VWA Artists in Residence Update

Isabel Avendano

I had the absolute pleasure of participating in Holder an exhibition curated by workshop mate Jess Humpston and Georgie Szymanski for Melbourne Design Week 2024 at the Abbotsford Convent. This work is called ‘Cadre I’ and it’s part of a larger body of work researching sustainable practices within my workshop. The work will be presented as a solo exhibition at the end of October at The Stables at the Meat Market. 

‘Cadre I’ is the first in a series of case studies researching knockdown collapsable frameworks in the design and production of hand made objects.The framework’s structural integrity is ensured by rubberized inserts that apply gentle pressure to sercurely interlock the timber cylinders facilitating effortless assembly and dissasembly. Adding to its sustainable ethos this work incorporates rope crafted from recylced tyre inner tubes that hold a second-hand fluorescent tube and light integrated into the framework. ‘Cadre I’ stands not only as a work of fine sculptural furniture but also as a testament to the transformative power of sustainable design. 

The photographer is Matt McQuiggan.

Follow Isabel on instagram here.

Jess Humpston

The past few months have been busy in the lead up to Melbourne Design Week in late May. I curated an exhibition, titled Holder, with a friend (Georgie Szymanski) under the name Trove Workshop which gave platform to the works of 8 emerging craftspeople. In addition to curating the exhibition, I made 2 side tables encompassing the concept of holding. Ballast table utilities lightweight, dry joinery which is stabilised with stone battens. A Table for One combines cas metal elements with an offset turned table top. 

Follow Jess on instagram here.