Sydney Design 08 - August 8 to 24 2008

The Bauhaus in Australia: a conversation about Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack

nicolebe — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:32:29 +0000

The artist and teacher Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack (1893-1965) was a student then later a master at the Bauhaus, teaching the first Bauhaus seminar on colour. In 1936 Hirschfeld-Mack fled Nazi Germany for England, but was eventually deported to Australia in 1940, where he was interned as a German ‘alien’. Eventually offered a teaching position at Geelong Grammar in 1941, he introduced the modernist aesthetic challenge into art education. His extraordinary Bauhaus project, Farbenlichtspiele (Colour light play) of 1922-23 is shown for the first time in Australia, and like all his work explores the affinities between music and colour-light. Daniel Thomas who as a boy was taught by Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack (when attending Geelong Grammar between 1945 and ‘49) will be joined in conversation by the art historian Andrew McNamara.

Powerhouse Museum Sun 24 August, 1.00–2.00pm, free with museum admission
Followed by a screening of Farbenlichtspiele: the re-constructed Bauhaus films of Ludwig Hirscheld-Mack at 2.00pm

Daniel Thomas AM, Emeritus Director Art Gallery of South Australia. In 1958 Thomas was appointed the first curatorial staff member at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, later becoming its chief curator and head of Australian art, then head of Australian art at the National Gallery of Australia. Dr Andrew McNamara is one of the editors of Modern times, and coordinator of Arts, Media, Design & Modernity, at Queensland University of Technology.

Design NSW: Travelling Scholarship

nicolebe — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:46:01 +0000

The winner of the Design NSW: Travelling Scholarship has been announced.
The inaugural Design NSW: Travelling Scholarship is a new award presented by the Powerhouse Museum and British Council with Arts NSW. The first winner – Matthew Huynh - was announced on 7 August at the official launch of Sydney Design 08. Huynh picked up $18,000 in prize money, used to fund an overseas sabbatical and develop his professional career.

Read the full story on dhub

The top twenty entries are on view in the Museum’s King’s Cinema, daily throughout the festival 11.15-11.45am & 1.30-2.00pm.

dhub.org

(detail of Midnight Morning, by Matthew Huynh)

Top 9×9

robert — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:01:25 +0000

The NSW branch of the Design Institute of Australia launched its Top 10 x10 Designer Talk series in 2007 to provide an opportunity for established and influential designers to share their knowledge and experience with an audience of practicing designers and those interested in the design industry.

Following the success of Top 10×10, this year Top 9×9 will be held as a key event for Sydney Design 08 and will follow the theme of nine leading practitioners sharing a total of 81 invaluable insights on what makes them tick.

The Top 9×9 presenters are:
Andrew Parr - SJB Interiors
Cyrus Allen - Telstra
Jason Little - Landor
Jodie Fried - Bholu
Michelle Tarlinton - Geyer
Morgan Drew - Abuzz
Peter Campbell - Campbell Barnett
Richard Hoare - Breville
Robert Foster - Fink Design

Date: 13 August, 6pm-9pm
Location: Coles Theatre, Powerhouse Museum
Cost: $10 DIA Members, $30 Non Members (Inclusive of drinks and food)
Bookings essential
Register www.eventoffice.com.au/dia
For more details contact Louise Eastwood louise@spinifex.net.au or www.design.org.au/nsw

Powerhouse Discovery Centre: Collection Stores at Castle Hill - OPEN DAY: Design

nicolebe — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:36:56 +0000

Open Day: DESIGN
Open Day highlights include two very special behind-the-scenes tours. Join celebrated Australian designer Jenny Kee and Powerhouse curator Christina Sumner for a tour of the Jenny Kee-designed Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony costumes (11.30am). Charles Pickett, Powerhouse curator of design and society, will lead a tour of architectural models in the collection including well-known buildings and never-built fantasies titled ‘Architectural models: stars of design and sport’ (2pm). The Open Day will also include displays by the Australian Textiles and Surface Design Association (ATASDA) and the Oriental Rug Society, object talks, and highlight tours of the Display Store.

The Powerhouse Discovery Centre is the publicly accessible off-site storage and collection care facility for the Powerhouse Museum. For further information on Open Days, admission prices and group tour bookings Tel 02 9762 1300 or visit www.castlehill.powerhousemuseum.com

9 August 2008
10.00am–4.00pm
172 Showground Road, Castle Hill

House of tomorrow, with Judith O’Callaghan and Karen McCartney, hosted by Tim Ross

nicolebe — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:06:44 +0000

At the end of World War II, Australia faced a housing crisis. In response, government, the media and architects became actively engaged in providing practical solutions. It was a period of experimentation and brave new ideas. Given the many issues surrounding the provision of affordable and sustainable housing today, are there lessons to be learnt from this period?

Part of the ‘Modern times, late nights’ series
21 August, 6.00–8.00pm
Featuring the Tina Harrod Quartet
Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris Street Ultimo
Free with Museum admission

Lost gardens of Sydney

robert — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:21:18 +0000

Sydney’s vast sea of roofs belies its rich legacy of gardens and gardening. In every direction from the city, large estates and gardens have been subdivided and lost to our ever-increasing need for real estate. Lost gardens explores Sydney’s rich and diverse gardening heritage. It traces the rise and fall of a number of Sydney gardens and garden styles, from the native bush and significant early colonial gardens, to nurseries and the gardens of the rising middle class, to the small domestic gardens of the inter-war years, to corporate roof-top gardens and threatened gardens of today. The exhibition is rich with paintings, drawings, photographs, plans, statuary, floral albums and botanical images, and will charm anyone with an interest in gardens and the environment.

