Sydney Craft Week
Sydney Craft Week 2023 - Beyond the Festival
17 October 2023
The Sydney Craft Week Festival may have ended for another year but there's still lots of exhibitions and some workshops continuing across Greater Sydney to enjoy.
Nina Field, Ceramic Bells Photo: Courtesy the artist
Workshops
Ceramic Bird workshop with Jane Du Rand Studio
Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Maiden Theatre, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney
Learn from ceramic and mosaic artists, Jane du Rand and Susan Trimble how to create a mosaic bird, selecting your favourite native Australian bird from a range of existing ceramic pieces made in Jane’s studio.
Tuesday 24 October, 10am – 2pm
botanicgardens.org.au/whats-on
Ceramic Bell workshop with Nina Field
Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Maiden Theatre, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney
Ceramic artist Nina Field teaches how to create simple and beautiful forms in stoneware clay. Make a small ceramic bell by learning to hand craft two small pinch pot vessels. Learn a variety of techniques to shape, finesse and texturise the surfaces of your vessels.
Thursday 26 October 10am – 12pm
Amanda Digby, Saggar Fired Bowls, 2023. Photo: courtesy the artist
Exhibitions
Opening on 17 October
Fire & Ice
MakingTime Gallery, 23 Burnie Street, Clovelly
Showcasing ceramics fired in flames, made in porcelain, or both, this group exhibition includes artists: Janine Brody, Shellie Christian, Amanda Digby, Vicki Grima, Hedyeh Haghighi, Annarie Hildebrand, Sam Kuhn, Jen Lyall, Riti Malik, Serena Owen, Natalie Velthuyzen, Kate Wheaton, Bridget Willis, and Caroline Wright.
Opening event: Saturday 21 October, 3pm–5pm
Open to the public: Wednesdays to Sundays 11am–4pm
Gillian Bencke, Textile Detail. Photo: courtesy the artist
On until 22 October
Transform: shirts reimagined
Barometer Gallery, 13 Gurner Street, Paddington
Whatever the shirt was to begin with, ten artists have repurposed, transformed, manipulated or recreated a shirt, or a couple of shirts into a new piece, a functional object, recreating a new wearable shirt or predominantly, transforming a shirt into a unique artwork.
Open to the public: Wednesdays – Sundays 11am -5pm
The Long and Short of It
High Tea With Mrs Woo Store, 68 Oxford Street, Paddington
Studio Melt X High Tea with Mrs Woo Store present sculptures in textiles and wax that muse on the preciousness of time and materials in this unique in-store exhibition of works by artist Gillian Bencke and jeweller Louise Fischer.
Open to the public: Tuesdays - Fridays 10am – 5pm, Saturdays 10am – 4pm, Sundays 10am – 2pm
Liam Benson, Participatory Community Embroider, You and Me, 2013-2017. Photo: Courtesy the artist
Liam Benson: Virtue Without Stain
Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Level 1, 300 George Street, Windsor
This exhibition surveys Benson’s photographic work, new media, performances, and embroidery practice, including new collaborative works made with local communities about what defines contemporary Australian masculinity.
Open to the public: Monday, Wednesday – Friday 10am – 4pm, Saturday – Sunday 10am – 3pm (closed Tuesdays, public holidays)
Tjunkaya Tapaya AM, Kungkarangkalpa - Seven Sisters, 2023. Photo: Courtesy Ernabella Arts
On until 28 October
Remade-Reloved
Australian Design Centre, 101-115 William Street, Darlinghurst
Curated by Bridget Kennedy for Australian Design Centre, this group installation features 12 makers who have repurposed costume jewellery and other found objects into new pieces.
Open to the public: Thursday 5 October – Saturday 28 October, Tuesdays – Fridays, 11am – 5pm, Saturdays 11am – 4pm.
australiandesigncentre.com/remade-reloved
NganampaTjukurpa Nganampa Ara: Our Story Our Way
Sabbia Gallery, 609 Elizabeth Street, Redfern
A major exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pukatja Ceramics at Ernabella in the APY Lands. An important showcase of contemporary intergenerational ceramics by senior and emerging artists.
Open to the public: Wednesday 4 October – Saturday 28 October, Tuesdays – Fridays 11am – 6pm, Saturdays 11am – 4pm.
Before and After: Textiles Sydney exhibition view, 2023 Photo: Amy Piddington
On until 29 October
Artisans in the Gardens
Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
An exhibition showcasing Australia’s best artists & craftspeople, both established & emerging. Thousands of unique artworks, including sculpture, ceramics, handblown glass, jewellery & textiles. Free Entry.
Open to the public: 10am – 4pm daily
https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/whats-on/artisans-gardens
Before and After: Textiles Sydney
Primrose Park art and Craft Centre, Mantora Lane,(off Young Street), Cremorne
Textiles Sydney presents an exhibition exploring the theme of time through the lens of transformation.
Open to the public: Saturdays and Sundays in October, 11am – 3pm
Altered States
Incinerator Art Space, 2 Small Street, Willoughby
A Primrose Park Paper Artists exhibition pushing the boundaries of paper, including paper sculpture, altered books, artist's books, printmaking and drawings.
