News

Move out jen..move in louise

Hi everyone

It has been a little while since my last post. The reason for my slackness is that things have been a bit up in the air as I have been going through the process of selling the shop.
This may come as a bit of a shock but it kind of just presented itself to me when I threw it out there to the universe. For some time now I have been wanting to get back to being a designer/maker (I used to make such a lot in the early days of The Hive), so when the opportunity came to sell my business to a lovely, like minded customer called Louise Amato, I made the hard decision to sell and move on to new challenges. I feel 10 years of energy and passion building the Hive has been fantastic and rewarding and challenging but now I am excited to be facing a new chapter in the life of Jenny. I have always believed that I would sell the Hive when it is a thriving growing business and not when my drive and energy has waned……so move out Jen and move in Louise to an exciting new year at The Hive.
I have loved what I have achieved with The Hive and have really enjoyed the relationships I have formed with my customers, artists, staff and all my business associates. It is such a warm, genuine place (wow I have left a legacy) which I now hand over most confidently to Louise.
Go Louise! Go The Hive!!

Cheers
Jen

Christmas and New Year closing

Hi everyone

Only 9 days to go until Christmas, I can't believe it. We have been very busy in the Hive particularly last week and I know this week will be manic. Because the nature of a lot of our goods are handmade you really miss the boat once they are gone. The makers can't whip them up overnight. Also a lot of suppliers close a few days before Christmas and so once the stock is gone it is gone.

We are open extended hours up until Christmas (check the front window or give us a call). We close at 3pm Christmas Eve and don't re-open until Tuesday 8th January 2008.

It has been a wonderful year once again and I thank you for all your words of praise and encouragement always about The Hive and your support. I also want to thank my dedicated gorgeous staff Ruby, Rose, Tami and Gretta who all give their all to the job.

The 4 walls exhibition went well. I would have liked to raise more money but we managed to raise enough to keep one preschool in operation about 7 months (better than nothing off course).
We presented Jodie Fried ( who is championing the cause- read last post) with a canvas covered with words and phrases that mean "Community" to the Hive customers who participated.

Download IMG_4245.JPG

Download IMG_4247.JPG

Thankyou once again Jodie for the generous giving of your time and energy.

I hope everyone has a happy , safe and fun time with family and friends.

Happy Christmas and New Year

Jenny

Rumours and 4 Walls exhibition

Hi All
Firstly let me quell two rumours. I know rumours are good because it means people are talking about you but…NO I am not closing. We are just not having exhibitions from next year after 9 ½ years of supporting the arts in this way. I am going to concentrate on working with designers and makers to produce wonderful products for The Hive. There will still be art but not in the form of exhibitions.
Also, NO I am not opening another Hive in New York!! Wow, imagine the business trips I’d be able to claim but I want to stay sane as well.

We are going to have a fabulous champagne gathering (with nibbles, Yes I may even bake) from 5 pm this Saturday 17th November to celebrate our current and final exhibition, “4 Walls” for charity show. We have invited 15 artists to address the idea of community and what it means to them, so it is apt to catch up with The Hive community and have an early Christmas drink. The exhibition is helping to raise funds for Jodie Fried, Director of Bholu, www.bholu.com . Fried gives a percentage of her business profit to increase awareness of Manav Sadhna’s projects and raise funds to rebuild pre-schools after the devastating tsunamis.
Jodie will be giving a talk about working with the children and women of Tekra in India who help produce the Bholu products and her charity work. Come and see what is on offer and know you are helping a good cause too.

We will also have Andi and George playing from about 6pm. They are gorgeous people with gorgeous songs they have written themselves and they will have their CD’s for sale too. www.myspace.com/andiandgeorge

Also with the closing of an era (kind of, at least it feels like that to me) of a strong exhibition program, I would like to thank Rose Osborne who has very capably and enthusiastically managed the exhibition program the last 14 months.

Cheers
Jenny

Push Your Buttons exhibition

Hi Everyone

We have a fabulous new badge show that started last weekend and runs until 14 October.

On September 22nd some of the artists will be present at The Hive during opening hours for a drop in badge making workshop.

With the election impending it is appropriate that Stephanie Jones, Waratah Lahy, Ivo Lovric, Barbara McConchie, Al Munro, Bernie Slater and Davis Wills, who all studied at the Australian National University School of Art, have re-united for Push Your Buttons. Each of the artists in Push Your Buttons received a brief to design and produce a quantity of badges in response to the broad theme” politics and pop”.
The artists all demonstrate an excellence in their chosen artistic field and were selected to participate due to their proven track record in political arts practice and / or a critical engagement with popular culture.
Push your buttons plays upon the contemporary currency of the humble badge and its potential for communication. Badge-wearers seek attention and engagement, outwardly displaying their personal taste political views or willingness to participate in a dialogue. The exhibiting artists support the words of refugee activist Ardeshir Gholipour: “badges visibly exhibit your views on an issue close to your heart”.

