Over two wonderful evenings, &company presented Conversations&company, a free talks series held in conjunction with the food&company exhibition at Gaffa Gallery. Each event had three speakers presenting for 20 minutes each on a loose topic. We invited a mix of local creatives across different fields to share their experiences, their opinions and their ideas, and we were not disappointed! It was fantastic to get to see behind the scenes, to hear the thinking behind the creative projects, and to witness people talking about their passions.
Lucy Hall
click below for details of speakers and more photos!
The first night was in keeping with the exhibition, Food & Design. The three speakers were: Lucy Hall, recently returned from an internship at dutch eating design studio, Proef; Chris The, Chef and owner of Black Star Pastry (Australia Street Newtown (Sydney)); and Andrew Simpson, industrial designer and principal at Vert Design. It was interesting to discover that despite their three very different particular interests and practices, each was negotiating a fine balance of aesthetic and functional considerations, materiality, and critically, experience – how a meal is eaten, how a object is held, and how it feels to engage with the work. By the time they were through, there were an awful lot of hungry people in the room!
Chris The (Black Star Pastry)
Andrew Simpson, Vert Design
The second night encouraged a forward reflection on design, and on being a creative person practising in Sydney. The theme was Thrills & Spills: Here and now and then what?” We welcomed designer and silver-smith Oliver Smith; Alasdair Nicol and Michelle McCosker of Reef Knot; and Danielle Hairs, Producer at Object: Australian Centre of Craft and Design. Recurring ideas included the importance of collaboration, shared work and shared knowledge, looking for opportunities to strengthen the environmental/social integrity of your work, ideas about the importance of fostering a relationship between your public and your work, and the ultimate need to encourage and nourish the gentle process of developing a strong sense of identity – as an individual creative and as a community. Keep an eye out for some really exciting projects on the horizon!
Oliver Smith
Alasdair Nicol & Michelle McCosker, Reef Knot
Alasdair Nicol and Michelle McCosker, Reef Knot
Danielle Hairs, Object: Australian Centre of Craft and Design
The talks series were sponsored by Angullong Wines and Frankie Mag, &company greatly appreciates your support. Thanks to all the speakers for contributing to the conversations at gaffa!
conversations &company talk series