Open to the public: Wednesdays – Sundays 10am – 4pm
Kelly McDonald, Un-done, Catch me, hold me, Needle to nail, and Split, 1995-2023. Photo: John-Paul Pochin
On until 4 November
Kelly McDonald – A curious story told in several parts (Chapter 3)
Stanley Street Gallery, 1/52-54 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst
Kelly McDonald’s work is a playful investigation of materials and their previous lives, and how they might rub against humans, both lovingly and in scratchy ways.
Open to the public: Friday 6 October – Saturday 4 November, Wednesdays – Saturdays, 11am – 6pm.
stanleystreetgallery.com.au
On until 5 November
The Sydney Teapot Show
Gallery Lowe and Lee, 49-51 King Street, Newtown
A competition and exhibition with the aim to challenge ceramicists to make a functional teapot displaying the creativity of the individual maker.
Open to the public: Saturday 7 October – Sunday 5 November, Mondays – Saturdays 10am – 5.30pm, Sundays 12 – 4pm
Maggie Hensel-Brown, Pink Rinse, 2021. Photo: courtesy the artist
Thread Through
Art Bau Gallery, 1/1 Mitchell Street, Brookvale
An exhibition delving into the meditative process of needle lace making with Maggie Hensel-Brown. Needle lace is a painstaking, detailed medium which has historically been used to tell grand stories, biblical tales or royal lore. Maggie uses the medium to tell more intimate, personal stories of contemporary life.
Open to the public: 10am – 3pm daily
maggiehenselbrown.com | artbau.com.au
On until 10 November
Kwangho Lee: Cutting Lines
Korean Cultural Centre Australia, Ground Floor, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of creativity with the remarkable works of South Korean designer Kwangho Lee.
Open to the public: Mondays – Fridays 10am – 6pm
Ridge Street Window Gallery SCW exhibition, 2023. Photo: Amy Piddington
On until 11 November
Ridge St Window Gallery Exhibition
Ridge St Artists’ Studios and Window Gallery, 43 Ridge Street, North Sydney
Highlighting the creativity of the groups that meet at the Primrose Park Arts and Craft Centre this exhibition includes artists, basketry, calligraphy, paper making, photography and textiles.
Viewable: 6am – 10.00pm daily
northsydney.nsw.gov.au/current-exhibitions
On until 12 November
Florescence
Sturt Gallery and Studios, Corner Range Road and Waverley Parade, Mittagong.
Celebrate springtime with this joyful group show featuring ceramicists, floral artists and painters - Mollie Bosworth, Jacqui Clayton, Paul Davis, Lissa de Sailles, Helen Earl, Cathy Franzi, Helen Fuller, Minna Graham, Jannette Grant Smith, Terunobu Hirata, Nihariku Hukku, Jann Kesby, Sandy Lockwood, Chrystie Longworth, Keiko Matsui, Sarah Ormonde, Kim Shannon, Sergei Shatrov, Asahio So, Hiroe Swen, Erin Tsubono.
Open to the public: Daily from 10am – 5pm
MAKE Award, ADC exhibition view, 2023. Photo: Amy Piddington
On until 19 November
Renee So: Provenance
UNSW Galleries, Corner Oxford Street and Greens Road, Paddington
Provenance is Renee So’s first major exhibition in Australia, presenting over a decade of Renee So’s artmaking and features a series of newly commissioned works.
Open to the public: Wednesdays – Fridays 10am – 5pm; Saturdays and Sundays 12pm – 5pm
unsw-galleries/renee-so-provenance
On until 22 November
MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design
Australian Design Centre, 113-115 William Street, Darlinghurst
The MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design is a new national award celebrating innovation in contemporary craft and design.
Open to designer makers working across ceramics, glass, furniture, woodwork, metalwork, textiles and fibre, and contemporary jewellery, the 30 finalists demonstrate that diversity of practice and a high level of skill and innovation.
Open to the public: Tuesdays – Fridays, 11am – 5pm, Saturdays 11am – 4pm
Inari Kiuru, Eye, the beholder (detail), 2023 Photo: John-Paul Pochin, through The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson
Deep Material Energy II
Australian Design Centre, 113-115 William Street, Darlinghurst
Eight makers from Australia and New Zealand explore materiality in contemporary jewellery, body adornment, and objects.
Open to the public: Tuesdays – Fridays, 11am – 5pm, Saturdays 11am – 4pm
australiandesigncentre.com/deep-material-energy-ii
Studio 63: Ebony Russell and Alexandra Standen
Object Space Window Gallery, Australian Design Centre, 113-115 William Street, Darlinghurst
A creative exchange between contemporary ceramic artists Ebony Russell and Alexandra Stanton, creating a series of ceramic-based wall sconces incorporating light and shadow and responding to their shared love of vintage Australian lustreware.
Open to the public: window gallery on display 24/7
Top images (l-r): Gallery Lane Cove, Jewellery Making Workshop. Photo: Courtesy the artist. Deep Material Energy II opening event at ADC, 2023. Photo: Amy Piddington .