Object gallery

[Emily Valentine Bullock]

I have been disappointed by a few the shows recently at Object, but this one from (you can't say by) Bilson of her collected Birds Nests is outside the charter of a public gallery deemed to show craft.
Object is the only public specific craft/art space in NSW, yet the management select bad museum displays when there are many crafts workers desperate to have an exhibition in the space. I applied for a show there and was refused. I realise the importance of having work shown in public galleries for an artists career. How is a birds nest collection moving the craft in Australia forward. Is it a rip off of Fiona Hall? Birds do it better!
I withhold my name as I wish to re-apply to Object.

[albert paca]

I must say that I have tended to agree in the past that Object is perhaps too loose in their focus as to what they exhibit, but I also have to say that I would not want to be constricted to one narrow area of making (such as the craft of jewellery) in my own practice, so how could I demand it of such an organisation as Object? I myself want to explore craft, art, curation, education, theory, museum studies....
On one hand I think it is crap that they do not solely support the craft sector (as in their original incarnation), but on the other hand I think it is good that they try to be expansive, thus demanding the crafts be more innovative in their focus, display and aims. I guess my concern is that they end up supporting too much "designey" stuff and end up looking as teflon-non-stick as a glossy mag that has no substance.... They are supported by the government and as such (in my opinion) should steer clear of the commercial sector and put all their support behind emerging and experimental practices related to arts, crafts and design (with the emphasis on the crafts i guess....)
And also there is the problem of having such a small space with long exhibition times, which makes it tricky to encouage experimental exhibitions....
Funding is surely an issue in all these considerations.
Maybe it is just up to us to propose amazingly slick and innovative shows that use the essence of craft (process, materials, the human touch, etc) as the driving force behind well-realised, publicly accessible and enlightening exhibitions (shit - that is a big call!)

A touchy subject - there must be lots of opinions out there....

[Emily Valentine Bullock]

Glad someone feels as I do, thank Albert.
I will also comment on the Liz Williamson show. It is an example of craft - weaving not my interest - but I can see the skill in the work. I find the work conservative and safe.
My strong feeling are in the display - the show looks like a department store from the sevenities. There is no movement in through the exhibition. It feels cramped, blue and somber. The Object staff may be content with such poor display but should we are craft workers be uncritical. Object staff must lead artists and develop innotive ideas for shows in such an awkward gallery space. When you look at other public galleries, you see what a poor cousin craft galleries are. Maybe that is where the energy should be directed. How is craft to be taken seriouslythe shows are bland? How can craft be linked with art when the only public gallery issists on craft/design and the slick "glossy mag" look. Is the gallery direction viewers or sales? I'm not sure. They must deside and not keep a foot in both camps.
Yes, a touchy subject.