Hi All,

We had a great opening of Knit1 Blog1 last Friday night.

All the local participants were out in force for the event and many supporters and friends. People were oohing and aahing over the fantaastic spread of knitting supplied by the participants and there was even some live blogging (see bleow) which was great.

My warmest thanks go to the knitting bloggers and our four guests: jejune; knitting on the avenue; asia adventure; saffron knits; missy fee; the shopping sherpa; bells knits; othlon's demon knits; dreaming all the time; beatlewear; and unravelled; and guests: jacqui kempton, bronwen sandland; quilting mick and ampersand duck.

Without your enthusiasm for this project we would not hae the great show we do now. Showing the work of all these knitters has been a real enticement for all of us. The range of work and the skill is amazing and exceptional. I'm really impressed by the inventiveness, the fun, and the work that is put into the knitting. In fact with the strong networks, the discussion, the exuberance over new pieces being finished, new patterns tested and frustrations aired, I would have to say that this community is somewhat akin to a sporting community. there is great general knowledge ofeach other, admiration for personal skills, the need for training and advice, shared moements of pushing through hurdles and then a more personal support network.

On the Saturday immediately after the opening, I was on local ABC Radio for a quick interview by the lovely Genevieve Jacobs. She was asking about the whole Festival of Contemporary Art and what we were aiming to do with this festival, the theme of which is IN PUBLIC.
It was a good question to ask as we are trying to raise awareness of contemporary art and its many facets. to try and get this message across it is easier to work with other organisations and pool our resources and skills. The organisations co hosting are the Canberra Contemporary Art Space, the Australian National University School of Art Gallery and us, the Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre. Each of the events and exhibitions in some way deals with the topic IN PUBLIC, what is wonderful about the festival is that there are many takes on this.

What I love about the Knit1 Blog1 exhibition is that it draws upon this fantastic sub culture of people who connect and communicate about a passion they share. As I mentioned in my opening night remarks, the craft of knitting is a survivor of the most tenacious quality, and that for centureis knitting has been a consistent staple of most wardrobes. When knitting became uncool in the 1980's it certainly did not disapear or stop altogether, rather it went underground and has now re-emerged as one of the great pillars of the blogging universe. It has literally stitched itself back into popularity, as it was timing was spot on as it coinceded with arguably one of the most accessible communication trends ever, blogs. Now knitting is beyond just the private, domestic, and family domain and more in public than ever before.

It was also the opening of Bev Hogg's wonderful solo exhibition Weaving Dry Water. Bev unfortunately could not be with us as she was in Perth with her family and we really missed her. Bev's installation is a narrative that shows a very strong concern about the issues of water use, the effects on the land and the implications of human indifference, unconcern, ignorance, niavete and disruption. Bev tells us these things by introducing a number of large rabbit figures, rabbits easily recgonisable as a feral scourge eating all the plant stock, burrowing out the earth, causing havoc. This becomes a strong metaphor for human behaviour, of peolpe whether they live on the land or perhaps particularly those who live in cities and use water as if a never ending supply out of our pipes. One rabbit holds a funnel up to catch water from the sky with another funnel loosely held over the ground. Two more look out, up at the sky and across the plant forms in the 'dry' area of the installation, as if puzzled over what is happening. Flower blooms dot the floor, their centres articulated with drain grates, colanders etc, indicating the ever present need for water, that is used us and drained away. There is also two tree forms a beautiful succulent organe tree and a classic and hautingly beautiful dead white eucalypt gum. If yo're coming to see Knit 1 Blog1 take a long look at Weaving Dry Water as well.

In case any of you have been wondering how Lulu the Lamb has been going - well, this community service program is doing her wonders. she was a bit sheepish about having a notice put in her display with her - outlining all her naughtiness, but it was very necessary. To make her feel a bit better I put her new earrings on, supplied by the Sheep Rustler via Jejune. This mollified her quite a bit and she is even learning to cope being cooped up with jewellery that doesn't belong to her. For all of you who are missing her, here she is in all her glory.