Semi-Permanent, Australia’s award winning design festival*, is pleased to announce additional speakers to its already awe-inspiring line up. Award winning filmmaker David Michôd, San Francisco based design community Fecal Face and Australia’s own frankie magazine, join this year’s event on the 19 and 20 March. Other speakers this year include the likes of award winning photographers Jill Greenberg and Ashley Gilbertson, graphic artists Jasper Goodall and Jessica Hische and the ABC’s celebrated broadcaster Craig Schuftan.

David Michôd – an Australian director who is currently building a solid reputation on the international film scene. His debut feature film, Animal Kingdom, was recently awarded the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. He was also the co-director of the critically acclaimed documentary, Solo, which documented the ill-fated journey of kayaker Andrew McAuley’s attempt to kayak between Australia and New Zealand. The powerful documentary won the 2009 AFI Award for Best Documentary Under One Hour. David is also well known to the Australian film community as past editor of Inside Film magazine.

Fecal Face – Making a welcome return in the web community space is San Francisco based Fecal Face - a leading online art based community site. Initially created to highlight and promote the art scene in San Francisco, Fecal Face has expanded to encompass work from artists and exhibitions world-wide. It’s an extensive directory of photos and interviews with artists, and the sites positive, down to earth and fun outlook on art makes it stand out from the crowd.

frankie magazine - one of Australia’s most popular magazines which combines interesting articles, beautiful photography and great artwork to make a cross between a fashion and art magazine that speaks to a wide audience. Founded by Louise Bannister and creative director Lara Burke, frankie is a creative voice amongst the multitude of magazines created for women that are basically catalogues for advertiser and to top it off, it’s a magazine that even your average male hipster is not ashamed to read!

Alongside the two day conference, Semi-Permanent also plays host to side shows which have seen the likes of Banksy, Shepard Fairey and 123Klan exhibit work for the Australian public. This year is no different kicking off with Mixed Business presented by We Are The Image Makers, the Opening Hours, Stupid Krap and Semi-Permanent. Taking place on the 18th March at the Ambush Gallery in Waterloo, the group show features work from leading artists including Numskull, Phibs, Beastman and James Jarat Patradoon alongside international talent, Mel Kadel and Travis Millard. The show will be open until 28th March 2010.

More information on the event, here.

At the Gorker Gallery: 25 february - 14 March, 2010
Twoone is an artist who’s work commands a certain kind of intrigue from it’s audience. His craftsmanship, patience and instantly recognizable decorative style resonates a flowing narrative, portraying a world of spiritual tranquility that you can’t help but wish to be a part of. He is an artist who’s quiet voice and kind nature are conflicting to his success, his artwork speaking for itself, with features in some of Australia’s premier art and design magazines and exhibiting with the likes of Graham Base in February this year. We see this as a promising beginning to 2010, with ‘Engraving’ set to be another exciting showcase of his work.

Engraving by Twoone

Opening Night Thursday 25 February, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Show runs until Sunday 14 March
Gorker Gallery opening hours:
3pm - 7:00pm Wednesday - Friday
11am - 7:00pm Saturday & Sunday
Wine Tasting Wednesday 10 Mach 6:00pm - 7:00pm
(Brought to you by Austin Wines)

See more at Gorker Gallery

See more of Twoone’s work here

Speakers include: Mark Williams, lawyer, Contracts and copyright; Paul Bootes, Copyright Agency Limited (CAL) CAL, the difference between CAL and Plr/Elr and what the Google Settlement means for illustrators; Industry panel discussion Experienced illustrators talk about the issues of pricing.

Seminar date: Saturday 27th March, 2010, Registration 9.30am sharp, Seminar runs 10am – 4.30pm

Download the, PDF form for more information.

The third edition of Illusive brings together a comprehensive selection of international contemporary illustration, plus interviews with the designers/artists. The collection displays artistic and commercial pieces by artists and designers such as: Pietari Posti, Andrew Banneker, Keemo, Petra Börner, Nathan Fox, Bovey Lee, Jeff Nishinaka, Sarah Illenberger, Margot Macé, Laura Laine, Gabriel Moreno, Lorenzo Petrantoni, Jeanti, Olaf Hajek, Yuko Shimizu, Tomer Hanuka, and more.

Jeanti, Illusive - Contemporary Illustration Part 3, © GESTALTEN, 2010

Illusive aims to bridge the gap between commercial and artistic illustration by “extending the virulent debate about contemporary art and design in a productive direction”. As all illustrative work has the purpose of demonstrating a concept/idea, supporting the “transmission of that content’s information”: all pieces stand on their own in this book, as they are taken away from their original context and thus viewed as each an ‘art piece’.
By examining the “actual conditions of illustrative work and the contexts of contemporary illustration” through the various interviews and images selected, Illusive is not only a collection of inspiring works, but a unique insight into the process of illustration itself. The series of Illusive books continue to prove to be a valuable source of inspiration and way of keeping up to date with the ever expanding and changing illustration world.

