Charming Front

Luck tested in Sydney with Charming Punter #7

2012-01-31T03:24:00.000-08:00

So I'm an active member of the Charm-ID club. Woop Woop.

This is my story.(Charming Punter #7)

I've only got a few days left of my 2 years at gaffa gallery. Soon i'll be moving onto different adventures. It all began back in very late in 2009, when Gaffa moved into a 3 story c.1892 Police Station. By the time we moved in however, it had be transformed a number of times, once into a house and then into some commercial offices. We ripped up the carpet, knocked down some walls and painted what we could white, trying to cover the bad 1990's cream that adorned all the walls. The ground floor of this building was my responsibility, it housed the old Police holding cells, one of which would become my office and the entrance to the 'Sterling by gaffa', our jewellery and object retail store. The other 4 would become 'The Arcade Project' a series of short lease pop up shops available for fashion, design, performance art pieces, reading rooms, patisseries etc. The ground floor also has a cafe, which has tables and chairs all though the light filled atrium in which The Arcades are situated.

I look out into the Atrium from my desk, directly on the floor outside my office is a 'Durhams Foundary' plaque, we found this when we ripped up the carpet, and cleaned all the concert, I remember quite vividly the Sunday we sealed the floor, it was hot, we were hungover and we mused over this plaque for some time. We are still not sure what it is, it's not very big, perhaps the size of a small saucer, does it top a drain? or is it just a hallmark of things that no longer exist? Whatever it is/was, this was where I decided to rub my little good luck card.

As I said, I only have a few more days left at gaffa, it has been an amazing experience, building things from scratch, and being a part of a very small team (only 3 for the first year) allowed for the greatest freedom to do what you wanted how you wanted, with little to no bureaucratic bullshit. Dream job! But it is now time to leave and pursue my own agenda and adventures. I'm hopping my little rub of good luck will bring with me the joys and freedoms that working at gaffa has allowed. I hope when I step into my new rolls in other institutions (I am volunteering at the Powerhouse Museum, my ID lanyard is where the Charm ID card has ended up), it will allow me some small freedoms and protect me from too much bureaucracy. One can only hope!

Good luck and thanks to the Sydneysider...and look at that lovely contemporary jewellery she is wearing!!!! With any luck she will move to Melbourne??????

The G&S Spot - Charming Punter #8

2011-12-20T02:53:00.000-08:00

Tacky title by me but great pics taken by Charming Punter #8...thank you kindly. In her email she sent me she states it very clearly...

"I chose the directory sign (at RMIT Gold & Silversmithing Dept, Melbourne) because it seems ironic that there is less and less gold or silver being smithed in these studios. I thought that by rubbing some gold onto the sign that at least there will be some precious metal in the building and perhaps some of the talent of past students and staff will rub off on me. My hope is that the changes to the Undergrad Gold and Silversmithing program will serve to continue to attract and develop the talent that it has done in the past. On a more personal note I hope that my studies continue to be fun and keep me stimulated and creating ( touch wood)".

May luck be with you Charming Punter #8 who happens to be the first student to respond to the call...hopefully others will now follow. Perhaps whilst they are Christmas shopping in the city!!!!!

Charming Punter #4 Holmes on in!

2011-12-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

Charming Punter #4 (who works as a sessional teacher across two TAFE institutes) has gone right to the detailed, pointy end of the crisis where the possible lack of employment prospects reveal themselves in plain black and white...THE TIMETABLE!

The above image is of the 2012 ceramics timetable on the Pottery Room door at Holmesglen TAFE. I am impressed they have actually got a timetable for 2012...it demonstrates a sense of optimism in an institute that recently announced a possible 50 EFT (equivalent fulltime) redundancies. I heard on the grapevine that Chisholm handed out 44 redundancies this week...I will await further confirmation of this.

Following the activation of the Charm-id Card on the timetable Charming Punter #4 stated...'feel like the magic may have worked...(although I did lose 2 classes that day to some other sessional....hmmmm...just coincidence I'm sure)'.

Charming Punter # 3 makes it personal

2011-12-06T16:40:00.001-08:00

Charming Punter #3 feels her position as a technician in TAFE is not as in need of luck as other areas of her life. Following a personal crisis she has chosen the wall of her home to activate the Charm-id Card in the hope that it's power may be transferable (unlike a public transport ticket)...we will have to wait and see!