Don’t miss the show and feel free to drop in for the workshop too.

Some New things...

Alex from Dosvidas has just dropped in a wonderful bench table that he has made from recycled jarrah that he came across in a dumpster in Ainslie…what a find, he has turned it into a solid beautiful piece of furniture with clean contemporary lines.

I have new laminate scroll cut trays that I have imported from France. They feature pheasant, deer, squirrel and owl. Will look great on a wall.

Cheers
Jenny

Miriam Gribble exhibition

Hi All

This month the Hive is showcasing the stunning jewellery of Miriam Gribble. Titled, In Black and White, the show maps the progression from Miriam’s O-Ring range to her current Shibori range.

Miriam’s idea for the exhibition is to show how an artist develops in their work and explores new concepts, techniques and materials, saying it is always interesting to note the ‘characteristic features’ which define the work and make it identifiable and unique to that artist. I wish to look at this idea in my own work by showing two bodies of work together in order to compare and contrast them, in a show titled ‘In Black and White’.

The O-Range, 2001-2007
Combining disparate or contrasting materials has historically been a starting point for my work, allowing me to challenge traditional notions of preciousness, while also conveying the innovative and at times playful approach I take to making jewellery.

The O-Range combines sterling silver with rubber o-rings, placing a commonly recognized industrial material into a new context, and inviting the wearer to be involved with the pieces. With each o-ring tension-set tightly inside the silver surround, this innovative design allows the pieces to be deconstructed and the o-rings to be taken out while cleaning the silver components.

Shibori Range, 2007
Referencing my history and love of textiles, and exploring the use of colour in jewellery, the last few years have seen my work feature beautifully coloured textile prints from my research into Japanese/Asian and vintage fabrics.

This new work, the Shibori Range, moves away from the use of colour while still referencing textiles in the form of Japanese resist-dyed or Shibori fabrics.

We hope to see you all in The Hive to see Miriam’s work and perhaps be tempted enough to purchase. You will enjoy it forever.

Cheers
Jenny, Rose, Gretta, Ruby and Tami

Exhibition, Movement in Light, Rose Osborne

Hi every one

I just want to tell you about our new exhibition, Rose Osborne, Movement In Light from 7July – 3 August 2007. Our very own exhibitions coordinator is showing her first jewellery collection at The Hive and it is stunning. Rose graduated in Photography and Painting from The Australian National University School of Art and is used to working in very large format. Her new work is quite a transition from this and is small and precious.

Rose says of her work:
“Movement In Light exists due to a change in my environment, exposure and experience. It is a transition for me as photographer and painter into the area of jewellery design.

Photography and body adornment have a relationship that extends back to the beginning of photography, where lockets, pendants and watches were used as objects in which the owner carried the images of a loved one or loved ones. Light is very much like a loved one for me. I find myself in a constant response to it. It can be subtle and delicate, a soft shadow cast from a tree that moves slowly on my bed room wall or a bold and definite dark cast of a building across street walkers, it is mood and atmosphere with the power to facilitating outcomes.

Each pendant is cast in white bronze and the miniature photograph encased is constructed purely from light, as it is absorbed and reflected by different man made surfaces within a controlled environment. I construct small sculptures, spin and expose them to red, yellow, green and blue light. A process developed László Moholy-Nagy, a Hungarian painter and photographer as well as professor in the Bauhaus school. He was highly influenced by constructivism and was a strong advocate of the integration of technology and industry into the arts.

Each pendant is a recorded moment of my love of light and desire to be progressive in my practice.”

I have included an image of one of Rose’ pendants.

Cheers
Jenny

30-6-7 Photos of The Hive

Hi All

I just thought I would put up some photos that graphic design student, Selena Kearney took of The Hive. Thanks Selena.

Elefteria Vlavianos exhibition- With Paper and Hive philosophy

Hi all

News to date.

We have a new exhibition that has started today by Elefteria Vlavianos.
‘With Paper’ features her Series, Touch. She says the works are essentially drawings and that they form an investigative process in her art practice. In this series, she wanted to have a sense of play and delight. The materials used have a multiplicity of references, located and locked in her memory. She says the issues of tactility and memories are central to this work.

Welcome to Tami who has joined The Hive team working on Friday afternoons. It is really lovely to have an extra pair of hands to assist and it’s also special to me because she is my fabulous daughter.

We are in the throws of installing a Point of Sale management system that should make our lives easier, particularly when we have the Christmas queues. It is a big job scanning in all the stock but we will pace ourselves and not worry if it takes us weeks. I must say a big thankyou to all my lovely supportive staff, Gretta, Ruby, Rose and Tami who have seen me at my worst this week pulling my hair out with trying to get my head around it and stressing about it way tooooo much. Me and computer programs and patience, I want it to work now, do not sit well together. Ha, me trying to explain how to use the program to G, R, R, T ….totally laughable.

