auckland art & craft fair

This press release caught my eye.....

The Auckland Art & Craft Fair is a one of a kind, special event happening for the very first time on 24th July 2010. Designed to showcase a selection of New Zealand's best independent and contemporary Designers, Artists & Crafters selling their products direct to the public for one day only. At the Fair you will find products with an emphasis on quality, craftsmanship, creativity and style. You can purchase direct from the seller, knowing that you are supporting our local talent and you will be taking home a special piece that has soul.

Ever appreciative of the chance to enjoy the handmade, I went along with Beth & Mike to check it out. I loved the location in the Auckland Art Gallery lounge with it's Cut Collective murals on the walls.... but it was crazy!! People were squished everywhere. We started at one end but couldn't move or see any of the stalls so we thought we were going the wrong way...... so we started at the other end.... and no, still stuck!! Eventually we got in and had a closer look at the amazing selection of art, craft and design on display. Oh, so much to see! Two designer/artists that caught my eye were Sensitive Boyfriend and Devon Smith.....

 
Drus Dryden (sensitive boyfriend's alter ego) says, "I hang out on the intersection of sensitive and whimsical, and see what comes along. I'm a conceptual designer, so the idea is more interesting than the actual thing. So far I've made cookies, pillow cases, scarves, t-shirts, badges, ceramics, rubber stamps . . . you name it." His designs are fun, clever and quirky. They are also beautifully made and presented. His stall was laid out a bit differently, with postcard images of his designs displayed. It made it graphically interesting, you were drawn in for a closer look. My favourites? The eye catching pink knitted Winter condoms, the Giving Up Smoking gloves, the amusing Psycho chopping board with obligatory knife and the Stain by Numbers tea towel....

I managed to score the last one! I love the key at the bottom - 1. Bleach splatter 2. Spilled milk 3. Mushroom sauce 4. Chicken gravy 5. Hazelnut gelato......

  

Devon Smith's art works, prints and jewellery are stunningly drawn and crafted. I had spied her work at Swonderful in Wellington so it was great to see it again. Her images are original, detailed, delicate and sensitive but with an edge!

So beautiful.... my very own miniature original painting to wear. I love the packaging with it's ribbon and "D" wax seal.

Other purchases worthy of mention are......

.....a lovely lavender bird from Birdspoke

....and this gorgeous crucifix from the Ferrit. All purchased with specially printed market money designed by Devon Smith. I would show you but I spent it all!!

threadless

How many times can you go to a t-shirt website and be reduced to tears? Not often, I'd guess. But threadless is not your average t-shirt website. I first came across it through Andy at work. He has a graphic design background and a great design aesthetic. He was wearing all these great t-shirts with original fresh designs..... and they were all from threadless. Then other people started popping up in new t-shirts. All of them had great graphics that were original, eyecatching, clever and often quirky... and they were all from threadless!

So I had to check them out.....

"Threadless is a community-based tee shirt company with an ongoing, open call for design submissions." People are invited to submit designs and also to send in photos of themselves wearing the designs. It does have a collaborative community feel, with a high level design ethic. The range of designs are amazing and I felt a bit overwhelmed - spoilt for choice. There were so many that caught my eye, made me laugh or just made me think. Which leads into the tears....

This t-shirt design is called Juliet by "Designer of the Year" Lim Heng Swee. He wrote a blog about the design inspired by this poem....

The birth of a butterfly

By Aline Martins

It's weird to notice how light comes during the night

How a smile comes with tears

It's weird how a storm can make the land fertile again

How simple steps can make a dance

Everything is change

And... then amidst all this darkness...

It came slowly, passed by as a breeze

soft, evolving my hectic nights

And night after night it came back, with agile fingers and broad smiles

to plant in me, a hope that for a long time had been broken

I looked for memories that were forgotten

Feelings of past lives soaked in tears, but still I threw my net and got

that single drop of the sea, that was waiting for me

I held it carefully as a diamond... how could a diamond be so fragile?

Then it vibrated and as a reverse tear, it went up through my face

entered the windows of my soul and installed itself in my heart

After a long sigh, the world became a rainbow. The pain was gone.

I could feel that breeze within me, as arms

Was it spreading inside me? I can't be that big...

So I had to get rid of things I didn't want anymore

And in a frenetic whirl of colours and horrors, I tried to create space

But there was nothing left. So I entered my own cave

organised the mysteries of my soul

Maybe, that thing that grew within me, could find it's purpose

The breeze became a storm of kisses and smiles

A storm that raised seas of tears

An earthquake of senses and touches

And there as a metamorphosis, between earth, sea and sky

I could understand the alchemy that was happening inside of me

A butterfly was born...

In my back, the most delicate wings... unique, as I had never seen

And tonight, I'll fly high, in search of my spring of inspiration

It can be anywhere, doesn't matter it's name

I'll recognise it when I see, for it is mine and it is part me

If you love t-shirts and you love design, check out http://www.threadless.com/