Meet the Makers: Lyn Balzer and Tony Perkins

Darlinghurst makers Lyn Balzer and Tony Perkins have a fabulous retail installation in Australian Design Centre's Object Shop for Sydney Craft Week. Ahead of their Meet the Makers event on Tuesday 15 October for Craft Up Late, we thought we would get the low-down on what their install is all about!

Can you tell us about the installation you have in Object Shop?
Our Accumulants installation is an expression of our desire to blur the boundaries between craft, art and design. Our install includes objects that are both art and design, using craft techniques, so we ask the viewer to question what is an object?

What does Accumulants mean?
Accumulants is the working title for our current body of work that we are making. It is our exploration of layers of materials accumulated together to make something quite transitional….blurring the edges between weaving and ceramics.

What is the theme of the work and what is the inspiration behind these pieces?
Accumulants is the exploration of the idea of accumulations in nature…the build up of deposits over time, layering and layering, so unrelated materials become one element. 

How you have used the materials is really interesting - can you tell us more about how they are made and the creative process.
By the process of hand making with traditional craft techniques, we can then rework the form of a vessel or object by the applications of ceramic materials, over time, with many layers, it then becomes a very different piece. By blurring the boundaries of materials, we are also exploring the ideas what is an object…is it a vase, as vessel or an art object?

You'll be doing a Meet the Maker event at Australian Design Centre for Craft Up Late. What will you be sharing with audiences on the night? 
We are really looking forward to sharing our ideas of experimentation with both materials, forms and outcomes. Unexpected combinations of materials, allow an unexpected outcome. Craft is not a separate category from art or design…. all can exist simultaneously within one object.

For more information, visit: Craft Up Late at ADC with Lyn Balzer and Tony Perkins

Discover the Craft Up Late program of events with this handy guide.