As part of the State of Design Festival, Climate ReDesign tries an experimental collaborative project:
Two public design-workshops to generate ideas, connections and friends for action.
They are asking:
How to increase measurable mainstream support for action on climate change?
What can a designer offer a climate change campaigner?
What can a climate change campaigner offer design?

They have some great prizes up for grabs including a keg of sustainable craft beer.
6th July – Launch and first workshop
6:30pm Tuesday, 6th July at The Order of Melbourne, 401 Swanston St. Free event (by donation)

Holding site for Matt Huynh‘s soon to be relaunched folio website, to commemorate the June 1st solo exhibition ‘Asperatus’.

‘Asperatus’ showcases an entirely new illustration series for one night only in a solo show at the Skeleton Gallery, Australian Museum, on June 1st.

This post was submitted by Matt Huynh.

The Australia Project is a series of creative initiatives aimed at critically examining our national Australian identity.
Engaging prominent Australian creatives and the general public alike, the project provokes wide-spread debate regarding contemporary Australian culture. Post-colonial, multi-cultural, historically conflicted & geographically isolated, The Australia Project re-examines clichéd cultural stereotypes, with the intention of revealing new perspectives from Australians today.

This post was submitted by Chris Edser.

This Wednesday night in Melbourne, Junior presents artist and illustrator Ghostpatrol.
NEW TIME, NEW LOCATION:
When: Wednesday April 14. 8pm.
Where: The Workers Club, Cnr Gertrude & Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
Details: http://lifeatthebottom.com/drinks/

This post was submitted by Jr.

The Versus Show hits back with its very unique 4th edition. This collaborative show features Kylie Fisk (Brisbane) Vs. Laura Skerlj (Melbourne). These two female artists have been exploring the land of dreams, the sublime, nature, and ethereal landscapes through their mediums of photography and painting. The rest of the gallery for the opening night will be transformed into an interactive and engaging dreamlike scene; turning the gallery environment into something quite surreal.
Special entertainment by Hero & Shadow, a new musical project, specifically designed for The Vs. Show. In duo formation-(Madeleine Paige & Arundel). The ‘versus’ concept was spawned in 2008 by artist Mel Baxter (curator CURVY 09, Frankie Hand Drawn & Dane Beesley’s New York Buck)

Friday, 9th April – 7pm @ Joshua Levi Galleries- 4 Ipswich Rd. Wooloongabba. Brisbane.

This post was submitted by Mel Baxter.

If you’re over in London make sure you check out the second installment of Lyrics and Type, with some great Aussie and International Artists on board.

16 INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS VERSUS FAMOUS SONG LYRICS

It’s come around again all you music and type lovers! Welcome to LYRICS AND TYPE: VERSE 2 – another international typographic screen-print exhibition from the creator of the award winning arts culture publication WOODEN TOY QUARTERLY (AUS) with support from the good folks at VNA MAGAZINE (UK).

Following on from the success of the LYRICS AND TYPE: VERSE 1 zine project at Gorker Gallery (Oct 2009), comes the exciting second installment in the series of LYRICS AND TYPE projects at London’s East Gallery. Combined with an all new formula and a ‘bass dropping’ array of artists, LYRICS AND TYPE: VERSE 2 aims to feature interpretations of both famous, past and present song Lyrics by 16 leading international typographers, designers and illustrators.

Clinton Duncan: ADC Young Guns @ Apple Store Sydney. Monday, March 22 at 6pm. Facebook event here.

Junior is screening the amazing advertising documentary Art & Copy. A must see for anyone into ideas and creativity, it profiles several living icons of the U.S advertising industry since the ’60s. People like George Lois, Dan Weiden and Lee Clow. Tickets are limited! Full details and trailer are on the Junior website http://lifeatthebottom.com

This post was submitted by JR.

Junior is putting on their second event for the year after last month’s presentation from Andrew Ashton. (If you missed it look for JuniorTV on the Jr website) This week, the very talented Barrie Barton of threethousand.com.au and Right Angle Studio will be speaking. This is one event not to be missed.

When: Wednesday, 10 March.
Where: UPSTAIRS. 1000 £ Bend. 361 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
www.lifeatthebottom.com

This post was submitted by Jr.

You are invited to our first public meeting to discuss the future of the bindarri website. Our aim is to build and strengthen the community of creatives working for positive change and we want to open up the site to this community. 3rd of March. Level 2, 140 Bourke Street Melbourne.

This post was submitted by dvize.

Gemma O’brien aka Mrs Eaves (you can read our interview with her here) is hosting a type workshop this Monday (22st Feb) 11am – 12 noon at the UNSW main campus in Quad G026. All are welcome.

You run Design is Kinky, publish EMPTY Magazine as well as organise the Semi-Permanent design events. Do you find time for anything else?
People often ask me this, but the fact is that I have a fair bit of free time. This is mainly due to the events and magazine only happening a handful of times a year. So I get busy for a few weeks every now and then and then have time to do other things. It’s not a bad way to work. I’d hate to be busy every day.

