SWA at Maleny 2024
SWA members again have the opportunity to exhibit at the HUGE Maleny Wood Expo.
Details were sent to members in the recent newsletters.
2023 resulted in sales and commissions. We expect that to increase in 2024.
It is the opportunity for members works to be seen by over 10,000 people over the weekend.
May 4th – 6th, 2024
Maleny Showgrounds
Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia
proudly brought to you by Barung Landcare
Feedback from 2023 was that it was great to see fine furniture on display at Maleny.
Thanks to the organisers for supporting SWA.
SWA at Australian Design Centre
The Art of Making
21 March – 4 May
The Art of Making presents finely crafted and intelligently designed works in wood. The exhibition celebrates this craft form by highlighting a selection of work by designer makers who are members of Studio Woodworkers Australia.
Each exhibitor demonstrates their commitment to an age-old craft, bringing a contemporary design aesthetic and using innovative construction techniques. Their pieces exemplify technical skill in refined proportions that show respect for well chosen material and the many hours invested in the making.
A third-generation wood worker, Phoebe Everill’s philosophy is to pay respect to the tree by utilising the wood wisely and respectfully. The result is work that celebrates the unique character of timbers in contemporary and thoughtfully functional designs. This commitment is evident in all the work, rising above fleeting trends.
Australian Design Centre, in its 60th anniversary year, looks to a future that embraces the unique, the authentic and the enduring qualities of good design and handcrafted work made to last for many generations to come.
Designer makers are Rolf Barfoed, Ian Bell, Richard Coles, Phoebe Everill, Lou Harriss, Gray Hawk, Alby Johnston, Tony Kenway, William Matthysen, Eliza Maunsell, David Muston, Darren Oates, Nick Pedulla, Ruth Thompson, David Upfill-Brown, Grant Vaughan, Warwick Wright and Peter Young.
Studio Woodworkers Australia acknowledges the support of Australian Wood Review.
The Art of Making was first presented at Australian Design Centre in 2022. Visit that exhibition page here.
SWA at Maleny Wood Expo
Studio Woodworker’s Australia Exhibition at
Maleny Wood Expo April 29th – May 1st 2023.
“Object “
We are delighted to announce that SWA will be having an exhibition “Object” at Maleny Wood Expo April 29th – May 1st 2023.
This is a great opportunity to showcase your work to over 10,000 visitors.
Registration is open to all financial members.
This is a curated exhibition for General Members. A panel of judges will determine the pieces to be exhibited.
The Maleny Wood Expo has a strong focus on ecological sustainability and sustainable use of local timbers. Wood artisans are required to work in sustainably harvested native, weed, or recycled timbers.
To read more about the Maleny Wood Expo go here http://malenywoodexpo.com/about
As this is not very far away, it is understood that you may wish to exhibit an existing piece rather than develop a completely new piece.
Insurance and delivery to and from the show is up to you (We are working on a couple of collection points). The work will be covered while on show. Please note that smaller pieces are much more welcome than, say, dining tables. Although we have been offered a relatively spacious site (7m X 3m) it is nevertheless not a gallery sized space.
Registration fees, per financial member (per piece), will be $150.00. The same fee applies for a collaborative entry (if you choose to undertake one). Payment can be made either by Direct Bank Transfer (preferred method) or by cheque.
Any pieces for sale, will attract a 20% commission on your wholesale price.
Registration can be undertaken online (preferred) or by filling in the form attached and emailing it to Ruth@shed144.com
Important Dates:
13th February 2023: Registration submission closes,
what you intend to exhibit, the dimensions of your piece. and images, your contact details, ABN and GST status, payment of registration fee.
Members were emailed with details to register.
27th April 2023: Delivery of work to Maleny.
29th April 2023: Expo opening
1st May 2023: Exhibition closes.
Ruth Thompson, Will Matthysen and Dale Dryen
Vale David Charlesworth
SWA members were saddened to hear of the recent passing of influential English woodworking writer and teacher, David Charlesworth. David died on May 22, 2022, after a long illness.
Charlesworth was known worldwide for his highly detailed books and multiple long-form videos on furniture and sharpening techniques. Long before Youtube and Instagram, Charlesworth was a woodworking influencer.
