Reduce, Reuse, Relax at Queensland Museum’s bespoke 60’s celebration

The Queensland Museum’s Collectors Café will transform into a 60s haven featuring 60s inspired furniture and salvaged signs, projections, music and vintage fashion models at the bespoke launch on Friday 24 August from 5:30pm.

Created by Brisbane's iconic hive of salvaged materials, Reverse Garbage, this unique furniture showcase highlights that one person's trash really is another person's treasure.

The bespoke designer space will also feature the bold work of artist Al James, who produces poetic textual assemblages composed from salvaged scrap road signs. 

The unique and sustainable furniture on display has been handmade using materials salvaged from Brisbane's waste stream. Every piece used to make the furniture has a story.

Reverse Garbage designers Brooke Nelson and Bill Ennals said they were committed to using as much salvaged material as possible in their designs, promoting re-use through giving unwanted and discarded material a new lease on life, and, a new story to tell.

Al James said his wordy artworks spring from a love of the iconography and vernacular of signage and public language at large.

“They celebrate the visual and verbal elegance, the inherent beauty and wisdom—or otherwise—of the humble sign,” Al said.

The bespoke opening night will also showcase one-of-a-kind work by esteemed designer Richard Park from Blok Furniture featuring fabric designed by Queensland’s own Florence Broadhurst.

The August bespoke installation runs until 24 September and celebrates the iconic 1960s Brisbane designer Gwen Gillam, showcased in a new exhibition on show at Queensland Museum from 2 August. For more information go to: www.gwengillam.qm.qld.gov.au

Every month, bespoke showcases unique locally designed furniture crafted from sustainable or reclaimed materials. Visitors are encouraged to use the furniture, relax and discover the diverse stories of Queensland furniture design embedded within the bespoke space.

Designers interested in being involved can contact 07 3840 7554 or email pr@qm.qld.gov.au