Tag Archives: Pandora Gallery

Sew 136 – Upcycled show makes mark

It has been affirming to see the Upcycled exhibition receive such a positive reception during the past 12 days on show in Coolah’s Pandora Gallery.

By all accounts, it had a positive social impact and provided an engaging opportunity to bring together new members of the community in a creative and uplifting way.

I could also see people shifting their thinking about clothing and textiles, and being inspired by what can be done with stuff in their wardrobes that they aren’t wearing.

Even local solicitor Michael Baxter (photo below) – in town for a Wills and Power of Attorney talk during National Law Week – engaged in the concept and brought a male perspective when he passed through the gallery and asked the question – do you upcycle men’s things too?” Continue reading →

Sew 129 – Putting it out there

The most common reason we hesitate when given a chance to express ourselves creatively is our fear of other people’s negative opinions, says Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer.

In her book On Becoming an Artist, Dr Langer says it is hard to try something without knowing the outcome but from a creative perspective, not knowing the outcome is actually preferable. And it is important to remember that the evaluations of others – both good and bad – are not really objective and needn’t shape our choices.

“Evaluation is central to the way we make sense of the our world; almost all of our thoughts are concerned with whether what we or others are doing or thinking is good or bad … If a change in our attitude about evaluation is to happen, the most important understanding we need to gain is that all behaviour makes sense from the actor’s perspective or the actor wouldn’t do it.” Continue reading →

Sew 127 – Warming wool jumper skirt

It is cool in Coolah so I’m glad to have plenty of op shop (Coonabaraban Vinnies) wool jumpers to upcycle into Sew 127 using my signature swish of the jumper to skirt conversion.

This is the simplest upcycle of reject and waste natural-fibre garments, and one that features prominently in the Pandora Gallery Upcycled exhibition which was officially opened yesterday, thanks to my creative leadership colleague and friend Ele Cook – and gallery volunteers including Jennie and Jackie.

This country town in central west New South Wales is waste conscious – it even has a Waste to Art project to reuse resources in a productive way. As part of the Upcycled exhibition, we are holding a hands-on Wagga-making workshop (making cushions and blankets from waste textile) on Sunday at the back of the gallery. Continue reading →

Sew 126 – Linen suit gets update

Setting up the Upcycled exhibition at Pandora Gallery in Coolah has helped consolidate the purpose and messaging around my 365-day Sew it Again campaign. Once people think about how our relationship with clothing has changed over the years, they understand why we need to adjust our behaviour to reduce textile waste.

Because country people live close to nature and are naturally resourceful, they’re really receptive to the upcycling concept. We workshopped the Upcycled values for a sign on the gallery wall and keeping adding more – they include being mindful, thrifty, ethical, resourceful, sustainable, creative, original, zero waste, eco-friendly. Continue reading →

Sew 124 – Upcycled in Coolah

Very excited to have my first Upcycled exhibition now hanging in Pandora Gallery at Coolah in New South Wales as a celebration of natural fibres and (re)fashion from today until May 16.

Upcycled is an interactive exhibition about the history, origins and uses of natural fibres which explores creative ways to refashion existing clothing for a second life.

Our consumer society is using textiles at an unprecedented rate, with thousands of tonnes of waste clothing dumped in landfill or shipped to third-world countries every year.

Thanks to my ARLP leadership colleague Ele Cook and gallery coordinator Jennie Stephens, I’ve been able to mount this exhibition to showcase some of my repurposed reject garments 365-day Sew it Again creations to raise awareness of the ethical, social and environmental issues of textile waste. Continue reading →