Welcome to Ag Art Australia. I have created this blog to teach, inspire and encourage Australians about Ag Art. I suppose your first question is "What exactly is Ag Art" . Ag Art is the creation of wearable garments made out of items found, used or grown on the farm. This can include an array of items from fencing wire, to onion skins as an example. The Ag Art movement started by New Zealand artist by Barry Quayle, for the Mystery Creek Fieldays in Hamilton, New Zealand. Ag Art has been active in Australia, particulary Victoria for the last 11 years. There are several small Ag Societies that hold shows in conjuction with their annual Ag Show. The first place garments from each section go on to compete in a National Final in Elmore during the Elmore Field Days in October. If you are lucky enough to win at National level you go on to compete in New Zealand. Prizes vary from show to show but generally they are good cash prizes or sewing machines. You can enter in any of the shows, and most shows will allow you to enter up to four garments. Once a garment has won (1st) at one show it cannot be entered at another, as it has as winner already won a spot in the National finals. Sections include, Under 21, Designer, and Avante Garde. There are a couple of other shows that only cater to schools.
So that is Ag Art - once you start you will honestly be addicted - last year I made ten garments, and have designs for another ten on my inspiration board.
I will post a list of all the shows and there dates, contacts, websites etc.
For those new to the concept of Ag Art I will also be posting tips and hints on the use of some materials and what can be done with them. I also hope to have interviews with past National winners and entrants on their experiences with Ag Art.
At some stage in the future I would also like to be able to run an online Ag Art competion, but would have to first find some sponsors.
Thankyou for reading and don't forget to follow us here at Ag Art Australia
Hi Jane
ReplyDeleteGot your message.
Yes I would be delighted to give you the history of Ag Art Wear and how it all started.
Also I think your idea of an on line Ag Art Competition will most likely be successful as it will engage people from a much more diverse geographic area.
The History : I was examining how I might get more females engaged with the New Zealand National Fieldays and for that matter with all Field Days.Females made up 25% to 30% of attendees.(after Ag Artwear launched jumped to over 40%).Indeed over 11% of attendees to the Fieldays came because Ag Art Wear was their main reason. I also wanted to create another sub-event that would give pre-publicity/during and post event particularly visual(photos/videos) to the Fieldays. It achieved this getting often National Television Coverage and a lot of Newspaper coverage. The more outrageous and art conceived, or odd Ag Art Wear drew the media. The two pieces of corrugated iron as a sandwich went to world wide media.
I decided early on that that Ag Art Wear needed to be a trademark brand and have definitive rules so that the concept and standard would always improve. The key was to use farm materials Anything found round the farm(but not in the house) to be interpreted as art on the body. The key is to think of art first. Don't think of how a dress or top and skirt can be made from farm materials. But rather think of art and then insert or attach the body to it. Indeed I had to create a separate section for designer as too many entries were coming in with the skirt or dress concept. The prize money for the Avante Guarde section was to be much greater than the designer section. new Zealanders cottoned onto the concept early on. Then Australia designers started to get the idea and now I would say Aussie designs are better than kiwi designs.(another trans Tasman rivalry) I granted something like 7 licences (free of Course) to Aussie Field Days to run the comp. Elmore Field Days really embraced the concept and its done very well at their event and also in a number of years cleaned up some big prizes in New Zealand.
In the end its a lot of fun,easy if you get creative and you can win some serious prizes.
The Canadians and Americans have shown interest in the past so I think there is great opportunity to grow it further. So you Aussies should give it your all and create some grate art of the body. The more odd and challenging or simply bizarre the better... Some designers have gone onto careers in design or other creative jobs from starting with Ag Art.
Have Fun...
Barry Quayle
Ag Art Wear Initial Creator and Producer