Part of the Brisbane Fringe Festival, ‘Handmade Harvest’ is a free showcase by the crafty and creative folks at Reverse Garbage using salvaged materials.
Reverse Emporium co-ordinator Brooke Nelson explains what people can expect to uncover.
What exactly is Handmade Harvest?
Reverse Garbage's onsite gift shop, Reverse Emporium, hosts a quarterly series of handmade showcases for locals making objects using salvaged materials. ‘Handmade Harvest’ is the third showcase for 2014. The artists and craftspersons don't necessarily have to make things that fit a theme but there is a lot of garden themed and handmade homeware type objects in this showcase, which is nice coming into spring.
Personally, what are two or three items that will be on display you've fallen in love with?
The geometric felt coasters and trivets by Linda Robertus of Blue Jacaranda are fab — I love it when people think outside the box and create really on-trend contemporary wares but still incorporate salvaged materials and offcuts. I also really like the simplistic jewellery design by Ololade Adeniyi; it’s really architectural and modern as well, made using vintage and raw copper tube beads salvaged from discarded household appliances and inspired by the serenity of Japanese culture.
For people who don’t have a ‘craft bone’ in their body, how easy is it to get involved with creating stuff from salvaged materials?
So easy. I spend a few days a week at the sales counter at Reverse Garbage so I get some insight into the projects that people are doing and what they are buying the materials for — one of the most popular DIY projects that people come in to get materials for is homemade cat scratching posts! You don't need to be a super crafter, just have a think about what you can re-use before you go out and purchase new mass produced materials. It’s good for the environment, but also good for the wallet too!
As a community, is their a vibrant group of local up-cyclers who are happy to bring new faces into the fold?
We have lots of regular customers that are really into up-cycling and Reverse Garbage has become their one stop shop for materials they need. The Reverse Emporium also has a dedicated bunch of local talent that stock the shop with handmade wares; we're always on the lookout for new objects and new makers and encourage people who make things to get onboard and potentially become a Reverse Emporium stockist.
Reverse Garbage... it must be like a winter wonderland for those who know what they're looking for?
Absolutely, but at the same time if you've never been here before or you don’t know what you're looking for you're sure to find something. It’s a treasure trove and many times people come in on their first visit and just are blown away and they're always back for more which is great. We definitely need people to keep coming back to help us keep doing what we do and keep useful materials out of Brisbane's landfill.
How crazy and diverse is the stuff you can find at RG?
There's been some pretty crazy things come through the warehouse, but also a lot of great bargains and things that you could substitute for materials from a mainstream chain retailer such as fabrics, timber, nuts and bolts, nails etc. We've had everything from a life size bowling pin costume to vintage film projectors. Materials that we regularly stock are great colourful bits and pieces for art projects, acrylic, fabrics, leather, paper, card, stickers, labels, containers etc. You don't have to be a crafter or artist either to find materials at Reverse Garbage — people come in looking for props, materials for party decorations, wedding decor, shop fitting items and display items. You're only limited by your imagination when it comes to Reverse Garbage.
The event is part of the Brisbane Fringe Festival... have you had many of the artists shuffling into Reverse Garbage looking for parts/ items to their own productions?
Yes, definitely. There's an artist involved with the Festival who’s doing an interactive installation that I believe is a rustic imperfect pool table that festival goers can then play on once it’s constructed. He's coming in to get some salvaged materials for that project and Reverse Garbage is also a popular haunt for set designers and performers alike.
Fringe art means...
Hidden gems, diversity, inspiration, unique.
You need to support local, fringe artists because...
It encourages and inspires people to showcase their talents and gives the public a chance to see the talent in their local area. For us at Reverse Garbage, supporting artists that work with salvaged materials creates a cycle of sustainability where we can continue our valuable work, diverting useful materials from Brisbane's landfill, artists can then use those materials to create items and services for the community that in turn creates sustainable employment for the artist.
Handmade Harvest tales place at Reverse Garbage, 20 Burke St Woolloongabba, Saturday August 23, 6-30-9pm.