The Hive is much more than a shop. We have been working on a philosophy statement to encompass what the Hive is about and how it sees its role in bringing craft, art and design to the masses. I will include it below and I would welcome feedback from any of you…whether you are a customer, a Hive artist either past or present, especially those who have exhibited with us, about what you find valuable about The Hive and whether we meet our objectives. Emailing us a few words or a sentence to info@thehivegallery.com.au would be fantastic as we want to include some of the feedback on information marketing postcards we are producing.
About us
The Hive is a design, craft and art retail outlet with a unique and intimate commercial gallery space. It represents the face of established and emerging local and national contemporary creative expression and thought.
It openly and cheekily challenges, and dares to questions often preconceived thought of both artist and public, by offering an alternate and valid way of presenting art outside of a traditional white walled gallery expanse.
The Hive is proactive in facilitating a meeting and dialogue between designers, crafts practitioners, artists and the public in an informed, casual, enjoyable, nurturing and warm environment.
The Hive is an environment in which designers, crafts practitioners, artists and the consumer can meet, explore each other and grow new understanding and appreciations. As such The Hive has a unique ability to reach and connect with those who may not actively seek to understand the motives and philosophies of the diverse design, craft and arts practices with those for whom it is a way of life.
The Hive offers solo and group exhibitions to invited artists who can challenge, educate and initiate a response or connection with its audience. We also enjoy receiving applications with expressions of interest to exhibit in the galley space.
Explore, nurture and grow.

Cheers Jenny

23-4-7 Tiffany Cole exhibition

Hi everyone

What absolutely stunning autumn weather we have been enjoying here in Canberra. Most mornings I get up and go for a bike ride before work. The days have been so clear and sunny. What a great way to start the day.
We have a gorgeous show on currently by Tiffany Cole called miniature limelight. It runs from 14 April to 11 May. Some of her work can be seen below.
Tiffany says of MINIATURE LIMELIGHT, “A painting can be a theatre, a display space that provides an opportunity for any subject to take the limelight and captivate us with their story. This body of work, inspired by pop-up books and theatre set design, explores the painting as a performance space and investigates various methods of constructing spatial-depth within a painted scene.”
New in store we have lots of new textiles. French designer now living in Australia, Emmanuelle, has made some stunning runners out of French fabrics. These can be hung on the wall on wooden ‘pleats’ by Ella and Sofia to show off the wonderful eye for colour that Emmanuelle has for piecing the fabrics together. We have lots of new Cloth runners and little lamps featuring designer Julie’s sketches of Australian natives. There are also some new designs for Third Drawer Down.
We have mohair woollen wraps and scarves as well as the fingerless ‘armies’ we had last year made from cut up reclaimed jumpers. Diane G also just bought in her hand knitted fingerless gloves. These are short supply this season as Diane has developed problems with her shoulders from all that knitting!!
Maiju Altpere-Woodhead has bought in some of her mono printed porcelain platters like the one The Hive awarded to The 2006 Canberra Times Artist of the Year, Robert Boynes. They are reminiscent of landscapes.
We finally have some more Cath Manuell bags in. My favourite is the airport trolley set in velvety flowery clashy fabric just like Grandma’s old couch.
Hopefully something has sparked your interest to make another visit to The Hive.
Have a great day.
Jenny

28 March 2007, Julian Laffan, Inside Information exhibition

Hi everyone

The Hive is absolutely full of lots of new things at the moment; we are popping at the seams. Lots of new jewellery has arrived. We have funky gorgeous reclaimed lino brooches and pendants by Betty Jo. There are stunning pendants by Jordana Archer with little prints on handmade silk paper from her series “Grow”. They feature sketches of old gnarly trees behind glass and soldered to form pendants.
We have the most gorgeous new Cloth runners by designer Julie Patterson, made from hand printed hemp pieced together. They feature her new sketches of Australian native plants. For winter we have a new batch of Maiike scarves in. Aly who makes them has such a great eye for colour and detail. We have a new batch of hand printed tights in lots of great patterns and colours. Miriam Gribble has just sent us a batch of her printed designs on aluminium and silver jewellery.

Julian Laffan has his show of ink prints on woodblocks, “Inside Information” showing until Easter. This show is exhibited as part of the Sixth Australian Print Symposium at the National Gallery of Australia.

Human relations and connections are both a fascination and inspiration to Laffan. In his first solo show for The Hive, Inside Information utilizes the woodcut to investigate the contemporary image. Laffan says of Inside Information, ‘each work is a suggestion to hidden meanings, often assigned to object and artifact. The viewer is asked to navigate the images as objects, traversing their surface to investigate their meaning.

Julian utilizes the woodcut to create a series of graphic sculptures. The surface of each block is intricately drawn and carved by hand. It is then ban sawed out in the shape of a specific image taken from a collected personal archive of images. The internal space of each block also incorporates further information, at times related or disconnected from its original source.

