one word: ‘Rad’.

Where do you feel you and your customers fit within the larger motorcycle culture?
 
Steve: I see myself as being of a previous generation to most of our customers. I'm more hands-on. I'm about style but style based on an earlier aesthetic. I also have a strong interest in what lies beneath… the nuts and bolts of it all. I see what our customers want and don't mind helping them achieve it.

I guess I fit in and perhaps our customers see me as the older guy who hangs out in the shed with the skills to give them what they want?

Our customers (so far) fit in as part of an emerging lifestyle trend - young 20 something males who've left uni, got a job, have some money (though not a lot), are into some creative thinking and want to be seen to be individuals (within the context of what they consider cool… which oddly seems to me to be quite specific, despite itself). They're not so interested in how or why it works, just that it does and what it looks like and means to them.

Leo: I guess I would be one of those 20 something males Steve has mentioned. For me it is about reshaping what people think of custom motorcycles. Whenever you tell someone that’s what you do you get the immediate response of, ‘oh yeah like American Chopper’. I have nothing against ostentatious style choppers but I would like to think that I am part of something that helps to define my generation and reflect our own aesthetic into our creations.

As for how our customers fitting into the wider motorcycling community. The motorcycling community is a fairly accepting bunch and there is a great sense of camaraderie, you nod your head or wave with your foot when you ride past one another (certainly don’t get that with drivers). I think our customers would fit into a niche, which is an emerging trend, and I would hope the wider motorcycling community would appreciate what we are trying to achieve.

Which three words do you think describe Ellaspede best?

Steve: Authentic, Innovative, Reliable.

Leo: Fun, Exciting, Evocative

Do you hope to expand your practice in the future? If so, how?

Steve: Certainly do… In fact we're fitting out our new, larger premises as we speak. The interest we've experienced has been very encouraging, but we always wanted Ellaspede to be something more than a house-based enterprise with an online-only presence. With the new place we'll (hopefully) be able to create the sort of scene that this style and lifestyle trend demands/ deserves.

Leo: Yes, we do have plans (as Steve mentioned). We would like to build on our strong customer base as well as introduce new people to our aesthetic.

As Brisbane locals, how do you think the city is perceived in terms of creative potential?

Steve: I think Brisbane is still the new kid on the Australian, perhaps even world block. But it has grown up dramatically over the last 20 years in every way and people now do take it seriously. It has become a destination for stuff going on.

Leo: Brisbane is great location for creation. We have great weather despite floods (which we have experienced first hand) and cyclones, great venues to host events and promote emerging talent and geographically positioned better than our Southern counterparts. Brisbane’s closer proximity and lack of day light savings means we can work on an more synchronization international level with neighbouring Austral Asian countries. This is great when creative people go from being cottage industry to mass manufacture it also opens up a larger market base. In terms of how it is perceived nationally, we are definitely taking the best from the other states and making it our own. On an international level we may still have someway to go but if the past 10 – 20 years are anything to go on we should be there soon.

What are your favourite Brisbane hotspots and why?

Steve: I don't go out much (remember I'm the older guy in the shed), but I do like the Woollongabba antiques district (though it still seems like it's missing things). It has age as part of its credentials and to me that's important. I find it difficult to respect fresh suburbs, or civil infrastructure. I can appreciate new things and like that they work efficiently and well… I just prefer the stories and history that older things possess. I see value in old, even broken things “I could use that for something down the track”… but you can’t keep everything.

Leo: Seems like every week there is something new is Brisbane, which is great - it means the city is alive. Hotspots for me, well you can never go wrong with Rosalie, West End and New Farm. For breakfast I’m a big fan of Sourced Grocer and Era cafe. Archive bar, Bowery, Woodland and Black Bear Lodge rate high on the list of local watering holes.