Tatau

 I am a bit cheeky, and perhaps lazy, in stealing this post from Craft Vic





Tatau #6: Emma Greenwood

words: Hahna Busch, photo: Beth Nellie

Inspired by the upcoming Tatau exhibition for Craft Cubed 2012, Craft has been intrigued to discover more about the diversity in tattooing across Melbourne. So we got out and about to meet some locals with unique tattoos and unique stories to tell. Here is a snapshot of one of the inked individuals we profiled…

From 4 August, all 12 of our profiled guests will have their photograph exhibited in From Tatau to Tattoo at NGV Studio, Federation Square. More information about the exhibition and project can be found on the Craft website here, including registrations for a tattoo by guest artists Tricia Allen, Pat Morrow and Simon Wilson. From August you will also be able to read the full editorial pieces on our tattooees. Stay tuned to The Craft Blog, for more tattoo profiles over the next couple of weeks.

EMMA GREENWOOD

Untitled
Artist: Geordie Cole, Tattoo Magic
Tattooist: Geordie Cole, Tattoo Magic
2000

WHO: Emma Greenwood – shoemaker and creative extraordinaire

WHAT: A depiction of swirling blue waves breaking into foam, inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock artists, and similar to Hokusai’s Great Wave of Kanagawa image.

WHY: Emma’s tattoo was a tangible expression of her love for the colour blue and her passion for the traditional style of the Japanese woodblock artwork. It is “the one” image she is prepared to wear for life.

WHEN: Emma got her tattoo in 2000 when she was inspired and surrounded by tattoo culture. The artwork covers an old tattoo done in her teenage years, and was recently retouched.

WHERE: The long-searched for artist trusted with doing the piece was Geordie Cole of Tattoo Magic.

Pencil & Pipette

Hey folks, here's me in my studio, photographed and thoughtfully questioned by Anna from Pencil & Pipette. Her blog motto is, 'writings and samplings on creativity and how people use it to make positive change', which is an immensely appealing idea.




We met in a rather serendipitous fashion on a 43 degree day in the Kid's Gallery at the Melbourne Museum. Anna had just visited my blog a few days before, and recognised some of the accessories that I was wearing at the time, so she introduced herself and the rest is history.

We have been emailing back and forth, I responded to Anna's questions regarding making shoes, mass-production, and the role of the craftsperson in new practices of sustainability. I answered in my standard verbose fashion, and so Anna has split the interview into two parts - I do tend to waffle on.

Today it's all about handmade sneakers, my first love, and the reason I got into shoemaking in the first place.


Hope that its informative in terms of my methods, let me know what you think.
Thanks Anna!

Handmade in Melbourne Vol 2

Wow, I was at Readings the other day and saw not only the Meet me at Mike's book all lovely on the shelf, but underneath was a huge stack of these newbies. I was actually planning on getting the new Melbourne Design Guide (so many books about this fine city and it's creative residents!), but the Handmade book ended up coming home with me instead.

Of course it's a wee bit narcissistic, as there's a page in there for me, but this Volume is jam-packed with 200-ish artisans, expanded from the 80 featured in Volume 1. Knitwear, jewellery, musical instrument makers (luthiers), boat builders, shoemakers, clocks (horologists), basketry: the list is loooong.

I'm also relieved to see that I'm sharing the open page spread with my friend Emma Shirgwin, who is also a shoemaker: maybe now people will realise that we are not the same Emma! Double trouble also exists towards the end of the book, it's alphabetical by first name or business name, and so there's a spread which has Vicky Mason, jeweller, next to Victoria Mason, jeweller!!!!



'Scuse the crappy scan, my scanner is not co-operating at the moment.

Listening to: Organised Konfusion - Walk into the Sun

Alana Clifton-Cunningham

A gorgeous show at Craft Vic in Gallery 3 at the moment, apparently inspired by, and referring to, body scarification, rendered in hand and machine knitted wool. I'm very pleased that the above samples are included, and are available to touch, as the works are so tactile and these framed texture panels satisfy the urge to manhandle all the pieces!

I'm seeing a bit of Sandra Backlund in the inspiration for this show, for more musings have a look at the Clog.

Also, in Gallery 1, I was gobsmacked by samples of Palestinian embroidery which has been made by women from refugee camps in Lebanon. Beautiful colourful precise work, it really hit home that craft is practised all over the world under so many different conditions.

I venture to say that many examples of craft produced in comfortable settings, doesn't hold a candle to the beauty and technique of these Palestinian works. I hope that these women are proud of their skill, and I thank them for sharing it with the rest of us.

