Discursive Craft: Leather, Paper and Horn
Presented by William Craig & Phil Ridgway & Martin Carswell
DETAILS
Free, no booking required
400 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC, Australia
DATES
Fri 15 May 11am – 5pm
Sat 16 May 3 – 5pm
Opening reception
Sat 16 May 11am – 5pm
Sun 17 May 11am – 4pm
Tue 19 May 11am – 5pm
Wed 20 May 11am – 5pm
Thu 21 May 11am – 5pm
Fri 22 May 11am – 5pm
Sat 23 May 11am – 5pm
Sat 23 May 3 – 5pm
Closing reception
ACCESS
Discursive Craft showcases the work and process of William Craig, Phil Ridgway and Martin Carswell. Creating traditional and bespoke objects by hand with the highest attention to detail and materials is a common thread. Each has his own practice, but they have also created unique collaborations that are on display.
Craig creates individual eyewear frames from buffalo horn, a sustainable material that was commonplace before the advent of plastics, as well as cellulose acetate. He also creates the hinges of the frames individually, drawing on techniques from jewellery and horology.
Ridgway has been a professional bookbinder for twenty-six years. He is well versed in traditional handbinding techniques and associated materials. He also enthusiastically embraces modern materials such as used clothing, astro-turf and acrylic sheets, as well as techniques and skills from other trades and crafts in a quest to grow his own skills and knowledge base.
Carswell produces leather objects constructed entirely by hand using traditional saddle stitching and the finest quality leather. His work explores structure, proportion, and permanence, creating functional pieces designed to age gracefully and remain repairable throughout their lifetime.
Participants
William Craig
William Craig is a lunetier, jewellery designer and recovering architect. He believes there is no distinction between design, concept and construction. After fifteen years practising architecture in the United States and South Korea, he turned to jewellery to explore material, craft and control at a more human scale. He soon discovered that making eyewear frames added the challenge of more complex ergonomics and functionality. Drawing on his background in architecture, jewellery and horology, Craig creates bespoke eyewear frames with custom-designed hardware, meticulously crafted to the highest standards.
Phil Ridgway
Phil Ridgway’s bookbinding work is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, the State Library of Victoria, major libraries in most Australian capital cities, Old Parliament House and private collections in Australia, France and the United States. His other projects of note include a fine-bound gift book for the Australian Academy of Science and bound props for film, television and advertising. Ridgway is also the owner of the Melbourne School of Bookbinding, the only privately run bookbinding school in Australia. It offers ongoing tuition and workshops across all aspects of hand bookbinding, along with a full range of professional bookbinding services. In his spare time, Ridgway designs and makes furniture, lighting, objects and accessories for artists and travellers. He also paints, prints and draws.
Martin Carswell
Martin Carswell is a Gippsland-based leather craftsman working from his workshop in Warragul, Victoria. His practice centres on traditional hand construction, material integrity and objects designed to age well over time. Trained through years of independent study and mentorship in traditional Japanese leatherworking techniques, his work is defined by disciplined saddle stitching, refined proportions and an uncompromising commitment to durability and repairability. Each piece is constructed entirely by hand using vegetable-tanned leather and solid hardware, with an emphasis on clarity of form and longevity. Carswell produces small-batch leather goods including briefcases, folios, belts, rifle slings and cases, alongside collaborative works that explore the intersection of leather with other materials and disciplines.