City of Design: the best of Canberra’s contemporary craft and design now on show at Craft ACT

In 2017, Craft ACT’s annual curated members exhibition celebrates Canberra as a city of design, showcasing diversity and excellence, and foregrounding the skilful and sometimes hidden activities of makers in the ACT region. City of design features recent work for sale by almost 60 Accredited Professional Members and Associate Members working across all mediums of craft and design including jewellery, furniture, metal, textiles, ceramics, and glass, creating a rich tapestry of living, working and making in Canberra.

Bigger than ever, for the first time in the show’s history the entire Craft ACT gallery space has been dedicated to its presentation. Building on the success of last year’s exhibition, Citizens of Craft, which showcased 42 makers, in 2017 a staggering 58 members are featured, demonstrating the ever-growing wealth of talent in the ACT. From internationally renowned figures such as Richard Whiteley, Kirstie Rae, Janet de Boos, Judi Elliot and Jennifer Robertson, to those just emerging, the show has something for everyone. Lucy Irvine’s sculptural woven installation Reside launches into space, Tom Skeehan’s HOLO Light illuminates, Alison Jackson’s hand worked Teapot glimmers like a silver jewel.

Over the course of its forty-year history Craft ACT has built an unparalleled community of artists, makers, craft practitioners and designers. City of design is a celebration of this rich network and legacy, incorporating work by members both longstanding and new, from Annie Trevillian, who joined the organisation in 1993, to 2017 members Dr Julie Bartholomew, Head of Ceramics, ANU School of Art & Design; renowned glass artist Jenni Kemarre Martiniello; and innovative sustainable fashion designer Alice Sutton of EDITION.

‘We are thrilled to present our largest members show to date, showcasing the latest trends in contemporary craft and design. Canberra, originally conceived as a designed city, has from its inception promoted and fostered innovation, collaboration and creativity, and the exhibition celebrates the ongoing contribution of the creative sector to the vibrancy of the capital. I invite visitors to experience the show for themselves and revel in our local talent’, says Rachael Coghlan, Craft ACT CEO.

Members including Zoe Brand, Lucy Irvine, Alison Jackson, Tom Skeehan and René Linssen feature in the show and will also take part in DESIGN Canberra (6-26 November), Craft ACT’s major outreach activity which celebrates and promotes Canberra as a living design laboratory, a global city of design.

For all media enquiries contact Julia Greenstreet, Curator Craft ACT 6262 9333 curator@craftact.org.au.