IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW

1. Judges do not examine the finish or seams of garments. Judging is visual only
2. Garments must allow free body movement, and not injure, scratch or be a hinderance to wear
3. Garments need to withstand use for a minimum of six changes
4. Send photos of front and back of garments, and clear and precise dressing instructions, and a list of garment pieces
5. Non farm based items used in construction ie: CD's, commercial fabric, commercial accessories (hats,shoes,bags) will see points deducted from your final score
6. Buttons, zips, velcro etc are allowed without point deduction, just ensure they are not visible
7. Ensure that it fits into a carton with maximum dimensions of length 105cm and girth of 140cm
8. Be aware that if garment is made from natural or recycled materials it will have to be irradiated to go overseas.

Just a few important facts that you should keep in mind when designing and making garments

A FEW OF MY VALUED TOOLS

1. Scissors - lots of and sharp
2. Rotary cutter/board/templates - makes cutting so much quicker and easier
3. Dress makers mannequin - essential, as I don't use patterns.
4. Sewing machine - my poor machine has really had to sew some tough stuff but it is nothing special
5. Overlocker - I have two one for black thread one for white, essential tool when sewing feed bags
6. Pins/needles - lots of cause I always lose them
7. Baking sheets - not the silicon ones they are to thick the ones I have are like paper. Essential tool for welding/melting plastics
8. Iron - for melting/welding plastics
9. Pliers/wirecutters
10. Holepunch
11. Glue gun - can't forget that, and lots of glue sticks. This is the easiest way to put some stuff together quickly and easily
12. Misc tools associated with certain materials, fencing clippers, ring expander, straw cutter etc
13. Internet - for finding inspiration and ideas
14. Croquis and pencils - for drawing designs
15. Design board - where it all starts to come together

This is a list of my most used and trusted tools, but it is possible to make a garment without a sewing machine. I have made several garments that had minimal or no sewing in them at all. GAIA pictured below has no sewing in it at all. It is made from silage wrap that has been heat welded at the seams, the corset is made from castaration rings and fencing rings in chainmaille. Any other joining on this gaarment has used hot glue

1. 

NATIONAL DESIGNER WINNER 2010

This is my garment Renewal which won the Designer section in the National final at Elmore in 2010. As a first time entrant I was totally gobsmacked at winning. Went on to compete in New Zealand but didn't place. In the background you can see Lachlan Sully's winning garment Gone Fishing, which won the Under 21 section at Nationals and went on to win 3rd in New Zealand. He made a beautiful necklace with fishing sinkers he made himself, which weighed in at 4kgs. Will add pics of more garments as I find them

COUNTRY VS CITY

You do not need to be from a rural area or background to enter Ag Art, tho it does help. Many of the materials can be found and purchased online. Materials can also be found at your local hardware ie: weedmatting, shade cloth, fencing or chicken wire. Or the local supermarket ie: dried beans, plastic sheet packaging from fruit boxes etc. So as you see you are not limited by your area but perhaps a bit by availability of your materials.

MATERIALS - NEW VERSES USED

There is no stipulation within Ag Art to use recycled materials. In fact I prefer to buy my materials new where I can. This is because if your garment wins at National levels and it is made from recycled materials or natural materials (ie: grasses, bones etc) it will have to be irradiated to be sent overseas. Don't want to send any of out nasty bugs to New Zealand. Irradiation can discolour and outright destroy some materials especially plastics. One year a winner whose garment was made from bones and shade cloth had to totally remake her garment in New Zealand a day before the show because the irradiation had destroyed the shade cloth. So that is something to keep in mind. Cost of new materials or difficulty in finding them may have you resorting to recycled materials. TIP - if the cost of new material at this moment is not to your advantage use used materials, and if your garment wins at Nationals remake the whole garment with new materials. This is what I do. I use a lot of milk filters in my constructions at a cost of nearly $100 for 100 of them, I use recycled ones. If that particular garment wins at Nationals I can remake it with new materials.

WELCOME

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