We see that Semi Permanent Sydney’s line up of speakers has been announced, with Melbourne’s Tin & Ed, Craig Schuftan, T Magazine as well as international speakers like Jasper Goodall, Jill Greenberg & Jessica Hische. What do you hope the attendees of this year’s event will take away with them?
All we ever really hope is that people enjoy themselves and leave feeling inspired. That is what the event is all about, inspiration, so as long as people are inspired then we’ve done our job. If they get more from it than that, such as a bit of education or direction in their careers, then that’s great.

How have you seen Semi-Permanent develop over the years?
I think the event has developed a lot behind-the-scenes in the organisation. It’s become a lot smoother to run as we have learnt from our mistakes. This is reflected at the event by things, usually, running very smoothly but i’m not sure people would really notice it. Which means we are doing things right. The event that the audience sees hasn’t changed all that much really. The format works well, so we have never really felt the urge to make many changes.

In regards to your Magazine, EMPTY (which quite possibly has the shortest masthead of any magazine I have ever read), have you noticed a difference between work you find personally stimulating and the issues that sell better or are they generally one and the same?
They are one and the same. Everything that goes into Empty is personally chosen by me, and my only real way to choose is by putting in things I like. Almost every image is placed in the mag because I like it. It’s really the only way I know how to do it. After all, i don’t know what other people like so I have to choose from my own taste. It’s thankfully worked pretty well so far though and people seem to like the art in the magazine.

One thing I find difficult with Australian Edge is deciding what work should stay out. In the end it comes down to my personal tastes, which I worry may have a discriminate bias to what we publish. Do you ever publish work that you personally do not like? If so what criteria do you follow before you publish a creative’s work?
I pretty much answered this in the question above. One thing i will say though is that you should really never put something into any personal project you run that you don’t like. If you do then you will begin to dislike your own project and it will lose the integrity that you want it to have. I think it’s that integrity that people like in projects like Australian Edge and the things we do. The media has very little integrity or soul these days so we always try to make sure we don’t lose our own morals amongst all the crap that’s going on out there.

What do you find the most challenging out of all your ventures?
I think the week or two leading up to any Semi-Permanent event is the most challenging time. It’s when the stress levels rocket up and it all starts to get a little scary as there are so many things that could go wrong and you always have a niggling doubt that you forgot something. Thankfully we’ve been ok and have had no major disasters (touch wood) but it can still be very stressful. My business partner on Semi-Permanent, Murray Bell and I always seem calm on the outside, but inside we are usually freaking out.

In your time promoting designers and artists, have there been any standouts that you have kept an eye on over the years?
The main person is San Francisco based artist, Tiffany Bozic. I was always a massive fan and so we invited her to speak in 2007. I was actually a bit nervous when i first met her, which never usually happens, but she was so nice and cool that we became instant friends. I’ve hung out with her and her husband a few times in San Francisco and LA and am the proud owner of a few of her artworks.

What are you reading/watching/listening to/browsing at the moment?
I’m reading an account of World War I by an Aussie digger called ‘Over the Top‘. Amazing stories that really bring into perspective how good we have it these days. I’m watching TV show 30 Rock. It’s awesome. Listening to Sage Francis, a hip hop guy somewhere in the US. Hip Hop is not really my style but there’s something about his stuff that I just love. Browsing theworldsbestever.com

Where do you find inspiration (outside of design is kinky)?
I find i’m less inspired by art these days and more by history and nature. I’m more inspired by stories of amazing historic events and also nature documentaries and that type of thing than I am by art and design these days. I’m not sure that it influences what I do though.

Any advice for younger designers entering the industry?
Having taken a different path to the usual work-for-someone type job I guess i’d just say that if you have a passion for art and design then make it a large part of your life rather than just a 9-5 thing. If you do that then you’ll find you enjoy yourself more and that building your own business or project will come quicker.

Links:
semipermanent.com
designiskinky.net
emptymag.com

Junior is kicking off their first event for twentyten with Andrew Ashton, designer extraordinaire and founder of Studio Pip and Co (http://peoplethings.com/andblog/).

When: Wednesday, 10 February.
Where: 1000 £ Bend. 361 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
http://www.lifeatthebottom.com

This post was submitted by JR.

The Australia Project is a series of creative initiatives dedicated to exploring the national Australian identity. Our main objective is to explore and redefine clichéd national stereotypes through arts-based projects, in the hope of revealing a unique perspective on contemporary Australian culture.

Preliminary results of this ongoing exploration will be presented at the AGIdeas International Design Forum in Melbourne, 26-29 April 2010.

Most importantly, we are seeking talented Australian creatives to participate in the project. For more information, please visit…

http://www.australiaproject.com/
http://www.agideas.net/index.php?nodeId=20

This post was submitted by Scott Heinrich.