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Post Industrial Design

Steampunk exhibition

What a great night and amazing turnout for the Steamscape Exhibition.  The exhibition is on for a couple of weeks, so if you came on friday night and couldn't get through the crowd, drop by again or if you missed the opening we are sure you will love what is on display.  Around 500 people turned up to see the Clockwork Butterfly fashion parade, the exhibition of Steampunk art and design, live music from the Dreadful Penny's and the voice of our own Katie Houghton. The exhibition showed the steampunk movement through fashion, design, sculpture, painting and more. The crowd spilled out into the streets and into the half demolished Victorian house next door. A night highlighted by fashion, and not just the fashion by Clockwork Butterfly.... most of the crowd were dressed in a staggering variety of eclectic Victorian futuristic gear, a fantastic result and it looked amazing. The rooms inside were dark, warm and gloomy with a hint of brass and cast iron here and there surrounded by top hats, lace and animal skins. Exquisite bespoke wallpapers and the unique hand painted finishes of Art and Interiors provided a beautiful backdrop for the styled rooms. All the locals were there along with the die-hards of the Steampunk movement. Amazing scenes as the circus act played out on the lawn in front of the old house next door with a crowd of a hundred or so watching on lit almost entirely by the fire eaters flaming torch. The crowd had been treated to the fabulous Food by Miranda catering and complimentary wine through the generous support of Longview Winery. “Steamscape” forms part of the Loreal Fashion week Cultural Program

Stone series

After a spending some time in Bundanon for a artist residency I was very much inspired by the huge rocks in the area. This led me to work on a series using natural rock and cut bluestone. This work hopefully reflects the time - it was all about fun and humour. [gallery link="file"]

West Footscray

The surrounding local industrial environment inspired the design of the Gate for West Footscray Neighbourhood House. The piece was constructed from both new and recycled materials collected from the area. Working closely with architects WMCQ the gate was to complement the buildings design, which was based on the local shipping and railways yards. “As well as giving the work an industrial feel by using recycled railway pins, wood and cortin steel,” said Jos “I wanted to add a lightness to the entrance to the building. For this reason I sought inspiration from Japanese design for the composition of the gate. This way I felt I could achieve both.”

Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award.

Helen Lempriere was one of Australia's leading female artists in the mid 20th century, lauded nationally and internationally for her work as a painter, printmaker and sculptor. The Award was launched in her honour in 2000, as a result of a bequest by Helen's husband, the late Kieth Wood. The 2007 Lempriere Award Winner Julia Davis, Meniscii, An installation of convex perspex mirrors reflects the sky and landscape, exploring art's relationship with nature. Davis' winning work will secure  a permanent place on the Werribee Park Sculpture Walk, in the company of previous winners. Commended Works Louise Paramor, Industrial Jam Session The six separate assemblages that form Industrial Jam Session each comprise four or five plastic parts, the majority of which were originally designed for industrial use. As the title suggests, for me this work possesses a musical and experimental dimension. Encouragement Award Jos Van Hulsen, Casualty Numbers. Made of steel, mirrors and enamel distance counters recycled from Victoria's railways, Jos Van Hulsen's piece Casualty Numbers explores how we have become immune to news of casualty numbers, unless they include someone we know. To read more about the 2007 Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award click here

Art and Industry

Jos Van Hulsen turns trash into treasure, a talent that is getting him noticed.When Jos Van Hulsen graduated with a bachelor of Fine Arts from the Melbourne Institute of Technology, he was determined to make a living from his scultures and paintings. Ten years later he is doing just that, but his career path has been more divers than originaly planned.

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