Annual Manual-Showing until 19th June

Well it sure is a woolly winter Tuesday here at Object! It's been chilly of late, but we are cosy up in the gallery with the aid of our trusty heaters and so there is definitely no excuse for not visiting us especially with Annual Manual: A Guide to Australian Design Now in its final weeks! This exhibition curated by Office for Good Design is a significant award show of Australian emerging talent. 8 outstanding finalists have been judged by a panel and the winners have been awarded the opportunity to have a solo exhibition in Object's Project Space in 2012. Apart from the 8 finalists, there are also 10 more names to watch playing on the gallery AV. You will have to come in and see the winning pieces for yourself but for now, here are some pictures that show the breadth of design in this show.

Thomas Llewellyn (VIC) DRAWING BOARD

Emily Nam (VIC) BODY, CLOTHING,OBJECT,EXPERIENCE

Daniel Emma (SA) D.E

Meredith Turnbull (VIC) EARRINGS, OBJECTS, SCULPTURES

Esther Stewart (VIC) PORTABLE COMPACTIBLE

Kristel Britcher (SA) SUSPENSION SERIES RANGE & CRYSTALLINE COMPOSITION 1

In-ah Shin (NSW) ANOTHER: BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

Aly De Groot (NT) GHOST NET BASKETS

All images from Annual Manual: A Guide to Australian Design Now 2011

All Photography: Jamie Williams

New Tjanpi baskets in store

Hi readers!

It’s Pen here - I haven’t been in to work for a few days, and when I came back we had a whole range of new stock! It’s always lovely coming to the store and finding new treasures, but I was particularly taken by our new range of Tjanpi Baskets!

Tjanpi (pronounced: J-um-Py) is a collective managed by the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Women’s Council. It is an organisation completely governed and owned by Aboriginal people, and all profits from the baskets are used to sustain Tjanpi Desert Weavers. Based in the heart of Australia (Central Western desert region) Tjanpi is an employment opportunity for local women passionate about weaving. This employment program is special because it provides income whilst embracing local cultural activities.

“While out collecting grass women take time to hunt, gather food, visit sacred sites and teach their children about country. At its core Tjanpi is about family and community. It is work that more than accommodates social and cultural obligations, it encourages them.” www.westerndesertmob.com.au

I love Tjanpi baskets because each one is so unique. Textures, colours, form and weave all vary greatly depending on the making and aesthetic style of the artist. Some are quite subdued in earthy tones often ornamented with emu or bush turkey feathers. Others are quite outstanding in the use of pinks, yellows, greens and blue dyed grasses! Each work has a life and personality/vitality of its own and visitors will often find themselves drawn to a particular basket.

At home, they look beautiful on a shelf with other treasures - My favourite basket sits next to a very special glass piece in my living room. The warm yellow hues in the glass glow next to the natural tones of the grasses and raffia used in the basket.

But they can also be very practical. Some of the flatter dish-like pieces make great places to keep jewellery on your bed side table. (...and won’t scratch because they are made of lovely soft grasses!) If you are looking for a wall feature, these baskets look great hung in groups by small hooks.

These baskets never stick around long at Collect, and most are under $35 each, so as soon as word gets out they go flying off the shelves! I recommend popping in and checking out the new collection. You won’t be disappointed!