9 August - 30 November
9.30am-5.00pm daily
Museum of Sydney, on the site of first Government House
Cnr Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney
T 02 9251 5988
Free with museum entry

Rockabilly: living the 50s

robert — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:10:18 +0000

Photographer Steven Siewert has spent years documenting Sydney’s rockabillies, a vibrant subculture who live and breathe an era that predates their earliest birthdays. The boys dress for cool with stovepipe jeans and slick quiffs, while the women wear dazzling cocktail frocks by night and colourful vintage dresses by day. Steven Siewert’s work straddles documentary and press photography. He combines professional work as a Sydney Morning Herald photojournalist with personal projects such as this.

7 June - 17 August
9.30am-5.00pm daily
Museum of Sydney, on the site of first Government House
Cnr Phillip and Bridge Streets, Sydney
T 02 9251 5988
Free with museum entry

Sphere’s of Light

robert — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:02:44 +0000

A multi-media work for architectural light, music and multi-channel sound by Mary-Anne Kyriakou, recipient of Peggy Glanville Hicks Composer Fellowship 2008-2009.

Plus, participate in a series of workshops on sound and light in architectural space, with Joe Snell from DARCH and Creative Director for Smart Light Sydney Festival and Mary-Anne Kyriakou Festival Director from Smart Light Sydney Festival, and Meinhardt Creative Director. Workshops run for 2 hours. Special performances are on August 13, 14 and 15 at 6:00pm for a 6:15pm start and also at 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start.

For more information visit http://www.72erskine.com; www.makproductions.com.au; www.smartlightsydney.com and for bookings call Emmaline Waclik at 72 Erskine 0292999779.

11-22 August 2008
11am to 6pm daily (except weekends)
72 Erskine Street Sydney (between Wynyard and King street)

International speaker - Birgit Lohmann

nicolebe — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:21:34 +0000

Does originality still exist?
This is a question often asked of Birgit Lohmann, CEO and editor-in-chief of the international online design publication designboom. In this talk Lohmann searches for an answer by drawing on her experiences working in a transcultural context and organising international design competitions.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, Lohmann studied industrial design in Florence before moving to Milan, where she has lived and worked, since 1987. She has worked as a designer and product development manager for Achille Castiglioni, Vico Magistretti, Bruno Munari, Enzo Mari and Renzo Piano, a design historian for justice departments and auction houses, and a researcher and lecturer in universities. In 1999 she co-founded designboom, where she is currently editor-in-chief, head of educational programming and curator for international exhibitions.

17 August, 2.00–3.00pm
Powerhouse Museum
Free with Museum admission

Modern times, late nights

nicolebe — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:19:47 +0000

Modernism transformed life in Australia during the twentieth century. From jazz clubs to espresso bars and abstract art, modernism defined an exciting new cosmopolitan culture. Be inspired by the spirit of modernism at special night viewings of the Modern times exhibition, with live jazz, entertainment, speakers and refreshments.

One-night stand: an evening of retro chic
14 August, 6.00–8.00pm
The times are modern, the music is jazz and the dance is swing. This evening presents the perfect opportunity to don your best vintage clothing and immerse yourself in all things 20th century modern. Be guided through a series of dance steps designed to get you up and moving and in the mood, and enjoy a special viewing of the Modern times exhibition.
Featuring the Dan Barnett Quartet.
Free admission

Exposure: fairs, festivals and competitions
15 August, 6.00–8.00pm
In 1967, Grant and Mary Featherston designed their now-famous ‘talking chair’ for Expo 67 Montreal, Canada. The Expo was considered to be one of Australia’s most successful overseas promotions, with over 20,000 million visitors during a six-month period. Forty years on, Ann Stephen, Principal Curator of the Modern times exhibition, talks to three award-winning Australian designers who are exposing Australian design internationally. Charles Wilson, 2006 recipient of the Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award, who has recently returned from the Salone Del Mobile, Milan, and multi-award-winning designer Vince Frost, recently appointed as a member of the Australian architecture curatorial team to represent Australia at the 2008 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Featuring Scott Pullen and the Groove Academy.
Free with Museum admission

House of tomorrow, with Judith O’Callaghan and Karen McCartney
21 August, 6.00–8.00pm
At the end of World War II, Australia faced a housing crisis. In response, government, the media and architects became actively engaged in providing practical solutions. It was a period of experimentation and brave new ideas. Given the many issues surrounding the provision of affordable and sustainable housing today, are there lessons to be learnt from this period?
Featuring the Tina Harrod Quartet.
Free with Museum admission

A new award for designers – Design NSW: Travelling Scholarship
22 August, 6.00–8.00pm
To coincide with Sydney Design 08, the Powerhouse Museum, the British Council and Arts NSW are proud to present this inaugural travelling scholarship for a NSW designer to undertake a program of professional development overseas, valued at $18 000. Hear Jennifer Sanders, Deputy Director, Powerhouse Museum, Alexandra Bowen, Program Manager, Visual Arts and Craft, Arts NSW, and Grainne Brunsdon, Assistant Director, British Council discuss the significance of this new state government initiative, and meet the winner.
Featuring the Angie Contini Quartet.
Free with Museum admission

Exclusive spirit provider: Bombay Sapphire