Charlesworth studied furniture making under the founding member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Edward Baly. Although David worked as a craftsman from the early 1970’s, he increasing turned his attention to writing and teaching. Charlesworth was a frequent contributor to Furniture & Cabinet Making magazine in the UK, and many of his best articles were compiled into his first book, “David Charlesworth’s Furniture-Making Techniques” (1999, Guild of Master Craftsman).
David was a giant and the craft. We are fortunate that his vast knowledge lives on in his books and videos.
Exhibition – The Art of Making
Due to COVID restrictions, our exhibition The Art of Making at the Australian Design Centre (ADC) was rescheduled from November 2021 to February 2022.
The Art of Making will open at 6pm on Thursday, 10 February, and run until Tuesday 15th March, 2022 at the ADC, 101 – 115 William St, Darlinghurst, NSW.
The Art of Making will feature new work by SWA Accredited Members. A select number of makers will conduct a floor talk about their work between 2pm and 3pm on Saturday, 12 February.
Furniture Defines Home
This past year has seen most of us spending more time than usual at our homes. We have all come to realise how important our domestic space is. Furniture helps define the soul of a home. Thoughtful furniture is a gift to ourselves, our families and our friends.
As the nation’s peak body for fine woodworkers, our members have been reflecting on this. The call went out to create an exhibition of warm, generous and accessible furniture designed to bring simple pleasure to people. Yes, the joinery will be impeccable and the timbers special, but this will be an exhibition of pieces meant to be lived with.
As the membership of SWA has grown exponentially this year, Furniture Defines Home will feature some of our younger, mid-career makers. The exhibition opens Saturday 14th November at the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery. This will be a “take as you purchase” exhibition, so get in early to enjoy the full range of the pieces on offer.
SWA Accredited Member Silvio Apponyi is Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia.
Silvio was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the visual arts as a sculptor.
Silvio has been sculpting for around 40 years and is based in Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. His style has developed over the years from entirely abstract creations to animal carvings with an astonishing level of detail and realism. His main inspiration is Australian fauna, and he hopes to draw attention to these unique and often endangered species. In his self-built studio, Silvio creates his sculptures in a variety of media, primarily wood, Australian granites & marbles and bronze. His sculptures range from delicate ‘Netsuke’ style pieces to massive public granite works.
Silvio began carving at an early age and was awarded the Sculpture Prize in his last year at High School. He then did a 4 year Diploma of Fine Art at the South Australian School of Art, majoring in Sculpture. Upon completion he was awarded a German exchange scholarship and he spent a year in the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. When he returned to Australia he continued to develop his skills and in 1982 devoted himself fulltime to his art.
Since then he has had one-man shows and group exhibitions locally, interstate and overseas. He has won several prizes,accepted commissions, conducted workshops in Australia and Malaysia, and studied wood-block printmaking under a Japanese master.
His work is featured in many private collections both here and overseas and in public spaces across Australia.
Edge
“Edge” is an exhibition of Accredited Members of SWA.
16 February to 29 March 2020
Sturt Gallery, Mittagong.
The heartland of accepted practice is well defined, but new insights take place at the periphery. This exhibition is an invitation to members to design and make at the edge of their accepted practice.
Edge opened on Sunday 16th February at Sturt gallery Mittagong by David Boucher of David Boucher and Co. The exhibition which is open until 29 March showcases the work of SWA Accredited Members.
AGM and Members Forum
Will Matthysen welcomed the 20 members to the AGM and Members Forum on 22 September.
David MacLaren, proprietor of Bungendore Woodworks Gallery, was elected as a director of Studio Woodworker Australia Limited replacing Darren Fry .
Members passed a resolution to amend the constitution to enable established makers to join SWA as Accredited Members without first becoming General Members. Further details are available under Membership
That the following criteria will be used by the Accreditation Committee in assessing an individual who has applied to become an Accredited Member. “Experience as a practicing designer maker and/or artist and be able to demonstrate a high level of skill in designing and making furniture and other timber objects.
New Sponsor
Anagote Timbers of Marrickville has agreed to be a sponsor. Members not familiar with the the range of cabinet timbers available from Anagote are encouraged to do so. https://anagote.com
Remember to introduce yourself as a member of SWA.
