Craft / Bespoke Utopia. At M16 Artspace  until November 15. Reviewed by MEREDITH HINCHLIFFE

The artists in this group exhibition have been brought together to prioritise thoughtful, responsible making over rapid, large-scale manufacturing and to exhibit their results.

The artists have drawn on the traditions of craft and the handmade.

Wilay Designs, a creative partnership between two sisters is showing a group of woven jewellery based on the traditional coolamon form, made from raffia and hanging from a leather cord. They demonstrate a way of taking the traditional forms and craft into a new direction.

A pieced work by Michele Grimston titled ‘Somehow, closer to home’, hangs on a found branch. This work is of layered and pieced fabrics, including discarded items from clothing, such as collars. It is embroidered and beaded and all fabrics are recycled. It is reminiscent of the traditional ‘crazy patchwork’ that was popular early in the 20^th century. It may have been more successful had it been hung on a straight rod.

Three intriguing works by Karen Lee, all from the Reimagining Series in Black are made from linen and cotton. Empty vessels lie crumpled on the plinth, and are well finished with tightly bound necks. Two woven baskets in kangaroo grass, Gymea lily and one with lomandra by Lisa Stevenson, are gentle and remind us that materials which are at readily hand, can be made into beautiful artworks.

Matilda Hillam also uses found materials for her work. Mesh handbags used to be prized objects by glamourous women. Think Oroton and Glomesh. Hillam has converted these into provocative works of art. She embellishes the links with coloured links that make up single words. Dissent, of course, is the title for this year’s Design Festival of which this exhibition is a part.

Catalogue No. 42, by Sandy Ma, though enigmatic, tells a story of coincidences. Titled ‘my dad’s name means horse, my mum was born in the year of the horse’, it consists of several components. A loosely woven mat is embellished with what appears to be stitching, and chains with beads hang in an uneven fringe. Linked to that is a disc with text, and lower down two more stitched pieces of fabric that together read ‘some of my best friends are horse girls’. It is an interesting work and may remind some of their young teenage years.

I find it exciting that a gallery more known for its painting and drawing, is exhibiting craft or decorative art works. The works may be a little exploratory, and I applaud the intent.

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