Presenters from both contemporary art and craft camps will come together in Hawkes Bay this weekend to question the function, position and future of the crafted object in New Zealand.

Presenters from both contemporary art and craft camps will come together in Hawkes Bay this weekend to question the function, position and future of the crafted object in New Zealand.

The Volume a Contemporary Craft/Object Symposium at Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery will explore and challenge the position of the craft and object makers in New Zealand today.Keynote speaker Justin Paton, Senior Curator at Christchurch Art Gallery is a leading authority on contemporary art in Australasia and is ideally placed to question the 'fit' of the object artist in contemporary art context.

Paton will look at the demands placed on the contemporary artist and the distinctions, if any, between that and the modern object-maker.

Right of reply goes to HBMAG's own Douglas Lloyd Jenkins who will respond to some of the ideas that Paton has raised, as well as challenging the audience to learn from the past, plan for the future and live in the now.

The symposium will include a curator's panel discussion chaired by Lucy Hammonds (HBMAG) consisting of Phillip Clark (Objectspace), Louis Le Valliant (formerly of Auckland Museum and now Director/Curator of the Johnston Collection Melbourne), Claire Regnault (The New Dowse), and Anna Marie White (The Suter Art Gallery).

In what promises to be a revealing session, eight makers, writers, and curators from around New Zealand will showcase the work of their favourite object makers.

Genevieve Packer, Anna-Marie White, Renee Bevan, Paul Rayner, Esther Lamb, Caroline Billing, Matt Blomely and Karl Chitham will share the work of artists and designers that are inspiring to them, and what's happening in workshops, classrooms and galleries throughout the country.

More information Volume a Contemporary Craft/Object Symposium Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery
Napier
October 18-19

Volume is supported by Creative New Zealand, Design Cuisine, Farmgate Wines, The Hawke's Bay Club, Scenic Circle - Te Pania Hotel, Esther Diamond, David Trubridge Ltd, Churchill's Bar, Art News, Art Zone, and Home NZ

Image: From Raising Boys, 1 August - 16 November 2008,

Richard Parker, Winged Vase, 2007, Ross Mitchell-Anyon, Untitled - lidded dish, c2000, Andy Kingston, The secret life of Rudolf Rudolph (detail), 2007, Martin Poppelwell, Pania, 2008, Paul Maseyk, Ravenous, 2005

16/10/08