The grouping of these images intends to communicate the complex building of information, which can require inside knowledge or deeper meaning, or Inside Information. The blocks are on layers of ply suggesting the repetition of images experienced in the printed world and currently seen on the digital screen.

We enjoyed an artist talk by Julian at his high tea held after hours on 1 April (see images below)

Hope you enjoyed the update
Jenny

13-2-7 Showcase of Marie Lund's digital prints and Adelaide

Hi

It has been a great start to 2007. We had a two week break to replenish our weariness and then re-opened with plenty of tourists visiting from far flung places. Thank goodness, because half of Canberra migrates to the south coast during the summer holidays.
The beginning of February has seen Marie Lund’s wonderful exhibition open. Marie gave the most touching and expressive artist talk at her high tea held after hours. You must visit/see/purchase her digital prints of old doors found throughout the Czech republic where she comes from originally.
This month we have new mirrors by Lightly. They are a much cooler take on grandma’s doilies laser cut from mirror perspex.
I have just got back from a sourcing trip to Adelaide. I have some fabulous laminate earrings coming by Meghann Jones and retro image iron on transfers by mandy. I am still following up some oxide ceramics and small layered ply side tables. I loved Adelaide and met such friendly helpful people, my favourites were One Small Room, Zu Design, Urban Cow and the Jam Factory.
Thanks for reading
Cheers
Jenny

15-12-6 End of year wrap up

Hi everyone

Christmas has come upon us so quickly this year that we’ve hardly had time to breathe.

In the last month a lot has happened at The Hive.  We had another successful Wine Art and Music night with live music provided by the very gorgeous souls Andi and George.

We are currently showing some work by Kate Maurice.  She has done the most divine little copper plate etchings that she did during her 15 month residency in Kyoto Japan.  They are mounted very simply on board and are priced so they are affordable as beautiful Christmas presents.

We have much stock coming in and going straight out again at this time of the year.  This goes particularly for the silly range of books we get.  It seems a silly, twee, kitsch or daggy book makes for the perfect present for a good laugh. The range of handpainted stainless steel kitsch tumblers, jugs and trays are another item that has come in and gone already.  More (hopefully) are expected next week.  My jewellery artists are sending stock to top up regularly.  Pieces that have been eyed off all year now are now being purchased for partners that have hinted profusely or blatantly asked their partners, mothers, fathers etc….they must have (pleeeease).  We also have some great colourful kids bug catchers and nets and musical instruments for Christmas presents that came in yesterday.

We have Amanda Schulz slip cast ceramic pieces cast as kewpie, baby bunny, small half basket balls to use as bowls.

We will be trading until 3pm on Christmas eve and then closing until 8 January 2007.  I really want to thank all The Hive’s beautiful customers who are loyal regulars and pass the word about The Hive.  I want to thank those new customers who every day discover The Hive and give us the most encouraging and ecstatic raves.  I also want to thank those interstaters who have loyally got their taxi’s to detour to The Hive on the way to the airport every time they come to Canberra for a meeting or conference (YAY good decision).

Finally thanks to Gretta, Ruby, Rose and Linda for being the best a boss could want for.

Sleep, Eat, drink and party well

Cheers

Jenny

Christmas Trading Hours

THE HIVE CHRISTMAS TRADING HOURS

DECEMBER 2006 / JANUARY 2007

MON                       4^TH 12-4pm,        11^TH 10-5pm       18^TH 10-5pm

TUES                      5^TH 10-5.30pm   12^Th 10-5.30pm  19^TH 10-6pm

WED                      6^TH 10-5.30pm    13^TH 10-5.30pm  20^TH 10-6pm

THURS                  7^TH 10-5.30pm    14^TH 10-6pm       21^ST 10-6pm

FRI                         8^TH 10-7pm         15^TH 10-7pm       22^ND 10-7pm

SAT               2^ND 9^TH 10-5pm          16^TH 10-5pm       23^RD10-5pm

SUN              3^RD10^TH 12-4pm          17^TH 11-5pm      24^TH 10-3pm

CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY TILL MONDAY 8 JANUARY 2007

RE-OPEN TUESDAY 9 JANUARY 2007 WITH

NORMAL

TRADING HOURS.

7-11-6 Showcasing Robyn Vanholland and W.A.M night

Hi all

The Hive is currently showcasing work by fibre artist, Robyn Vanholland in her exhibition Metamorphosis.  There are many beautiful forms woven from fibres particular to Robyn's local Queensland surrounds.  They create magical shadows on the walls.  It continues until 24 November 2006.

Another Wine Art and Music night is being planned by the Braddon precinct galleries for Thursday evening 30 November from 5.30 to 8pm.  Be sure to mark it in your diaries, as last year it was so popular with live music on the street and many people gallery hopping between Lonsdale and Mort streets.  In addition to The Hive, Helen Maxwell Gallery, Impressions on Paper and Paintbox Fine art, we hope to have other local boutique businesses and restaurants participating in this festive night.

