Celebrating the Artistic Journey of Jody Loaring: From North Regional TAFE to the Homo Faber 2024 Craft Biennale
We are beyond thrilled to announce that our talented art lecturer, Jody Loaring, has been invited to exhibit her work at the prestigious Homo Faber 2024 Craft Biennale this September! This is no ordinary event – it's a world-renowned art exhibition held at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, Italy.
How cool is that? Seeing Jody's work recognised on such a significant international platform is an honour.
Jody is one of only six Australians selected by The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, an international non-profit organisation based in Geneva. The Foundation discovered Jody's remarkable work and invited her to participate in their flagship event. Jody will pack her bags and jet off to Venice for the grand opening! We are bursting with pride over her achievement – and maybe just a tad jealous of her Italian adventure!
So, what on earth is the Homo Faber 2024 Craft Biennale?
Well, it's only the grandest celebration of contemporary craftsmanship curated by the Michelangelo Foundation. This year's theme, "The Journey of Life," will be directed by acclaimed Italian filmmakers Luca Guadagnino and Nicolò Rosmarini. The event will feature the work of hundreds of international master artisans and rising stars, presented across ten themed spaces. Jody's piece, "The Ballad of Mary Smith," will be showcased in the "After Life" space, offering a poignant and powerful narrative that will leave visitors captivated – and maybe just a bit teary-eyed.
The Story Behind "The Ballad of Mary Smith
Jody's sculpture dives into the tragic story of her Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Mary Smith, who met her untimely end at her husband's hands in 1835 in Western Australia. This work is part of a series that peels back Mary's life, delving into themes of origins, memory, spirit, and place. The sculpture is deeply personal and sheds light on the first reported murder trial in the Settler Community, presided over by Captain Molloy.
As Jody explains:
"189 years ago, Mary Smith was killed by her husband in an act of domestic violence in the early colony of Western Australia. She was a woman, a wife, a mother, a servant, but He was the Blacksmith. He was never charged. Mary Smith was my Great-Great-Great Grandmother."
Tell me more about Jody's Artistic Journey
Jody Loaring is an Australian artist renowned for her multidisciplinary approach, assembling and constructing sculptural and mixed media works from raw environmental materials. Historical archives inform her work and delve into family, trauma, and home themes, fostering an ongoing dialogue of identity and place within the Australian experience. Raised in Margaret River, Jody obtained a BA in Visual Arts in Textiles and Photography from Edith Cowan University in Perth, WA. With 32 years of artistic practice, she has produced numerous award-winning sculptures, with works held in public and private collections.
Follow Jody's Journey
We invite everyone to follow Jody's journey and celebrate her incredible achievement. For further information on the Homo Faber 2024 Biennale, the Michelangelo Foundation, and the Homo Faber Guide, please visit their websites.
Connect with Jody on Instagram
Jody recently shared her excitement on Instagram:
"Honoured to have been invited to exhibit my sculptural work "The Ballad of Mary Smith" at Homo Faber's Craft Biennale 2024 in Venice this September @homofaber. The flagship of The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship. The Foundation is an international non-profit organisation that celebrates and preserves master craftsmanship and strengthens its connection to the worlds of design, hospitality, and the wider arts."
For further information:
- Homo Faber 2024 Biennial: Journey of Life
- The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship
- Homo Faber Guide