p r e v i e w

Women with Clever Hands Exhibition at Sydney's Object Gallery from
31 March - 9 June 2012

Ive been a little bit sneaky.

A little bit naughty. 

And I couldn't help it. 

When I saw this exhibition being set up by Kate Ford and her install crew at Object Gallery yesterday I HAD to take a few cheeky shots before the big opening tonight....

Can you blame me? Its colour, its woven forms, its texture, and its some of the most amazing skill - all on display in one massive exhibition. 

Women with Clever Hands { Gapuwiyak Miyalkurruwurr Gong Djambatjmala} is an amazing exhibition of woven fibre-work from the Gapuwiyak community, curated over a  fifteen year period by Louise Hamby. The works were created by a small group of women, some at the tender age of 80, who believe that one of their primary goals in the community is 'transmitting traditional weaving techniques, and knowledge, to the younger generation'.

As Louise states:

I wanted to provide an opportunity to promote and honour the work of the women who remained {in Gapuwiyak} and are relatively unknown to people outside the area... By showing works over a fifteen year time period the exhibition provides a glimpse into the lives of the women... {who} are ready to be recognised as makers of fine work with stories to tell. 

With some of the artists' arriving for the big opening tonight, and workshop demonstrations tomorrow morning, it should be a fantastic few days in the gallery...

But for now, I hope you enjoy the preview.

The show is massive and features many forms of fibre art including woven bowls, baskets, animals, and these beautiful string bags (above)

Of course I had to show you ALL the equipment on display!

Even without all the lighting spots completed on the works, the pieces look so colourful and textural...

And finally the crates are empty and ready to go to storage. Let the show begin!

.......
Women with Clever Hands
Object Gallery
Tues - Fri 11 - 5pm, Sat 10 - 5 pm
417 Bourke St Surry Hills 
Free admission