Warm wishes

Jenny

16-10-06 Liana Kabel, Bloom exhibition

Hi everyone

Just letting you all know that Liana Kabel’s “Bloom” exhibition has been extended until the end of this week.  She has made an amazing array of plastic jewellery including brooches for your wall to wear.  Liana uses a lot of vintage plastics, including old tape measures, tupperware and found floral pieces from the 50s and 60s.

Liana has been awarded a CREATIVE SPARKS GRANT from the Brisbane City Council and Arts Queensland to continue to create and promote her fabulous jewellery.

I also wanted to let you know that the fabulous Rose Osborne, formerly “The Front” Gallery in Lyneham, is working at The Hive every Sunday and sometimes through the week as Exhibitions Coordinator.  Welcome Rose.  This reminds me that if you are interested in having an exhibition at The Hive, proposals need to be submitted to Rose or myself by the end of this month.  You can see how to apply on the exhibitions page.

I have just come back from a trip overseas where I found some wonderful new contacts in Germany,

France and Holland for more beautiful products for The Hive.  Hopefully I will have some of these products before Christmas.

We have so many new and beautiful products in The Hive that arrived while I was away.  Miriam Gribble has made a beautiful new range of her sterling silver jewellery pieces incorporating her amazing Sublimation technique of printing onto aluminium.  We have many new bags made with vinyl pictures, classic leather bags and fun fabric shoulder tie bags.  We also have colourful leather rose rings in a range of colours.  “Love” has sent us cute flocked letter pins for your hair and anodized ‘kissing duck’ earrings.

That’s all for now

Cheers Jenny

L>R Daisy earrings, brooches, necklaces

Liana Kabel 2006

14-7-6

Hi Everyone

OOOps its been a little while since I updated you.  Believe me I haven’t been slacking off.  I’m got positively googly eyes from surfing the web each night for new and wonderful artists and designers.

Throughout June The Hive showcased Marie Lund’s beautiful Silver Gelatine Emulsion photographs on glass.  Marie’s work is about illusion, about mystery, about dreams and hopes held within everyday life. She says “it is about the familiar and the exotic, everyday life is both banal and mysterious and she tries to capture a sense of time passing, of loss and desire, a feeling of being transported into another realm.”

Marie says the subjects: Doors, Keyholes, Windows, Passageways, are all about time, about transformation from youth to old, before and after, past and future.  They represent the border between conscious and unconscious, between inner and outer, difficult to cross, harder to return, forbidden to open or to look in.

I have included a photo, but one bad photo of good photos certainly doesn’t do them justice.

I went to melbourne last weekend and discovered a wealth of talent.  One of the newies is Lost in the Woods brooches intricately cut from two layers of perspex.  Here is a little teaser of the bunny brooch.

New in store are stunning jewellery pieces by Mary Odorcic.  Her pieces are elegant, whimsical and delicate.  She uses semi precious stones, pearls and resin with embedded flora.

I also sponsored the annual Miss Braddon Gardens beauty pageant with a kitschy bouquet of fake roses for presentation at the crowning.  This is an annual event organized by one of my customers Jane Christie and is a bit of a laugh.  Everyone attending has to come as a “Miss…..” with the competition covering costume, speech and dance off.  I love encouraging a fun time and good ole community spirit.

Cheers

Jenny

13-5-6 New to Hive/ Maiju Altpere-Woodhead showcase

Hi everyone

New to The Hive are a number of winter woolies.  We have deconstructed and reconstructed ‘Cut It’ jumpers, the perfect jumper for the individualist.  We have stunning scarves by Aly Peel made by piecing together recycled jumpers with Aly’s wonderful eye for colour.  David Edmonds has just sent another batch of his organic shaped ceramic tableware in the fab colours of sage, berry and more classic ivory and charcoal.

I have just received new POPPiNS bags, one with a cute horse tapestry front and recycled belt handle.  Renee aka Poppins is such a perfectionist with her construction of the bags.  These will be the last of her bags as (no surprise to me) she has been accepted into costume and set design at NIDA.  We at The Hive wish her all the best.  We have also received more tumbled glass and pebble jewellery from talented jeweller, Rebecca Ward.

This month the Hive is showcasing work by Maiju Altpere-Woodhead.

Her ceramic wall pieces, reminiscent of landscapes, are stunning and Maiju’s mastery of the ceramic medium and monoprinting is quite amazing.

Maiju explains the process and her work as follows:

“The method of ceramic mono-printing that I use combines elements of classical intaglio printing and monotype. This combination has allowed me to express both the constant change and unpredictability of memories as they move in and out of my consciousness, as well as involve the element of familiarity.

