EPISODE 1:
Airdate: Wednesday 29th June 2011 - 8.30 PM
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following program may contain images of deceased persons
Richard Nylon: Milliner
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Recognised as one of Australia’s most talented milliners, Richard Nylon’s work is nothing short of iconic.
While being respectful of tradition, his hats do not use traditional forms, and often play with the notion of conventionality.
Using a range of self-taught techniques, he creates original pieces of hand-manipulated wearable art – sculptural creations of innovative design and imagination.
Born and bred in country Victoria, Richard moved to Melbourne and immediately buried himself in the fashion world of the 80s, studying fashion and producing amazing outfits to go with his lifestyle.
His early work caught the attention of cutting-edge designers at the Fashion Design Council – known at the time for their flamboyant, theatrically choreographed annual fashion parades – and was featured at their retail outlet in Collins Street. But it is his 11-year collaboration with Melbourne fashion designer Gwendolynne that Richard says really took his work to the next level.
“People did know my name back in the 80s, when I was doing stuff for the Fashion Design Council,” he says, “But it was really with the hats, and putting them on the catwalk with Gwendolynne that made the difference for me.”
Falling into the role the milliner, Richard has now firmly established himself as a leader in the elite field, teaching regular classes at RMIT and appearing at the recent Hats Off to Melbourne International Millinery Convention.
His work continues to push boundaries, recently being awarded as a finalist in The Hat Designer of the Year competition, held annually at the Premiere Classe trade fair in Paris, during Fashion Week.
Australian Tapestry Workshop
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The Australian Tapestry Workshop is a centre for one of Western civilisation's oldest and richest art forms.
Established in 1976 and one of only a small number of similar organisations in the world, it boasts an international reputation for the production of contemporary, hand-woven tapestries.
Using the same techniques employed in Europe since the 14th century, the Australian Tapestry Workshop's skilled weavers work in collaboration with artists from Australia and overseas to produce tapestries that are famous for their freshness and vigour, vibrancy of colour, technical accomplishment and inventive interpretation.
Since its inception, the Workshop's philosophy has been to employ weavers trained as artists, to help enable the close collaboration essential with the artists who's work they are interpreting. The weavers use this collaborative information to create unique works of art, rather than woven reproductions of the design.
The Australian Tapestry Workshop has created more than 400 tapestries and each one is the result of a dynamic interaction between an artist and the weavers.
Many notable Australian and international artists have collaborated with the Workshop's weavers over the years including Arthur Boyd, Jon Cattapan, John Olsen, Jorn Utzon, David Noonan and Sally Smart.
Ranging from palm-size to monumental, the tapestries are woven using the finest Australian wool, which is dyed onsite forming a unique palette of 366 colours.
Most of the Australian Tapestry Workshop's tapestries have been specially commissioned and hang in a range of significant public buildings and private collections around the world including prominent galleries, museums, corporate foyers, boardrooms, embassies, schools and universities.
Australian Blacksmiths Association
The Australian Blacksmiths Association is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the ancient and honourable craft of the blacksmith.
