In the late 1940s, an arts workshop was set up at the Ernabella Aboriginal Mission in northern South Australia. It provides a continuing opportunity for local women to both earn income and communicate their culture through rugs, batik and wooden works.

From 1996 artists have applied their designs to ceramics. They worked closely with Robin Best and JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design, in Adelaide. More recently Geoff Crispin has encouraged artists to use manufacturing processes that are effective and easy to manage.

In 2002 Ernabella’s textiles also took a new direction. A project co-ordinated by Pamille Berg translates batik designs into rugs manufactured in China through the companies Korda Bros and Tai Ping.

You can see works from Ernabella Arts Inc in the new exhibition Smart works: design and the handmade, until 4 November 2007 at the Powerhouse Museum.

Smart works: design and the handmade



TAGS
+ Smart works: design and the handmade
+ Handmade
+ Mass-production
+ Studio production