Love Local: Meet Sarah from Studio Onethirty

The team here at Sydney Craft Week are getting excited about all the entries coming in for Sydney Craft Week 2019. We chat to Sarah Kalidis from Studio OneThirty who participated in SCW 2018 and has just submitted her 2019 application - her event sounds fantastic! Read on to find out more about Sarah's upcoming plans and her creative community and practice.

Let's start with an introduction about yourself and Studio One Thirty.
Hello, my name is Sarah Kalidis, I am the artist and designer behind Studio Onethirty. The business was born out of a love of drawing and painting; fusing this love with my background in interior design. Creating an iconic brand that was distinctly Australian designed and made in Australia, was the foundation of Studio Onethirty.

I had my debut in 2017, launching a range of hand drawn textile designs, soft furnishings and upholstered furniture pieces. The debut was a huge success, many people were wanting to purchase the art behind the range; this inspired me to expand the collection which now includes original art and limited edition prints of my botanical art.
 
You opened a store recently - can you tell us about the shop and some of the feedback you have received from the local community. I believe congratulations are in order for winning The Local Business Awards 'Most Outstanding Specialised Retail Business'.
I took the big leap last year and opened my first store in Carss Park Sydney. I live in the St George area and wanted to bring something fresh and inspiring to our area of Sydney. We have many artists that live locally and a lack of creative spaces, so Studio Onethirty has been a welcoming addition. Having my studio and store in the one location allows clients to visit and see the whole process. I wanted to make art accessible so customers can feel connected to the artist and maker behind the brand.  
 
The store is bright and happy and a hub of creativity. It is home to my own collection along with other Australian makers that all bring something unique. Having a retail space has allowed me to connect with the local community and they seem to share my enthusiasm for art and design which is wonderful. And thank you - I recently I won a local business award for ‘Most Outstanding Specialised Business’ and become a finalist for ‘Business Person of the Year’ which was an incredible moment for me and the store. It makes me so happy to know that what I do every day is bringing life and joy to the community. I hope the store is a catalyst for many great things.
 
Last year you participated in Sydney Craft Week, can you share with us some of your highlights and thoughts on the festival experience?
Last year I held an event at my store for Sydney Craft Week called ‘Hand drawn, Handmade’ It was a way for the community to view my series of original works during my open studio, and to discover the journey to furniture and furnishings. This was the first time someone from the St George area had been involved in SCW so it felt like a big achievement to introduce Sydney to our pocket of creativity.

The highlight was the launch night of my new art series. I met many new faces from local residents through to visitors from greater Sydney, art society officials, and our deputy mayor. Being involved with SCW gave my business a sense of belonging; the Sydney art and craft scene is inspiring and diverse and it was so exciting to be a part of this collective community.
 
We have received your application to be part of Sydney Craft Week 2019! Can you let our audience know what you have planned? 
Over the last year I have been developing ways to further connect with our local community. And idea came to mind; to create a local artisan market as a platform for our local talent. I have formed many connections through the store and have a long list of artists and makers in our neighbourhood. Being a small business owner also means supporting other businesses, so the event would be all about our local village. Our local council Georges River Council were very enthusiastic about the idea, and awarded me a community grant to establish the event.
 
And so the ‘Love Local Artisan Market’ was born out of a desire to connect our local community with artists, makers, eateries and local businesses in the St George area. The name “Love Local’’ is a celebration of what makes our area of Sydney so wonderful. We are encouraging residents to think local, eat local and shop local.
 
The Love Local Artisan Market is a free event held during Sydney Craft Week 2019 on Saturday 12th October at Claydon Reserve Sans Souci. The event will be a way for people to engage with our local creative industry and discover artists, designers & makers right on our doorstep. We are holding an art exhibition for local high school students, collaborative art installations, local independent artists performing music, and all food for sale will be from our local restaurants and cafes. A perfect way for all of Sydney to discover our local region.
 
We love that you have organised an event to align with Sydney Craft Week. What words of encouragement do you have for people who may be considering to host an event for Sydney Craft Week?
As soon as the concept of Love Local came to mind, I instantly thought of aligning with Sydney Craft Week. What better way to reach an enthusiastic and encouraging audience than to host during this amazing event. Sydney Craft Week is all about recognising the talents of local makers and creating a collective community, so it was a perfect fit!
 
If you are considering hosting your event during SCW I would highly recommend doing so. They are all about community and I love that they celebrate a diverse group of makers. Reaching a broad audience is very important and the Sydney Craft Week program connects with visitors from all over Sydney who share the same passion for art and craft. Not to mention being affiliated with the Australian Design Centre, who are all about building a significant design culture and are wonderfully supportive.
 
I am very excited for the program this year and cannot wait to welcome everyone to the launch of Love Local Artisan Market.

Can you share some more information about the market?
Love Local Artisan Market
12th October 2019
Claydon Reserve, Sans Souci
www.lovelocalartisan.com.au
e. lovelocal@studioonethirty.com

For more on Sarah and Studio Onethirty, visit studioonethirty.com

Get your application in now to be part of Sydney Craft Week 2019. Applications close 12 June. Enter now.