Konvertible is an open workshop, inviting everyone, including makers, craftspeople and hobbyists to participate and collaborate in making a range of innovative, fun, well-designed but affordable objects. Konvertible Project Background
Konvertible is a new art project by visual artist Lisa Cheung and industrial designer Sammy Delgado Escobar. It is a model for art/design production based on the tr
aditional art studio where various talented and skilled artists work collectively to produce innovative designs. However this “studio” is nomadic rather than in a fixed location, it travels adapting itself to diverse locations and working with a different team of artists each time. Konvertible’s goal is to produce innovative, well designed, but affordable objects for the home, made by local talent using locally sourced materials. Its design objects are made from found, recycled and low-cost materials, and utilise a combination of traditional craft skills combined with new digital technologies. Furthermore, Konvertible brings together the skills of creative professionals with the amateur enthusiast. The first Konvertible workshop was launched in Bedford in October 2010 running for four-week period. The workshop was divided into three integrated departments: Marketing (printmaking workshop in charge of all the designed of posters, T-shirts and advertising), Textiles (working mainly with soft furnishings) and Construction (fabricating larger objects and furniture). These “departments” were run as a series of open workshops inviting various people to share their talents and skills to work collaboratively on a voluntarily basis. Some of the objects produced include: “Magic Mushroom” (a children’s stool made from carton mailing tubes, recycled used clothing and wool), “Table/Cheese” (cheese boards that fit together into a jigsaw puzzle made out of antique pine donated by a local household), redesigned T-shirts (from disused clothing), “Swinging Chair” (made from knitting strips of used clothing) and a variety of one-off designer laptop bags. The group of artists working on the Konvertible local team include professional graphic designers, artists, craftspeople, college students, Sight Concern social group, avid knitters, ex-seamstresses, hobbyists, young people and people from the neighbourhood. All the products from Konvertible Bedford have been on display and sale in local markets throughout November and December in a specially designed Mobile Kiosk. On this occasion, this is a not-for-profit venture with all earnings put back into the project to continue workshops and encourage communal making in the local community. KONVERTIBLE NOW
Drop-in workshops for adults continue from Janaury to March 2011 with locally based artists Eva Munoz Marti and Lisa Tilley
If you like making, knitting, tinkering, drawing, sanding, sewing, working with your hands, come along and learn and share skills and ideas with professional artists and local people. We are currently making furniture from recycled materials and 'upcycling' small pieces of furniture from local junk shops to bring them up to date. Later in the project there will be printmaking sessions and and a chance to try your hand at other skills. Everyone is welcome - no booking required* just come along! Every Wednesday 1-4pm at the Wellbeing Centre, 3 Woburn Road, Bedford MK40 1EG
Every Saturday 10am-1pm at the Wellbeing Centre, 3 Woburn Road, Bedford MK40 1EG
PAY what you can into the honesty box - we suggest £4 for each session you attend. (This contributes towards the cost of the venue, materials and artists' fees.)
*If you are part of a group of three or more people who would like to come along - please let us know so that we can make sure we have enough room. For more information please call 01234 818670 or email [email protected]