Olaf Hajek, Illusive - Contemporary Illustration Part 3, © GESTALTEN, 2010

Book Information
Title: Illusive. Contemporary Illustration Part 3
Editors: R. Klanten, H. Hellige
Language: English
Price: € 44,00 / $ 65,00 / £ 40,00
Format: 24 x 30 cm
Features: 340 pages, full colour, linen hardcover, reading ribbon
ISBN: 978-3-89955-250-8

Release: October 2009

See more at Gestalten

Extra Life, Made Flesh, Sam Weber

Sam Weber was born in Alaska, and grew up in Deep River Ontario, Canada. After attending the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, he moved to
New York to pursue illustration and attend graduate school at The School of Visual Arts. He now works in his studio in Brooklyn.

Bell & Ross, Wall Street Journal Magazine, Sam Weber

The Guardsman by Ferenc Molnár, Sam Weber, Soulpepper Theatre, 2009 Season: A series of posters for Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre. Art Director: Anthony Swaneveld. PIctured above, Antigone by Sophocles.

See more here

Phone Home, Michael Steele

Gorker Gallery is proud to present ‘Accumulating’ by Michael Steele, Michael’s work has been making serious waves in the USA leading up to the end of last year with features on Juxtapoze.com and NotCot.org, his work in the HE-MAN show at gallery 1988 in LA flew off the wall and with some new T-designs on the popular Tank Theory website.

Steam Ball, Michael Steele

Michael Steele’s mixed media pop surrealist cluster paintings convey personal and culturally based themes. These themes are explored by sourcing and combining visual icons from the artist’s generation, referencing the development of computer game culture, the internet phenomenon, the evolution of a multicultural consumer society, advertising and the emergence of graffiti art.
By fusing recognizable visual elements together in random composition, the works engage the viewer to respond to each combination. The works are rich in communication, obvious and hidden messages lie within each explosion of visual stimulus to interpret.

Invaders, Michael Steele

As an artist based out of Melbourne Australia, Steele has always had a keen interest in anything creative from a very young age. Over the years Michael has explored different mediums such as illustration, oil paintings and digital media, fine tuning his artistic abilities in each. Over the past year Michael has created works as a part of the ‘Cluster’ series, exploring various styles techniques and mediums. “A Cluster to me resembles images or objects grouped together to form something larger. I feel this give images or objects a stronger presence, rather than being displayed by themselves, creating a much more dynamic experience for the viewer.” – Michael Steele

Nature’s Return, Michael Steele

Show runs until Sunday 21 February
Gorker Gallery opening hours:
3pm - 7:00pm Wednesday - Friday
11am - 7:00pm Saturday & Sunday
Wine Tasting Wednesday 17 february 6:00pm - 7:00pm
(Brought to you by Austins wine)

See Michael Steele’s here & Gorker’s website

Pedro Ramos

Pedro Ramos was born in Madeira Island in 1982. He currently lives and works in Sydney. His work is based on the intimacy and proximity to the subjects portrayed. However, in his work, everyday situations are reinterpreted leaving the viewer with the freedom to create his/her own narrative. Through personal documentary technique, his photos celebrate life, youth, beauty and freedom.

Pedro Ramos

Pedro Ramos

See more of Perdo’s work here

Rednose Distrikt, Stefan Glerum

Growing up as a healthy young Dutch boy, Stefan Glerum (Amsterdam, 1983) developed an interest in old paper, second hand records and extremely large trousers. To give shape to these fascinations Glerum started to work as an assistent to Dutch master of the clear line Joost Swarte. Glerum studied illustration at the Academy St. Joost and works as a freelance illustrator and designer, based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Bar Zoekt Vrouw, Stefan Glerum

See more here

Posters deVille - Posters for the many events and concepts of one of Stockholm’s loveliest restaurants, Daniel Carlsten

After having spent the last five years as an art director, graphic designer and illustrator at the creative collective Acne, Daniel Carlsten recently launched his own business. His main interests and expertise lie in visual identities and graphic design of printed matter such as books, catalogues, stationaries, posters, invitations and packaging.

Acne Paper Invite - For the celebration of Acne Paper’s 5th issue — the elegant issue, Daniel Carlsten

Daniel was awarded the scholarship for promising talent (Kycklingstipendiet) by The Swedish Association of Communication Agencies in 2006; In 2007, he served on the design jury of Guldägget; he have been nominated and awarded in Guldägget, Kolla and OneShow, and has recieved diplomas from the Danish and Swedish business press for work within graphic design and illustration; he has lectured at Beckmans College of Design, Forsbergs School of Advertising and Design and HDK (School of Design & Crafts).

Acne gift boxes and carriers - A series of boxes and carriers uniting various expressions derived from Acne’s garments and creative studio, Daniel Carlsten

See more of Daneil’s work here

MTV, Dines

DINES is a London based graphic designer. He received his BA Hons in Graphic and Typography Design at Southampton Solent University in 2007 before pursuing a career in interactive design. Since graduating he has set a firm client and fan base in the city of Southampton. He is currently active as founder /creative director of award-winning digital design group Studio Blup. Aside from his commitments with Blup he specializes in typography, identity and publication design for print and screen working with a variety of clients in the entertainment and arts industries.

NIKE Flow, Dines

See more work here