Open Studio | EDITION Studio | Alice van Meurs, Kayannie Denigan and Jenni Kemarre Martiniello | Fashion, Textiles and Glass
This Open Studio event is a great opportunity to browse the EDITION collection and Jenni and Kayannie's latest collections, learn about their design processes and support local makers by acquiring their work directly from the artists themselves.
One Day Only | 9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this exhibition is free | No bookings required
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EDITION began during Alice's final year of studying Fashion at the Canberra Institute of Technology in 2011. Alice currently runs her independent label EDITION from her studio in Waramanga. Through each collection the label evolves and the unique, multifunctional garments create a new language for sustainable design.
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Kayannie Denigan is an early career Australian Aboriginal artist. She is Luritja by birth – connected to Iltjitjari and Unturu in Central Australia through her grandmother and great-grandmother respectively.
Kayannie is also connected to the Bagarrmuguwarra, Guugu Yimithirr and Kuku Yalanji people of Cape York through her Nganjan (adopted father). She maintains strong connections to country at Buru, Starke and Yuku Budhuwigu and to the communities of Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal.
Kayannie works predominantly in acrylic on canvas and is inspired by a painting style that was passed down from her grandmothers – the iconic dots and symbols of Central Desert art. She combines this ancient form of storytelling with the colours and stories from the lands and culture of her childhood home in Cape York.
Her unique style represents her heritage and upbringing, resulting in earthy, rich and vibrant expressions of her connection to people and country.
Kayannie also creates digital art inspired by her paintings. She has worked in copper, brass and silver to create contemporary jewellery and other items that reflect and enhance her practice.
Kayannie’s work has featured in numerous exhibitions and she is frequently commissioned to produce bespoke pieces. She is currently based in Canberra in Australia’s Capital Territory.
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Jenni Kemarre Martiniello OAM is an award-winning glass artist, poet, writer and photographer of Arrente, Chinese and Anglo-Celtic descent who combines the traditional Aboriginal practice of weaving with the European practice of glass making.
‘My aim is to produce a body of works that pay tribute to traditional weavers,’ Jenni says. ‘I want to recognise ancient cultural practices, including the beautiful forms of traditional woven eel and fish traps, dillibags and coiled and open weave baskets. In so doing, I create contemporary glass works which are objects of cultural as well as artistic significance.’
Through her internationally recognised art practice, creative writing and teaching, Jenni has a been a powerful cultural ambassador, educator, and activist. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the creative and visual arts in 2022.
Her work is in many major collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the Canberra Museum and Gallery, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the Australian Parliament House Collection, the National Art Glass Gallery, the Belau National Museum, the Corning Museum of Glass, the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia, and the British Museum.
Image Credit: Alice Van Meurs | Jenni Kemarre Martiniello | EDITION 23 | Photographed by Elena Caldaci
Open Studio | Lex Sorrentino | Mixed Media
Lex Sorrentino's open studio showcases her works in Polymer Clay, Air dry clay and Hardened Fabrics. At this open studio there will be demonstrations of her techniques and an exhibition of her students work. Lex’s distinctive sculptures and other product will be available for sale.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this exhibition is free | No bookings required
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Mixed media clay artist Lex Sorrentino began sculpting in 1996 and being self- taught, her minimal training has left her free to approach clay sculpting with no preconceptions as to how it ought to be used.
‘Ignorance is not only bliss, but genuinely constructive, particularly in a medium as adaptable as Polymer and Air Dry clay.’ Lex Sorrentino
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Wheelchair accessibility, refreshments, eftpos, cash, toilet, off-street parking
Image Credit: Lex Sorrentino’s Oxley Studio, 2023 | Photograph by Michelle Burrows
Open Studio | Teffany Thiedeman and Ochre Bodhi | Ceramics
Teffany’s workshop, Hearth Studio, is situated in leafy Yarralumla in the backyard of an old Canberra cottage. The garden is an integral part of the studio. Visitors may enjoy water features, beehive, outdoor sculptures, clay pizza oven, a fire pit, chickens and ducks, and a massive gum tree or sip iced tea under the grape arbour around a massive red gum slab table while taking in the surroundings. Teffany is a maker of mermaids, monsters and mosaics.