I am very open to how punters interpret the project and choose to respond...I am constantly amazed!

Charming Punter #2

2011-12-06T14:58:00.001-08:00

Charming Punter #2 also chose an interesting activation location - his computer hard drive. When he is not teaching computer design skills he finds himself in front of the computer attempting to design engaging content for 'The Institute' only to have it wiped with the generic corporate brush. Consequently the creative arm of the institute is indistinguishible from meat processing and bricklaying.

The gold transferred (albeit somewhat invisibly) and left a smudgy rahter than a scratched effect. Below Charming Punter #2 can be seen spoting it around his neck having performed the final activation step of signing the back. Thanks and good luck!

Charming Punter #1 Activates

2011-11-27T02:29:00.001-08:00

Oh what to call the participants in this project? It has been a dilemma but I have finally decided on Charming Punter followed by a number. I know this seems a tad impersonal but it is mainly a tool to help me keep track of all the charms and the stories attached and considering that I have hand delivered and posted a total of 20 so far it will be a challenge. It is also helpful for those who want to remain anonymous. For those who are out and proud they will have their name attached.

Charming Punter #1: Activation in action

Charming Punter #1 was featured in my previous post. She decided to avoid controversy and restrain herself from activating her charm on the CEO's office or in the mens toilets but instead chose the now mail/tea room which in a brighter era was part of the 'Art Dept' and her office! She chose the latch on the window through which she used to view the courtyard (her next office is now a photocopying room the size of a cupboard...no window). Much reminiscing took place about the good old days 'when teaching was real' and public TAFE education was in it's infancy...so full of promise.

Mail/tea room

...let's assume it looked more interesing in the good 'ol Art Department days.

Finally the Charm is fully activated...

Experienced Punter

2011-11-22T03:31:00.001-08:00

The young lady pictured above has a weight around her neck! Not only is she sporting the Charm-ID Card but she also has her staff id card and a magnifying glass which she uses for reading the small print on packaging in the supermarkets! An astute shopper and a TAFE employee for over 40 years she was integral to the design and evolution of the Visual Arts Dept. in a then 'Technical School'.

She has seen Governments come and go but is currently livid about the state of public education in Victoria. She plans to activate her charm on Thursday and has some radical ideas about where this might take place. I plan to be there to document.

May the luck begin!

2011-10-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

What better to inspire the first post on Charming Front than the recently announced decision to de-fund Craft Australia written about by Kevin Murray on Craft Unbound.
Another blow to the craft and design community and another bunch of employees and followers that will be perfect candidates for the Charm-ID Card!

What on earth is the Charm-ID card you ask...well it is the product of Joyaviva: Live Jewellery across the Pacific curated by Kevin Murray. A project which questions luck in our world today.

The challenge was to design a contemporary charm for a contemporary situation and hence the Charm-ID Card. I haven't got any decent pics yet but below is a sketch to give you an idea of how it looks. It has gold leaf on the front and instructions on the back.

Here is a snippet of what can be found in the Instruction Manual:

What: The Charming-ID card is a contemporary charm for a contemporary issue faced by the contemporary jewellery community and the broader art and craft fields in Victoria, Australia and internationally.

Why: Currently Government funded education institutions in Victoria renowned for their expertise in educating students in the Arts are under increasing financial pressure. This has resulted in courses being axed, students having less time with lecturers, a reduction in staff hours, increased class numbers, rising fees and assimilations between institutes; all of which has affected the quality of education the students receive and staff morale.

How: Activate Charm-ID Card by rubbing gold side on a rough surface; the ground or side of a building of the creative educational institution where you are employed or are/were a student.Rub in a circular motion creating a unique sketch from the location onto your card whilst transferring a touch of gold to the building – hopefully the Midas touch.The act itself is designed to be a swift, subtle intervention to ensure your transfer of gold can go undetected. However there is the opportunity to make the activation as private or public as you like.Performing the activation in a public place has the potential to act as a public demonstration of individual will creating a strong sense of empowerment, hope and luck in this increasingly ‘managed’ world.

To finalise the activation process you are encouraged to sign your card.

Click on the 'Instruction Manual' tab above for more info....