2013 Group Show Opportunities

View Point Handmade Gallery is excited to announce the themes for our 2013 group shows. It is hoped that this will give the artistic community ample time to interpret and work from themes that inspire them.

The following is a rough outline of the year, specifics are subject to change and more details will be provided for each show throughout the year.

Feb 16^th – March 17^th: 'Forget Me Not' Show – This is your chance to exhibit that undiscovered gem! VPHG is calling for artists to submit works that have never previously been exhibited publicly before. Works in all mediums will be considered, please contact us if you have any queries regarding your submission.

All artists are invited to participate, so if you'd like to be a part of this great show, head to our website and fill out the group show application form http://www.viewpointgallery.com.au/appform/ . Spaces are limited, successful applicants will be notified. A $10 fee will be payable for each selected piece ($5 for each additional piece, in the case of multiple submissions) and 25% commission will be taken on all works sold.

March 29^th – April 14^th: 'Texture' Show – To coincide with the Bendigo Easter Festival, VPHG is calling for artists to explore the theme of 'Texture', tying in with the Easter Festival's 2013 theme of 'Embrace Your Senses'.Works in all mediums will be considered, please contact us if you have any queries regarding your submission.

All artists are invited to participate, so if you'd like to be a part of this great show, head to our website and fill out the Group Show Application Form . Spaces are limited, successful applicants will be notified. A $10 fee will be payable for each selected piece ($5 for each additional piece, in the case of multiple submissions) and 25% commission will be taken on all works sold.

May 4^th  – May 24^th: 'Anatomy' Show – Let's get PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL! VPHG is calling for artists to submit works exploring Anatomy. Works in all mediums will be considered, please contact us if you have any queries regarding your submission.

All artists are invited to participate, so if you'd like to be a part of this great show, head to our website and fill out the group show application form http://www.viewpointgallery.com.au/appform/ . Spaces are limited, successful applicants will be notified. A $10 fee will be payable for each selected piece ($5 for each additional piece, in the case of multiple submissions) and 25% commission will be taken on all works sold.

June 1^st – June 30^th: 'OBJECT: all hands on deck' Challenge Show – VPHG will host their first annual Challenge Show this June. Artists register their interest to participate in the show, and if successful the gallery provides each participant with identical blank 'objects' to transform in their own style. This year the object will be SKATEBOARD DECKS, artists can BYO deck or VPHG can supply a blank deck as part of the entry fee. All mediums will be considered, as long as the 'canvas' is a skateboard deck. More details will be supplied later in the year, but expressions of interest are now open.

Stay tuned for more details about the specifics of the following shows, planned for the latter half of the year:

• Stitch: The Art of Crafting
• Co.lab 2013
• Annual VPHG Birthday Show: Street Art
• 1st Annual 30x30 Prize
• 'Ghoulies and Ghosties...'
• Annual Rotating Affordable Art Show

Bizoo Present: Workshop & Book Launch @ VPHG

to see full size poster head here

(From the Bizoo Media Release)

QLD Creatives head South to share Bizoo, DIY Skills and a CULT-ure Map!

To celebrate the launch of Bizoo’s final release: The Best, The Worst and the Trash That Never Made It', the crew behind Bizoo Zine invites you to a free CULT-ure Map workshop on Thursday 20^th December and the official launch as part of the ‘End of the World’ exhibition on Friday 21^st December .

What’s a zine? Zine is pronounced ‘zeen’, or like magazine without the ‘maga’ at the front. Generally, it is a non-commercial and often handmade publication devoted to specialised subject matter. Bizoo started life as a zine. The subject matter on its inception was supporting and growing the cultural sector in and around the Darling Downs.

3550 CULT-ure Map will be part zine, part community created tourist map.

Bizoo’s final release is a free retrospective, carbon neutral book that covers the highlights and lowlights of the music and arts zine, Bizoo. Bizoo grew up in Toowoomba Queensland, that’s right; it is home to more than just the Carnival of Flowers. Over its twenty-five issues, Bizoo rounded up a tribe of 60 contributors from across the country and became an underground platform that supported the arts nationally.

For five years, Bizoo woke up a sleepy town and brought to life a thriving arts community. The Bizoo crew will tell the tale on how they achieved this and plan to pass on skills that can assist the growth of Victoria’s regional cultural community. Bizoo gave the folk of Toowoomba an outlet to create, collaborate, and connect while supporting the development of their regional town.

Two of the creators of the publication are spreading the word throughout regional Victoria via workshops and events throughout November and December. With their eyes set on planting cultural seeds in every town they visit. They plan to share their success story and strategies with the Bendigo community and show how a small group of young people created, collaborated and connected.

View Point Handmade gallery has invited Jeremy Staples; the creator of Bizoo and Elouise Quinlivan; owner of the online zine shop Smells Like Zines as well as Bizoo book contributor to come along and facilitate the creation of the 3550 CULT-ure Map zine and launch it and the Bizoo Zine book the following night as part of the ‘End of the World Exhibition’!

You know those boring tourist guides found at backpackers and bus interchanges that show only the money spinning attractions and restaurants that have paid to be on the map? We want to reclaim the streets by highlighting the real events, attractions, cheap eats, artist-run spaces and affordable or free events that only locals would know about. In short – we want you to add your secrets to the map.

Bizoo is coming with your help to create and compile, print and distribute the 3550 CULT-ure Map. We’ll bring along all the resources and creative tools - you need to add your story, insights and secrets.