Instead of glass, metal or plastic plates and paper I use incised plaster slabs onto which liquid porcelain is cast to form thin ceramic sheets and lift the image. The combination of a painterly imagery superimposed with textured and defined graphic markings resulting from this mono-printing technique allows for the construction of complex yet undefined visual spaces with permeable layered depth. While the printed surfaces can be read as a reference to landscape or natural environment, the work on the whole is not intended as literal representation of any particular location. Rather, it is to act as a trigger for various abstract associations with natural phenomena and cultural expressions.”

Warm wishes to you all…Jenny

12-4-6 Charlie Sofo installations and new products in April

Hi everyone

April brings quite a few new products to The Hive.  There are stunning new necklaces and bracelets by Alexandra Guest.  They are chunky semi precious stones with quirky sterling silver touches, you’ll feel like a queen (or king if that’s your style). 

   

New Tamba Toys arrived from Tamara Maguire.  They are so cute and modern little fellas.

                                                                                       

                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                       

I am showcasing Charlie Sofo during this month.  He graduated in Photomedia with Honours from the Canberra Art School (NITA) last year.  I awarded him The Hive Emerging Artist Showcase Award because his way of thinking and seeing the world appeals to me.

Charlie Sofo loves capturing life’s curiosities, oddities and every day thoughts.  He makes art in and out of the studio, sometimes utilising his kitchen, “if he’s not baking” he says.  Charlie says his practice is inclusive of a wide range of materials, often centered on household objects.  He works towards affirming a personal experience and exposing the process of making.  Charlie often makes his work for particular spaces and involves the viewer in a specific way.  For this exhibition at The Hive, he has several small installations based around domestic things and actions that might be common around the home; like lighting a match or watering a plant.  Charlie says there is a particular focus on finding out where everyday action and artistic action intersect.

Charlie is currently in residence at Canberra Contemporary Art Space and graduate in residence at the Canberra School of Art.

Cheers...Jenny

L> R The Canberra Times 22/3/6 and The Bible, Rice- My Height , A Relationship, A pair of socks

6/3/6 Serena's Exhibition and FINK: new to Hive

Hi everyone

We have a beautiful exhibition on this month called “Serenas”.  It consists of photographic images by Alejandro Rolandi taken underwater in natural light.  They are haunting and sensual images of model, Lilly, photographed off the coast around Sydney. I am amazed at how serene Lilly looks even though she and Alejandro were diving just by holding their breaths.  They must have good lungs…or maybe Lilly really is a mermaid.

The images are Giclee printed on a thick matte water colour paper and hand stained by Alejandro, giving them the mythical feel of captured images found in an old lost sea journal.

Alejandro made up the word Serenas, by combining Sirens and Serenity, because those words best described the sensations he was experiencing while observing the shots.

Alejandro says that “the water, and specially being underwater, triggers lost memories of our childhood, or perhaps even from when we were in our mother’s womb.”

Serenas is on until the end of the month, so don’t miss it.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   I am really pleased to have added FINK Design to The Hive.  I went out to their factory today and was shown the labour intensive process of turning aluminium into their signature anodised pieces.  They also have some wonderful new designs, Sean Booth’s Candelabra and Oliver Smith’s Fatware that Fink have designed and produced in collaboration with these local silversmiths.

What a great wedding present or corporate gift an item of FINK design would make.  It should be in store in the next week.

See you @ The Hive

Cheers

Jenny

9/2/6 Lilian Widmeier exhibition and new Hive stock

Hi everyone

The Hive currently has an exhibition by Lilian Widmeier- see photos below.  It is a beautiful show of finely crafted woven and knitted natural fibre vessels.  It will continue until 24 February and so come and have a look.  I love the fact they are miniature sized rather than the more conventional basket size.

Lilian is fascinated by the wealth of difference in the various plant fibres.  This has made her highly experimental and curious to find ways to ‘tame’ and prepare dry and tough plants such as Gymea Lily, Cordyline and Muehlenbeckia or softer ones like Red Hot Poker, Ginger and corn husk (just to name a few).  She says she learnt from trial and error and that each plant has to be treated differently.  Some of the plant materials she grows her self, some are donated by friends or others like the corn husk, are specially prepared by the staff of her local greengrocers.

She loves her craft and that there are still plants for her to discover and work into weird and interesting shapes.  She happily says “The sky is the limit!”

I am busy trying to source some new ranges for the Hive.  I have already taken delivery of some fabulous felted cushions.  They are designed by Jodie Fried of Sydney and hand embroidered by traditional Gujarati women artisans from remote desert communities in India.

I went to Sydney yesterday, to view as many jewellery exhibitions as I could fit in a day.  They are showing at the moment to coincide with the annual JMGA conference.  I also met and visited ceramicist David Edmonds in his studio, wearing his orange Rocs (I love him already!).  He has over 30 years experience, he told me he sold his bicycle when he was 15 to buy his first kiln.  He does the most divine ceramics- fabulous colours, rounded (pebble like) forms and very durable (microwave and dishwasher safe).  I can’t wait to get them in!  This leads me to the MUD range I’ve carried for many years.  I’ve decided to clear it, to make way for David’s ceramics, and so have marked it down 30%....so be quick!!

