“BEARS, BOOMERANGS, BATHERS & BOOZE – KITSCH AUSTRALIANA” EXHIBITION: 20th January to 11th February 2012

Opening: Friday 20th January 2012 – 5.30-7.30pm

Mulga wood ashtrays, shell houses, souvenir spoons, tea towels or a southern cross tattoo. We all have (or had) a secret collection of these fabulous, or not so fabulous, souvenirs of our travels throughout Australia. Lord Coconut is celebrating Australia Day 2012 with his own take on Kitsch Australiana with this exhibition. Local jewellers, designers and artisans were challenged to create jewellery or a sculpture which represents their own view of kitsch Australiana.

Exhibition pieces and their details

BETH CROCE

The Mark

2012
Hand inked intaglio print
Image – 15cm W x 22cm H Frame – 32cm W x 42cm H
$330 framed/$240 unframed

‘The Mark’ is an exploration of the physicality that underlies the sport of Australian Rules Football. As an outsider to the sport, the mark made off the back of a friend or a foe strikes me as the pinnacle of this athleticism and a point of drama in the game. A pause, an opportunity for change. Both players contributing to this challenge to the laws of physics.

LIZ JONES

I Still Call Australia Home brooches

2011
Vintage linoleum, buttons & nickel brooch clasp
9cm W x 8cm H (including Tassie)
$66 each

Segments of salvaged lino from kitchen floors all over Australia form the iconic map of Australia. A wearable momento of Australian domesticity…. and we didn’t forget Tassie.

ANDREW V WEATHERILL

Captain Rook woodcut

2011
Woodcut and digital print on fine art paper.
Woodcut – 20cm w x 28cm H Frame – 33cm W x 44cm H
$185 framed

The investigation of traditional and contemporary subject matter and printmaking techniques is part of the artists ongoing investigation into the impact European colonization has had on Australia and its inhabitants.

TIM MURRAY

Australian Mulga salt and pepper shakers

2012
Australian Mulga and salt & pepper mill parts
25cm H x 6.5cm D
$360 (both)

In the tradition of the early 50s Mulga souvenir highlighting the bright yellow sapwood and the dark brown heart wood this pair of salt and pepper mills bring a modern twist to the humble salt and pepper shakers of the 50s. The mulga was first selected for colour and grain then cut to reveal both sap and heart wood hand turned and finished in Shell Wax to a high polish.

TIM MURRAY

Emu Egg carvings

2012
Emu egg shell
15cm H x 8cm D plus stand
$250 each

The Australian craft of carving emu egg shells dates back to the mid 1850s a colonial tradition developed in Australia by immigrant silversmiths. Many were subsequently set in elaborate silver mounts.

The emu egg is the only tri coloured egg in the world the outer layer is a green so dark it is almost black, removing that layer reveals a centre teal or light green section which is then polished, I use a scalpel to carve a line drawing style image of a Koala into the centre white layer. The egg is then mounted on a Red Gum stand creating a genuine piece of Australiana.

NATASHA DESILVA

Southern Star fabric sculptured bangle

2012
Buckram and Vintage fabric
Outside diameter: 15cm X 4.5cm high Inside diameter (cuff): 7.5cm
$550

This is a 3D Sculptured Bangle constructed from the inside out, using a buckram framework to form a geometric polyhedron shape and dressed in vintage Australiana fabric. This is both a functional and sculptural piece featuring protruding ‘fabric jewels’ and Australian native floral iconography on each flat surface of the bangle. The star shape is evocative of the Southern Cross Star Constellation with each of the five protruding points of the bangle representing one star.

LAUREN PITT

Bush Fairytale pendant

2011
Resin, fabric cord, oxidised copper, mixed media
24cm L x 12cm W x 2.5cm D
$165

Like a lot of Australians I grew up reading may Gibbs’ Gumnut babies and other bush fairytales. They taught me to respect our flora and fauna and spark wonder and awe at the magic of their secret worlds. “Humans please be kind to all bush creatures and don’t pull flowers up by the roots” – May Gibbs. Words to live by.

DIANNE ERDMANIS

I’ve been everywhere man sculpture

2011
Recycled tourist spoons, recycled material, fringing
16cm W x 16cm H x 16cm H
$425

A.L.I.ALEXANDER

Green and Gold bangle

2011
Recycled yoghurt lid and gold
1cm W x 1.25cm H
$330

“Green & Gold” is a very patriotic piece with colour representing Australia. It can be worn as a bangle with the green, or the green can be cut off to convert it into a pendant. The Australia shape is not overwhelming and it becomes a subtle souvenir (with room on the back for engraving).

JUTINE AUSTEN

The Mighty Tigers ring

2011
Sterling silver, Glass & Enamel
Ring size – P
$396

JO GRANT

Tea Towel landscapes

2010
Vintage Tea Towels, Cotton, Felt
Images – 8cm x 8cm approx. Frame – 25cm W x 25cm W
$130 framed (each)

These ‘Tea Towel Landscapes’ are constructed from vintage Australian tourist tea towels, collected from op shops around the Western District of Victoria. The composition is put together and machine embroidered with a felt backing to produce the finished piece. It is important the tea towels are ‘used’ to show the history of the item, which is up-cycled to represent a new version of Australiana.