South Bank (m)art store - closing sale

After three fantastic years of trading at our South Bank (m)art store, our lease comes to an end on Sunday 27th January, 4pm.

Join us for an “End of Lease” Sale from Tuesday 15th January until Sunday 27th January.
30%* OFF ALL PRODUCTS

SOUTH BANK (M)ART STORE ONLY

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to stock up on your favourite products from Australia’s leading and emerging designers and craftspeople at these one-off SALE prices!

The operation of the South Bank (m)art store has been made possible due to the wonderful support of South Bank Corporation over the past three years. The artisan team would like to thank South Bank Corporation for their valuable contribution to the craft and design sector through their sponsorship of the retail space. The South Bank (m)art store has provided a strong commercial platform for over 200 craftspeople, designers and artists to sell their products to the public and has provided the community with an additional destination for purchasing the diverse collection of quality Australian design and craftsmanship.

While we mark the closure of the South Bank (m)art store and the valuable contribution this has provided our community and the craft and design sectors, the artisan team are looking forward to launching new opportunities and ventures to support and build the craft and design sectors in 2013 and beyond. 

Artisan’s retail activity will continue to offer an exquisitely crafted and intelligently designed collection of Australian product through our flagship store at Fortitude Valley and our 24/7 Online Store.

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.

This month at (m)art design store

It’s August and along with those Winter winds whistling through the city, it’s the time of year when a little bit of country comes to Brisbane city. It’s Ekka time! Fairy floss, show bags, cattle parades, show jumping, home made cakes, dog shows and fashion shows – all the colours, smells, tastes and temptations that we love about this time of year. 

This month artisan has been inspired by all things country. Come in and see a wide variety of new designer products on display in our South Bank and Fortitude Valley stores or shop on-line.

Winter Wonders at (m)art design store

It's that time of year when you change into your flannelette pyjamas and that coat that has been sitting in your wardrobe sees its first outing for a while. Winter is on its way.

This month at artisan, we focus on our winter delights - all things blue and items guaranteed to keep you warm as we move into the cooler months. Take a look at our winter picks online.

Easter Trading Hours

Bilby Print by Renee Treml

(m) art at artisan in the Fortitude Valley will be closed from Good Friday 22nd of April and will reopen on the Wednesday the 27th of April.

(m)art design store at South Bank will be closed over this period as well except for Easter Sunday which will be open 11am to 4pm and will reopen on Wednesday the 27th of April.

The artisan office will be closed from 22nd of April and will reopen on the 3rd of May.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!



Tony Mott Talk & Book Signing

Pictures from last Saturday's entertaining talk and book signing with Tony Mott prior to the opening of his exhibition Rock'N'Roll Photography is the New Trainspotting.

Last minute Cherish Christmas shopping evening at (m)art! 20% off at Fortitude Valley (m)art during this last special shopping event for 2010!!

Artisan is delighted to invite you to join us for nibbles and champagne on the eve of Dec 23rd from 5pm until 7:30pm, whilst selecting your last minute Christmas gifts!

As the very last and final special offer of the year, receive 20% off all (m)art design store products, plus exclusive access to the (m)art storeroom where many a treasure can be found!

WHEN : Thursday 23 December 2010, 5pm - 7:30pm
WHERE : (m)art Design Store, 381 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
RSVP : Essential by Tuesday 21 December 2010

Exclusive Cherish Christmas Shopping event!

Artisan is delighted to invite you to an exclusive breakfast of Christmas Shopping at (m)art design store. On Tuesday the 14th December only, artisan would like to offer you a 20% discount off all products.
 

Commencing at 8am, join us for a morning of festive celebrations. Enjoy a light breakfast while browsing some of the finest affordable design products in the country.
Select from distinctive and original jewellery, retro ties and streamline wallets for the individual man, clever ceramics and whimsical objects for the home. Sip champagne while enjoying good conversation with friends and for a gold coin donation, go into the draw to win the newest creation by Marc Harrison - the bauple set valued at $171.

WHEN: Tuesday 14th December, 8:00am - 10:30am
WHERE: (m)art design store 381 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
RSVP: essential to info@artisan.org.au by Friday 10th December
 
A light breakfast of coffee, orange juice, champagne and pastries will be served.
Marc Harrison’s New Bauple set will be raffled off on the day.
Artisan car parking can be booked though artisan, booking must be swift to ensure a space.

Jaishree Srinivasan & Yuta Badayala & Cherish opening night photos

Mandyam Srinivasan, Jaishree Srinivasan and Brenda Campbell

Meagan Streader, Lyn Streader and Damian Buckley

With Jaishree Srinivasan's piece Witness

Mandyam Srinivasan and Tedd Nugent

Musicians - Hikayat

Meagan Streader and Jaishree Srinivasan

Jaishree's Family

Jaishree's Mother and Erica Bader

Divya Pattabiraman, Nivetha Gunasekaran and Prahatha Venkataraman

Mandy Smith, Jaishree Srinivasan and Roger Leong, Curator,
International Fashion and Textiles National Gallery of Victoria

Bruce Medek and Alex Eckersley

Renee Munro and Joanna Pittava

Thea Samios (designer Thea and Sami) and Voyt Reich

Chetana Andary artisan CEO speech

Roger Leong opening speech, Curator,
International Fashion and Textiles National Gallery of Victoria

Sasha Titchkosky (koskela) speech

Sasha Titchkosky and Michelle Wicks

Amanda Cole and Marc Harrison (with his Husque bowls)

Some of the happy snaps from last Thursday night's triple opening extravaganza at artisan of Jaishree Srinivasan, Yuta Badayala: In a New Light and Cherish, (m)art's Christmas shopping showcase. A big thank you to all who attended and made the evening the fantastic night that it was!

The exhibitions and Cherish, continue until Christmas Eve (catering for all the last minute shoppers out there!)

All photos: A. Higgins (artisan)

We heart Bridget Bodenham's white porcelain brooches!

Shannon has been busily photographing a selection of our new Cherish stock to ensure that our online store is choc-a-block full of goodies for Christmas. Cherish, (m)art's annual Christmas Shopping Showcase launches this Thursday the 18th November at (m)art design store Fortitude Valley, coinciding with the opening of the last two artisan exhibitions of the year - Jaishree Srinivasan and Yuta Badayala. A portion of the Cherish selection such as the lovely white ceramic brooches by Bridget Bodenham (above) will be available from our online store from Thursday. So if you can't make it to one of our stores don't despair, (m)art design store online will be brimming with Christmas gift ideas.

Dots and Spots!

Ceramicist Shannon Garson has just delivered her new range of dotty cups and vessels to us here at artisan and we are bespotted! These cute new pieces are on the shelves now at our Fortitude Valley (m)art design store.

New Thea & Sami Products

(m)art retail manager Denise has been very busy processing Cherish applications and we have all been getting very excited about the new ranges that will soon be in store for Christmas.

Today we thought we'd share Thea & Sami's new range of gift ready hand screenprinted products that will be included in (m)art's Cherish showcase that opens on the 18th of November. Loving the floral, quite Japanese graphics and the contrast of the textured organic cotton and hemp fabrics against the bold graphics.

Super cute gift ready soaps thoughtfully wrapped in Thea & Sami's printed fabrics.

Placemats, which you can then co-ordinate with....

teatowels! These sweet graphics remind me of dandelions and windmills.

Very cute makeup purses!
The above purse is the Cottage Garden print on hemp/organic cotton.

And this one is the oh-so-pretty in pink Marguerite print.
I'm sure these purses will go super fast - can't wait for Cherish!