I also have some new little novelty items in.  A whole collectible gang of string dolls.  I got them from USA.  The company gets Industrial Design students in Thailand to create each design from one piece of string.  There’s Sid the Punk, the mummy, the red devil and lover boy to name a few and they are really gorgeous.

Anyway that will do me tonight.  Cheers Jenny

Post Christmas

Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas catching up with friends and family and have the champagne on ice ready for the new year at midnight tonight.

The WAM night was extremely successful with crowds of customers going from gallery to gallery.  The Hive had such a cram of people at one stage I think the only way to make it to Colin from Wandana wines at the back of the shop was to crowd surf.  Steve and Greg kept the ambience alive with their latino influenced guitar playing.  Gretta and I were kept on our toes as we really hadn’t expected the response to be so terrific.  (see all the pics.)

Christmas was very busy trading and I slept well after Christmas day. I am now starting to follow up new products and artists I’ve wanted for 2006.

I also wanted to introduce you to Gretta and Ruby who help at The Hive (see pic.).

Gretta is studying Law but is also keen on making jewellery.  Ruby is studying Film making and so of course is a real film buff.

All the best for 2006

Jenny

WAM night and Christmas greetings

Hi everyone

Christmas is approaching at a rate of knots and The Hive is overflowing with Christmas gift ideas.  Activity in The Hive is hotting up and so through December we have extended trading hours (see entry below) with several late nights for customers who find it difficult to come through the day.

A great night will be had with the first WAM night (stands for WINE ART MUSIC) on Thursday 15^th December.  This is a night where all the Braddon Art galleries have got together to open their doors until 8.30pm.  Participating with The Hive will be Impressions on Paper Gallery, Helen Maxwell Gallery and Paintbox Fine Art.  The Hive will have Colin Bates from Wandana Estate to tempt your palate with his wines and Steve and Greg playing flamenco guitar from about 6.30pm.  So wander the circuit of Lonsdale Street and Mort Street to enjoy some great Art and enjoy your Christmas shopping.

The Hive will close for 2 weeks after the frenzied Christmas onset for a little siesta so we will emerge fully refreshed to bring you more great fabulous art craft and design in 2006.

Thankyou to all the fabulous artists who entrust me with your heart and souls, yes your artworks, that help bring a fabulous array of diversity and creativity to The Hive customers.

Cheers Jenny

May you all enjoy the festive season safely with lots of laughs and relaxation.

December 2005/ January 2006 Trading hours

OPENING HOURS DURING DECEMBER 2005 / JANUARY 2006

DECEMBER

MON             5^TH 12 TO 4PM, 12^TH 12 TO 5PM, 19^TH 10 TO 5PM 

TUES            6^TH 10AM TO 5PM, 13^TH ,20^TH 10AM TO 6PM

WED             7^TH 10AM TO 5PM, 14^TH ,21^TH 10AM TO 6PM

THURS          8^TH 10AM TO 6PM, 15^TH 10AM TO 8.30PM (WAM Wine art music shopping night with combined Braddon galleries) 22^ND 10AM TO 6PM

FRI               9^TH 10AM TO 6PM, 16^TH , 23^RD 10AM TO 8PM

SAT              10^TH, 17^TH 10AM TO 5PM, 24^TH 10AM TO 4PM

SUN              11^TH, 18^TH 11AM TO 4PM

CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY TILL MONDAY 9^TH JANUARY 2006

JANUARY

RE-OPEN TUESDAY 10^TH JANUARY 2006 WITH NORMAL TRADING HOURS.

CLOSED MONDAYS THROUGH JANUARY

New to The Hive and Sharon Wessels showcase 20/10/5

Hi again

The Hive has been very busy with lots of new things in.  BEADS, beads and more beads in all colours- so yummy you want to eat them!

There are two fantastic new ranges of textiles.  Oiko is designed in Sydney and is a very organic range of cushions, table runners and bags made of printed hemp.  Third Drawer Down is a wonderful range of collectable linen teatowels, table runners and napkins.  Abi Crompton from Third Drawer Down sources well known artists to design a limited printed run onto the linen.  Each is beautifully packaged, signed and numbered by the artist with information on the artists work.  A great gift to send overseas.

We have beautifully worked angels by Dosvidas.  They are made from air-dried clay, so items can be attached as they dry that usually wouldn’t survive the high temperatures of a kiln.  They have beautifully embroidered silk wings and tiny flowers as hair.  All seem deep in thought.

We are presently showcasing the work of Sharon Wessels, a ceramicist from Melbourne. She has worked in minature for her exhibition at The Hive.  The work is made out of Southern Ice porcelain. The work is made out of southern ice porcelain and is wheel thrown using chopsticks to form the tiniest cylinders.   The cobalt blue and white installations reference city blocks and cityscape.  Sharon is currently engrossed in Kisho Kurokawa, a renowned Japanese architect and the philosophy of modern architecture and modern industry within Western thinking.  This has led her to wrap some of the mini 

installations in shrink wrap to give the notions of suffocation within these buildings.