She and her daughter Ochre are also makers of earthy domestic ware as Red Ochre Studio. They create vessels imprinted with natural textures from the environments they spend time in. Their current range focuses on seaweed textured surfaces highlighting the plight of kelp forests in Tasmania, their other home.
There will be opportunities for people of all ages to play with clay as an extension of the drop-in classes run from Hearth as Ceramic Salon. This is a weather-dependent event. Please check for updates on her website.
Visitors will be able to purchase small handmade clay animals, Red Ochre Studio bowls and domestic wares.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this exhibition is free | No bookings required
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Teffany Thiedeman graduated from The ANU Ceramics Department last century. She is a Director of Aeon Arts, a not-for-profit cultural organisation whose mission is to bring creative opportunities to people of all ages. As an artist she has exhibited broadly, in graveyards, paddocks and even art galleries. She loves art interactives and getting people to have a play with clay.
Her practice is inspired by fables, mythology and storytelling, especially the spaces inside and around the stories. Her work is hand built and frequently figurative and personal, drawing upon her adventures in this amazing world. Teffany loves working with community art projects, kids and the art curious. Tasmania has been her second home for more than 20 years where she frequently collaborates with Red Ochre Studio and continues to be constantly inspired with its natural beauty and unending source of hope for the future.
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Wheelchair accessibility, eftpos, off-street parking
Image Credit: Teffany Thiedeman | Studio Feet, 2019 | Image courtesy of the artist
Open Studios | Ben Laffan | Detailed Wood
Benedict Laffan is a visual artist and experienced designer maker in the tradition of fine furniture who operates under the name of Detailed Wood. Ben shares his workshop with the team at Koitoya led by master craftsman and teacher Hiroshi Yamaguchi. Visiting Ben in his workshop is an opportunity to meet and understand an artisan of what is becoming a rare trade in the modern world. Ben will also be displaying some of his work, timber and tools for the public to see and he will be open to discuss all aspects of his work as a sustainable practice and to engage with any enquiry of interest in regards to bespoke commission projects.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this Open Studio is free | No bookings required
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Benedict Laffan is a designer and maker of fine solid wood furniture, selected cabinetry and objects who has lived and worked in his craft in both Sweden and Canberra Australia. At the core of his practice is a deep understanding of his preferred material wood and a vast knowledge and experience in using traditional joinery techniques while also embracing the modern design aesthetic and materials such as plywood to create unique pieces for his clients and exhibition. Ben has a distinct design language which expresses an interest in Scandinavian and Japanese architecture and furniture while paying respect to the material wood and it's source. Ben completed studies at the ANU School of Art Wood workshop in 2002 and has continuously practiced and worked in industry in both countries which has given him the strongest foundation in launching his new practice Detailed Wood in 2008.
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Wheelchair accessibility, eftpos, wheelchair accessible toilets
Image Credit: Ben Laffan in his Studio, 2023 | Image courtesy of the artist
Open Studio | Lisa Cahill | Atelier 818 | Glass
Atelier 818 is the glass art studio of Lisa Cahill. The Open Studios event will allow you to see how she makes her large-scale architectural glass installations as well as her range of jewellery and homewares. Atelier 818 is a full equipped kiln and cold working glass studio and Lisa will have works on display to see and purchase.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this Open Studio is free | No bookings required
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An independent studio artist since 2000, Lisa Cahill is known internationally for her kiln formed glass sculptures and installations.
Lisa graduated from Monash University, Victoria, and practices from her glass studio in Fyshwick. Awarded international art residencies in the USA and Scotland, Cahill has been a regular finalist in many prominent art prizes and won the Art Group Creative Fellowship at the Canberra Glassworks in 2018. Her large-scale glass installations are highly sought-after internationally and include site specific artworks for Tiffany & Co, Vacheron Constantin and Nobu Hotel.