Craft as an antidote for many circumstances.

On My Desk

These are some of my beloved Postage belts, soon to go up on Etsy, setting up shop there is taking me a while and is rather tedious. I hope that the GFC doesn't make this all a bit redundant, I've been having small crises about making things to sell when folks are tightening their purses a bit. Maybe KRudd's Xmas bonus will make it OK for a while?

Am off to Sydney for a weekish, sans small person, yes indeed I've been let of the leash! There is a capoeira festival that I'm attending, plus saying goodbye to a great pal who is off to South America, and just hanging out with buddies from when I lived up there in leafy Sydney. My list of shops and galleries to visit is rather large, I guess I'll be doing a lot of walking up hill and down dale. When I lived in Sydney I was such a keen bike rider, I rode absolutely everywhere, now I find it hard to believe esp with all the hills, narrow streets and crazy traffic.

So I have also been tagged by the curious Pip, something to do with divulging 6 bits of trivia about one's-self, and without giving away too much here goes:

- I am a proud left hander who actually does most things right handed, it is very useful,

- I was born in London and moved to Australia with my fam when I was nearly 5, with a great cockney accent to boot. Got teased at kindy and lost the accent quick smart, but there are still traces of it there, especially as I grew up in Adelaide, where we talk a little bit more posh than most of Australia,

- I always wanted to be Princess Leia, she was regal, kicked ass, had some great outfits and got to be with Han Solo, sigh, actually I still want to be her,

- at school I was good at playing the recorder, and always got to play the giant tenor ones as I had biggish hands, also played the violin, a bit of piano and now berimbau, atabaque and pandeiro at capoeira,

- it took three days for my son to be born, was so freaking painful and I swore I'd never do it again (but am reconsidering lately),

- I am a perfectionist/procrastinator, often not attempting things because I don't think they would live up to my imaginary ideal, I am working on this as it is a bit defeatist and I do realise that you learn so much through making mistakes, the means is just as worthy as the end.

Listening to: Astrud Gilberto - Agua de Beber

Crochet rehab

I have overdone it I'm afraid.
I'm making the ubiquitous crocheted rug from odds and ends of wool, square by square, with zeal, fervour and inspiration from my fabulous new-ish book. I daresay it's my last purchase from Amazon for a while, now that the Aussie Dollar is back to being crap.

Anyway, I have been a bit housebound in the evenings, with the beau at work slaving away on sculptures, and so accompanied by Lindt Chilli dark chocolate and a small pot of Lady Grey, I have been crocheting up a storm.

This has become such a ritual for me, and I have managed to consume huge amounts of DVDs; Frasier, Flight of the Conchords, Boston Legal and now back to The West Wing. Yesterday in the heat, my boy and I had a Charlie and Lola marathon, as I half listened to the cricket.

Today my right hand doth protest, and all up my forearm, I have pushed it a little too far! Most of my squares are lacy flowers with a border of some sort, but over the last few sessions I've been making squares of solid double crochet - heavy duty!

Tonight I'll have to find something else to do, maybe some real work? My addiction to crochet has seen me neglecting the work which may actually earn me some $, I need crochet rehab.

Well lookie here!

After living in blogland vicariously through some of my fave sites, I've taken the plunge and here I am!
I wouldn't call myself a luddite exactly, but somehow things always end up so complicated on the computer, give me a hammer any day. So forgive my teething dramas, I will no doubt be asking for advice along the way.

My background is in handmade footwear, and I use a lot of textile skills, ie knitting, crochet, embroidery to produce both footwear and accessories. I don't do a lot of work with fabric, the fray factor annoys me so, that's why I love leather. I guess it's fair to say that I'm into sculptural work, very three dimensional, and I often have to re-invent the wheel to construct things.

I'm currently parenting a fabulous three year old, Leo, and as he heads off into the world of kindy my output will steadily increase, fingers crossed! It is a battle to get creative time around here, my partner is a sculptor and the very definition of a workaholic. He's a Virgo Ox if that means anything to anyone.

Before I became a Mum I was completely addicted to Capoeira, I wish I still had the time, but I'm trying! I'm hooked up with the awesome Muzenza group, who are very inspirational and whose company I crave. Any opportunity I get to move my booty with them is siezed upon, I am waiting for training to recommence for the new year.

So here's to meeting you all, sorting out this crazy blog posting bizznezz, asking questions and getting answers.
I've included a photo of my drawer of shoemaking tools, looks like something from Grandpa's shed but I can assure you they produce some amazing items.