I would also like to welcome Gretta who is now working at The Hive.  She was previously an “obsessed about The Hive” customer and so she is great to have on board.  Amanda has left to concentrate on her studies and Kate has gone on a 6 months scholarship to Japan.

Cheers - Jenny

Showcase exhibition- Rebecca Ward 6/9/5

Hi everyone

It's been a while.   The back exhibition space has re-opened with a wonderful 5 metre glass showcase to display different artists and designers work.  The first artist to be showcased is Rebecca Ward, a jeweller from Queensland.  Her work features glass, tiny pebbles and sterling silver and is stunning.  Rebecca completed undergraduate study in the Gold and Silversmithing program at Queensland College of Art in 1992.  Her glass work will be featured with other international jewellers in a group show, “Wearing Glass”, at Oxotower in London in October.  Rebecca says, “I look for the unexpected when selecting and combining materials in my jewellery.  I collect pebbles from remote beaches in New Zealand, fragments of glass from old seaside resort areas and am always on the lookout for vintage found objects to recycle into new works.  I am drawn to small objects that have their own histories and convey a sense of place and time.  My work investigates themes of lost times, environment, and journeys”.

Also featured in the showcase is Canberra glass artist, Lene Lunde's blown glass "stone cushions" that are so sensuous to touch.  Also some fantastic resin jewellery by Michelle Kliger from W.A.

L > R  Showcase, Showcase in exhibition space, close-up of Rebecca Ward jewellery in showcase

Renovations 26/7/5

Hi everyone

News to date is that I have been renovating the back exhibition room over the past 2 months.  First the wall was knocked out and a big steel support beam put in.  This was needed so we wouldn't get an unexpected visit from  Steve, the guy who has the office directly above The Hive.  Paul the builder had to knock out one red Canberra brick at a time, as they were covered in thick, hard render.  I managed to close the shop for just 2 days and in that time I had to move and cover all the stock in the shop and then be the barrow girl for Paul and Anthony breaking down the wall.  Exhausting and dusty work but the space looks fantastic opened up.  Last weekend Paul started building the new 5 metre long glass showcase.  It is going to be amazing.

Exhibitions won't be happening in the same way as they used to.  The space will still be an exhibiting space for Australian artists and designers but The Hive will now showcase a number of artists at one time.  Works will still range from ceramics, jewellery, small sculpture and small artworks, textiles, glass and wood.  I have a number of artists lined up and can reveal two of them- a new product launch by Cloth fabric and ceramics by Sharon Wessels in mid October.

I'll keep you posted when the space re-opens.

Cheers

Jenny

Hive Girls-1/7/5

Hi everyone

You've seen The Hive and now I thought I would introduce you to my wonderful helpers.  Kate works on weekends and is studying Printmedia at the Canberra school of Art.  She is off to Japan in September on a scholarship to study.  We'll miss her!!!  Amanda completed her honors degree in ceramics at the Canberra Art School a few years ago.  She is currently studying Art History.  She works a couple of days a week.  I also have Linda "the emergency girl" who fills in very capably when needed.  She went through Art school as well (but not quite so recently) and majored in ceramics.  She works in schools and the community inspiring all things creative. 

Cheers  Jenny

L > R Kate, Jenny, Amanda

Welcome 21/6/5

Hi everyone and welcome to The Hive's new news page.  I am very excited about this inclusion in the web site as I will be able to keep you regularly informed on new products,  great new artists and designers in the Hive and general Jenny chit chat.  For those of you who haven't visited the Hive before, let me introduce myself.  I am Jenny Shaw and I started The Hive 6 years ago in a office building  once used as a staff room and offices but it was more like a small house (see Image2).  We removed all the interior panelling and built shelves.  We even used the kitchen sink for display.  There was a small room in which I covered the floor with pebbles and the ceiling with white washed twigs and that became the Hive's first exhibition space (image 1).  The building was located next to The Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston, Canberra.

    

                           

L > R Images 1 2 3 4

Four years ago I moved to Braddon, Canberra City, as The Hive's wonderful building was being demolished (see image 3) to make way for sparkly new buildings.  The Hive also opened a second shop at that time upstairs at The Old Bus Depot Markets (see image 4 ).  After 4 months I decided to concentrate on the Braddon location to consolidate resources and because it was all too crazy.  Since that time The Hive has grown from strength to strength.  It has become well known for it's unique nature and individual products.  It celebrates creativity in all its forms from  beauty and form to humour and even a little bit of the 'daggy'.  I hope you enjoy The Hive and if you can't make a visit in person at least you can visit regularly online- thanks to Zoe Freeman the designer.

Cheers Jenny