Her work has been published in numerous publications including entries in the books Australian Glass Today by Margot Osborne and Contemporary Glass, Black Dog Publishing, UK. Her artworks can be found in private and public collections worldwide including the Palm Springs Art Museum, USA, Ebeltoft Glass Museum, Denmark, and Sir John Monash Centre, Australian National Memorial, France.
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Wheelchair accessibility, refreshments, eftpos, cash, toilet, off-street parking
Image Credit: Lisa Cahill | Two Fold | Image courtesy of the artist
Open Studio | Lelde Vitols | Design
Lelde will welcome visitors to her stunning light-filled home studio, garden and ‘home as gallery’ where all stages of her work will be displayed as part of the interior home decor. In a sense, her domestic interior is her canvas. Nature is her obsession.
Lelde is fascinated by the extent to which people employ images of nature in domestic interiors. She uses photography, drawing. painting and printing to capture images of fragments of nature. Sometimes these fragments are used to create patterns for textiles. The designs are digitally printed on various fabric types. Sometimes she hand prints textiles for curtains and other furnishings. Some fabrics are used in lamp shades and wall hangings or kept as fabric lengths.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this exhibition is free | No bookings required
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Lelde Vitols is a long-term Canberra-based artist with a strong connection to nature. She enjoys walking and camping in the local bush and other wild places. Through her photography, Lelde has a source of images which she uses as a basis to experiment with, in many different media. Her work is influenced by technological opportunities that spark her curiosity. She works in innovative and exploratory ways, searching and uncovering.
Her works include landscape photographs, prints, paintings, drawings and digital work as well as wall hangings printed on cotton drill and silks. Lelde also produces stunning lamp shades with patterns digitally developed from her photographs and printed onto cotton in Berlin.
Lelde has several degrees including one in Fine Arts (print making) from the ANU School of Art.
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Eftpos, cash, refreshments toilet
Image Credit: Lelde Vitols | Spinifex pattern on Satin-Silk, 2005 | Image courtesy of the artist
Open Studio | Sanctuary Canberra | Tania Vrancic + Sara Hogwood + Siru Tuomisto | Ceramics + Glass
Sanctuary Canberra is a beautiful repurposed Uniting Church building. It houses the studio of Tania Vrancic as well as a large exhibition space where Tania’s ceramic work, Sara Hogwood (Bopdotz) ceramics and Joanne Gittoes’ photography will be on show. Joanne will be doing short 15-minute product shots or head shots for a small fee.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this exhibition is free | No bookings required
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Tania Vrancic is a contemporary ceramic artist working in her sunny little home studio in Red Hill, and an emerging mixed media artist working from her new studio in Narrabundah.
Drawing her inspiration from landscape and childhood memories Tania creates a sense of freedom and whimsy mixed with a Scandinavian design aesthetic.
Using various printing on clay techniques, hand building and slip casting makes each item unique. Details are added with sgraffito, ceramic pencil and slip trailing, creating multiple layers which are enhanced by the translucency of high fired porcelain.
As an emerging intuitive abstract mixed media artist, she finds that working in different mediums, one practice informs the other. In time Tania hopes to exhibit her ceramics and painting as one coherent story.
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Sara Hogwood’s pottery journey began in 1996. The first 17 years were spent learning and honing her craft, showing her work in various exhibitions, including group shows, one solo and one two-person show and selling in small markets and pop-ups.
In 2013 Sara moved her focus from exhibiting to selling at art and design markets and other sales outlets. Her product range, sold under the name ‘bopdotz’, consists of wheel-thrown homewares. Taking inspiration from wherever she can find it, the work has a quiet and unassuming aesthetic and is designed to be used daily.
Since 2014 Sara has also produced a range of sterling silver jewellery. In keeping with her ceramic production, the jewellery is also quiet and unassuming, designed to bring pleasure when worn. With pottery currently undergoing a resurgence in popularity, output from her jewellery workshop is currently limited.
