Backspace Gallery opens 2016 & another great year of quality contemporary visual art, design & craft with the exhibition ‘Rare Trades’ from 4 – 21 February.

Featuring eight artists who use traditional trade skills to create work of lasting beauty & function, ‘Rare Trades’ explores the interface between the heritage legacy that the Central Highlands is known for and the innovative contemporary artwork that has grown from those traditions.

‘Rare Trades’ brings together exemplary work in wood, textiles, leather & paper; works whose quality is guaranteed to bring pleasure today and as heirlooms for future generations.

The ‘Rare Trade’ artists include:
Ballarat Furniture Company – Handbuild solid wood furniture
Bohemian Secret / Sonia Macak – Collodian & daguerrotype photography
Silvi Glattauer – Photogravure prints
Carla Grbac – Handwoven textiles
Will Matthysen – Handmade wooden clocks
Duncan McHarg – Bespoke handmade shoes & boots
Raw Edge Textiles / Pam Hovel – Hand-felted & dyed textiles
Sago on Tuesdays / Sonya Macdonald – Bookbinding

‘Rare Trades’ formally opens Friday, 5 February from 6 – 8pm, in association with the opening night of the 2016 Ballarat Backyard Tasters live music concert series. All are welcome and it’s free!

Backspace Gallery is located at 15 Camp Street @ Alfred Deakin Place. Backspace Gallery is open Thursday – Sunday, 12 – 4pm. Backspace Gallery is an initiatve of the City of Ballarat through its Arts & Culture Unit.