Occupying Space Now

Over the last two weeks, visitors may have noticed a nifty little appendage tacked on to the end of CVHQ's steely front desk (does it remind anyone else of ACCA?).

The 'appendage' was a pine wood box that extended the front desk a metre or so and was makeshift desk that Roger Kemp had built. Always accompanied by a friend or two, Roger sat at the desk crafting fiddly little sculptures from paper, wood, miniature men and badges over the course of the occupation.

In addition to the desk extension, Roger extended his display space to the floor and window as well. Apologies for the rather dubious-looking panes, we have a bit of a pigeon problem here at CVHQ...

Crafty Smells 2

In Crafty Smells 2: outside in smells, Malta brought smells of the outside to the inside. The 'smelling ground' was moved from the shed to the wider space of the gallery and visitors were able to not only smell, but see what they were smelling!

The same wooden boxes were arranged on plinths under one of the many wide windows running along the gallery wall. Each box had a small Google map stuck to its lid with little red arrows locating where the smell samples came from.

Delicious lunch-y smells emanating from a box containing roasted pumpkin and lots of herbs, and another box with fresh coffee beans. Mmm!

Of course it would be too easy/boring to just pick out the yummy smells, so here we have yet another distinct 'outside' smell. Not so mmm!

Nomadic Archive

Textiles was the subject of Robyn Healy's occupation, specifically textiles of Frances Burke, Gerhard Herbst and the Fashion Design Council of Australia. Robyn's itinerary investigated the archival practice and the rites of encapsulation and dispersal.

That's Robyn in an amazing Mondrian-esque top (which we think is by Tina Kalivas for any style-hunters out there) showing visitors how it's done.

Hello Miss Pen Pen!

It wasn't just limited to fabric swatches and demonstrations, there were screenings too! Various fashion shows and shorts were projected on to the back wall of the gallery to create an intimate setting.

Urban Ephemeral Room

Using footage of Flinders Lane in the afternoon, Urban Ephemeral Room literally takes the outside and re-locates it in the inside. The projection at the end of the gallery is of a portion of Flinders Lane just after Exhibition Street, while the four projections along the sides of the space are of the back lanes in the vicinity of CVHQ. Sound is present in this installation, and all day long yours truly has been subject to the sounds of the city - cars rolling by (sometimes not under the speed limit...hmm), ladies sharing a giggle, motorcycles whizzing past...

It must be said though that yours truly did think it was real-time footage initially and even hopped out of the comforts of CVHQ, stood opposite the presumed camera location and took a photo to test this theory. Do you see the camera anywhere in sight?

No? That's because it was never there! It had all been recorded days before. Grrr...

Interiorist Publi(city)

For the majority of the exhibition program, Suzie Attiwil has set up a makeshift office in the space of CVHQ. As the Occupation Interiorist of Publi(city), Suzie defines her occupation (oh, the many layers of meaning involved in that term) as involving the processes of making publi(city), of collecting to produce collectivity and communities of practice in the consideration of new kinds of infrastructure and governance which enable creative engagements and encounters.



Suzie originally occupied a desk centered in the middle of galleries 1 and 2 (pictured below), before moving to the more intimate setting of gallery 3. Of the move, Suzie mentioned it became easier to speak with visitors who entered into her space. Looks like gallery 3 is fast becoming CVHQ's nook for interactive residencies!


We've got a few more posts covering the UI occupation over the next few days for all of you who missed it! Our next exhibition opening is coming up on Thursday evening, check out the sidebar for details.

Crafty Smells 1

Last Saturday, CVHQ's shed became the site of Malte Wagenfield's Crafty Smells 1: the smells of craft and crafting. According to Malte, "The smell of craft materials and the materials used for crafting are explored in a confined space of the gallery where all other senses other than smell will be subdued. This installation explores the importance of materiality and the resultant rich sensorial information inherent in craft objects and crafting practice."

Bringing to the fore the sense that is often overshadowed by sight and touch when it comes to appreciating craft, visitors were led through the shed and invited to lift the lids of little wooden boxes and to have a sniff.

The leather thonging smelt divine!

The seashells curiously did not smell very much like the sea... Perhaps it was just the undiscerning nose of yours truly.

A silk sample.

Five samples were also placed in little flat cylindrical tins.

Smell you later! Hehehe...

Visualising Air Phase 1

How exactly does one visualise air? On Thursday night Malte Wagenfield explored the process of rendering air visible through the use of a scanning laser and smoke. The result was breathtaking - as the smoke passed through the lasers the movement of the air was coloured by the green laser, highlighting the swirls and patterns. Think less 'rave cave', more 'ethereal experience'.

Phase 1 was divided into three 10-15 minute performances. After each performance, the space was cleared up of smoke. Performers were orchestrated by Malte to interact with the smoke in a number of ways such as walking, sprinting, breathing, skipping and cartwheeling. After the choreographed performances, the audience was invited to join in and play with the smoke. By the end of it all, the sceptical were converted ("so you really can see air!") and the enthusiastic were, well, more enthusiastic ("that was amazing!")

Yours truly is rather diminutive so this happened a lot...

Towards the end, the laser was made vertical so that a 'wall' of air was formed.

Running through the air.

Spinning through the air. You can just make out Malte (the blue light is his flashlight!)

For those who missed it, don't fret! Visualising Air Phase 2 will be happening next Saturday 20 September from 6.30pm to 8pm.

From Hide to Ride

Some of Mick’s colourful leather waiting to be transformed from hide to ride!

Ride On

The cycle theme continues at Craft Victoria. Last night’s warm weather was the perfect backdrop for the Cultural Transport Collective’s ‘Ride on Dinner’. The evening started with a tribe of enthusiasts wheeling their way through the heart of yours truly and braving the perilous goods lift in order to reach their first course awaiting them below in Spark Alley.

Cyclists awaiting their entrée of sautéed mushrooms in the salubrious surrounds of Spark Alley.



Riders then travelled to the banks of the Yarra for their main course of ‘fancy mash’ and pumpkin stew. The meal was consumed from Mick Douglas’ carefully crafted bowls folded from recycled newspaper and baking paper and specially designed to sit inside cyclists helmets.

Cycle Craft

The Cycle Craft Workshop combines the making and exhibition of artefact with event to explore the relationship between fashion, bicycles, the city, the urban cyclist and the hand crafted. The Workshop features the display of several reclaimed and customised single speed fixed gear bicycles. The bicycles, designed and collaboratively made by Mick Peel, feature individually crafted soft components and accessories. In the space at Craft Victoria, Mick is working on his next bike projects including soft accessories and coordinated cycling apparel.

Yesterday Mick Peel occupied the gallery, turning into a temporary bicycle workshop. Setting up a table in the middle of the space, Mick worked on finishing a bicycle saddle seat for his sister's fixie. Featuring some very nice detailing on red leather, yours truly did feel a bit green upon seeing it! Altogether Mick brought in five bikes into the gallery, each of which belonged to a family member of his.

The green bike is Mick's brother's while the red one is Mick's.

Mick's wife's bike.

His brother-in-law's bike.

And of course, Mick's very first bike. Beautiful!

Cycle Craft will be on display tomorrow (Saturday 13 September) from 10am to 5pm. Current and prospective cyclists are most welcome to drop by with or without a bike. Ride on!