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Eftpos, Cash, Toilets, Car park fits 10, Refreshments (tea, water)
Sanctuary Canberra will also be hosting the exhibition Second Chance, from visiting Finnish artist Siru Tuomisto over the weekend from 10am-1pm. Siru will be onsite to meet and answer your questions! See more about the exhibition here.
Image Credit: Tania Vrancic | Mixed Media Studio, 2024 | Photograph by Kirsyn Smart Photography
Open Studio | Robert Schwartz and Rose-Mary Faulkner | Glass
Rob and Rose-Mary are glass artists collectively covering hotshop, kiln forming, printmedia and neon bending, and have recently developed their home studio in Queanbeyan– a space for kiln forming, craftsmanship, idea development, and creative prototyping.
Open Studio | Amy Beggs-French | Deep Blue Ceramics
Deep Blue Ceramics welcomes visitors to check out the studio, the ceramics and to learn more about why and how we do what we do. We're very passionate environmentalists, come and see our certified NetZero ceramics studio.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this Open Studio is free | No bookings required
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Amy Beggs-French is a ceramic artist respectfully creating on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country. Amy is the hands and heart behind Deep Blue Ceramics. She loves to create functional forms and highlight the natural beauty of clay.
Devoid of creativity for much of her previous professional life she fell head first into ceramics; learning, making, sharing and teaching. She loves to share her love for clay through a wide variety of classes. Her style is laid back, supportive and inclusive. When she's got some free time you'll find her underwater, being mesmerised and inspired by the ocean.
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Wheelchair accessibility, Toilets, Eftpos, Cash
Image Credit: Amy Beggs-French, 2022 | Photograph by Naomi Colley
Open Studio | Curtis and Schwarzrock Studio | Glass
This studio glass practice is a shifting puzzle, at times a raucous family affair with contributions from family and friends, and at others, a quiet distillation of materials to create sculptural works.
The studio has a furnace and the expertise lies in blowing and casting glass to produce sculptural objects. Specialties include bending neon and working with plasma illumination for exhibitions, research, and commissions.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this Open Studio is free | No bookings required
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Graduating from the Glass Studio at Sydney College of the Arts with a BA (Visual) with Honours in 1999, Hariet Schwarzock is currently a PhD candidate at the Australian National University. She has exhibited extensively throughout Australia and abroad. Her work is widely collected, and she has won various awards and been selected for prestigious residencies, including Canberra Glassworks Art Group Fellowship, the Asialink Toyama residency and the ANU Procter Fellowship. Recently her public artwork murmuration secured the ACT’s Pamille Berg, Art in Architecture award in 2021 and was shortlisted for the INDE.AWARD in 2022. Her illuminated plasma heart installations have been exhibited at the Canberra Glassworks, the Berengo studio, Venice, Murano, and the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
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Eftpos, cash, toilet
Image Credit: Harriet Schwarzrock | Studioplasma, 2024 | Photograph by Cassie Abraham
Open Studios | Hiroshi Yamaguchi | Koitoya Design/Make/Teach
Koitoya, Japanese design and skill inspired wood studio, will offer 2 days of exhibition of their own works and student's works. The popular chopstick making workshop will be held on Saturday only.
9 November | Saturday 10am - 4pm
10 November | Sunday 10am - 4pm
Entry to this Open Studio is free | No bookings required
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Hiroshi Yamaguchi is furniture designer and maker and runs the furniture making studio, Koitoya Design/Make Teach. He and his team make commissioned wood craft pieces, furniture, and joinery work, as well as run woodwork classes. His commissioned works reflect his crafted skills in traditional woodwork skills with contemporary interpretation.
Hiroshi was born and raised in Japan and trained at a private woodworking school in Japan called Shinrin-Takumi Juku, under Master Craftsman Osamu Shoji in 1995. After 17 years designing, creating and teaching craft and furniture making in Japan, he moved to Canberra in 2012 with his family and established KOITOYA in 2015.
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Wheelchair accessibility, eftpos, wheelchair accessible toilets