If the ‘End of the World’ exhibition on the 21^st of December wasn’t enough, Bizoo and the 3550 CULT-ure Map will be officially launched as well as The Covers of Bizoo exhibition with highlight all the artists who created covers over the past twenty-five issues. Some have gone onto working at Disney, some have helped to make our street walls shine and others have gone on to create their own zines and start their own DIY collectives. ‘The Covers of Bizoo’ exhibition will highlight all the amazing talent that wrapped around the little zine and made it stick out from the rest. Come along and checkout what Ken Taylor - the now house hold name for rock posters, movies and art design, Rowan Tedge whose work was featured in Vice mag as well as his own zine collections, Simon Degroot whose iconic pieces breathe life into Brisbane’s traffic signal boxes, Sam Mackenzie, an illustrator and well known Brisbane poster and graphic designer and so many more. These artists weren’t in it for the coin, which is great, because Bizoo had no money to pay them, but we thank them for getting on board to kick off a DIY community across Australia.

If we haven’t sold you yet! For one night which could very well be our last! Come learn and print your very own souvenir Gocco postcard. Originating from Japan which mixes the elements of screen printing and pressure printing together. Its easy and simple, even your five year old sister could do it.

If you’re interested in attending or have any questions, please don’t hesitate in getting in contact. You can reach Jessica Cola on info@viewpointgallery.com.au

Vintage Clothing Pop-Up Shop - Coming Soon!

Retro Heaven Bendigo presents VPHG's 1st Pop Up Shop, with a selection of retro and vintage clothing and accessories on sale in the Upstairs Gallery @ VPHG. 

The Launch Party will be on Friday the 30th of November, between 7-9pm.

The collection will be on show Friday 30th November - Sunday 2nd December and then Thursday 6th November - Sunday 9th December.

A Week of Crafternoons

We're opening the upstairs gallery as an escape from the hectic nature of the festive season.

BYO craft project and enjoy the serenity of the gallery while getting your creative on.

from the 13th of Dec - the 19th of Dec, between noon and 4pm.

Entry by donation, all proceeds will go to the Mirabel Foundation!

Contact us for more info

VPHG Crafternoon - Softies for Mirabel

'Softies for Mirabel' is an annual handmade toy drive for families dealing with parental substance abuse.
View Point Handmade Gallery, along with Mayhem and Chaos, are hosting a crafternoon to bring softie makers together for the cause!

When? 24th November, Noon until 4pm (come when you can!)
Where? Upstairs Gallery @ VPHG (13 View Point, Bendigo)

What should I bring? supplies to make your softie & a plate of goodies to share, coffee and tea facilities will be available.

As we are asking you to donate what you create, there is no ticket charge for this event - if you can't make it along but would like to donate a softie please drop it into VPHG no later than 28th of Nov, as we will be posting them off after this!

here's a link to details about the drive from coordinator Pip @ Meet Me At Mike's: http://meetmeatmikes.com/2012/10/our-handmade-toy-drive-softies-for-mirabel/

here's a LONG list of free softie patterns: http://www.hillcrestcf.org/crafting/150-free-animal-softie-patterns-tutorials/

 

Meet Me At Mikes Softies For Mirabel Toy Drive

 

Jess @ VPHG Online

I've just finished setting up the Jess @ VPHG web version of our instagram profile and in the process I realised just how many accounts we have for View Point Handmade Gallery on various social media and sharing sites.

I'm definitely an early adopter; I love discovering something new and learning the tricks to make it work for me. I'm always searching for new ways to share View Point with people and create meaningful connections with creative, talented and inspiring people.
 
I've been dipping my toe in a few new ones that I won't share yet, but here's a list of the other places you can find View Point Handmade Gallery and Jess@VPHG (that's me!) online:

VPHG Website :  Our website is a great starting point - it has links to most of our online activities, photo galleries, current and past exhibition details, an events calendar and additional information about the gallery.

Jess @ VPHG on Pinterest  :  I love this visual bookmarking site - I use it to collect ideas for visual merchandising the store, finding new makers I'd like to stock, showcasing the store, keeping track of DIYs I want to try (both personally and at VPHG) and all of the other wonderful, inspiring things that I stumble upon on the internet.

Jess @ VPHG on Instagram  : This is where I share more of our day-to-day visual updates - this can be everything from new stock deliveries to my daughter's first day at school. It's a mini visual blog gives a little insight into the daily happenings both in the world of VPHG and the person behind the counter.

Jess @ VPHG on Twitter  : Similar to the Instagram profile, the Jess @ VPHG is an insight into the going-ons at the gallery and personally. I also like to share info about what's on in and around Bendigo, such as community events and other local businesses that I'm loving.

VPHG on Facebook:  We share a lot of photos and details of instore events on our facebook page - it allows for lots of interaction between View Point Handmade Gallery customers and the makers/artists we represent. It's also one of the places we regularly ask for opinions and ideas for new stock, creative events and general feedback.

VPHG Newsletter:  Finally we have our newsletter - this is VPHG delivered straight to your inbox! We share news and event details, sales and all manner of subscriber only goodies. With only 2-3 emails each month, we try not to overwhelm our fans, but to keep them up-to-date with all that is on the horizon at the gallery.

What online communities are you a part of? Are there any that you recommend VPHG jump on board with?

VPHG Crafternoon 3: Softies For Mirabel

Lock in November 24th 2012 for View Point Handmade Gallery's third craft for a cause crafternoon! This month, in conjunction with Mayhem & Chaos we'll be supporting Meet Me At Mikes's - Softies for Mirabel handmade toy drive. We're still nutting out the details but the basic premise will be the same; spend an afternoon crafting in fabulous company for a good cause.

The Mirabel Foundation are a fantastic organisation, they provide support for children and families affected by parental substance abuse. This will be the sixth year that the Softies For Mirabel campaign has run - toys are handmade with love, sent to be displayed in Meet Me At Mike's shop window from the 1st - 20th of December and then matched to one of the Mirabel kids.

We will be sharing more confirmation details as they are arranged, but for now keep the 24th free!